Animal-sediment relations and community analysis of a Florida estuary

摘要: Five species assemblages of the intertidal infauna Old Tampa Bay, Florida, USA are identified. Two judged to constitute distinct communities, while a third is shown be an interdigitation two communities. Dominance by on prevalent pattern within assemblages. Numbers deposit feeders found inversely correlated that filter feeders, and both trophic types sediment parameters median grain size, sorting skewness. Three transects with three stations each were established along south side Courtney Campbell Causeway in Florida. A faunal sample (0.4 m2), sample, water taken at station September, December, March 1968/1969. Sediment samples wet-seived. Animal reduced numbers organisms biomass per species. Trellis diagrams correlation tests generated. Support for group-amensalims hypothesis, however, silt-clay fraction apparently lesser importance Florida sediments than Buzzards Bay sediments. An attempt made relate analysis optimal size group-amensalism hypothesis. view communities as abstractions from continua more realistic discrete units.