Abstract
A recent preliminary survey revealed that 12 species of unstalked crinoids occur on a gentle sandy slope (12–18 m depth) at Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef, Australia; five of which are also found on coral reefs. The other seven appear to constitute a unique assemblage restricted to unconsolidated substrates, where most cling to algae or hide beneath rubble or sponges. Members of this assemblage exhibit all of the basic feeding postures found among reef-dwelling species. However, Comatula rotalaria, which lacks anchoring cirri and bears uniquely differentiated short and long arms, exhibits a posture different from other living crinoids. Quantitative transects reveal apparent depth-related differences in species composition: C. rotalaria dominated the 12 transects in 12–13 m (84% of 82 specimens), while Comatella nigra, Comatula cf. purpurea, Amphimetra cf. tessellata and Zygometra microdiscus accounted for 96% of 54 specimens observed along 12 transects in 16–17 m.
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Acknowledgements
Funding for much of this project was provided to GWR from the South Australian Museum, and to GWR and LSJ from the Australian Research Council. DLM received support from the National Geographic Society, and UES and DIV received support from an Australian Research Council linkage grant. We thank Sean Connell and Bronwyn Gillanders (University of Adelaide) for the loan of the underwater video equipment, and Anne Hoggett, Lyle Vail and the entire staff of the Lizard Island Research Foundation for their hospitality, support and assistance.
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Messing, C.G., Meyer, D.L., Siebeck, U.E. et al. A modern soft-bottom, shallow-water crinoid fauna (Echinodermata) from the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Coral Reefs 25, 164–168 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-005-0076-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-005-0076-3