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Variations in paragnath number of Hediste diversicolor from the Basque coast, in relation to habitat conditions

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 August 2000

L. Garcia-Arberas
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, University of the Basque Country, E-48080 Bilbao, PO Box 644, Spain
A. Rallo
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, University of the Basque Country, E-48080 Bilbao, PO Box 644, Spain
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Abstract

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Hediste diversicolor from several populations on the Basque coast shows great intraspecific variation in the number of paragnaths (chitinous teeth) in its proboscis. Interpopulation variation in the number of paragnaths was observed in groups I and III. Most group numbers are strongly correlated; only group VI seems to behave independently. In general, the number of paragnaths is higher than those from earlier studies on other populations at locations along the whole latitudinal gradient of the species distribution; groups II and VI are the most stable. A significant relationship was observed between the paragnath number and the granulometry of sediment: in general the number is higher in coarse sandy sediments and decreases with the fine grain fraction.

Type
Brief Report
Copyright
2000 Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom