Hypoxic tolerance of marine benthic fauna

摘要: In stratified coastal marine waters hypoxia is a growing problem affecting bottom-dwelling animals Earlier studies suggest oxygen concentrations of about 2 m l (Rosenberg 1980) as the lower tolerance limit for many benthic species in areas. We exposed several conspicuous infaunal on NE Atlantic continental shelf, contained within their sediment habitat, to gradually reduced concentrations. Tolerance 8 examined was range 0.5 1.0 (8 15 % saturation), which they could tolerate days weeks. The ophiuroid Amphiura fihformis left its protected position at an concentration 0.85 ml1-I (13 sat.), whereas A. chiajei emerged from 0.54 sat.).