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Estimated predation rate of the stalked bourgueticrinid (Crinoidea) Democrinus from Roatán, Honduras
Author(s) -
Paschall Olivia C.,
Waters Johnny A.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
geological journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.721
H-Index - 54
eISSN - 1099-1034
pISSN - 0072-1050
DOI - 10.1002/gj.2831
Subject(s) - predation , biology , geology , paleontology
Crinoids have the ability to regenerate their crowns when arms are autotomized or bitten off by predators. The evidence of predation is visible in many populations of crinoids, including the deep water stalked crinoid Democrinus off the coast of Roatán, Honduras. Throughout the videos taken in a submersible, many individuals displayed arms that are significantly shorter relative to their stalk lengths than the full‐grown adults in the area, indicating arm regeneration. Some individuals were missing crowns completely, strongly suggesting predation by fishes. Our calculated predation rate of 17.25% including individuals missing a crown or regenerating their arms in situ is significantly greater than that rates determined in previous studies of predation on Democrinus . Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.