(DRAFT) - Taxonomy
Species sandworm
Species Id M090002
Date 26 AUG 96
TAXONOMY
NAME - sandworm
OTHER COMMON NAMES - clam worm
ELEMENT CODE -
CATEGORY - Other Aquatic Invertebrate Taxa
PHYLUM AND SUBPHYLUM - Annelida,
CLASS AND SUBCLASS - Polychaeta,
ORDER AND SUBORDER - ,
FAMILY AND SUBFAMILY - Nereidae,
GENUS AND SUBGENUS - Nereis,
SPECIES AND SSP - virens,
SCIENTIFIC NAME - Nereis virens
AUTHORITY -
TAXONOMY REFERENCES - 168 and 177
COMMENTS ON TAXONOMY -
It is also known as a clam worm.*177*
Taxonomy - 1 (DRAFT) - Status
Species sandworm
Species Id M090002
Date 26 AUG 96
STATUS
Coded Status
Commercial/bait
REFERENCES FOR STATUS - 168
COMMENTS ON STATUS -
Shippers, diggers, and sportfishermen have noted a decline in the size and
abundance of worms in recent years. Many worms that are missed in the
process of digging may be damaged or left exposed to temperature extremes
and predation. Other factors that may potentially reduce worm abundance are
shoreline construction, dredgin, toxic discharges or spills. Information on
the effects of these factors is lacking.*168*
Status - 1 (DRAFT) - Distribution
Species sandworm
Species Id M090002
Date 26 AUG 96
DISTRIBUTION
Distribution - 1 HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS
NATIONAL WETLAND INVENTORY CODES
NWI NWICLS NWIMOD NWISPEC
Estuarine BB2
Marine BB2
Estuarine FL3
Habitat Associations - 1 (DRAFT) - Food Habits
Species sandworm
Species Id M090002
Date 26 AUG 96
FOOD HABITS
TROPHIC LEVEL -
SCAVENGER
REFERENCES FOR TROPHIC LEVEL - 168
LIFESTAGE FOOD FOOD PART
Adult Chlorophyta
Adult Detritus
Adult See Comments; Food
REFERENCES FOR ADULT FOOD - 168
COMMENTS ON ADULT FOOD -
Adult sandworms feed on various types of invertebrates, both in the water
column and on the bottom. They also feed on algae, Ulva, and detritus.*168*
Food Habits - 1 (DRAFT) - Environment Associations
Species sandworm
Species Id M090002
Date 26 AUG 96
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS
G = General A = Adult
LIM = Limiting RA = Resting Adult
J = Juvenile FA = Feeding Adult
RJ = Resting Juvenile BA = Breeding Adult
FJ = Feeding Juvenile P = Pupae
L = Larvae E = Egg
RL = Resting Larvae
FL = Feeding Larvae
LIFESTAGE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS
G
G
A Bottom Type [Aquatic]: Specified in Comments
G Relation to Substrate: Occurs in substrate [penetrating]
REFERENCES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOC_ - 168
REFERENCES FOR FEEDING ADULT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOC_ - 168
COMMENTS ON ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS -
Various natural factors may influence the distribution and abundance of
sandworms. This species is especially vulnerable to predation because it
often emerges from its burrow to feed.
Extended ice cover on mud flats sometimes causes high mortality of
sandworms because of oxygen depletion. Laboratory experiments with the
sandworm indicate that this species is ordinarily extremely efficient in
oxygen utilization.*168*
Environment Associations - 1 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species sandworm
Species Id M090002
Date 26 AUG 96
LIFE HISTORY
The sandworm is a burrowing polychaete that is often one of the most
abundant animals in intertidal flat communities. It may reach a length of
35 inches and is harvested commercially for the bait worm industry. It
often leaves its burrow either to swim or crawl for several meters on the
substrate surface and then forms another burrow. Sandworms have been
observed migrating downstream in estuaries during ebb tides in winter.
Reproduction:
Sexual maturation is reached in 2 to 3 years. Most data indicate that only
males undergo epitoky (significant body tissue modification) before spawning
and only males swarm.
In coastal Maine spawning occurs from mid-March to late June and peaks in
late April and May. Laboratory culture experiments indicate that
temperature affects the rate of sexual maturation but does not appear to
trigger successful spawning. Raising the temperature of the water in
cultures causes worms to develop and release gametes more quickly but the
gametes usually are not viable. Tidal fluctuation and subsequent changes in
hydrostatic pressure are considered influential in the timing of spawning.
Hormonal and physiological factors are probably significant also.
At the time of swarming, males swim to the surface where they release sperm,
and then die. Individual females release from 100,000 to 17 million eggs
depending on the size of the female within the burrow, and may subsequently
die.
Most sandworms live to be about 3 years old but some worms were found to be
up to 5 years old.
Fertilized eggs sink to the bottom and the larvae develop in the burrow for
5 to 6 days after which they become pelagic for a short time. Growth of
larvae is initially achieved by increasing the number of segments followed
by enlargement of the segments.
Larvae then resume a benthic existence, probably subtidally, and attach to
the sediment surface. After 12 days the organism may form shallow burrows
and after 4 months it either establishes a subtidal burrow or migrates to
the intertidal zone. Migration to the intertidal zone also may occur after
a year.
Adult sandworms feed on various types of invertebrates, both in the water
column and on the bottom. They also feed on algae, Ulva and detritus.*168*
REFERENCES FOR LIFE HISTORY- 168
Life History - 1 (DRAFT) - Management Practices
Species sandworm
Species Id M090002
Date 26 AUG 96
MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
RESULT MANAGEMENT PRACTICE
Existing Regulating harvest of species being described
REFERENCES FOR EXISTING MANAGEMENT PRACTICES - 168
COMMENTS ON MANAGEMENT PRACTICES -
A license is required for taking more than 125 worms/day. The method of
harvest is limited to hand-powered devices, and recently a ban has been
placed on digging on Sunday.
No management plan has been adopted for these marine resources, although the
industry has taken exceptional initiative in supporting research and
exploration of management alternatives.*168*
Management Practices - 1 (DRAFT) - References
Species sandworm
Species Id M090002
Date 26 AUG 96
References
*168* Fefer, Stewart, Patricia Schettig. 1980. An Ecological
Characterization of Coastal Maine. 1-3. Department of the
Interior.
*5* Wilson, H., Ruff, E. 1988. Species Profiles: Life Histories and
Environmental Requirments of Coastal Fishes and Invertebrates
(North Atlantic) - Sandworm and Bloodworm. U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service Biol. Rep. 82(11.80) pp 23.
*177* Gosner, K.L. 1978. A Field Guide to the Atlantic Seashore:
Invertebrates and Seaweeds of the Atlantic Coast from the Bay of
Fundy to Cape Hatteras. The Peterson Field Guide Series.
Houghton Mifflin Company Boston, MA:329.
References - 1