A COMPARISON OF THE MOLLUSCAN COMMUNITIES ON INTERTIDAL SAND FLATS IN OYSTER HARBOUR AND PEEL INLET, WESTERN AUSTRALIA |
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Authors: | WELLS FRED E; THRELFALL TIMOTHY J |
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Institution: |
Western Australian Museum Perth, Western Australia |
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Abstract: | Intertidal molluscs on sandflats in Oyster Harbour and PeelInlet, Western Australia, were compared using transects. Twenty-fourspecies of molluscs were recorded in Oyster Harbour and only7 in Peel Inlet. Two groupings were foundin Oyster Harbour:a midlittoral component and infralittoral fringe. There wasno vertical community structure in Peel Inlet. Molluscs retainedon a 1 mm sieve had about the same mean density and biomassin the two areas but molluscs retained on a 2 mm sieve had amean density of 203/m2 and a biomass of 132 g/m2 in Oyster Harbourand were absent in Peel Inlet. Several possible reasons forthe absence of large molluscs in Peel Inlet are discussed. PeelInlet is on the west coast in a faunal overlap zone where thenumber of species is reduced. The mean temperature in Peel Inletis 2-3°C higher than in Oyster Harbour and salinity variationsare much more pronounced. (Received 20 November 1979; |
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