Jackson Estuarine Laboratory
Macroinfauna of northern New England marine sand. I. The biology of Mancocuma stellifera Zimmer, 1943 (Crustacea: Cumacea)
Abstract
Mancocuma stellifera is found in nearshore subtidal sands from the Gulf of St. Lawrence south to Cape Ann. Massachusetts, with abundance as high as 4000/0.1 m2 in coastal New Hampshire habitats. The species has two generations yearly, with maximum recruitment during June and early fall. Pre-copulatory behavior with opposed orientation of the sexes is unique for the Cumacea. Seasonal distribution data from New Hampshire and Maine to a depth of 7 m below MLW level showed over 90% of the population shallower than the 4-m depth, and abundance maxima at 1–2 m. Manca stages and older juveniles made up most of the population at 5- to 7-m depths during summer months, with manca stages the predominant life stage in night surf plankton tows during peak recruitment. SCUBA and laboratory observations indicated that the species burrows in superficial sand where it is an epistrate and detritus feeder.
Publication Date
1973
Journal Title
Canadian Journal of Zoology
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Document Type
Article
Recommended Citation
Gnewuch, W.T. and R.A. Croker. 1973. Macroinfauna of northern New England marine sand. I. The biology of Mancocuma stellifera Zimmer, 1943 (Crustacea Cumacea). Canadian Journal of Zoology 51:1011-1020.