Aquascope Facts
Cliff and rocky beach ecology
<A HREF="alcydi.mov">[Watch dead men&acute;s fingers eat 760 kB]</A>
Dead men´s finger catches and eats suspended material.


Suspension feeders have to be well anchored, but many places may not be suitable. Those factors that effect a possible site are the quality and abundance of food, concentration of uneatable mud, how powerful water movements are and interaction with other specie in the area. All factors that effect growth and survival also effect the ability to reproduce successfully. What makes a site suitable for colonization varies between the different specie because they collect suspended food in different ways, and the way they handle varying disturbances such as waves and predators also varies between the specie.

Sabella pavonina 26 kB
The Peacock worms (Sabella pavonina) feeding tentacles can be up to 20 cm in diametre and they tolerate strong currents and wave action. The worm is very sensitive for movements, if for example, a predating fish comes close, the worm quickly retracts its tentacles into its protective tube.

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Cliffs and rocks are fantastic!
Zoning and flecked occurrence
Animals that are attached
Modular construction
Variation and change
Variations in water level
Wave exposure
Both cliffs and rocks
Freshwater and saltwater
Geography, climate and history
Organisms life cycles
Organisms effect on each other
Energy and the flow of material

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© Aquascope 2000  Tjärnö Marine Biological Laboratory, Strömstad, Sweden
Bo Johannesson | Martin Larsvik | Lars-Ove Loo | Helena Samuelsson