Sabellaria Colonies at Duckpool, North Cornwall, 1971–1972, With a Note for May 1973

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Abstract
The exceptionally heavy settlement of larvae in the autumn of 1970 made it imperative to continue the observations of the previous ten years. This two-year extension has yielded much new knowledge about the growth of Sabellaria colonies at Duckpool, and about other aspects of their life. It revealed that the more densely packed the young were the faster their colony grew, provided conditions were favourable. In unfavourable circumstances close packing of young delayed growth. The rapid elongation of young tubes surrounding older tubes sometimes resulted in holes and fissures forming when the older worms failed to maintain all-round contact with surrounding young as the surface area of a colony increased. Such holes and fissures gave a false appearance of physical damage, and in colonies where they formed weakened the whole structure, becoming a factor in its ultimate destruction by wave action. Such fast-growing colonies have shorter lives than others growing more slowly and remaining more compact.

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