The feeding activity ofEchinostrephus molaris(de Blainville) in the central red sea
| Autor: | Stephen M. Head, Rupert Ormond, Andrew C. Campbell, John K.G. Dart |
|---|---|
| Rok vydání: | 1973 |
| Předmět: |
geography
geography.geographical_feature_category biology Ecology fungi Particle (ecology) Coral reef Test (biology) musculoskeletal system biology.organism_classification Burrow Echinometra mathaei Spine (zoology) Algae parasitic diseases General Earth and Planetary Sciences Reef General Environmental Science |
| Zdroj: | Marine Behaviour and Physiology. 2:155-169 |
| ISSN: | 0091-181X |
| DOI: | 10.1080/10236247309386922 |
| Popis: | Echinostrephus molaris (de Blainville) is a small Indo‐pacific echinoid which burrows in coral reef limestone. Normally individuals do not leave the burrows so they cannot graze on algae growing around the burrow mouth. E. molaris catches floating algal particles with its long aboral spines. When a particle touches one of these organs or a tube‐foot in the area, the surrounding spines converge and grip it. Captured fragments are lowered to the test by further tube‐foot and spine action and are then passed across the ambitus towards the mouth. They are held by the oral tube‐feet and the shorter curved oral spines which aid ingestion. The behavioural and structural modifications shown for this habit are discussed. Burrowing and particle collecting have allowed E. molaris to occupy a particular niche on the reef. A similar method of food gathering is reported for Echinometra mathaei (de Blainville). |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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