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Grazing predation on a population of Ampelisca tenuicornis (Gammaridae:Amphipoda) off the south coast of England

1998; Inter-Research; Volume: 164; Linguagem: Inglês

10.3354/meps164253

1616-1599

M. Sheader,

Marine Bivalve and Aquaculture Studies

MEPS Marine Ecology Progress Series Contact the journal Facebook Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout the JournalEditorsTheme Sections MEPS 164:253-262 (1998) - doi:10.3354/meps164253 Grazing predation on a population of Ampelisca tenuicornis (Gammaridae: Amphipoda) off the south coast of England Martin Sheader* Department of Oceanography, University of Southampton, Southampton Oceanography Centre, European Way, Southampton SO14 3ZH, Hampshire, England *E-mail: ms3@mail.soc.soton.ac.uk Grazing impact was assessed for a population of the tubicolous amphipod Ampelisca tenuicornis from a shallow sublittoral muddy-sand community off the east coast of the Isle of Wight, England. Damage resulting from grazing predation or failed predator attack was indicated by the presence of tanned wounds. Almost all damage recorded was to appendages, with the principal feeding structures, the antennae, accounting for 84% of total injuries and the urosomal appendages accounting for 12%. Pereion and pleon limbs showed little damage. The pattern of injury among appendage groups and the intensity of grazing were both found to be dependent on body size and sex. At maturity, a proportion of time is spent in the water column and this is associated with changes in the pattern of injury and intensity of grazing. Seasonal grazing intensity correlated with temperature and was related to life-cycle characteristics. The intensity, though not the pattern, of grazing was negatively correlated to the abundance of A. tenuicornis. The impact of grazing on reproductive output was determined. Although grazing on the population was high, rapid regeneration and compensatory feeding appeared to minimise the impact. The length of antennae and their relative proportions are important taxonomic characters used to separate species; if antennal grazing is a common feature of ampeliscid populations, then due care should be taken in selecting undamaged holotype material and in the use of antennal characters in identification keys. Ampelisca · Predation · Grazing · Tube beds Full text in pdf format PreviousNextExport citation RSS - Facebook - Tweet - linkedIn Cited by Published in MEPS Vol. 164. Publication date: April 09, 1998 Print ISSN:0171-8630; Online ISSN:1616-1599 Copyright © 1998 Inter-Research.