COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF THE FEEDING HABITS OF SEA ANEMONES (CNIDARIA; ACTINIARIA)

The behavioral patterns and feeding strategies of marine organisms represent significant aspects when comprehending the ecology, evolution, and dynamics of species. In addition, studies focusing on feeding habits in marine environments are fundamental for ecological conservation, since they are capable of revealing pollution levels. However, although individuals of the phylum Cnidaria have different life cycles and present a widespread distribution, studies of feeding behavior in anthozoans are scarce. Sea anemones (Cnidaria; Actiniaria) are predatory organisms and perform ecologically significant functions in benthic food webs. In this study, 42 individuals comprising three species, Actinia bermudensis, Anemonia sargassensis, and Bunodosoma caissarum, were collected in Florianópolis, Santa Catarina. The dissected organisms were analyzed internally using DNA metabarcoding techniques with amplification of the mtCOI sector in order to identify and compare their feeding patterns. The morphological analyses comprised an important stage in the partial identification of the fragments found in the gastrovascular cavity of the specimens, despite many of the food items being fragmented and half-digested. The sequencing method, in extension, revealed the identification of a diverse and extensive portion of predated organisms, illustrating the dietary variation in the species, mainly composed of arthropods, such as crustaceans and insects, annelids, and algae classified as ochrophytes.