Opportunistic consumption of coral spawn by the ruby brittle star (Ophioderma rubicundum)
Abstract Many reef invertebrates reproduce through simultaneous broadcast spawning, with an apparent advantage of overwhelming potential predators and maximizing propagule survival. Although reef fish have been observed to consume coral gamete bundles during spawning events, there are few records of...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2023-05-01
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| Series: | Ecology and Evolution |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.10096 |
| _version_ | 1797776535830134784 |
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| author | Olivia M. Williamson Alexander T. Mustard Allan J. Bright Dana E. Williams Mark C. Ladd Andrew C. Baker |
| author_facet | Olivia M. Williamson Alexander T. Mustard Allan J. Bright Dana E. Williams Mark C. Ladd Andrew C. Baker |
| author_sort | Olivia M. Williamson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Many reef invertebrates reproduce through simultaneous broadcast spawning, with an apparent advantage of overwhelming potential predators and maximizing propagule survival. Although reef fish have been observed to consume coral gamete bundles during spawning events, there are few records of such predation by benthic invertebrates. Here, we document several instances of the ruby brittle star, Ophioderma rubicundum, capturing and consuming egg‐sperm bundles of the mountainous star coral, Orbicella faveolata, and the symmetrical brain coral, Pseudodiploria strigosa, during spawning events in the Cayman Islands in 2012 and the Florida Keys in 2022. These observations are widely separated in space and time (>600 km, 10 years), suggesting that this behavior may be prevalent on western Atlantic reefs. Since O. rubicundum spawns on the same or subsequent nights as these coral species, we hypothesize that this opportunistic feeding behavior takes advantage of lipid‐rich coral gamete bundles to recover energy reserves expended by the brittle star during gametogenesis. The consumption of coral gametes by adult brittle stars suggests an underexplored trophic link between reef invertebrates and also provides evidence that ophiuroid–coral symbioses may oscillate between commensalism and parasitism depending on the ontogeny and reproductive status of both animals. Our observations provide insights into the nuanced, dynamic associations between coral reef invertebrates and may have implications for coral reproductive success and resilience. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T22:52:24Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c51af79e5e95481c8c6fc5c3eb2e9a6c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-7758 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T22:52:24Z |
| publishDate | 2023-05-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecology and Evolution |
| spelling | doaj.art-c51af79e5e95481c8c6fc5c3eb2e9a6c2023-07-20T08:50:55ZengWileyEcology and Evolution2045-77582023-05-01135n/an/a10.1002/ece3.10096Opportunistic consumption of coral spawn by the ruby brittle star (Ophioderma rubicundum)Olivia M. Williamson0Alexander T. Mustard1Allan J. Bright2Dana E. Williams3Mark C. Ladd4Andrew C. Baker5Department of Marine Biology and Ecology, Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science University of Miami Miami Florida USAOcean Insight Ltd Peterborough UKCooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies, Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science University of Miami Miami Florida USACooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies, Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science University of Miami Miami Florida USASoutheast Fisheries Science Center, NOAA – National Marine Fisheries Service Miami Florida USADepartment of Marine Biology and Ecology, Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science University of Miami Miami Florida USAAbstract Many reef invertebrates reproduce through simultaneous broadcast spawning, with an apparent advantage of overwhelming potential predators and maximizing propagule survival. Although reef fish have been observed to consume coral gamete bundles during spawning events, there are few records of such predation by benthic invertebrates. Here, we document several instances of the ruby brittle star, Ophioderma rubicundum, capturing and consuming egg‐sperm bundles of the mountainous star coral, Orbicella faveolata, and the symmetrical brain coral, Pseudodiploria strigosa, during spawning events in the Cayman Islands in 2012 and the Florida Keys in 2022. These observations are widely separated in space and time (>600 km, 10 years), suggesting that this behavior may be prevalent on western Atlantic reefs. Since O. rubicundum spawns on the same or subsequent nights as these coral species, we hypothesize that this opportunistic feeding behavior takes advantage of lipid‐rich coral gamete bundles to recover energy reserves expended by the brittle star during gametogenesis. The consumption of coral gametes by adult brittle stars suggests an underexplored trophic link between reef invertebrates and also provides evidence that ophiuroid–coral symbioses may oscillate between commensalism and parasitism depending on the ontogeny and reproductive status of both animals. Our observations provide insights into the nuanced, dynamic associations between coral reef invertebrates and may have implications for coral reproductive success and resilience.https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.10096coral reefcoral spawningOphioderma rubicundumpredationsymbiosistrophic interactions |
| spellingShingle | Olivia M. Williamson Alexander T. Mustard Allan J. Bright Dana E. Williams Mark C. Ladd Andrew C. Baker Opportunistic consumption of coral spawn by the ruby brittle star (Ophioderma rubicundum) Ecology and Evolution coral reef coral spawning Ophioderma rubicundum predation symbiosis trophic interactions |
| title | Opportunistic consumption of coral spawn by the ruby brittle star (Ophioderma rubicundum) |
| title_full | Opportunistic consumption of coral spawn by the ruby brittle star (Ophioderma rubicundum) |
| title_fullStr | Opportunistic consumption of coral spawn by the ruby brittle star (Ophioderma rubicundum) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Opportunistic consumption of coral spawn by the ruby brittle star (Ophioderma rubicundum) |
| title_short | Opportunistic consumption of coral spawn by the ruby brittle star (Ophioderma rubicundum) |
| title_sort | opportunistic consumption of coral spawn by the ruby brittle star ophioderma rubicundum |
| topic | coral reef coral spawning Ophioderma rubicundum predation symbiosis trophic interactions |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.10096 |
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