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Publication
Population density, reproduction cycle and nutritional value of Sphaerechinus granularis (Echinodermata: Echinoidea) in an oceanic insular ecosystem
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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
Sea urchins play an important role in island coastal ecosystems as keystone species
and as potential resources for harvesting and aquaculture. In Southern Europe, the most
valuable and harvested species is the European purple sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus,
but there is a growing interest to explore other edible species like the blunt sea urchin
Sphaerechinus granularis. The echinoderms biodiversity of Madeira archipelago was
previously described, but their local habitat, population densities and size distribution,
important to establish their harvest and aquaculture potential, are poorly known. The
present study aimed to evaluate S. granularis population in the oligotrophic and narrow
insular shelf of Madeira archipelago, mainly regarding its habitat, densities, reproduction
season and roe marketable characteristics. Sphaerechinus granularis was found in low
densities (0.01 ind./m2
) from shallow to deep reefs (5–30 m). The highest densities
occurred in shallow waters and breakwaters in association to encrusting algae, turf and
erect brown macroalgae. Here, the low primary productivity ecosystem influenced the
long reproductive season of the local population. This population showed a relatively
high gonadosomatic index (maximum GI of 8), high gonad weight (5.00–12.19 g) with
high proportion of bright yellow and orange gonads (37.5–60%) between February and
November. Additionally, the high level of total carotenoids, the high PUFA (particularly
EPA) content, and the ratio n-6/n-3 close to one support the high nutritional value
of S. granularis roe. The trend of incremental GI between September and November
and the increasing content of PUFA in autumn suggests this could be the preferential
harvesting season. This information is key to evaluate a sustainable exploitation of this
living marine resource.
Description
Keywords
Macaronesia region Gonad yield Gonad color Carotenoids Fatty acids Sphaerechinus granularis Madeira archipelago (Portugal) . Faculdade de Ciências Exatas e da Engenharia
Citation
Lourenço S, José R, Neves P, Góis A, Cordeiro N, Andrade C and Ribeiro C (2022) Population Density, Reproduction Cycle and Nutritional Value of Sphaerechinus granularis (Echinodermata: Echinoidea) in an Oceanic Insular Ecosystem. Front. Mar. Sci. 8:699942. doi: 10.3389/fmars.2021.699942
Publisher
Frontiers Media