Juvenile Ecology of the Sea Urchin Loxechinus Albusin Chiloé Island
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Aquaculture Sci. 57(4),567-577(2009) Juvenile Ecology of the Sea Urchin Loxechinus albus in Chiloé Island, Chile Sohei KINO Abstract: The natural distribution of the juvenile Chilean sea urchin Loxechinus albus was investi- gated to understand the ecology of the juvenile period from May 1987 to February 1989 in eastern coastal waters of Chiloé Island, Chile. Searching for juveniles by scuba diving and observing sus- pended bivalve culture lines was conducted. Juvenile L. albus at 38.5 individuals/m2 were found in Linao in February 1989. This was the maximum density noted in this study, and the juvenile size was 2.8-7.8 mm in test diameter. The habitat of juveniles was at the tip of the peninsula, where tidal drift was optimal and the depth was less than 6 m. Moreover, the bottom was pebbles or rock bed, and shell detritus or gravel was found. On the other hand, juvenile L. albus were also found on the suspended culture lines for oysters in Linao and Hueihue. Especially in Linao, approximately 540000 juveniles of 3.5 mm in test diameter were observed attached to suspended oyster culture lines in December 1988. The possible predation of juvenile L. albus in natural waters by juvenile crabs was suggested. According to findings on juvenile ecology, a fishing bank formation mecha- nism was discussed. Key words: Loxechinus albus; Juvenile sea urchin; Settlement; Recruitment For basic studies on stock enhancement However, there are few reports on the juve- of the sea urchin, a grasp of the juvenile ecol- nile ecology of this species. To achieve stock ogy is one of the most important factors. In enhancement by releasing juveniles, it is essen- the Japanese sea urchin Strongylocentrotus tial to understand the juvenile ecology in natu- intermedius, natural seed collection has been ral waters. In northern Chile, juvenile L. albus developed (Kawamura 1984), and the release of are distributed in crevices with abundant shell artificial seeds is now the main method for stock detritus in the inter-tidal zone (Guisado and enhancement (Agatsuma et al. 1995; Sakai et al. Castilla 1987), but environmental parameters 2004). Artificial seeds of several species such as of the northern habitat of L. albus may differ Strongylocentrotus nudus, Tripneustes gratilla, from southern Chile (Vásquez 2001). Chile Pseudocentrotus depressus, and Hemicentrotus has a long coastline from north to south, and pulcherrimus are also used for stock enhance- the habitat of L. albus depends on the environ- ment in Japan (National Center for Stock ment of the region. Therefore, it is necessary to Enhancement 2008). In the Chilean sea urchin, grasp the regional characteristics of the habitat Loxechinus albus, artificial seed production was for juvenile L. albus. Since information on wild developed (Zamora and Stotz 1994; Cárcamo juveniles of L. albus was lacking in Chile, some 2004), and the replenishing of resources using investigations of them were carried out over artificial seeds is needed (Stotz et al. 1992; as wide an area as possible not only in east- Zamora and Stotz 1994). Moreover, juvenile set- ern coastal waters of Chiloé Island but also in tlement ecology using suspended artificial sub- coastal waters of the continent, because no site strates has been studied (Kino and Kani 2009). where abundant juveniles were observed nor Received July 8, 2009: Accepted September 2, 2009. NTEM Consulting, Inc., Nishi-shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-0023, Japan. E-mail: [email protected]. 568 S. Kino they had recently grown was found in Chiloé ing predation, which will contribute to the stock Island. In this study, the natural distribution enhancement of this species. This is essential of juveniles was focused on in order to obtain information for the release of natural or artificial ecological information on juvenile L. albus, seeds. Additionally, the creation of a fishing bank such as on settlement and recruitment includ- of L. albus in the coastal waters was discussed. Fig. 1. Localities and sites for investigating juvenile Loxechinus albus in eastern coastal waters of Chiloé Island and coastal waters of the continent, Chile. (●: scuba diving site, ○: inspection site of bivalve culture farm). Juvenile Ecology of Loxechinus albus 569 observation in large area was performed at the Materials and Methods sea bottom. The average depth was measured with diving depth gauge and the characteristic Field investigation sea bottom type was recorded. Although the Investigation localities and sites are shown in size of pebble is normally defined as 4-64 mm Figure 1, and natural waters (subtidal zone) and in diameter, in this study, substrate less than bivalve culture facilities were surveyed (Table approximately 100 mm which can be caught 1). The investigations were divided into three: by one hand was also recorded as pebble. On the first was a diving survey in the southern the other hand, on the third investigation, on part of Chiloé Island, the second was a diving the basis of the attachment of juvenile L. albus survey in continental waters, and the third to suspended oyster (Ostrea chilensis) cul- was a diving survey and inspection of bivalve ture lines in Linao, all the suspended culture culture farms. In the first and second investiga- lines of bivalves in Chiloé Island and Calbuco tions, the diving sites were determined based were investigated by lifting the lines to assess on the information from fisheries research- whether there were juveniles. Additionally, nat- ers and fishermen in this region. Scuba diving ural waters in Pichicolu and Linao were investi- surveys were performed by 2 divers, and the gated by scuba diving. Under artificial rearing diving time was approximately 20 minutes per conditions, L. albus grows to 18.5±3.7 mm in site, and daily diving involved 5 sites at the test diameter in 374 days (Zamora and Stotz maximum. In this survey, a square frame of 1994). Although juveniles are defined herein as 1 m or 50 cm square was used for the collec- individuals of 0 years old (<20 mm in test diam- tion of high-density juveniles, and a waterproof eter), a search for juveniles as small as possible, camera (Nikonos V, UW Nikkor 20 mm/F2.8 especially <5 mm in test diameter, was carried and Nikonos speed-light SB 103) was used to out considering recent recruitment. The sea take photographs of the natural attachment urchins collected were measured with a vernier substrate of the sea urchin. In each site, visual caliper to an accuracy of 0.1 mm. Table 1. Contents of the investigation of juvenile Loxechinus albus in eastern coastal waters of Chiloé Island and coastal waters of the continent Investigation Period Locality Category Number of sites Measure 1st May 1987 South of Queilen Natural waters 16 Scuba diving June 1987 South of Quellón Natural waters 13 Scuba diving 2nd January 1988 Caicura Natural waters 1 Scuba diving Pichicolu Natural waters 5 Scuba diving February 1988 Talcán Natural waters 8 Scuba diving March 1988 Calbuco Natural waters 4 Scuba diving 3rd December 1988 Linao Oyster culture 1 Inspection January 1989 Pichicolu Natural waters 4 Scuba diving Calbuco Oyster culture 1 Inspection Hueihue Oyster culture 1 Inspection February 1989 Rilán Oyster culture 1 Inspection Quehui Oyster culture 1 Inspection Castro Scallop culture 1 Inspection Teupa Mussel culture 1 Inspection Compu Mussel culture 1 Inspection Detico Mussel culture 1 Inspection Huildad Mussel culture 1 Inspection Yaldad Mussel culture 1 Inspection Linao Natural waters 1 Scuba diving Oyster: Ostrea chilensis, Scallop: Agropecten purpuratus, Mussel: Mytilus chilensis. 570 S. Kino Predation during diving surveys and its gastric contents Two species of juvenile crab, Pilumnoides were observed. perlatus (family Xanthidae) and Cancer seto- sus (family Cancridae), were found on the Results suspended collectors, and suggested to prey on juvenile L. albus (Kino and Kani 2009). Figure 2 shows the state of the sea bottom Therefore, a predation test was carried out and L. albus at principal diving sites (a-i), the with these juvenile crabs and L. albus collected suspended oyster culture lines in Linao ( j), and from suspended oyster culture lines in Linao the juvenile L. albus (juvenile Arbacia dufresnei on March 2, 1989. They were transported with also can be observed) attached to them (k and seawater to the laboratory in Hueihue and set in l). Table 2 shows the number and minimum size experiment tanks within 3 hours without feed- of juvenile L. albus collected by scuba diving with ing. Two 20-liter, transparent, acrylic plastic the sea bottom type and depth at each site in tanks were used for the experiment. Juvenile coastal waters of Chiloé Island and the continent. crabs of P. perlatus (13 individuals, 6.4-9.8 mm in carapace width) and C. setosus (6 individuals, The first investigation (May-June 1987) 13.2-23.7 mm in carapace width) were placed in In the south part of Queilen, L. albus was them, along with 15 juvenile L. albus of 4.6-5.8 found at many sites except sites 4, 6, 8, and 16. mm in test diameter, respectively. The experi- Juveniles were found at sites 3, 12, and 15. Site 3 ment lasted for six days (on March 2-7, 1989), was a rocky bed at a 15-m depth (Fig. 2-a), where and the conditions of each tank were as follows: 126 individuals of L. albus were collected, includ- seawater volume was 10 liters, initial seawater ing 30 (24%) juveniles, of which the size varied temperature and salinity were 13.5℃ and 33.0, from 11.3 to 90 mm in test diameter. Site 12 was respectively, one stone of approximately 10 cm a pebbled sea bottom of a 3-m depth, where only in diameter was set in the center at the tank one juvenile of 12.0 mm in test diameter was bottom as an attachment substrate for L.