Author Type

Graduate Student

Date of Award

1983

Document Type

Thesis

Publication Status

Version of Record

Submission Date

October 2026

Abstract

The benthic polychaete community and its associated sedimentary environment were examined in February and August, 1978, at five stations ranging in depth from 2.3 to 19.8 m off Highland Beach, Florida. A total of 176 species were collected; the numbers of species and individuals increased from the nearshore station to the station farthest from shore. These increases are thought to be a result of decreased wave-induced turbulence and increased food supply in deeper waters. Motile infaunal feeders comprised the majority of the community at the shallower stations (especially in winter) while discretely motile and sessile surface feeders dominated in deeper water. Dominant species at each station showed little functional overlap, suggesting that resource partitioning was occurring. Sediment parameters, although not as important as depth and turbulence in regulating community structure, showed significant correlations with biological parameters.

Extent

171 p.

Comments

Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 1983.|Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 1983.

Identifier

FADT14144

Format

pdf

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