FOULING OF THE CARIDEAN SHRIMP, LYSMATA WURDEMANNI (GIBBES, 1850) BY THE BARNACLE, BALANUS IMPROVISUS DARWIN, 1854 AND OTHER EPIBIONTS

Epibiotic growth was found on several specimens of the shrimp, Lysmata wurdemanni collected along a rocky groin in Galveston, Texas. Bryozoan (Membranipora sp.) and peritrich ciliate (family Epistylididae) colonies were found on a few individuals, while the barnacle, Balanus improvisus was encrusted upon most of the fouled shrimp. The majority of barnacles were attached to the dorsolateral surfaces of the carapace and abdomen. Fouling by barnacles is hypothesized to occur with a decrease in salinity, while the pattern of barnacle attachment is likely affected by the grooming ability of this caridean shrimp.