Reproductive periodicity of meiobenthic copepods: Seasonal of continuous?

Much of the literature on meiofauna reproductive periodicity suggests continuous reproduction throughout the year. Field data collected over a two-year period in the North Inlet area, South Carolina (USA) indicate that the dominant meiobenthic copepods at each station sampled are in a reproductive state all year whereas less abundant species have distinct seasonal reproductive periods. Reproduction throughout the year is not restricted to, nor does it encompass all of, the interstitial copepods with a low number of eggs. In those species where seasonality is evident, there is a temporal separation of the most closely allied copepods, and when one species is present the other is absent. Alternation of reproductive cycles in these species reduces competition and allows for maximum resource utilization.