A symbiotic shell-encrusting bryozoan provides subtidal whelks with chemical defence against rock lobsters

Abstract

The subtidal whelk Burnupena papyracea co-occurs with a voracious predator, the rock lobster Jasus lalandii, in situations where other potential prey are largely eliminated. The survival of B. papyracea has been ascribed to a symbiotic bryozoan, Alcyonidium nodosum, which characteristically encrusts the shells of this mollusc and deters feeding by J. lalandii. Although B. papyracea shells encrusted with A. nodosum were found to be stronger than non-encrusted shells, this bryozoan-induced physical defence was insufficient to deter predation by J. lalandii. However, laboratory bioassays using individual J. lalandii suggested a chemical basis for feeding deterrence originating from A. nodosum and highlighted the advantages of using ecologically relevant bioassays to monitor chemically mediated interactions between species in the marine environment. The nature of the chemical compound(s) responsible for the acquired chemical defence passively imparted by A. nodosum to B. papyracea is unknown.