ABSTRACT
The reproductive cycle and growth parameters were studied in populations of Asterias rubens from two bays in Brittany In the Bay of Douarnenez (Finistère) the population is composed of small individuals. Its growth rate is low with a long life-span (> five years). In the Bay of Quiberon (Morbihan), the growth rate was four times higher with a much shorter life-span (about three years). On average, three year old Asterias were twice as large in the Bay of Quiberon as five year old animals in the Bay of Douarnenez. A discussion of the demographic strategy of this species considers the biological parameters of each population and associated environmental factors.
