The effects of mucous tubes on the distribution, behavior and recruitment of seagrass meiofauna

An investigation of the effects of mucous tubes produced by amphipods, polychaetes and harpacticoid copepods was conducted on meiofaunal organisms inhabiting Thalassia testudinum Banks ex Konig blades in Tampa Bay, Florida. Samples of seagrass blades were collected from the field in October 1991 and the numbers of meiofauna, percent cover of mucous tubes and distance from the base of the seagrass blade were determined. Results indicated that meiofauna densities were greater on blade areas with greater percent cover of mucous tubes and that meiofauna distribution was independent of physical position (height) on the blade. Second, observations of behavior of blade-dwelling meiofauna were conducted simultaneously in areas with and without mucous tubes. Total meiofauna, harpacticoids and turbellarians occurred in significantly greater abundances in mucous tube areas and along with ostracods spent significantly more time in mucous tube areas than in non-tube areas. In a field experiment using conditioned glass substrata significantly greater numbers of meiofauna immigrated onto substrata with mucous tubes, constructed by the harpacticoid, Dactylopodia tisboides (Claus), than substrata without tubes. Evidence supports the conclusion that relatively imperceptible, ephemeral structures such as mucous tubes can affect the distribution and behavior of epibenthic meiofauna on seagrass blades. Copyright (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.