Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Aquatic Oligochaete Biology V pp 111–123Cite as

Oligochaeta in Spartina stems: the microdistribution of Enchytraeidae and Tubificidae in a salt marsh, Sapelo Island, USA

  • Conference paper

  • 81 Accesses

Part of the book series: Developments in Hydrobiology ((DIHY,volume 95))

Abstract

The distribution and abundance of Enchytraeidae and Tubificidae in and around Spartina alterniflora plants in a tidal salt marsh on Sapelo Island, Georgia, USA were studied using two different sampling techniques: wet funnel extraction and stem dissection. At least 80% of all worms inhabited leaf sheaths at the bases of S. alterniflora plants, and densities were low in sediment, root and surface debris samples. Oligochaete densities were dependent on the position within the marsh, the height on stems and the stage of sheath decay. Six predominant species were identified and included Marionina appendiculata, Marionina spartinae, Marionina waltersi, Marionina paludis, and Monopylephorus parvus. Individual species were distributed differently on stems and enchytraeids were more common than tubificids on standing-dead and further up 5. alterniflora stems. Estimates of oligochaete densities in salt marsh habitats are increased dramatically when the numbers of worms on stems are considered. Possible advantages of the stem microhabitat are discussed in relation to the biology and ecology of oligochaetes.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Anderson, C. E., 1974. A review of the structure in several North Carolina salt marsh plants. In R. J. Reimold & W. H. Queen (eds), Ecology of Halophytes. Academic Press, New York: 307–344.

    Google Scholar 

  • Armstrong, W., 1975. Waterlogged soils. In J. R. Etherington (ed.), Environment and plant ecology. John Wiley, New York: 181–218.

    Google Scholar 

  • Armstrong, W., 1979. Aeration in higher plants. Adv. bot. Res. 7: 225–332.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Backlund, H. O., 1945. Wrack fauna of Sweden and Finland. Ecology and chorology. Opusc. Ent. Suppl. 1945: 1–237.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baker, H. R. & R. O. Brinkhurst, 1981. A revision of the genus Monopylephorus and redefinition of the subfamilies Rhyacodrilinae and Branchiurinae (Tubificidae: Oligochaeta). Can. J. Zool. 59: 939–965.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Burke, W. W., 1976. Vertical and horizontal distribution of macroinvertebrates on the cord grass, Spartina alterniflora in a Louisiana salt marsh. Unpublished thesis, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, 116 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cammen, L. M., 1979. The macroinfauna of a North Carolina salt marsh. Amer. Midl. Nat. 102: 244–253.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chapman, V. J., 1977. Introduction. In V. J. Chapman (ed.), Ecosystems of the world. 1. Wet coastal ecosystems. Elsevier, New York: 1–29.

    Google Scholar 

  • Coull, B. C. & S. S. Bell, 1979. Perspectives of marine meio-faunal ecology. In R. J. Livingston (ed.), Ecological processes in coastal and marine systems. Plenum, New York: 189–216.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Fay, R. R., 1985. A jackknifed chi-squared test for complex samples. J. Am. Statist. Assoc. 80: 148–157.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fienberg, S. E., 1980. The analysis of cross-classified categorical data. MIT Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 198 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fiers, F. & P. Rutledge, 1990. Harpacticoid copepods associated with Spartina alterniflora culms from the marshes of Cocodrie, Louisiana (Crustacea, Copepoda). Bull, l’Inst. Sci. nat. Belg. 60: 105–125.

    Google Scholar 

  • Giere, O. & O. Pfannkuche, 1982. Biology and ecology of marine Oligochaeta, a review. Oceanogr. mar. Biol. ann. Rev. 20: 173–308.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gleason, M. L. & J. C. Zieman, 1981. Influence of tidal inundation on internal oxygen supply of Spartina alterniflora and Spartina patens. Est. cstl. Shelf Sci. 13: 47–57.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hausman, S. A., 1932. A contribution to the ecology of the salt marsh snail, Melampus bidentatus Say. Amer. Nat. 66: 541–545

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Healy, B., 1987. The depth distribution of Oligochaeta in an Irish quaking marsh. Hydrobiologia 155: 235–247.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Healy, B., in press. New species of Marionina (Oligochaeta, Enchytraeidae) from Spartina marshes on Sapelo Island, Georgia, USA. Proc. biol. Soc. Wash.

    Google Scholar 

  • Healy, B. & E. Rota, 1992. Methods for collecting Enchytraeidae during expeditions. Soil. Biol. Bioch. 24: 1279–1281.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jackson, D., C. F. Mason & S. P. Long, 1985. Macro-invertebrate populations and production on a salt-marsh in east England dominated by Spartina anglica. Oecologia 65: 406–411.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kneib, R. T., 1984. Patterns of invertebrate distribution and abundance in the intertidal salt marsh: causes and questions. Estuaries 7: 392–412.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kneib, R. T., 1987. Seasonal abundance, distribution and growth of postlarval and juvenile grass shrimp (Palaemon-etes pugio) in a Georgia, USA, salt marsh. Mar. Biol. 96: 215–223.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kneib, R. T., 1988. Testing for indirect effects of predation in an intertidal soft-bottom community. Ecology 69: 1795–1805.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Knox, G. A., 1986. Estuarine ecosystems: a systems approach. CRC Press, Inc., Florida, 289 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kraeuter, J. N. & P. L. Wolf, 1974. The relationship of marine macroinvertebrates to salt marsh plants. In R. J. Reimold & W. H. Queen (eds), Ecology of Halophytes. Academic Press, New York: 449–462.

    Google Scholar 

  • McMahan, E. A., 1972. Relative abundance of three marsh floor organisms in a sewage-affected marsh and a sewage-free marsh. J. Elisha Mitchell Sci. Soc. 88: 61–65.

    Google Scholar 

  • May, M. S., 1974. Probable agents for the formation of detritus from the halophyte Spartina alterniflora. In R. J. Reimold & W. H. Queen (eds), Ecology of Halophytes. Academic Press, New York: 429–440.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mendelssohn, I. A. & K. L. McKee, 1987. Root metabolic response of Spartina aherniflora to hypoxia. In R. M. M. Crawford (ed.), Plant life in aquatic and amphibious habitats. Blackwell, London: 239–253.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morris, J. T. & B. Haskin, 1990. A 5-yr record of aerial primary production and stand characteristics of Spartina al-terniflora. Ecology 71: 2209–2217.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Norusis, M. J., 1990. SPSS/PC + advanced statistics 4.0 for the IBM PC/XT/AT and PS/2. SPSS Inc., Chicago: 139–158.

    Google Scholar 

  • O’Connor, F. B., 1955. Extraction of enchytraeid worms from a coniferous forest soil. Nature 175: 815–816.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pomeroy, L. R. & R. G. Wiegert, 1981. The ecology of a salt marsh. Springer-Verlag, New York, 271 pp.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Pomeroy, L. R., L. R. Shenton, R. D. H. Jones & R. J. Reimold, 1972. Nutrient flux in estuaries. In G. E. Likens (ed.), Nutrients and Eutrophication. Amer. Soc. Limnol. Oceanogr. Spec. Symp. 1: 274–291.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ponnamperuna, F. N., 1972. The chemistry of submerged soils. Adv. Agron. 24: 29–96.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Radar, D. N., 1984. Salt-marsh invertebrates: small-scale patterns of distribution and abundance. Estuaries 7: 413–420.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reimold, R. J., J. L. Gallagher & D. E. Thompson, 1973. Remote sensing of tidal marsh. Photog. Engng. 39: 477–488.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rozas, L. P. & M. W. LaSalle, 1990. A comparison of the diets of the Gulf killifish, Fundulus grandis, entering and leaving a Mississippi brackish marsh. Estuaries 13: 332–336.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rutledge, P. A. & J. W. Fleeger, in press. Abundance and seasonality of meiofauna, including harpacticoid copepod species, associated with Spartina alterniflora stems. Estuaries

    Google Scholar 

  • Siebers, D. & V. Ehlers, 1978. Transintegumentary absorption of acidic amino acids in the oligochaete annelid Enchytraeus albidus. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. A. Comp. Physiol. 61: 55–60.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smart, R. M., 1982. Distribution and environmental control of productivity and growth form of Spartina alterniflora Loisel.. In D. N. Sen & K. S. Rajpurohit (eds), Contributions to the ecology of halophytes. Junk, Amsterdam: 127–142.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Sokal, R. R. & F. J. Rohlf, 1981. Biometry. W. H. Freeman & Co., San Francisco, 857 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Teal, J. M., 1962. Energy flow in the salt marsh ecosystem of Georgia. Ecology 43: 614–624.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Teal, J. M. & J. Kanwisher, 1961. Gas exchange in a Georgia salt marsh. Limnol. Oceanogr. 6: 388–399.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Teal, J. M. & J. Kanwisher, 1966. Gas transport in the marsh grass Spartina alterniflora. J. exp. Bot. 17: 355–361.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Van Dolah, R. F., 1978. Factors regulating the distribution and population dynamics of the amphipod Gammarus palustris in an intertidal salt marsh community. Ecol. Monogr. 48: 191–217.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wiegert, R. G., A. G. Chalmers & P. F. Randerson, 1983. Productivity gradients in salt marshes: the response of Spartina alterniflora to experimentally manipulated soil-water movement. Oikos 41: 1–6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland

    Brenda Healy

  2. Marine Institute, University of Georgia, Sapelo Island, Georgia, 31327, USA

    Keith Walters

Authors
  1. Brenda Healy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Keith Walters
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

T. B. Reynoldson K. A. Coates

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1994 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

About this paper

Cite this paper

Healy, B., Walters, K. (1994). Oligochaeta in Spartina stems: the microdistribution of Enchytraeidae and Tubificidae in a salt marsh, Sapelo Island, USA. In: Reynoldson, T.B., Coates, K.A. (eds) Aquatic Oligochaete Biology V. Developments in Hydrobiology, vol 95. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-0842-3_13

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-0842-3_13

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-4363-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-011-0842-3

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation