Inter-Research > MEPS > v226 > p311-313  
MEPS
Marine Ecology Progress Series

via Mailchimp

MEPS 226:311-313 (2002)  -  doi:10.3354/meps226311

Local population disappearance follows (20 yr after) cycle collapse in a pivotal ecological species

David K. A. Barnes*, Emma Verling, Anne Crook, Ian Davidson, Maria O¹Mahoney

Department of Zoology and Animal Ecology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
*Present address: Biological Sciences Division, British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 OET, United Kingdom. E-mail:

ABSTRACT: Populations of the echinoid Paracentrotus lividus have undergone spectacular population fluctuations over the last 40 yr at Lough Hyne, SW Ireland. Censuses in 2000 and 2001, reported here, show no individuals present in the South Basin of Lough Hyne, for what is believed to be, the first time since observations began in the late 1920s. As with many echinoids, P. lividus was considered to have a pivotal role in benthic ecology through control of algae by grazing. The discontinuation of P. lividus in South Basin of Lough Hyne is significant for 3 reasons. First, the database was 1 of the longest running censuses of a discrete echinoid population anywhere. Second, some corresponding environmental and population size structure data had been recorded over several decades. Third, P. lividus was very important in structuring the shallow benthic community of the oldest marine reserve in Europe.


KEY WORDS: Echinoids · Long-term monitoring · Paracentrotus lividus · Lough Hyne


Full text in pdf format
 Previous article