INITIAL SETTLEMENT BEHAVIOUR AND SURVIVORSHIP OF LITHOPHAGA BISULCATA (d'ORBIGNY) (MYTILIDAE: LITHOPHAGINAE)

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Abstract
Although infaunal associates of living reef building corals include numerous phyla, initial settlement on the coral host has never been described. Experiments described here included raising the larvae of a common Caribbean coral-boring mussel, Lithophaga bisulcata to observe their behaviour in the presence of a variety of settlement substrates. On Strephanocoenia michelini, the most common host, larvae moved about the coral surface with impunity, exploring the surface with the foot. On this coral species, competent pediveligers were ingested by the coral but not necessarily digested. Penetration of the coral is initiated by entering the coelenteron, where metamorphosis will presumably take place. On species which L. bisulcata rarely inhabits, the larvae appeared to be stung by nematocysts and withdrew the foot rapidly from contact with the tissue. Habitation of a living coral substrate appeared to be beneficial to the bivalve. Although L. bisulcata inhabits both living and dead coral, there is evidence that survival, longevity and reproductive output are enhanced when the mussel is surrounded by living coral tissue.