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Life history and production of Corophium urdaibaiense (Crustacea: Amphipoda) in the Urdaibai estuary (NE Spain)

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Abstract

The population of species Corophium urdaibaiense has been studied for a year in the Urdaibai estuary (NE Spain). The new species is characterised by its preference for muddy sand sediments (15% of mud) and the long body size (with a maximum length of 10.24 mm). The maximum abundance occurs in November (11,600 ind m−2); it almost disappears at the end of spring. The juveniles represent 79% of the population and the recruitment is concentrated within the October–December period. The breeding period begins in May, when the temperature is above 15°C, and it ceases in November, when the temperature is below 15°C. Bivoltinism is probable, taking into account the latitude (43°), temperature range (12–25°C) and breeding period (May and August–October), but the data are not sufficiently consistent to confirm the hypothesis. The production ranges from 2.93 to 5.85 g m−2 year−1, considering one and two generations per year, respectively. Some aspects concerning the food availability, predation and intraspecific competition could have an influence on the dynamics of the population and are discussed.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to Jean Claude Sorbe and Marina Cunha for helpful comments and suggestions and to Pedro Outeruelo, for identification of the insect Bledius graellsi. We also thank Professor Michael Collins for kindly revising the English. One of the authors (Víctor Pérez) was supported by a PhD fellowship from the Department of Industry, Commerce and Tourism of the Basque Government.

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Author notes

  1. Víctor Pérez

    Present address: Centre for Environmental Contaminants Research, CSIRO Land and Water, New Illawarra Road, Lucas Heights, NSW, 2234, Australia

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Marine Research Division, AZTI-Tecnalia, Muelle de la Herrera, Recinto Portuario s/n, 20110, Pasaia, Spain

    Víctor Pérez & María Jesús Belzunce

  2. Sociedad Cultural INSUB, Zemoria 12, 20013, Donostia, Spain

    Mikel A. Marquiegui

Authors
  1. Víctor Pérez
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  2. Mikel A. Marquiegui
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  3. María Jesús Belzunce
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Correspondence to Víctor Pérez.

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Communicated by S.A. Poulet, Roscoff.

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Pérez, V., Marquiegui, M.A. & Belzunce, M.J. Life history and production of Corophium urdaibaiense (Crustacea: Amphipoda) in the Urdaibai estuary (NE Spain). Mar Biol 151, 1163–1174 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-006-0558-z

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