Intertidal invertebrates on Avonport Beach, Nova Scotia, and some factors affecting their distributions

The invertebrate macrofauna of a mudflat at Avonport, Nova Scotia, was studied to note the densities and distributions of the species present during the period of June to November, 1976. Avonport Beach is located in the south-west portion of the Minas Basin on the west side of the Avon estuary, which experiences a tidal amplitude usually within sixteen meters. Monthly collections were systematically taken from each of eight stations, 150 m apart. The densities and distributions of representatives of Nemerteana, Mollusca, Polychaeta, and Amphipoda were determined. Corophium volutator (Pallas) (Amphipoda) was the dominant species in the samples, occurring at densities of over 35000/m² at two of the stations in July. Subsequently, densities of Corophium decreased. Overall, twenty-three species of invertebrates were found on the beach during the sampling period.