#7942. The metabolic depression and revival of purple urchins (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus) in response to macroalgal availability

October 2026publication date
Proposal available till 31-05-2025
4 total number of authors per manuscript0 $

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Journal’s subject area:
Ecology;
Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics;
Aquatic Science;
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Abstract:
Organisms can reduce their metabolism and/or decrease energy allocation to reproduction in order to survive starvation during extended periods of food limitation. This is especially important for coastal rocky reefs where widespread kelp deforestation has become increasingly common in recent decades. This deforestation often results in the formation of urchin barrens that have high densities of herbivorous sea urchins and little macroalgae for them to consume. Here, we provide experimental evidence to show that urchin metabolism and gonad mass both decrease significantly when the urchins are deprived of macroalgae, and that these urchins regain normal metabolic activity and gonad masses when access to this food resource is restored.
Keywords:
Kelp forests; Metabolism; Physiology; Purple Sea urchin; Starvation; Urchin barren

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