Lutte biologique contre la proliferation de l'etoile de mer: Asterias rubens en baie de Quiberon

In 1989 and 1990, the Brittany Region has conceded a subvention to the shellfish professional organisation, for a study on the sea star proliferation Asterias rubens ; this species is a predator of reared oysters in subtidal zone, specially in the Bay of Quiberon (South Brittany). The sea star species Luidia ciliaris has been identified as an A. rubens predator in laboratory. In presence of A. rubens and various molluscs species, the exclusive prey L. ciliaris is A. rubens . Even deprived of A. rubens they do not eat any bivalve. The first result led us to set up an introduction test of L. ciliaris as the main predator of A. rubens and their relative spatial stability. In prospect of mass introduction of L. ciliaris in the bay, reproduction experiments have been realized in laboratory. The mortality caused at the end of the "bipinnaria" stage was not clearly explained.