October, 1999 
SCAMIT Newsletter 
Vol. 18, No. 6 
effect from the combined physical and 
biological effects. They found that the physical 
effect was consistently larger that the 
biological effects. 
Reise et al (1999) report on the status of NIS 
along the North Sea coasts. Invasions seemed 
to peak in the 1970’s, and over 80 species are 
believed to have been introduced. NIS now 
form between 6 and 20% of the fauna, 
depending on habitat (the numbers higher in 
estuaries and brackish environments). The 
authors data shows that in most cases the 
indigenous community could accommodate the 
invaders, suffering little as a result. They 
caution, however, that steps should be taken to 
reduce the number of new invaders, as each has 
the potential for serious disruption of the local 
biota. 
Armonies and Reise (1999) focus on a single 
species that fits the general trend noted in the 
last paper, the establishment of a NIS without 
serious damage or displacement of the existing 
community. In this case the clam Ensis 
americanus, introduced from the western 
Atlantic, has settled in to a coarse sand habitat 
not completely exploited previously. The 
under-exploited niche they occupy is that of 
subtidal/intertidal sands subjected to strong 
currents. Even though there is little evidence to 
suggest negative effects at present, the situation 
must be monitored. The authors note that the 
feeding activity of the new immigrants fixes 
fine particulates from the overlying water in 
the form of fecal material. While most of this 
is exported from the immediate vicinity of its 
production, in areas of high clam density there 
is a tendency for some to become incorporated 
in local sediments. This is gradually changing 
the grain size and organic content of the 
bottom, perhaps to the ultimate detriment of 
the indigenous community. 
27 SEPTEMBER MEETING 
The meeting was held in the worm lab of the 
LA Natural History Museum. Attending were 
Tom Parker, Ron Velarde, Larry Lovell, Tony 
Phillips, Cheryl Brantley, Rick Rowe, Leslie 
Harris (off and on since she was setting up her 
computer data base of invertebrate images), 
and Dot Norris. Before the meeting Leslie 
extended an offer to the members from the San 
Lrancisco Laboratory who attend meetings in 
Los Angeles in future. If they fly into 
Burbank, she will pick them up before the 
meeting and if they need a place to stay, she 
has offered accommodation at her home in 
Pasadena. If you want to make such an 
arrangement contact her at 
<lhharris @ bcf .use .edu>. 
The business portion of the meeting included a 
circulation of the treasurer’s report, a 
discussion of the status of the Bight project, 
new publications including a new species of 
Eunoe from Russia (Rzhavsky & Shabad 
1999), and the scheduling of future meetings. 
The title page of the Eunoe paper can be 
viewed at http://www.fortunecity.com/marina/ 
customhouse/60/rzsh99_17.gif). 
Other announcements included Larry Lovell’s 
discovery of a plastics firm (MGM plastics in 
San Marcos, 760-744-8909) which will make 
sorting trays for $ 16/tray. The bottom of the 
tray is scored into a grid of 1 cm squares and 
looks well crafted. 
The conversation turned to the problem Bight 
animals, but before the discussion got too 
involved we asked Larry to look at some 
problem Pholoe from San Lrancisco collections 
(they look like P. minuta but have a facial 
tubercle). Larry took a number of specimens 
of this form for examination and will render his 
opinion at a future meeting. A question was 
also raised about Eumida sp. B (whether it is 
actually E. longicornuta) . The members 
present agreed that it is indeed E. longicornuta. 
Larry said that we should be cautious of our 
Lumbrineris luti identifications (he suspects 
that some may be Scoletoma tetaura) and one 
character we should check is which setiger the 
hooks start on. It was also agreed that the 
genus for the species luti should be Scoletoma. 
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