TROPHIC BIOLOGY OF ANTARCTIC SHALLOW-WATER ECHINODERMS

Antarctic echinoderms appear to be adapted to a benthic environment characterized by long-term low availability of food resources. As predicted for a low-energy system, most echinoderms appear to expend little energy on feeding. Moreover, they are primarily generalists which opportunistically display scavenging or necrophagous feeding habits. Others exploit detrital material, or ingest microorganisms from the benthos and plankton. Those echinoderms which are feeding specialists exploit prey which are low in energy content yet extremely abundant, such as sponges. Even though individuals may have a low energy intake, it is likely that echinoderms play a significant role in energy transfer in antarctic benthos, as they are among the most abundant of epibenthic macroinvertebrate groups in shallow antarctic seas.