Seasonal variation of macrobenthic infauna in the Johor Strait, Singapore

Abstract

Sediment samples were collected every three months from December 2001 to December 2002 to study the seasonal variation of soft-bottom macrobenthic community at a site (1°25′30″N, 103°52′00″E; depth: 6.5 m) in the Johor Strait, Singapore. Seasonal changes in species number, abundance and diversity of macrobenthic infauna significantly differed, the lowest values for the three parameters were recorded in December, the highest values for species number and species diversity in March and the highest abundance in September. Species composition and community structure also varied gradually over time. The differences in dominant species and community structure between December 2001 and December 2002 suggest an interannual variation of macrobenthic infauna. © Springer 2005.