Abstract
The avoidance reactions of Asterias rubens (L.) to live Crossaster papposus (L.) and to Solaster endeca (L.) were studied quantitatively and revealed a striking velocityagainst-time profile. The location of the material eliciting these reactions differed in the two species, being in the tube-feet of C. papposus and in the furrow and marginal spines of S. endeca. A partially purified active fraction was obtained from the tube-feet of C. papposus. The avoidance response of Marthasterias glacialis (L.) to C. papposus closely resembled the response of A. rubens. A study of the responses of A. rubens to other live seastars and their exudates showed that only Luidia ciliaris (Philipi) elicited a reaction similar to C. papposus and S. endeca, these three species being known predators of seastars. An intra-species avoidance was observed in C. papposus and the function and significance of this behaviour is discussed in relation to the inter-species avoidance reactions.
Similar content being viewed by others
Literature Cited
Brun, E.: Food and Feeding habits of Luidia ciliaris Echinodermata, Asteroidea. J. mar. biol. Ass. U.K. 52, 225–236 (1972)
Bullock, T.H.: Predator recognition and escape responses of some intertidal gastropods in the presence of starfish. Behaviour 5, 130–140 (1953)
Castilla, J.C. and D.J. Crisp: Responses of Asterias rubens to olfactory stimuli. J. mar. biol. Ass. U.K. 50, 829–847 (1970)
Feder, H.M.: Gastropod defensive responses and their effectiveness in reducing predation by starfishes. Ecology 44, 506–512 (1963)
— Organisms responsive to predatory sea-stars. Sarsia 29, 371–394 (1967)
— and J. Arvidsson: Studies on a sea-star (Marthasterias glacialis) extract responsible for avoidance in a gastropod (Buccinum undatum). Arch. Zool. 19, 369–379 (1967)
— and A.M. Christensen: Aspects of asteroid biology. In: Physiology of Echinodermata, pp 87–127. Ed. by R.A. Boolootian. New York: J. Wiley 1966
— and R. Lasker: Partial purification of a substance from starfish tube-feet which elicits escape responses in gastropod molluscs. Life Sciences 3, 1047–1051 (1964)
Hancock, D.A.: The feeding behaviour of starfish on Essex oyster beds. J. mar. biol. Ass. U.K. 34, 313–331 (1955)
— Notes on starfish on an Essex oyster bed. J. mar. biol. Ass. U.K. 37, 565–589 (1958)
— Some aspects of the biology of the sun-star Crossaster papposus (L.) Ophelia 13, 1–30 (1974)
Hazlett, B.A.: Chemical and chemotactic stimulation of feeding behaviour in the hermit crab Petrochirus diogenes. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 39A, 665–670 (1971)
Jensen, M.: The response of two sea-urchins to the sea-star Marthasterias glacialis (L.) and other stimuli. Ophelia 3, 209–219 (1966)
Kaplan, H.M.: Anaesthesia in invertebrates. Fedn Proc. Fedn Am. Socs exp. Biol. 28, 1557–1569 (1969)
Kohn, A.J.: Chemoreception in gastropod molluscs. Am. Zool. 1, 291–308 (1961)
— and V. Waters: Escape responses of three herbivorous gastropods to the predatory gastropod Conus textile. Anim. Behav. 14, 340–345 (1966)
Laverack, M.S.: On the receptors of marine invertebrates. Oceanogr. mar. biol. A. Rev. 6, 249–324 (1968)
Mackie, A.M. and P.T. Grant: Interspecies and intraspecies chemoreception by marine invertebrates. In: Chemoreception in marine organisms, pp 105–141. Ed. by P.T. Grant and A.M. Mackie. London: Academic Press 1975
—, R. Lasker and P.T. Grant: Avoidance reactions of a mollusc Buccinum undatum to saponin-like substances in extracts of the starfish Asterias rubens and Marthasterias glacialis. J. exp. mar. biol. Ecol. 5, 63–69 (1968)
Margolin, A.S.: A running response of Acmaea to sea-stars. Ecology 45, 191–193 (1964)
Mauzey, K.P., C. Birkeland and P.K. Dayton: Feeding behaviour of asteroids and escape responses of their prey in the Puget Sound region. Ecology 49, 604–619 (1968)
Mayo, P.: Ecological, behavioural and biochemical studies of avoidance responses in sea-stars, 183 pp. Ph.D. Thesis, University of Aberdeen, UK 1974
Meadows, P.S. and J.I. Campbell: Habitat selection by aquatic invertebrates. Adv. mar. Biol. 10, 271–382 (1972)
Mortensen, T.: Handbook of the echinoderms of the British Isles, 471 pp. London: Oxford University Press 1927
Santos, H.S.: The ultrastructure of the mucous granules from starfish tube-feet. J. Ultrastruct. Res. 16, 259–268 (1966)
— and W. Da Silva Sasso: Morphological and histochemical studies on the secretory granules of starfish tube-feet. Acta anat. 69, 41–52 (1968)
Snyder, N.F.R. and A.H. Snyder: Pheromonemediated behaviour of Fasciolaria tulipa. Anim. Behav. 19, 257–268 (1971)
Stimson, J.: Territorial behaviour of the owl limpet Lottia gigantea. Ecology 51, 113–118 (1970)
Ward, J.: An investigation on the swimming reaction of the anemone Stomphia coccinea. Partial characterisation of a reacting substance from the asteroid Dermasterias imbricata. J. exp. Zool. 158, 357–364 (1965a)
— An investigation on the swimming reaction of the anemone Stomphia coccinea. Histological location of a reacting substance from the asteroid Dermasterias imbricata. J. exp. Zool. 158, 365–372 (1965b)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Communicated by J.H.S. Blaxter, Oban
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Mayo, P., Mackie, A.M. Studies of avoidance reactions in several species of Predatory British Seastars (Echinodermata: Asteroidea). Marine Biology 38, 41–49 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00391484
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00391484