Effects of Sea Urchin Mass Mortality (Outline Draft 1)

This topic submitted by Sarah Ehrman ( ehrmanse@muohio.edu) at 11:51 AM on 4/9/08.

Andrea and Julie smoke some of Fidel's finest. See other pictures from Costa Rica.

Tropical Field Courses -Interdisciplinary Studies-Miami University

Sea Urchins in the Caribbean

Topic: 1983 mass mortality of sea urchins (Diadema antillarum)
Ecological Importance: loss of keystone species has tremendous effects on the environment

Outline:
1) Introduction to sea urchins (basic niche)
a. What they eat
b. What eats them
c. Reproduction
d. Effects on environment/other species (keystone species)
2) Mass mortality
a. Describe event
b. Possible causes
3) Immediate vs. Long term effects
4) Recovery of urchin populations
a. Speculations as to why it is slow
b. Density dependent positive feedback

Sources:

Alvarado, J; Cortes, J; Salas, E. ÒPopulation densities of Diadema antillarum Philippi at Cahuita National Park (1977-2003), Costa Rica.Ó CARIBBEAN JOURNAL OF SCIENCE, v. 40 issue 2, 2004, p. 257-259.

CARPENTER, R. ÒMASS MORTALITY OF A CARIBBEAN SEA-URCHIN - IMMEDIATE EFFECTS ON COMMUNITY METABOLISM AND OTHER HERBIVORES.Ó PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, v. 85 issue 2, 1988, p. 511-514.

Lessios, H; Garrido, M; Kessing, B. ÒDemographic history of Diadema antillarum, a keystone herbivore on Caribbean reefs.Ó PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF LONDON SERIES B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES, v. 268 issue 1483, 2001, p. 2347-2353.

LESSIOS, H; ROBERTSON, D; CUBIT, J. ÒSPREAD OF DIADEMA MASS MORTALITY THROUGH THE CARIBBEAN.Ó SCIENCE, v. 226 issue 4672, 1984, p. 335-337.

Macia, S; Robinson, M; Nalevanko, A. ÒExperimental dispersal of recovering Diadema antillarum increases grazing intensity and reduces macroalgal abundance on a coral reef.Ó MARINE ECOLOGY-PROGRESS SERIES, v. 348, 2007, p. 173-182.

Miller, R; Adams, A; Ebersole, J; Ruiz, E. ÒEvidence for positive density-dependent effects in recovering Diadema antillarum populations.Ó JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL MARINE BIOLOGY AND ECOLOGY, v. 349 issue 2, 2007, p. 215-222.

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