Overgrazing of a large seagrass bed by the sea urchin Lytechinus variegatus in Outer Florida Bay
January 1, 1999
Unusually dense aggregations of the sea urchin Lytechinus variegatus overgrazed at least 0.81 km2 of seagrass habitat in Outer Florida Bay (USA) between August 1997 and May 1998. Initially, sea-urchin densities were as high as 364 sea urchins m-2, but they steadily declined to within a range of 20 to 50 sea urchins m-2 by December 1998. Prior to this event, sea-urchin densities were 95% of the short-shoot apical meristems were removed by sea-urchin grazing in our study area. Such extensive loss may severely limit recovery of this seagrass community by vegetative reproduction. Effects of the removal of seagrass biomass have already resulted in the depletion of epifaunal-infaunal mollusk assemblages and resuspension of fine-grained (
Citation Information
| Publication Year | 1999 |
|---|---|
| Title | Overgrazing of a large seagrass bed by the sea urchin Lytechinus variegatus in Outer Florida Bay |
| DOI | 10.3354/meps190211 |
| Authors | C.D. Rose, W.C. Sharp, W.J. Kenworthy, J.H. Hunt, W.G. Lyons, E. J. Prager, J.F. Valentine, M.O. Hall, P.E. Whitfield, J.W. Fourqurean |
| Publication Type | Article |
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Series Title | Marine Ecology Progress Series |
| Index ID | 70021356 |
| Record Source | USGS Publications Warehouse |