Abstract
Assemblages of free-living interstitial plathelminths are described from the tropical coast of northeastern Australia. About one hundred species were recorded from sediments of mangroves, tidal flats, and seagrass beds. The majority (88%) of the plathelminths occurred in only one havitat. Richest in species were Kalyptorhynchia (39), followed by Acoela (17) and Typhloplanoida (16). Over 50% of the species found were represented by one to three individuals, but a few species were frequently encountered. The preferred habitat was sand with 86% of all species, while abundances were higher in muddy sediments. The mean species density was 7 in 10 cm-2 of sediment, and abundances ranged from 8 to 52 individuals 10 cm-2 with an average plathelminth abundance of 25 individuals 10 cm-2. Predatory plathelminths were predominant with up to 77% of the individuals. A comparison is made to plathelminth assemblages in temperate tidal flats.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 369-374 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Hydrobiologia |
| Volume | 227 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Dec 1991 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- abundances
- distribution
- meiofauna
- Plathelminthes
- tidal flats