Abiotic Factors Influence Distribution ENGAGE: Distribution of the common sea st

Question

Abiotic Factors Influence Distribution ENGAGE: Distribution of the common sea star The common sea star (Asterias rubens) is a widely distributed echinoderm, found throughout the Atlantic, often in very high numbers It can be found at a wide range of depths between 0-400 m and must contend with a large variation in ablotic factors Scientists collected adult specimens from two populations in the White Sea (off the Northwest coast of Russia) and the Barentz Sea (off the Northern coasts of Norway and Russia). They exposed them to a range of salinities (amount of dissolved salt in parts per thousand) within a five-compartment chamber (right) and recorded the number of animals found in different salinities. The animal was placed in the center of the chamber with each arm experiencing water of different salinity. The animal then crawled into the compartment with the preferred salinity. All other factors were kept constant. The results are shown below Sea star choice chamber. Each compartment contains water of a different salinity SalinityFrequency (W | of choice (96) White Barentz Sea Sea 20.0 121.2 22.5 25.0 27.5 30.0 7.5 42 35.0 37.5 40.0 42.5 6.2 30.2 39.6 42.1 29.6 14 9.8

Explanation / Answer

D ) In the white sea area the salinity levels preffered by common sea stars is between 20 - 35 % but most preffered range is 25% of salinity.

In the Barentz sea the prefered salinity range is between varied considerably and most preffered range is between 30% to 40 % with large amount of starfish at a salinity of 35%.

ie starfishes live in high salinity area in barentz sea when compared to white sea .

e) The abiotic conditions for star fish are sunlight (60 degrees to 85 degress Farenheit) ,water currents ,nutrients (abundent ) and oxygen.

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