Arrested recovery of Diadema antillarum population: Survival or recruitment limitation?

摘要: Abstract Densities of the long-spined sea urchin Diadema antillarum remain significantly below pre mass-mortality levels at most Caribbean localities. The arrested recovery this formerly abundant herbivore has been attributed to low supply recruits and high post settlement mortality. There is, however, some debate as which these factors is determinant local dynamics echinoid. In study, we use demographic modeling analyze contribution recruitment survival on D. in four localities Puerto Rico Archipelago. Our results indicate relatively adult survival, stasis but growth transition small individuals. Recruitment rates were exhibited spatial temporal variability. populations asymptotic (λ) 1.0, with λ varying from 0.918 0.964. elasticity analysis showed that large-sized can potentially contribute changes for all sites. Numerical projections no site would exhibit an increase density under current rates, doubling produce three Recovery require co-occurrence rates.