Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 11/12/2007 - 07:30
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Antarctic Undersea ROV

Do sessile creatures randomly live somewhere or specifically choose a place to live?

Tate

Mon, 11/12/2007 - 08:03

Mindy Bell

Hi  Tate,Great question!  Most sessile creatures (organisms that don't move) send their offspring out into the water and the larvae can swim around and get larger before they settle down - if they don't get eaten first.  Some scientists study what makes organisms settle in different places.  Mussels (bivalves like clams) and barnacles (arthropods like shrimp) grow in big colonies so it appears that there are chemical signals or something that draws the young mussels and barnacles to the colony.  Some other organisms, like coral or sponges, may just settle in an area and if it is a good place they thrive, and if it isn't then they might die.
One of the most interesting things about studying biology is learning the amazing variety of strategies that different organisms have for survival!