Host specificity in sponge-encrusting zoanthidea (Anthozoa: Zoantharia) of Barbados, West Indies
✍ Scribed by L. A. Crocker; H. M. Reiswig
- Book ID
- 104756025
- Publisher
- Springer-Verlag
- Year
- 1981
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 756 KB
- Volume
- 65
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 0025-3162
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✦ Synopsis
Six species of common Caribbean Zoanthidea, Parazoanthus swiftii, P. parasiticus, P. catenularis, P. puertoricense, Epizoanthus cutressi, and Epizoanthus sp., are virtually restricted to living on surfaces of reef dwelling sponges. Quantitative surveys on Barbados reefs indicate that substrate specificity is relatively high among these zoanthids with three restricted to a single primary host sponge species and three restricted to three closely related sponges. One species, P. swiftii, exhibits a broad range of acceptable secondary substrates, due to its unique ability to execute migrational spread in the adult polyp stage. Variations in substrate specificity have been noted between island populations within the extensive Caribbean range and appear to be due to different species compositions of local sponge communities and slight differences in zoanthid larval settling specificities.
puertoricense West and Epizoanthus cutressi West, have been previously reported (West, 1979) and one, Epizoanthus sp., is an undescribed species reported here for the first time. Previous work has suggested that in many symbiotic associations, symbionts exhibit considerable specificity in selection of hosts (Kinzie, 1974; Shoenberg and Trench, 1976;Stanton, 1977;Kinzie and Chee, 1979). The five species of sponge-encrusting zoanthids previously reported from Puerto Rico by West appear to be restricted to one or a small number of potentially available host species.
This report is limited to investigation of host specificity in these six zoanthid species at Barbados, West Indies.
Field surveys along with laboratory and in situ experiments were conducted to determine the host preference for each zoanthid species. Patterns of host specificity and the probable mechanisms effective in host selection are discussed.