Burrow ventilation and associated porewater irrigation by the polychaete Marenzelleria viridis

► The polychaete Marenzelleria viridis has two main mechanisms of burrow ventilation. ► M. viridis performs cilia and muscular ventilation. ► Muscular and cilia ventilation varies between 0.15-0.16 ml min-1, respectively. ► Net volume of water irrigated into burrows by M. viridis ranges from 0.003 to 0.01 ml min-1. ► Porewater percolation is suggested as M. viridis irrigation effect.