Epizoic Diatoms On Gastropod Shells

Abstract

Complexity pervades biological systems at any scale: from microbes to higher organisms, from individuals to populations, from communities to ecosystems. The degree of organization of plant and animal populations, their trophic relationships, and ecological associations is currently explored in ecology. Biodiversity and community structure are strongly influenced by the complexity of those relationships, in addition to the interplaying between multiple environmental conditions. On the other hand, complexity in microcommunities has not been solved yet. For instance, the role of substrates in shaping the diversity and structure of biofouling communities is virtually unexplored.