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Population characteristics and biology of two populations of Archaster angulatus (Echinodermata: Asteroidea) in different habitats off the central-western Australian coast

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 July 2010

J.M. Lawrence ,
J.K. Keesing  and
T.R. Irvine
J.M. Lawrence*
Affiliation:
Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620, USA
J.K. Keesing
Affiliation:
CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research, Private Bag 5, Wembley, WA 6913, Australia
T.R. Irvine
Affiliation:
CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research, Private Bag 5, Wembley, WA 6913, Australia
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: J.M. Lawrence, Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33260, USA email: lawr@cas.usfiedu
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Abstract

We examined habitat, population size-structure, colour dimorphism, reproductive behaviour, arm loss and the relation between arm regeneration to pyloric caeca indices in populations at Whitford Rock (WR) and Port Beach (PB) in January 2009. The sediment was fine sand at WR and a mix of larger particles at PB. Individuals at PB were predominantly orange and more uniform in colour than those at WR, which were predominantly grey. Body size and pyloric caeca index of individuals at WR were greater than those of individuals at PB, indicating the nutritional condition was better at WR. This suggests the quantity or quality of food at WR was better. Organic matter of the pyloric caeca and body wall of intact and regenerating individuals at both sites were similar, indicating loss of an arm did not affect gross proximate composition of the organs. Sea stars with regenerating arms made up 5.4 and 8.4 % of the populations observed. Despite the very small size of the gonads, some individuals were in the pseudocopulatory position, indicating this behaviour occurs even when gametes are not present. In every case observed, the male of the pseudocopulating pair was situated above the female. Given the abundance of this species in nearshore habitats dominated by sediment, it is likely to be ecologically important. However much of the biology and ecology of the species, even its diet, remain unknown. This together with its unusual mode of reproductive behaviour involving pseudocopulation, which is only known from two other species of asteroids, underscore the need for more research on Archaster angulatus.

Keywords

asteroidArchasterpopulationregenerationpseudocopulationgonadcolour morph
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 91 , Issue 8 , December 2011 , pp. 1577 - 1585
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2010

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