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Brooding behaviour of the northern sea star Leptasterias polaris

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Abstract

The northern sea star Leptasterias polaris (Müller and Troschel) has a unique mode of brooding its young. The mother curves her arms along the plane of the disc, the whole individual assuming a flattened plate-like shape. In this form she covers the larvae, which are attached to the substratum beneath her. The central disc is not raised to form a brood chamber, as in related species, and there is no tendency to hide while brooding. In the St. Lawrence Estuary, brooding L. polaris are common from February through May and decline in numbers during June and early July. The genus Leptasterias originates in the Arctic and probably all species brood their young.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pêches et Océans Canada, c.p. 15,500, G1K 7Y7, Québec, Canada

    J. H. Himmelman, Y. Lavergne & P. Jalbert

  2. (GIROQ) Département de biologie, Université Laval, G1K 7P4, Québec, Canada

    A. Cardinal & G. Martel

Authors
  1. J. H. Himmelman
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  2. Y. Lavergne
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  3. A. Cardinal
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  4. G. Martel
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  5. P. Jalbert
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Additional information

Communicated by R. O. Fournier, Halifax

This paper is dedicated to François Dorion who lost his life during benthic studies in the St. Lawrence Estuary. His enthusiasm in studying marine organisms will always be an inspiration to us

Contribution to the program of GIROQ (Groupe Interuniversitaire de Recherches Océanographiques du Québec)

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Himmelman, J.H., Lavergne, Y., Cardinal, A. et al. Brooding behaviour of the northern sea star Leptasterias polaris . Mar. Biol. 68, 235–240 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00409590

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