Effects of environmental gradients on the distribution of harpacticoid copepods in an intertidal flat, Portobello Bay, Otago Harbour, New Zealand

Abstract

Harpacticoid copepods are often one of the most dominant taxa in marine sediments, but there is limited knowledge of the physicochemical sediment characteristics that affect distribution of native New Zealand copepod species. Environmental gradients and abundance of harpacticoid copepods were therefore surveyed in Portobello Bay, an intertidal sand and mud flat in Otago Harbour, New Zealand. Generalised linear mixed models (GLMMs) were used to determine the relationship between physical factors and species abundance as well as to examine interspecies interactions. Six copepod species were present at the study site: Amphiascoides sp., Enhydrosoma sp., Parastenhelia megarostrum, Robertsonia propinqua, and two species of Quinquelaophonte. Distribution of species was found to be significantly correlated to sediment size, organic content, tidal reach, salinity and pH. In addition to these physical factors, speciesÁspecies interactions also affected copepod abundance. This information is relevant for understanding factors influencing copepod distribution, but also will shape guidelines for use in marine sediment bioassays using harpacticoid copepods.

Benzoylurea pesticides used as veterinary medicines in aquaculture: Risks and developmental effects on nontarget crustaceans

“…Tisbe battagliai is a benthic copepod, and harpacticoid copepods are often one of the most dominant taxa in marine sediments [14], increasing their relevance as a test species for the investigation of the effects of teflubenzuron and diflubenzuron. Tisbe battagliai is a benthic copepod, and harpacticoid copepods are often one of the most dominant taxa in marine sediments [14], increasing their relevance as a test species for the investigation of the effects of teflubenzuron and diflubenzuron.…”

“…Harpacticoids are widespread and an important food source for macroinvertebrates and fish. Tisbe battagliai is a benthic copepod, and harpacticoid copepods are often one of the most dominant taxa in marine sediments [14], increasing their relevance as a test species for the investigation of the effects of teflubenzuron and diflubenzuron. In addition, the sea lice, like T. battagliai, are members of the class Maxillopoda and the subclass Copepoda; therefore, they show similarities in their development and life cycle.…”

Tidal migrations of juvenile Sillago spp. in a subtropical intertidal nursery seascape

“…They were present in 85% of juvenile whiting guts caught from intertidal pools, and account for 45% of prey volume in those guts (Krück et al 2009). Assemblages of harpacticoids display habitat specificity (Findlay 1981;Coull 1999;Azovskii and Chertoprud 2002;Stringer et al 2012;Ghosh and Mandal 2019), meaning that comparisons of harpacticoid assemblages consumed by whiting with those from sediment samples offers a potential method for understanding the importance of different microhabitats to foraging juvenile whiting.…”