Epibiont molluscs on neogastropod shells from sandy bottoms, Pacific coast of Mexico

Abstract

This study quantifies the prevalence, abundance, and spatial distribution of epibiotic molluscs on six common neogastropod species in sandy bottoms, Hexaplex nigritus, Chicoreus regius, C. erythrostomus, C. brassica, Vasum caestus and Pleuropoca princeps. A total of 1478 epibiont specimens belonging to 74 mollusc species were examined. The most of epibiotic species were typical of hard-bottoms, but a few species were typical of soft-bottoms. The results indicate H. nigritus is significantly more fouled than the other five species. This can be due to a greater availability of small hollows and a strongly ornamented shell in this species. The spatial distribution of epibionts on the neogastropod shells varied significantly among the different areas into which the shell was subdivided for this study. Fifteen sedentary epibiotic species dominated on all host shells. The costs and benefits of epibiosis are reviewed and the epibiont/host relationship appears to be principally beneficial to epibionts, without a clear benefit for hosts.