Macroalgae as habitat patch islands for Scutellidium lamellipes (Copepoda: Harpacticoida) and Ampithoe tea (Amphipoda: Gammaridae)

Scutellidium lamellipes and Ampithoe tea live in patches formed by the brown alga Pelvetia fastigiata. The distributions and abundance of both crustaceans were examined on P. fastigiata obtained during 1975 and 1976 from 7 collecting and 6 experimental sites in the mid-intertidal zone at La Jolla, California (USA). At each collecting site, the abundance of each crustacean generally increases with increasing plant size. Following defaunation and transplantation of algae, abundances of both crustaceans on individual plants appear to be governed by equilibria determined by in situ reproduction, immigration and emigration. Immigration rates of both animal species decrease significantly with increasing distance from areas occupied by P. fastigiata. During short-term experiments, neither crustacean was able to establish colonies on defaunated plants placed across a 30 m P. fastigiata-free zone and both species would have to reproduce to persitst on plants transplanted to that site. More frequent immigration and reproduction (and, for S. lamellipes at least, decreasing emigration rates with increasing patch size) would increase abundances and decrease probabilities of local extinction on larger and/or less distant plants. However, even within sites with isolated plants, the smallest plants often are not inhabited by either crustacean. The densitics of both species differ with plant size and distribution. Densities of S. lamellipes are greatest within a large aggregation of P. fastigiata, whereas those of A. tea are greatest on moderate-sized isolated plants at mid-tide levels.