Asterias rubens

Common Starfish-Asterias rubens

Habitat The common starfish is found in a wide variety of habitats including sandy shores, rocky shores, and along mussel beds.

Range This species has a wide range in the northeast Atlantic spanning from coastal states in the United States to Ireland and Britain.

Description The common starfish is typically observed with five arms and ranges in color from yellowish to red. The underside of the starfish is lined with tube feet, while the top is covered with small spines along each arm, stemming from the center.

Ecological Notes The common sea star mates in the spring and are external fertilizers. The females release their eggs into the sea at about 2.5 million eggs per female. The males then release their sperm into the water column. The larvae are planktonic, meaning they spend their time in the water column following the currents. When they mature, they have a strong sense of smell that allows them to easily find prey such as the common mussel. Sea stars, in general, have been classified as a keystone species, meaning they are crucial to the current balance of the ecosystem. This is because they control mussel populations by preying on them. Without this predation pressure, mussel populations would grow out of control, drastically altering or destroying the current ecosystem and food web. Some threats to starfish populations include pollution, desiccation, and consumption by people.

Personal Information I discovered this species on the sandy-shore beaches of Outer Banks North Carolina nearby the Outer Banks Scenic Byway. The star was still alive and had washed ashore before I returned it to the ocean.

References References used: star fish facts common star fish

Journal Articles For more information check out

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0141113611001140

This article looks at the immune response of European sea stars with the introduction of heavy metal ions

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF00390651

This article compares the significance of two different reproductive strategies between intertidal sea stars.

Contributed by Ally Lombardo-2018

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