BIOTIC

BIOTIC Species Information for Protanthea simplex
All Taxonomy Biology Distribution Reproduction

Researched by	Angus Jackson	Data supplied by	MarLIN
Refereed by	Dr Ib Svane
General Biology
Growth form	Cylindrical	Feeding method	Passive suspension feeder
Mobility/Movement	Temporary attachment	Environmental position	Epifaunal
Typical food types	Insufficient information	Habit	Attached
Bioturbator	Not relevant	Flexibility	High (>45 degrees)
Fragility	Fragile	Size	Small(1-2cm)
Height	Up to 2 cm	Growth Rate	Insufficient information
Adult dispersal potential	Insufficient information	Dependency	Independent
Sociability	Solitary
Toxic/Poisonous?	No
General Biology Additional Information	This species exhibits an unusual collapse behaviour, where at intervals, muscle tone is rapidly lost and the animals hangs limply from its disk attachment. This is considered to be an egestion process rather than a feeding, alarm or escape response. Despite the primitive musculature, Protanthea simplex is capable of active movement. In Sweden Protanthea simplex has been recorded historically at densities of up to 2000 per square metre. Svane & Gröndal (1988) reported that the species was abundant below the algal belt in semi-sheltered and sheltered sites in the Gullmarsfjorden, Sweden (10.7 % and 4.5 % cover per 0.25 square metre respectively). This contrasted with earlier work by Gislén, undertaken between 1926-29, where the species was not recorded in the semi-sheltered sites and only made up a small proportion of the total wet weight of species in the sheltered sites (Svane & Gröndal, 1988).
Biology References	McFarlane, 1985, Nyholm, 1959, Carlgren, 1893, Carlgren, 1921, Manuel, 1988, Svane & Groendahl, 1988,