[Coral-List] Return of diadema helped reefs? (Pam Hallock-Muller)

Josh Idjadi jidjadi at neaq.org
Fri Jun 12 12:15:38 EDT 2009


There is an inverse relationship between Diadema density and size and
Diadema can reduce their skeletal body size at high densities (see
reference below). The urchins you're seeing are likely to be larger than
the pre die-off urchins. Glad to hear they're there as we have strong
evidence that, on balance, their presence and the accompanying community
changes increase coral growth and survivorship.  

 

 

Levitan 1988. Density-dependent size regulation and negative growth in
the sea urchin Diadema antillarum Philippi
http://www.springerlink.com/content/w74t3n6725g0hm87/

 

Joshua A. Idjadi, Ph.D.

Edgerton Research Laboratory

New England Aquarium

Office (617) 973-5231

Fax (617) 723-6207

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Today's Topics:

 

   1. Re: Return of diadema helped reefs? (Pam Hallock-Muller)

   2. coral planula dispersal data for Caribbean (Brad Baldwin)

   3. Fellowship Announcement for Coral Reef Ecosystem Research

      (Andrew Baird)

 

 

----------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Message: 1

Date: Thu, 11 Jun 2009 11:12:46 -0400

From: Pam Hallock-Muller <pmuller at marine.usf.edu>

Subject: Re: [Coral-List] Return of diadema helped reefs?

To: Ed Blume <edblume at mailbag.com>

Cc: coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov

Message-ID: <4A311EEE.7070104 at marine.usf.edu>

Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

 

I made a couple of dives on May 24 in Puerto Rico off San Juan (a spot 

called the Trolley's Last Stop, if I recall correctly), and the Diadema 

were large, abundant, and the macroalgae seemed pretty well under 

control.  The depth range was mostly ~5-12 m. The coral cover looked 

pretty good, though I only saw 2 Acropora colonies total (one each A. 

palmata and A cervicornis, both small).  I took some pictures of the 

array of diseases that I noticed, if anyone is interested; they were 

taken with a "point and shoot", so they are not professional quality.

 

PHM

 

Pamela Hallock Muller, Ph.D., Professor

College of Marine Science

University of South Florida

140 Seventh Ave. S.

St.Petersburg, FL 33701-5016

Phone: 727-553-1567

FAX: 727-553-1189

e-mail: pmuller at marine.usf.edu

Website: http://www.marine.usf.edu/reefslab

 

 

 

Ed Blume wrote:

> Recently snorkeling in Akumal Bay, Mexico, I was diadema the size of

> basketball.  Have their return improved coral health anywhere in the

> Caribbean.  It hasn't in Akumal Bay, which is under assault in many
ways.

> 

> Ed Blume

> Communications/Outreach

> RENEW Wisconsin

> 222 S. Hamilton St.

> Madison, WI  53703

> 608.819.0748 

> Home page: http://www.renewwisconsin.org

> RENEW Wisconsin Blog: http://www.renewwisconsinblog.org

> Milwaukee Renewable Energy Blog:

> http://renewableenergymilwaukee.blogspot.com

> Madison Peak Oil Group Blog:
http://www.madisonpeakoil-blog.blogspot.com

> Skype: edblume

> 

>   

 

-- 

 




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