Contrasting relationships between pyloric caecum and gonad growth in the starfish Asterias rubens: combined field and experimental approaches

The common starfish, Asterias rubens, occurs in fluctuating environments in the North Atlantic. To better understand energy allocation dynamics, we recorded gonad, body wall, and pyloric caeca (storage organ) indices between 2000 and 2004 from three different habitats. We applied a Fourier transform...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2013-06, Vol.93 (4), p.1073-1086
Main Authors: Joly-Turquin, Guillemette, Dubois, Philippe, Leyzour, Sandra, Pernet, Philippe, De Ridder, Fjo, Pintelon, Rik, Guillou, Monique
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal and plant ecology
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Asterias rubens
Asteroidea
Biological and medical sciences
Echinodermata
Electron microscopes
Energy
Environmental Sciences
Food
Food availability
Fourier transforms
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Gonads
Invertebrates
Marine
Salinity
Sea water ecosystems
Seasonal variations
Synecology
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Summary:The common starfish, Asterias rubens, occurs in fluctuating environments in the North Atlantic. To better understand energy allocation dynamics, we recorded gonad, body wall, and pyloric caeca (storage organ) indices between 2000 and 2004 from three different habitats. We applied a Fourier transform to the data to evaluate and compare the seasonal variation in these indices. Specific effects of emersion and salinity variation were examined in two laboratory studies. Differences in energy allocation were found between sites and temporally within sites. Food availability appeared to be the most important factor controlling allocation dynamics while fluctuating salinity and/or emersion had a significant but smaller impact. Only severe food shortage reduced reproductive investment indicating a preferential energy allocation to gonads. This study is the first to encompass a broad range of populations over several reproduction cycles and emphasizes the ability of A. rubens to adapt to a fluctuating environment.
ISSN:0025-3154
1469-7769
DOI:10.1017/S0025315412000124