Recruitment patterns of serpulids (Annelida: Polychaeta) in Bantry Bay, Ireland

Interannual and seasonal variation in recruitment of serpulid tube worms was monitored at two depths at each of four sites between February 1999 and January 2001 in Bantry Bay, Ireland. In both years, a single peak in recruitment was observed. The timing of the peak was similar in both years, but the magnitude of the peak differed significantly. More individuals recruited onto the underside than on the upperside of the horizontally orientated panels. A higher density of recruits was observed at a depth of 7 m than at 4 m during recruitment maxima. There was little variability in recruitment rates either within or between sites. The proportions of Pomatoceros triqueter and P. lamarckii recruiting per deployment were examined. Juvenile mortality was high. Based on ongrowing laboratory experiments, the dominant species was P. lamarckii. Serpula vermicularis was also present in low abundance. Examination of the spatial patterns of distribution of the serpulids indicated that the recruits were aggregated within panels. The degree of aggregation was correlated with the overall density of recruitment per panel.