Competition among tunicates on different substrates & beaches on a rocky intertidal shore in the northern Gulf of California, Mexico
 
By Brandy Guzman, Amir Hobheidar, and Michael Schvarcz
 
 
 
 
Abstract  The ecology of colonial tunicates in the northern Gulf of California is largely undocumented to this day. This study provides new insight on species diversity, abundance, and dispersal of colonial tunicates in two locations at Puerto Penasco, Sonora, Mexico: Intercultural Center for the Study of Deserts and Oceans (CEDO) Beach & Station Beach. In this research we were able to conclude that two tunicate species, an orange and brown Didemnum, are the most competitive (winning the most) for space in the intertidal. Interestingly, the white colonial tunicate, also a Didemnum sp, is the least competitive (loses the most) and is the most abundant. In this experiment we were unable to adequately determine how substrate type affects colonial tunicates competitive behavior. We conducted this study over two days and tides in September 2007 as part of Marine Discovery (ECOL 450), a UA course. The results reported may help devise a mechanism to control invasive and nuisance species of Didemnum. In September 2007, a group of students majoring biology ventured to Puerto Penasco, Mexico to conduct a study on tunicates (Ascidiacea). Their research was done as part of the Marine Discovery (ECOL 450) course offered at the University of Arizona.
 
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