The Capacity of Australia's Protected‐Area System to Represent Threatened Species

Abstract: The acquisition or designation of new protected areas is usually based on criteria for representation of different ecosystems or land‐cover classes, and it is unclear how well‐threatened species are conserved within protected‐area networks. Here, we assessed how Australia's terrestrial protected‐area system (89 million ha, 11.6% of the continent) overlaps with the geographic distributions of threatened species and compared this overlap against a model that randomly placed protected areas across the continent and a spatially efficient model that placed protected areas across the continent to maximize threatened species’ representation within the protected‐area estate. We defined the minimum area needed to conserve each species on the basis of the species’ range size. We found that although the current configuration of protected areas met targets for representation of a given percentage of species’ ranges better than a random selection of areas, 166 (12.6%) threatened species occurred entirely outside protected areas and target levels of protection were met for only 259 (19.6%) species. Critically endangered species were among those with the least protection; 12 (21.1%) species occurred entirely outside protected areas. Reptiles and plants were the most poorly represented taxonomic groups, and amphibians the best represented. Spatial prioritization analyses revealed that an efficient protected‐area system of the same size as the current protected‐area system (11.6% of the area of Australia) could meet representation targets for 1272 (93.3%) threatened species. Moreover, the results of these prioritization analyses showed that by protecting 17.8% of Australia, all threatened species could reach target levels of representation, assuming all current protected areas are retained. Although this amount of area theoretically could be protected, existing land uses and the finite resources available for conservation mean land acquisition may not be possible or even effective for the recovery of threatened species. The optimal use of resources must balance acquisition of new protected areas, where processes that threaten native species are mitigated by the change in ownership or on‐ground management jurisdiction, and management of threatened species inside and outside the existing protected‐area system.     

Screening for plants and rhizospheral fungi with bioremediation potency of petroleum-polluted soils in a Tehran oil refinery area

The contamination of soils by toxic and/or hazardous organic pollutants, especially with crude oil, is a widespread problem. This study was conducted in a petroleum-contaminated area in a Tehran oil refinery to find petroleum-resistant plants and their rhizospheral fungal strains with bioremediation potency. The plants growing in the oil-polluted area were collected and determined taxonomically. Root samples of the plant species were collected from a polluted area and fungal strains determined by laboratory methods and taxonomical keys. The growth ability of the isolated fungal strains was studied in media containing 1%–15% crude oil. Results showed that seven plant species were of the highest density in the contaminated area: Alhagi persarum, Hordeum marinum, Peganum harmala, Phragmites australis, Prosopis farcta, Salsola kali, and Senecio glaucus. The root-associated fungi were isolated and showed that the fungal variation in the oil-polluted area is higher than that in a non-polluted area. The growth assay of isolated fungal strains showed that all studied fungal strains were able to form colonies at the applied concentrations but Alternaria sp. and Rhizopus sp. were the most resistant ones. Some plants were resistant to oil pollution, which also had positive effects on the fungal strains.     

The cladocerans of the Aegean Sea: Occurrence and seasonal variation

The little-known cladoceran population of the Aegean Sea was studied. One hundred and seventy-six planktonic samples were collected during 8 cruises in the Aegean Sea (4 in the northern part, 4 in the southern part). From these samples, the following 4 species of Cladocera were determined: Evadne spinifera Muller, Evadne tergestina Claus, Penilia avirostris Dana, Podon intermedius Lilljeborg. All species were found both in the north and in the south Aegean Sea, with the exception of P. avirostris, which was found only in the northern Aegean Sea. Its absence from the southern part is attributed to the higher salinities and the pelagic character of the area. With regard to abundance, E. spinifera is by far the commonest in this area; P. avirostris and E. tergestina could be characterised as frequent forms; P. intermedius is scarce. P. avirostris, E. spinifera and E. tergestina are thermophilic; their occurrence is more or less restricted to the warm season; P. intermedius is psychrophilic and appears only in winter.     

Restoration of the Kishon River

The Kishon River, which is now an industrial sewage canal, may be turned into a recreational area in two stages, and by approximately 20 million dollar investment.

Stage A: The wastewater is treated in order to avoid polluted effluents from entering the river.

Stage B: The river water is treated in order to turn the river into a recreational area.     

Benthic fauna of a shallow-water gaseohydrothermal vent area in the Aegean Sea (Milos, Greece)

The benthic community of shallow-water hydrothermal vents (10 m water depth) in a sandy bay on the south coast of Milos, Greece was studied. The macro- and meiofauna, as well as environmental factors such as temperature, salinity, sulfide concentration, grain size composition, ATP concentration, organic carbon, chlorophyll a and phaeopigments were evaluated. Samples were taken along transects from a seagrass meadow into a hydrothermally active area. Hydrothermally active spots were distinguished from the surrounding sediment by their black sediment coloration and an overlying white bacterial mat. For comparison, a control transect from a seagrass meadow into bare sand in a non-vent area in the same bay was studied. Overall, we found decreasing faunal diversity from the seagrass bed towards the hydrothermally active area. Along this gradient, four different zones could be distinguished. (a) The seagrass area had a relatively low diversity compared to the control stations, but much higher diversity than in the areas directly influenced by hydrothermal activity. (b) The border zone between the seagrass and the hydrothermal area, with moderate sulfide concentrations, pH values, seawater salinity and temperatures, was inhabited by an impoverished community dominated by the polychaete Capitella capitata, the nematodes Oncholaimus campylocercoides and Sabatieria sp., and an as yet undescribed chromadorid nematode (Chromadorina sp.). (c) The transition zone at the border of the hydrothermal area proper, with temperatures and sulfide concentrations higher than in the border zone, was characterized by high salinity (60‰) and low pH values. Along with the gastropod Cyclope neritea, single specimens of C. capitata and O. campylocercoides occurred. (d) The hydrothermal area proper, characterized by high sulfide concentrations, had high sediment temperatures and high salinities. The pH was as low as 6. Here, the gastropod Cyclope neritea was the only species occurring in considerable numbers. The gaseohydrothermal activity seems to largely exclude the surrounding fauna in a graded zonal pattern. The increasing hydrothermal stress entrains a change of the ambient biota towards a depauperate consortium of tolerant, opportunistic species, e.g. Capitella capitata (Polychaeta) and Oncholaimus campylocercoides (Nematoda). Although the hydrothermal area proper was characterized by a thick bacterial mat, the benthic community was characterized not by bacteria feeders but by scavenging species. Received: 13 September 1996 / Accepted: 24 October 1996     

Dissolved organic substances during a Phaeocystis pouchetii bloom in the German Bight (North Sea)

Dissolved organic substances (carbohydrates, organic nitrogen, free amino acids) were measured in the German Bight (North Sea) in June, 1981. During and before this survey, sea foam was observed in the east Frisian coastal water and it accumulated on the nearby beaches to an unusually high extent. In this coastal water area, a large Phaeocystis pouchetii Lagerheim bloom and very high concentrations of dissolved organic matter were found. The above dissolved organic substances were all positively correlated to a highly significant degree with P. pouchetii cell numbers in the bloom area. An influence of salinity (or river water) on this correlation could be excluded. Thus, exudation or decomposition products of P. pouchetii were most likely the cause of the unusually high concentrations of dissolved organic matter in the bloom area off the east Frisian coast, where P. pouchetii blooms have been reported for many years. Ammonia concentrations were very low in the P. pouchetii bloom area; this and the accumulation of dissolved organic substances might lead to speculation that decomposition of dissolved organic matter by bacteria could have been reduced due to antibiotic activity of P. pouchetii.     

Seven Years of Change Following Liming of Sphagnum Communities in Sector Vii of the Loch Fleet Catchment

In 1986, application of lime within the upper wetland area of sector VII of the Loch Fleet catchment initiated numerous unscheduled small-scale experiments on the vegetation of this heterogeneous terrain. Vegetation changes and erosion were monitored in permanent or relocated plots established in 1987 and 1989 and re-surveyed in 1993, seven years after liming.

The most striking early effect, possibly occurring within a few weeks of lime application, was the death of Sphagnum papillosum carpet in soakways within the 2.5 ha area. Some patches of dead material were washed away, but bare surfaces were generally colonised by vascular plants, notably Juncus bulbosus. Effects in moorland and bog communities with dwarf shurbs were more subtle, involving reduction in Sphagnum cover and expansion of Erica teralix, Molinia caerulea, sedges and Narthecium ossifragum, but little change in the frequency of occurrence of Calluna vulgaris.     

Using three-dimensional surface area to compare the growth of two Pocilloporid coral species

Many facets of coral research require coral colony surface area estimates. This study developed a relationship between the two-dimensional (2D) projected area and the three-dimensional (3D) whole colony surface area for two commonly studied Indo-Pacific coral species: Pocillopora damicornis and Stylophora pistillata. The surface index function was used to measure the growth of colonies in situ around Heron reef on the southern Great Barrier Reef. The results show that while growth between the two species was not significantly different when measured in two dimensions, the 3D area showed significantly different growth rates with S. pistillata growing at almost double the rate of P. damicornis. The study demonstrates that it is possible to make reliable estimates of the 3D surface area of entire colonies of these complex branching coral species, using the plan view of the coral and a pre-determined surface index function. In addition, this study shows that the 3D surface area provides a more useful measure of colony growth than the traditional methods of either 2D area or longest dimension.     

Elemental distribution in relation to skin necroses of marine flatfishes from the english channel

It has been suggested that industrial waste discharges are associated with the occurrence of fin damage and skin lesions. A mixed population of diseased and healthy blatfish consisting ofLimanda limanda, Pleuronectes platessa, Platichthys flesus andSolea solea were collected from an industrialised area (Calais, France) and were compared with diseased and healthyl. limanda caught in a non-industrialised area (Brixham, England). Analysis of skin samples from necrosed and healthy fish by X-ray microanalysis and atomic absorption spectroscopy has shown that no elemental accumulation occurs either in necrosed fish, or fish from an industrialised area. The fish from Calais were heavily infested with the ectoparasitic copepodLepeophtheirus pectoralis (O.F. Müller) and, although few were found on fish from Brixham, it is unlikely that this infestation was related to the discharge of industrial effluents.     

Seasonal abundance and toxicity of the dinoflagellate Gambierdiscus spp. (Dinophyceae), the causative agent of ciguatera in Tahiti, French Polynesia

The benthic dinoflagellate Gambierdiscus spp. is the primary causative agent of ciguatera fish poisoning in French Polynesia. However, the initiation of ciguatera outbreaks and the factors that control ciguatoxin production in this dinoflagellate are still poorly understood. In this paper, we present some original data concerning the seasonal abundance and toxicity of natural populations of Gambierdiscus spp. based on a long-term survey in a ciguateric site of the island of Tahiti. From February 1993 to December 1997, Gambierdiscus spp. population densities were monitored weekly in the Atimaono barrier reef of Papara in relation to temperature and salinity. Densities peaked at 4992 cells g⁻¹ in October 1994 and constituted ≥1000 cells g⁻¹ on several occasions. A total of 58 blooms were recorded in the area, of which 65% occurred in 1995 and 1996 alone. Our data confirmed the high endemicity of Gambierdiscus spp. in the Papara area. Refined analysis of our raw data by a principal-component analysis of processes (PCAP) revealed a seasonality in cell densities from February 1993 to May 1995. During this period, Gambierdiscus spp. populations tended to reach maximum abundance at the beginning and end of the hot season. In contrast, salinity did not appear to be a determining factor in the seasonal abundance of this dinoflagellate. The noticeable increase in both peak densities and frequency of blooms further noticed in 1995 and 1996 was preceded by unusually high water temperatures in January to April 1994, concomitant with a severe coral-bleaching episode. During the course of the study, a total of 303 × 10⁶ cells obtained from 48 successive blooms was harvested. Toxicity screening revealed that toxin production was maximum from October 1994 through December 1996. No correlation was found between toxicity of these blooms and their biomass nor the seasonal pattern of temperatures. It is suggested that the toxicity of naturally-occurring blooms of Gambierdiscus spp. and, consequently, the severity of ciguatera incidents in a given area, is mainly dependent on the clonal nature of cells which coexist within local populations of this dinoflagellate. Received: 12 October 1998 / Accepted: 15 June 1999     

Behavioural plasticity in a large marine herbivore: contrasting patterns of depth utilisation between two green turtle (Chelonia mydas) populations

We used time-depth recorders to measure depth utilisation in gravid green turtles (Chelonia mydas) during the internesting period at northern Cyprus (Mediterranean), a nesting area where individuals feed, and at Ascension Island (mid-Atlantic), a nesting area where individuals fast. There were contrasting patterns of depth utilisation between the two sites, illustrating that the behaviour of this species is shaped by local conditions. For example, the amount of time spent shallower than 4 m was 90% at Cyprus but only 31% at Ascension Island, and there was a clear difference between the mean depth at Cyprus (2.7 m, n=9 internesting intervals) versus Ascension Island (9.5 m, n=6 internesting intervals) (t ₅=5.92, P=0.002). At Cyprus, turtles spent the greatest percentage of their time at very shallow depths, where surveys reveated a high abundance of seagrass on which this population feeds. In contrast, the deeper distribution at Ascension Island may reflect the preferred depth for resting on the seabed. Published online: 23 July 2002     

Changing lobster abundance and the destruction of kelp beds by sea urchins

In a study area in Nova Scotia, Canada, abundance of the lobster Homarus americanus decreased by nearly 50% in 14 years. The lobster is a major predator of sea urchins, and during the past 6 years the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis has destroyed 70% of the beds of Laminaria spp. in the area. Implications for management are discussed.     

Allometry and the geometry of leaf-cutting in Atta cephalotes

Summary This study considers the relationship of both leg length and the geometry of leaf-cutting to load-size determination by the highly polymorphic leaf-cutting ant Atta cephalotes. A. cephalotes workers anchor on the leaf edge by their hind legs and pivot around them while cutting arcs from leaves. I tested the hypothesis that, for an ant cutting a semicircular leaf fragment, fragment area is determined by a fixed reach while cutting. This reach hypothesis predicts that ants should cut the same fragment-area for at all leaf types. Also, if the radius of the semicircular fragment is proportional to hind leg length, this hypothesis predicts that leaf area should be proportional to hind-leg length squared. The field work was carried out in March–April 1990 and June 1991 in Heredia Province, Costa Rica. I measured hind-leg length for workers of different masses. I then measured leaf-fragment area and mass for workers cutting semicircular fragments from leaves of different densities (mass/area). The logarithmic relationship between ant mass (M _a) and hind-leg length L accelerated negatively (Fig. 1). As a result of this complex allometry, relative leg length (L/M _a ^0.33) increased with ant mass up to a mass of 7.4 mg. Above 7.4 mg, relative leg length decreased. For foragers cutting semicircular fragments, the area cut by an ant of a given size showed no significant difference among leaves of different densities (Fig. 2). Leaf area (A) increased as a function of leg length to the 1.9 power (Fig. 4), an exponent not significantly different from the square function expected if the radius of a fragment is determined by the ant's reach. As a result of this consistent mode of fragment-area determination, the mass of fragments cut by an ant of a given size was significantly greater when cutting denser leaves (Fig. 3) and relative area (A/M _a) cut decreased with increasing ant mass. However, because larger ants generally cut denser leaves (Table 1), the increased density of thick leaves was offset by the reduced relative area cut by the larger ants. Overall, 93% of the foragers cut fragments weighing between 1.5 and 6 times their own body mass (Table 1). Earlier studies found that this broad load-mass range maximized the biomass-transport rate (mass/distance/time) and transport efficiency (mass/distance/energy cost). Thus, A. cephalotes does not solve the problem of matching ant mass and load mass at leaves of different densities with flexibility in the leaf-cutting behavior of individual ants. Instead, individual ants employ a single simple behavioral rule, but workers of different sizes and body proportions tend to cut leaves of different densities.     

A critical habitat for Mediterranean fish resources: shelf-break areas with<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Leptometra phalangium</Emphasis> (Echinodermata: Crinoidea)

This paper considers the potential role of the crinoid Leptometra phalangium as an indicator of highly productive areas along the shelf break that can sustain large biomasses of benthopelagic fish and recruits. The structure of fish assemblages in the central Mediterranean Sea (central-western coast of Italy), analysed on the basis of surveys carried out in summer and autumn from 1997 to 2001, revealed the presence of a well-defined group of species on the shelf break. This area, occurring at a depth of between 120 and 170 m, is characterised by detritic organogenic sediments colonised by the crinoid L. phalangium, a suspension-feeding macro-epibenthic species confined in the Mediterranean to the shelf-break area. Its abundance in the studied area can reach 12–15 ind. m^–2. A total of 121 species belonging to 66 families of demersal organisms (crustacean decapods and stomatopods, cephalopods, selaceens and teleosteens) were caught at shelf-break stations from September to October. The species which typified the assemblage were the fishes Trisopterus minutus capelanus, Merluccius merluccius, Glossanodon leioglossus, Argentina sphyraena, Capros aper, Macroramphos scolopax and Lepidotrigla cavillone, the crustacean decapod Parapenaeus longirostris and the cephalopods Illex coindetii and Todaropsis eblanae. Detritic shelf-break stations showed a higher abundance of demersal organisms than stations distributed on muddy bottoms in the same depth range (100–200 m). Such differences appeared to be significant in September–October, when a clear increase in benthopelagic zooplanktivorus species, such as Glossanodon leioglossus, Trachurus trachurus, Trachurus picturatus, was found. The length structure of species occurring on the shelf break showed that for some of them the selection of this area is related to specific phases of their life cycle. Significant highest abundance of recruits and juveniles was observed for Merluccius merluccius, Helicolenus dactylopterus, Phycis blennoides, Parapenaeus longirostris and Capros aper in at least one of the two seasons. Similarly, an increased abundance of spawners of red mullet Mullus barbatus and four-spotted megrim Lepidorhombus boscii was observed on the shelf break. Results of this study may have important consequences for management of fish stocks and assemblages in the central Mediterranean. The co-occurrence of high densities of L. phalangium and benthopelagic fish, occurring mainly with juveniles and spawners, strongly indicates a potential role of L. phalangium as an indicator of highly productive areas around the shelf break. Such areas appear to play a major role in the production of some of the most abundant and commercially important fish species, such as the Mediterranean hake and red mullet.Communicated by R. Cattaneo-Vietti, Genova     

Population biology of Gnathophausia longispina (mysidacea: Lophogastrida) from a central north pacific seamount

Large numbers of the lophogastrid mysid Gnathophausia longispina were discovered in 1984 over Southeast Hancock Seamount on the northern Hawaiian Ridge. Additional specimens were collected from the same area during subsequent surveys in 1985, 1987, and 1988 to obtain new information on the life history of this species. Estimates of growth suggest that G. longispina reaches sexual maturity by its second year. Young are brooded by the female for nearly a year and released in late winter-early spring. It is doubtful if G. longispina live longer than 2 yr or produce more than one brood. Most G. longispina are found within 100m above the seamount summit. The modal progression of size classes over time indicates that this species is dependent on local processes rather than recruitment from other areas to maintain its populations at the seamount.     

Recovery of corals a decade after a bleaching event in Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Elevated sea surface temperatures in the late 1990s were associated with widespread coral mortality in the Arabian Gulf, particularly in Acropora dominated areas. This study investigates the composition, condition, and recruitment patterns of coral communities in Saih Al-Shaib, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, a decade after mass bleaching. Five statistically distinct communities were identified by cluster analysis, with grouping optimized from 17 significant indicator species. Overall, 25 species of scleractinian coral were observed, representing 35 ± 1.6% coral cover. Densities of recruits were low (0.8 ± 0.2 m⁻²), and composition generally reflected that of the surrounding adult community. Ten years after mass mortality, Acropora dominated assemblages were observed in three of the six sites examined and coral cover (41.9 ± 2.5%) was double post-bleaching cover. One shallow near-shore site appears to have had recovery of Acropora reset by a further bleaching event in 2002. However, the prevalence of young Acropora colonies here indicates that recovery may recur in several years. One area formerly dominated by Acropora is now dominated by faviids and poritids, with adult and juvenile composition suggesting this dominance shift is likely to persist. Porites lutea and Porites harrisoni dominated communities were negligibly impacted by the bleaching events, and the limited change in coral cover and composition in intervening years likely results from slow growth and low recruitment. Despite strong recovery of several dominant Acropora species, five formerly common species from this area were not observed suggesting local extinction. Dubai coral communities exhibit both resistance and resilience to elevated sea temperatures. The conservation of these patch reefs is warranted given the predicted increase in bleaching events, and the role that these communities may play in regional recovery.     

A survey of the shrimp resources of Nigeria

Previous planned resources surveys of the Nigerian coastal waters were performed with research vessels, gear and personnel not specialised for shrimp fishing. The results have, therefore, only indicated relative abundance of shrimps in the areas fished, rather than showing the absolute catches which a commercial fishing vessel in the area may expect to make. The present survey used two commercial shrimp trawlers together with their crews, who already had long experience of shrimp trawling both in the Nigerian shrimp grounds and elsewhere. Four shrimp species were caught: Penaeus duorarum, P. kerathurus, Parapeneopsis atlantica and Parapenaeus longirostris. Of these, P. duorarum, P. atlantica and P. longirostris are of commercial importance, P. duorarum being the most important. The distributions and concentrations of these 3 species are shown, together with the size distribution of P. duorarum, and the fish by-catch at each station. With the exception of the transect off the Nun Entrance, all transects sampled showed areas of high concentrations of P. duorarum, that is, 54 to 113 lbs (24 to 51 kg) of head-on shrimps per hour of trawling. The oceanographic conditions prevailing at the time of the survey were normal for the area. Records of previous shrimp landings from the area show a regular seasonal variation and the period of the survey to be one of lowest catches. The catch rates obtained in this survey are, therefore, the minimum which might be expected for the year. From a consideration of the operating costs of the type of shrimp trawler considered adequate for use in the area, it is found that the break-even shrimp catch is about 41 lbs (19 kg) of head-on per hour.     

The three-dimensionality of obstructed shear flows

Obstructed shear flows (i.e. those over permeable media) are common in the environment. An archetypal example, flow over a submerged vegetation canopy, is investigated here. Like any flow through complex geometry, canopy flows are characterised by strong spatial gradients. The focus of this experimental study is the three-dimensionality of aquatic canopy flow, in particular that of the coherent interfacial vortices that govern mixing into and out of the canopy. It is shown here that the vortices have a finite lateral scale that is comparable to their vertical scale; both are of the order of the drag length scale of the canopy, (C _D a)⁻¹, where a is the frontal area density and C _D is a bulk drag coefficient. The finite lateral extent of the vortices generates strong lateral hydrodynamic gradients, both instantaneously and in the long-term. The instantaneous gradients, which can contribute greatly to the dispersion of dissolved and particulate species, are far more pronounced. Finally, the potential for canopies to generate differential roughness secondary circulation is examined. In the consideration of vertical scalar transport, this circulation can be of the same order as turbulent diffusion.     

Direct estimation of natural mortality rates for littoral marine fishes using populational data from a marine reserve

 Visual censuses conducted in a marine reserve (Medas Islands) were used to estimate the natural mortality rates (M) for five common fish species in the NW Mediterranean Sea (Coris julis, Diplodus annularis, D. sargus, Serranus cabrilla and Symphodus roissali). Visual censuses of these same five species were also performed at three sites in unprotected areas of the coast where both commercial and sport fishing activity was normal. Censuses were conducted over a 3 year period. Estimates of M in the 3 years displayed scant seasonal or interannual variation, which may mean that the populations were in equilibrium during that period. The results of this study showed that the relationships between M and the growth parameters and maximum life span were unclear, and considerable caution is therefore recommended when using indirect methods of estimating M based on those parameters. For certain species the values of M were equal to or greater than the estimated total mortality in the exploited areas. The virtual absence of piscivorous predators in the unprotected area as a consequence of the high level of fishing in that area contrasts with the high abundance of such predators in the marine reserve. Since predation is the main contributor to M, estimated mortality in the unprotected areas is attributable nearly entirely to fishing. It is suggested that M may vary according to alterations taking place in conditions in the ecosystem inhabited by a species and thus that use of a value of M for a pristine population cannot be extrapolated to exploited areas. Received: 18 January 2000 / Accepted: 14 July 2000     

Hastigerina pelagica: Foraminiferal habitat for planktonic dinoflagellates

Hand-collection of specimens by SCUBA diving in the Florida Current revealed that the planktonic foraminiferan Hastigerina pelagica harbors on its surfaces 3 species of planktonic dinoflagellates: Pyrocystis fusiformis, P. noctiluca and, predominanty, Dissodinium elegans. Undamaged H. pelagica is unique in possessing a gelatinous, bubble-like capsule completely surrounding the test. While attached to the surface of this capsule, the dinoflagellates frequently reproduced asexually, and appeared healthy in all respects. They were not assimilated by the foraminifera. The number of D. elegans per foraminiferan increased with increased surface area of the gelatinous capsule, averaging approximately 6 dinoflagellates/foraminiferan, with a maximum of 79. Surface-space utilization per D. elegans remained constant with increased foraminiferan size. The use of the foraminifera in a facultative commensal or symbiotic association and the value of surfaces in that association is postulated.