Meiofauna-macrofauna interactions: I. Sand beach meiofauna affected by maturing Limulus eggs

Abstract

Differential aggregation of meiofauna was associated with the presence of maturingLimulus eggs in a Roosevelt Inlet, Delaware, beach. Nematodes, gastrotrichs, oligochaetes and rotifers increased, whereas harpacticoid copepods, tardigrades and megalops larvae decreased; ostracods, turbellarians and nauplius larvae remained constant. Increase of Gastrotricha was attributable to but one of the several species present.