Taxonomic composition and structure of bryozoan-associated biofilms from Japan and New Zealand

Living substrates such as bryozoans represent one of the common settling grounds for biofilms in which bacteria, diatoms, cyanobacteria, green algae and/or fungi are abundant (Voigt 1973, Winston 1988, Winston & Håkansson 1989, Schmaljohann 1993). This may result in competitive interactions between the living bryozoan substrate and its microbial biofilms (Soule and Soule 1977). The response of the respective bryozoan species becomes evident either in a chemical, or in a morphological pathway of defense.