THE LIFE HISTORIES OF THE OFFSHORE OEDICEROTIDS WESTWOODILLA CAECULA AND MONOCULODES PACKARDI (CRUSTACEA: AMPHIPODA) FROM LOCH FYNE, SCOTLAND

摘要

Results are presented of a comparative study on seasonal variations in population density, population structure and reproductive bionomics of two species of offshore benthic oedicerotid amphipod, Westwoodilla caecula (from 35 m depth) and Monoculodes packardi (from 190m) in Loch Fyne (Scotland). Observations on live coloration and behaviour of these species in laboratory aquaria are also included. Male W. caecula were, on average, smaller than females. In M. packardi (atypically among Oedicerotidae) the reverse was true. Population densities of both species, calculated from sledge net tows (1-mm mesh), fluctuated erratically over one year (1992).