Macrobenthos in Earthen Shrimp Ponds in Southern Texas‪.‬

ABSTRACT. -- During the summer of 1985, macrobenthic infauna were sampled from 0.1-hectare earthen ponds in both the presence and absence of shrimp. In Experiments 1 and 2, either Penaeus schmitti or P. setiferus were stocked at 25 per square meter in outside exclosures. In Experiment 3, P. vannamei were stocked at 15 per square meter in enclosures. In Experiments 1 and 2, 15 benthic species were collected. Polychaetes (97 percent) predominated. Polydora ligni, Prionospio heterobranchia (Spionidae), and Capitomastus aciculatus (Capitellidae) represented 99 percent of all polychaetes. Polychaete abundance declined dramatically after the third week in the presence of shrimp.