Ecology of Monoporeia affinis
 
Main Ref. Neideman, R., J. Wenngren and E. Olafsson, 2003
Remarks In the Baltic Sea, inhabits brackish waters (Ref. 95752). In the German Baltic Sea, found at depths over 35 meters, mainly on muddy areas characterized by icy temperatures and salinity of 15 to 20 psu (Ref. 95730). An infaunal species in sandy substrates in localities around the Åland Islands and in SW Finland in the northern Baltic Sea (Ref. 95819). Mainly occurs in the top 5 cm of the sediment and feeds rapidly (Ref. 90432). A mobile, surface detritivore (Ref. 95752). Are active nocturnal swimmers. Growth periods linked to spring phytoplankton blooms. Semelparous, with lifecycles lasting from 1 to 3 years in the northern Baltic proper. Eggs hatch in March-April. Sexual maturity is attained in 6 to 7 months (autumn). Males then undergo metamorphosis to adapt to pelagic life during which they do not feed, mate with females along the water column and then eventually die. The females, on the other hand, die after releasing their young the following spring (Ref. 90432).

Aquatic zones / Water bodies

Marine - Neritic Marine - Oceanic Brackishwater Freshwater
Marine zones / Brackish and freshwater bodies
  • supra-littoral zone
  • littoral zone
  • sublittoral zone
  • epipelagic
  • mesopelagic
  • epipelagic
  • abyssopelagic
  • hadopelagic
  • estuaries/lagoons/brackish seas
  • mangroves
  • marshes/swamps
  • rivers/streams
  • lakes/ponds
  • caves
  • exclusively in caves
Highighted items on the list are where Monoporeia affinis may be found.

Habitat

Substrate Benthic: mobile; endofauna (infauna); macrobenthos; Soft Bottom: sand; mud;
Substrate Ref. Hill, C., 1992
Special habitats
Special habitats Ref. Boström, C. and E. Bonsdorff, 1997

Associations

Ref.
Associations
Associated with
Association remarks
Parasitism

feeding

Feeding type plants/detritus+animals (troph. 2.2-2.79)
Feeding type Ref. Byrén, L., G. Ejdung and R. Elmgren, 2002
Feeding habit browsing on substrate
Feeding habit Ref. Byrén, L., G. Ejdung and R. Elmgren, 2002

Trophic Level(s)

Estimation method original sample unfished population Remark
Troph s.e. Troph s.e.
From diet composition
From individual food items 2.00 0.00 Trophic level and s.e. inferred from exclusive plant/detritus food items.
Ref.
Ref. [ e.g. 3742]
Glossary [ e.g. cnidaria]
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