FEEDING GUILDS OF POLYCHAETES ASSOCIATED WITH CLADOCORA CAESPITOSA (L.) (ANTHOZOA, CNIDARIA) IN THE NORTH AEGEAN SEA

Abstract

ABSTRACT In an attempt to combine the recent interest in the study of the polychaete feeding modes and the importance of the unique Mediterranean scleractinian species Cladocora caespitosa, we examined the feeding guilds of polychaetes associated with this coral. Nine feeding guilds were identified among 87 polychaete species living in association with Cladocora. The feeding guilds do not exhibit the same distribution from biotope to biotope. Sessile, tentaculated filter-feeders (FST) exhibited the greatest abundance, followed by motile carnivores with jawed pharynxes and discretely motile carnivores with jawed pharynxes (CD J). The greatest dry biomass was found in CM J followed by FST and CDJ. The abundance and biomass (dry weight) distribution of the polychaetes' feeding guilds in association with the colonies of Cladocora from two different biotopes differ only regarding the motile, microphagous, and burrowers feeding guilds categories. Within Cladocora caespitosa colonies, the abundance and biomass o...