Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Heat waves, baby booms, and the destruction of kelp beds by sea urchins

  • Published:
Marine Biology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Large populations of sea urchins, Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis (Müller), destroyed kelp beds along the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia in the 1960's and 1970's. The origin of these large sea urchin populations is not understood. We have investigated the potential influence of variable growth and development of the planktonic larvae of sea urchins (in response to temperature and food abundance) on recruitment of benthic juveniles. The adult sea urchins were collected at Sandy Cove, Digby County, Nova Scotia, Canada, in December 1986. Temperature strongly affected larval size and the growth of the echinus rudiment within the range 3° to 9°C, and larvae grew most rapidly at 14°C. Food abundance had a smaller effect on larval growth, and these effects were apparent only at high temperature. Larvae fed the same concentration of two different algal food species grew and developed similarly. Correspondence between spring temperature variation and qualitative variation in sea urchin recruitment, as well as strong temperature effects on larval growth in culture, and the occurrence of a large, positive temperature anomaly in June 1960, all suggest that temperature effects on larval growth and development may have led to intense sea urchin recruitment in 1960 and the appearance of large adult populations 4 to 6 yr later. This result invites further research.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Literature cited

  • Birkeland, C. (1982). Terrestrial runoff as a cause of outbreaks of Acanthaster planci (Echinodermata: Asteroidea). Mar. Biol. 69: 175–185

    Google Scholar 

  • Breen, P. A., Mann, K. H. (1976a). Changing lobster abundance and the destruction of kelp beds by sea urchins. Mar. Biol. 34: 137–142

    Google Scholar 

  • Breen, P. A., Mann, K. H. (1976b). Destructive grazing of kelp by sea urchins in Eastern Canada. J. Fish. Res. Bd. Can. 33: 1278–1283

    Google Scholar 

  • Camp, D. K., Cobb, S. P., Van Breedveld, J. F. (1973). Overgrazing of seagrasses by a regular urchin, Lytechinus variegatus. Biosci. 23: 37–38

    Google Scholar 

  • Chapman, A. R. O. (1986). Population and community ecology of seaweeds. Adv. Mar. Biol. 23: 1–161

    Google Scholar 

  • Ebert, T. (1983). Recruitment in echinoderms. In: Jangoux, M., Lawrence, J. M. (eds.) Echinoderm Studies. Vol. 1. A. A. Balkema, Rotterdam, p. 169–203

    Google Scholar 

  • Elner, R. W. (1980). Predation on the sea urchin (Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis) by the American lobster (Homarus americanus) and the rock crab (Cancer irroratus). In: Pringle, J. D., Sharp, G. J., Caddy, J. F. (eds.) Proceedings of the workshop on the relationships between sea urchin grazing and commercial plant/animal havesting. Can. tech. Rept. Fish. Aquat. Sci., Halifax p. 954

    Google Scholar 

  • Emlet, R. B. (1986). Facultative planktotrophy in the tropical echinoid Clypeaster rosaceus (Linnaeus) and a comparison with obligate planktotrophy in Clypeaster subdepressus (Gray) (Clypeasteroidea: Echinoidea). J. exp. mar. Biol. Ecol. 95: 183–202

    Google Scholar 

  • Evans, P. D., Mann, K. H. (1977). Selection of prey by American lobsters (Homarus americanus) when offered a choice between sea urchins and crabs. Can. J. Fish. aquat. Sci. 34: 2203–2207

    Google Scholar 

  • Fenaux, L., Cellario, C., Etienne, M. (1985). Croissance de la larve de l'oursin Paracentrotus lividus. Mar. Biol. 86: 151–157

    Google Scholar 

  • Foreman, R. E. (1977). Benthic community modification and recovery following intensive grazing by Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis. Helgoländer wiss. Meeresunters. 30: 468–484

    Google Scholar 

  • Hagen, N. T. (1983). Destructive grazing of kelp beds by sea urchins in Vestfjorden, northern Norway. Sarsia 68: 177–190

    Google Scholar 

  • Highsmith, R. C., Emlet, R. B. (1986). Delayed metamorphosis: effect on growth and survival of juvenile sand dollars (Echinoidea: Clypeasteroida). Bull. mar. Sci. 39: 347–361

    Google Scholar 

  • Himmelman, J. H. (1978). Reproductive cycle of the green sea urchin, Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis. Can J. Zool. 56: 1828–1836

    Google Scholar 

  • Hinegardner R. T. (1969). Growth and development of the laboratory cultured sea urchin. Biol. Bull. mar. biol. Lab., Woods Hole 137: 465–475

    Google Scholar 

  • Hollister, H. J., Sandnes, A. M. (1972). Sea surface temperatures and salinities at shore stations on the British Columbia coast 1914–1970. Environ. Can. pacif. mar. Sci. Rep. 72-13: 1–93

    Google Scholar 

  • Jensen, M. (1974). The Strongylocentrotidae (Echinoidea), a morphologic and systematic study. Sarsia 57: 113–148

    Google Scholar 

  • Lang, C., Mann, K. H. (1976). Changes in sea urchins populations after the destruction of kelp beds. Mar. Biol. 36: 321–326

    Google Scholar 

  • Lauzier, L. M. Hull, J. H. (1969). Coastal station data: temperatures along the Atlantic coast 1921–1969. Fish. Res. Bd Can. techn. Rep. No. 150

  • Lawrence, J. M. (1975). On the relationships between marine plants and sea urchins. Oceanogr. Mar. Biol. Ann. Rev. 13: 213–286

    Google Scholar 

  • Lawrence, J. M., Sammarco, P. W.: (1982). Effects of feeding on the environment: Echinoidea. In: Jangoux, M., Lawrence, J. M. (eds.) Echinoderm nutrition. A. A. Balkema, Rotterdam, p. 283–316

    Google Scholar 

  • Lucas, J. S. (1982). Quantitative studies of feeding and nutrition during larval development of the coral reef asteroid Acanthaster planci (L.). J. exp. mar. Biol. Ecol. 65: 173–193

    Google Scholar 

  • Mann, K. H. (1977). Destruction of kelp-beds by sea-urchins: A cyclical phenomenon or irreversible degradation. Helgoländer wiss. Meeresunters. 30: 455–467

    Google Scholar 

  • Mann, K. H. (1982). Kelp, sea urchins and predators: a review of strong interactions in rocky subtidal systems of eastern Canada, 1970–1980. Neth. J. Sea. Res. 16: 414–423

    Google Scholar 

  • Mann, K. H. (1985). Invertebrate behaviour and the structure of marine benthic communities. In: Sibley, R. M., Smith, R. H. (eds.) Behavioural Ecology. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford, p. 227–246

    Google Scholar 

  • Mann, K. H., Breen, P. A. (1972). The relation between lobster abundance, sea urchins, and kelp beds. J. Fish. Res. Bd Can. 29: 603–609

    Google Scholar 

  • McEdward, L. R. (1984). Morphometric and metabolic analysis of the growth and form of an echinopluteus. J. exp. mar. Biol. Ecol. 82: 259–287

    Google Scholar 

  • McEdward, L. R. (1985). Effects of temperature on the body form, growth, electron transport system activity, and development rate of an echinopluteus. J. exp. mar. Biol. Ecol. 93: 169–181

    Google Scholar 

  • Miller, R. J. (1985a). Seaweeds, sea urchins, and lobsters: a reappraisal. Can. J. Fish. aquat. Sci. 42: 2061–2072

    Google Scholar 

  • Miller, R. J. (1985b). Succession in sea urchin and seaweed abundance in Nova Scotia, Canada. Mar. Biol. 84: 275–286

    Google Scholar 

  • Miller, R. J., Colodey, A. G. (1983). Widespread mass mortalities of the green sea urchin in Nova Scotia, Canada. Mar. Biol. 73: 263–267

    Google Scholar 

  • Miller, R. J., Mann, K. H. (1973). Ecological energetics of the seaweed zone in a marine bay on the Atlantic coast of Canada. III. Energy transformations by sea urchins. Mar. Biol. 18: 99–114

    Google Scholar 

  • North, W. J., Pearse, J. S. (1970). Sea urchin population explosion in southern California coastal waters. Science, N.Y. 167: 209

    Google Scholar 

  • Olson, R. R. (1985). In situ culturing of larvae of the crown-of-thorns starfish Acanthaster planci. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 25: 207–210

    Google Scholar 

  • Paulay, G., Boring, L., Strathmann, R. R. (1985). Food limited growth and development of larvae: experiments with natural sea water. J. exp. mar. Biol. Ecol. 93: 1–10

    Google Scholar 

  • Platt, T., Irwin, B. (1968). Primary productivity measurements in St. Margaret's Bay, 1967. Fish. Res. Bd Can. tech. Rep. No. 77

  • Platt, T., Irwin, B. (1970). Primary productivity measurements in St. Margaret's Bay, 1968–1970. Fish. Res. Bd Can. tech. Rep. No. 203

  • Raymond, B. G. (1985). Behavior and growth of the early life history stages of Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis. M.Sc. thesis, Dalhousie University, Halifax

    Google Scholar 

  • Raymond, B. G., Scheibling, R. E. (1987). Recruitment and growth of the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis (Müller) following mass mortalities off Nova Scotia, Canada. J. exp. mar. Biol. Ecol. 108: 31–54

    Google Scholar 

  • Roller, R. A., Stickle, W. B. (1985). Effects of salinity on larval tolerance and early developmental rates of four species of echinoderms. Can. J. Zool. 63: 1531–1538

    Google Scholar 

  • Rumrill, S. S., Chia, F. S. (1984). Differential mortality during the embryonic and larval lives of northeast Pacific echinoids. In: Keegan, B. F., O'Connor, B. D. S. (eds.) Proceedings of the Fifth International Echinoderms Conference. A. A. Balkema, Rotterdam, p. 333–338

    Google Scholar 

  • Rumrill, S. S., Pennington, J. T., Chia, F. S. (1985). Differential susceptibility of marine invertebrate larvae: laboratory predation of sand dollar, Dendraster excentricus (Escholtz), embryos and larvae by zoeae of the red crab, Cancer productus Randall. J. exp. mar. Biol. Ecol. 90: 193–208

    Google Scholar 

  • Scheibling, R. E. (1984). Echinoids, epizootics and ecological stability in the rocky subtidal off Nova Scotia, Canada. Helgoländer wiss. Meeresunters. 37: 232–242

    Google Scholar 

  • Scheibling, R. E. (1986). Increased macroalgal abundance following mass mortalities of sea urchins (Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis) along the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia. Oecologia 68: 186–198

    Google Scholar 

  • Scheibling, R. E., Stephenson, R. L. (1984). Mass mortality of Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis (Echinodermata: Echinoidea) off Nova Scotia, Canada. Mar. Biol. 78: 153–164

    Google Scholar 

  • Stephens, R. E. (1972). Studies on the development of the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis. I. Ecology and normal development. Biol. Bull mar. biol. Lab., Woods Hole 142: 132–144

    Google Scholar 

  • Strathmann, R. R. (1971). The feeding behavior of planktotrophic echinoderm larvae: mechanisms, regulation, and rates of suspension feeding. J. exp. mar. Biol. Ecol. 6: 109–160

    Google Scholar 

  • Strathmann, R. R. (1978). Length of pelagic period in echinoderms with feeding larvae from the northeast Pacific. J. exp. mar. Biol. Ecol. 34: 23–27

    Google Scholar 

  • Tegner, M. J., Dayton, P. K. (1981). Population structure, recruitment and mortality of two sea urchins (Strongylocentrotus franciscanus and S. purpuratus) in a kelp forest. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 5: 255–268

    Google Scholar 

  • Thorson, G. (1950). Reproductive and larval ecology of marine bottom invertebrates. Biol. Rev. 25: 1–45

    Google Scholar 

  • Vadas, R. L., Elner, R. W., Garwood, P. E., Babb, I. G. (1986). Experimental evaluation of aggregation behavior in the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis. A reinterpretation. Mar. Biol. 90: 433–448

    Google Scholar 

  • Wharton, W. G., Mann, K. H. (1981). Relationship between destructive grazing by the sea urchin, Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis, and the abundance of American lobster, Homarus americanus, on the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia. Can. J. Fish. aquat. Sci. 38: 1339–1349

    Google Scholar 

  • Zar, J. H. (1974). Biostatistical analysis. Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. M. W. Hart

    Present address: Department of Zoology, NJ-15, University of Washington, 98195, Seattle, Washington, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, B3H 4J1, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

    M. W. Hart & R. E. Scheibling

Authors
  1. M. W. Hart
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. R. E. Scheibling
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Communicated by R. W. Dcyle, Halifax

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Hart, M.W., Scheibling, R.E. Heat waves, baby booms, and the destruction of kelp beds by sea urchins. Mar. Biol. 99, 167–176 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00391978

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00391978

Keywords

Search

Navigation