Post-settlement mortality of juvenile lagoonal cockles (Cerastoderma glaucum : Mollusca: Bivalvia) |
| |
Authors: | V E McArthur |
| |
Institution: | (1) Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EJ, UK, GB |
| |
Abstract: | Like many benthic marine invertebrates the lagoonal cockle Cerastoderma glaucum Bruguière (Mollusca: Bivalvia) suffers extensive mortality between settling out of the plankton and reaching adolescence.
It is thought that predation could be a major cause of this mortality. Experiments were conducted in aquaria to assess the
influence of predation on the survival of juvenile lagoonal cockles. Newly settled spat (collected from Holkham Salts Hole,
a lagoon in North Norfolk) were enclosed with potential predators at field densities. Predators used were fish, prawns and
polychaetes (singly or combination). The numbers and sizes of the surviving cockles were measured after a 4-week period to
establish the extent of predation, and the results were consistent with predation by the fish (Pomatoschistus microps) being a major causative agent of the mortality seen in the field. This reinforces the idea of epibenthic predation as an
important structuring element for marine benthic communities. The effect of post-settlement juvenile mortality on cockle population
demographics is considered, and other possible causes of mortality in the field are discussed.
Received: 1 February 1998 / Accepted: 2 April 1998 |
| |
Keywords: | |
本文献已被 SpringerLink 等数据库收录! |
|