International Journal of Marine Science 2015, Vol.5, No.13, 1-11
10
community (Hart and Fuller, 1979).High density of
CF has been associated with increase fine particulate
organic matter (FPOM) in aquatic systems (Vannote et
al
.,
1980). The intake of a wide spectrum of food
particles has been stated to be the strategy for
filter-feeders to maintain their high secondary biomass.
At the same time decomposition of allochthonous
matter
provides
feeding
substratum
for
collectors-filterers, and sediment feeders (Lancaster et
al., 2003). In general, the substrates used in this
experiment appeared to provide better habitat or food
resource for collector-filterers than for other
functional feeding groups.
Collector-gatherers are known to be rare in sandy
substrates, this may account for their low
representation in cages 1- 4 may compared to cage 5.
Collector-gatherers are attached to substrate surfaces,
and therefore are ill adapted to shifting sand habitats.
The relation of shredders to leaf litter has been
extensively discussed, and they are typically most
abundant where there is a strong interaction between
the aquatic system and the riparian vegetation
(Vannote et al., 1980). Predators were only recorded in
samples collected in cage 4, and may be responding to
relatively high prey densities in this cage (Peckarsky
and Taylor, 2000).
In general, invertebrate abundance and taxa richness
in experimental cages were not significantly related to
either TOC as we had predicted. Our results contrast
with other studies conducted with coarser sediments
that found a positive relationship between invertebrate
community metrics and BOM quantity or quality
(Egglishaw, 1964). However, invertebrate abundance
and diversity were significantly related to nitrate and
phosphate concentrations in substrates. It has being
opined that higher invertebrate abundance and
diversity may lower TOC via preferential feeding on
more nutritional TOC (Myers and Southgate, 1980).
Some invertebrates eat just the mesophyll of leaves,
while avoiding venation, which increases lignin and
cellulose content while decreasing TOC quality
(Mackay, 1992).
Accounting for differences in the degree and rate of
colonization of substrates by invertebrate communities
is important to benthic ecologists, as this will further
buttress the understanding of community response to
disturbed systems and colonization of new areas.
Further studies of invertebrate community
colonization of artificial substrates should focus on
succession patterns and community dynamics before a
stable community is established with a view to
understanding the factors important in determining
community structure.
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