CRYPTOFAUNA OF MARINE ECOSYSTEM FOCUSED ON BENTHIC.pptx

MARINE ORGANISM LIVES IN BENTHIC ECOSYSTEMS

1. CRYPTO-FAUNA Jeni Susan J Varghese M.Sc Marine Biology

2. INTRODUCTION Crypto-fauna – all invertebrate in coral substrate The boring in to the CaCO 3 Living in cracks and crevices Occupy space under coral heads and boulders.

3. True borers

4. Opportunist

5. Feeding method T he community belongs to filter feeders and deposit feeders. They feed on particles present in water column and organic detritus. These are collected in mucus from corals. These coral produced mucus and recycling the organic matter.

6. Competition to grow Sponges, bryozoans tends to grow in caves or cervices. They reproduce asexually and overgrow. Hence a competition occurs for the space. In fast growing invertebrates forms competitive networks rather than hierarchical sequence. It affect the ahermatypic corals by an increased susceptibility and predation and disturbance.

7. Reference James W Nyabakken (2021), Marine Biology VI Edition pp:447 Cryptic Species of Architeuthis : Giant Squid, Colossal Squid, and More" by S. O'Shea, M. E. Vecchione , and R. E. Young (PLOS ONE, 2009)