Diet, movement, and covering behavior of the sea urchin Toxopneustes roseus in rhodolith beds in the Gulf of California, México

Primary tabs

James, D. W. (2000). Diet, movement, and covering behavior of the sea urchin Toxopneustes roseus in rhodolith beds in the Gulf of California, México. Marine Biology, 137(5), 913-923. doi:10.1007/s002270000423
Metadata
TitleDiet, movement, and covering behavior of the sea urchin Toxopneustes roseus in rhodolith beds in the Gulf of California, México
AuthorsD. James
AbstractThe density, diet, movement, and covering behavior of Toxopneustes roseus (Agassiz) were investigated in rhodolith beds in the Gulf of California. Densities varied from a mean of 0.4 to 1.8/20 m2 with most urchins occurring in aggregations. Spatial patterns of urchins varied with depth, with greatest abundance at intermediate depths (7.5-9.4 m) in the middle of the rhodolith bed. Urchins ate rhodoliths and nongeniculate coralline algal crusts almost exclusively, despite the availability of other algae. The mean amounts ingested were 3.87 and 7.96 g carbonate/individual per day. Even when food was abundant, animals were highly mobile, moving an average of 6.6-11.7 cm/h depending on site and time of day. Diel movement may be a behavioral adaptation to avoid surge, which is greatest during the day. Covering behavior may also be related to surge, as the ratio of covering material:body weight and the percent cover of material held were highest at the site with the most surge. While an urchin consumed rhodoliths, its movement spread the grazing impact over large areas. Bioturbation resulting from urchin feeding, movement, and covering activity probably benefits the rhodoliths by turning them, which maintains rhodolith integrity, prevents fouling, and contributes to bed persistence.
JournalMarine Biology
Date2000
Volume137
Issue5-6
Start page913
End page923
ISSN0025-3162
Subjectsdiet, feeding behavior, locomotion, Gulf of Mexico, Toxopneustes roseus
NoteCited By (since 1996):38, Invertebrates, CODEN: MBIOA

Bookmark

Bookmarks: