Growth of juvenile Asterias rubens L. (Echinodermata : Asteroidea) on an intertidal reef in southwestern Britain

doi:10.1016/0022-0981(84)90076-5

Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology

Volume 78, Issues 1–2, 14 June 1984, Pages 157-165

https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-0981(84)90076-5 Get rights and content

Abstract

Growth of annual cohorts in a population of Asterias rubens L. on an intertidal reef in Torbay, South Devon, U.K., has been followed for 3 yr. Growth was most rapid in the year following settlement, and in the warmer months of the year. The average increase in diameter over the first year was 28.5 mm, and over the second, 13.0 mm; mean monthly increase in diameter over the whole period of the study was 2.2 mm. Starfish became sexually mature during their second year, when they had reached a diameter of ≈ 50 mm.

References (12)

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Skeletal growth in the echinoderm Asterias rubens L. (Asteroidea, Echinodermata) estimated by ⁴⁵Ca-labelling
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M.F. Barker et al.
Reproduction, recruitment and juvenile ecology of the starfish Asterias rubens and Marthasterias glacialis
J. Mar. Biol. Assoc. U.K.
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The growth-rate of juvenile Asterias rubens L.
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Aquarium observations on the rate of growth and enemies of the common star-fish, Asterias rubens L.
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J.F. Gemmill
The development and certain points in the adult structure of the starfish Asterias rubens L.
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M. Guillou
Données sur la croissance d'Asterias rubens en Bretagne Sud

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Cited by (27)

The importance of embayed coastal areas for the life cycle of two sympatric starfish species (Echinodermata, Asteroidea)
2019, Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science
Citation Excerpt :
The variability in growth rate and maximum body size in many species are dependent on local conditions, such as temperature and food availability (quantity and quality) (Ventura and Fernandes, 1995; Bos et al., 2008). The growth rate of many starfish species can show seasonal (Guillou, 1983; Nichols and Barker, 1984) and/or depth variations (e.g. reduced in intertidal compared to subtidal populations - Guillou et al., 2012). Similarly, starfish have shown a wide variety of reproductive peaks, with annual, seasonal or monthly periodicity (Mariante et al., 2010).
Coastal embayed areas are important sites for many benthic and nektonic organisms that are being increasingly threatened by habitat degradation. The knowledge on the biology of these organisms can reveal the importance of such areas for their life cycles. Furthermore, population information is also imperative to recognize the importance of these species to structure coastal ecosystems and to provide support to management strategies. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the importance of a coastal embayment area for the generalist predator starfish Astropecten marginatus and Luidia senegalensis, analyzing their spatio-temporal distribution and populational parameters and evaluating whether (1) the species present a differential use of the area, (2) the species use the bay for recruitment, growth and reproduction and (3) there is an ontogenetic or gender related variation in the bay occupation. This study was carried out at Caraguatatuba Bay (SE Brazil), with monthly samples from July/03 to October/04. Although Astropecten was more abundant than Luidia, the two species had similar shifts in abundance, with peaks during cold/dry months, which are partly related to recruitment patterns. Species were distributed mainly towards the southern area of the bay, where A. marginatus had denser aggregations. Both species used the bay for recruitment, growth and reproduction. Males and females of both species occurred in similar numbers (sex ratio 1:1), except in late autumn (May-June) when females became more numerous. An annual reproductive cycle was observed for both species, with spawning occurring mainly in the rainy season, and recruitment mainly during fall/winter. Large individuals (>17 cm) of L. senegalensis were sub-represented in the bay, indicating possible adult migration to deeper areas, whereas A. marginatus had a more resident behavior. Distribution of both species correlated well with diet information previously available, with prey-partitioning suggested as a mechanism that allow their similar occupation of the area, and ontogenetic diet shifts explaining the adult migration of L. senegalensis. This highlights the relevance of feeding information to predict distribution of starfish. Our results elucidate the importance of the studied bay for the life cycle of these keystone species, elucidating species-specific vulnerabilities to coastal degradation and the importance of recognizing populational and distribution parameters in order to inform management policies.
Wave action and starvation modulate intra-annual variation in displacement, microhabitat selection, and ability to contact prey in the common sea star, Asterias rubens Linnaeus
2015, Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology
Citation Excerpt :
In the present study, sea star diameter is the length of the longest axis between two opposing arm tips, as measured with a vinyl tape with a precision of 0.5 mm. This size class was chosen because 1) individuals of this size are sexually mature (Himmelman and Dutil, 1991; Nichols and Barker, 1984), therefore eliminating variation in foraging from potential behavioural differences between mature and non-mature individuals, and 2) it was the most frequent size class at times of collection. Sea stars used in both experiments were then divided into two acclimation groups prior to experimentation: “fed” and “starved”.
The common sea star, Asterias rubens, is a major predator in the rocky subtidal zone in the northern Gulf of St. Lawrence and along the Atlantic coast of Newfoundland, Canada. Knowledge about the ecology of A. rubens in these highly seasonal systems is largely limited to studies of interspecific competition for prey. Two experiments in an oscillatory wave tank were used to test the hypothesis that wave action and starvation modulate displacement, microhabitat selection, and ability to contact mussel (Mytilus edulis) prey in A. rubens from southeastern Newfoundland. Both experiments were carried out in two seasons (winter and summer) to quantify intra-annual variation in the effects of wave action (three wave velocities: null [0.0 m s^− 1], low [0.1 m s^− 1], and high [0.2 m s^− 1]) and starvation (two levels: fed and starved three weeks). Experiment 1, in which two sea stars were allowed to displace and make contact with six microhabitats typifying natural seabed heterogeneity, showed that A. rubens displaced up to 50% less with increasing wave velocity. Displacement was 120% higher in summer than winter and lower in starved than fed individuals in summer only. The sea star predominantly stayed on flat horizontal surfaces, did so more frequently in the presence than absence of waves, and spent more time in the two most uneven microhabitats in winter than summer regardless of wave velocity. Experiment 2, in which one sea star in the centre of a depression was allowed to move to the top of surrounding mounds, showed that more sea stars that left the centre of the depression reached the top of the mounds in summer than winter, in the absence than presence of waves, and when starved than fed. Sea stars that reached the top of mounds spent more time there in the presence than absence of mussels in summer only, when starved than fed in summer only, and in the presence than absence of mussels at null and low wave velocities. Measurements of wave height, sea temperature, and A. rubens abundance over six months at one subtidal site indicated that the sea star was > 4 times more abundant at 8 m than at 2 m and 4 m. This difference was unrelated to temperature and likely mainly caused by the wave environment. Collectively, results demonstrate that wave action, and to a lesser extent starvation, are key modulators of the inclination and ability of A. rubens to explore its environment and localize prey. In southeastern Newfoundland, the response of A. rubens to wave action and starvation is adaptable, being generally stronger in summer than winter, when sea temperature is markedly lower.
Enrichment and shifts in macrobenthic assemblages in an offshore wind farm area in the Belgian part of the North Sea
2014, Marine Environmental Research
Citation Excerpt :
The abundance of juvenile starfish has a high yearly variability due to large annual variations in recruitment intensity which depend on food availability and temperature (Guillou et al., 2012). The exact time of spawning during springtime can vary between April–May with settlement occurring between June–August (Nichols and Barker, 1984). It is possible that sampling was carried out before the settlement of A. rubens larvae took place in 2012, or the recruitment could have been lower due to more unfavourable environmental conditions.
The growing development of offshore wind energy installations across the North Sea is producing new hard anthropogenic structures in the natural soft sediments, causing changes to the surrounding macrobenthos. The extent of modification in permeable sediments around a gravity based wind turbine in the Belgian part of the North Sea was investigated in the period 2011 – 2012, along four gradients (south-west, north-east, south-east, north-west). Sediment grain size significantly reduced from 427 μm at 200 m to 312 ± 3 μm at 15 m from the foundation along the south-west and north-west gradients. The organic matter content increased from 0.4 ± 0.01% at 100 m to 2.5 ± 0.9% at 15 m from the foundation. The observed changes in environmental characteristics triggered an increase in the macrobenthic density from 1390 ± 129 ind m⁻² at 200 m to 18 583 ± 6713 ind m⁻² at 15 m together with an enhanced diversity from 10 ± 2 at 200 m to 30 ± 5 species per sample at 15 m. Shifts in species dominance were also detected with a greater dominance of the ecosystem-engineer Lanice conchilega (16–25%) close to the foundation. This study suggests a viable prediction of the effects offshore wind farms could create to the naturally occurring macrobenthos on a large-scale.
Winter feeding activity of the common starfish (Asterias rubens L.): The role of temperature and shading
2012, Journal of Sea Research
Citation Excerpt :
This has been recorded in previous studies (Briggs, 1983; Hancock, 1955; 1958) where feeding rate on various food items was studied. Other studies measured a reduction of growth during winter (Barker and Nichols, 1983; Barnes and Powell, 1951; Guillou and Guillaumin, 1984; Jangoux and Impe, 1977; Nichols and Barker, 1984), generally linked to a decrease in temperature and food availability. The zero-inflated over-dispersed dataset (Fig. 2) of feeding rate resultant from this study can be explained by the bulk feeding behaviour of A. rubens (Sloan, 1980).
In the Wadden Sea common starfish is an important predator of mussel beds which in turn are relevant ecological and economic resource. To improve the management of mussel seedbeds, knowledge is required on over winter predation, a factor affecting mussel survival. The aim of this study was to assess the importance of A. rubens feeding activity during winter and how it relates with changes in temperature. Feeding activity of starfish was monitored during a full winter. The potential impact of temperature change on starfish–mussel seed interactions during winter was analysed. The factor shading was included, as changes in light intensity appear to be a primary governing factor for the timing of feeding activity. The results showed that temperature limits feeding rate and feeding activity of starfish during winter. However, starfish feeding rate exhibited very high sensitivity to temperature changes. Light intensity affected both feeding rate and feeding activity. It is concluded that starfish may not be an important factor destabilising seedbeds during a mean winter, but its importance may grow along with the increasing temperature due to climate change.
Demersal fishing disturbance increases predation risk for whelks (Buccinum undatum L.)
1998, Journal of Sea Research
Field observations by divers indicated that a high rate of predation of whelks (Buccinum undatum) by starfish (Asterias rubens) occurred in an area disturbed by scallop dredging, although these whelks mostly appeared to be alive and externally undamaged. The ability of whelks to escape from starfish was tested in the laboratory after they were dropped or rolled to simulate direct physical contact with bottom fishing gear. Dropping whelks did not significantly affect their escape behaviour, but whelks which had been rolled took significantly longer to right themselves and were significantly less likely to perform an escape response than whelks that had not experienced this treatment. This study suggests that demersal fishing may indirectly increase whelk mortality by increasing their risk of predation.
Growth in populations of the sea-urchin Echinus Esculentus L. (Echinodermata : Echinoidea) from the English Channel and Firth of Clyde
1985, Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology
Growth and rate of growth curves, computed by the single logistic model, are given for populations of Echinus esculentus L. from sites near Plymouth, in the English Channel, and at Great Cumbrae, Firth of Clyde. The growth curves show a sigmoid shape, with their origins corresponding well with directly-read diameters of recently-metamorphosed juveniles, and the upper asymptote, approaching 14 cm horizontal diameter for Plymouth and 12 cm for Cumbrae, corresponding with ages of 8–12 yr and 8–10 yr, respectively. The gonopores open, and the gonads become functional, at between 0.94 and 1.66 cm ambital diameter, corresponding to an age of 1.5 to 2.5 yr. Maximum rate of growth in the Plymouth region was at mean age 4.7 yr, and at Cumbrae 4.3 yr. Results for Cumbrae are compared with those obtained there on the same species by two previous workers.

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¹: Present address: Portobello Marine Station, P.O. Box 8, Portobello, Dunedin, New Zealand.

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Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology

Abstract

References (12)

Skeletal growth in the echinoderm Asterias rubens L. (Asteroidea, Echinodermata) estimated by ⁴⁵Ca-labelling

J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol.

Reproduction, recruitment and juvenile ecology of the starfish Asterias rubens and Marthasterias glacialis

J. Mar. Biol. Assoc. U.K.

The growth-rate of juvenile Asterias rubens L.

J. Mar. Biol. Assoc. U.K.

Aquarium observations on the rate of growth and enemies of the common star-fish, Asterias rubens L.

Rep. Dove Mar. Lab.

The development and certain points in the adult structure of the starfish Asterias rubens L.

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. Ser. B

Données sur la croissance d'Asterias rubens en Bretagne Sud

Cited by (27)

The importance of embayed coastal areas for the life cycle of two sympatric starfish species (Echinodermata, Asteroidea)

Wave action and starvation modulate intra-annual variation in displacement, microhabitat selection, and ability to contact prey in the common sea star, Asterias rubens Linnaeus

Enrichment and shifts in macrobenthic assemblages in an offshore wind farm area in the Belgian part of the North Sea

Winter feeding activity of the common starfish (Asterias rubens L.): The role of temperature and shading

Demersal fishing disturbance increases predation risk for whelks (Buccinum undatum L.)

Growth in populations of the sea-urchin Echinus Esculentus L. (Echinodermata : Echinoidea) from the English Channel and Firth of Clyde