Reproduction, dispersal and settlement of the bathyal ophiuroid Ophiocten gracilis in the NE Atlantic Ocean

Paulo Y G Sumida, P A Tyler, Richard S Lampitt, John D Gage

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

28 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Ophiocten gracilis is an ophiuroid found at bathyal depths in the North Atlantic Ocean. The adults show strong seasonal reproduction, with an ophiopluteus in the surface plankton. Settling postlarvae were collected in sediment traps moored at 1000 and 1400 m depth in the NE Atlantic during Julian Days 142 to 212 (May to July) in 1996. During this period, growth of postlarvae in the traps was linear and the diet consisted of phytodetritus and foraminifera. Experiments suggest that postlarvae sink at rates of up to 500 m d(-1), although this may well be slower in the natural environment. The high fecundity, seasonality and high population density resulted in high fertilization success, and many of the offspring were advected outside the normal adult range, where they were able to settle but did not survive to adulthood.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)623-630
Number of pages8
JournalMAR BIOL
Volume137
Issue number4
Publication statusPublished - 2000

Keywords

  • PRESSURE
  • BENTHIC MARINE-INVERTEBRATES
  • RECRUITMENT
  • EARLY POSTSETTLEMENT MORTALITY
  • ECOLOGY
  • SEA
  • Marine & Freshwater Biology
  • EMBRYOS
  • GROWTH
  • LARVAE
  • ECHINODERMATA

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