Grazing effects of sea urchin Diadema savignyi on algal abundance and coral recruitment processes

Abstract Herbivores control algae and promote coral dominance along coral reefs. However, the majority of previous studies have focused on herbivorous fish. Here we investigated grazing effects of the sea urchin Diadema savignyi on algal abundance and coral recruitment processes. We conducted an in...

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Autores principales:	Viet Do Hung Dang, Chia-Ling Fong, Jia-Ho Shiu, Yoko Nozawa
Formato:	article
Lenguaje:	EN
Publicado:	Nature Portfolio 2020
Materias:	Medicine R Science Q
Acceso en línea:	https://doaj.org/article/1f440dafee3349d1ae2f64e1ca897f0f
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spelling	oai:doaj.org-article:1f440dafee3349d1ae2f64e1ca897f0f2021-12-02T16:08:55ZGrazing effects of sea urchin Diadema savignyi on algal abundance and coral recruitment processes10.1038/s41598-020-77494-02045-2322https://doaj.org/article/1f440dafee3349d1ae2f64e1ca897f0f2020-11-01T00:00:00Zhttps://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-77494-0https://doaj.org/toc/2045-2322Abstract Herbivores control algae and promote coral dominance along coral reefs. However, the majority of previous studies have focused on herbivorous fish. Here we investigated grazing effects of the sea urchin Diadema savignyi on algal abundance and coral recruitment processes. We conducted an in situ cage experiment with three density conditions of D. savignyi (0, 8, 16 indiv. m−2) for three months during the main coral recruitment season in Taiwan. Results demonstrated a strong algal control by D. savignyi. At the end of the experiment, average algal cover was 95% for 0 indiv. m−2, compared to 47% for 8 indiv. m−2 and 16% for 16 indiv. m−2. Average algal biomass at 8 indiv. m−2 declined by one third compared to 0 indiv. m−2 and almost zero at 16 indiv. m−2. On the other hand, a negative grazing effect of D. savignyi was observed on coral recruitment processes. Notably, at 16 indiv. m−2, the density of coral recruits declined and mortality of small coral fragments (proxy of coral juveniles) increased. Our results confirm findings of previous studies and indicate the need to balance both positive (strong algal control) and negative (physical damage) influences of Diadema grazing to facilitate the coral recruitment process.Viet Do Hung DangChia-Ling FongJia-Ho ShiuYoko NozawaNature PortfolioarticleMedicineRScienceQENScientific Reports, Vol 10, Iss 1, Pp 1-9 (2020)
institution	DOAJ
collection	DOAJ
language	EN
topic	Medicine R Science Q
spellingShingle	Medicine R Science Q Viet Do Hung Dang Chia-Ling Fong Jia-Ho Shiu Yoko Nozawa Grazing effects of sea urchin Diadema savignyi on algal abundance and coral recruitment processes
description	Abstract Herbivores control algae and promote coral dominance along coral reefs. However, the majority of previous studies have focused on herbivorous fish. Here we investigated grazing effects of the sea urchin Diadema savignyi on algal abundance and coral recruitment processes. We conducted an in situ cage experiment with three density conditions of D. savignyi (0, 8, 16 indiv. m−2) for three months during the main coral recruitment season in Taiwan. Results demonstrated a strong algal control by D. savignyi. At the end of the experiment, average algal cover was 95% for 0 indiv. m−2, compared to 47% for 8 indiv. m−2 and 16% for 16 indiv. m−2. Average algal biomass at 8 indiv. m−2 declined by one third compared to 0 indiv. m−2 and almost zero at 16 indiv. m−2. On the other hand, a negative grazing effect of D. savignyi was observed on coral recruitment processes. Notably, at 16 indiv. m−2, the density of coral recruits declined and mortality of small coral fragments (proxy of coral juveniles) increased. Our results confirm findings of previous studies and indicate the need to balance both positive (strong algal control) and negative (physical damage) influences of Diadema grazing to facilitate the coral recruitment process.
format	article
author	Viet Do Hung Dang Chia-Ling Fong Jia-Ho Shiu Yoko Nozawa
author_facet	Viet Do Hung Dang Chia-Ling Fong Jia-Ho Shiu Yoko Nozawa
author_sort	Viet Do Hung Dang
title	Grazing effects of sea urchin Diadema savignyi on algal abundance and coral recruitment processes
title_short	Grazing effects of sea urchin Diadema savignyi on algal abundance and coral recruitment processes
title_full	Grazing effects of sea urchin Diadema savignyi on algal abundance and coral recruitment processes
title_fullStr	Grazing effects of sea urchin Diadema savignyi on algal abundance and coral recruitment processes
title_full_unstemmed	Grazing effects of sea urchin Diadema savignyi on algal abundance and coral recruitment processes
title_sort	grazing effects of sea urchin diadema savignyi on algal abundance and coral recruitment processes
publisher	Nature Portfolio
publishDate	2020
url	https://doaj.org/article/1f440dafee3349d1ae2f64e1ca897f0f
work_keys_str_mv	AT vietdohungdang grazingeffectsofseaurchindiademasavignyionalgalabundanceandcoralrecruitmentprocesses AT chialingfong grazingeffectsofseaurchindiademasavignyionalgalabundanceandcoralrecruitmentprocesses AT jiahoshiu grazingeffectsofseaurchindiademasavignyionalgalabundanceandcoralrecruitmentprocesses AT yokonozawa grazingeffectsofseaurchindiademasavignyionalgalabundanceandcoralrecruitmentprocesses
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Grazing effects of sea urchin Diadema savignyi on algal abundance and coral recruitment processes

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