Tidal current speed and production of benthic macrofauna in the lower Bay of Fundy
Wildish, D.J.; Peer, D. (1983). Tidal current speed and production of benthic macrofauna in the lower Bay of Fundy. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 1981
In: Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences = Journal canadien des sciences halieutiques et aquatiques. National Research Council Canada: Ottawa. ISSN 0706-652X; e-ISSN 1205-7533, more
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| Keywords |
Aquatic communities > Benthos
Environmental effects
Motion > Tidal motion > Tides
Temporal variations > Periodic variations > Seasonal variations
Trophic structure
Velocity > Current velocity
Marine/Coastal |
| Abstract |
The benthic production of the lower Bay of Fundy, which has an area of 8620 km2, was estimated to be 166.7 x 104 t wet biomass in summer 1978, equivalent to an average benthic production of 193 g multiplied by m-2 multiplied by yr-1. Over 88% of the production was by suspension feeders of which the horse mussel, Modiolus modiolus (Linnaeus, 1758), was by far the largest contributor. The geographic distribution of production of the major, soft-sediment, epi- and infaunal trophic groups in the lower Bay fo Fundy was in general agreement with the hypothesis that tidal currents are a major determinant of benthic distribution and production in the lower Bay. Tidal currents control sediment dynamics, as well as settlement, growth, and feeding of benthic animals. |
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