THE FEEDING AND ECOLOGY OF TWO NORTH PACIFIC ABARENICOLA SPECIES (ARENICOLIDAE, POLYCHAETA) ,

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Abstract
The ecology of 2 sympatric species of lugworm is compared. A. pacifica generally inhabits a muddier, more poorly sorted sediment than A. claparedi vagabunda. Both species feed as has been described for Arenicola marina. Abarenicola claparedi vagabunda has a higher respiration rate and a higher sediment turnover rate than A. pacifica. For both species, only about 3 to 5% of the organic C ingested is needed for maintenance. Transplantation experiments suggest that physical factors rather than availability of food limit A. pacifica to muddier sediment. However, a study of larval ecology may be necessary to explain the distribution of A. claparedi vagabunda. The similarity of feeding behavior observed in species of Arenicola and Abarenicola might be explained by the suitability of this feeding method for lugworm habitats and by the probable lack of interspecific competition for food.

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