Benthic community development in Boca de Quadra, Alaska

Abstract

The purpose of this experiment was to find ways of evaluating the community development in Boca de Quadra, a fjord in southeast Alaska, after a severe physical disturbance. Containers of defaunated sediment were used near the head of the fjord to simulate the benthic habitat after such a disturbance. Important features of community development were described, potential indicator taxa were selected, and the extent of community development was examined. Seasonal variations tended to mask the developmental trends. However, samples collected during the same season, but representing various lengths of colonization, allowed developmental trends to be observed in faunal composition, numbers of taxa, density, biomass, and diversity. Maldanidae, Nematoda, Lumbrineris luti. Leitoscoloplos pugettensis, Pholoe minuta. and Spionidae are potential indicators of community maturity.