Meiofaunal assemblages associated with macroalgal detritus decomposition

A field-based experiment was performed on a detritus-loaded area of the east coast of Dadaepo Beach, South Korea, to investigate the decomposition rates of different types of algal detritus and their associated meiofaunal assemblages. Red (Grateloupia spp.), green (Ulva spp.), and brown (Undaria pinnatifida) algae were selected to investigate how the diversity of decaying algal detritus affects the degradation rate and associated meiofaunal assemblages. Samples were collected 10 times at 7-day intervals for 70 days. Organic matter weight loss was fastest in red algae and slowest in green algae. Meiofaunal density was greater in green algae than in red and brown algae. The most dominant phylum was Nematoda (81.4%), followed by Oligochaeta (8.8%) and Copepoda (8.4%), in all algal detritus types. Consistent positive relationship between diversity and decay rate and negative relationship between density and decay rate were identified over the experiment period. These results indicate that each of three types of macroalgal detritus provide diverse nutrients encouraging different meiofaunal community compositions.