A-50 



association appears to be obligatory because no individuals 

 of Asteronyx were ever found alone. 



Another association noted during this survey was the 

 cooccurrence of Ophiomusium lymani with several gorgonians. 

 This ophiurid was frequently found at the base of the coral. 

 Whether or not this relationship is obligatory is not 

 known. Ophiomusium lymani may merely be responding to 

 structural heterogeneity in its environment. However, 

 frequently as many as four were found at the base of the 

 gorgonians. Another association was observed between 

 Collosendeis colossea and Paramuricea borealis . Individuals 

 of this pycnogonid were frequently seen climbing on the 

 coral colonies. Whether this indicated instances of preda- 

 tion, a cleaning association, or were mere coincidence is 

 not known . 



An association that was noted during the shallow water 

 dives of this survey was that of the large burrowing anemone 

 Cerianthus borealis and small individuals of the jonah crab 

 Cancer borealis . These jonah crabs were frequently found 

 around the base of the anemone tubes. Additionally small 

 fish exhibited a similar relationship with this anemone. It 

 is possible that juvenile fish and crabs utilize the base of 

 the anemone for protection. 



