Sea anemones and brittle stars: unexpected predatory interactions during induced in situ oxygen crises

Riedel, Bettina; Stachowitsch, Michael; Zuschin, Martin

doi:10.1007/s00227-007-0880-0

Cited by 17 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 58 publications

(63 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…In the latter case, the tolerance reflects a combination of behavioural reactions and physiological adaptations (i.e. stretched and raised tentacle crowns or switching to anaerobic metabolism; Shick 1991, Riedel et al 2008b.…”

Section: Variabilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Tolerance of benthic macrofauna to hypoxia and anoxia in shallow coastal seas: a realistic scenario

Riedel¹,

Zuschin²,

Stachowitsch³

2012

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Oxygen depletion can lead to the collapse of benthic ecosystems, i.e. to dead zones, and large-scale biodiversity loss. Based on mortality and survival, we evaluated ranges of sensitivity and tolerance to hypoxia levels, duration of anoxia and H 2 S exposure across taxa and key life habits. Experiments were conducted on a sublittoral soft-bottom under realistic in situ conditions in a community setting featuring both a well-developed epi-and infauna. Overall, 495 individuals representing 40 species were examined over almost 1000 h (using time-lapse camera and sensor arrays). Mortality started at dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations < 0.5 ml l −1 and centred at the transition from severe hypoxia to early anoxia. A total of 58% of the individuals belonging to 27 species died. Thirteen species (39 individuals) died exclusively during anoxia. All of the individuals that died during hypoxia, and most of those that died during anoxia, did so before the onset of hydrogen sulphide (H 2 S). In 11 species, all individuals survived: survival rates were highest among molluscs, anthozoans and ascidians. In contrast, most polychaetes, decapods and echinoderms died. Epifauna was more vulnerable than infauna, mobile forms were more vulnerable than sessile forms, and predators more vulnerable than deposit-feeders and suspension-feeders. While hypoxia primarily affected total abundance, anoxia significantly reduced the number of species. The former represents a quantitative, the latter a qualitative decline in ecosystem function. Most of the macrofauna may initially survive shorter-term (day-long) or intermittent hypoxia, but the onset of anoxia marks community collapse and biodiversity loss.

show abstract

Section: Variabilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Tolerance of benthic macrofauna to hypoxia and anoxia in shallow coastal seas: a realistic scenario

Riedel¹,

Zuschin²,

Stachowitsch³

2012

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The predatory crab determines the distribution of the brittle star Ophiothrix quinquemaculata, which normally maintains at least a 1 to 2 cm distance or avoids crab-occupied bioherms entirely (Wurzian 1977). If contact is made, brittle stars retract their arms and re-establish a safe distance (Riedel et al 2008a). At severe hypoxia, however, brittle stars and crabs aggregated together.…”

Section: Atypical Interactions and Sublethal Responsesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In contrast, more tolerant pelagic or opportunistic predators can exploit moribund or slowly recovering benthos (Karlson et al 2002, Norkko et al 2006. The anemone Calliactis parasitica, for example, took advantage of the situation (see also Riedel et al 2008a) and predated one Ethusa mascarone at severe hypoxia after the crab discarded its protective shell. Discarding camouflage is a sublethal behaviour also observed in the sea urchin Psammechinus microtuberculatus (Riedel et al 2008b).…”

Section: Atypical Interactions and Sublethal Responsesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Behaviour and mortality of benthic crustaceans in response to experimentally induced hypoxia and anoxia in situ

Haselmair¹,

Stachowitsch²,

Zuschin³

et al. 2010

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Crustaceans are sensitive to hypoxia and are therefore useful indicator organisms for oxygen depletions. We used the experimental anoxia generating unit in the northern Adriatic Sea to artificially induce and document hypoxia and anoxia on a small scale (0.25 m 2 per deployment). Behavioural responses and mortalities were documented for 9 crustacean species typical for the sublittoral soft bottom of the Gulf of Trieste. All species showed a similar succession of atypical responses, albeit at different thresholds. The first reaction to declining dissolved oxygen (DO) was avoidance by climbing to more oxygenated (higher) positions. The animals left their shelters, altered their activity patterns, and exposed themselves to a higher risk of predation at mild hypoxia (2 to 1 ml l -1 DO). Moderate hypoxia (1 to 0.5 ml l -1 DO) triggered changes in inter-and intraspecific interactions, resulting in aggregations of up to 27 individuals at the highest elevations. At severe hypoxia (0.5 to 0.01 ml l -1 DO), sublethal responses such as discarding of camouflage (Ethusa mascarone) were recorded, and 54% of all crustaceans died. Anoxia left most remaining individuals immobile and moribund until death. Almost all responses were related to DO thresholds -hydrogen sulphide (H 2 S) had not yet evolved. Pisidia longimana, Galathea spp., and Macropodia spp. were the most sensitive; Pilumnus spinifer and Ebalia tuberosa were the somewhat more tolerant species. Only Nepinnotheres pinnotheres survived prolonged anoxia as well as high H 2 S concentrations.

show abstract

“…On the other hand, predatory behaviour by C. parasitica, and other sea anemones, has also been documented under determined environmental conditions (Riedel et al 2008). …”

Section: The Feeding Biology Of Potential Predators Of Sepia Officinamentioning

confidence: 99%

Invertebrate predation on egg masses of the European cuttlefish, Sepia officinalis: An experimental approach

Martins

Fernández-Álvarez

Villanueva

2018

Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Sepia officinalis embryos develop inside ink-stained black encapsulated eggs fixed to the seafloor in shallow water habitats. The enveloping layers of these eggs allow the embryo to develop within a micro-environment and are thought to provide protection.Since embryological development may last months, this short-lived species spends a relatively long period of its lifespan on shallow waters, vulnerable to predation and physical stress. Yet, only a handful of species are known to feed on S. officinalis eggs, most of them fish. Marine benthic invertebrates, however, are likely candidates contributing to predation of this critical life stage. In this study, several invertebrate marine species, from 6 different phyla and with diverse feeding habits, were investigated as potential predators of S. officinalis eggs under laboratory conditions.Feeding experiments also tested to what extent the egg capsule and lower levels of mechanical protection could deter predation and Multivariate Correspondence Analyses were performed to explore which feeding traits of the tested invertebrate species would explain the experimental results. Results showed predation on eggs by crabs and echinoderms equipped with certain prey capture methods that allowed them to feed on eggs. Also, the egg capsule appeared to provide protection from predation by certain species with less powerful prey capture tools. Prey capture tools of the tested species appeared to be the feeding trait that better explained the experimental results. Therefore, whether or not eggs were eaten in these experiments might be determined by a mechanical factor. Nonetheless this may not be the case for species that might not have fed on eggs due probably to a chemosensory question, not recognising them as food.This work thus contributes to the understanding of the ecology of early life stages of cuttlefish and the factors that can affect offspring survival and subsequently impact recruitment to the adult populations of this exploited species.iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This work might not have been possible without the support and help of many people.Many thanks to my directors, Fernando Fernández-Álvarez and Dr. Roger Villanueva, who taught me with patience and trusted me to embark on this study, while making the work truly feel like a journey of curiosity. Without their continuous guidance and encouragement this work would not have been the same.

show abstract

Sea anemones and brittle stars: unexpected predatory interactions during induced in situ oxygen crises

Cited by 17 publications

References 58 publications

Tolerance of benthic macrofauna to hypoxia and anoxia in shallow coastal seas: a realistic scenario

Tolerance of benthic macrofauna to hypoxia and anoxia in shallow coastal seas: a realistic scenario

Behaviour and mortality of benthic crustaceans in response to experimentally induced hypoxia and anoxia in situ

Invertebrate predation on egg masses of the European cuttlefish, Sepia officinalis: An experimental approach

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About