An Ecophysiological Study of the Meiofauna of the Swartkops Estuary

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Abstract
Benthic O2 demand was measured by dark and light bottle technique at 2 beaches in the Swartkops estuary, near Port Elizabeth [South Africa]. Respiration of nematodes was measured by polarographic microrespirometer technique. Secondary production was 82 g C/m2 per yr in sandy areas and 863 g C/m2 per yr in muddy areas rich in the prawn Callianassa kraussi. Meiofauna production was 1.72 g C/m2 per yr in sand and 0.24 g C/m2 yr in mud. The meiofaunal contribution to secondary production was 2.1% and 0.03% for these 2 areas, respectively. The largest proportion of secondary production was due to microorganisms: 92% in sand and 75.5% in mud. Macrofauna accounted for 5.75% and 24.4%. Meiofauna in these exposed sand and mud flat areas is not quantitatively important, but the qualitative importance may be considerable.

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