The Role of Food Availability and Presence of Predators on Population Trends of the Sea Urchin Tripneustes ggratilla (L.) In Seagrass Beds of Watamu Marine National Park and Reserve, Kenya.
The objective of the study was to determine the impact of food sources as well as the impact of predator abundance on T. gratilla populations by comparing sites in the park and reserve. Specifically the study aimed: (1) To establish the population structure and densities of juveniles and adults of T. gratilla in the healthy and degraded seagrass beds within the Watamu Marine Park and Reserve; (2) To establish the seagrass vegetation cover within the sites where urchins were counted including shoot density; (3) To establish the presence of predators within the park and reserve; (4) Establish herbivory by T. gratilla on Thalassodendron ciliatum leaves; (5) Gut content analysis of the sea urchins
Saved in:
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Report biblioteca |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association
2010
|
| Subjects: | Sea urchins, Predators, Seagrass, Marine parks, |
| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/1834/7803 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| Summary: | The objective of the study was to determine the impact of food sources as well as the impact of predator abundance on T. gratilla populations by comparing sites in the park and reserve.
Specifically the study aimed:
(1) To establish the population structure and densities of juveniles and adults of T. gratilla in the healthy and degraded seagrass beds within the Watamu Marine Park and Reserve;
(2) To establish the seagrass vegetation cover within the sites where urchins were counted including shoot density;
(3) To establish the presence of predators within the park and reserve;
(4) Establish herbivory by T. gratilla on Thalassodendron ciliatum leaves;
(5) Gut content analysis of the sea urchins |
|---|