STIMULATION OF MICROBIAL ACTIVITIES AND POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBON DEGRADATION IN MARINE-SEDIMENTS INHABITED BY CAPITELLA-CAPITATA

The effect of the polychaete Capitella capitata on a variety of sediment microbial activities was determined for 5 months in marine microcosms with or without chronic treatment with the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon anthracene. Rates of microbial D left bracket U-**1**4C right bracket glucose assimilation and respiration as well as rates and total amounts of left bracket 9-**1**4AC right bracket anthracene mineralization of Capitella. Anthracene treatment only affected **1**4C-anthracene mineralization such that after 5 months all sediments under chronic anthracene treatment mineralized **1**4C-anthracene more rapidly than sediments without anthracene or those containing only Capitella. The colonization of sediments by total numbers of meiofauna and meiofauna-sized larvae was suppressed in microcosms dosed with anthracene, in contrast to the increased numbers in Capitella-inhabited microcosms. Results indicate that the presence of infauna may significantly stimulate certain microbial activities and meiofauna colonization in marine sediments.