annual mean was significantly higher than 1981, 

 1983, 1984 and 1986. 



Polycirrus eximius 



Polycirrus eximius is a deposit-feeding 

 polychaete common in shallow subtidal marine 

 and brackish temperate zone waters along the east 

 coast (Gosner 1971). Polycirrus eximius was 

 among the ten most abundant taxa at EF and .IC 

 during 1986-87. Quarterly values at EF ranged 

 from 1 - 7/core and from 2 - 13/core at .IC (Fig. 

 12 M-N) from September 1985 - June 1987. Since 

 December 1985, densities at EF have been well 

 below those obtained in prior sampling periods. 

 Densities at JC were within the range of previous 

 years, although those recorded in September and 

 December 1986 and March 1987 were among the 

 lowest since 1980. 



Regression analysis, which removed 68% (EF) 

 and 36% (.IC) of the variation over years indicated 

 that decreases in abundances have occurred since 

 1984 at both stations. At EF, abundances for 

 1986 and 1987 were significantly lower than 1980, 

 1981, and 1983-1985. Abundances at JC for 1986 

 and 1987 were significant lower than 1984, when 

 peak densities occurred. 



Protodorvillea gaspeensis 



This small motile polychaete is considered a 

 facultative carnivore (Fauchald and Jumars 1979) 

 and common in near-shore sublittoral environ- 

 ments from the Gulf of St. I^wrence to LIS 

 (Pettibone 1963). Protodorvillea gaspeensis was a 

 dominant member of the EF community during 

 1986 and 1987, ranking 3rd in terms of the BIV 

 and 3rd or 4th in terms of average density. 'Phis 

 species was also among the dominants at this 

 station from 1980-85, although large year-to-year 

 shifts in abundance occurred. At GN, this species 

 was among the top ten numerical dominants since 

 1980; however, densities were consistently below 

 10/core in all but the 1987 sampling period (Fig. 

 12 O-P). From September 1985 - June 1987, 

 average quarterly abundance of Protodorvillea 

 gaspeensis ranged from 3 - 1 3/core at both stations. 



All values obtained since September 1985 were 

 within the range of those obtained in past sampling 

 periods. 



Multiple regression analysis removed 53% and 

 46% of the variation at EF and GN, respectively, 

 and revealed that significant year-to-year varia- 

 tions occurred at both stations. At GN there has 

 been a significant increasing trend in the abun- 

 dances of this species since 1980. In addition, 

 densities in 1987 were significantly higher than 

 those obtained from 1980-83. An increasing trend 

 was not evident at EF; where significant differences 

 occurred between the 1980 low and all other 

 years. In addition, 1986 was significantly lower 

 than 1981. 



Lumbrineris tenuis 



Lumbrineris tenuis is a burrowing deposit-feeding 

 omnivore which can consume a variety of food 

 items ranging from sediments, algae and eelgrass 

 detritus to other infauna (Pettibone 1963). Com- 

 mon in subtidal areas from Maine to the Gulf of 

 Mexico, this species is found in muds, sands and 

 eelgrass beds to depths of 128 fathoms (Pettibone 

 1963). This species was a consistent dominant at 

 JC during 1986-87 and also during 1980-85. Al- 

 though this species was less abundant and exhib- 

 ited large temporal fluctuations at GN, analysis 

 was performed to provide comparison to results 

 obtained at JC. Quarterly densities during the 

 1986 and 1987 sampling periods ranged from 3 - 

 18/core at JC and from 4 - 14/core at GN (Fig. 

 12 Q-R). Values at both stations were within the 

 range of previous years, although March and June 

 1986 means were among the lowest recorded at 

 this station. 



Multiple regression analysis indicated that there 

 were no long-term trends at cither station; how- 

 ever, significant interannual differences occurred. 

 At JC, the 1987 mean was significantly higher 

 than 1983; also 1986 was significantly lower than 

 1984. Annual abundances were less variable at 

 GN and 1986 and 1987 were significant from only 

 1980 and 1981. 



104 



