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Food and Feeding Habits of Luidia Ciliaris Echinodermata: Asteroidea

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 May 2009

Einar Brun
Einar Brun
Affiliation:
Marine Biological Station, Port Erin, Isle of Man
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Extract

Luidia ciliaris (Philippi) has intraoral digestion and was found to be a selective feeder on echinoderms. In 258 specimens from the Irish Sea, echinoderms occurred in 97·4% of all stomachs containing food and contributed 92% of the food volume (estimated by points method). The most important food items were Psammechinus miliaris, Ophiothrix fragilis, Ophiura albida and Ophiocomina nigra. Ophiocomina nigra did not occur as frequently as would be expected from their availability. Observation in situ revealed that large specimens had efficient escape response to moving Luidia and aquarium experiments showed that O. nigra deprived of their moving ability were readily eaten. However, the Luidia showed clear preference to Ophiothrix fragilis. There was no distinct seasonal difference in the composition of the diet, but a tendency to a minimum feeding activity in May-June, probably connected with the spawning period.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 52 , Issue 1 , February 1972 , pp. 225 - 236
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 1972

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References

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