Breeding and recruitment in a population of the New Zealand starfish Stichaster australis (Verrill)

The annual reproductive cycle of the New Zealand starfish Stichaster australis (Verrill) was determined at Maori Bay on the west coast of Auckland. S. australis has a clearly defined summer breeding season, closely repeated from year to year. Changes in the gonad shown by histological sections confirmed this cycle.S. australis juveniles reared in the laboratory were maintained on Mesophyllum insigne (Foslie) Adey substrata and the growth rates and feeding behaviour of individual starfish were determined. Settlement on the shore was from May to July each year. When the time of spawning is considered this implies a planktotrophic larval life of ≈ 6 months. This is considerably longer than laboratory studies on larval development would suggest.Growth of yearly settlement cohorts on a nursery site on the shore used in conjunction with laboratory results gave a fairly clear picture of growth after settlement. Growth rates followed a typical sigmoid curve, growth being slow initially and becoming more rapid later. The numbers of juveniles recruited to nursery areas vary from year to year but mortality following settlement appears to be low. It was found that juvenile Stichaster australis graze Mesophyllum insigne exclusively until they reach ≈ 0.8 cm in diameter (7–8 months old) when they may occasionally predate juvenile Perna canaliculus (Gmelin). The incidence of carnivorous feeding gradually increases until juveniles are ≈ 2.0–2.5 cm in diameter (15–18 months old) by which time they are exclusively carnivorous on small P. canaliculus. As growth continues juvenile starfish gradually migrate from nursery areas to adjacent reefs where there are dense beds of adult P. canaliculus. Starfish of this species become sexually mature when they reach ≈ 5–8 cm in diameter.     

Structure of the organs of attachment of brachiolaria larvae of Stichaster australis (Verrill) and Coscinasterias calamaria (Gray) (Echinodermata: Asteroidea)

The structure of the brachiolar arms and adhesive disk of the brachiolaria larvae of Stichaster australis (Verrill) and Coscinasterias calamaria (Gray) was determined from light microscopy and from scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The structure of these organs was very similar in both species.The brachiolar arms are comprised of a stem region terminating in a crown of adhesive papillae which are made up of a variety of secretory cell types. Principal among these are elongated cells producing very electron-dense secretory particles, which are released at the free cell surface attached to cilia. Secretory particles appear to be important in temporary attachment of the brachiolar arms to the substratum. Ciliary sense cells, possibly used in the recognition of specific substrata are located at the tip of adhesive papillae.The adhesive disk is comprised of large cells packed with secretory droplets and elongated intracellular fibres. In the attached adhesive disk, secretory droplets are lost, having formed the cement that attaches the disk to the substratum. It appears that adhesive papillae lateral to the adhesive disk hold the disk in position close to the substratum during secretion and hardening of the cement. The intracellular fibres are the principal anchoring structures running from microvilli (locked into the attachment cement) on the surface of the disk to the underlying connective tissue of the attachment stalk.     

Sexual and asexual reproduction in geographically separated populations of the fissiparous asteroid Coscinasterias calamaria (Gray)

Sexual reproduction and asexual reproduction by fission were studied in four populations of Coscinasterias calamaria (Gray), two in Otago Harbour in the South Island of New Zealand and two in the North Island near Auckland. The annual reproductive cycle in both islands of New Zealand is clearly defined with a spawning season between November and January. In both sites the pyloric caeca index was approximately inverse to the gonad index cycle as found in other forcipulate asteroids. There are substantial differences in the sex ratios of mature starfish at each site studied, with 1:1 ratios in two populations, one population heavily biased towards females and the fourth consisting almost entirely of males. Morphometric variation in arm number due to splitting was studied and the frequency of splitting varied considerably between the four populations. Generally speaking sublittoral C. calamaria divide less frequently than intertidal starfish and populations in which food is less abundant or of poorer quality are more fissiparous and put less energy into sexual reproduction, than populations with plentiful readily available food in the form of mussels. The significance of the different reproductive patterns in C. calamaria is discussed.     

Substratum preferences and planulae settling of two red sea alcyonaceans: Xenia macrospiculata Gohar and Parerythropodium fulvum fulvum (Forskl)

The settling behaviour and substratum preferences of the planulae of the Red Sea soft corals Xenia macrospiculata Gohar and Parerythropodium fulvum fulvum (Forskl) were examined in the laboratory. The planulae of the two species have a short pelagic phase and they tend to settle immediately upon leaving the parent colonies. Mucous secretion is used by the larvae for crawling and adhering to the substratum. They exhibit an aggregated pattern of settlement. The developing polyps are found in depressions or pits of the substratum. The planulae preferentially settle on rough substrata and avoid smooth surfaces. They search for substrata covered with an organic coating, composed of turf or crustose coralline algae. Such substrata create better conditions for larval settlement and metamorphosis. The planulae of P. f. fulvum exhibit a striking preference for upside-down attachment on undersides of the substrata, while Xenia macrospiculata utilizes both substratum faces for settlement. Light intensity seems insignificant in determining attachment sites. The findings of the experiments correspond well with the distributional patterns of juveniles of the two species as found in the natural environment. The specific requirements for settling of both species increase their chances of successful development and thus enhance their survival.     

Competition between Cellana tramoserica (Sowerby) (gastropoda) and Patiriella exigua (Lamarck) (asteroidea), and their influence on algal standing stocks

Caging experiments were undertaken in the field to test if competition occurs within and between the limpet Cellana tramoserica (Sowerby) and the starfish Patiriella exigua (Lamarck). Both species suffer from intraspecific competition, even at natural densities, and increased density reduces body weight and survival in Cellana tramoserica and growth rate in Patiriella exigua. Cellana tramoserica depresses the growth of Patiriella exigua, while the starfish unexpectedly seems beneficial to Cellana tramoserica, increasing its body weight. The difference in these effects may be due to the divergent methods of feeding used by the two species. C. tramoserica digs into the substratum and removes most available microflora, while Patiriella exigua everts its stomach onto the rock face and can only remove superficial or loosely attached microflora and detritus, and leaves a mucous web which may supplement the diet of Cellana tramoserica. Even at low densities C. tramoserica can completely prevent macroalgae from developing, while Patiriella exigua is unable to do so, although it shows the rate of development. Macroalgae grew in all the cages which contained only P. exigua, but in spite of this the starfish still suffered from intraspecific competition, probably because they cannot feed on macroalgae. Cellana tramoserica also competes by interference, and on contact with Patiriella exigua it extends its mantle and pallial tentacles, both of which may release mucus. P. exigua retreats from Cellana tramoserica, and those parts of its body that have been touched by the limpet may temporarily be immobilised and become wrinkled up. It is suggested that this interference behaviour by C. tramoserica is derived from a similar but more intense reaction that it has to invertebrate predators. Patiriella exigua lacks a pelagic larva and does not have a refuge outside the range of Cellana tramoserica. Other factors must thus be sought to explain the continued coexistence of Patiriella exigua with Cellana tramoserica. It is suggested that although C. tramoserica has a competitive effect on Patiriella exigua, it (and other grazers) may be necessary for P. exigua, preventing macroalgal growth and maintaining a surface suitable for P. exigua to feed on.     

Larval recruitment of the blue mussel Mytilus edulis: The effect of flow and algae

The mussel Mytilus edulis settlement and distribution was studied on plastic panels with manipulated flow regime (faired, bluff, split and angled) with or without water soluble metabolites of the green alga Cladophora rupestris. The panels were exposed vertically on a device (hydrovane) that ensures their constant orientation in the current during the peak of larval settlement at 1 m depth. In order to investigate larval distribution on the panels, half of them were coated with a silicone vacuum grease that prevents larvae from de-attachment. This grease was not toxic and did not attract or repel larvae. Low densities of larvae on the un-greased plates compared to the greased ones suggested that some of larvae left the substratum. The blue mussel larvae initially settled in regions of reduced shear velocity and then redistribute to the regions of high shear velocity. The presence of the alga increased the density of blue mussel larvae and changed their distribution on the panels. Overall, our results demonstrated that larval recruitment of M. edulis is an active process affected both by boundary-layer hydrodynamics and algal waterborne compounds.     

First record of the insect pathogenic alga Helicosporidium sp. (Chlorophyta: Trebouxiophyceae) infection in larvae and pupae of Rhizophagusgrandis Gyll. (Coleoptera, Rhizophaginae) from Turkey

The predator beetle Rhizophagus grandis Gyll. (Coleoptera, Rhizophaginae) is one of the most important biological control agents, mass-bred and used to suppress populations of an important pest: the great spruce bark beetle, Dendroctonus micans. The achlorophyllous alga Helicosporidium sp. was first discovered in the pest. Later it was also found in the predator, but only in the adults. In this study, the pathogenic alga Helicosporidium sp. was discovered in larvae and early pupae of R. grandis for the first time. The morphological characteristics of the pathogenic alga were revealed by light and electron microscopy. Infection rates of Helicosporidium sp. in the larvae and pupae of R. grandis were 23.5% and 6.25%, respectively.     

Growth of Nyctiphanes (Euphausiacea) on different diets

To determine the effects of diet on the growth rate of Nyctiphanes australis (Euphausiacea), metanauplii were reared to mature adults in the laboratory. Sibships (siblings from the same mother) were raised on different food items collected from the field and cultured in the laboratory. A sibship was divided at the calyptopis stage and 50% of the siblings were fed one of three experimental diets (Thalassiosira, Heterocapsa, or Phaeocystis); the balance of the siblings were fed a control diet of Tetraselmis chuii and Artemia larvae.The growth rate of siblings was not altered by the different diets. Siblings developed asynchronously, however, from egg to adult.Some animals were always at a more advanced developmental phase and by day 100, up to 25% larger than their siblings (p<0.001). A possible implication of this result is that the larval growth of N. australis is strongly influenced by genotype.     

Measuring recruitment of minute larvae in a complex field environment: The corallivorous nudibranch Phestilla sibogae (Bergh)

The nudibranch Phestilla sibogae feeds only on corals of the genus Porites. The nudibranch's minute (∼ 200 μm) larvae are specifically induced to settle and metamorphose by a chemical cue released by the coral, causing the larvae to recruit to reefs composed predominantly of Porites compressa. In this study, we investigated temporal and spatial patterns of recruitment of P. sibogae into coral reefs in Kane?ohe Bay, HI. We collected heads of P. compressa at 3-week intervals for 3 years, brought them to the laboratory and maintained them in aquaria fed with filtered seawater for 2 weeks, and then examined them for the presence of juvenile P. sibogae that had grown large enough to be seen. We found that P. sibogae recruits to the Porites reefs of Kane?ohe Bay sporadically and unpredictably throughout the year. Although most coral samples contained no or very few P. sibogae, three periods of intense recruitment (90-450 juvenile P. sibogae kg^− 1 of coral) were recorded, all in different seasons. Size-frequency analysis of recruits on the coral revealed high rates of post-settlement mortality in the field, most likely due to predation. Given the short pre-competent larval period of P. sibogae, the low rate of flushing of Kane?ohe Bay and the patterns of recruitment observed, we conclude that this population of P. sibogae is essentially a self-recruiting one. Two of the sampled reefs were characterized by unidirectional flow, allowing us to test a model of transport of larvae of P. sibogae responding to dissolved coral cue in turbulent, wavy flow. The model predicts that more larvae will be transported into upstream portions of a reef than into downstream portions, a prediction confirmed by analysis of the field-recruitment data. Furthermore, field releases of larval mimic particles also showed that most mimics landed in the upstream areas of reefs and down among the bases of coral branches, rather than at their tips.     

The hormonal regulation of the larval diapause in the codling moth, Laspeyresia pomonella (Lep. Tortricidae)

The hormonal control of the facultative diapause of the codling moth has been investigated. The diapause can be divided into 4 phases or periods: (1) diapause induction by short-day conditions (SD) in young larvae, (2) initiation of the diapause in the early last larval instar by a high titre of juvenile hormone, (3) onset and maintenance of diapause with inactivity of the neuroendocrine system, as evidenced by the results of neck-ligation experiments, (4)termination of diapause by the production of ecdysteroid.Diapause-induced larvae pupated after spinning the cocoon, if the state of induction was changed by injection with the anti-juvenile hormone precocene II at the beginning of the last larval instar and subsequent results of neck-ligation experiments, (4) termination of diapause by the production of ecdysteroid. treated with juvenile hormone during the first 1.5 days after the last larval moult and subsequently reared under SD. Under LD, continuous application of juvenile hormone during the last larval instar and after spinning did not prevent the insects from moulting to either a supernumerary larva, a pupa or a larval-pupal intermediate. Termination of diapause, i.e. pupation, was achieved by injecting diapausing larvae with 20-hydroxyecdysone. Although juvenile hormone was found to have a prothoractropic effect in diapausing larvae, no pupal moult could be induced by the application of the hormone. Contrary to the hormonal situation before pupation of nondiapausing larvae, no juvenile hormone could be detected before or during the pupation of larvae after diapause.     

外源钙离子对南方菟丝子寄生入侵植物喜旱莲子草效果的影响

外源钙离子可以有效地缓解植物在胁迫下受到的毒害,提高植物组织或细胞抗胁迫的能力。以喜旱莲子草为研究对象,采用完全随机区组的实验设计,研究不同钙离子浓度与南方菟丝子寄生对喜旱莲子草茎生物量的影响,探讨外源钙离子是否可以减少南方菟丝子对喜旱莲子草的损伤。研究表明南方菟丝子寄生对喜旱莲子草的根、茎和叶的生物量具有显著影响,且南方菟丝子寄生与外源钙离子对喜旱莲子草茎和叶的生长具有显著的交互作用。不同浓度的钙离子与南方菟丝子寄生对喜旱莲子草茎生物量存在拮抗的交互作用;而仅8 mmol/L Ca2+与南方菟丝子寄生对喜旱莲子草叶生物量存在拮抗的交互作用。不同浓度钙离子均可以缓减南方菟丝子对喜旱莲子草茎的有害效应,仅8 mmol/L Ca2+可以缓减南方菟丝子对喜旱莲子草根和叶的有害效应。2—6 mmol/L的外源钙离子对南方菟丝子寄生下的喜旱莲子草的丙二醛(MDA)含量无显著影响,但可以显著地降低过氧化物酶(POD)活性,表明低浓度的外源钙离子的添加可以缓减南方菟丝子对喜旱莲子草的寄生胁迫,并体现在生理指标上。     

Development,metamorphosis, and natural history of the nudibranch Doridella obscura Verrill (Corambidae: Opisthobranchia)

The doridacean nudibranch Doridella obscura Verrill was raised through one complete generation in laboratory culture, and spawning behavior monitored for a year at monthly intervals in Barnegat Bay, New Jersey.The nudibranch deposited egg masses throughout the year in Barnegat Bay, and the larvae remained viable at temperatures ranging from 1.5 to 28 °C. At 25 °C the eggs hatch 4 days after oviposition, and the planktotrophic veliger larvae swim and feed for 9 days before they metamorphose. Settlement occurs specifically on the bryozoan Electro crustulenta (Pallas). The spirally coiled larval shell grows rapidly until the dorsal mantle fold is retracted from the aperture 5–6 days after hatching. Although starved larvae grow only slightly and do not metamorphose, they resume normal development on introduction of suitable food. Newly metamorphosed juveniles consume algae and debris on the surface of the bryozoan until they grow large enough to attack the living zooids of E. crustulenta.The life cycle of Doridella obscura is short (26 days at 25 °C), allowing the nudibranchs to take advantage of short-lived Electra crustulenta colonies in unstable habitats in bays and estuaries.     

Development of Sebastes taczanowskii (Scorpaenidae) in the Sea of Japan off Hokkaido with a key to species of larvae

The larval and juvenile stages of Sebastes taczanowskii (Japanese name: Ezo-mebaru) are described and illustrated based on 33 wild specimens [7.1–26.9 mm in body length (BL)] collected in the Sea of Japan, and eight specimens of reared larvae extruded from the one specimen of a captive pregnant female. Larvae were extruded between 4.3–5.0 mm BL and notochord flexion occurred 5.7–9.0 mm BL. Transformation from postflexion larvae to pelagic juveniles occurred between 13 and 17 mm BL. Preflexion and flexion larvae have a single melanophore row on the dorsal surface on the tail, and an internal line of melanistic dashes on the ventral side of the tail. Lateral pigmentation of postflexion and transforming larval body surfaces are light. Compared with other Japanese rockfish species, S. taczanowskii is shallow-bodied throughout both larval and juvenile stages. We provide an identification key to preflexion and flexion stage rockfish larvae found around the Japanese archipelago, and comparisons with other species. Larval and juvenile S. taczanowskii occurred in both near-shore and relatively offshore water around Shakotan Peninsula-Ishikari Bay, Hokkaido in June and July.     

Susceptibility of early larval stages of Pseudaletia unipuncta and Spodoptera exigua (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) to the entomogenous nematode Steinernema feltiae (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae)

Early stages (neonate to 7- or 8-day-old larvae) of Spodoptera exigua and Pseudaletia unipuncta were exposed to the entomogenous nematode, Steinernema feltiae, at concentrations of 0, 10, 25, 60, 100, or 200 nematodes per larva. Larvae of both species were susceptible to nematode infections. However, neonate larvae of S. exigua were significantly less susceptible to nematode infection than 3- or 8-day-old larvae at or above 50 nematodes per larva. Mortalities of neonate larvae exposed to 50 or more nematodes ranged from 68 to 74% while mortalities of 3- and 8-day-old larvae ranged from 91 to 100%. The results with P. unipuncta showed similar trends as described for S. exigua, albeit at a lower mortality level and usually with no statistical differences. Mortalities of neonate larvae exposed to 50 or more nematodes ranged from 34 to 44% while mortalities of 7-day-old larvae ranged from 32 to 91%.     

Host-parasite relationship of the geoduck Panopea abbreviata and the green alga Coccomyxa parasitica in the Argentinean Patagonian coast

The association of the geoduck Panopea abbreviata and the green alga Coccomyxa parasitica is described. The identity of the green alga was confirmed by molecular studies; the alga was found within the hemocytes that infiltrate the connective tissue of the geoduck siphons. Cytological characteristics of hemocytes were not altered by algal infection; very often the algae were seen enveloped by a digestive vacuole within the hemocyte cytoplasm, evidencing diverse degrees of resorption. Connective cells of siphons were rarely infected by C. parasitica. The mean prevalence of C. parasitica was higher (82%) in San Matías Gulf (42°00′S, 65°05′W) than in San José Gulf (45%) (40°32′S, 64°02′W); except for spring, when the two locations showed no differences in prevalences (80%). Independently of location, season and host size, infected geoducks showed lower condition index values than uninfected ones. Regarding other bivalve species, only one specimen of the razor clam Ensis macha was found infected, and none of the oysters Ostrea puelchana and Pododesmus rudis and scallop Aequipecten tehuelchus was parasitized by the green alga.     

The impact of food type, temperature and starvation on larval development of Balanus amphitrite Darwin (Cirripedia: Thoracica)

The impact of diatom food species (Chaetoceros calcitrans and Skeletonema costatum), temperature and starvation on the larval development of Balanus amphitrite was evaluated. Starvation threshold levels for different ages of larvae (0- to 5-day-old) fed with C. calcitrans and S. costatum and then starved at 5, 15 and 25 °C temperature were estimated as ultimate recovery hour (URH; denoting the starvation point in hours at the end of which larvae can recover and continue development). Effect of temperature on starvation threshold varied significantly with larval age and food species. The URH declined with larval age at 5 °C, but not at 15 and 25 °C. The URH and grazing rates were high for early instars fed on C. calcitrans, and for advanced instars fed on S. costatum. Carbon gain through feeding was maximum for 2-day-old larvae when fed with C. calcitrans and decreased with larval age. However, when fed with S. costatum carbon gain increased with larval age. This confirms that with development the utility of food types changes. The differences in the carbon gain can be attributed to differences in grazing rate due to variations in the size of the diatom cells, larval intersetular distance, diatom sinking rate and the photo-taxic behavior of larvae. Molting was observed at times when larvae were undergoing starvation and this could be viewed as stress-induced molting, and it differed with the larval age and food organisms.     

Prey selection and the impact of the starfish Marthasterias glacialis (L.) and other predators on the mussel Choromytilus Meridionalis (Krauss)

The diet of the starfish, Marthasterias glacialis (L.), consists of a variety of mollusc species, as well as ascidians and barnacles. Starfish densities are maximal where mussels, Choromytilus meridionalis (Krauss), are abundant and in such areas mussels form the bulk of the diet. Laboratory feeding experiments indicate that Marthasterias glacialis select mussels of particular sizes and that the length of prey taken is an increasing function of predator arm length. The time taken to consume each mussel is determined by the ratio of shell length to starfish size. The number of mussels consumed per day increases only slightly with starfish size, but because the prey taken increase in size, energy consumption is maintained at a relatively consistent 1% of predator body energy per day. Using prey selection and feeding rate data for different sized starfish, predictive three dimensional predation surfaces are developed for a natural starfish population feeding on either one or two cohort Choromytilus meridionalis populations. The models indicate that predatory effort should be concentrated on the smallest mussels when a single adult cohort is present, but on recruiting mussels just above the minimum prey size limit where two cohorts are present. Other major predators of mussels, the rock lobster, Jasus lalandii (Milne Edwards), and the whelk, Natica tecta Anton, appear to select similar size-ranges of prey to starfish, despite their differing body forms and feeding methods. Since the juveniles of all three predators can only take small mussels, predator recruitment may well depend upon the successful settlement of strong mussel cohorts. Evidence for such entrainment of predator cohorts to settlements of mussels is presented.     

Larval and early juvenile development of Lithodes santolla (Molina, 1782) (Decapoda: Anomura: Lithodidae) reared at different temperatures in the laboratory

The southern king crab, Lithodes santolla Molina, is distributed in cold-temperate and subantarctic waters ranging from the southeastern Pacific island of Chiloé (Chile) and the deep Atlantic waters off Uruguay, south to the Beagle Channel (Tierra del Fuego, Argentina/Chile). Recent investigations have shown that its complete larval development from hatching to metamorphosis, comprising three zoeal stages and a megalopa, is fully lecithotrophic, i.e. independent of food. In the present study, larvae were individually reared in the laboratory at seven constant temperatures ranging from 1 to 18 °C, and rates of survival and development through successive larval and early juvenile stages were monitored throughout a period of 1 year. The highest temperature (18 °C) caused complete mortality within 1 week; only a single individual moulted under this condition, 2 days after hatching, to the second zoeal stage, while all other larvae died later in the zoea I stage. At the coldest condition (1 °C), 71% of the larvae reached the zoea III stage, but none of these moulted successfully to a megalopa. A temperature of 3 °C allowed for some survival to the megalopa stage (17-33% in larvae obtained from two different females), but only a single individual passed successfully, 129 days after hatching, through metamorphosis to the first juvenile crab instar. At all other experimental conditions (6, 9, 12 and 15 °C), survival through metamorphosis varied among temperatures and two hatches from 29% to 90% without showing a consistent trend. The time of nonfeeding development from hatching to metamorphosis lasted, on average, from 19 days at 15 °C to 65 days at 6 °C. The relationship between the time of development through individual larval or juvenile stages (D) and temperature (T) was described as a power function (D=aT^b, or log[D]=log[a]blog[T]). The same model was also used to describe the temperature dependence of cumulative periods of development from hatching to later larval or juvenile stages. One year after hatching, the 7th (6 °C) to 9th (15 °C) crab instar was reached. Under natural temperature conditions in the region of origin of our material (Beagle Channel, Argentina), L. santolla should reach metamorphosis in October-December, i.e. ca. 2 months after hatching (taking place in winter and early spring). Within 1 year from hatching, the crabs should grow approximately to juvenile instars VII-VIII. Our results indicate that the early life-history stages of L. santolla tolerate moderate cold stress as well as planktonic food-limitation in winter, implying that this species is well adapted to subantarctic environments with low temperatures and a short seasonal plankton production.     

Effects of Ilyanassa obsoleta (Say) on the abundance and vertical distribution of Corophium volutator (Pallas) on mudflats of the upper Bay of Fundy

Invertebrates in soft-bottom marine communities exhibit a range of responses to predators and competitors, including both emigration and avoidance. Corophium volutator (Pallas), a burrowing amphipod abundant in the upper Bay of Fundy, Canada, frequently interacts with the eastern mudsnail, Ilyanassa obsoleta (Say), as both species utilize similar habitats and food resources. Typically these interactions result in negative effects on C. volutator. There is evidence that Corophium species exhibit avoidance behaviour when interacting with other species, but whether such a response occurs in the presence of I. obsoleta is unknown. To investigate C. volutator response to I. obsoleta, total C. volutator abundance and vertical distribution within the sediment was examined in a field experiment involving I. obsoleta enclosures and exclosures at two mudflats in the upper Bay of Fundy. I. obsoleta densities were manipulated between June and August 2008 and their effects on C. volutator abundance and vertical distribution observed. Results varied between mudflats and C. volutator size classes. At Peck's Cove, total C. volutator abundance was largely unaffected by I. obsoleta. No size class exhibited a distribution shift in response to I. obsoleta, though both mid-sized individuals and adults occupied deeper layers of sediment late in the summer. Abundance of C. volutator in all size classes at Grande Anse was reduced in July in direct proportion to exposure to I. obsoleta, and adults occupied higher sediment layers in July when I. obsoleta were excluded, suggesting that I. obsoleta curtailed use of these upper layers. Juvenile abundance rebounded in August, possibly due to the mass dispersal of a newly produced juvenile cohort. Adults were reduced in all treatments in August, probably as a result of normal seasonal mortality. Differences in C. volutator responses between mudflats highlight the site-specific nature of such interactions.