Effects of sediment organic matter on mortality, growth and development of the polychaetes Capitella teleta and Capitella sp. (Annelida: Capitellidae) in laboratory conditions

The endobenthic deposit-feeder polychaetes of the Capitella capitata species complex have a strong relation with organically enriched sediments (OES). effect non-organically (NOES, 0.09% organic content) and OES (6.26% on mortality, growth development juveniles adults teleta (cultured for more than 40 years) sp. from Alfacs Bay, Tarragona, Spain (acclimatized one month) were analysed in laboratory conditions. Juveniles exposed (all individuals separately different dishes) to two treatments, periodically observed measured until death. NOES considerably impaired survival, rates both species, which showed highly variable negative under OES. Juvenile adult C. an improved maturity OES, even producing protandrous protogynous individuals, whereas no reached during experiment.