Multiple processes regulate long-term population dynamics of sea urchins on Mediterranean rocky reefs.

ABSTRACT: We annually monitored the abundance and size structure of herbivorous sea urchin populations (Paracentrotus lividus and Arbacia lixula) inside and outside a marine reserve in the Northwestern Mediterranean on two distinct habitats (boulders and vertical walls) over a period of 20 years, with the aim of analyzing changes at different temporal scales in relation to biotic and abiotic drivers. P. lividus exhibited significant variability in density over time on boulder bottoms but not on vertical walls, and temporal trends were not significantly different between the protection levels. Differences in densities were caused primarily by variance in recruitment, which was less pronounced inside the MPA and was correlated with adult density, indicating density-dependent recruitment under high pre

SUBMITTER: Hereu B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3350477 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature