Populations of Oreaster reticulatus in the Bahamas, US Virgin Islands, and Grenadines are
compared to examine regional and between habitat variation in population size, density, dispersion, and demography.
This sea star, a microphagous substratum grazer, generally is randomly distributed at densities of
1-5 100 m⁻² (2-5 kg fresh weight) in populations numbering 100s to 1000s. Populations in grassbeds have a
greater proportion of juveniles than those on sand bottoms, suggesting grassbeds are nursery areas and emigration
to adjacent sand bottoms occurs among adults. Size (radius) frequency distributions are approximately
normal on sand bottoms but mean size decreases with density, suggesting intraspecific competition for food
limits growth. Comparisons over a 20 year interval (1974-94) of Oreaster at three sites in the Grenadines indicate
little change in population structure and abundance. The sparse distribution of Oreaster in small populations
with low rates of recruitment and turnover render this sea star vulnerable to human exploitation and
alteration of habitat.
Populations of Oreaster reticulatus in the Bahamas, US Virgin Islands, and Grenadines are
compared to examine regional and between habitat variation in population size, density, dispersion, and demography.
This sea star, a microphagous substratum grazer, generally is randomly distributed at densities of
1-5 100 m? (2-5 kg fresh weight) in populations numbering lOOs to lO00s. Populations in grassbeds have a
greater proportion of juveniles than those on sand bottoms, suggesting grassbeds are nursery areas and emigration
to adjacent sand bottoms occurs among adults. Size (radius) frequency distributions are approximately
normal on sand bottoms but mean size decreases with density, suggesting intraspecific competition for food
limits growth. Comparisons over a 20 year interval (1974-94) of Oreaster at three sites in the Grenadines indicate
little change in population structure and abundance. The sparse distribution of Oreaster in small populations
with low rates of recruitment and turnover render this sea star vulnerable to human exploitation and
alteration of habitat
Member of
Contributors
Publisher
A.A. Balkema.
Date Issued
2001
Note
Language
Type
Genre
Form
Extent
7 p.
Subject (Topical)
Identifier
FA00007393
Additional Information
Populations of Oreaster reticulatus in the Bahamas, US Virgin Islands, and Grenadines are
compared to examine regional and between habitat variation in population size, density, dispersion, and demography.
This sea star, a microphagous substratum grazer, generally is randomly distributed at densities of
1-5 100 m⁻² (2-5 kg fresh weight) in populations numbering 100s to 1000s. Populations in grassbeds have a
greater proportion of juveniles than those on sand bottoms, suggesting grassbeds are nursery areas and emigration
to adjacent sand bottoms occurs among adults. Size (radius) frequency distributions are approximately
normal on sand bottoms but mean size decreases with density, suggesting intraspecific competition for food
limits growth. Comparisons over a 20 year interval (1974-94) of Oreaster at three sites in the Grenadines indicate
little change in population structure and abundance. The sparse distribution of Oreaster in small populations
with low rates of recruitment and turnover render this sea star vulnerable to human exploitation and
alteration of habitat.
Populations of Oreaster reticulatus in the Bahamas, US Virgin Islands, and Grenadines are
compared to examine regional and between habitat variation in population size, density, dispersion, and demography.
This sea star, a microphagous substratum grazer, generally is randomly distributed at densities of
1-5 100 m? (2-5 kg fresh weight) in populations numbering lOOs to lO00s. Populations in grassbeds have a
greater proportion of juveniles than those on sand bottoms, suggesting grassbeds are nursery areas and emigration
to adjacent sand bottoms occurs among adults. Size (radius) frequency distributions are approximately
normal on sand bottoms but mean size decreases with density, suggesting intraspecific competition for food
limits growth. Comparisons over a 20 year interval (1974-94) of Oreaster at three sites in the Grenadines indicate
little change in population structure and abundance. The sparse distribution of Oreaster in small populations
with low rates of recruitment and turnover render this sea star vulnerable to human exploitation and
alteration of habitat
compared to examine regional and between habitat variation in population size, density, dispersion, and demography.
This sea star, a microphagous substratum grazer, generally is randomly distributed at densities of
1-5 100 m⁻² (2-5 kg fresh weight) in populations numbering 100s to 1000s. Populations in grassbeds have a
greater proportion of juveniles than those on sand bottoms, suggesting grassbeds are nursery areas and emigration
to adjacent sand bottoms occurs among adults. Size (radius) frequency distributions are approximately
normal on sand bottoms but mean size decreases with density, suggesting intraspecific competition for food
limits growth. Comparisons over a 20 year interval (1974-94) of Oreaster at three sites in the Grenadines indicate
little change in population structure and abundance. The sparse distribution of Oreaster in small populations
with low rates of recruitment and turnover render this sea star vulnerable to human exploitation and
alteration of habitat.
Populations of Oreaster reticulatus in the Bahamas, US Virgin Islands, and Grenadines are
compared to examine regional and between habitat variation in population size, density, dispersion, and demography.
This sea star, a microphagous substratum grazer, generally is randomly distributed at densities of
1-5 100 m? (2-5 kg fresh weight) in populations numbering lOOs to lO00s. Populations in grassbeds have a
greater proportion of juveniles than those on sand bottoms, suggesting grassbeds are nursery areas and emigration
to adjacent sand bottoms occurs among adults. Size (radius) frequency distributions are approximately
normal on sand bottoms but mean size decreases with density, suggesting intraspecific competition for food
limits growth. Comparisons over a 20 year interval (1974-94) of Oreaster at three sites in the Grenadines indicate
little change in population structure and abundance. The sparse distribution of Oreaster in small populations
with low rates of recruitment and turnover render this sea star vulnerable to human exploitation and
alteration of habitat
Florida Atlantic University. Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute contribution 1373
This manuscript is an author version with the final publication available
and may be cited as: Scheibling, R. E., & Metaxas, A. (2001). Population characteristics of the sea star
Oreaster reticulatus in the Bahamas and across the Caribbean. In M.F. Barker (Ed.), Echinoderms
2000: Proceedings of the 10th International Conference, Dunedin, 31 January-4 February 2000 (pp.
209-214). Lisse Netherlands; Exton, PA: A.A. Balkema
and may be cited as: Scheibling, R. E., & Metaxas, A. (2001). Population characteristics of the sea star
Oreaster reticulatus in the Bahamas and across the Caribbean. In M.F. Barker (Ed.), Echinoderms
2000: Proceedings of the 10th International Conference, Dunedin, 31 January-4 February 2000 (pp.
209-214). Lisse Netherlands; Exton, PA: A.A. Balkema
Date Backup
2001
Date Text
2001
Date Issued (EDTF)
2001
Extension
FAU
IID
FA00007393
Organizations
Attributed name: Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute
Person Preferred Name
Scheibling, R. E.
Physical Description
7 p.
Title Plain
Population characteristics of the sea starOreaster reticulatus in the Bahamas and across the Caribbean
Origin Information
2001
A.A. Balkema.
Exton, PA
Place
Exton, PA
Title
Population characteristics of the sea starOreaster reticulatus in the Bahamas and across the Caribbean
Other Title Info
Population characteristics of the sea starOreaster reticulatus in the Bahamas and across the Caribbean