Do Tides Affect Coastal Insect Communities?

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Abstract
Clip-quadrat samples taken prior to, during and after inundating tides in Salicornia and Spartina salt marshes during 1 yr revealed that periodic tidal inundation had little effect upon the number of adult species or their vertical stratification within the marsh vegetation. Possible explanations for the insects'' remaining in the marsh during inundation are considered. Sorensen''s Quotient of Similarity demonstrated little alteration in species composition and a trophic analysis showed no change in the relative proportion of herbivores, saprovores or predators as a result of inundation. The possibility that salt-marsh insects remaining in place on the vegetation during inundating tides may be a result of early morning sampling is considered. These findings support previous conclusions that salt-marsh insect populations are regulated primarily by biological rather than physical factors.

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