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Evaluation Of Monthly And Seasonal Grazing Rates Of Ilyanassa Obsoleta On Benthic Microalgae In The North Inlet Estuary, Brittany Dearmitt
Evaluation Of Monthly And Seasonal Grazing Rates Of Ilyanassa Obsoleta On Benthic Microalgae In The North Inlet Estuary, Brittany Dearmitt
Theses and Dissertations
The eastern mud snail, Ilyanassa obsoleta, is found at densities of 100’s of individuals m-2 on soft sediments in the intertidal zones of estuaries. These obligate deposit feeders consume microalgae, detritus, larvae, meiofauna, and macrofauna in the surface layers of sediments with possible trophic impacts on benthic microalgal (BMA) biomass. The goals of this study were to quantify mud snail grazing on BMA biomass, observe the variation in monthly and seasonal grazing rates, and evaluate the relationship between atmospheric temperatures and grazing rates. The sites for this experiment were two mudflats in Oyster Landing, North Inlet estuary, South …