Interactions between macrobenthic epifauna and infauna in a Ceriops tagal mangrove at Gazi Bay, Kenya
Garcia de Camargo, M. (1995). Interactions between macrobenthic epifauna and infauna in a Ceriops tagal mangrove at Gazi Bay, Kenya. MSc Thesis. Vrije Universiteit Brussel: Brussel. 64 pp.
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| Keywords |
Aquatic communities > Benthos
Behaviour > Feeding behaviour
Interspecific relationships > Predation
Macrobenthos
Mangroves
Trials > Field experimentation
Ceriops tagal (Perr.) C.B. Robinson [WoRMS]; Nematoda [WoRMS]; Tubificidae d'Udekem, 1855 [WoRMS]
ISW, Kenya, Gazi Bay [Marine Regions]
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| Author keywords |
Kenya Belgium Project, FAME |
| Abstract |
The effect of predation by epibenthos on infaunal macrobenthos of a tropical mangrove was investigated by a manipulative field experiment. Completely screened cages were used to exclude large epibenthic predators and partial cages were used to control effect of caging on the sediment. Densities of macrobenthic taxa Oligochaeta, Amphipoda, Insecta larvae, Polychaeta and macro-Nematoda and a broad range of abiotic variables were followed in the surface layer (0-2 cm) over five months of caging. Different statistical approaches (ANOVA and ordination methods) were used before making decisions on differences between treatments, and an algorithm was proposed to analyse layouts based on randomized-blocks and completely randomized designs. Based on the knowledge of epibenthic food behaviour and previous studies in the same area, it is hypothesized that resource competition for food rather than predation is the determining structuring force between macrobenthic epi- and infauna. There was a significant exclusion effect on Tubificidae (Oligochaeta) densities and chlorophyll concentration and a procedural effect on macro-Nematoda and inorganic mud. Evidence from statistical analyses and gut content analysis indicated that in this study Tubificidae (the dominant group) might be preyed upon by visiting epibenthos (hyperbenthos and fishes). Consequently, the hypothesis was rejected. Also Amphipoda and Insecta larvae showed unexpected results. |
| Dataset |
- Garcia de Camargo M.; Vincx M.; Fundamental and Applied Marine Ecology Post Graduate Program (FAME). VUB; Marine Biology Section, Zoology Institute. Ugent: Belgium; (2016): Manipulative field experiment to study the predation by epibenthos on infaunal macrobenthos in a Ceriops tagal mangrove at Gazi Bay in 1992., more
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