Distribution and life histories of abundant crustaceans of four sandy beaches of south-eastern New South Wales

Abstract

The geographical distribution, habitat separation, reproductive periodicity, fecundity, population size structure, and other life-history features of several crustaceans dominant in four sandy beaches of south-eastern New South Wales were studied. The species examined include the cirolanid isopods Pseudolana concinna and P. towrae, the exoedicerotid amphipods Exoediceroides maculosus and Exoediceros fossor, the urohaustoriid amphipod Urohaustorius metungi, and the zobrachoid amphipod Bumeralius buchalius. Closely related species were generally separated by habitat, with the exception of U. metungi and B. buchalius, which occurred together on some beaches. In these two species, ecological separation was evident in zonation patterns, size of individuals, and reproductive seasonality.