Asterias amurensis , commonly called the northern Pacific starfish , is an invasive species in Australia, and native to the coasts of northern China, North Korea, South Korea, Russia and Japan. Distribution of this species into other countries has increased. Based on the distribution of northern Pacific seastar populations in shipping ports and routes, the most likely mechanism of introduction is the transport of free-swimming larvae in ballast water for ships. The ships suck in the ballast water containing seastar larvae, in a port such as one in Japan, and let it out in a port such as one in Tasmania, the larvae come out with the water, and metamorphose into juvenile sea stars.
Reproduction
In Australia spawning occurs from July to October at temperatures of 10°C to 12°C. Fertilized eggs develop into free-swimming larvae that live in the water for around 90 days before settling and metamorphosing into juvenile seastars. In one year the northern Pacific seastar is capable of increasing its diameter by 8 cm; when fully grown the northern Pacific seastar lives up to five years, and can reach sizes up to 40 to 50 cm in diameter. Larval survival is constrained by temperature and salinity of the surrounding marine habitat, with the optimal ranges respectively 8°C to 16°C, and 3‰ to 8.75‰. Generally, seastars are sensitive to salinity fluctuations, and are unlikely to be found in places of high salinity. In Japan its numbers increase and reach outbreak proportions for two to three years;
Northern Pacific sea star: Information from Answers.com
Northern Pacific sea star Asterias amurensis ORDER Forcipulatida FAMILY Asteriidae TAXONOMY Asterias amurensis Lutken, 1871
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