Active and Passive Settling By Marine Benthic Nematodes

<p>This study investigates whether active processes participate in the settlement of marine benthic nematodes. The settling rates of three estuarine benthic nematode taxa were examined in a linear flume using two treatments defined by the type of sediment bed placed in the flume. One treatment bed contained sediments rendered "unattractive" by boiling. The other treatment bed contained unaltered "attractive" sediment. Preliminary still water choice experiments confirmed the attractive and unattractive properties of these sediment treatments with each taxon. Recolonization trays placed in the field confirmed that each taxon did disperse in the water column. One taxon (Theristus sp?) exhibited significantly higher settling velocities over the attractive sediment bed than the unattractive sediment bed. Although like most other benthic nematode taxa, Theristus sp? does not swim, its active behavior, coiling ability, a body length over 1 mm, and weak adhesive glands may be factors that enable or enhance its settling rate over attractive sediments or retard settling rates over unattractive sediments.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Biological Sciences

Year dc:date.available

1997

Author dc:creator

• Bertelsen, Rodney Duane

Contributors dc:contributor

• Daniel M. Dauer
• Raymond W. Alden III
• Mark W. Luckenbach

• Marine benthic nematodes
• Sediment bed
• Flume
• Estuary
• Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Statement dc:rights

• <p>In Copyright. URI: <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/</a> This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).</p>

Identifier

9780591485684

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.odu.edu:biology_etds-1052