(full paper is archived in the Miller Library)
Title: The sulfide layer of sandy beaches: A meiofauna distribution and some associated physical parameters on sandy beaches in Monterey Bay, California
Student Author(s): Gherini, Stuart G.
Swanson, Sherri C.
Faculty Advisor(s): Phillips, John H
Pages: 18
Location: Final Papers Biology 175H
Date: June 1972
Keywords: sandy beaches
Abstract: A study of the sulfide layer on Del Monte beach in Monterey, California was conducted to determine the effects that wave size, sand size, and organic content might have on the layer. Meiofauna distributions were also examined in relation to this darkened sand. A sulfide layer was found to form under conditions of decreased wave action, decreased sand size, and increased organic content. laboratory experiments augmented these finding on sand dize and organic content with increasing organic content increasing the darkness of the layer. Meiofaunal counts were found to drop sharply in the sulfide layer, not only in the number of organisms, but also in the diversity.