Large-scale estimate of somatic growth in Amphiura filiformis (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea)
Josefson, A.B. (1995). Large-scale estimate of somatic growth in Amphiura filiformis (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea). Mar. Biol. (Berl.) 124(3): 435-442. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00363917 In: Marine Biology: International Journal on Life in Oceans and Coastal Waters. Springer: Heidelberg; Berlin. ISSN 0025-3162; e-ISSN 1432-1793, more |  |
| Keywords | Eutrophication
Population dynamics
Population functions > Growth
Amphiura filiformis (O.F. Müller, 1776) [WoRMS]
Marine/Coastal |
| Abstract | Quantitative data on size structure of the ophiuroid Amphiura filiformis (O.F. Muller) from 35 benthic stations in the Kattegat sampled twice with a 143 d interval, June and October 1991, were used to estimate somatic growth. The material was objectively divided into cohorts, and cohorts from the two occasions were paired to give estimates of growth. The growth constant, K, in the Von Bertalanffy equation, was estimated from a Ford-Walford plot to 0.54 yr-1. Results were in agreement with previous estimates from a few single sites, and suggest that the main part of disc growth occurs within the first 5 to 7 yr of living. Size specific growth in oral width was density independent despite high densities of A. filiformis (> 3000 ind m-2) and high total benthic biomass (up to 1000 g wet wt m-2) in some areas. Growth was uncorrelated with plant pigment concentrations in the sediment and showed weak positive correlation with sediment carbon and nitrogen, as well as water depth. Growth was higher in fine sediments. This is the first attempt to estimate growth in this important species over a large area and to relate growth in the field to environmental factors. |
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