Feeding Ecology of Odontaster validus under Different Environmental Conditions in the West Antarctic Peninsula

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Even though researchers have previously examined the diet of O. validus, the feeding ecology of this species of sea star is still poorly understood. To address this issue, we used a multifaceted approach to investigate the diet of O. validus from three systems with marked environmental differences of the northern Antarctic Peninsula. The results showed a significant divergence of O. validus δ(15)N–δ(13)C values among regions, suggesting a habitat-specific foraging behavior and confirming the ability of this species to switch resource utilization across differing habitat compositions, which may be a key survival response in the face of environmental change. ABSTRACT: To study how Odontaster validus can influence the spatial structure of Antarctic benthic communities and how they respond to disturbance, it is necessary to assess potential dietary shifts in different habitats. We investigated the diets of O. validus from Maxwell Bay and South Bay in the West Antarctic Peninsula. A multifaceted approach was applied including in situ observations of cardiac stomach everted contents, isotopic niche, and trophic diversity metrics. Results confirm the flexible foraging strategy of this species under markedly different environmental conditions, suggesting plasticity in resource use. The data also showed evidence of isotopic niche expansion, high δ(15)N values, and Nacella concinna as a common food item for individuals inhabiting a site with low seasonal sea ice (Ardley Cove), which could have significant ecological implications such as new trophic linkages within the Antarctic benthic community. These results highlight the importance of considering trophic changes of key species to their environment as multiple ecological factors can vary as a function of climatic conditions.