Seasonal vertical distribution of the intertidal macroinfauna in an estuary of South-Central Chile

Seasonal sampling of sediments (May 1988-May 1989), carried out at two intertidal areas of the Queule River Estuary, was used to analyse the vertical distribution of the macroinfauna and sedimentological characteristics. In all seasons, the substratum characteristics of both areas showed small differences between 0 and 12 cm depth. The macroinfauna of both areas showed a clear stratification with the highest abundances at the superficial layer of sediment (0-3 cm). No spatial partitioning among the species was evident. It was concluded that the substratum characteristics were not a primary factor in determining the stratification of the macroinfauna. However, some physical factors may well limit the burrowing capabilities of the species (e.g. the discontinuity between the oxidized and reduced sediments), as well as biological factors such as body size (particularly that of the juveniles) and responses against epibenthic predation by burrowing to deeper sediments. Some of these factors would probably better explain the vertical distribution of the intertidal macroinfauna in the Queule River Estuary. (C) 1996 Academic Press LimitedPT: J; CR: ADMIRAAL W, 1984, OIKOS, V42, P30 ADMIRAAL W, 1984, PROGR PHYCOLOGICAL R, V3, P269 ANDERSSON CA, 1981, ADV CERAM, V3, P184 BERTRAN CE, 1989, REV CHIL HIST NAT, V62, P19 BLUNDON JA, 1982, J EXP MAR BIOL ECOL, V65, P67 BRENCHLEY GA, 1981, J MAR RES, V39, P767 BREY T, 1991, ESTUAR COAST SHELF S, V33, P339 CROKER RA, 1980, MAR BIOL, V61, P79 EISMA D, 1987, PROCESSES NEARSHORE, P57 GRANT J, 1981, J EXP MAR BIOL ECOL, V49, P255 HADDON M, 1987, MAR BIOL, V94, P25 HINES AH, 1985, ESTUARIES, V8, P296 HINES AH, 1990, MAR ECOL-PROG SER, V67, P105 JARAMILLO E, 1984, REV CHIL HIST NAT, V58, P127 JOHNSON RG, 1977, J MAR RES, V35, P273 JOSEFSON AB, 1989, SCI MAR, V53, P307 MEADOWS PS, 1989, MAR BIOL, V101, P75 PATERSON DM, 1986, DIATOM RES, V1, P227 PETERSON CH, 1977, MAR BIOL, V43, P343 PETERSON CH, 1980, ECOLOGY, V61, P129 PETERSON CH, 1982, J EXP MAR BIOL ECOL, V63, P249 POSEY MH, 1986, J EXP MAR BIOL ECOL, V103, P143 POSEY MH, 1991, J EXP MAR BIOL ECOL, V148, P283 QUIJON P, 1993, ESTUAR COAST SHELF S, V37, P655 QUIJON P, 1996, ESTUARIES READING CJ, 1978, EST COAS M, V6, P135 REISE K, 1983, MAR ECOL-PROG SER, V12, P229 REVSBECH NP, 1980, LIMNOL OCEANOGR, V25, P403 RHOADS DC, 1970, J MAR RES, V28, P150 RICE DL, 1986, MAR ECOL-PROG SER, V30, P9 RISK MJ, 1980, COASTLINE CANADA, P189 ROBERTS D, 1989, J EXP MAR BIOL ECOL, V126, P271 SOKAL RR, 1969, BIOMETRIA STOLINE MR, 1981, AM STAT, V35, P134 TURNER A, 1984, MEDIO AMBIENTE, V7, P29 VELAZQUEZ C, 1987, THESIS U AUSTRAL CHI VENEGAS CR, 1992, TYESIS U AUSTRAL CHI WHITLATCH RB, 1980, J MAR RES, V38, P743 ZWARTS L, 1986, J EXP MAR BIOL ECOL, V101, P25; NR: 39; TC: 3; J9: ESTUAR COAST SHELF SCI; PG: 11; GA: VU658Source type: Electronic(1