Actinostola callosa (Verrill, 1882) (Actinostolidae, Anthozoa), a medusivorous sea anemone and its mass occurrence in the Lurefjord, Norway

Abstract

The seafloor of two Norwegian fjords (Lure-fjord and Sognefjord) was studied using a remotely operated vehicle (ROV). Two large sea anemone species, Actinostola callosa and Bolocera tuediae, are part of the benthic fauna of these fjords. The first species is the most abundant in the Lurefjord north of Bergen. A special linear model to calculate the distances between specimens was constructed using the Geographic Information System data from the ROV. A, callosa was found to be medusivorous. Its biomass and high abundance seem to be correlated with a mass occurrence of its important local prey, the coronate medusa Periphylla periphylla. © Springer-Verlag and AWI 2003.