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Feeding ecology of deep-sea seastars (Echinodermata : Asteroidea): a pigment biomarker approach

Feeding ecology of deep-sea seastars (Echinodermata : Asteroidea): a pigment biomarker approach
Feeding ecology of deep-sea seastars (Echinodermata : Asteroidea): a pigment biomarker approach
Resource partitioning and utilisation of phytodetritus by the abyssal mud-ingesting seastars Styracaster chuni and Hyphalaster inermis were investigated using pigment biomarker analysis. The chlorophyll and carotenoid pigment composition of the stomach content was examined using high-pressure liquid chromatography. No significant differences were observed between the composition of pigments in the 2 species. Both asteroid species utilise the same phytodetrital resource with no apparent partitioning of that resource. Analysis of specific biomarker pigments together with evidence from previous studies suggest that both species ingest small chlorophytes, cryptomonads, cyanobacteria, coccoliths and diatoms as part of the phytodetrital component of their diet. Phytodetrital material itself is not thought to be an important food source for H. inermis or S. chuni.
HPLC, pigments, diet, Asteroidea, deep-sea, resource partitioning
0171-8630
103-110
Howell, K.L.
3bfa5538-0159-4c5a-af48-7962e87e3436
Billett, D.S.M.
aab439e2-c839-4cd2-815c-3d401e0468db
Tyler, P.A.
d1965388-38cc-4c1d-9217-d59dba4dd7f8
Davidson, R.
9f684474-a989-4d8c-988c-a42e3d19db25
Howell, K.L.
3bfa5538-0159-4c5a-af48-7962e87e3436
Billett, D.S.M.
aab439e2-c839-4cd2-815c-3d401e0468db
Tyler, P.A.
d1965388-38cc-4c1d-9217-d59dba4dd7f8
Davidson, R.
9f684474-a989-4d8c-988c-a42e3d19db25

Howell, K.L., Billett, D.S.M., Tyler, P.A. and Davidson, R. (2004) Feeding ecology of deep-sea seastars (Echinodermata : Asteroidea): a pigment biomarker approach. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 266, 103-110.

Record type: Article

Abstract

Resource partitioning and utilisation of phytodetritus by the abyssal mud-ingesting seastars Styracaster chuni and Hyphalaster inermis were investigated using pigment biomarker analysis. The chlorophyll and carotenoid pigment composition of the stomach content was examined using high-pressure liquid chromatography. No significant differences were observed between the composition of pigments in the 2 species. Both asteroid species utilise the same phytodetrital resource with no apparent partitioning of that resource. Analysis of specific biomarker pigments together with evidence from previous studies suggest that both species ingest small chlorophytes, cryptomonads, cyanobacteria, coccoliths and diatoms as part of the phytodetrital component of their diet. Phytodetrital material itself is not thought to be an important food source for H. inermis or S. chuni.

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Published date: 2004
Keywords: HPLC, pigments, diet, Asteroidea, deep-sea, resource partitioning

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 9822
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/9822
ISSN: 0171-8630
PURE UUID: 50aa3ba7-6ce9-4a3c-a6c8-75fc4a85e1c5

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 13 Oct 2004
Last modified: 08 Jan 2022 12:47

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Contributors

Author: K.L. Howell
Author: D.S.M. Billett
Author: P.A. Tyler
Author: R. Davidson

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