Role of food availability in the bathymetric distribution of the starfish Marthasterias glacialis (Lamk.) on reefs of northern Portugal

Authors

  • Fernando Tuya CIIMAR - BIOGES, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria - School of Natural Sciences, Centre for Ecosystem Management, Edith Cowan University
  • Pedro Duarte CIIMAR - CIAGEB, Faculty of Science and Technology, University Fernando Pessoa

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3989/scimar.2012.76n1009

Keywords:

starfish, vertical distribution, segregation, food availability, spatial patterns, Portugal

Abstract


We examined whether the abundance and size of the starfish Marthasterias glacialis (Lamk.) exhibit a depthdependent partitioning on subtidal reefs. We tested the hypothesis that differences in food availability can result in habitat partitioning along a depth gradient. The abundance and size of M. glacialis was registered at 4 depth strata: 0-4 m, 4-8 m, 8-12 m, and > 12 m; we also recorded the number of food items that they were preying on. The abundance and size of M. glacialis decreased with depth. Mussels (Mytilus galloprivincialis) were the most preyed food item across all depth strata, followed by gastropods, sea urchins and barnacles; M. glacialis also consumed a significantly larger amount of mussels in feeding experiments compared with sea urchins and gastropods. The abundance of M. galloprivincialis beds decreased with depth. The clear link between the decrease in abundance and size of M. glacialis with depth and the decay of the most consumed prey (mussels) suggest that food availability may play an important role in the vertical distribution of this starfish, though wave-associated turbulence in the first few metres of the subtidal could also limit the abundance of M. glacialis.

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Published

2012-03-30

How to Cite

1.
Tuya F, Duarte P. Role of food availability in the bathymetric distribution of the starfish Marthasterias glacialis (Lamk.) on reefs of northern Portugal. Sci. mar. [Internet]. 2012Mar.30 [cited 2024Mar.29];76(1):9-15. Available from: https://scientiamarina.revistas.csic.es/index.php/scientiamarina/article/view/1306

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