Secondary Production of Monocorophium acherusicum (Amphipoda, Corophiidae) in a Seagrass Bed (Zostera marina)

Abstract

We measured the secondary production of the amphipod Monocorophium acherusicum Costa in a seagrass bed (Zostera marina L.) in Gwangyang Bay, southern Korea. M. acherusicum biomass was positively correlated (P<0.05) with seagrass standing crop, suggesting that there were biological interactions between the two species. M. acherusicum displays two main breeding periods per year: spring (March to April) and fall (October to November). M. acherusicum biomass in the spring breeding periods was higher than in the fall. Annual secondary production of M. acherusicum was 3.54 g DW/<TEX>$m^2$</TEX>/yr with an annual P/B ratio of 3.48. Secondary production and the P/B ratio of M. acherusicum were lower than those observed for other amphipods inhabiting seagrass beds. These results suggest that biological interactions between M. acherusicum and seagrass, as well as dietary competition with other amphipods can potentially cause declines in secondary production and the P/B ratio.