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Capricious commensalisms: Consumption of coral spawn by the ruby brittle star (Ophioderma rubicundum)
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  • Olivia M. Williamson,
  • Alexander T. Mustard,
  • Allan J. Bright,
  • Dana E. Williams,
  • Mark C. Ladd,
  • Andrew C. Baker
Olivia M. Williamson
University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Alexander T. Mustard
Ocean Insight Ltd
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Allan J. Bright
University of Miami Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies
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Dana E. Williams
University of Miami Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies
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Mark C. Ladd
NOAA Fisheries Southeast Fisheries Science Center
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Andrew C. Baker
University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science
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Abstract

Many reef invertebrates reproduce through simultaneous broadcast spawning, with an apparent advantage of overwhelming potential predators and maximizing propagule survival. Although reef fish have been observed to consume coral gamete bundles during spawning events, there are no published records of such predation by benthic invertebrates. Here, we document several instances of the ruby brittle star, Ophioderma rubicundum, capturing and consuming egg-sperm bundles of the mountainous star coral, Orbicella faveolata, and the symmetrical brain coral, Pseudodiploria strigosa, during spawning events in the Cayman Islands in 2012 and the Florida Keys in 2022. These observations are widely separated in space and time (>600 km, 10 years), suggesting that this behavior may be ubiquitous on western Atlantic reefs. Since O. rubicundum spawns on the same or subsequent nights as these coral species, we hypothesize that this opportunistic feeding behavior takes advantage of the coral’s lipid-rich bundles to recover energy reserves expended by the brittle star during gametogenesis. The consumption of coral gametes by adult brittle stars suggests a novel trophic link between reef invertebrates, and also provides evidence that ophiuroid-coral symbioses may oscillate between commensalism and parasitism depending on the ontogeny and reproductive status of both animals. Our observations provide insights into the nuanced, dynamic associations between coral reef invertebrates and may have implications for coral fecundity and resilience.
22 Feb 2023Submitted to Ecology and Evolution
23 Feb 2023Submission Checks Completed
23 Feb 2023Assigned to Editor
23 Feb 2023Reviewer(s) Assigned
19 Mar 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
23 Mar 2023Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
07 Apr 20231st Revision Received
10 Apr 2023Submission Checks Completed
10 Apr 2023Assigned to Editor
10 Apr 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
10 Apr 2023Reviewer(s) Assigned
15 Apr 2023Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
25 Apr 20232nd Revision Received
26 Apr 2023Submission Checks Completed
26 Apr 2023Assigned to Editor
26 Apr 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
30 Apr 2023Editorial Decision: Accept