obtained even after the use of the smaller mesh. The 1983 sampling 

 continued to support previous trends of relative stability in abundance 

 within and among years at CN , and variability within but relative stability 

 among years at WP . 



Polydora ligni and Capitella spp. 



These deposit-feeding taxa have frequently been identified as 

 pollution indicators, although they are also common components of many 

 intertidal and subtidal sand communities. Since these taxa exhibited 

 similar spatial and temporal patterns, they will be considered together in 

 this report. Polydora and Capitella were among the top four dominants at 

 only JC , where they ranked third and fourth in abundance over 1983. Both 

 taxa are seasonal dominants being generally most abundant, and often only 

 present in the September collections (Figs. 6 J,K). In 1983, peak abundance 

 occurred in September as in past years; however, density remained unusually 

 high in December and thus led to the overall increase in the annual 

 abundance of both taxa. The peak density obtained in September for 

 Polydora was a record high value. During 1982, the September peak for both 

 taxa was conspicuously absent; this represented the first year since 1977 

 in which this peak was not evident. 



Haplo s coloplos fragi].is 



Haploscoloplos f ragilis is a large deposit-feeding polychaete 

 typically abundant on exposed to moderately exposed sandy beaches, where it 

 can rapidly burrow into and through wave scoured sediments. Haploscoloplos 

 was among the top four dominants at only WP in 1983, but ranked seventh at 

 GN. At WP, this species is usually most abundant in September and December 

 and few individuals arc collected at other times of the year (Fig. 6 L) , 

 Prior to 1979, the densities of this species were low, probably due to 

 taxcnomic problems, but since then seasonal trends, levels of abundance, 

 and its distributional patterns have been consistent. 



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