Biofouling of the high-shore rockpool harpacticoid copepod Tigriopus brevicornis

The occurrence of microbial epibionts on the exoskeleton of the high-shore rockpool inhabitant Tigriopus brevicornis is described. The major biofoulan t is a filamentous bacterium of the genus Leucothrix. Other observed epibio nts on the exoskeleton of T. brevicornis include ciliates and diatoms. Harp acticoid copepods have no grooming structures to counteract fouling. Possib le effects of these epibionts on the movement and feeding of T. brevicornis are suggested.