inhabit a mucus-lined burrow and feed on surface 

 deposits, detritus, diatoms, filamentous algae and 

 nematodes (Sanders et al. 1962). At Millstone, 

 this species consistently ranked among the nu- 

 merical dominants at GN and JC and although 

 frequently among the top ten at WP, abundances 

 at this station were usually very low ( < 1/core). 



During 1986-87, quarterly densities of 

 Scokcolepides vlridis exhibited wide seasonal fluc- 

 tuations, with abundances ranging from - 65/core 

 at GN and from 2 - 105/core at JC (Fig. 7D-E). 

 Although most seasonal values were in the range 

 of previous values, at both stations the June 1986 

 density was higher than all previous values; the 

 June 1987 density, in contrast, was the lowest 

 density observed during .Tune since 1980. 



Multiple regression models accounted for 59% 

 (GN) and 58% (JC) of the variation since 1980, 

 much of which was attributable to the strong 

 seasonal reproductive/recruitment cycles evident 

 in abundances at both stations. After this known 

 variation was removed, no significant trends were 

 evident at either station. In addition, annual ad- 

 justed means over 1986 and 1987 were within 

 previous ranges at both stations and there were 

 no significant diiferences among any of the sam- 

 pling years. 



Paraonis fulgens 



Paraonis fulgens is a deposit-feeding polychaete 

 that typically inhabits sandy intertidal beaches 

 (Whitlatch 1977; Strelzov 1979) from Maine to 

 North Carolina (Gosner 1971). This species has 

 typically been among the dominants at only ex- 

 posed sandy beach stations (GN and WP) and 

 has been found only once at JC. At both GN 

 and WP, Paraonis fulgens is generally most abun- 

 dant in June although peaks have sometimes been 

 recorded in September. 



During the last two years, quarterly abundances 

 at WP ranged from 2 - 12/core and from - 

 20/core at GN (Fig. 7F-G). Abundances at WP 

 in 1986 and 1987 were within the range of past 

 years, although the value obtained in September 



1986 was lower than in any previous September. 

 At GN, the range of quarterly values in 1986 was 

 low relative to values in past years; an increase 

 occurred in 1987 and all quarterly values were 

 near the upper end of the range. 



Multiple regression analyses indicated that no 

 significant long-term trends occurred in the abun- 

 dances of this species at either WP or GN. At 

 WP, despite the consistent decline in annual abun- 

 dances, there were no significant differences be- 

 tween any sampling years. At GN, the 1987 

 annual mean was significantly higlier than 1986 

 and also 1980, 1981 and 1984. The 1986 annual 

 mean was significantly lower than 1982. 



Hediste diversicolor 



Hediste diversicolor can be found in near-shore 

 waters from the North Atlantic and North Sea to 

 the Mediterranean (Gosner 1971). This omnivo- 

 rous polychaete is frequently abundant in nutrient 

 rich areas and has been considered an "opportun- 

 ist" and an "indicator of pollution" (Hull 1987). 

 Hediste diversicolor was a consistent dominant at 

 JC, ranking 3rd and 2nd in abundance in 1986 

 and 1987, respectively. From 1980 through 1985, 

 this species ranked 3rd according to the BIV. 



Quarterly density during 1986-87 ranged from 

 5 - 62/core and most values were within the range 

 of previous years (Fig. 7H). In both years, den- 

 sities of this species exhibited large seasonal fluc- 

 tuations with the highest values occurring in Sep- 

 tember. A similar pattern was observed in 1984 

 and 1985. The June 1987 mean was the lowest 

 June density observed for this species since 1983. 



The multiple regression analysis identified a sig- 

 nificant trend in the abundance of Hediste 

 diversicolor due to increased abundance from 1982 

 through 1985. This trend continued through 1986. 

 The increased annual means were primarily due 

 to the high seasonal peaks which became evident 

 in 1984. Annual abundances in 1986 and 1987 

 were significantly higher than 1982 and 1983; 1986 

 was also significantly higher than 1980. 



76 



