ABSTRACT
Watersipora subatra is an invasive cheilostome bryozoan found locally in shallow waters, especially on artificial substrates in Otago Harbour, Dunedin, southern Aotearoa New Zealand. The aim of this study is to assess the effect of six different feeding regimes on growth, morphology and survival of W. subatra in the laboratory, with the goal of finding a suitable regime for sustaining colonies in a laboratory setting. We tested feeding regimes of Chaetoceros mulleri, Tetraselmis chuii, Pavlova lutea, a mixture of the three, kelp flakes, and natural seawater. Growth was most rapid in the Chaetoceros and mixed treatments, whereas no growth was observed in the kelp flake or seawater treatments. Zooids and opercula were measured, but showed no discernible trends. This research contributes to our knowledge of W. subatra as a model species, allowing further laboratory-based studies into the effects of climate change on invasiveness.
