Feeding repellence of Antarctic and sub-Antarctic benthic invertebrates against the omnivorous sea star Odontaster validus

摘要: Antarctic and sub-Antarctic benthic invertebrates are subjected to intense predation by mobile macroinvertebrates. Accordingly, chemical protection as well other defensive mechanisms expected be common in organisms inhabiting these ecosystems. In order evaluate anti-predation activities allocation of defenses within the anatomy marine invertebrates, 55 species were tested for feeding repellence against sea star Odontaster validus, a eurybathic sympatric predator. The collected from deep waters two poorly surveyed areas terms ecology studies: eastern Weddell Sea (Antarctica) vicinities Bouvet Island (sub-Antarctica). Experiments conducted at Spanish Base Deception Island. deterrence experiments, shrimp pieces treated with crude lipophilic fractions obtained each species, offered stars. A total 29 (53 %) 7 different phyla (Porifera, Cnidaria, Chordata, Bryozoa, Echinodermata, Mollusca, Annelida) showed O. therefore chemically protected this keystone Furthermore, 25 dissected into parts investigate possible compounds. Some results analyses support prediction that most exposed/vulnerable tissues concentrate avoid summary, our survey hypothesis deep-water predators, similarly what has been reported previous studies investigating shallow-water species.