Animal-sediment relations in shallow water benthic communities

摘要: Abstract Ninety benthic samples were used to study animal-sediment relations in Tomales Bay, California. While most of the species studied found more often a particular type substrate, individuals such occasionally other substrates. There is striking tendency for occurring outside their characteristic environment be associated with diverse assemblages foreign substrate. Species low order succession are those that frequently on These phenomena explained terms environmental stability. The concepts involved suggest means predicting sequence faunal changes following alteration A commonly index diversity (Brillouin's equation) was very sensitive occurrence two ubiquitous species. high correlation obtained between number and when not considered. Bay gradational variation correspondingly continuous. Under circumstances, described probably apparent than areas where slope gradient greater. Similar would expected, however, deep sea continuous stratigraphic sequences geologic record.