Abstract

Epifaunal abundance, association, and overgrowth patterns are described for seven species occurring on live, empty, and hermit crab-occupied shells of Busycon carica (Gmelin). Alcyonidium polyoum (Hassall) and Membranipora tenuis Desor were significantly more common on live gastropod shells while Hydractinia echinata Fleming and Crepidula fornicata (L.) were more common on hermit crab-occupied shells. A significant negative association was determined between Alcyonidium and Hydractinia on hermit crab-occupied shells; Hydractinia and Sabellaria vulgaris Verrill had a significant positive association. Alcyonidium had the highest mean abundance and highest win-loss ratio in overgrowth observations on hermit crab-occupied shells. Overgrowth interactions between colonial and solitary species were highly intransitive and in many cases not a probable source of mortality.

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