Population ecology of Sinelobus stanfordi (Crustacea: Tanaidacea) in a temperate southern microtidal estuary

Abstract

Sinelobus stanfordi is a tanaidacean of worldwide distribution of considerable significance within coastal ecosystems t. The aim of this research was to provide essential information on the poorly-known population biology of this species. Benthic samples were taken seasonally from winter 2005 t through summer 2007, along 155 km of shoreline within the Riío de la Plata estuary, Argentina. The density of this tanaidacean was higher in vegetated than in bare sediments. The smallerst individuals flourished in spring and summer, whereas the larger mature members prevailed in the cooler seasons. Females were always twice as abundant as the males. Copulatory females, with 18 ±8 eggs each, were collected during all the seasons. Five cohorts were distinguished by the Vvon-Bertalanffy growth function. This report represents a baseline investigation for future studies on the population dynamics of S. stanfordi both in this estuary and as in other places where theis species is found.