Role of meiofauna in estuarine soft‐bottom habitats*

摘要: Meiofauna are ubiquitous in estuaries worldwide averaging 10 6 m 2 . Abundance and species composition controlled primarily by three physical factors: sediment particle size, temperature salinity. While meiofauna integral parts of estuarine food webs, the evidence that they biologically is equivocal. Top down (predation) control clearly does not regulate meiofaunal assemblages. reproduce so rapidly abundant predators cannot significantly reduce population size. Food quantity (bottom up control) also appear to limit abundance; there little data on effect quality. In sediments meiofauna: (i) facilitate biomineralization organic matter enhance nutrient regeneration; (ii) serve as for a variety higher trophic levels; (iii) exhibit high sensitivity anthropogenic inputs, making them excellent sentinels pollution. Generally mineralization enhanced bacterial production stimulated presence meiofauna. Tannins from mangrove detritus northern Queensland inhibit abundance therefore role breakdown leaves. Meiofauna, particularly copepods, known foods especially juvenile fish copepods essential fatty acids required fish. The copepod's acid like microphytobenthos eat; eaters (nematodes?) do have necessary Most contaminants reside sediments, intimately associated with over their entire life-cycle, thus increasingly being used pollution sentinels. Australian research has been concentrated Queensland, Hunter River system New South Wales, Victoria's coastal lagoons. Studies nematodes matter, whereas those southern grazers. Wales studies estuary structure function marine nematode communities. Victoria, several shown eat world hardly touched; innumerable opportunities studies. contaminated reduced coupling between basic ecological question habitat suitability, but relevance management resources, Because short lifecycles, effects contaminant life-history can be assessed within relatively time. use modern molecular biology techniques assess genetic diversity vs uncontaminated promising avenue future research. Much important functions take place very muddy substrata ; thus, it imperative retain mudflats estuaries.