entirely to feeding on Vorticella , until the hydranths regenerate 

 (connection 6). Thus, in the overgrowth community investigated, a 

 sequential change is observed in the effect of weak and strong 

 symphysiologic connections. During functioning of the weak connections, 

 the abundance and biomass of the dependent species increase. During 

 functioning of weak positive connections, the increase of abundance and 

 biomass is determined by the ecologic peculiarities of the species 

 (fertility, growth rate, rate of settlement of larvae). The effect of 

 weak negative connections is superimposed on the effects of these 

 peculiarities, and the development of the abundance and biomass of the 

 dependent species is retarded. Strong negative connections cause a 

 sharp decrease in the abundance of the dependent species. 



It can be assumed that the sequence of functioning of connections 

 and alternation of weak connections, acting slowly, and strong 

 connections of brief duration, combine to determine the oligomyctic 

 nature of the overgrowth community and sharp changes of their dominant 

 species with time. 



198 



