Peer Review #3 of "Sargassum blooms in the Caribbean alter the trophic structure of the sea urchin Diadema antillarum (v0.1)"

2019 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Peer Review ◽  
Sea Urchin ◽  
Trophic Structure ◽  
Diadema Antillarum ◽  
The Caribbean

The effects of metals on embryo-larval and adult life stages of the sea urchin, Diadema antillarum

2005 ◽  
Vol 74 (3) ◽  
pp. 254-263 ◽  
Author(s):  
G.K. Bielmyer ◽  
K.V. Brix ◽  
T.R. Capo ◽  
M. Grosell
Keyword(s):  
Sea Urchin ◽  
Adult Life ◽  
Life Stages ◽  
Diadema Antillarum

scholarly journals Apparent stability of a low-density Diadema antillarum regime for Puerto Rican coral reefs

2018 ◽  
Vol 75 (6) ◽  
pp. 2193-2201 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruber Rodríguez-Barreras ◽  
Alfredo Montañez-Acuña ◽  
Abimarie Otaño-Cruz ◽  
Scott D Ling
Keyword(s):  
Puerto Rico ◽  
Sea Urchin ◽  
Coral Cover ◽  
Live Coral ◽  
Low Density ◽  
Limited Evidence ◽  
Diadema Antillarum ◽  
Benthic Habitats ◽  
Stable Regime ◽  
Apparent Stability

Abstract Caribbean reefs have suffered decline in coral cover in recent decades due to recurrent anthropogenic and natural stressors. The regional collapse of the sea urchin Diadema antillarum, combined with overfishing, has contributed to a phase-shift of coral reef communities towards fleshy macroalgal dominance. Here, we examine the population dynamics of D. antillarum at five sites in Puerto Rico from 2011 to 2016 and determine trends between the sea urchin and local benthic habitats. The sea urchin population exhibited low but stable densities (with slight, but non-significant trend of increase), yet showed variability between sites. Large urchins (>60 mm test diam.) were the most abundant across sites and through time, followed by medium urchins (41–60 mm test diam.), whereas small individuals (<40 mm) were rare, indicating recruitment-limitation. Spatial and temporal differences in benthic habitats were not related to local D. antillarum abundances. Macroalgae cover declined at all sites over the 6 years, ranging 5–86%, whereas live coral cover also decreased across all sites (ranging 4–38%). Diadema antillarum populations in Puerto Rico appear stable with limited evidence for recovery trends back to pre-mass mortality densities. Full population recovery may take longer than expected; however, evidence indicates that the contemporary low-density D. antillarum population represents a novel stable regime.

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