East Tennessee State University Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University Electronic Theses and Dissertations Student Works 5-2002 Marine Interstitial Tardigrades and Other Meiofauna of Huntington Beach, South Carolina. Michael Scott aG ugler East Tennessee State University Follow this and additional works at: https://dc.etsu.edu/etd Part of the Marine Biology Commons Recommended Citation Gaugler, Michael Scott, "Marine Interstitial Tardigrades and Other Meiofauna of Huntington Beach, South Carolina." (2002). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 734. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/734 This Thesis - Open Access is brought to you for free and open access by the Student Works at Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Electronic Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Marine Interstitial Tardigrades and Other Meiofauna of Huntington Beach, South Carolina _____________________ A thesis presented to the faculty of the Department of Biological Sciences East Tennessee State University _____________________ In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Master of Science in Biology _____________________ by Michael S. Gaugler May 2002 __________________________ Dr. Diane R. Nelson, Chair Dr. Dan M. Johnson Dr. Darrell J. Moore Keywords: Marine, Tardigrades, Meiofauna, Distribution ABSTRACT Marine Interstitial Tardigrades and Other Meiofauna of Huntington Beach, South Carolina by Michael S. Gaugler At Huntington Beach, SC meiofauna distribution was investigated. The purpose of the study was to determine tardigrade species present and any significant differences in the distribution pattern. Meiofauna were analyzed to determine if there were significant differences in their distribution patterns in relation to abiotic variables. Cores were taken in the intertidal zone along three elevations. Each core was divided into depth samples and was processed to remove meiofauna. Each taxon (>1500 specimens) and tardigrades was statistically analyzed using three-way ANOVA to compare distribution patterns. There were eighteen taxa identified and an estimated 330,338 specimens. The seven dominant taxa were Nematoda, Copepoda, Oligochaeta, Mystacocarida, Sarcomastigophora, Halacaroidea, and Turbellaria. The community and each taxon demonstrated one or more significant differences in their distribution pattern. Tardigrada had 326 specimens collected and 300 identified to species in five genera. Elevation was a source of significant variation for tardigrades. 2 Copyright 2001 by Michael S. Gaugler 3 DEDICATION To my grandfather, who taught me that you do not always have to make sense to be understood. 4 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to thank my committee members, Dr. Diane R. Nelson, Dr. Dan Johnson, and Dr. Darrell Moore, for all they have done for me. I wish to specially thank my committee chair, Dr. Diane R. Nelson, for giving me the opportunity to succeed and to fail during these past years. I also wish to thank my family for all of their support and understanding. I especially wish to thank Misty for all of her help throughout this project. As a girlfriend she helped me collect my samples and as a wife she helped with the final revision of this thesis. Thank you for everything. 5 CONTENTS Page ABSTRACT............................................................................................................................ 2 COPYRIGHT ......................................................................................................................... 3 DEDICATION........................................................................................................................ 4 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ...................................................................................................... 5 LIST OF TABLES .................................................................................................................. 10 LIST OF FIGURES ................................................................................................................ 13 Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................... 15 2. MATERIALS AND METHODS..................................................................................... 24 Description of Study Site.............................................................................................. 24 Sample Collection........................................................................................................ 24 Sample Processing....................................................................................................... 28 Species Identification.................................................................................................... 29 Data Analysis............................................................................................................... 29 3. RESULTS ....................................................................................................................... 31 Species Descriptions .................................................................................................... 31 Batillipes bullacaudatus ....................................................................................... 31 Description...................................................................................................... 31 Discussion........................................................................................................ 35 6 Chapter Page Batillipes carnonensis........................................................................................... 35 Description...................................................................................................... 35 Discussion........................................................................................................ 37 Batillipes cf. dicrocercus ...................................................................................... 37 Description...................................................................................................... 37 Discussion........................................................................................................ 37 Batillipes littoralis ................................................................................................ 39 Description...................................................................................................... 39 Discussion........................................................................................................ 39 Batillipes mirus..................................................................................................... 39 Description...................................................................................................... 39 Discussion........................................................................................................ 42 Batillipes cf. noerrevangi ..................................................................................... 42 Description...................................................................................................... 42 Discussion........................................................................................................ 44 Batillipes pennaki................................................................................................. 44 Description...................................................................................................... 44 Discussion........................................................................................................ 44 Batillipes roscoffensis........................................................................................... 44 Description...................................................................................................... 44 7 Chapter Page Discussion........................................................................................................ 47 Halechiniscus greveni........................................................................................... 47 Description...................................................................................................... 47 Discussion........................................................................................................ 47 Orzeliscus belopus................................................................................................ 49 Description...................................................................................................... 49 Discussion........................................................................................................ 49 Batillipes Sp. A................................................................................................... 51 Description...................................................................................................... 51 Discussion........................................................................................................ 51 Batillipes Sp. B..................................................................................................... 53 Description...................................................................................................... 53 Discussion.......................................................................................................