Lack of recovery of the long-spined sea urchin Diadema antillarum Philippi in Puerto Rico 33 years after the Caribbean-wide mass mortality.

ABSTRACT: Caribbean populations of the long-spined black sea urchin Diadema antillarum Philippi were decimated by a disease-induced mass mortality in the early 1980's. The present study provides an updated status of the D. antillarum recovery and population characteristics in La Parguera Natural Reserve, Puerto Rico. The last detailed study to assess population recovery in 2001, indicated a slow, and modest recovery, albeit densities remained far below pre-mass mortality levels. Population densities were assessed along three depth intervals in six reef localities and one depth in three lagoonal sea-grass mounds using ten 20 m2 (10 × 2 m) belt-transects at each depth interval. Most of these were previously surveyed in 2001. All individuals encountered along the belt transects were sized in situ with

SUBMITTER: Tuohy E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7023838 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature