Sandbar Area
The sandbar area is near the mouth of the bay.
This area is likely the most exposed to tidal currents and wave action.
The types of burrowing animals found here could be the result of wave action
that provides a consistent source of fine food particles, or of the larger
grain size distribution that allows greater water flow throught the substratum.
The area consisted of fine sand (more information on sediments can be found
here) and intersected with an
extensive eelgrass bed.
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Jon Payne (right) and Mike Hickerson (left) on the sandbar
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Tubes of worms in the families Maldanidae and Chaetopteridae
near eelgrass.
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The burrowing polychaete Axiothella
rubrocincta and the echinoderm Leptosynapta
clarki dominated this area. Mesochaetopterus
taylori, a member of the odd family Chaetopteridae, are also found
clustered in certain parts of the sandbar. These worms develop special
fan appendages that are used to constantly move water through their tubes,
bringing in suspended food particles that are trapped within a mucous net.
Click here to get an overview of taxonomic
diversity of this habitat as compared to the other three.
Click here to learn about the abundance
of organisms or to get a description
of organisms found in this habitat.
Go here to learn more about protection,
reproduction, feeding,
and locomotion of these
organisms.