Brief description
This experiment examined the temporal changes in species composition and diversity of a developing epifaunal community on artificial substrata at Portsea. The substrata used were the bare uncaged panels and cage control panels used in the experiment described in the record 'Effects of predation by fishes on the establishment of the epifaunal community at Portsea, Victoria' (File Identifier: fd9aa0f0-e4c2-11dc-9b6b-00188b4c0af8). There were 4 replicate panels that were immersed for 2, 4 or 7 months on rigs under the Portsea Pier and 6 runs of the experiment from October 1975 to November 1977. At the conclusion of each run of the experiment the panels were fixed in 4% formalin-seawater solution. In the laboratory, the number of individuals and percent cover of colonial species on each panel were recorded. In general, the 3 most abundant colonists (barnacle Elminius modestus, tubicolous amphipods and the colonial ascidian Diplosoma rayneri) in the first 2 months decreased as the experiments proceeded. In the following months the surfaces were invariably dominated by arborescent bryozoans, particularly Bugula dentata and Tricellaria porteli and encrusting bryozoans, particularly Celleporaria fusca. Once arborescent bryozoans exceeded a height of 15mm they frequently escaped overgrowth by most encrusting species. In all runs of the experiment there was an initial and usually rapid increase in diversity followed by a decrease.Lineage
Statement: PANEL SAMPLING: Percentage surface cover of epifaunal species on panels was estimated using a point sampling technique. This technique involved a thin pane of glass (180 x 180mm) divided into four 90 x 90 mm quadrats. Twenty-five random points were placed in each quadrat. The glass was placed horizontally above the panel. A replicate pane of glass was placed 10mm below the first. Both panes of glass were held in place by a specifically designed 'slotted holder' approximately 30mm above the panel. A point on the upper glass pane was lined up with a point on the lower pane and the species beneath the 2 points on the panel was identified and given a score of 1. Twenty-five random points per quadrat were used for Run 1 and 2 of the experiment and either 50 or 100 random points per quadrat were used for the remaining runs.Notes
CreditMartin, A.A., Dr
Issued: 25 02 1981
Data time period: 1975-10 to 1977-11
text: westlimit=144.727; southlimit=-38.327; eastlimit=144.727; northlimit=-38.327
text: uplimit=4.2; downlimit=1
Subjects
10 000000 |
11 000000 |
20 000000 |
22 000000 |
27 558003 |
28 401000 |
35 000000 |
35 013002 |
37 465002 |
ANIMALS/VERTEBRATES |
Ascidiacea |
BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION |
BIOSPHERE |
Biosphere | Aquatic Habitat | Benthic Habitat | artifical substrata | pier piling |
Biosphere | Aquatic Habitat | Benthic Habitat | rocky substrata |
Biosphere | Ecological Dynamics | Competition |
Biosphere | Ecological Dynamics | Predation |
Biosphere | Ecological Dynamics | Succession |
Biosphere | Zoology | Invertebrates |
Bryozoa |
COMMUNITY DYNAMICS |
Community Structure |
Didemnum augusti |
EARTH SCIENCE |
ECOLOGICAL DYNAMICS |
Elminius modestus |
Fish |
Hydrozoa |
Oceans | Marine Biology | Marine Invertebrates | epifauna |
Penicipelta vittiger |
Phyoxocephalidae |
Polychaeta |
Porifera |
Port Phillip Bay |
Portsea Pier |
Species Recruitment |
biota |
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Other Information
global : 9a56cc90-e354-11dc-97b4-00188b4c0af8
Identifiers
- global : a88f2d70-ebf6-11dc-a93a-00188b4c0af8
