Temporal changes in littoral meiofauna from the Hunter River estuary

Abstract

The fluctuations in the densities of meiofaunal nematodes and copepods from seven sites on the Hunter River estuary over one year are described. There were no consistant patterns of change in either the densities of any copepod genus or total number of copepods. There were large fluctuations in the total numbers of nematodes at the various sites throughout the year, but a consistent pattern applicable to all sites was lacking. A few species of nematode, mostly epistrate feeders, each showed consistent changes in density at all sites over the year, but most epistrate feeders did not. The density of most species changed during the year, but these changes could not be consistently related to the seasons, and it is suggested that non-seasonal environmental changes are of greater significance. These findings contrast with those made on estuaries in other parts of the world, probably as the result of the presence of mangroves and the mild climate. The densities of a few species of nematode did not change throughout the year, and the total density of nematodes and copepods was strongly influenced by the height above low tide mark, with greatest numbers close to the low tide mark.