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The ecology and reproductive cycle of a population of Marenzelleria viridis (Annelida: Polychaeta: Spionidae) in the Tay Estuary

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 December 2011

S. M. Atkins ,
A. M. Jones  and
P. R. Garwood
S. M. Atkins
Affiliation:
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 4HN, U.K.
A. M. Jones
Affiliation:
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 4HN, U.K.
P. R. Garwood
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, Dove Marine Laboratory, Cullercoats, North Shields, Tyne and Wear NE30 4PZ, U.K.
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Synopsis

The occurrence of a population of the spionid polychaete Marenzelleria viridis (Verrill 1873) in the middle reaches of the Tay Estuary is reported. This is a new British and European record of a North American species, and its principal characteristics are described and compared with earlier accounts. Size frequency analysis of the population showed it to be dominated by large animals from July 1984 to May 1986. The population matured coelomic gametes during winter 1985–86 and spawned in March 1986 to produce a heavy settlement in May, which subsequently grew rapidly. The distribution of M. viridis in relation to other species, sediment and other ecological parameters is described from a single survey of the Invergowrie Bay mudflats. Marenzelleria population densities of up to 1500 m 2 were negatively correlated with all other species of a low diversity macrofaunal community dominated by predatory polychaetes and filter feeding bivalves. Marenzelleria was abundant down to sediment depths of 20–30 cm. The significance and origin of this population is discussed.

Type
Research Article
Information
Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, Section B: Biological Sciences , Volume 92 , Issue 3-4: The Environment of the Tay Estuary , 1987 , pp. 311 - 322
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Society of Edinburgh 1987

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