ABSTRACT
In the marine environment, any exposed, undefended surface will eventually be colonized by marine propagules (Wahl, 1989). Colonization of inanimate structures (e.g., dock pilings and boat hulls) is called fouling, while colonization of other marine organisms is called epibiosis. Epibiosis results in spatially close associations between two or more living organisms (Harder, 2009), in which a single host (or basibiont) supports one or more typically opportunistic colonizers (or epibionts) (Wahl and Mark, 1999). Epibiosis is the most common form of symbiosis in the marine environment and
15.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 399 15.2 Common Forms .................................................................................................................... 401
15.2.1 Sessile Forms ............................................................................................................ 401 15.2.2 Sedentary Forms ....................................................................................................... 401 15.2.3 Motile Forms ............................................................................................................ 401
15.3 Communities and Community Dynamics ............................................................................402 15.3.1 Pelagic/Oceanic Communities ..................................................................................402 15.3.2 Benthic/Neritic Communities ...................................................................................402 15.3.3 Obligate Communities ..............................................................................................403 15.3.4 Community Distribution ...........................................................................................403 15.3.5 Community Succession ............................................................................................404
