Seasonality and spatial patterns of the seagrass-associated amphipods of the Indian River Lagoon, Florida

Amphipods of Halodule wrightii seagrass beds in the Indian River, Florida, showed variable seasonal patterns of abundance and diversity, but were generally more abundant in November-May than in June-October. These seasonal patterns of abundance and diversity are largely attributed to seasonality of fish and decapod predation, and are not attributable to seasonality of seagrass biomass. Spatially, amphipod densities were generally (1) lower near ocean inlets, and (2) lower at the southern versus northern sample locations within the Indian River.