Predatory behavior of giant Antarctic sea spiders (Colossendeis) in nearshore environments

Amy L. Moran; H. Arthur Woods; Caitlin M. Shishido; Steven J. Lane; Bret W. Tobalske

doi:10.1111/ivb.12210

Predatory behavior of giant Antarctic sea spiders (Colossendeis) in nearshore environments

Amy L. Moran
, H. Arthur Woods
, Caitlin M. Shishido
, Steven J. Lane
, Bret W. Tobalske

Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

Pycnogonids in the genus Colossendeis are found in the deep sea and Southern Ocean. Although the genus contains the largest and most conspicuous species of sea spiders, little is known about their ecology or behavior. We documented two species feeding on a variety of benthic and pelagic invertebrates during three diving field seasons at McMurdo Station, Antarctica. Individuals of one species, Colossendeis megalonyx, fed on a variety of pelagic organisms, particularly the pteropod Clione antarctica. We used video to document rapid capture of individuals of C. antarctica by captive specimens of C. megalonyx in the laboratory, and we suggest that, at least in the nearshore environment, pelagic invertebrates are an important food source for this and potentially other pycnogonid species.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	116-123
Number of pages	8
Journal	Invertebrate Biology
Volume	137
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/ivb.12210
State	Published - Jun 2018

Funding

Acknowledgments. We thank Tim Dwyer, Bruce Miller, and Rob Robbins for assistance with diving and for permission to use their photographs. We also thank the support staff at McMurdo Station for logistical help. This work was funded by NSF-OPP 1341476 to ALM and 1341485 to HAW and BWT.

Funder number
1341476, 1341485

Keywords

Antarctic benthos
Clione
Colossendeis megalonyx
Pycnogonida
pteropod

Access to Document

10.1111/ivb.12210

Cite this

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title = "Predatory behavior of giant Antarctic sea spiders (Colossendeis) in nearshore environments",

abstract = "Pycnogonids in the genus Colossendeis are found in the deep sea and Southern Ocean. Although the genus contains the largest and most conspicuous species of sea spiders, little is known about their ecology or behavior. We documented two species feeding on a variety of benthic and pelagic invertebrates during three diving field seasons at McMurdo Station, Antarctica. Individuals of one species, Colossendeis megalonyx, fed on a variety of pelagic organisms, particularly the pteropod Clione antarctica. We used video to document rapid capture of individuals of C. antarctica by captive specimens of C. megalonyx in the laboratory, and we suggest that, at least in the nearshore environment, pelagic invertebrates are an important food source for this and potentially other pycnogonid species.",

keywords = "Antarctic benthos, Clione, Colossendeis megalonyx, Pycnogonida, pteropod",

author = "Moran, \{Amy L.\} and Woods, \{H. Arthur\} and Shishido, \{Caitlin M.\} and Lane, \{Steven J.\} and Tobalske, \{Bret W.\}",

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year = "2018",

month = jun,

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language = "English",

volume = "137",

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journal = "Invertebrate Biology",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Predatory behavior of giant Antarctic sea spiders (Colossendeis) in nearshore environments

AU - Moran, Amy L.

AU - Woods, H. Arthur

AU - Shishido, Caitlin M.

AU - Lane, Steven J.

AU - Tobalske, Bret W.

PY - 2018/6

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N2 - Pycnogonids in the genus Colossendeis are found in the deep sea and Southern Ocean. Although the genus contains the largest and most conspicuous species of sea spiders, little is known about their ecology or behavior. We documented two species feeding on a variety of benthic and pelagic invertebrates during three diving field seasons at McMurdo Station, Antarctica. Individuals of one species, Colossendeis megalonyx, fed on a variety of pelagic organisms, particularly the pteropod Clione antarctica. We used video to document rapid capture of individuals of C. antarctica by captive specimens of C. megalonyx in the laboratory, and we suggest that, at least in the nearshore environment, pelagic invertebrates are an important food source for this and potentially other pycnogonid species.

AB - Pycnogonids in the genus Colossendeis are found in the deep sea and Southern Ocean. Although the genus contains the largest and most conspicuous species of sea spiders, little is known about their ecology or behavior. We documented two species feeding on a variety of benthic and pelagic invertebrates during three diving field seasons at McMurdo Station, Antarctica. Individuals of one species, Colossendeis megalonyx, fed on a variety of pelagic organisms, particularly the pteropod Clione antarctica. We used video to document rapid capture of individuals of C. antarctica by captive specimens of C. megalonyx in the laboratory, and we suggest that, at least in the nearshore environment, pelagic invertebrates are an important food source for this and potentially other pycnogonid species.

KW - Antarctic benthos

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KW - Colossendeis megalonyx

KW - Pycnogonida

KW - pteropod

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85048769537

U2 - 10.1111/ivb.12210

DO - 10.1111/ivb.12210

M3 - Article

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JO - Invertebrate Biology

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ER -

Predatory behavior of giant Antarctic sea spiders (Colossendeis) in nearshore environments

Abstract

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Keywords

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