Author Type

Graduate Student

Date of Award

1975

Document Type

Thesis

Publication Status

Version of Record

Submission Date

October 2026

Abstract

The composition, abundance, and horizontal and vertical distribution of meiofauna in adjacent carbonate and non-carbonate habitats on the Southeast Florida coast were studied in summer (July, 1974) and winter (February, 1975). At the non-carbonate transect, density ranged from 3.1 to 77.3 x 10^4 /m^2, and at the carbonate transect from 3.4 to 102.0 x 10^4 /m^2 On both transects, densities were higher in summer and lower in winter; seasonal changes was attributed to both temperature and sediment changes. Over 50% of the meiofauna were found in the top 2 cm and over 90% in the top 7 cm of substrate. Penetration was deeper in the non-carbonate sediments than in the carbonate sediments. Nematodes and harpacticoid copepods dominated most stations year-round. Subtidal stations on the carbonate substrate displayed greater meiofaunal diversity than did those in the non-carbonate substrate. The subtidal carbonate habitats have greater densities than most previously studied non-carhonate habitats. The correlation of meiofaunal density with five sediment parameters is discussed.

Extent

82 p.

Comments

Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 1975.|Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 1975.

Identifier

FADT13765

Format

pdf

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