FIELD NOTES ON A FOULING SERPULID HYDROIDS ELEGANS HASWELL (POLYCHAETA, SERPULIDAE) PRESENT IN CONFINED WATERS OF BOMBAY

Tubeworm Hydroides elegans Haswell is one of the major sedentary organ isms that fouls the ships berthed in confined, polluted waters of wet basin in Bombay harbour. The species breeds and settles throughout the year and generates wet debris weighing around 8/kg.m(-2) on immersed surface within a short span of 3 months. Tolerant to adverse seawater conditions as well as to potent toxins, the species is well establishe d possibly because of the availability of rich and varied diatom flora as food.