Growth and production of three macrozoobenthic species in the Gulf of Riga, including comparisons with other areas

Three soft-bottom stations in the southern part of the Gulf of Riga were studied during the period December 1993 to January 1995. The amphipods, Monoporeia affinis and Pontoporeia femorata, and the poychaete Marenzelleria viridis, were analysed for production, using the cohort growth method. Animals were also analysed for carbon and nitrogen content in a CHN-analyser. Based on size measurements, the quantitative data were divided into age-classes and the growth of each cohort was calculated first as wet weight and then converted into carbon and nitrogen content. Total annual production of each species was calculated as well as turnover ratios. The turnover ratio for Monoporeia affinis was e…