Abstract
Cryptofauna (epifauna passing a 2-mm but retained on a 0.2-mm mesh sieve) of Zostera marina on the Swedish west coast (58°N, 11°E) is dominated by crustaceans, mainly detritivorous tube-building amphipods and harpacticoids. Abundance and biomass of amphipods in two relatively unpolluted Z. marina beds were higher than any data from the literature, with maximum abundance of 80·10 3 ind·m −2 and 1 g AFDW·m −2 bottom. This is at least partly due to the small mesh size used in this investigation. The recruitment of the crustaceans started in late June and was continuous through the rest of the season, whereas the recruitment of the molluscs peaked in late June and July. In a Z. marina bed (Rixö) located 2 km from an oil refinery, the seasonal abundance of amphipods was 15% of the abundance in the other beds, whereas the remaining fauna had about the same density. In Rixö the percentage of female amphipod with empty brood pouches increased during the season. It is suggested that low abundances and fecundity of amphipods in Rixö could result from oil pollution.
Published Version
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