Formation of giant buds in the cheilostome bryozoan Schizoporella serialis (Heller, 1867) during its interactions with the bryozoan Celleporaria aperta (Hinks, 1882)

Abstract The formation of giant buds in the cheilostome bryozoan Schizoporella serialis (Heller, 1867) during its interactions with another cheilostome Celleporaria aperta (Hinks, 1882) was studied over eight separate encounters. While the length increased 2–3 times that of the normal terminal buds ( p = 0.0001, one-way ANOVA) the width did not increase ( p = 0.82, one-way ANOVA). A positive correlation was observed between length of the giant bud and colony area of C. aperta ( r = 0.96, p = 0.0006, n = 7). However, length and width of giant buds were not significantly related to the size and growth rate of S. serialis colonies which produced them. These data suggest that contact between S. serialis and C. aperta resulted in the production of giant buds in S. serialis .