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They also enjoy the nutrient rich coral mucus.Some ideas developed over the summer collaborating with @taricha
The nuisance benthic organism exists on a particular surface for a reason not by coincidence.
High density populations need a high concentration of food, greater than supplied by the water.
Bacteria are often closely associated with most organisms. The bacteria break down organic matter which a nuisance organism can use (N and P, for example) and the nuisance organism, typically photosynthetic, supplies organic carbon exudates to the bacteria. This mutualism may be the basis of the persistence of nuisance organism growth.
Particulate organic carbon can become concentrated, dissolved organic carbon cannot. High local concentrations of organic matter can easily be achieved. These fertile islands with the aid heterotrophic bacteria can become the home of most nuisance organisms. The high concentration of organisms can only last as long as fertile island does.