Abstract
Some ecological information about deep-sea ophiuroids is reviewed, with some notes on their roles in deep-sea benthic communities and general ecological trends along the depth gradient. The ophiuroids are numerically important members in deep-sea benthic communities. Recently, many ecological studies have been carried out on deep-sea ophiuroids. The underwater photography has been used to elucidate life styles and feeding habits, and the quantitative analysis of the bottom photographs has clarified population densities and spatial patterns. Stomach contents of deep-sea benthic organisms have indicated that many ophiuroid species are omnivorous, and that ophiuroids are sometimes consumed by the other predacious organisms. Moreover, a few in situ experimental approaches have been applied to estimate their respiration. Thus, some examples have been obtained about food webs and energy budgets in deep-sea benthic communities. Reproduction and population dynamics were revealed by analysis of size-frequency distributions and gonads of seasonal samples, showing seasonal recruitment and annual synchronous reproduction for some species in the deep sea.
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