
%0 Journal Article
%A Blaber, SJM 
%A May, JL 
%A Young, JW 
%A Bulman, CM 
%T Population density and predators of <I>Ophiacantha fidelis</I> (Koehler, 1930) (Echinodermata : Ophiuroidea) on the continental slope of Tasmania
%J Marine and Freshwater Research
%D 1987/04/01
%V 38
%N 2
%P 243-247
%K 
%R https://doi.org/10.1071/MF9870243
%U https://www.publish.csiro.au/paper/MF9870243 
%X Densities of the brittle star O. fidelis at a site on the upper continental slope (420-580 m) off eastern Tasmania, Australia, were calculated from underwater photographs. Their beds covered 61% of the substratum, with a mean density of 348 animals m-2 (52.2 g m-2). The starfish Mediaster australiensis, which was restricted to O. fidelis beds, had a mean density of 0.09 animals m-2 (5.5 g m-2). Gut analyses of trawled M. australiensis confirmed that they are predators of 0. fidelis, as were several common benthic fish species. 
