Feeding biology of the brittlestar Ophioderma appressum (Say, 1825) (Echinodermata, Ophiuroidea) in a tropical shallow reef from the Brazilian coast

ABSTRACT

Ophioderma appressum is a common and abundant ophiuroid species in tropical reef communities. Nevertheless, few studies analyse and describe its biology. In this paper, we evaluate and describe the diet of this species collected at Seixas reefs, João Pessoa, Brazil. Monthly diurnal samples were obtained between September 2018 and July 2019. In total, 143 individuals were analysed. The recorded diet was variable and consisted of 24 taxa and two additional items. Most material represented unidentifiable and/or digested remains, foraminiferans, crustacean fragments, and sediment particles, indicating omnivory. The number of individuals with stomach contents varied along the year (from two to 13 specimens per month). There was also significant temporal variation in the composition of the stomach contents. The months September 2018, May 2019 and June 2019 had the highest variety of items during the study. Our results suggest generalist and opportunistic feeding behaviour and highlight the role of O. appressum as an active predator on prey of diverse taxa and body size.

KEYWORDS:

• Echinoderms
• Ophiodermatidae
• diet
• shallow reefs
• South Atlantic
• Northeastern Brazil

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Msc Diele Pontes, Msc Henrique Bezerra, Msc Karina Pacheco, Msc Laís Schimith, and Osmir Lafite for their help during the field sampling. We are grateful to Dr Ingrid A. da Costa (Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil), Dr Nykon Craveiro (Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Brazil), Msc D. Pontes (Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Brazil), and Msc L. Schimith (Universidade Federal da Paraíba, Brazil) for help with the identification of Brachyura, Copepoda, and Mollusca, respectively. We also wish to thank Dr Gordon Hendler (Natural History Museum, Los Angeles, USA) and Dr Rafael B. Moura (Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) for assisting us in obtaining additional references. Dr Martin I. Brogger (Instituto de Biología de Organismos Marinos – IBIOMAR-CONICET; Argentina) and Dr Karin Boos (Thünen-Institute for Sea Fisheries, Germany) are thanked for kindly contributing with their constructive comments. This study is part of Niviane F. Lafite’s Master dissertation conducted in the Postgraduate Program in Conservation and Ecology – (PPGEC) of Universidade Estadual da Paraíba (UEPB). Niviane F. Lafite was supported by CAPES (the Brazilian Ministry of Education) through a Master’s scholarship. Anne I. Gondim was supported by CNPq, through a postdoctoral scholarship (Process number: 150070/2018-7). Martin L. Christoffersen was supported by a CNPq productivity research grant (Process number: 301288/2018-6).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This study is part of Niviane F. Lafite’s Master dissertation conducted in the Postgraduate Program in Conservation and Ecology – (PPGEC) of Universidade Estadual da Paraíba (UEPB). Niviane F. Lafite was supported by CAPES (the Brazilian Ministry of Education) through a Master’s scholarship. Anne I. Gondim was supported by CNPq, through a postdoctoral scholarship (Process number: 150070/2018-7). Martin L. Christoffersen was supported by a CNPq productivity research grant (Process number: 301288/2018-6).