Diadema antillarum

Long-spined sea urchin
Diadema antillarum
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Echinodermata
Class:	Echinoidea
Order:	Diadematoida
Family:	Diadematidae
Genus:	Diadema
Species:	D. antillarum
Binomial name
Diadema antillarum (Philippi, 1845)

Diadema with unusual grey spines at Snapper Ledge

Diadema antillarum, also known as the lime urchin, black sea urchin or the long-spined sea urchin^{[citation needed]}, is a species of sea urchin in the Family Diadematidae.

This sea urchin is characterized by its exceptionally long black spines.

It is the most abundant and important herbivore on the coral reefs of the western Atlantic and Caribbean basin. When the population of these sea urchins is at a healthy level, they are the main grazers which prevent algae overgrowth of the reef.

Anatomy

Diadema antillarum has a test, or "shell," similar to most other sea urchins. What distinguishes the Diadema is the length of its spines. Most sea urchin spines are 1-3 cm, but the spines in this species are usually 10-12 cm in length, and can grow as long as 30 cm in very large individuals.

Life habits

This species usually lives at 1-10 meters in depth on coral reefs. They will often lodge themselves in a crevice, so that only their spines can be seen, but individual urchins who can't find a suitable crevice will live in more exposed situations. Individuals that have been able to find a crevice usually will roam about 1 meter from their crevice at night during feeding. Diadema is very sensitive to light, and will often pick its crevice or resting place based on how much shade there is.

Diadema mostly eat algae, and sometimes seagrass. Starving urchins have been known to become carnivorous.

Ecological Importance

Diadema antillarum is still, in some areas, one of the most abundant, widespread, and ecologically-important shallow-water genera of tropical sea urchins. It is found in tropical oceans, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region, where it inhabits depths down to 70 m. It is also found on the coasts of the tropical Western Atlantic Ocean, including the Caribbean Sea and coasts of tropical South America. This species is ecologically important because it consumes algae that can otherwise grow to such an extent that they can smother coral reefs. They live in holes that are in the reef.

Die-off of urchins

In 1983, throughout the Caribbean faunal zone as far south as South America and north to the Bahamas, Diadema antillarum underwent mass mortality, with more than 97% of the urchins dying.^[1] Since this time some Caribbean reefs have been overgrown by foliose macroalgae which inhibits coral growth, and this has also has further compounded the ongoing decline the cover of scleractinian corals, as well as having an overall negative affect on coral reef resilience, which encompasses the ability of a system to resist and recover from changes stemming from perturbation events. Recent studies done in Discovery Bay, Jamaica^[2], and other locations^{[citation needed]} appear to show a massive comeback of Diadema, and great regeneration of the reefs.

Human relevance

When the sea urchins died due to an unknown disease, the biodiversity of the marine life of the coral reefs suffered a great deal. The resulting lush algae growth stunted and even reversed the development of coral, and the fish and other animals living on the reefs declined in numbers due to less food and shelter.

The reduced biodiversity of the coral reefs affected tourism in several small countries, which depended on the natural beauty of their reefs to help attract visitors, and because tourism was a major part of the income for these countries, the decreased flow of guests stressed their economy.

Low-density populations, predators, and waves from high-powered storms tends to impede the repopulation of Diadema antillarum. In the fertilization process, male and female urchins excrete fluid to alert other urchins to respond by releasing their eggs and sperm in mass repoduction. With more gametes available, there is a higher chance of fertilization. However, in areas of low-population, a few sea urchins may not be enough to initiate fertilization. After fertilization, there is still a high chance that predators may consume the vulnerable juveniles. Because of the movement of water in powerful storms, urchins can get swept away from their habitat and expire. It is possible to aid the increase in population growth of the urchin with more research and volunteers.

Research on re-population of the species

Research on the species Diadema antillarum is still in its early stages. The urchins can be grown in laboratories and then relocated. Returning the mature individuals into the wild can have a positive effect on the urchin density of the reef. The increase in population can also be aided by the artificial building of reefs: material such as concrete can encourage the growth of coral, and provide more niches for the urchins to hide from predators such as larger fish.

When there are still some areas of high-density urchins, it is possible to relocate urchins to other, low-density reefs. With these methods and the help of volunteer workers, it seems that the shift back to coral-dominated reefs and away from algae-dominated reefs is possible.

When re-locating Diadema it is necessary to remove most mature algae from the re-location area since there are toxins in mature algae that kills the Diadema.

References

1. ^ Osborne, Patrick L. (2000). Tropical Ecosystem and Ecological Concepts. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. pp. 464. ISBN 0 521 64523 9. 
2. ^ Edmunds, Peter J.; Robert C. Carpenter (April 2001). "Recovery of Diadema antillarum reduces macroalgal cover and increases abundance of juvenile corals on a Caribbean reef". PNAS 98 (9): 5067–5071. 

• Greenberg, Idaz (1986). Guide to Corals & Fishes of Florida, the Bahamas and the Caribbean. Seahawk Press. pp. 60–61. ISBN 0-913008-08-7. 
• PNAS
• Marine Inverebrates of Bermuda
• Life Histories and Environmental Requirements of Coastal Fishes and Invertebrates

External links

• Microdocs: The sea is green

Diadema re-location website.