Ophiopsila pantherina beds on subaqueous dunes off the Great Barrier Reef
Other Publication ResearchOnline@JCUAbstract
An autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) was used to generate images of an Ophiopsila pantherina population on subaquous dunes at Hydrographers Passage, 200 km off the Australian mainland. High-resolution stereo images captured by the AUV were used to determine population structure of the aggregations, which consisted of adults at a mean density of 418 animals m⁻² at depths of 65-70 m. Ophiopsila pantherina (8-15 mm dd) takes advantage of their elevated position on the lee side of the dunes for suspension feeding. On contact stimulation, the arms emit visible light as a bright green flash that travels down the arm. These aggregated ophiuroid communities in dune fields may be a specialized natural feature for consideration in managing common inter-reefal sandy habitats within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.
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Echinoderms in a Changing World
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978-1-138-00010-0
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318
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Taylor & Francis
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London
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