Meiofauna from Seagrass Habitats: A Review and Prospectus for Future Research

Abstract
Although many studies exist which document abundances of epibenthic and sediment-dwelling macrofauna from seagrass habitats, little descriptive or experimental information is available on meiofauna from these systems. Much of this discreapancy is a result of sampling techniques or sample processing. Herein we critically review the literature on meiofauna from temperate and tropical seagrass systems and present data on meiofauna from three subcommunities within a Tampa Bay, Florida seagrass bed—seagrass blades, sediments surrounding individual culms and the water column. Four areas for future research are identified: 1) comparisons of macrofauna and meiofauna from seagrass sites and a description of their trophic interactions; 2) elucidation of relationships between meiofauna and algal epiphytes; 3) monitoring of vertical migration of meiofauna from sediments into the water column; and 4) biogeographic comparisons of 1–3 above.