Long-term assessment of the population dynamics ofAmphiura filiformis(Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea) in Galway Bay (west coast of Ireland)

✍ Scribed by B. O'Connor; T. Bowmer; A. Grehan

• Book ID: 104760432
• Publisher: Springer-Verlag
• Year: 1983
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 697 KB
• Volume: 75
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0025-3162
• DOI: 10.1007/bf00406013

✦ Synopsis

The burrowing ophiuroid Amphiura filiformis (0. F.

Miiller) is a dominant member of a silty sand community in Galway Bay on the west coast of Ireland (53~ 9~

High-density populations in the area (greater than 700m -2) generally occur in sediment having a silt/clay content of 10 to 20%. On the basis of such numerical prominence, the species has been under investigation at a fixed monitoring station since 1974. Throughout the study period, adult individuals consistently accounted for ca. 95% of the population; annual recruitment was invariably found to be extremely low. Annual densities showed a declining trend to 1980, following which there was some evidence of a rise in numbers. This situation is assessed in the light of what is currently known ofA. filiformis from different geographical locations. GALWAY CITY 9 ~ 9 ,.. 9 g 9 ~ ~'~ 9 " t~, ~ ~TJ stations ' 9 . % i / 9 240 ~.\ ~ Margaretta ~ -~-~ 10% 45 ~t~x~ "~'~'o/ " Station ~ ~-9 x o lu/o dOrn 10 ~ 10 Yo