Distribution and ecology of Gammarus tigrinus Sexton, 1939 and some other amphipod Crustacea near Beaufort (North Carolina, U.S.A.)

During summer 1977 the distribution and ecology of amphipod Crustacea in the coastal plain of north Carolina were studied. Ecological data were collected in particular on Gammarus tigrinus, a North American species, which has been introduced in western Europe. The present gammarid, able to endure high water temperatures and adapted to a wide variety of salinities, is found in the more upstream parts of the estuaries in North Carolina. More downstream, at higher salinities, it is replaced by Gammarus palustris, while at very low salinities or in fresh water Gammarus fasciatus is commonly met. Moreover, some data are given on the distribution and ecology of several other amphipod species in the Beaufort region.