Abstract
The boreo-Mediterranean amphiurid Amphiura chiajei Forbes occurs in high numbers (∼700 individuals/m2) in Killary Harbour, a fjordic inlet on the west coast of Ireland. 99.1% of the adult individuals show signs of arm regeneration, while 0.5% show regeneration of the disc. A study of the phenomenon commenced in November 1987 and continued on a seasonal basis until July 1989. Specimens were collected by SCUBA. The overall mean length of regenerated arm tissue over the 21 mo sampling period was 33.5±6.5 mm. Regeneration points were most common in the proximal and in the distal one-third of each arm. An overall mean of 4.21±0.3 arms per individual showed evidence of regeneration, while biomass assays revealed that regenerated tissue accounted for up to 57.9% of the total body weight. Anthropogenic activity (e.g. bottom trawling) may contribute to regeneration, although sub-lethal predation appears to be the main causitive factor of regeneration. Gut analyses of potential predators at the sampling station revealed that fish species (especially the Pleuronectidae) are particularly implicated. This predation seems to vary seasonally, being greatest in the summer months. Since the larger individuals showed the greatest evidence of arm regeneration, it is assumed that such sub-lethal damage is a persistent experience. Whatever the causality, the population of A. chiajei in Killary Harbour is deemed to be highly resilient.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
Literature cited
Ball, B. J. (1991). Aspects of the biology and ecology of mixed aggregations of the epifaunal brittlestars, Ophiotrix fragilis (Abildgaard) and Ophiocomina nigra (Abildgaard) (south and west coasts of Ireland). Ph.D. thesis. National University of Ireland, University College, Galway
Bourgoin, A. (1987). Ecologie et demographie d' Acrocnida brachiata (Montagu) (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea) en Baie de Douarnenez (Bretagne). Ph.D. thesis. Universite de Bretagne Occidentale, Brest, France
Bowmer, T. (1982). Aspects of the biology and ecology of amphiura filiformis (O. F. Müller) (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea). Ph.D. thesis. National University of Ireland, University College, Galway
Bowmer, T., Keegan, B. F. (1983). Field survery of the occurrence and significance of regeneration in Amphiura filiformis (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea) from Galway, west coast of Ireland. Mar. Biol. 74: 65–71
Brun, E. (1969). Echinoderms of the Isle of Man. Ph.D. thesis. University of Liverpool, England
Buchanan, J. B. (1964). A comparative study of some features of Amphiura filiformis and Amphiura chiajei (Ophiuroidea) considered in relation to their distribution. J. mar. biol. Ass. U. K. 44: 565–576
Clements, L. A., Fielman, K. T., Stancyk, S. E. (1988). Regeneration by an amphiurid brittlestar exposed to different concentrations of dissolved organic matter. J. exp. mar. Biol. Ecol. 122: 47–61
Dawydoff, C. (1901). Beiträge zur Kenntnis der Regenerationserscheinungen bei den Ophiuren. Z. wiss. Zool. 69: 204–234
De Groot, S. J. (1971). On the inter-relationships between morphology of the alimentary tract, food and feeding behaviour in flatfishes (Pisces: Pleuronectiformes). Neth. J. Sea Res. 5: 121–196
Donachy, J. E., Watabe, N. (1986). Effects of salinity and calcium concentration on arm regeneration by Ophiothrix angulata (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea). Mar. Biol. 91: 253–257
Duineveld, G. C. A., Van Noort, G. J. (1986). Observations on the population dynamics of Amphiura filiformis (Ophiuroidea: Echinodermata) in the southern North Sea and its exploitation by the dab, Limanda limanda. Neth. J. Sea. Res. 20: 85–94
Edwards, R. R. C., Steel, J. H. (1968). The ecology of the O-group plaice and common dabs of loch Ewe. I. Population and food. J. exp. mar. Biol. Ecol. 2: 215–238
Emson, R. H., Wilkie, I. C. (1980). Fission and autotomy in echinoderms. Oceanogr. mar. Biol. A. Rev. 18: 155–250
Fielman, K. T., Stancyk, S. E., Dobson, W. E., Clements, L. A. Jerome (1991). Effects of disc and arm loss on regeneration by Microphiopholis gracillima (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea) in nutrient-free seawater. Mar. Biol. 111: 121–127
Grehan, A. (1982). Aspects of the biology and ecology of Amphiura filiformis (O. F. Müller). B. Sc. thesis. National University of Ireland, University College, Galway
Hyman, L. H. (1955) The invertebrates. Vol. IV. Echinodermata. McGraw Hill, New York
Jones, N. S. (1952). The bottom fauna and the food of flatfish off the Cumberland coast. J. Anim. Ecol. 21: 182–205
Jones, N. S. (1956). The fauna and biomass of a muddy sand deposit off Port Erin, Isle of Man. J. Anim. Ecol. 25: 217–252
Keegan, B. F., Mercer, J. P. (1986). An oceanographic survey of Killary Harbour on the west coast of Ireland. Proc. R. Ir. Acad. 86B: 1–70
Keegan, B. F., O'Connor, B. D. S., Könnecker, G. F. (1985). Littoral and benthic investigations on the west coast of Ireland. XX. Echinoderm aggregations. Proc. R. Ir. Acad. 85B: 91–99
Lawrence, J. M. (1987). A functional biology of echinoderms. Croom Helm, London and Sydney
Milligan, M. (1915). Rate of regeneration in a brittlestar. Zoologist 19: p. 119
Morgulis, S. (1909). Regeneration in the brittlestar, Ophiocoma pumila, with reference to the influence of the nervous system. Proc. Am. Acad. Arts Sci 44: 655–659
Munday, B. W. (1991). Aspects of the biology and ecology of Amphiura chiajei Forbes (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea) in Killary Harbour, west coast of Ireland. Ph.D. thesis. National University of Ireland, University College, Galway
Salzwedel, H. E. (1974). Arm regeneration bei Amphiura filiformis (Ophiuroidea). Veröff. Inst. Meeresforsch. Bremerh. 14: 161–167
Singletary, R. L. (1980). The biology and ecology of Amphioplus coniortodes. Ophionephyths limicola and Microphiopholis gracillima (Ophiuroidea: Amphiuridae). Caribb. J. Sci. 16: 39–55
Sloan, N. A. (1980). Aspects of the feeding biology of asteroids. Oceanogr. mar. Biol. A. Rev. 18: 57–124
Thomas, H. J., Davidson, C. (1962). The food of the Norway lobster, Nephrops norvegicus (L.) Mar. Res. 3: 1–15
Turner, R. L., Heatwole, D. W., Stancyk, S. E. (1982). Ophiuroid discs in stingray stomachs: evasive autotomy or partial consumption of prey? In: Lawrence, J. M. (ed.). Proceedings of the International Echinoderm Conference, Tampa Bay. A. A. Balkema, Rotterdam, p. 331–335
Wilkie, I. C (1978). Arm autotomy in brittlestars (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea). J. Zool., Lond. 186: 311–330
Zeleny, C. (1903). A study of the rate of regeneration of the arms in the brittlestar, Ophioglypha lacertosa. Biol. Bull. mar. biol. Lab., Woods Hole 6: 12–17
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Communicated by J. Mauchline, Oban
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Munday, B.W. Field survey of the occurrence and significance of regeneration in Amphiura chiajei (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea) from Killary Habrour, west coast of Ireland. Marine Biology 115, 661–668 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00349374
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00349374