AbstractsBiology & Animal Science

Environmental factors such as salinity and food level play an important role in the life cycle of many marine invertebrates. In this project the impact of salinity and different food levels on the growth of the polychaete Pygospio elegans has been investigated. The experiment is based on two populations; one from Herslev at the bottom of Roskilde Fjord and one from Lynæs at the mouth of Isefjord. The laboratory test was conducted by using three different salinities 5, 15, and 34 psu. We fed them with Rhodomonas salina using three different food levels. Statistical analysis showed that there was no correlation between the treatments and the growth rate. However, further analysis showed a positive correlation between the high food level and the Herslev population, but a negative influence on the Lynæs population. Analysis on the survival showed the same results. From this experiment it was shown that the populations are affected differently by different environmental factors.