Reproduction and condition of the scallop Adamussium colbecki (Smith 1902), the sea-urchin Sterechinus neumayeri (Meissner, 1900) and the sea-star Odontaster validus Koehler, 1911 at Terra Nova Bay (Ross Sea): different strategies related to inter-annual variations in food availability

Soft-bottom zoobenthic communities at Terra Nova Bay down to 100 m depth are mainly characterised by the presence of three species, generally occurring together and reaching high values of density: the scallop Adamussium colbecki (Smith 1902), the echinoid Sterechinus neumayeri (Meissner 1900) and t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Polar Biology
Main Authors: CHIANTORE, MARIACHIARA, CATTANEO VIETTI, RICCARDO, ELIA L., GUIDETTI M., ANTONINI M.
Other Authors: Chiantore, Mariachiara, CATTANEO VIETTI, Riccardo, Elia, L., Guidetti, M., Antonini, M.
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: 2002
Subjects:
Adamussium colbecki
Sterechinus neumayeri
Odontaster validu
Reproduction
food availability
Antarctica
McMurdo Sound
Ross Sea
Terra Nova Bay
Antarc*
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/11567/251600
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-001-0331-1
Description
Summary:Soft-bottom zoobenthic communities at Terra Nova Bay down to 100 m depth are mainly characterised by the presence of three species, generally occurring together and reaching high values of density: the scallop Adamussium colbecki (Smith 1902), the echinoid Sterechinus neumayeri (Meissner 1900) and the asteroid Odontaster validus Koehler 1911. These three species have a planktotrophic larval behaviour, but differ in terms of extent of gametogenic cycle and in feeding behaviour. The aim of this work is to give a first account of their reproductive conditions at Terra Nova Bay, comparing two following summer seasons, characterised by quite different ice-coverage and, consequently, food availability in the water column. The comparative analysis of the data evidences strong inter-annual differences in the scallop, a suspension-feeding species. In contrast, no significant changes were found in the two echinoderms, suggesting that a 2-year oogenic cycle, coupled with the opportunistic feeding behaviour, allow successful management of inter-annual shortcomings in food supply. On a latitudinal perspective, the comparison between data from McMurdo Sound and Terra Nova Bay shows small (for the echinoderms) or greater (for the scallop) geographical shifts in spawning occurrence.

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