Short- and long-term variation in a high marsh meiofauna community

Abstract

The meiobenthos from a high Spartina alterniflora marsh was studied in North Inlet, South Carolina over a 22 month period to assess long- (seasonal, yearly) and short- (weekly, monthly) term variation in community structure. Nematodes composed a mean 73% of the meiofauna assemblage and copepods ranked second in abundance. Stenhelia (D.) bifidia, Schizopera knabeni, Microarthridion littorale and Enhydrosoma propinquum were the four dominant copepod species recorded from this site and each displayed seasonally distinct patterns of abundance and reproduction. Meiofaunal polychaetes, represented by Manayunkia aestuarina and juvenile Streblospio benedicti, were also seasonally important constituents of the community. Community structure parameters indicated that there was little similarity of the copepods assemblage within seasons or between years. These findings suggest that unpredictable events are important influences on meiofauna community structure and cause this system to fluctuate over the time scale of this study.