Feeding and predator-avoidance by the rose anemone Urticina piscivora

• Published in: Marine biology Vol. 128; no. 2; pp. 225 - 229
• Main Authors: Houtman, R., Paul, L. R., Ungemach, R. V., Ydenberg, R. C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Heidelberg Springer 01.05.1997; Berlin Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Animal and plant ecology; Animal behavior; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Anthozoa; Aquatic life; Autoecology; Biological and medical sciences; Dermasterias imbricata; Feeding rates; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Marine; Marine biology; Mytilus trossulus; Predation; Protozoa. Invertebrata; Urticina piscivora; Canada; British Columbia; North America; America; Availability; Predator prey relation; Laboratory study; Echinodermata; Environmental factor; Animal active movement; Feeding; Marine environment; Coelenterata; Escape behavior; Cnidaria; Substrate attachment; Invertebrata; Food supply; Avoidance
• ISSN: 0025-3162; 1432-1793
• DOI: 10.1007/s002270050086

We investigated the influence of feeding rate on the behavior of the rose anemone Urticina piscivora. We predicted that anemones would travel less and be less willing to detach from the substrate in response to contact with a predator (Dermasterias imbricata) as feeding rate was experimentally increased. As predicted, anemones receiving 0 mussels (Mytilus trossulus) daily moved significantly more than those receiving either 1 or 2 mussels daily. Anemones receiving 0 mussels daily also detached significantly quicker in response to predator contact compared to the 1 mussel per day group, which in turn detached significantly quicker than did the 2 mussels per day group. A field test of the same prediction gave mixed results. We also examined whether anemones could detect feeding rates of neighbors. Movement rates of anemones receiving 1 mussel daily when neighbors received 0 mussels daily were compared with those when neighbors received 2 mussels daily. We predicted that if the subjects could detect feeding rates of neighbors, they should move less when neighbors received less food than themselves (since their position is relatively good) than when neighbors received more food. The results support this interpretation.