Findings published on consequences of the mass mortality of the black Sea Urchin
Sea urchins are key to the survival of coral reefs
A group of scientists from the Sociedad Ambiente Marino (SAM) and the University of Puerto Rico (UPR) carried out research aimed at exploring the massive mortality that affected a large part of the black urchin populations in the Caribbean in 2022.
The study, titled “Unequal demographic consequences of the 2022 disease outbreak for the sea urchin Diadema antillarum in Puerto Rico,” aimed to understand the effect of this disease.
According to Carlos Toledo-Hernández, principal investigator of this effort, this epidemic has affected a large part of the sea urchin populations in the Caribbean Sea.
“The research has identified that the impact has been variable, that is, the disease has decreased the abundance of black urchins on some beaches in Puerto Rico. However, on other beaches no major effects have been detected,” explained Toledo-Hernández.
Sea urchins are key to the survival of coral reefs as they control the abundance of algae, which would otherwise overgrow corals, killing them.
“This research has allowed us to update the demographic status of black sea urchins in Puerto Rico. In addition, it has allowed us to understand the effect of this epidemic at the Island level. It allows us to create short and long-term plans and prepare to address the impact of a new epidemic that is even greater,” said Toledo-Hernández.
Carlos Toledo-Hernández Ph.D., Claudia Patricia Ruiz-Diaz Ph.D., and Marcos A. Quiñones-Otero and Ruber Rodríguez-Barreras, Ph.D. participated in this research.
On the other hand, the SAM carried out the study “A successful method to restore seagrass habitats in coastal areas affected by consecutive natural events,” in which ways to restore seagrasses on the Island were presented.
Scientific environmentalist Claudia Patricia Ruiz-Díaz explained that they are suffering a deterioration worldwide as a result of the deterioration of water quality and environmental events such as hurricanes, storms, tidal waves, heat waves, among others.
“Seagrasses help buffer wave energy in events such as hurricanes, storms and storm surges. In addition, they are a marine ecosystem that can directly mitigate climate change, serving as a carbon dioxide sink,” said Ruiz-Díaz.
Ruiz-Díaz emphasized that the associated value in terms of the services provided by seagrass beds in Puerto Rico is estimated at more than $1.5 billion annually, however, many of these grasslands are threatened by excessive development and little planning of our coasts. .
“Seagrass meadows are a refuge for hundreds of species such as manatees, sea turtles and commercially important fish, among others. This project was carried out in La Reserva del Canal Luis Peña in Culebra, where two hectares of seagrasses were restored. There, we have the participation of the community in general, both from Culebra and Isla Grande,” she explained.
The good news, according to Dr. Ruiz-Diaz, is that this study developed a successful method to restore seagrass habitats in coastal areas affected by natural phenomena, reducing coastal erosion, the risk of flooding and increasing habitat for many species.
“Also, we managed to increase the Carbon Dioxide sink area and in this way contribute to the mitigation of climate change. Finally, she demonstrates that the restoration of this ecosystem is viable, hopeful, and that it can be replicated in other seagrass meadows in the Caribbean,” she added.
Claudia Patricia Ruiz-Diaz Ph.D., Carlos Toledo-Hernández, Ph.D. participated in the study. Juan Luis Sánchez-González and Alex E. Mercado-Molina, Ph.D.
