Burrow morphology of the echiuran wormMaxmuelleria lankesteri(Echiura: Bonelliidae), and a brief review of burrow structure and related ecology of the Echiura

The morphology of burrows constructed by the upogebiid mud shrimps Austinogebia narutensis and Upogebia issaeffi was studied using resin castings of burrows in situ on Mukaishima Island, Seto Inland Sea, Japan, where the two species occurred sympatrically. The burrow structure of both shrimps is a relatively simple Y-shaped pattern, which is typical of the family Upogebiidae. Total burrow length, and length and overall width of the U-shaped section of A. narutensis were greater than those of U. issaeffi, possibly because A. narutensis is the larger species. When the ratios of the burrow measurements to the mean burrow diameter were compared to exclude possible size effects, the burrows of A. narutensis had a wider and shallower U-shaped section than those of U. issaeffi. Because the casts were made where the two species occurred sympatrically, the differences in the burrow morphology were not due to the differences in environmental factors but to the difference in the shrimp species, whether they are adaptive or not.

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An analysis of the horizontal burrow morphology of the oriental mole cricket (Gryllotalpa orientalis) and the distribution pattern of surface vegetation

Canadian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1139/z08-116 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 86 (11) ◽

pp. 1299-1306

Author(s):

C. Endo

Keyword(s):

Fractal Dimension ◽

Food Distribution ◽

Plant Distribution ◽

Plant Composition ◽

Mole Cricket ◽

Branching Points ◽

Burrow Structure ◽

Gryllotalpa Orientalis ◽

Surface Vegetation ◽

Burrow Morphology

Food acquisition in animals that construct burrows for foraging is influenced by burrow structure associated with food distribution and searching patterns. The burrowing patterns of the oriental mole cricket ( Gryllotalpa orientalis Brumeister, 1838) (Orthoptera: Gryllotalpidae) were investigated based on analyses of the relation between burrow morphology and plant distribution. To assess differences between horizontal burrows (HB) with and without vertical burrows (VB), the number of branching points, the length of the horizontal parts, the plant ratio of the burrow area, and the burrow fractal dimension were compared. The size of the burrow area was positively related to the degree of branching. Cyperaceae and Gramineae occurred less frequently, whereas Hydrocotyle sibthorpioide Lam. and areas with no plants were more frequent in the burrow area than in the quadrat area. Juncaceae and Persicaria thunbergii (Siebold and Zucc.) H. Gross ex Nakai occurred more frequently and Lindernia crustacea (L.) F. Muell. occurred less frequently in HB without VB than in HB with VB. The ratio of burrow length to the number of branching points was not significantly different between HB with or without VB. HB with VB had a nearly planar structure (higher burrow fractal dimension) than that of HB alone. HB structure and plant composition of the burrow area differed depending on the presence of VB.

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Novel use of burrow casting as a research tool in deep-sea ecology

Biology Letters ◽

10.1098/rsbl.2011.1111 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 8 (4) ◽

pp. 648-651 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

Koji Seike ◽

Robert G. Jenkins ◽

Hiromi Watanabe ◽

Hidetaka Nomaki ◽

Kei Sato

Keyword(s):

Deep Sea ◽

Sea Water ◽

Benthic Metabolism ◽

Burrow Structure ◽

Shallow Water Species ◽

Water Species ◽

Burrow Morphology ◽

Water Depths ◽

Seep Site

Although the deep sea is the largest ecosystem on Earth, its infaunal ecology remains poorly understood because of the logistical challenges. Here we report the morphology of relatively large burrows obtained by in situ burrow casting at a hydrocarbon-seep site and a non-seep site at water depths of 1173 and 1455 m, respectively. Deep and complex burrows are abundant at both sites, indicating that the burrows introduce oxygen-rich sea water into the deep reducing substrate, thereby influencing benthic metabolism and nutrient fluxes, and providing an oxic microhabitat for small organisms. Burrow castings reveal that the solemyid bivalve Acharax johnsoni mines sulphide from the sediment, as documented for related shallow-water species. To our knowledge, this is the first study to examine in situ burrow morphology in the deep sea by means of burrow casting, providing detailed information on burrow structure which will aid the interpretation of seabed processes in the deep sea.

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The burrow structure of the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus L.)

Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1111/j.1469-7998.1985.tb05649.x ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 206 (2) ◽

pp. 253-262 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

H. H. KOLB

Keyword(s):

Oryctolagus Cuniculus ◽

European Rabbit ◽

Burrow Structure

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The biology of two species of Engaeus (Decapoda : Parastacidae) in Tasmania. III. Habitat, food, associated fauna and distribution

Marine and Freshwater Research ◽

10.1071/mf9770095 ◽

1977 ◽

Vol 28 (1) ◽

pp. 95 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

PJ Suter ◽

AMM Richardson

Keyword(s):

Dissolved Oxygen ◽

Geographical Distribution ◽

Water Table ◽

Freshwater Crayfish ◽

Associated Fauna ◽

Water Table Level ◽

Burrow Structure ◽

Study Sites ◽

North Western ◽

Temperature Water

The habitats of two apparently sympatric freshwater crayfish, Engaeus cisternarius and E. fossor, in north-western Tasmania were compared. At two study sites data on rainfall, temperature, water table level, dissolved oxygen and pH were collected. E. fossor occupies regions below the water table, whilst E. cisternarius occupies drier areas above the water table. The burrow structure, burrow fauna, ectofauna and food were compared. The geographical distribution of each species is discussed.

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Mantis shrimps Rissoides desmaresti in Tremadog Bay, North Wales

Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom ◽

10.1017/s0025315401004398 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 81 (4) ◽

pp. 695-696 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Kirsten Ramsay ◽

Rohan H.F. Holt

Keyword(s):

Average Length ◽

Average Diameter ◽

Survey Area ◽

Horizontal Section ◽

Mantis Shrimp ◽

North Wales ◽

Burrow Entrance ◽

Sand And Gravel ◽

Sandy Sediments ◽

Burrow Morphology

In 1999 divers discovered a population of the burrowing mantis shrimp Rissoides (Meiosquilla) desmaresti (Crustacea: Stomatopoda) east of the St Tudwal's Islands, North Wales. This species has only sporadically been recorded in UK waters and commonly occurs in the Mediterranean. In summer 2000 the burrow morphology and distribution of these shrimps in the area east of the St Tudwal's Islands was investigated. Burrows were found at ten of the 15 sites investigated in a survey area measuring ∼18 km2. Burrow density varied from one to 11 burrows per 100 m2. The burrows were always recorded in sediments consisting of a mixture of mud, sand and gravel but were not present at sites with a high proportion of mud (>70%) or sandy sediments with very little mud ([les ]2%). Resin casts of six burrows revealed that these have a simple elongated U-shape, with an average length of ∼450 mm and depth of ∼160 mm. The average diameter of the burrow entrance was 19±2 mm and the diameter of the burrow along the horizontal section varied between 18 and 38 mm with a distinct constriction part way along.

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