Study finds how sea urchins affect coral reefs’ growth
January 15th, 2011 - 4:39 pm ICT by ANIWashington, Jan 15 (ANI): An 18-year-old study has found that overfished reef systems have more sea urchins-organisms that in turn eat coral algae that build tropical reef systems.
According to the study of Kenya’s coral reefs by the Wildlife Conservation Society and the University of California at Santa Cruz, reef systems closed to fishing have fewer sea urchins because predatory fish keep their growth in check, thereby encouraging higher coral growth rates.
Jennifer O’Leary of the University of California at Santa Cruz and Tim McClanahan of the Wildlife Conservation Society found that reefs with large numbers of grazing sea urchins reduced the abundance of crustose coralline algae, a species of algae that produce calcium carbonate.
The study found that sea urchins were the dominant grazer in the fished reefs, where the predators, triggerfish and wrasses were largely absent.
“This study illustrates the cascading effects of predator loss on a reef system and the importance of maintaining fish populations for coral health,” said McClanahan.
However, these herbivorous fish also removed fleshy algae that compete with coralline algae.
The findings suggest that managing coral reef fisheries can affect coral reef growth and improving the management of tropical fisheries can help these reefs to grow and persist in a changing climate.
“This study demonstrates the importance of improving fisheries management on reefs so that corals can thrive, safeguarding some of the world’s most fragile marine biodiversity and strengthening coastal economies,” concluded Dr. Caleb McClennen, Director of WCS’s Marine Program.
The paper appears in the December 2010 issue of the scientific journal Ecology. (ANI)
- 'Stress test' to identify 'reefs of hope' in climate change era - Mar 23, 2011
- Fish help coral coral reefs recover - Nov 14, 2011
- Sea cucumbers could protect endangered corals - Feb 01, 2012
- 300 new species found in Philippines - Jul 01, 2011
- 'Super reefs' near East Africa can fend off climate change - Apr 24, 2009
- Gujarat coral reefs a virtual gold mine - Mar 27, 2011
- CO2 threatens fish's very survival in oceans - Jan 16, 2012
- Tropical fish adapt to rising sea temperatures - Dec 06, 2011
- Banning certain fishing gear can help save world's coral reefs from climate change - Jun 18, 2009
- Coral reefs across Indian Ocean dying: Experts - Oct 21, 2010
- Fish know to avoid the spearguns - Mar 22, 2011
- More warm, acidic oceans will require greater reef care - Feb 15, 2011
- Parrotfish play vital role in preserving coral reefs - Dec 12, 2011
- Fishes are fond of gardening too! - Jun 21, 2010
- World's reef fish systems threatened by human overpopulation - Apr 06, 2011
Tags: changing climate, coastal economies, coral health, coral reef fisheries, coral reefs, coralline algae, fish populations, fisheries management, fragile marine, herbivorous fish, journal ecology, marine biodiversity, predator loss, reef growth, reef system, reef systems, tropical fisheries, tropical reef, university of california at santa cruz, wildlife conservation society