Nahant and Gloucester Abstract

     Meiofauna was observed at two beaches Nahant, and Gloucester, Massachusettes in order to see which beach contained more meiofauna and why. While scuba diving it was observed that there was more sea life diversity of brine shrimp, crabs, and different kinds of bottom feeding fish at Niles beach rather than Nahant. It was also observed that the sand between the two beaches was vastly different in there sizes, Nahant had larger sediments than Niles. This could have had an impact on the diversity of meiofauna. Core samples where taken at a depth of about 10-13 feet of water off the coast so that the diversity of meiofauna could be compared between the two beaches. The core samping method used was the same as what was used in Bermuda, a pvc pipe with a cork. Sediment sizes were measured using a set of six seives and a scale. From the observations made on sea life activity, it was hyopthesized that Niles beach in Gloucester, Mass would contain more diversity of meiofauna than Nahant. This was proven to be correct based on the data observed. However, according to an article written on the positive correlation of grain size and meiofauna abundance "the number of major taxa is positively correlated with grain size(Rodriguez, p.68)." Therefore, according to the article there should be more diversity in meiofauna at Nahant.