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Field evidence that shrimp predation regulates meiofauna
Susan S Bell1,2, Bruce C Coull1,2
1Belle W. Baruch Institute for Marine Biology and Coastal Research, University of South Carolina, 29208, Columbia, SC, USA.
Oecologia
|March 18, 2017
Summary
Grass shrimp (Palaemonetes pugio) significantly reduced meiofauna populations in salt marsh microecosystems. This study provides field evidence of macrofaunal control over meiobenthic community structure.
Area of Science:
- Marine Ecology
- Benthic Ecology
- Salt Marsh Ecosystems
Background:
- Meiofauna are crucial to sediment ecosystems.
- The role of macrofaunal predators/disturbers in regulating meiofauna is not fully understood.
- Grass shrimp (Palaemonetes pugio) are suspected to impact meiofaunal communities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of grass shrimp predation/disturbance on meiofauna abundance and diversity.
- To provide field evidence for macrofaunal control of meiobenthic communities.
- To establish replicability in microecosystem tanks for ecological studies.
Main Methods:
- Grass shrimp were excluded from microecosystem tanks for nine months.
- Shrimp were reintroduced into experimental tanks, with control tanks lacking shrimp.
- Meiofauna populations were monitored in shrimp-present and control tanks over time.
Main Results:
- Total meiofauna, nematode, oligochaete, and polychaete densities were significantly lower in tanks with shrimp.
- Grass shrimp predation/disturbance significantly reduced overall meiofauna abundance.
- Species diversity of the dominant meiofaunal taxon was not altered by shrimp presence.
Conclusions:
- Grass shrimp significantly impact meiofauna abundance in salt marsh habitats.
- Macrofauna play a significant role in structuring meiobenthic communities.
- This study offers the first field evidence of macrofaunal control over meiofauna community structure.
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