Response of Soft-Bottom Benthos to Annual Catastrophic Disturbance in a South Florida Estuary

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Abstract
A portion of Hillsborough Bay (Tampa, Florida, USA) part of the Tampa Bay estuary, undergoes annual summer defaunation, presumably due to hypoxia. Dissolves O2 levels are very low (< 1.0 mg/l) at the times of the defaunations. In the ensuing period between defaunations, recolonization occurs. Monthly samples for 42 consecutive months were collected by SCUBA diver-operated, hand-held PVC [polyvinyl chloride] cores and screened through a 0.5 mm sieve. Eight species, Mysella planulata, Ampelisca abdita, Streblospio benedicti, Grandidierella bonnieroides, Mulinia lateralis, Mediomastus californiensis, Cyclaspis sp. and Nereis succinea were numerically dominant, accounting for > 95% of the total density during the entire period. These 8 spp. are all classified as r-strategists and utilize several dispersal mechanisms to attain large populations rapidly. Circumstantial evidence is presented which indicates that A. abdita, although classified as an r-strategist, may be an effective interference competitor.

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