Beach Fauna Study of the CERC Field Research Facility, Duck, North Carolina

Book excerpt: This report presents results of a location intensive seasonal study of the beach fauna of a barrier island in Dare County, NoC. The study area includes the beach face from the margin of the swash zone to 60 meters offshore on the ocean beach and from the swash zone to 300 meters offshore on the sound beach. The dominant species on the ocean beach were Emerita talpoida, Scolelepis squamata, Donax sp., and Parahaustorius longimerus. Three communities were defined on the beach by a factor analysis of physical and biological parameters measured. The sound beach was also characterized by 3 distinct faunistic communities. The Scolecolepides community -- characterized by high densities of Scolecolepides viridis, Chironomid larvae, and Peloscolex sp. and the presence of Rangia cuneata -- extended from 90-140 m to at least 300 m offshore. The zone between the beach margin and the edge of the Scolecolepides community was characterized by the burrowing amphipod Lepidactylus dysticus. A small developing marsh community, characterized by higher organic content, higher temperatures, lower salinities, increased numbers of species and higher species densities was the third community on the site. Species diversities were low.