FEEDING GUILDS OF POLYCHAETES ASSOCIATED WITH CLADOCORA-CAESPITOSA (L) (ANTHOZOA, CNIDARIA) IN THE NORTH AEGEAN SEA

In an attempt to combine the recent interest in the study of the polyc haete feeding modes and the importance of the unique Mediterranean scl eractinian species Cladocora caespitosa, we examined the feeding guild s of polychaetes associated with this coral. Nine feeding guilds were identified among 87 polychaete species living in association with Clad ocora. The feeding guilds do not exhibit the same distribution from bi otope to biotope. Sessile, tentaculated filter-feeders (FST) exhibited the greatest abundance, followed by motile carnivores with jawed phar ynxes and discretely motile carnivores with jawed pharynxes (CDJ). The greatest dry biomass was found in CMJ followed by FST and CDJ. The ab undance and biomass (dry weight) distribution of the polychaetes' feed ing guilds in association with the colonies of Cladocora from two diff erent biotopes differ only regarding the motile, microphagous, and bur rowers feeding guilds categories. Within Cladocora caespitosa colonies , the abundance and biomass of the various feeding guilds were directl y related to the volume of the host colony. The results of this invest igation seem to indicate that the architectural structure of Cladocora caespitosa is an important factor affecting the associated invertebra te populations. A number of other biotic factors, such as the presence or absence of nematocysts near the point of attachment, also influenc e greatly the settling ability of organisms.