'News to me.

Nice presentation,
Harry


On 8/7/2019 5:09 PM, Steve Rosenthal wrote:
> It is well known  that wentletraps (Epitoniidae) are associated ecologically and distributionally with sea anemones. Does anybody know if there is any association between sea urchins and wentletraps?
>
> While collecting  shells over the weekend in SE Alaska  I stumbled upon a population  of Boreoscala greenlandica (Perry, 1811) in spatial association with bunches of green sea urchins (Strongylocentrotus drobachiensis) in the lowermost intertidal/uppermost subtidal zone of the rocky shoreline. Of the 100 or so live snails I saw, at least half were actually 'stuck' on the spines of the sea urchins with their apertures/opercula  facing upwards.  Almost all the other wentletraps I saw were nearby on sediment or hard surfaces adjacent to (and often in contact with) the urchins, while a few were crawling around in, or partially buried in, bare patches of soft sediment nearby.  I didn't see any of the snails  in any other microhabitat or bottom type in the areas I explored.  Furthermore, I didn't notice any sea anemones in the areas where  the urchins and the wentletraps were living.  I can't help but wonder if there is an ecological association between these two species, and then of course how did so many living wentletraps wind up 'stuck' on the sea urchins, and what- if any- harm (or benefit) could result for the snails as a consequence. It's well known that many species of sea urchins will attach dead shells (especially bivalves), pebbles and other debris to their spines to help disguise them from potential predators. Do they also 'use' live shells? It sure looked like it.
> Another thing i did notice was  the first low tide of that weekend  (a minus 3.0)  was so low that the urchins were eventually exposed to the air, and from that point onward,  could no longer find any wentletraps,
>
> Anybody ever seen anything like this or have any knowledge as to what was going on

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