The reduction of harmful algae on Caribbean coral reefs through the reintroduction of a keystone herbivore, the long spined sea urchin, Diadema antillarum

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stacey M. Williams
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Sea Urchin ◽  
Harmful Algae ◽  
Diadema Antillarum ◽  
Caribbean Coral ◽  
Caribbean Coral Reefs ◽  
Keystone Herbivore

scholarly journals The sea urchin Diadema antillarum – keystone herbivore or redundant species?

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lindsey L. Precht ◽  
William F. Precht
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Sea Urchin ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Caribbean Region ◽  
Diadema Antillarum ◽  
Natural Systems ◽  
Caribbean Coral ◽  
Reef Recovery ◽  
Caribbean Coral Reefs ◽  
Reef Tract

Two main hypotheses have been developed for describing the role and importance of the sea urchin Diadema antillarum on reefs of the Caribbean region in both space and time. The first and most crucial is whether D. antillarum was the most important “keystone” grazer on Caribbean reefs? The alternate to this hypothesis is that D. antillarum was merely a redundant species, playing a secondary role to herbivorious fishes which only came into dominance after herbivorous fishes had been removed by man through exploitive fishing practices. To resolve this debate, we pose the question: “What is the role of Diadema antillarum in altering the composition of the benthic community on Caribbean coral reefs in time and space?” The interpretation presented herein implies that D. antillarum was and is the most important shallow-water herbivore on Caribbean coral reefs. This is contrary to a prevailing model but in substantial agreement with the historical importance of the species. If correct, the continued and future recovery of this sea urchin may be the key ingredient to facilitating coral reef recovery throughout the region. In addition, on coral reefs where the natural recovery of Diadema has been delayed or is absent (e.g. the Florida Reef Tract); measures to actively restore these urchins may be the most efficient and cost-effective tool for conserving and enhancing the ecological function of reefs. This debate also emphasizes the requirement for implementing ecologically-based, not ideologically-based management of natural systems.

scholarly journals The sea urchin Diadema antillarum – keystone herbivore or redundant species?

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lindsey L. Precht ◽  
William F. Precht
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Sea Urchin ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Caribbean Region ◽  
Diadema Antillarum ◽  
Natural Systems ◽  
Caribbean Coral ◽  
Reef Recovery ◽  
Caribbean Coral Reefs ◽  
Reef Tract

Two main hypotheses have been developed for describing the role and importance of the sea urchin Diadema antillarum on reefs of the Caribbean region in both space and time. The first and most crucial is whether D. antillarum was the most important “keystone” grazer on Caribbean reefs? The alternate to this hypothesis is that D. antillarum was merely a redundant species, playing a secondary role to herbivorious fishes which only came into dominance after herbivorous fishes had been removed by man through exploitive fishing practices. To resolve this debate, we pose the question: “What is the role of Diadema antillarum in altering the composition of the benthic community on Caribbean coral reefs in time and space?” The interpretation presented herein implies that D. antillarum was and is the most important shallow-water herbivore on Caribbean coral reefs. This is contrary to a prevailing model but in substantial agreement with the historical importance of the species. If correct, the continued and future recovery of this sea urchin may be the key ingredient to facilitating coral reef recovery throughout the region. In addition, on coral reefs where the natural recovery of Diadema has been delayed or is absent (e.g. the Florida Reef Tract); measures to actively restore these urchins may be the most efficient and cost-effective tool for conserving and enhancing the ecological function of reefs. This debate also emphasizes the requirement for implementing ecologically-based, not ideologically-based management of natural systems.

scholarly journals The sea urchin Diadema antillarum – keystone herbivore or redundant species?

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lindsey L. Precht ◽  
William F. Precht
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Sea Urchin ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Caribbean Region ◽  
Diadema Antillarum ◽  
Natural Systems ◽  
Caribbean Coral ◽  
Reef Recovery ◽  
Caribbean Coral Reefs ◽  
Reef Tract

Two main hypotheses have been developed for describing the role and importance of the sea urchin Diadema antillarum on reefs of the Caribbean region in both space and time. The first and most crucial is whether D. antillarum was the most important “keystone” grazer on Caribbean reefs? The alternate to this hypothesis is that D. antillarum was merely a redundant species, playing a secondary role to herbivorious fishes which only came into dominance after herbivorous fishes had been removed by man through exploitive fishing practices. To resolve this debate, we pose the question: “What is the role of Diadema antillarum in altering the composition of the benthic community on Caribbean coral reefs in time and space?” The interpretation presented herein implies that D. antillarum was and is the most important shallow-water herbivore on Caribbean coral reefs. This is contrary to a prevailing model but in substantial agreement with the historical importance of the species. If correct, the continued and future recovery of this sea urchin may be the key ingredient to facilitating coral reef recovery throughout the region. In addition, on coral reefs where the natural recovery of Diadema has been delayed or is absent (e.g. the Florida Reef Tract); measures to actively restore these urchins may be the most efficient and cost-effective tool for conserving and enhancing the ecological function of reefs. This debate also emphasizes the requirement for implementing ecologically-based, not ideologically-based management of natural systems.

Revisiting the catastrophic die-off of the urchin Diadema antillarum on Caribbean coral reefs: Fresh insights on resilience from a simulation model

2006 ◽  
Vol 196 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 131-148 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter J. Mumby ◽  
John D. Hedley ◽  
Kamila Zychaluk ◽  
Alastair R. Harborne ◽  
Paul G. Blackwell
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Simulation Model ◽  
Diadema Antillarum ◽  
Caribbean Coral ◽  
Caribbean Coral Reefs

Ecology: Returning Caribbean Coral Reefs to Their Former Glory

2021 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. R188-R190
Author(s):  
Peter J. Mumby
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Caribbean Coral ◽  
Caribbean Coral Reefs

THE PHENOLOGY OF SEXUAL REPRODUCTION BY GREEN ALGAE (BRYOPSIDALES) ON CARIBBEAN CORAL REEFS

1999 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 24-34 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenneth E. Clifton ◽  
Lisa M. Clifton
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Sexual Reproduction ◽  
Green Algae ◽  
Caribbean Coral ◽  
Caribbean Coral Reefs

scholarly journals Herbivory and the resilience of Caribbean coral reefs: knowledge gaps and implications for management

2015 ◽  
Vol 520 ◽  
pp. 1-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
TC Adam ◽  
DE Burkepile ◽  
BI Ruttenberg ◽  
MJ Paddack
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Knowledge Gaps ◽  
Caribbean Coral ◽  
Caribbean Coral Reefs
Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document