Abstract
Gut analyses of five ascidian species from the San Juan Islands, Washington, Chelyosoma productum Stimpson, Pyura haustor (Stimpson), Ascidia callosa Stimpson, Boltenia villosa (Stimpson) and Styela gibbsii (Stimpson) and five species from the Atlantic coast of Florida, Herdmania momus (Savigny), Ascidia curvata (Traustedt), Ascidia nigra (Savigny), Molgula occidentals Traustedt and Styela plicata (Lesueur), indicate that solitary ascidians consume a variety of invertebrate larvae. Analysis of plankton samples collected near aggregations of live ascidians and near mimic aggregations, however, indicate that the ascidians are not significantly depleting the local supplies of larvae. Temporal and spatial patchiness in larval supply combined with selective feeding by the ascidians and escape responses of larvae are invoked to explain the lack of small scale depletion effects.
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