Author: Blake, Daniel B.

Source: Bulletin of Marine Science, Volume 33, Number 3, July 1983 , pp. 703-712(10)

Publisher: University of Miami - Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science

Abstract:

Tropical shallow water sea star faunas, especially those of the Indo-West Pacific, are dominated by the order Valvatida. Among sea stars, valvatidans have the best-developed antipredatory devices. Vermeij (1978) found high to low latitudinal increases in antipredatory structures in various in vertebrate groups (e.g., gastropods). The valvatidan occurrences suggest the presence of controls in sea stars similar to those affecting other groups. The Valvatida includes few genera that prey on active, solitary invertebrates, but such habits are common in other orders, and in cooler waters. Protective structures appear to restrict predatory abilities. The importance of sea stars as predators on solitary organisms declines in tropical latitudes, yet sea stars have evolved only limited basic structural variation since their appearance in the Ordovician. Phylogenetic constraints in adaptability appear strong in sea stars because of their evolutionary failure to maintain predatory life habits in shallow tropical waters.

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Document Type: Research article

Publication date: 1983-07-01

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