I. Physical effects on the octocoral

Sponge species

Attribute

Octocoral species

Attributes

Desmapsamma anchorata

Live, commonly epizoic

Antillogorgia americana

Live, commonly overgrown

Iotrochota birotulata

Live, commonly epizoic

A. americana

Live, commonly overgrown

D. anchorata

Dead

A. americana

Live, commonly overgrown

I. birotulata

Dead

A. americana

Live, commonly overgrown

Tissue mimic

Dead

A. americana

Live, commonly overgrown

II. Octocoral overgrowth deterrence explained by species-specific combinations (all live)

D. anchorata

Live, commonly epizoic

A. americana

Commonly overgrown

D. anchorata

Live, commonly epizoic

Eunicea flexuosa

Commonly overgrown

I. birotulata

Live, commonly epizoic

A. americana

Commonly overgrown

I. birotulata

Commonly epizoic

E. flexuosa

Commonly overgrown

Niphates erecta

Rarely epizoic

A. americana

Commonly overgrown

N. erecta

Rarely epizoic

E. flexuosa

Commonly overgrown

Ptilocaulis walpersi

Rarely epizoic

A. americana

Commonly overgrown

P. walpersi

Rarely epizoic

E. flexuosa

Commonly overgrown

D. anchorata

Commonly epizoic

Plexaurella nutans

Rarely overgrown

III. Octocoral reaction

D. anchorata

Live, commonly epizoic

A. americana

Live, commonly overgrown

I. birotulata

Live, commonly epizoic

E. flexuosa

Live, commonly overgrown

D. anchorata

Live, commonly epizoic

P. nutans

Live, rarely overgrown

D. anchorata

Live, commonly epizoic

A. americana

Dead, commonly overgrown

I. birotulata

Live, commonly epizoic

E. flexuosa

Dead, commonly overgrown

D. anchorata

Live, commonly epizoic

P. nutans

Dead, rarely overgrown