Seasonal abundance and reproductive strategy of Tetrastemma fozensis (Hoplonemertea, Nemertea) in the Villaviciosa estuary (Asturias, Northern Spain)

The seasonal occurrence and reproductive strategy of the nemertean Tetrastemma fozensis, which inhabits the mantle cavity of the bivalve Scrobicularia plana, was studied through the analysis of the temporal diversity of a T. fozensis population. Bimonthly sampling was carried out from February 2001 to January 2002 at mudflats of Villaviciosa estuary (Asturias, Northern Spain). Nemerteans were found throughout the study period, but variations in their abundance were detected, with a maximum during winter months and a minimum during summer months. Moreover, variations in mean size of nemerteans were found, with maximal sizes at the end of the spring and the beginning of the summer and minimum size at early autumn. The annual variations in population parameters (decrease in abundance and complete disappearance of large individuals in summer) suggest that T. fozensis has a distinct reproductive season and a semelparous reproductive strategy.