Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Articles 1 - 1 of 1
Full-Text Articles in Marine Biology
Monitoring Defecation Activity Of Infaunal Deposit Feeders, Fred C. Dobbs
Monitoring Defecation Activity Of Infaunal Deposit Feeders, Fred C. Dobbs
OES Faculty Publications
An inexpensive, reliable thermistor device capable of monitoring infaunal foraging activity was built and used in the laboratory to examine effects of temperature on sediment reworking by the maldanld polychaete Clymenella torquata. The worm defecated at least once per hour 55.0 % (12.0 "C) to 88.2 % (5.5 "C) of the time. Defecation rate was linearly and positively related to temperature. Estimated volume of sediment ejected per defecation (0.015 ml) did not change with temperature. Results are compared with previous reworking studies of C. torquata.