Effects of Disturbance and Initial Settlement on Fouling Community Structure

Abstract

Ceramic tiles were submerged in the Indian River, Florida, and observed for 2 yr. Neither simulated increases in predation pressure not variation in initial species composition had any observed effect upon the structure of the fouling communities on the tiles. However, the exclusion of predators changed the species composition of the fouling communities by allowing species that are normally grazed off to predominate.