proposal paper of the study of asteroidea

8/12/2019 Proposal Paper of the Study of Asteroidea

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I. Introduction

Sea stars or famously known as starfish are creatures belonging to one

of the largest and most common class, Class Asteroidea, within Phylum

Echinodermata which means spiny skins. They are the color bl ue, pink, red,

orange, yellow, brown, and purple creature together with the sea urchins, brittle

stars, sand dollars, and sea cucumbers that colors the marine environment. Sea

stars usually inhabit seashore to the deepest level of the ocean. They live in sea

grass beds, under rock rubble, on coral reefs and even on rocky underwater

cliffs, and in sand and mud. Sea stars estimated distributions are already about

2,000 species l iving all throughout the worlds ocean (University of Waikato in

New Zealand, 2009).

Sea stars characterize the general features of Echinoderms with spiny

skins. They are radially symmetric and for some with at least five long arms that

is large enough to hold its different organs. Sea stars ranges from 0.4 inch (1 cm)

to almost 3 feet (91 cm) across. The bottom of each arm is covered with rows of

tube feet along a groove (ambulacral groove). Some species of sea stars, their

tube feet have suckers that help them to stick on hard surfaces or assist in prying

open the shells of its prey. The skeleton of sea stars consists of small plates that

act as a firm but flexible skeleton. The upper and lower body surfaces also are

covered with pinchers that range from simple spines to hooks. The upper surface

is covered with many small, clear sacs used for exchanging oxygen, that is, for

breathing. Sea stars usually have a nerve net but no brain.


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Sea stars are said to be a keystone species in which its activities have a

significant role in determining the structure of the community (Paine, 1966). Sea

stars are the top most predators (voracious) of mussels, crustaceans, oysters

and other slow moving organisms. They are, of course, carnivorous and they

have two different feeding method. First, they take the prey into its stomach alive

and second they use its tube feet and arms to pull apart the shells of a prey

animal. Digestion then takes place as it contacts with its prey.

In connection to this, this study aims to find out the different genus and

species of sea stars in a particular study area and how they are being dispersed.

Also, this study wants to find out if the previous and new results of diversity of the

same study area will coincide after how many years.

II. Objectives

General Objectives

This study aims to assess the diversity of Class Asteroidea in Bolo- bolo,

El Salvador, Misamis Oriental

Specific Objectives

1. To determine the environmental variables in the study area such as

temperature, salinity, and pH.

2. To determine the relative abundance of Sea stars in the study area

3. To solve for the following biotic indices:

a. Species richness


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b. Diversity index

c. Shannons Index

4. To determine the effect of environmental variables on the density of the

Sea stars in the study area

5. To compare the result of diversity and abundance from the previous

studies conducted along the same area

6. To determine the coefficient of dispersion among species of sea stars

III. Limitations of the Study

The study covers only the area along the intertidal zone of Bolo-bolo, El

Salvador, Misamis Oriental. Bolo-bolo, El Salvador is approximately 20

kilometers away from the city. The primary focus of the study is only on the

species of sea stars that are found along the said area.

The entire duration of the study is within the months of June- October. The

sampling is limited only for two months and will then be during the months of

August and September.

IV. Significance of the Study

In the year 1995, Paculba conducted a diversity study of Sea Stars in

Bolo-bolo, El Salvador, Misamis Oriental. On Pacilbas results, there are four

species found; two species from genus Archaster, one from genus Oreaster and

the other from genus Linkia with Archaster typicus as the most abundant species

and it is diversified.


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This study of Sea stars diversity in Bolo-bolo, El Salvador, Misamis

Oriental will provide information on the changes of diversity and abundance on

the said species from year 1995 up to the present year. This study will help the

nearby community, in somehow, to be aware and take a necessary action for the

maintenance and preservation of the environment. This study may also serve as

information for future research and ecological studies in the same area.

V. Literature Review

Foreign Setting

The sea-star was first found in Tasmania in 1986, but at the time was mis-

identified as a native species. It was not until 1992 that the sea-star was

identified as A. amurensis , a species which is not native to Australian waters.

The sea-star is a large voracious predator, reaching sizes 40 to 50 cm in

diameter. In its native range, the sea-star prefers water temperatures between 7

and 10o C, but has adapted to warmer waters (up to 22o C) in Australia and

other countries."In one year the sea-star is capable of increasing its diameter by

8cm. It is capable of reproducing at 10 cm. In Australia spawning occurs during

winter (July to October) at temperatures of 10 to 12o C when females may carry

up to 20 million eggs per adult. Fertilisation is external and fertilised eggs

develop into free swimming larvae that remain in the plankton for around 90

days, before settling and metamorphosing into juvenile seastars. The live-bearing

sea star is restricted to the south eastern coast of Tasmania. Unlike other species

whose larval young may be dispersed great distances by ocean currents, live-


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bearing sea stars are restricted to their parental locations. They live in rocky

crevices and are often attached to the underside of rocks where they feed on

microscopic algae. They prefer calmer, sheltered waterways because they are

slow moving and can be easily dislodged from rock surfaces (Journal Sea Stars:

Endemic to Tasmania)

"The sea star lives for up to five years and in Japan its numbers increase

and reach outbreak proportions lasting two to three years. These outbreaks tend

to occur in three or ten year cycles and there have been some suggestions that

the outbreaks are a symptom of a degraded environment. No one is certain whyoutbreaks of starfish appear to have increased in recent years. One theory

suggests that their populations bloom several years after a large typhoon with

high rainfall, which produces abundant sediments. These sediments are thought

to contain nutrients that contribute to plankton blooms, which serve as food for

young starfish. Other theories point to the destruction of their major predators

and the effects of pollution.

Besides starfish, many other forces play a major role in the destruction of

the reefs. These include overfishing, pollution, typhoons and global warming. In

Hawaii, where most of the coral reefs in the United States are found, coral is

being decimated by tourists, particularly snorkelers (American Chemical Society,

2000).

Although sea stars destruct reefs they are often important in community

structuring processes (PAINE 1969a, b, 1976, DAYTON 1971, PAINE et al. 1985,

GAYMER et al. 2004), mainly in intertidal regions in temperate latitudes (MENGE


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et al. 1994, NAVARRETE & MENGE 1996). Most effects are observed in the

lowest zones (subtidal) on rocky substrates, where the starfish are protected

from desiccation or other abiotic influences that echinoderms, in general, do not

tolerate well (STICKLE & DIEHL 1987). Starfish can be voracious predators that

devastate some communities, such as Acanthaster planci (Linnaeus, 1758) on

coral reefs (CAMERON et al. 1991) and Asterias sp. on mussels (GAYMER et al.

2002). Not all asteroids, however, are so voracious and some may maintain

heterogeneity and biological diversity of their communities (VERLING et al.

2003). All starfish survived all water salinity treatments in the summer and thehighest salinity in the winter. In the winter, however, only 57% of the starfish

survived the reduced salinity (10 g kg -1) and only 36% righted themselves within

30 minutes.

Sea Stars: Nutrition

The starfish usually hunts for shelled animals like oysters and clams.

Recently, there are now 2,000 species of sea star living in all the worlds oceans,

from tropical habitats to the cold seafloor. The primarily carnivorous feeding

habits of seastars have long been recognized (Boolootian 1966, Mauzey et al.

1968) and during the past 20 to 30 yr sea star predation has been shown to be a

major factor in structuring many marine benthic communities (Menge 1982,

Duggins 1983). The most detailed studies are those made in the intertidal zone.

For example, Paine (1974) demonstrated that the sea star Pisaster ochraceus is

the key predator in rocky intertidal communities on the Pacific coast of North


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America. Its removal shifts the abundance of organisms in lower trophic levels,

particularly of species which monopolize space, and markedly changes

community structure. One would expect predation by sea stars to be particularly

important n the subtidal zone, where their activities are less limited by

physiological stress. However, with the exception of the studies of seastar

Acanthaster planci on coral reefs (Glynn 1976, B~rkeland 1982), relatively few

studies have quantified the impact of asteroid O Inter-Research/Printed in

Germany predation in the subtidal zone. A major problem in predicting the impact

of seastars is the lack of understanding of the dynamics of seastar populationsand in particular of factors determining recruitment intensity and juvenile survival.

Since sea stars have been the top most predator, the hard clam

Mercenaria mercenaria burrows deeper into the sediment when the predaceous

sea star, Asterias forbesi is present. The supposition that this increase in burial

depth represents an escape response designed to reduce predation was tested

experimentally by regulating clam burial depth through manipulation of the

amount of sediment available for burial. Mercenaria maintained at zero depth

were eaten by Asterias at greater rates than those held at ordinary burial depths

(2.5 3.0 cm). These clams in turn were eaten at greater rates than those

maintained at escape depths (4.0 4.5 cm). The results unambiguously establish

an anti-predator function for the burrowing response, as well as underscoring the

protective function of the fossorial habit. They are not confounded by behavioral

predator food preferences, inherent differences between prey species, or

debilitating side effects of preventing prey from escaping. Mechanisms by which


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the burrowing response may reduce predation are discussed and observations

on the unreported clam-digging behavior of Asterias forbesi are presented

(Doering: 5: 2010)

We performed field and laboratory studies to investigate how large adult

Leptasterias polaris detect and locate their major prey, large infaunal bivalves, in

the sediment bottom community. A field survey using SCUBA diving showed that

95% of the locations where L. polaris dug into the sediment bottom were over

bivalves and this success rate was much greater than if digging was done at

random (22%). Furthermore, when sea stars were provided with a low density ofrandomly distributed prey in a laboratory arena, they dug exclusively in locations

where a clam had been buried. These observations indicated that L. polaris

locates infaunal prey prior to investing energy into digging. Studies in a

laboratory flow tank showed that L. polaris readily detected and moved towards

its preferred prey Ensis directus whereas its responses to less preferred prey

Mya truncata and Spisula polynyma were much weaker. The degree to which it

oriented towards these three common prey seemed to reflect potential energy

intake relative to foraging costs (which likely increase with the depth of the

different prey) and risks from interactions with other carnivores (which are

greatest when feeding on large prey). This is the first study to clearly

demonstrate that sea stars use prey odours to locate infaunal prey (Thompson

et. al.). Furthermore, some sea stars live on the reef, and the sea star is actually

a predator of coral polyps, which means that too many sea stars can damage the

reef and leave behind only calcium carbonate. This breakdown in the food chain,


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affects the population of deep-sea fish in the area, and will reduce the amount of

large fish and game.

Other Features of Sea Stars

Sea stars as part of the Phylum Echinodermata, captures around 0.1

gigatonnes of carbon per yea r 1. This is less than the global capture resulting

from pelagic organisms a figure that ranges from 0.4 to 1.8 gigatonnes

depending on the sources considered but still represents a sizeable carbon

pump. By comparison, human activities lead to around 5.5 gigatonnes of carbonbeing pumped into the air every year ( Lebrato, 2010) "Echinoderms are found in

all ecosystems at all depths worldwide and have bodies that can be composed of

more than 80% calcium carbonate. A new study published in Nature credits these

abundant invertebrates with sequestering 100 million tons of carbon in their

tissues each year.

Also, the starfish is sensitive to reduced salinity (10g kg 1), especially

during winter. Echinoderms are typically osmoconformers and stenohaline, and

very permeable to water and ions (review in STICKLE & DIEHL 1987) and so it is

expected that they not be active predators when exposed during low tide. Indeed,

no starfish was ever seen consuming prey while exposed during low tide.

However, physiological limitation does not completely explain the apparent lack

of predatory influence on the community, since predation could certainly increase

during high tides.

A new study finds that a species of sea star stays cool using a strategy
http://www.nature.com/news/2010/100107/full/news.2009.1041.html#B1http://www.nature.com/news/2010/100107/full/news.2009.1041.html#B1http://www.nature.com/news/2010/100107/full/news.2009.1041.html#B1http://www.nature.com/news/2010/100107/full/news.2009.1041.html#_blankhttp://www.nature.com/news/2010/100107/full/news.2009.1041.html#_blankhttp://www.nature.com/news/2010/100107/full/news.2009.1041.html#B1


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never before seen in the animal kingdom. The sea stars soak up cold sea water

into their bodies during high tide as buffer against potentially damaging

temperatures brought about by direct sunlight at low tide.

According to Pincebourde of Franois Rabelais University in Tours,

France, sea stars were assumed to be at the mercy of the sun during low tide

"This work shows that some sea stars have an unexpected back-up strategy."

Sea stars need to endure rapid changes in temperature. During high tide, they

are fully submerged in cool sea water. But when tides receded, the stars are

often left on rocky shorelines, baking in the sun.Clearly the stars had some way of beating the heat, but scientists were

unsure how they did it. Pincebourde and his team thought it might have

something to do with fluid-filled cavities found in the arms of sea stars. So he set

up an experiment to test it. The researchers placed sea stars in aquariums and

varied the water level to simulate tidal patterns. Heat lamps were used to control

temperature, with some stars experiencing hotter temperatures than others. The

researchers found that stars exposed to higher temperatures at low tide had

higher body mass after the high tide that followed. Since the stars were not

allowed to eat, the increased mass must be from soaking up water. "This

reservoir of cool water keeps the sea star from overheating when the tide

recedes again the next day, a process called 'thermal inertia,'" Pincebourde said.

What appears to be happening, the researchers say, is that a hot low tide serves

as a cue telling the star to soak up more water during the next high tide. And the

amount of water the stars can hold is remarkable. "It would be as if humans were


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able to look at a weather forecast, decide it was going to be hot tomorrow, and

then in preparation suck up 15 or more pounds of water into our bodies," said co-

author Brian Helmuth of the University of South Carolina in Columbia (University

of Chicago Press Journals: Sea Stars bulk up to beat the heat)

Not only that, according to the study conducted by Scottish

Association for Marine Science (SAMS), a non-stick slime made by starfish may

lead to new treatments for asthma, athritis, hay fever and other inflammatory

conditions, say marine biologists in Scotland. The scientists, from the (SAMS) in

Oban, Argyll, have been studying the slime produced by the spiny starfish,

Marthasterias glacialis , commonly found in the waters around Scotland and other

parts of the British Isles, and say it could be vital for treating human infections.

Lead researcher Dr Charlie Bavington, founder and managing director of

Glycomar, a marine biotechnology company based at SAMS, has been talking to

the media about their work. In an interview with the BBC aired on Thursday 9

December, he demonstrated how the starfish produced the slime: he took a

starfish with a span of about 30 cm or 12 in out of a tank, held it, after a few

seconds the slime began visibly to ooze from the creatures spiny body. The

slime is a defence mechanism and also prevents debris from sticking to the

starfish.

Furthermore, researchers have discovered a chemical in sea urchins that

might be used to lure starfish away from coral reefs, an endangered ecosystem

they are devouring at an alarming rate. The finding was presented here today

during the 2000 International Chemical Congress of Pacific Basin Societies.


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According to the American Chemical Society, The poisonous crown-of-thorns

starfish, which feasts on coral and whose population is believed to be expanding,

is a major source of destruction of valued habitats in the tropical zones of the

Indian and Pacific oceans, including Hawaii. The problem is acute in Japan,

where extensive, costly efforts to control the creature have met with little

success.

Philippine Setting

In 1984 Janssen, Orosco, Largo, Ayson and Uy, students of University of

San Carlos conducated a study in the unique mating behaviour of Archaster

typicus (Muller et Troschel, 1840) they were able to find that there is no

macroscopic feature that allows a definite determination of sex. Male Archaster

typicus are able to recognize the sex of another individual by crawling over the

center of another species on its center within a few seconds. The sex indicator is

located at the center of the female.

On Diversity

It was reported by Choi that the Class Asteroidea was found in sandy

substrate in the upper zone that was 20- 40 meters from above.

Similar study by (Antinero, 2001) conducted in the intertidal zone of

Pangyawan, Gitagum, Misamis Oriental. Sea stars were located on rocky

coralline substrate.

Another similar study was conducted in the intertidal zone of Tagcatong,


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Carmen, Agusan del Norte. Archaster typicus was the most abundant that had 42

individuals recorded (David, 1999).

(Paculba, 1995) conducted a study on the species diversity of sea stars in

Bolo bolo, El Salvador, Misamis Oriental. Archaster typicus, Archaster angulatus,

Oreaster nodosus and Linkia laevigata were the species found in the area. In the

computations on Shannons Index of general dive rsity, the diversity was 0.528,

which indicated that the area was diversified with respect to the presence of sea

stars. Archaster typicus was the most abundant, followed by Archaster angulatus

(33%0, then by Oreaster nodosus (12%) and finally by Linkia laevigata which

comprised only 11% of the collected species.

VI. Methodology

A. Study Area

The study area is along the intertidal zone of Bolo-bolo, El

Salvador, Misamis Oriental. Bolo- bolo, El Salvador is 25 kilometers

away from the city. The primary livelihood of the community nearby is

fishing.

B. Sampling Method

The study will be a random sampling in which all elements in the

sampling frame have an equal chance of selection, and sampling is

done in a single stage with each element selected independently. This


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study will also use the transect- quadrat method with the dimension of

1 m x 1 m.

C. Statistical Tools

These are the tools that will be used for the computations of the

data;

A. Shannons Index

Where:

Pi= proportion of total belonging to its species

=ni/N

ln=natural log

B. Relative Abundance

Relative Abundance = x 100

C. Species Richness

S = species richness


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n = total number of species present in sample population

k = number of "unique" species (of which only one organism was found in

sample population)

D. Diversity Index

D= diversity index

n i = number of individuals of species i

N = total number of organisms of all species found

E. Coefficient of Dispersion

Coefficient of Dispersion

CD=

Where:

CD>1, distribution is clumpedCD


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VII. Work Plan

A. Time Table

The study will be conducted in the range of five months

starting from preparations up to final defense. The sampling will be

conducted within the months of August to September.

Table A.1. Activities and Duration of the Study

Activity June July August September October

Preparation

Finalization of Research

Paper

Proposal Defense

1st

Sampling

2nd Sampling

Draft

Defense


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B. Budgetary requirements

Table B.1. Estimated Personal Expenses

Expenses

Fare 500.00

Meals 1,000.00

Others

-bond paper, printing, envelop

500.00

Total 2000.00


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Literature Cited

BOOKS

Smith, T. and Smith R. Ecology and Field Biology. Six Edition.(2001). Benjamin

Cumming, San Francisco, California, USA.

Internet Sources

Study: Sea stars bulk up to beat the heat, January 3, 2011: by Kevin Stacey http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-11/uocp-sss111709.php

Carbon-Slurping Sea Stars, January 2, 2011: by Sea Notes, Monterey Bay Aquarium

http://montereybayaquarium.typepad.com/sea_notes/2010/01/carbonslurping-sea-stars.html

Sea Stars endemic to Tasmania, January 3, 2011: by Marine and CoastalResearch Tasmaniahttp://www.parks.tas.gov.au/file.aspx?id=6917

Starfish Slime Could Hold Key To New Treatment For Asthma, Arthritis,January 3, 2011: by Apex Global

http://www.agnetworksolution.com/2010/12/11/starfish-slime-could-hold-key-to-new-treatment-for-asthma-arthritis/

Reduction of sea star predation by the burrowing response of the hardclam Mercenaria mercenaria (Mollusca: Bivalvia), January 3, 2011: by Peter H.Doeringhttp://www.springerlink.com/content/u778223084213140/

Chemical May Deter Starfish From Devouring Endangered Coral Reefs,

January 2, 2011: by Science Dailyhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2000/12/001218073146.htm

Importance of Coral Reef Ecosystems, January 3, 2011: by KarenJenningshttp://www.greenlivinganswers.com/archives/204
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-11/uocp-sss111709.phphttp://montereybayaquarium.typepad.com/sea_notes/2010/01/carbonslurping-sea-stars.htmlhttp://montereybayaquarium.typepad.com/sea_notes/2010/01/carbonslurping-sea-stars.htmlhttp://www.parks.tas.gov.au/file.aspx?id=6917http://www.agnetworksolution.com/2010/12/11/starfish-slime-could-hold-key-to-new-treatment-for-asthma-arthritis/http://www.agnetworksolution.com/2010/12/11/starfish-slime-could-hold-key-to-new-treatment-for-asthma-arthritis/http://www.springerlink.com/content/u778223084213140/http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2000/12/001218073146.htmhttp://www.greenlivinganswers.com/archives/204http://www.greenlivinganswers.com/archives/204http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2000/12/001218073146.htmhttp://www.springerlink.com/content/u778223084213140/http://www.agnetworksolution.com/2010/12/11/starfish-slime-could-hold-key-to-new-treatment-for-asthma-arthritis/http://www.agnetworksolution.com/2010/12/11/starfish-slime-could-hold-key-to-new-treatment-for-asthma-arthritis/http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/file.aspx?id=6917http://montereybayaquarium.typepad.com/sea_notes/2010/01/carbonslurping-sea-stars.htmlhttp://montereybayaquarium.typepad.com/sea_notes/2010/01/carbonslurping-sea-stars.htmlhttp://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-11/uocp-sss111709.php


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The role of Asterina Stellifera (Echinodermata: Asteroidea) as a predatorin a rocky intertidal community in Southern Brazil, January 3, 2011: Zoologia(Curitiba Impresso)http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1984-

46702009000200010

Unpublished Sources

Acenas, Ron Dreyfus L., Species Duversity on Echinoderms in the IntertidalZone of Barangay Mabini, Binuangan, Misamis Oriental Biology DepartmentResearch; Xavier University, Cagayan de Oro City, 2009.

Yrag, Cherryl, Species Diversity on Echinoderms in the Intertidal Zone ofDomo, Villan ueva, Misamis Oriental Biology Department Research; XavierUniversity, Cagayan de Oro City
http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1984-46702009000200010http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1984-46702009000200010http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1984-46702009000200010http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1984-46702009000200010http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1984-46702009000200010


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List of Tables

Table A.1. Activities and Duration of the Study

Table B.1. Estimated Personal Expenses

proposal paper of the study of asteroidea

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