Babysitting Brittle Stars: Heterospecific Symbiosis between Ophiuroids (Echinodermata)

Hendler, Gordon; Grygier, Mark J.; Maldonado, Elisa M.; Denton, Jessica

doi:10.2307/3227060

Cited by 24 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…This would allow them to pick up food particles that move toward O. scolopendrina's mouth. Such similar stealing behaviour has also been proposed for other ophiuroids, for instance juveniles Ophiothrix fragilis are thought to intercept the food from conspecific adults, Ophiomaza cacaotica from crinoids, and Ophiomastix annulosa from O. scolopendrina (Warner, 1969;Clark, 1976;Hendler et al, 1999;respectively). Our results support the proposal (Hendler et al,1999) …”

supporting

confidence: 59%

“…"Babbysitting" symbiosis has been reported in brittle stars from many localities in the Indo-Pacific Ocean. Such a symbiosis, that occurred between the subtidal Ophiomastix annulosa and the intertidal O. scolopendrina, was first described from Sesoko Island (Okinawa, Japan) by Hendler et al (1999): O. annulosa juveniles were observed in the bursa and on the disk of O. scolopendrina adults. It would seem advantageous for these juveniles to take refuge in the intertidal on a large, abundant, widespread, mobile, calcified animals that occupied moist, sheltered crevices.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…It would seem advantageous for these juveniles to take refuge in the intertidal on a large, abundant, widespread, mobile, calcified animals that occupied moist, sheltered crevices. Hendler et al (1999) also suggested that these symbiotic juveniles would have at their disposal food from the host's arms. They considered this type of association as a brood parasitism.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Assessment of trophic relationships between symbiotic tropical ophiuroids using C and N stable isotope analysis

2006

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Analyses of the natural abundance of carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes were performed to investigate the feeding habits of two ophiuroids, Ophiomastix venosa and Ophiocoma scolopendrina, and to assess the potential benefit obtained by the symbiotic Ophiomastix venosa juveniles. A tracer experiment was also carried out to clarify the contribution of algae to the nitrogen uptake amongst the tested ophiuroids. Our results suggest that Ophiocoma scolopendrina adults occupy a higher position in the food web than Ophiomastix venosa and mainly feed on neuston. In contrast, O. venosa adults feed on the alga Sargassum densifolium and on organic matter associated with sediment. Free juveniles and symbiotic juveniles of O. venosa have intermediate δ13C values between both adult species. The high proportion of 13C in the symbiotic juveniles compared to the one in their conspecific adults indicates that their diet slightly differs from the latter and is closer to that of Ophiocoma scolopendrina. This raises the hypothesis that symbiotic juveniles steal neuston from their associated host, O. scolopendrina.

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supporting

confidence: 59%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Assessment of trophic relationships between symbiotic tropical ophiuroids using C and N stable isotope analysis

2006

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“…Association with adult conspecifics is also common (Guille 1964, Warner 1971, Hendler 1991, McClintock et al 1993. Recently, Hendler et al (1999b) reported the association of juvenile brittle stars with adults of other ophiuroid species. These aggregations of juveniles in 'nursery grounds' or 'refuge substrata' do not imply an association of the corresponding adults with the same substrata, as shifts in the habitat of young brittle stars as they grow larger have been suggested or demonstrated in several instances (Guille 1964, Patent 1970, Warner 1971, Sloan 1982, Hendler & Littman 1986, Davoult et al 1990, Stewart & Mladenov 1997.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mass recruitment of Ophiothrix fragilis (Ophiuroidea) on sponges:settlement patterns and post-settlement dynamics

Turon¹,

Codina²,

Tarjuelo³

et al. 2000

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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The main recruitment of Ophiothrixfragilis occurs in the northwestern Mediterranean in late spring-early summer. Recruits are whitish and aggregate visibly on the surfaces of some sponge species, where they can reach densities above 50 ind. cm-2. In order to investigate this association, we monitored larval abundances in the plankton, and recruit distribution and dynamics on the benthos. Settlement took place in several batches, with peak abundance of recruits on sponges in June. The mean diameter of juveniles was 0.2 mm in June and grew to 0.4 mm in September. In July, after the settlement ceased, juveniles were more abundant on the surfaces of the sponges Crambe crambe, Scop a h a lophyropoda and Dysidea avara (14 to 20 ind. cm-2) than on the adjacent algal turf (4 ind. cm-2). No preference could be substantiated for 6 other encrusting sponge species. In contrast, juveniles were not significantly more abundant on these 3 sponges in June while settlement was under way. Recruitment on experimental sponges covered with plastic lids was reduced by two-thirds, indicating an initial colonization directly from the water column. However, clearing experiments demonstrated the ability of the young brittle stars to recolonise sponges, and brittle stars were more abundant at the periphery than at the centre of the sponges. These results indicate that brittle star recruits can select their substrata, possibly as a result of post-settlement lateral migration, resulting in an uneven distribution among sponge species. We set forth the hypothesis that this association between brittle stars and sponges is based on a trophic relationship, small brittle stars taking advantage of the inhalant currents of the sponge. In sponges with well-defined inhalant fields, almost all recruits concentrate on them, with arms flat against the sponge. When the brittle stars grow to a size above 1 mm (disk diameter) they abandon sponge surfaces and hide in small crevices between algae and invertebrates.

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“…An interesting association between juvenile and adult Ophiocoma aethiops Lütken, 1859, from Punta Paitilla in Panama was documented by Hendler et al (1999). Juveniles were found in the bursae (respiratory structures that in brooding and viviparous ophiuroids also serve as brood chambers) of adults that live intertidally at Punta Paitilla but not those that live subtidally at Isla Taboguilla.…”

Section: Ecologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Echinoderm Diversity in Panama: 144 Years of Research Across the Isthmus

Coppard¹,

Barrientos

2012

Echinoderm Research and Diversity in Latin America

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Babysitting Brittle Stars: Heterospecific Symbiosis between Ophiuroids (Echinodermata)

Cited by 24 publications

References 5 publications

Assessment of trophic relationships between symbiotic tropical ophiuroids using C and N stable isotope analysis

Assessment of trophic relationships between symbiotic tropical ophiuroids using C and N stable isotope analysis

Mass recruitment of Ophiothrix fragilis (Ophiuroidea) on sponges:settlement patterns and post-settlement dynamics

Echinoderm Diversity in Panama: 144 Years of Research Across the Isthmus

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