The Ecology of the Amphipoda of the South of the Isle of Man

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Abstract
A survey was made during 1946 covering the Amphipoda of the south end of the Isle of Man from an ecological aspect. The object was to revise the records of the area and to obtain additional information about the habitats of the species found.The area in which the survey took place was within a radius of 10 miles from Port Erin.Various sorts of gear were used for collection offshore and it is concluded that the fine-meshed dredge is the most useful instrument for collecting amphipods.A systematic treatment of the species found includes a summary of records regarding habitat for each species.It is suggested that the Amphipoda may be of greater economic importance than has previously been realized.A discussion of offshore, intertidal, and brackish-water habitats includes lists of the more important species obtained grouped according to type of ground and zonation with regard to tidal level and salinity. The importance of offshore species is assessed on a basis of the average number of individuals collected per haul.Comparison of the zonation of littoral and estuarine species with that known from other areas reveals a general agreement.The existence of more than one form of several species of the genus Gammarus is discussed and it is suggested that they are in an active state of evolution.I am indebted to Prof. J. H. Orton for encouragement and discussion, and to Mr G. M. Spooner for allowing me to read a proof of his recent paper.

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