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Feeding biology of Ophiura sarsii Lütken, 1855 on Banquereau bank and the effects of fishing

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Abstract

Ophiura sarsii was collected in May/June from Banquereau Bank off Nova Scotia, Canada as part of the benthic fauna analyzed in a 2 year clam dredging-impact experiment. In total, 529 O. sarsii specimens were analyzed; 174 (33%) had stomach contents while the rest were empty. Ophiura sarsii is a trophic generalist feeding on at least 31 taxa (52% identified to species) drawn from four phyla: Arthropoda (81.8%), Annelida (13.2%), Mollusca (3%), and Cnidaria (1.5%). However, the diet was largely restricted to two amphipod families (Ampeliscidae and Lysianassidae), accounting for 54–70% of stomach contents at any one sampling period. This diet provides indirect evidence for carnivory. Limited spatial and temporal heterogeneity in the proportion of animals feeding showed no consistent pattern. Where diet composition differed (ANOSIM) it was attributed to the proportion of lysianassid and ampeliscid amphipods consumed. Dredging introduced new dietary items, although diet composition was not significantly altered.

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Acknowledgments

We thank T. J. Kenchington, D. C. Gordon Jr, and M. Wong for providing insightful comments on this manuscript. S. Stancyk and an anonymous reviewer offered further suggestions for improvement. D. C. Gordon Jr led the original experimental study on Banquereau Bank from which were able to draw our specimens, and without which the feeding biology of O. sarsii would remain unknown.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, 1355 Oxford Street, Halifax, NS, B3H 4J1, Canada

    Jennifer L. Harris

  2. Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, 1 Challenger Drive, Dartmouth, NS, B2Y 4A2, Canada

    Kevin MacIsaac & Ellen L. Kenchington

  3. Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Centre, St. John’s, NF, A1C 5X1, Canada

    Kent D. Gilkinson

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  1. Jennifer L. Harris
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  4. Ellen L. Kenchington
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Correspondence to Ellen L. Kenchington.

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Communicated by M. Byrne.

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Harris, J.L., MacIsaac, K., Gilkinson, K.D. et al. Feeding biology of Ophiura sarsii Lütken, 1855 on Banquereau bank and the effects of fishing. Mar Biol 156, 1891–1902 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-009-1222-1

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