REPRODUCTIVE-CYCLE AND FEEDING PERIODICITY IN THE STARFISH ASTROPECTEN-BRASILIENSIS IN THE CABO FRIO UPWELLING ECOSYSTEM (BRAZIL)

Monthly collections of Astropecten brasiliensis were made at depths of 30 and 45 m. The highest number of prey in the stomach occured in sum mer in both 1987 and 1988. Specimens larger than 4 cm in radius had ma ture gonads. The reproductive cycle was determined by gonad indices an d histological analysis of gonads. In 1988, the species exhibited an a nnual reproductive cycle with spawning in December. The pyloric caecum indices showed the highest values between April and July. The relatio nship between gonad index and pyloric caecum index was inverse. The py loric caecum peak occurred during the downwelling period (fall and win ter) when warm tropical waters (Brazil Current) were inshore. The repr oductive peak coincided with the upwelling period (during spring and s ummer) enabling the larvae to benefit from the richer water condition when phytoplankton are more abundant.