Overgrazing of Seagrasses by a Regular Urchin, Lytechinus variegatus
Camp D, Cobb S, Breedveld J. 1973. Overgrazing of Seagrasses by a Regular Urchin, Lytechinus variegatus. BioScience. 23(1):37-38
Massive destruction of an offshore seagrass bed has occurred in a large area off Dixie County, Florida, in the Gulf of Mexico as a result of overgrazing by aggregates of the regular urchin, Lytechinus variegatus (Lamarck). Such dense concentrations of L. variegatus and resultant large-scale denudation of seagrass beds have not previously been reported. We investigated this phenomenon in August, September, and October 1971. This report presents the results of these preliminary investigations. Destruction of seagrass beds is of particular concern because they afford shelter and food for the young of numerous species (D. Moore 1963).
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Camp, David; Cobb, Stephen; Breedveld, Jack
- Units
- SFCN
- Keywords
- Damage, Diet, Feeding Habits, Growth, Overgraze, regrowth