Prevalence of epibiosis in plankton community of the Indian EEZ: a review

Epibiotic associations in the plankton community have been documented along the west and east coast of India. This report indicates a higher predominance of epibiosis along the east coast compared to the west. A total of 28 ciliates and one diatom species were reported epibiotic on the various planktonic host in the east coast, whereas only 17 ciliates and two diatoms were listed as epibiotic along the west coast. Ciliates formed the prevalent epibiotic species mainly on zooplanktonic crustacean host. Females of the host organisms were more infected due to their higher number in the population. The host specificity of various epibionts are also well-defined. The abundance of epibiotic organisms results from global warming and eutrophication and acts as indicators of ecosystem shifts.