Abstract
Experiments carried out in a Y-maze apparatus using a constant number of mussels, Mytilus edulis L., as prey showed the presence of a food-seeking period in the predatory starfish Asterias rubens L. collected in the Menai Strait, Anglesey, North Wales. The starfish orientated towards the mussels in the experiment conducted from Novemeber-December to May. The food-seeking activity was not significantly different from random expectation between June and October. It is suggested that this seasonal change in the behaviour of A. rubens can be due either to a lowering of chemo-sensitivity and failure to respond by A. rubens, or to a seasonal change in production of attractant(s) by the prey, or to a combination of the above. A. rubens does not move towards a bait of oyster spat (Ostrea edulis L.) in the Y-maze unless it has been previously conditioned to eat the oysters for about a month. In the Menai Strait, oysters would rarely be encountered by A. rubens and, therefore, the experiments confirmed the concept of “ingestive conditioning” (Wood, 1968).
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Literature cited
Bayne, B. L. and R. J. Thompson: Some physiological consequences of keeping Mytilus edulis in the laboratory. Helgoländer wiss. Meeresunters. 20, 526–552 (1970).
Bruce, J. R.: The respiratory exchange of the mussels (Mytilus edulis L.). Biochem. J. 20, 829–846 (1926).
Castilla, J. C.: Avoidance behaviour of Asterias rubens L. to extracts of Mytilus edulis, solutions of bacteriological peptone and selected aminoacids. (In press.)
— and D. J. Crisp: Responses of Asterias rubens to olfactory stimuli. J. mar. biol. Ass. U.K. 50, 829–847 (1970).
Castilla, J. C. D. J. Crisp. Responses of Asterias rubens L. to water currents and their modification by certain environmental factors. (In press.)
Eichelbaum, E.: Über Nahrung und Ernährungsorgane von Echinodermen. Wiss. Meersunters., Abt. Kiel 2, 187–275 (1909). (From Fenchel, T.: Feeding biology of the seastar Luidia sdrsi Düben & Koren. Ophelia 2, 223–236 (1965)).
Feder, H. M.: The food of the starfish Pisaster ochraceus along the California coast. Ecology 40, 721–724 (1959).
Fenchel, T.: Feeding biology of the sea-star Luidia sarsi Düben & Koren. Ophelia 2, 223–236 (1965).
Galtsoff, P. S. and V. L. Loosanoff: Natural history and method of controlling the starfish (Asterias forbesi Desor). Bull. Bur. Fish., Wash. 49, 75–132 (1939).
Hancock, D. A.: Notes on starfish on an Essex oyster bed. J. mar. biol. Ass. U.K. 37, 565–589 (1958).
Hatanaka, M. and M. Kosaka: Biological studies on the population of the starfish, Asterias amurensis, in Sendai Bay. Tohoku J. agric. Res. 9, 159–178 (1959).
Landenberger, D. E.: Studies on selective feeding in the Pacific starfish Pisaster in southern California. Ecology 49, 1062–1075 (1968).
Mackenzie, C. L.: Feeding rates of starfish, Asterias forbesi (Desor), at controlled water temperatures and during different seasons of the year. Fishery Bull. Fish Wildl. Serv. U.S. 68, 67–72 (1970).
Williams, C. S.: The effect of Myticola intestinalis on the biochemical composition of mussels. J. mar. biol. Ass. U.K. 49, 161–173 (1969).
Wood, L.: Physiological and ecological aspects of prey selection by the marine gastropod Urosalpinx cinerea (Prosobranchia: Muricidae). Malacologia 6, 267–320 (1968).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Communicated by J. H. S. Blaxter, Oban
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Castilla, J.C. Responses of Asterias rubens to bivalve prey in a Y-maze. Marine Biology 12, 222–228 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00346770
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00346770