INTERTIDAL MACROALGAE AS REFUGE AND FOOD FOR AMPHIPODA IN CENTRAL CHILE

Mobile invertebrates that inhabit fronds of intertidal macroalgae may be able to separate the use of them as food, from their use as refuge. Mobile amphipods present in the intertidal zone of Central Chile consumed Iridaea laminarioides Bory faster than other algae offered, even though Iridaea laminarioides has the lowest amphipod density. The amphipod densities also increased significantly during the night on Iridaea laminarioides but did not show significant differences on other algae. All this evidence suggests that mobile amphipods can combine the use of algal resources as a refuge with the use as food, because they can separate their use in space and time. © 1990.