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How Sessile are Sea Anemones? A Review of Free‐living Forms in the Actiniaria Cnidaria: Anthozoa
Author(s) -
RIEMANNZÜRNECK KARIN
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
marine ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.668
H-Index - 58
eISSN - 1439-0485
pISSN - 0173-9565
DOI - 10.1111/j.1439-0485.1998.tb00466.x
Subject(s) - biology , anthozoa , cnidaria , anemone , ecology , biological dispersal , sea anemone , pelagic zone , abiotic component , ephemeral key , gorgonian , habitat , biotic component , coral , population , demography , sociology
. There is scattered information in the literature that sea anemones are not always sedentary but instead may temporarily or permanently live loosely attached, detached or even pelagically. This is the first attempt to summarize and assess these observations and their probable ecological significance for the life cycles of the respective species. According to current knowledge there are no truly pelagic species of sea anemones; thus, the ‘Minyadidae’ sensu C arlgren , 1949 have to be abolished as a taxonomic group. Instead, there are indications that there are phases and stages within the life course of many anemone species which are liable to lead a free life in response to abiotic and biotic environmental factors. Juvenile, post‐metamorphic stages seem to be of major significance in these respects and may be subjected to long distance dispersal. It is speculated that some of these free‐living stages may represent morphologically and/or ecologically different stages between larvae and adults. The newly discovered lifestyle of ‘straying predator’ is described from sublittoral habitats off South Africa.