Predators of the sea urchin Diadema mexicanum (Diadematoida: Diadematidae) at the Eastern Tropical Pacific coral reefs

José Carlos Hernández, Beatriz Alfonso, Ana Gloria Guzmán-Mora, Juan José Alvarado
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Abstract

Introduction: The coral reefs of Isla del Coco National Park are some of the most pristine ecosystems on Earth. The sea urchin Diadema mexicanum (Diadematoida: Diadematidae) is a common inhabitant with a pivotal role in the ecology of this unique ecosystem. Objective: In this study, we identified the predominant predators of D. mexicanum and estimated the predatory consumption rates. We also determined predation rates at different sea urchin sizes and at sites with contrasting refuge availability. Methods: We use field video recording observations and tethering experiments. Results: The balistid Sufflamen verres and the labrid Bodianus diplotaenia were identified as predators of small and medium size D. mexicanum; the labrids Thalassoma grammaticum and B. diplotaenia (juvenile) and the tetraodontid Arothron meleagris were attempted predators; and Canthigaster punctatissima and Holacanthus passer were scavengers. Larger sea urchins (> 30 mm) were also preyed upon during the tethering experiments. Furthermore, a clear effect of the site on survival of the different sea urchins’ sizes was noted. No difference in the sea urchin predator biomass was found among sites, which highlights the importance of site complexity on survival. At high and medium complexity sites, large individuals had better survival, while at the low complexity site, there was almost no differences in survival rates among the three size classes. Our results also show that a high abundance of these predatory fishes, above 0.04 ind m-2, guarantees a low sea urchin density. Below this threshold, a higher variability in sea urchin density is observed Despite not being registered with the video recordings, lobsters were observed once preying upon a large sea urchin individual. Conclusions: This study identifies a keystone fish guild with high predation rate for Diadema in the National Park, which suggests that protective actions have positively benefited predatory fish and lobster populations.
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东热带太平洋珊瑚礁中的海胆天敌 Diadema mexicanum(天敌科:Diadematidae
简介可可岛国家公园的珊瑚礁是地球上最原始的生态系统之一。海胆(海胆科:Diadematoida: Diadematidae)是这一独特生态系统中的常见居民,在生态学中起着举足轻重的作用。研究目的在这项研究中,我们确定了 D. mexicanum 的主要捕食者,并估算了捕食者的消耗率。我们还测定了不同大小的海胆和不同避难所地点的捕食率。方法我们采用现场录像观察和系绳实验。结果被确定为中小型D. mexicanum的捕食者的有秃头海胆(balistid)Sufflamen verres和马氏海胆(labrid)Bodianus diplotaenia;马氏海胆(labrid)Thalassoma grammaticum和B. diplotaenia(幼体)以及四齿海胆(tetraodontid)Arothron meleagris是未遂捕食者;Canthigaster punctatissima和Holacanthus passer是清道夫。在系留实验中,较大的海胆(大于 30 毫米)也被捕食。此外,实验地点对不同大小海胆的存活率也有明显影响。不同地点的海胆捕食者生物量没有差异,这突出了地点复杂性对生存的重要性。在复杂程度高和复杂程度中等的地点,大个体的存活率更高,而在复杂程度低的地点,三个大小等级的存活率几乎没有差异。我们的研究结果还表明,这些掠食性鱼类的丰度超过 0.04 ind m-2 就能保证较低的海胆密度。在这一临界值以下,海胆密度的变化会更大。 尽管没有视频记录,但我们还是观察到龙虾捕食大型海胆个体的现象。结论这项研究确定了国家公园中对 Diadema 具有高捕食率的关键性鱼类群落,这表明保护措施对捕食性鱼类和龙虾种群具有积极意义。
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