Interactions between two deposit feeding echinoderms: the spatangoid Brissopsis lyrifera (Forbes) and the ophiuroid Amphiura chiajei Forbes

Abstract

Amphiura chiajei and Brissopsis lyrifera typically co-occur on some soft bottom areas of the North Sea, the Skagerrak and the Kattegat; they form the so called 'Brissopsis-chiajei association'. Both species are deposit feeders that live partly (A, chiajei) or completely (B. lyrifera) burried in the sediment. In this association, each species is expected to affect the other one, notably through its feeding and burrowing activities. This study investigates the effects on body and gonads growth in A. chiajei and B. lyrifera as a result of their co-occurrence. The experiments were performed in aquaria with natural sediments (3 months observations) and have taken in account the population densities of both species and the availability of food. The results show that B. lyrifera can negatively affect the growth of body and gonads of A. chiajei, while A. chiajei seemingly has no effect on the growth of B. lyrifera. This situation probably results from the extensive bioturbation of the sediment by B. lyrifera, who also increased its surface feeding activity when food was added to the sediment surface.

Keywords

competition; disturbance; food availability; behaviour; regeneration; gonad development; bioturbation; infauna

Published in

Hydrobiologia
1998, volume: 375-376, pages: 287-295
Publisher: SPRINGER

SLU Authors

• Sköld, Mattias

  • University of Gothenburg

UKÄ Subject classification

Ecology

Publication identifier

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1017013123372

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/42490