Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Seasonal changes in pyloric caecum and gonad indices during the annual reproductive cycle in the seastar Asterias forbesi

  • Published:
Marine Biology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Seasonal changes in pyloric caecum and gonad indices were studied in a population of the seastar Asterias forbesi (Desor) from East Rockaway Inlet (Long Island, New York) during two annual cycles (1980/81, 1982/83). Pyloric caeca indices increased during fall, reached a maximum about April, and declined sharply to a minimum in mid-summer. Gonad indices increased during fall and winter and reached a maximum about May. Judging from gonad size analysis, spawning occurred in late June to early July, at bottom temperatures of 16° to 18°C. There was no long-term inverse relationship between pyloric caecum and gonad indices. Since nutrients and energy ingested during the important fall feeding period are utilized simultaneously for body growth and gonad development, it is unnecessary for the pyloric caeca to store nutrients over long periods as occurs in A. rubens and many other species. The specific caeca-gonad relationship is probably an adaptation to the extreme seasonal thermal fluctuations of the NW Atlantic, which constrain the feeding activity of A. forbesi and limit the possibility of long-term storage. In this population, most individuals grow rapidly in their first year (including first two summers) and spawn in their third summer. Few seastars survive to spawn again in their fourth summer. However, gametogenesis may take place in some individuals in their second summer. Year-to-year variability in mean size at spawning may reflect temporal variation in environmental conditions (weather, food availability) at this site.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Literature cited

  • Anderson, J. M.: Structure and function in the pyloric caeca of Asterias forbesi. Biol. Bull. mar. biol. Lab., Woods Hole 105, 47–61 (1953)

    Google Scholar 

  • Auster, P.: Winter predation by Asterias forbesi on commercially important shellfish resources of Long Island Sound. Proc. J. Shellfish Res. 1983, 22 (abstract) (1983)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bang, F. B.: Disease processes in seastars: a Metchnikovian challenge. Biol. Bull. mar. biol. Lab., Woods Hole 162, 135–148 (1982)

    Google Scholar 

  • Barker, M. F.: Breeding and recruitment in a population of the New Zealand starfish Stichaster australis (Verrill). J. exp. mar. Biol. Ecol. 41, 195–211 (1979)

    Google Scholar 

  • Barker, M. F. and D. Nichols: Reproduction, recruitment and juvenile ecology of the starfish, Asterias rubens and Marthasterias glacialis. J. mar. biol. Ass. U.K. 63, 745–765 (1983)

    Google Scholar 

  • Beijnink, F. B.: Interorgan transport during vitellogenesis in the seastar Asterias rubens L., 86 pp. Ph.D. thesis, Univ. Utrecht, Netherlands 1985

    Google Scholar 

  • Binyon, J.: Salinity tolerance and permeability to water of the star-fish Asterias rubens L. J. mar. biol. Ass. U.K. 41, 161–174 (1961)

    Google Scholar 

  • Binyon, J.: Physiology of echinoderms, 264 pp. New York: Pergamon Press 1972

    Google Scholar 

  • Bookbinder, L. H. and J. M. Shick: A respirometric and direct colorimetric study of ovarian energy metabolism in Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis. In: Echinoderms. Ed. by B. F. Keegan. Proceedings of the International Echinoderm Conference, Galway, Ireland, 24–29 September 1984 (In press)

  • Boolootian, R. A.: Reproductive physiology, pp 561–613. In: Physiology of echinoderms. Ed. by R. A. Boolootian. New York: Interscience Publishers 1966

    Google Scholar 

  • Broertjes, J. J. S., G. Posthuma, P. Den Breejen and P. A. Voogt: Evidence of an alternate transport route for the use of vitello-genesis in the seastar Asterias rubens L. J. mar. biol. Ass. U.K. 60, 157–162 (1980)

    Google Scholar 

  • Burkenroad, M. D.: Fluctuations in abundance of marine animals. Science, N.Y. 103, 684–686 (1946)

    Google Scholar 

  • Coe, W. R.: Echinoderms of Connecticut. Publ. Doc. 47, State Geol. and Nat. Hist. Surv. (Connecticut). Bull No. 19, 152 pp. Hartford, CT 1912

  • Colton, J. B. and R. R. Stoddard: Bottom-water temperatures on the continental shelf, Nova Scotia to New Jersey NOAA Tech. Rept. Circ.-376, 55 pp. 1973

  • Crump, R. G.: Annual reproductive cycles in three geographically separated populations of Patiriella regularis (Verrill), a common New Zealand asteroid. J. exp. mar. Biol. Ecol. 7, 137–162 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Doering, P. H.: Observations on the behavior of Asterias forbesi feeding on Mercenaria mercenaria. Ophelia 20, 169–178 (1981)

    Google Scholar 

  • Downey, M.: Starfishes from the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico. Smithsonian Contrib. Zool. 126, 158 pp. (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Farmanfarmaian, A.: The respiratory physiology of echinoderms, pp 245–265. In: Physiology of echinoderms. Ed. by R. A. Boolootian. New York: Interscience Publishers 1966

    Google Scholar 

  • Farmanfarmaian, A., A. C. Giese, R. A. Boolootian and J. Bennett: Annual reproduction cycles in four species of west coast starfishes. J. exp. Zool. 138, 355–367 (1958)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferguson, J. C.: Nutrient translocation. In: Echinoderm nutrition, pp 373–393. Ed. by M. Janguoux and J. M. Lawrence, Rotterdam: Balkema 1982

    Google Scholar 

  • Franz, D. R., E. K. Worley and A. S. Merrill: Distribution patterns of common seastars of the middle atlantic continental shelf of the northwest Atlantic. Biol. Bull. mar. biol. Lab., Woods Hole 160, 394–418 (1981)

    Google Scholar 

  • Galtsoff, P. S. and V. L. Loosanoff: Natural history and methods of controlling the starfish (Asterias forbesi, Desor). Bull. U.S. Bur. Fish. 49 (31), 75–132 (1939)

    Google Scholar 

  • Giese, A. C., A. Farmanfarmaian, S. Hilden and P. Doezema: Respiration during the reproductive cycle in the sea urchin, Strongylocentrotus purpuratus. Biol. Bull. mar. biol. Lab., Woods Hole 130, 192–201 (1966)

    Google Scholar 

  • Greenfield, L. J., A. C. Giese, A. Farmanfarmaian and R. A. Boolootian: Cyclic biochemical changes in several echinoderms. J. exp. Zool. 139, 507–524 (1958)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hancock, D. A.: The feeding behavior of a starfish on Essex oyster beds. J. mar. biol. Ass. U.K. 34, 313–331 (1955)

    Google Scholar 

  • Harrold, C. and J. S. Pearse: Allocation of pyloric caecum resources in fed and starved seastars, Pisaster giganteus (Stimpson); somatic maintenance comes before reproduction. J. exp. mar. Biol. Ecol. 48, 169–187 (1980)

    Google Scholar 

  • Jangoux, M. and M. Vloeberg: Contribution of l'etude du cycle annuel de reproduction d'une population d'Asterias rubens (Echinodermata, Asteroidea). Netherlands J. Sea Res. 6, 389–408 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Jangoux, M. and E. van Impe: The annual pyloric cycle of Asterias rubens (L.) (Echinodermata: Asteroidea). J. exp. mar. Biol. Ecol. 30, 165–184 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lawrence, J. M. and J. M. Lane: The utilization of nutrients of postmetamorphic echinoderms, pp 331–337. In: Echinoderm nutrition. Ed. by M. Jangoux and J. M. Lawrence. Rotterdam: Balkema Press 1982

    Google Scholar 

  • Lowe, R. F.: Relationships between biochemical and caloric composition and reproductive cycle in Asterias vulgaris (Echinodermata: Asteroidea) from the Gulf of Maine, 107 pp. Ph.D. dissertation, Univ. Maine, Orono 1978

    Google Scholar 

  • Loosanoff, V. L.: Biology and methods of controlling the starfish, Asterias forbesi (Desor). U.S. Dept. Interior, Fishery Leaflet 520, 11 pp., Wash. D.C. 1961

    Google Scholar 

  • MacKenzie, C. L.: Feeding rates of starfish, Asterias forbesi (Desor) at controlled temperatures during different seasons of the year. Bull. U.S. Fish. Comm. 19, 213–224 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • Mauzey, K. P.: Feeding behavior and reproductive cycles in Pisaster ochraceus. Biol. Bull. mar. biol. Lab., Woods Hole 131, 127–144 (1966)

    Google Scholar 

  • Mead, A. D.: The natural history of the starfish (Asterias forbesi). Bull. U.S. Fish. Comm. 19, 203–224 (1901)

    Google Scholar 

  • Nichols, D. and M. F. Barker: Growth of juvenile Asterias rubens L. (Echinodermata: Asteroidea) on an intertidal reef in south-western Britain. J. exp. mar. Biol. Ecol. 78, 157–165 (1984)

    Google Scholar 

  • Oudejans, R. C. H. M. and I. van der Sluis: Changes in biochemical composition of the ovaries of the seastar Asterias rubens during its annual reproductive cycle. Mar. Biol. 50, 255–261 (1979a)

    Google Scholar 

  • Oudejans, R. C. H. M. and I. van der Sluis: Storage and depletion of lipid components of the pyloric caeca and overies of the seastar Asterias rubens during its annual reproductive cycle. Mar. Biol. 53, 239–247 (1979)

    Google Scholar 

  • Pearse, J. S.: Reproductive periodicities in several contrasting populations of Odontaster validus Koehler, a common antarctic asteroid, pp 39–85 In: Antarctic Research Series 5, Biology of the Antarctic Seas II. Ed. by G. A. Llano. Wash. D. C.: Am. Geophysical Union 1965

    Google Scholar 

  • Pratt, D. M. and D. A. Cambell: Environmental factors affecting growth in Venus mercenaria. Limnol. Oceanogr. 1, 2–17 (1956)

    Google Scholar 

  • Roe, R. B., R. Cummins and H. R. Bullis: Calico scallop distribution and yield off eastern Florida, 1967–1968. Fish. Bull., U.S. 69, 399–409 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Scheibling, R. E.: The annual reproductive cycle of Oreaster reticulatus (L.) (Echinodermata: Asteroidea) and interpopulation differences in reproductive capacity. J. exp. mar. Biol. Ecol. 54, 39–54 (1981)

    Google Scholar 

  • Sloan, N. A.: Aspects of the feeding biology of asteroids. Oceanogr. mar. Biol. 18, 57–124 (1980)

    Google Scholar 

  • Turner, V. G.: The reproductive biology of selected echinoderms from Cape Cod, MA, 137 pp. M.A. thesis, Univ. Calif. Los Angeles 1966

  • Worley, E. K. and D. R. Franz: A comparative study of selected Asterias forbesi (Desor), A. vulgaris Verrill, and A. rubens L., with discussion of possible relationships. Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash. 96, 524–547 (1983)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biology Department, Brooklyn College, City University of New York, 11210, Brooklyn, New York, USA

    D. R. Franz

Authors
  1. D. R. Franz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Communicated by J. M. Shick, Orono

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Franz, D.R. Seasonal changes in pyloric caecum and gonad indices during the annual reproductive cycle in the seastar Asterias forbesi . Marine Biology 91, 553–560 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00392607

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00392607

Keywords

Search

Navigation