CONCLUSIONS 



1. The microcosm forms a well defined community with diurnal and 

 nocturnal components; its fauna is much diversified and well balanced at most 

 of the trophic levels. 



2. The relay of the activity at dusk and dawn happens in a rather short 

 time and always according to the same chronological order, depending on the 

 light sensitiveness of the species. 



3. Inhabitants biovolume can be higher than the shelters volume during 

 the dusk-dawn relay system. 



4. Social behavior of some inhabitants is directed towards maintenance 

 of the community stability by checking foreigners wanting to occupy a place 

 or to forage on the microcosm. 



5. The microcosm might be considered as a dwelling place of consumers 

 that feed on surrounding plankton and benthos rather than as a foraging place 

 for foreigners. 



VI-293 



