Widespread mass mortalities of the green sea urchin in Nova Scotia, Canada

✍ Scribed by R. J. Miller; A. G. Colodey

• Book ID: 104752963
• Publisher: Springer-Verlag
• Year: 1983
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 824 KB
• Volume: 73
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0025-3162
• DOI: 10.1007/bf00392252

✦ Synopsis

Mass mortalities of sea urchins exceeding 84 000 t live weight or 2 900 t organic weight occurred during the autumns of 1980 and 1981 along the southern coast of Nova Scotia, Canada. The kill was nearly complete along 160 km of shoreline (straight-line distance) and was intermittent along another 280 kin. Sea urchins in a variety of rocky habitats were affected, including areas exposed to and sheltered from ocean swell, with both dense and no macrophyte cover, and from 0-13 m depth. The cause of the mortalities was presumed to be a biological agent and was transferable in the laboratory. Colonization of the habitat by subtidal macroalgae and a subsequent large increase in benthic primary production is expected to follow.