Demographic structure suggests migration of the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus in a coastal lagoon

Abstract

The demographic structure of a population of Paracentrotus lividus living in a coastal Mediterranean lagoon was studied in 1990. Analysis of this structure revealed that the population examined was made up of four distinct cohorts which represented individuals 2, 3, 4 and over 4 y of age. The variability in demographic structure as a function of biotope revealed that sea urchin migration occurred from the pebble area (recruitment area, high sea urchin density and overgrazing facies) towards areas made up of Cymodocea nodosa sea grass beds (growth areas, low density and abundant prefered food). These migrations seem to have been caused by food limitation in the former biotope coupled with a shift in diet in young individuals.