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Behavioural and metabolic responses of the Antarctic sea star Odontaster validus to food stimuli of different concentration

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Abstract

Experiments were carried out to study the behavioural and metabolic responses of the Antarctic sea star, Odontaster validus, to different concentration of food signals (glutamic acid, aspartic acid, glicyne, alanine, tyrosine and a mixture of 11 amino acids). Stimulus concentration increase caused a rise in both the percentage of reacting animals and in the reaction intensity. At low stimulus concentration, O. validus reaction consisted of tube foot waving, and only high concentrations elicited a complicated sequence of several types of behaviour. The metabolic rate of small O. validus was more sensitive to chemical stimuli than of large individuals, with small sea stars reacting even to low signal concentration. It can be speculated that small body size can be a factor restricting sea star capabilities and influencing its reaction to chemical signals.

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Acknowledgments

Data presented in this study were collected during the XXII and XXV Polish Antarctic Expedition at H. Arctowski Station (King George Island, South Shetlands, Antarctica). I would like to thank my colleagues from both expeditions for their generous field assistance. Particular thanks are addressed to two anonymous referees for their most helpful comments on the manuscript.

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  1. Department of Antarctic Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, ul. Ustrzycka 10/12, 02-131, Warsaw, Poland

    Anna Kidawa

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  1. Anna Kidawa
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Correspondence to Anna Kidawa.

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Kidawa, A. Behavioural and metabolic responses of the Antarctic sea star Odontaster validus to food stimuli of different concentration. Polar Biol 28, 449–455 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-004-0705-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-004-0705-2

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