Hello all,
I have stumbled across some mudflat worm gelatinous egg masses that
are plagued with what seems to be the amphipod Microprotopus raneyi. Before
this, I had never seen it in large numbers anywhere around here, but we
have collected this amphipod occasionally in plankton tows. I have checked
some of the obvious sources and, have only been able to find one
reference dealing directly with amphipod-egg mass associations (Fox, 1980).
Has anyone observed similar phenomena in other annelids that put out
gelatinous masses of eggs?
Edwin Cruz-Rivera Ph (919) 726-6841
Institute of Marine Sciences Fax (919) 726-2426
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill email: ecruzriv at email.unc.edu
3431 Arendell Street
Morehead City, NC 28557