In-situ investigations on the echinodermAsterias rubens as a predator of soft-bottom communities in the western Baltic Sea

Abstract

In-situ investigations on the life of the common sea star (Asterias rubens L.) were carried out in 1976, employing the Underwater Laboratory “Helgoland“ in Lubeck Bay (Western Baltic Sea). The abundance ofA. rubens amounted to 2–31 m−2 on sediment (fine sand), and to 324–809 m−2 on mobile algal carpets drifting over the bottom. Actual population parameters (abundance, size class distribution) are influenced by both substrate quality and drifting. Stomach investigations revealed prey-size selectivity: Small sea stars feed mainly on the snailHydrobia ulvae when living on the sediment, but on mussel brood(Mytilus edulis) in the phytal. The principal food items of larger sea stars are the sand-dwelling clamMacoma baltica and the phytal-living isopodIdotea baltica respectively.A. rubens is very adaptive to the food available; the diversity of its diet corresponds to the species diversity found in its environment. A change of biotope during active or passive migrations causes switching. The sea star is able to catch motile animals and to dig out infaunal clams. It exhibits a diurnal feeding pattern related to light periodicity; the activity decreases at night. The average frequency of feeding is highly dependent on predator body size; it declines with growth. In-situ experiments indicate an exponential relationship between the feeding duration uponM. baltica and the quotient of clam size to logarithm of sea-star size. An approach is made toward a rough estimate of macrofauna consumption byA. rubens on sediment. The sea star seems to be an important predator and thus a competitor of demersal fishes on soft bottoms of the western Baltic Sea.