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<p>The sea urchin <i>Pseudechinus magellanicus</i> is commonly found in tide pools of central Patagonia, Argentina. This study investigates its grazing effects on macroalgal assemblages through a series of removal experiments conducted over 3&#xa0;years. The reduction in herbivory significantly influenced macroalgal biomass and community structure, altering species composition and abundance in the lower midlittoral and upper infralittoral zones. While species richness did not differ significantly between experimental treatments within intertidal zones, it varied markedly across shore levels. K-dominance curves consistently exhibited lower values in the sea urchin removal treatment at both shore levels, indicating reduced macroalgal dominance. The biomass of articulated coralline algae, along with various epiphytic filamentous and foliose species, increased in the absence of sea urchins, highlighting the critical role of <i>P. magellanicus</i> in structuring tide pool seaweed assemblages. The decline in the biomass of the most dominant <i>Corallina</i> morphotype in tide pools where <i>P. magellanicus</i> was present may be attributed to multiple, non-exclusive mechanisms: direct consumption through intense grazing, incidental removal during epiphytic algae scraping, and indirect effects stemming from the destabilization of macroalgal structures. Additionally, the findings indicate that <i>P. magellanicus</i> exerts a negative influence on species typically associated with later successional stages, such as <i>Dictyota dichotoma</i>, <i>Adenocystis utricularis</i>, <i>Codium fragile</i>, and <i>Chondria macrocarpa</i>. These results highlight the role of <i>P. magellanicus</i> as a structuring herbivore in intertidal communities, influencing macroalgal composition in tide pools habitats of central Patagonia.</p>

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The role of the sea urchin Pseudechinus magellanicus in structuring shallow tidepool macroalgal assemblages in central Patagonia, Argentina

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年7月28日

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  • Damián Gaspar Gil,
  • Alicia Boraso,
  • Héctor Eliseo Zaixso

摘要

The sea urchin Pseudechinus magellanicus is commonly found in tide pools of central Patagonia, Argentina. This study investigates its grazing effects on macroalgal assemblages through a series of removal experiments conducted over 3 years. The reduction in herbivory significantly influenced macroalgal biomass and community structure, altering species composition and abundance in the lower midlittoral and upper infralittoral zones. While species richness did not differ significantly between experimental treatments within intertidal zones, it varied markedly across shore levels. K-dominance curves consistently exhibited lower values in the sea urchin removal treatment at both shore levels, indicating reduced macroalgal dominance. The biomass of articulated coralline algae, along with various epiphytic filamentous and foliose species, increased in the absence of sea urchins, highlighting the critical role of P. magellanicus in structuring tide pool seaweed assemblages. The decline in the biomass of the most dominant Corallina morphotype in tide pools where P. magellanicus was present may be attributed to multiple, non-exclusive mechanisms: direct consumption through intense grazing, incidental removal during epiphytic algae scraping, and indirect effects stemming from the destabilization of macroalgal structures. Additionally, the findings indicate that P. magellanicus exerts a negative influence on species typically associated with later successional stages, such as Dictyota dichotoma, Adenocystis utricularis, Codium fragile, and Chondria macrocarpa. These results highlight the role of P. magellanicus as a structuring herbivore in intertidal communities, influencing macroalgal composition in tide pools habitats of central Patagonia.