The meiofauna of a flatfish nursery ground

Abstract

The meiofauna was studied over a 10-year period on a flatfish nursery ground between the high-water mark and a depth of 10 m below low-water springs.The sediment was well sorted sand, with median diameter from 210 to 279 μ in the intertidal area and 160 to 208 μ in the subtidal. It was composed of medium rounded quartz, with the calcium carbonate content mainly 0·25 to 2·20% by weight. Porosity was 33·39% and the coefficient of permeability ranged from 1·66 to 2·33 × 10^–2 cm per sec, indicating good drainage. The sand was usually over 90% water-saturated, and seldom less than 60%. The annual average concentration of particulate organic carbonwas 205 μg/g sand in the intertidal, and 684 μg/g at 5 m depth. Corresponding values for chlorophyll a were 0·75 and 4·50 μg/g.