The diet of Ophionereis reticulata (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea) in southeastern Brazil

SHORT COMMUNICATION

The diet of Ophionereis reticulata (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea) in southeastern Brazil

Leonardo Q. Yokoyama^{I, II}; Antonia C. Z. Amaral^I

^IDepartamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas. Caixa Postal 6109, 13083-970 Campinas, São Paulo, Brasil

^II Corresponding author. E-mail: [e-mail]

ABSTRACT

The ophiuroid Ophionereis reticulata (Say, 1825) occurs in the sediment-rocky shore interface, under small stones. Its diet is analyzed in this short communication. Specimens were collected at the Praia Grande beach, located on the northern coast of the state of São Paulo, Brazil, in July, 2002 and January, 2003. The animals were fixed in 70% ethanol and dissected to obtain their stomach contents. Of the total (35), 77.1% (27) had ingested some kind of food and, among those, 81.4% (22) had more than one item. The mean number of food items per stomach was 1.9. Ophionereis reticulata is an omnivorous species, consuming sediment, green and red algae, and polychaetes.

Key words: Diet, omnivorous; ophiuroid.

RESUMO

O ofiuróide Ophionereis reticulata (Say, 1825) ocorre na interface sedimento rocha de costões rochosos, sob pequenas pedras. Alguns aspectos de sua dieta alimentar foram analisados nesta nota. A amostragem foi realizada na Praia Grande, localizada no litoral norte do estado de São Paulo, Brasil. Os indivíduos, coletados em julho de 2002 e janeiro de 2003, foram fixados em álcool 70% e dissecados para obtenção de seus conteúdos estomacais. Do total (35), 77,1% (27) tinham ingerido algum tipo de alimento, e destes, 81,4% (22) possuíam mais de um item. O número médio de itens alimentares por estômago foi 1,9. Ophionereis reticulata é uma espécie onívora, consumindo sedimento, algas verdes e vermelhas, e poliquetas.

Palavras-chave: Dieta alimentar; ofiuróide; onívoro.

Ophiuroids have a wide variety of feeding strategies, including predation, deposit-feeding, and suspension-feeding. However, the diets of different species also vary as a result of differences in feeding mechanisms and life styles (PEARSON & GAGE 1984). Amphiurid species burrow underneath the sediment surface and form a semi-permanent mucous shelter, extending their arms over the surface to maintain local water current. As a consequence, they obtain food from the sediment surface and its different layers and from the water column (WOODLEY 1975). Despite its importance, there are few studies to date on ophiuroid dietary analysis. JONES & SMALDON (1989), analyzing the stomach contents of Amphipholis squamata (Delle Chiaje, 1828), recorded the presence of algae, fragments of small crustaceans and arms of Amphipholis Ljungman, 1867. PEARSON & GAGE (1984) studied the diets of Ophiacantha bidentata (Rezius, 1805), Ophiactis abyssicola (M. Sars, 1861), Ophiocten gracilis (G.O. Sars, 1871), Ophiura irrorata (Mortensen, 1933), and Ophiomusium lymani (Wyville Thompson, 1873), and observed a wide variety of food items and many similarities among their diets. The diet of Ophiospartes gigas was also extremely diverse, with 15 different taxa being used as energy sources (DEARBORN et al. 1996). The diet of the reticulated brittle star, Ophionereis reticulata (Say, 1825), is presently thought to be based solely on green algae and diatoms (HENDLER et al. 1995). In this short communication, we present new information about the diet of O. reticulata.

Individuals of O. reticulata were collected in June, 2002 and January, 2003 on the Praia Grande beach (23°49'20"S, 45°25'05"W), located in the São Sebastião Channel on the northern coast of the state of São Paulo, Brazil. The rocky shore is exposed to wave action and is composed of small and medium boulders. This intertidal region extends for approximately 40 m perpendicularly to the water line. The zone of occurrence of O. reticulata is only exposed during low tide. The specimens were manually collected, fixed in 70% ethanol, and later dissected for analysis of stomach contents with the use of a stereoscopic microscope.

A total of 35 stomachs (15 in the summer and 20 in the winter) were examined. The disc diameters of the animals varied between 5.2 and 9.5 mm, with a mean of 7.3 mm. Of all the stomachs analyzed, 77.1% (27) contained some kind of food and, of these, 81.4% (22) contained more than one food item. The mean number of food items per individual was 1.9 (Tab. I). There was a slightly higher frequency of individuals with some food in their stomachs in the winter (80%) than in the summer (73.3%). The most important identified food items were sediment, green and red algae, and polychaete fragments (Tab. II). The stomachs in the winter contained larger numbers and more diverse items than in the summer. In the summer, the individuals consumed more items of plant origin. The winter diet was more diverse, with the consumption of more animal food items; however, the frequency of sediment and algae remained high.

New items were observed for the diet of O. reticulata, showing that this ophiuroid is an omnivorous species. It feeds mainly on algae but being also capable of consuming animal prey such as crustaceans, polychaetes, and even ophiuroids. Similar dietary diversity is consistently observed in other species (PEARSON & GAGE 1984).

A single cannibalism event was observed during this study. Further, six ophiuroid species were observed in stomachs of O. gigas. Other, similar records exist for Ophiacantha bidentata, Ophiactis abyssicola, Ophiocten gracilis, Ophiura irrorata, and Ophiomusium lymani (PEARSON & GAGE 1984).

The actual importance of the sediment and the flocculent material present in the stomachs of O. reticulata is yet unknown. Bacteria and organic detrital particles are carbon sources for many benthic invertebrates (WARNER 1982, DEARBORN et al. 1996). Therefore, and as stated by DEARBORN et al. (1996), we cannot discard the possibility that the sediment may act as an energy resource or even have a mechanical function during the digestive process.

PEARSON & GAGE (1984) observed a reduction in the number of stomachs with food coinciding with an increase in mean gonad size for O. gracilis. According to that authors, the species must feed during spring to accumulate enough energy in order to reproduce and maintain somatic growth. For O. reticulata, there was a pronounced decrease in the frequency of stomachs with food during summer; moreover, the highest quantity and diversity of items were found in winter. Analysis of the gonadal maturation of the species revealed a low gametogenic activity during the colder months. Although no empirical measures were made, stomachs in this season were visually smaller than those in the reproductive period (summer). Individuals must use other resources with a higher energy content to accumulate reserves for the next reproductive season. Higher temperatures in the summer may favor the elevation of the metabolic and growth rates in some macroalgae. However, the growth of many tropical species is not limited by temperature. Perhaps the seasonal temperature variation may indirectly influence other factors, such as inorganic nutrient reposition (STIMSON et al. 1996) or even reduce the growth of algae, especially in winter, leaving a small quantity of resources available and refuges for other organisms, becoming more exposed to predation. STIMSON et al. (1996) also stated that wave action during colder periods may remove the algae from the intertidal region, but this do not seem to be a main factor for the present sampled region, given that it has a well protected area against wave action.

Some ophiuroid species prey on small organisms; however, most spend large amounts of time feeding on detritus and any organic material they find (FELL 1966). The probability that O. reticulata acts as an active predator is low, even though it consumes items such as polychaetes and crustaceans. It is obvious that the sediment may function as an energy source, since it was present in all the analyzed stomachs. However, as mentioned before, the sediment may have some mechanical action during digestion.

In conclusion, O. reticulata can be considered an omnivorous species that constantly consumes food of plant origin. It is not possible to discard the possibility that it is a deposit feeder, because the state of the food prior to its ingestion is unknown. A longer, monthly study of stomach contents is necessary to fully understand the diet of this species.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We would like to thank two anonymous reviewers that revised this short communication. This study was funded by the CNPq and FAEPEX/UNICAMP. Secondary address for L.Q. Yokoyama is Pós-graduação em Zoologia, Instituto de Biociências, USP, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.

LITERATURE CITED

Submitted: 21.VII.2008; Accepted: 11.IX.2008.

Editorial responsibility: Walter A.P. Boeger

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Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  14 Oct 2008
• Date of issue
  Sept 2008

History

• Received
  21 July 2008
• Accepted
  11 Sept 2008