Diet of Pseudechinus magellanicus (Philippi,1857) (Echinodermata. Echinoidea) in Argentinian waters

BIGATTI, G., PENCHASZADEH, P.E. & MILOSLAVICH, P

Proceedings of the International Conference on Sea Urchin Fisheries and Aquaculture 2003

Año: 2004 p. 104 - 110

ABSTRACT The gut contents of Pseudechinus magellanicus (Philippi, 1857) collected from different habitats from Buenos Aires to Usuhaia were analyzed. In littoral mussel banks of the Province of Buenos Aires at 50 m depth, the most important food item was Mytilus edulis platensis. In communities without M. edulis the food preferences were Balanus sp., foraminiferans, polychaetes and algae. In beds of the mytilid Aulacomya atra at 5-lorn depth, the main food items were the oyster spat and different algae: Rodophyceae, filamentous algae and EctocarpusPseudechinus magellanicus (Philippi, 1857) collected from different habitats from Buenos Aires to Usuhaia were analyzed. In littoral mussel banks of the Province of Buenos Aires at 50 m depth, the most important food item was Mytilus edulis platensis. In communities without M. edulis the food preferences were Balanus sp., foraminiferans, polychaetes and algae. In beds of the mytilid Aulacomya atra at 5-lorn depth, the main food items were the oyster spat and different algae: Rodophyceae, filamentous algae and EctocarpusMytilus edulis platensis. In communities without M. edulis the food preferences were Balanus sp., foraminiferans, polychaetes and algae. In beds of the mytilid Aulacomya atra at 5-lorn depth, the main food items were the oyster spat and different algae: Rodophyceae, filamentous algae and EctocarpusBalanus sp., foraminiferans, polychaetes and algae. In beds of the mytilid Aulacomya atra at 5-lorn depth, the main food items were the oyster spat and different algae: Rodophyceae, filamentous algae and EctocarpusAulacomya atra at 5-lorn depth, the main food items were the oyster spat and different algae: Rodophyceae, filamentous algae and EctocarpusEctocarpus sp. In Usuhaia the sea urchin preyed on ostracods, forarniniferans and algae. Our data indicate that P.magellanicus from Argentina is omnivorous, consuming any available food resource: capture drift algae with the tube feet, graze on sessile algae and predate on animals. Results suggest that this species play a relevant role in the community structure, mainly by an intense predation on bivalve spat.P.magellanicus from Argentina is omnivorous, consuming any available food resource: capture drift algae with the tube feet, graze on sessile algae and predate on animals. Results suggest that this species play a relevant role in the community structure, mainly by an intense predation on bivalve spat.