Ecology of Amblyraja radiata
 
Main Ref. Berestovskiy, E.G., 1990
Remarks A boreal to arctic species, living offshore on hard and soft bottoms at temperatures of -1.4-14°C. Epi- to mesobenthic, on clay and mud bottom from littoral zone to depths of more than 1,000 meters (Ref. 119696). Seasonal shoaling of juveniles assumed from bulk catch with great concentrations of juveniles found throughout the Gulf of Maine, Massachusetts Bay, the Bay of Fundy, the Scotian Shelf, and the perimeter of Georges Bank during spring and fall seasons; both the spring and fall 1978-2002 Massachusetts inshore trawl surveys show concentrations of juvenile thorny skate around Cape Ann and into Massachusetts Bay, and in Cape Cod Bay (Ref. 49751). Based on tagging experiments, does not appear to make seasonal migrations; known to be rather sedentary (Ref. 86779). Benthic, inhabiting substrates from sand to mud and pebbles to broken shells. Dwells on the continental shelf at depths between 5-1540m. Found in water temperatures between -1.4°C to 14°C. Feeds at a trophic level of about 3.82 (Ref. 117245).

Aquatic zones / Water bodies

Marine - Neritic Marine - Oceanic Brackishwater Freshwater
Marine zones / Brackish and freshwater bodies
  • supra-littoral zone
  • littoral zone
  • sublittoral zone
  • epipelagic
  • mesopelagic
  • epipelagic
  • abyssopelagic
  • hadopelagic
  • estuaries/lagoons/brackish seas
  • mangroves
  • marshes/swamps
  • rivers/streams
  • lakes/ponds
  • caves
  • exclusively in caves
Highighted items on the list are where Amblyraja radiata may be found.

Habitat

Substrate Benthic; Soft Bottom: sand; mud; Hard Bottom: rubble;
Substrate Ref. Coad, B.W. and J.D. Reist, 2018
Special habitats
Special habitats Ref.

Associations

Ref. Scott, W.B. and M.G. Scott, 1988
Associations shoaling;
Associated with
Association remarks Parasites of the species include 3 protozoans, 1 turbellarian, 1 monogenean, 1 trematode, 10 cestodes, 5 nematodes and 4 copepods, found on the skin, digestive tract and body cavity (Ref. 5951).
Parasitism outside hostinside host

Feeding

Feeding type mainly animals (troph. 2.8 and up)
Feeding type Ref. Berestovskiy, E.G., 1990
Feeding habit hunting macrofauna (predator)
Feeding habit Ref.
Trophic Level(s)
Estimation method Original sample Unfished population Remark
Troph s.e. Troph s.e.
From diet composition 4.20 0.27 3.89 0.58 Troph of adults from 5 studies.
From individual food items 4.50 1.07 Trophic level estimated from a number of food items using a randomized resampling routine.
Ref. Skjæraasen, J.E. and O.A. Bergstad, 2000
(e.g. 346)
(e.g. oophagy)
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