– Field explorations should be extened to deeper habitats such as rhodoliths and
deep coral communities. These have been poorly studied and probably contain a
rich echinoderm fauna.
Ecology
– Population dynamics of key sea urchin species should be monitored, including
their influence in triggering transition phases between algal stands and unproductive urchin barren grounds.
– The effectiveness of marine protected areas as tool to prevent and revert urchin
barren situations should be studied.
– The effects of sea water warming and acidification on the calcification processes
in larvae and adults of echinoderms and its relevance on population dynamics
should be analyzed. The influence of environmental parameters is of special
importance for species of echinoderms that modify the habitat and whose
activity can greatly affect the whole system.
– The magnitude of the recent mortality events of D. africana in Maderia and the
Canary Islands, and any related potential ecosystem wide effects should be
determined.
Fisheries and aquaculture
– Tagging-recapture studies should be done to determine age, growth rate and
natural mortality of sea urchins. These studies, combined with other population
surveys, will provide baseline data to develop an adequate strategy of coastal
management for the planned fishery of D. africana.
– Experimental reduction of sea urchin densities inside Marine Protected Areas
that are still affected by dense urchin barren grounds should be done to identify
effective strategies that could promote ecosystem transitions toward productive
macroalgal stands. The potential reconstruction of the trophic structure at
marine protected areas, where fishing activities have ceased during several
years, may favour the control of newly settled urchins after reduction in density.
– Techniques need to be developed for production of juvenile sea urchin and sea
cucumbers through laboratory cultures for aquacture or repopulation.
References
Aguilera F, Brito A, Castilla C, Díaz A, Fernández-Palacios JM, Rodríguez A, Sabaté F, Sánchez
J (1994) Canarias, economía, ecología y medio ambiente. Francisco Lemus (ed), Islas
Canarias, La Laguna
Alves FMA, Chícharo LM, Serrao E, Abreu AD (2001) Algal cover and sea urchin spatial
distribution at Madeira Island ( NE Atlantic). Sci Mar 65:383–392
Andrew NL, Agatsuma Y, Bahzin A, Creaser T, Barnes D, Botsford L, Bradbury A, Campbell A,
Einnarsson S, Gerring P, Hebert K, Hunter M, Hur S, Johnson C, Kalvass P, Miller R, Moreno
C, Palleiro J, Rivas D, Robertson S, Steneck RE, Vadas R, Woodby D, Xiaoqi Z (2002) Status
and management of world sea urchin fisheries. Oceanogr Mar Biol Ann Rev 40:343–425
502
J. C. Hernández et al.
deep coral communities. These have been poorly studied and probably contain a
rich echinoderm fauna.
Ecology
– Population dynamics of key sea urchin species should be monitored, including
their influence in triggering transition phases between algal stands and unproductive urchin barren grounds.
– The effectiveness of marine protected areas as tool to prevent and revert urchin
barren situations should be studied.
– The effects of sea water warming and acidification on the calcification processes
in larvae and adults of echinoderms and its relevance on population dynamics
should be analyzed. The influence of environmental parameters is of special
importance for species of echinoderms that modify the habitat and whose
activity can greatly affect the whole system.
– The magnitude of the recent mortality events of D. africana in Maderia and the
Canary Islands, and any related potential ecosystem wide effects should be
determined.
Fisheries and aquaculture
– Tagging-recapture studies should be done to determine age, growth rate and
natural mortality of sea urchins. These studies, combined with other population
surveys, will provide baseline data to develop an adequate strategy of coastal
management for the planned fishery of D. africana.
– Experimental reduction of sea urchin densities inside Marine Protected Areas
that are still affected by dense urchin barren grounds should be done to identify
effective strategies that could promote ecosystem transitions toward productive
macroalgal stands. The potential reconstruction of the trophic structure at
marine protected areas, where fishing activities have ceased during several
years, may favour the control of newly settled urchins after reduction in density.
– Techniques need to be developed for production of juvenile sea urchin and sea
cucumbers through laboratory cultures for aquacture or repopulation.
References
Aguilera F, Brito A, Castilla C, Díaz A, Fernández-Palacios JM, Rodríguez A, Sabaté F, Sánchez
J (1994) Canarias, economía, ecología y medio ambiente. Francisco Lemus (ed), Islas
Canarias, La Laguna
Alves FMA, Chícharo LM, Serrao E, Abreu AD (2001) Algal cover and sea urchin spatial
distribution at Madeira Island ( NE Atlantic). Sci Mar 65:383–392
Andrew NL, Agatsuma Y, Bahzin A, Creaser T, Barnes D, Botsford L, Bradbury A, Campbell A,
Einnarsson S, Gerring P, Hebert K, Hunter M, Hur S, Johnson C, Kalvass P, Miller R, Moreno
C, Palleiro J, Rivas D, Robertson S, Steneck RE, Vadas R, Woodby D, Xiaoqi Z (2002) Status
and management of world sea urchin fisheries. Oceanogr Mar Biol Ann Rev 40:343–425
502
J. C. Hernández et al.