BIOTIC

BIOTIC Species Information for Aphelochaeta marioni
All Taxonomy Biology Distribution Reproduction

Researched by	Will Rayment	Data supplied by	MarLIN
Refereed by	Dr Peter Gibbs
General Biology
Growth form	Vermiform segmented Cylindrical	Feeding method	Surface deposit feeder
Mobility/Movement	Burrower	Environmental position	Infaunal
Typical food types	Organic debris, diatoms	Habit	Burrow dwelling
Bioturbator		Flexibility	High (>45 degrees)
Fragility	Fragile	Size	Small-medium(3-10cm)
Height		Growth Rate	1-1.5 mm/month
Adult dispersal potential	100-1000m	Dependency	Independent
Sociability	Solitary
Toxic/Poisonous?	No
General Biology Additional Information	Abundance Gibbs (1969) studied the abundance of Aphelochaeta marioni (studied as Tharyx marioni) in Stonehouse Pool, Plymouth Sound. In silt/clay sediments at 5 m depth, the species occurred at a maximum density of 108,000 individuals/m². In silt/clay and fine sand at the low water mark, the maximum density was 61,150 individuals/m². Farke (1979) studied the abundance of Aphelochaeta marioni (studied as Tharyx marioni) in the Wadden Sea, Netherlands. In the intertidal, the maximum recorded abundance was 71,200 individuals/m² in muddy sand. Feeding Aphelochaeta marioni is a deposit feeder, feeding at the surface of the sediment at night. While feeding the animal remains in its burrow and the two palps roam at the surface transporting sand, debris and diatoms to the mouth along a tentacle canal crenulated with cilia. Farke (1979) is unsure whether Aphelochaeta marioni is a selective feeder, but it seems not, as sand grains have been found in the gut of the animal.
Biology References	Hayward & Ryland, 1995b, Gibbs et al., 1983, Farke, 1979, Gibbs, 1969,