Published online by Cambridge University Press: 14 June 2001
To evaluate the potential for sediment reworking of two deposit-feeder polychaetes, daily sediment expelled per single worm has been estimated in laboratory experiments on 20 specimens of Nainerislaevigata and 20 of Notomastus latericeus. Both species showed very low values of daily sediment expelled especially when compared to literature data concerning other polychaetes. In both species reworking response was correlated to the dry weight of the worms and appeared higher in Nainerislaevigata, displaying the largest biomass. This species also revealed a greater mobility in situ than Notomastus latericeus which could be considered more as a tube dweller than a burrower.