Summ~,ry. Population dynamics of the epizoic bivalveLissarca notorcadensis living on spines of cidaroid sea urchins in the Weddell Sea were investigated. Total productior~ (somatic & gonad) of the suspension feeding bivalve ranged between 16.5 and 487.4 mg AFDM y-1 per sea urchin. Annual sedimentation rates are not sufficient to mai~:ttain the production of the Lissarca sub-populations carried by the sea urchins, and resuspension of organic; matter is most likely to be an important food source. The ratio of the number of freshly settled juveniles to the J:umber of embryos brooded is between 0.054 and 0.207 aad seems negatively related to the biomass already present, indicating intraspecific competition for space. Intersp:.'cific competition for space is caused by the strong preferel:tce of L. notorcadensis as well as other epizoa (coloni:~.l anthozoans and bryozoans) for the spines located on the aboral hemispere of the sea urchins.
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