ABSTRACT

Recent studies have increased the known diversity and distribution of kinorhynchs in the Gulf of Mexico. For this study, sediment was sampled from Alabama coastal waters at shallow depths ranging from 11 to 26 metres. The 13 stations were positioned to the west and east of the mouth of Mobile Bay as well as at central locations. A total of 320 animals were collected. Animal densities ranged from 0 to 66 ind./10 cm², with an average of 9.6 ind./10 cm². The majority of the identified animals (97%) belonged to four species. Animal densities were highest at stations clustered at the mouth of Mobile Bay and correlated positively with higher levels of most trace metals, organic matter and silt/clay. Animal density correlated negatively with total sand, surface salinity and water depth. These data revealed a surprisingly low abundance of animals to the east and west of Mobile Bay compared to higher densities at the mouth of the Bay, suggesting that their populations are heavily influenced by the water entering the Gulf from the Bay. Efflux from the Bay provides a source for finer sediment, which is likely an important driving factor influencing higher kinorhynch diversity and density.

摘要

最近的研究增加了已知在墨西哥湾的亲属多样性和分布。在本研究中，沉积物是从阿拉巴马州沿海水域的11至26米的浅层深度取样的。这13个站点分别位于莫比尔湾口的西部和东部以及中心位置。总共收集了320只动物。动物密度范围为0到66 ind./10 cm ²，平均为9.6 ind./10 cm ²。大部分已识别的动物（97％）属于四个物种。聚集在莫比尔湾口的站点上的动物密度最高，并且与大多数痕量金属，有机物和粉砂/粘土的较高含量呈正相关。动物密度与总沙粒，表面盐分和水深呈负相关。这些数据显示，与海湾口处较高的密度相比，莫比尔湾东部和西部的动物数量低得令人惊讶，这表明它们的种群受到从海湾进入海湾的水的影响很大。海湾的外流提供了较细的沉积物，这可能是影响较高的亲鱼多样性和密度的重要驱动因素。