in June (Fig. 6 E) . Tn 1983, unlike each of the last three years, the June 

 peak, did not occur; this resulted in a reduction in the annual density and 

 percent contribution at GN. 



Paraonis fulgens 



Paraonis fulgens is a small deposit-feeding polychaete, typically 

 abundant in exposed, sandy intertida] and shallow subtidal habitats. 

 Paraonis was a dominant component of the GN and WP infaunal communities, 

 where it ranked first and fourth in overal] abundance during 1983. This 

 species has never been abundant at JC and in fact, only one individual has 

 been collected at this station since the beginning of the monitoring 

 program.. Paraonis usually attains highest densities in June or September, 

 but has been abundant in both December and March at GN. During last six 

 years, sharp peaks in density occurred at GN in September 1977 and September 

 1979; a more constant period of high density occurred from December 1981 to 

 September 1982 (Fig. 6 F) . Although abundant at WP in 1983, Paraonis has 

 not been a consistent dominant at this site over the last six years (Fig. 6 

 G) . Low to moderate seasonal peaks occurred in September or June in 1978 

 and 1979, while a sharp peak occurred in June 1982. The 1983 values 

 obtained at WP were well below those obtained in 1982; this year-to-year 

 variability has been characteristic of this species at WP. 



Rhynchocoels 



Rhynchocoels are small, free-living carnivores that inhabit mud and 

 sand from the low intertidal seaward. This group ranked first and second 

 in abundance at WP and GN during 1983, and have been among the more 

 consistently dominant organisms collected at both stations in recent years. 

 At WP, densities have fluctuated over seasons and years (Fig. 6 H) , while 

 at GN their numbers remain relatively stable, except in March 1980 (Fig. 6 

 T). At both stations, rhynchocoels accounted for a greater portion of the 

 community during 1979, when the sieve mesh was decreased to 0.5 mm. Some 

 of the observed increase could be due to the use of a smaller mesh. 

 However, low densities similar to those obtained prior to 1979 were 



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