A quantitative study of selected near shore in fauna between Sabine Pass and Bolivar Point, Texas.

Date

1965

Authors

Keith, D.E.
Hulings, N.C.

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Abstract

Five shallow sublittoral stations between Sabine Pass and Bolivar Point, Texas were sampled seasonally from September, 1962 through September, 1963 to determine the influence of substratum and season on selected infauna. Ten 6-inch cores, 3/4 to 2 inches in diameter were taken at each station during each sampling period. The infauna studied included crustaceans (17 species), polychaetes (12 species), and molluscs (6 species). Two nonparametric statistical tests were utilized to test the significance of the substratum and season on the species. The species that occurred on sand bottoms did not occur on mud bottoms, with two exceptions. Therefore certain species were designated as diagnostic of sand or mud. The diagnostic species included Amphithoe sp., Corophium cylidricum, Haploscoloplos fragilis, Haustorius sp., Lumbrinereis tenuis, Neanthes succinea, Paraonis sp., Petricola pholadiformis, Spio setosa, and Streblospio benedicti. Among the sand dwelling species some exhibited a definite preference of one sand station over another. All of the diagnostic species were found to have some degree of seasonal variation. Hurricane Cindy had very little effect on the organisms living in sand, but had drastic effects on those occuping mud bottoms. The optimum depth below the surface occupied by most species was 1 to 2 inches.

Description

p. 33-40.

Keywords

marine organisms, benthos, indicator species, hurricanes, benthic environment

Citation