At the end of the 14-day experiment, the blocks were removed in the
order inwhich they had been deployed. The open plot and partial treatments
were sampled first to minimize emigration of crabs from the
treatment. All crabs were removed, measured, and released. Each rock
removed from the treatment (open plot or cage) was rinsed in a 19 L
bucket to collect any amphipods present. Amphipods were also collected
from the sediment as quickly as possible by placing the top 5 cm of
sediment into the bucket and stirring vigorously by hand, causing the
amphipods to swim up into the water. The water was then decanted
onto a 500 μm sieve and amphipods and sediments retained on the
sieve were placed in a sample jar and preserved with 70% ethanol in
the laboratory. After 24 h, Rose Bengal was added to the jars to aid in
locating the amphipods present in the sediment at a later time.