Ophiopsila pantherina beds on subaqueous dunes off the Great Barrier Reef

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