Some Aspects of the Brachiopod–Brachiopod Relationships

Abstract

The brachiopod–brachiopod relationships are analyzed for the first time based on the original material and literary data. The oppression of brachiopods by each other in the dense settlement is considered as amensalism. The only type of brachiopod relationships that may be considered as parasitism are brachiopod settlements within each other’s shells. The through growing of spines and pedicle rhizoids into the brachiopod–host shell, immurement and weighting of shells in druses is considered as pseudoparasitism. New terms “endopseudoparasitism” and “ectopseudoparasitism” are suggested.