VARIATIONS IN TIME AND INTENSITY OF SETTING OF THE STARFISH, ASTERIAS FORBESI, IN LONG ISLAND SOUND DURING A TWENTY-FIVE-YEAR PERIOD

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Abstract
Observations covered period from 1946 to 1962 and were carried in Long Island Sound at depths ranging from intertidal zone to 100 feet. They were designed to determine, each year, date of beginning of setting, daily intensity of setting, end of setting, and duration of setting period. Beginning of setting varied in different years from the last week of June to the last week of July. In 1945 setting began and ended on the same day, September 11. In other years it ended between July 23 and October 1. The length of setting period varied from one day in 1945 to 91 days in 1961. The time of peaks of setting also varied greatly, ranging from the first week of July to the middle of August. Heaviest setting occurred in 1938, while in 1945, regardless of a large number of adult starfish present, virtually no setting took place. Starfish larvae set even at the depth of 100 feet. No cyclical tendency in setting was established. A good relationship was found between the date setting begins and intensity of set. No relationships were found between the number of adult starfish and intensity of setting, and between intensity of starfish and oyster setting during the same years. Specific food organisms, ectocrines, and larval diseases and predators may be responsible for the survival of larval starfish.

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