DIET AND FEEDING IN THE SEA STAR ASTROPECTENINDICUS (DODERLEIN, 1888)

摘要

This study investigates the feeding ecology of Astropecten indicus, one of the most common sea stars in Singapore's waters. Examination of the regurgitated stomach contents of 69 specimens collected from four sites revealed that A. indicus is a generalist molluscan feeder; but the Asian date mussel, Musculista senhousia, was the dominant prey species (42.68%). Astropecten indicus preferred M. senhousia over the button snail, Umbonium vestiarium, when given a choice under laboratory conditions. This pattern was significant, and held for experiments regardless of whether prey were shelled or unshelled. Astropecten indicus also consumed more M. senhousia than U. vestiarium when fed these prey ad libitum. This is the first study of its kind on A. indicus and thus contributes to the small pool of knowledge regarding the ecology of this species.