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Irregular recruitment of the echinoid Echinocyamus pusillus and its implications for biological traits analysis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 November 2020

Richard M. Warwick*
Affiliation:
Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, West Hoe, PlymouthPL1 3DH, UK Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Ecosystems, Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, 90 South St, Murdoch, Western Australia6150, Australia
Bryony Pearce
Affiliation:
Pelagica Limited, 2 School House Cottage, Market Street, Hoylake, WirralCH47 3EP, UK
*
Author for correspondence: Richard M. Warwick, E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract

Size-frequency analysis of the echinoid Echinocyamus pusillus from six offshore areas in the southern North Sea and eastern English Channel reveal five distinct cohorts, suggesting a lifespan of five years. In all six individual areas one or more year-groups are absent, due to the unsuccessful recruitment of planktonic larvae to the seabed in some years, giving a false impression of a shorter lifespan. A relatively long lifespan and planktotrophic larval development are remarkable for such a small species, which reaches a maximum test length of 7.3 mm in the area, such traits being more typical of large-sized macrobenthic species. The feeding mode is akin to that of many meiobenthic taxa. The architecture of the test confers exceptional strength and resilience to mechanical perturbation.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2020

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