The nematode fauna of two estuarine mangrove mud-flats on the South Coast of New South Wales

Abstract

The nematode fauna inhabiting mangrove mud in two NSW South Coast estuaries, at Waterfall Creek on the Clyde River and nearby Candlagan Creek, was samples four times in 1979/1908 and again 12 years later in 1991. In 1979/80 the total populations were not large by world standards, but comparable with other Australia mangrove muds (1.2 x 〖10〗^6-2.8 x 〖10〗^6 m^(-2)) comprising 20-30 species at one time. The total population was fairly constant with season in 1979/80 but had declined by 35-40% by 1991. The faunal composition and feeding patterns had also changed after 12 years at both estuaries, but without a decrease in the number of species present. Civil engineering work had been undertaken at one of the creeks, but not the other, during the interval. Diversity and maturity indices plus feeding patterns have been compared and an attempt has been made to retrospectively separate the possible effects of human interference from other changes in the nematode assemblage.