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Revisiting the population status of the sea urchin Diadema antillarum in northern Puerto Rico

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 December 2014

Alex E. Mercado-Molina ,
Alfredo Montañez-Acuña ,
Ruber Rodríguez-Barreras ,
Roberto Colón-Miranda ,
Geraldine Díaz-Ortega ,
Neidibel Martínez-González ,
Sandra Schleier-Hernández  and
Alberto M. Sabat
Alex E. Mercado-Molina*
Affiliation:
University of Puerto Rico-Río Piedras Campus, P.O. Box 70377, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00936-8377 Sociedad Ambiente Marino, PO Box 22158, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00931-2158
Alfredo Montañez-Acuña
Affiliation:
University of Puerto Rico-Río Piedras Campus, P.O. Box 70377, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00936-8377 Sociedad Ambiente Marino, PO Box 22158, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00931-2158
Ruber Rodríguez-Barreras
Affiliation:
University of Puerto Rico-Río Piedras Campus, P.O. Box 70377, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00936-8377
Roberto Colón-Miranda
Affiliation:
University of Puerto Rico-Río Piedras Campus, P.O. Box 70377, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00936-8377 Sociedad Ambiente Marino, PO Box 22158, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00931-2158
Geraldine Díaz-Ortega
Affiliation:
University of Puerto Rico-Río Piedras Campus, P.O. Box 70377, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00936-8377 Sociedad Ambiente Marino, PO Box 22158, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00931-2158
Neidibel Martínez-González
Affiliation:
University of Puerto Rico-Río Piedras Campus, P.O. Box 70377, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00936-8377 Sociedad Ambiente Marino, PO Box 22158, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00931-2158
Sandra Schleier-Hernández
Affiliation:
Sociedad Ambiente Marino, PO Box 22158, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00931-2158
Alberto M. Sabat
Affiliation:
University of Puerto Rico-Río Piedras Campus, P.O. Box 70377, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00936-8377
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: A.E. Mercado-Molina, University of Puerto Rico-Río Piedras Campus, P.O. Box 70377, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00936-8377 email: amolinapr@gmail.com
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Abstract

The mass mortality suffered by the sea urchin Diadema antillarum between 1983–1984 is considered one of the major causes of coral reef degradation in the Caribbean. Its near disappearance resulted in a disproportionate growth of macroalgae that has led to a ‘phase shift’ from coral-to-algal dominated reefs. The close relationship between this echinoid and the functioning of coral reef ecosystems makes it imperative to better understand the potential for recovery of its populations. From 2009 to 2011, we assessed the density and size structure of D. antillarum in various reefs where previous population data were available. Results indicate a modest increase in density in all localities with respect to the last time they were surveyed in 2003/2004. Nevertheless, density values are still lower than values reported for the island prior to the die-off. Overall density did not surpass 1.49 ind. per m−2, and did not change considerably during the studied period. Lack of population growth coincided with a lack of juveniles; suggesting that population growth at the studied sites may be limited by the number of individuals recruiting into the juvenile stage.

Keywords

Caribbeancoral reefsDiadema antillarumpopulation recoveryPuerto Rico
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 95 , Issue 5 , August 2015 , pp. 1017 - 1024
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2014 

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