Abstract

The asterinid sea star Patiriella vivipara is endemic to southeast Tasmania and has a highly restricted distribution, being only known from four locations. It has an unusual pattern of viviparous reproduction, giving birth to juveniles. In this study the birth rate, growth rate, size and age at commencement of reproduction of P. vivipara was examined in aquaria for a period of six years. The population of P. vivipara at Pittwater was also monitored through monthly examination of a permanent 1m2 quadrat in which the number of adults and juveniles were counted and recorded. These counts were made over an eight-year period. Patiriella vivipara gives birth to juveniles through the year with a period of enhanced reproduction from November to January. Records of water salinity and temperature were taken at Pittwater, as were air temperatures and exposure times during low tide.

 
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Bibliographic Data

Short Form
Prestedge, 1998, Rec. Aust. Mus. 50(2): 161–170
Author
G. K. Prestedge
Year
1998
Title
The distribution and biology of Patiriella vivipara (Echinodermata: Asteroidea: Asterinidae) a sea star endemic to southeast Tasmania
Serial Title
Records of the Australian Museum
Volume
50
Issue
2
Start Page
161
End Page
170
DOI
10.3853/j.0067-1975.50.1998.1277
Language
en
Date Published
07 October 1998
Cover Date
07 October 1998
ISSN (print)
0067-1975
CODEN
RAUMAJ
Publisher
The Australian Museum
Place Published
Sydney, Australia
Subjects
ECHINODERMATA
Digitized
11 March 2009
Available Online
16 July 2009
Reference Number
1277
EndNote
1277.enw
Title Page
1277.pdf
File size: 100kB
Complete Work
1277_complete.pdf
File size: 3031kB