. The Biological bulletin. Biology; Zoology; Biology; Marine Biology. LIFE-CYCLE SYNCHRONY IN MEL AM PUS 639 spicata, the former two species covering the better drained patches. Then there is a slightly lower, slightly wetter, zone where Distichlis is dominant, with some S. patens and with occasional clumps of the rush, Jimcus gerardi, and of another glasswort, Salicornia eitropaea. In this zone, the soil may still dry out suf- ficiently for Uca spp. to burrow. In this Distichlis zone, as in the .5". patens- Jiinciis-Distichlis zone above it, Melauipus is abundant, and it is largely in th
. The Biological bulletin. Biology; Zoology; Biology; Marine Biology. LIFE-CYCLE SYNCHRONY IN MEL AM PUS 639 spicata, the former two species covering the better drained patches. Then there is a slightly lower, slightly wetter, zone where Distichlis is dominant, with some S. patens and with occasional clumps of the rush, Jimcus gerardi, and of another glasswort, Salicornia eitropaea. In this zone, the soil may still dry out suf- ficiently for Uca spp. to burrow. In this Distichlis zone, as in the .5". patens- Jiinciis-Distichlis zone above it, Melauipus is abundant, and it is largely in these zones that copulation and egg-laying occurs at appropriate spring high tides. As discussed in detail by Blum (1968), it is in these zones that the algal community of the soil surface is characterized by the dominance of a single species of Below these zones, and in clearly wetter conditions where the soil water is near 2 3 D > O X O 0 L. MTL 8 10 12 14 16 18 HOURS OF CYCLE (ARBITRARY) 20 1700 1800 1900 2000 2100 2200 ACTUAL TIMES (JULY ) FIGURE 8. The relation of the vertical zone ( to feet above datum) occupied by natural populations of Mclainf>ns at Little Sippewisset, typical ranges of spring (— to feet) and neap ( to feet) tides, and the observed time course of actual tidal heights during one high water of springs. Note that the mean level of all tides (MTL) does not necessarily correspond to mean sea level (MSL). the surface even at low tides and there are often superficial puddles, is a zone of the "dwarf" growth form of the major marsh-grass species, Spartina alterniflora. Melampus occurs in this zone, but does not normally lay eggs in the wetter, lower parts of it. As noted above, it is in this zone that spat of Melampus may seem to be most numerous during the first four to six weeks after settlement. Lower still are the taller stands of Spartina alterniflora, mostly three to four feet in height, principall
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Keywords: ., bookauthorlilliefrankrat, booksubjectbiology, booksubjectzoology
