Density patterns and habitat of the sea urchin Diadema antillarum (Diadematoida: Diadematidae) in the Colombian Caribbean
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15517/dkckmt62Keywords:
black long-spined sea urchin, density, herbivore, Caribbean, reefs, recoveryAbstract
Introduction: Diadema antillarum is a sea urchin and key herbivore in coral reef ecosystems throughout the Greater Caribbean. A mass mortality event hit the species in 1983-1984 and recovery has been slow or nonexistent in many locations. Here, we provide a more comprehensive understanding of Diadema density patterns across Colombia with broader spatial coverage than previous reports. Objectives: To evaluate density patterns of D. antillarum in relation to different habitat characteristics (depth, geomorphology, benthic cover, and locality) in the Colombian Caribbean, using INVEMAR data (1999–2017) and targeted surveys conducted in 2022. Methods: To estimate urchin density, we used permanent or targeted transects. Each transect had an area of 20 m². We examined the relationship between density and location, depth, year, substrate cover, and rugosity. Results: Urchin density was consistent with previous reports for the Colombian Caribbean. Density showed an inverse relationship with depth and varied according to substrate cover and year. Conclusions: The results suggest that species recovery in Colombia faces limitations. The absence of a clear density trend highlights the need for further investigation into the potential factors influencing these populations. This is concerning, given recent death events reported in other parts of the Caribbean.
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