Epibiont foraminifera of Sertella frigida (Waters) (Bryozoa, Cheilostomata) from Terranova Bay, Ross Sea, Antarctica

Abstract

Several arenaceous and calcareous foraminifera epibionts of Sertella frigida (Waters) (Bryozoa, Cheilostomata), collected in Terranova Bay during the 1989-90 Italian Antarctic expedition, were studied. Arenaceous species, such as Psammosphaera fusca Schulze f. adhaerescens Rhumbler, Haplophragmoides canariensis d'Orbigny, Portatrochammina antarctica (Parr), and ¹rochammina arctica Hedley, Hurdle and Burdett, are a conspicuous component of the epifaunal community. The calcareous foraminifers encrusting S. frigida are mostly represented by Cibicides refulgens Montfort and Rosalina globularis d'Orbigny.Foraminifera were found only in the basal part of the bryozoan colonies. The presence of many juveniles provided evidence that foraminifers were reproducing at the time of sampling. Psammosphaera fusca f. adhaerescens was found exclusively inside the zooids of S. frigida. The large number of individuals associated with the bryozoan suggest that P. fusca f. adhaerescens finds optimum conditions (shelter, food, and grains for shell building) for growth inside the zooids of S. frigida. The other species occurred most commonly adhered to the trabeculae or to the zooid orifices of S. frigida. An elevated position offers a better chance to catch food particles from the overlying water column. Foraminifers could benefit also from bryozoan feeding currents. The availability of resuspended organic material could provide a more consistent source of food in a highly seasonal oligotrophic environment.

Trace/minor element:calcium ratios in cultured benthic foraminifera. Part I: Inter-species and inter-individual variability

“…Both species are perforate and hyaline. B. aculeata is considered a shallow-infaunal species (e.g., Mackensen et al, 2000) and Rosalina is considered to be an epifaunal genus (e.g., Zampi et al, 1997;Gebhardt and Thalheim, 2004). Observation of the two species at the time of culture collection found specimens on the substrate surface, buried within a single shell depth, and sometimes completely buried within the 3-mm substrate depth.…”

Foraminiferan (Protozoa) epizoites on the anthuridean (Crustacea, Isopoda) Calathura brachiata (Stimpson)

“…A large number of other foraminiferan species are known to be epizoites on invertebrates ( Haward and Haynes, 1976;Zampi et al, 1997 ) and Haward and Haynes ( 1976 ) found in all 34 species of foraminiferans on a single specimen of the bivalve Chlamys opercularis ( Linnaeus). There is no good explanation of why so few other species of foraminiferans are common epizoites on isopods.…”