Some Aspects of the Ecology and Life Cycle of Three Species of Subtidal Sand-Burrowing Amphipods (Crustacea: Haustoriidae)

Abstract

The life cycles and some aspects of the ecology of the subtidal haustoriid amphipods Acanthohaustorius millsi Bousfield, Parahaustorius longimerus Bousfield, and Protohaustorius deichmannae Bousfield, found on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, are described. All species are annual breeders, the first two species having one brood of eggs and the last species more than one brood. The first ovigerous females appear when the water temperature reaches 5.5–10 C. All species migrate into the sands just below the low tide zone in May and remain there until late August when they start to migrate into deeper waters. The growth of populations of the three species found at Nobska Beach and Barnstable Harbor are discussed.