Abstract
The habits and behavior of Axiothelia catenata, Praxillella gracilis, and Nicomache lumbricalis (Polychaeta: Maldanidae) are described. Each feeds from a different level in the sediment thereby reducing competition for food and space. All three maldanids are generally unselective in the material they ingest and from which they construct tubes. Thus within certain limits the particle size of the sediment is thought not to be a critical factor in determining their distribution and abundance. Axiothella catenata does not produce fecal pellets but particles are still aggregated in the gut and a large proportion of bacteria attached to sediment particles though the gut undigested. Axiothella catenata egests material in proportion to its size; a specimen of 4-mm internal tube diameter egests 1.10 ± 0.15 mL/d. Key words: benthos, detritus feeders, Annelida, Polychaeta, Maldanidae
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