BIOTIC

BIOTIC Species Information for Ampelisca brevicornis

Researched by

Lizzie Tyler

Data supplied by

University of Sheffield

Refereed by

This information is not refereed.

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Ampelisca brevicornis

Common name

An amphipod

MCS Code

S427

Recent Synonyms

Ampelisca bellianus

Phylum

Crustacea

Subphylum

Superclass

Class

Eumalacostraca

Subclass

Peracarida

Order

Amphipoda

Suborder

Gammaridea

Family

Ampeliscidae

Genus

Ampelisca

Species

brevicornis

Subspecies

Additional Information

Accurate identification of amphipods can be difficult and usually requires some microscopic examination (see Lincoln, 1979).

Taxonomy References

Howson & Picton, 1997, Hayward & Ryland, 1995b, Hayward et al., 1996, Lincoln, 1979,

General Biology

Growth form

Articulate

Feeding method

Passive suspension feeder
Active suspension feeder
Surface deposit feeder
Sub-surface deposit feeder

Mobility/Movement

Swimmer
Crawler

Environmental position

Epifaunal
Infaunal

Typical food types

No text entered

Habit

Tubiculous

Bioturbator

Flexibility

Low (10-45 degrees)

Fragility

Intermediate

Size

Small(1-2cm)

Height

Growth Rate

Adult dispersal potential

100-1000m

Dependency

Independent

Sociability

Solitary

Toxic/Poisonous?

General Biology Additional Information

Create silt tubes that may be built up into extensive mats.

Biology References

Hayward & Ryland, 1990, Julie Bremner, unpub data,

Distribution and Habitat

Distribution in Britain & Ireland

Common around all British and Irish coasts.

Global distribution

Found round north west Atlantic coasts from west Norway to the western Mediterranean, and in the Canary Isles. Cosmopolitan distribution, found in shallow waters from Atlantic coasts of Africa, Med, Indian and Pacific Oceans (Hastings, 1981).

Biogeographic range

Not researched

Depth range

Migratory

Distribution Additional Information

Substratum preferences

Muddy gravel
Muddy sand

Physiographic preferences

Insufficient information

Biological zone

Upper Infralittoral
Circalittoral Offshore
Sublittoral Fringe
Upper Circalittoral
Lower Circalittoral
Lower Infralittoral
Lower Eulittoral

Wave exposure

Insufficient information

Tidal stream strength/Water flow

Field unresearched

Salinity

Insufficient information

Habitat Preferences Additional Information

Distribution References

Hayward & Ryland, 1995b, Hayward et al., 1996, Lincoln, 1979, NBN, 2002, Hastings, 1981, Hayward & Ryland, 1995b,

Reproduction/Life History

Reproductive type

Gonochoristic

Developmental mechanism

Direct Development

Reproductive Season

Reproductive Location

Insufficient information

Reproductive frequency

Annual protracted

Regeneration potential

Life span

1-2 years

Age at reproductive maturity

<1 year

Generation time

Insufficient information

Fecundity

Egg/propagule size

Fertilization type

Larvae/Juveniles
Larval/Juvenile dispersal potential	Very limited (<1m)	Larval settlement period	Insufficient information
Duration of larval stage	Not relevant

Reproduction Preferences Additional Information

The majority of amphipods are known to brood their young, so that juvenile mobility is probably low but adult mobility is potentially high. Timing on breeding depends on geographic location e.g. May to Oct in one site in France, April to Dec in the other (Dauvin, 1988e), May to Sept on Isle of Man (Hastings, 1981). Some produce two generations per year, others one. First generation live only for four to five months, second generation much longer (Dauvin, 1988e).

Reproduction References

Dauvin, 1988e, Eckert, 2003, Julie Bremner, unpub data,