Abstract
Abstract The turbellarian fauna of the sediments of Niva Bay at the Danish Oresund coast was studied quantitatively and qualitatively and with respect to food relationships. Thirtythree species were studied. Most species occurred throughout the year. The highest densities were found in fall and early winter. The turbellarians play a small quantitative role, usually constituting about 5% of the total metazoan microfauna. The food relationships of the turbellarians are discussed in relation to the structure of their pharynx and in relation to the sediment ecosystem in general. The great majority of turbellarian species occupy a high level in the food chains and this is proposed to be the reason for their late occurrence in the year cycle of the community. The effect of an ice cover on the metazoan microfauna was studied. The most important effect of the ice cover is the deoxygenation of the underlying sediment resulting in a drastic decrease in the population sizes of most representatives of the metazoan mi...
Published Version
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