Ecology of Obelia dichotoma
 
Main Ref. Migotto, A.E., A.C. Marques, A.C. Morandini and F.L. da Silveira, 2002
Remarks Colonial (Ref. 19). Known from mangroves (Ref. 86642), tidal inlets, sheltered areas of bays, exposed areas of bays, including any ledges at their entrance, sounds, caves, still-water areas of anchialine ponds, shallow reefs, shallow coastal benthic habitats (< 25 m), deeper coastal substrates (25- 100m) of the offshore fore-reef slope and surface or near surface water layers, including porpitids and the halopelagic Sargassum sp. fauna (Ref. 86643). Also found in Carrie Bow Cay, Belize, in patch reefs, mangrove islands, Thalassia sp. beds, sand trough, outer ridge and fore-reef slopes on Thalassia sp. beds, mangrove roots, floating Sargassum sp. and substrates composed of dead corals and gorgonians at depths of 0.2 to 31 m ) (Ref. 87156). It is found mainly on hard substrates, wood, ropes, dead gorgonians and smaller colonies are epizoic to Symplectoscyphus spp., Bougainvillia muscus, Sertularella polyzonias, Hybocodon chilensis (Ref. 87801). As with other hydroids, this species exhibits a pelagic medusoid stage (Ref. 87156). Benthic suspension feeder. Feeds mainly on fecal pellets, organic matter, microalgae, and some zooplankton (Ref. 116236).

Aquatic zones / Water bodies

Marine - Neritic Marine - Oceanic Brackishwater Freshwater
Marine zones / Brackish and freshwater bodies
  • supra-littoral zone
  • littoral zone
  • sublittoral zone
  • epipelagic
  • mesopelagic
  • epipelagic
  • abyssopelagic
  • hadopelagic
  • estuaries/lagoons/brackish seas
  • mangroves
  • marshes/swamps
  • rivers/streams
  • lakes/ponds
  • caves
  • exclusively in caves
Highighted items on the list are where Obelia dichotoma may be found.

Habitat

Substrate Benthic: sessile; Hard Bottom: rubble;
Substrate Ref. Spracklin, B.W., 1982
Special habitats Beds: algae/seaweed; Coral Reefs: reef slope/drop-offs; lagoons; Other habitats: vegetation ( leaves, roots/holdfast, driftwood ); other invertebrates (dead gorgonians and epizoic to Symplectoscyphus spp., Bougainvillia muscus, Sertularella polyzonias, Hybocodon chilensis (Ref. 87801).);
Special habitats Ref. Spracklin, B.W., 1982

Associations

Ref. Migotto, A.E., A.C. Marques, A.C. Morandini and F.L. da Silveira, 2002
Associations colony-forming/symphorism;
Associated with
Association remarks
Parasitism

feeding

Feeding type plants/detritus+animals (troph. 2.2-2.79)
Feeding type Ref. Orejas, C., S. Rossi, A. Peralba, E. García, J.M. Gili and H. Lippert, 2013
Feeding habit filtering plankton
Feeding habit Ref. Orejas, C., S. Rossi, A. Peralba, E. García, J.M. Gili and H. Lippert, 2013

Trophic Level(s)

Estimation method original sample unfished population Remark
Troph s.e. Troph s.e.
From diet composition
From individual food items 2.46 0.23 Trophic level estimated from a number of food items using a randomized resampling routine.
Ref.
(e.g. 9948)
(e.g. cnidaria)
Comments & Corrections
 
 
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