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Meiofauna from seagrass habitats: A review and prospectus for future research

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Abstract

Although many studies exist which document abundances of epibenthic and sediment-dwelling macrofauna from seagrass habitats, little descriptive or experimental information is available on meiofauna from these systems. Much of this discreapancy is a result of sampling techniques or sample processing. Herein we critically review the literature on meiofauna from temperate and tropical seagrass systems and present data on meiofauna from three subcommunities within a Tampa Bay, Florida seagrass bed—seagrass blades, sediments surrounding individual culms and the water column. Four areas for future research are identified: 1) comparisons of macrofauna and meiofauna from seagrass sites and a description of their trophic interactions; 2) elucidation of relationships between meiofauna and algal epiphytes; 3) monitoring of vertical migration of meiofauna from sediments into the water column; and 4) biogeographic comparisons of 1–3 above.

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  1. Department of Biology, University of South Florida, 33620, Tampa, Florida

    Susan S. Bell, K. Walters & J. C. Kern

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  1. Susan S. Bell
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  2. K. Walters
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  3. J. C. Kern
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Bell, S.S., Walters, K. & Kern, J.C. Meiofauna from seagrass habitats: A review and prospectus for future research. Estuaries 7, 331–338 (1984). https://doi.org/10.2307/1351617

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