Hydrozoan colonization and succession in the tidal and subtidal zones in Surtsey during the period 1967 to 1984

By 1984, Surtsey’s intertidal and subtidal rocky bottoms hosted 37 hydrozoan species, making them one of the most diverse marine invertebrate groups on the island. This steady increase in species diversity over 17 years suggests that colonization continues even two decades after the formation of rocky shores. The study highlights the importance of both planktonic medusa dispersal and rafting of polyps on floating debris as key mechanisms for hydrozoan establishment. Conducted between 1967 and 1984, the research involved sampling in intertidal zones and subtidal depths down to 40 meters, documenting eight species previously unrecorded in Iceland.

Lundsteen, S., Hauksson, E., & Gunnarsson, K. (2020). Hydrozoan colonization and succession in the tidal and subtidal zones in Surtsey during the period 1967 to 1984. Surtsey Research, 14, 131–139. https://doi.org/10.33112/surtsey.14.11