Abstract
Distribution and ecology of continental shelf oligochaetes are poorly understood. From 1975 through 1977 baseline ecological studies were conducted in the Middle Atlantic Bight prior to oil exploration activities. A total of 38 species in three oligochaete families were collected. Of this total one family and 29 of the species were undescribed at the time of collection. The most abundant and widely distributed species were Limnodriloides monothecus, L. medioporus, Bathydrilus longus, Phallodrilus biprostatus, and Tubificoides diazi. No single species dominated the oligochaete fauna. All the oligochaete species responded to changes in physical parameters over the shelf similarly to the total macrofauna. Seasonal trends within the oligochaetes were not found. Species that preferred coarser sand sediments were all small interstitial forms. The finer sand and eurytopic species were all burrowers. Zoogeographically the Middle Atlantic Bight oligochaetes were predominantly temperate (16 species) with some southern species (8). Seven species were broadly distributed from the Caribbean to Massachusetts or around the world. Seven species were only known from the area studied.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Baker, H. R., 1984. Diversity and zoogeography of marine Tubificidae (Annelida, Oligochaeta) with notes on variation in widespread species. Hydrobiologia 115: 191–196.
Boesch, D. F., 1979. Benthic ecological studies: macrobenthos. In: Middle Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf Environmental Studies. Spec. Rept. Appl. Mar. Sci. Ocean Engin. No. 194. Virginia Institute of Marine Science, Gloucester Pt., VA, 301pp
Briggs, J. C., 1974. Marine zoogeography. McGraw-Hill Co., San Francisco, 475 pp.
Brinkhurst, R. O., 1986. Taxonomy of the genus Tubificoides Lastockin (Oligochaeta, Tubificidae): species with bifid setae. Can. J. Zool. 64: 1270–1279.
Brinkhurst, R. O. & H. R. Baker, 1979. A review of the marine Tubificidae (Oligochaeta) of North America. Canad. J. Zool. 57: 1553–1569.
Chapman, P. N. & R. O. Brinkhurst, 1984. Lethal and sublethal tolerances of aquatic oligochaetes with reference to their use as a biotic index of pollution. Hydrobiologia 115: 139–144.
Coates, K. A. & C. Erseus, 1985. Marine enchytraeids (Oligochaeta) of the Coastal Northwest Atlantic (Northern and mid U.S.A.). Zool. Sci. 14: 103–116.
Cook, D. G., 1969. The tubificidae (Annelida, Oligochaeta) of Cape Cod Bay with a taxonomic revision of the genera Phallodrilus Pierantoni, 1902, Limnodriloides Pierantoni, 1903, and Spiridion Knollner, 1935. Biol. Bull. 136: 9–27.
Cook, D. G., 1971. The tubificidae (Annelida, Oligochaeta) of Cape Cod Bay. II. Ecology and systematics with the description of Phallodrilus parviatriatus nov. sp. Biol. Bull. 141: 203–221.
Cook, D. G. & R. O. Brinkhurst, 1973. Marine flora and fauna of the Northeastern United States. Annelida: Oligochaeta. NOAA Tech. Rept. NMFS CIRC-374, 22 pp.
Davis, D., 1985. The Oligochaeta of Georges Bank (NW Atlantic), with descriptions of four new species. Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash. 98: 158–176.
Diaz, R. J., 1981. Ecology of tidal freshwater and estuarine Tubificidae (Oligochaeta). In: R. D. Brinkhurst & D. G. Cook (eds.), Aquatic Oligochaete Biology, Plenum Press, New York, p. 319–330.
Erseus, C. (in press). Marine Tubificidae (Oligochaeta) at Hutchinson Island, Florida. Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., 00: 000-000.
Erseus, C. & D. R. Strehlow, 1986. Four new interstitial species of marine Oligochaete representing a new family. Zool. Scr. 15: 53–60.
Giere, O. & O. Pfannkuche, 1982. Biology and ecology of marine Oligochaeta. A review. Oceanogr. mar. Biol. annu. Rev. 20: 173–308.
Hayden, B. P. & R. Dolan, 1976. Coastal marine fauna and marine climates of the Americas. J. Biogeogr. 3: 71–81.
Holland, A. F., N. K. Mountford & J. A. Mihursky, 1977. Temporal variation in upper bay mesohaline benthic communities: I. 9-m mud habitat. Chesapeake Sci. 18: 370–378.
Lasserre, P., 1971. The marine enchytraeidae (Annelida, Oligochaeta) of the eastern coast of North America with notes on their geographical distribution and habits. Biol. Bull. 140: 440–460.
Leppakowski, E., 1969. Transitory return of the benthic fauna of the Barnholm Basin after extermination by oxygen insufficiency. Cah. Biol. Mar. 10: 163–172.
Rosenberg, R., 1977. Benthic macrofaunal dynamics, production, and dispersion in an oxygen deficient estuary of West Sweden. J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol. 26: 107–134.
Schaffner, L. C. & D. F. Boesch, 1982. Spatial and temporal resource use by dominant benthic Amphipoda (Ampelisicdae and Corophiidae) on the Middle Atlantic Bight outer continental shelf. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 9: 231–243.
Sharp, J. (ed.), 1976. Anoxia on the Middle Atlantic Shelf during the summer of 1976. Report on a workshop, Washington, D.C., University of Delaware. 122 pp.
Weston, D. P., 1983. Distribution of macrobenthic invertebrates on the North Carolina continental shelf with consideration of sediment, hydrography and biogeography. Ph.D. Dissertation, College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA, 154 pp.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Contribution No. 1397 of the Virginia Institute of Marine Science.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Diaz, R.J., Erséus, C. & Boesch, D.F. Distribution and ecology of Middle Atlantic Bight Oligochaeta. Hydrobiologia 155, 215–225 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00025654
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00025654