MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Agência Regional para o Desenvolvimento da Investigação, Tecnologia e Inovação (ARDITI), Edifício Madeira Tecnopolo, Caminho da Penteada, 9020-105, Funchal, Madeira, Portugal.
MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Agência Regional para o Desenvolvimento da Investigação, Tecnologia e Inovação (ARDITI), Edifício Madeira Tecnopolo, Caminho da Penteada, 9020-105, Funchal, Madeira, Portugal; GEOMAR, Marine Ecology Department, Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Düsternbrooker Weg 20, 24105, Kiel, Germany.
Mar Environ Res. 2020 Apr;156:104905. doi: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2020.104905. Epub 2020 Feb 8.
Mass mortality events involving marine taxa are increasing worldwide. The long-spined sea urchin Diadema africanum is considered a keystone herbivore species in the northeastern Atlantic due to its control over the abundance and distribution of algae. After a first registered mass mortality in 2009, another event off the coasts of Madeira archipelago affected this ecologically important species in summer 2018. This study documented the 2018 D. africanum mass mortality event, and the progress of its populations on the southern coast of Madeira island. A citizen science survey was designed targeting marine stakeholders to understand the extent and intensity of the event around the archipelago. Underwater surveys on population density prior, during and after the mass mortality, permitted an evaluation of the severity and magnitude of the event as well as urchin population recovery. A preliminary assessment of causative agents of the mortality was performed. The event was reported in the principal islands of the archipelago reducing the populations up to 90%. However, a fast recovery was registered during the following months, suggesting that the reproductive success was not compromised. Microbiological analyses in symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals, during and after the event, was not conclusive. Nevertheless, the bacteria Aeromonas salmonicida, or the gram-negative bacteria, or the interaction of different types of bacteria may be responsible for the disease outbreak. Further studies are needed to assess the role of pathogens in sea urchin mass mortalities and the compound effects that sea urchins have in local habitats and ecological functioning of coastal marine ecosystems.
全球范围内，涉及海洋生物类群的大规模死亡事件正在增加。长棘海星 Diadema africanum 因其对藻类丰度和分布的控制作用，被认为是东北大西洋的关键草食性物种。2009 年首次记录到大规模死亡事件后，2018 年夏季马德拉群岛沿海又发生了另一起事件，影响了这一具有重要生态意义的物种。本研究记录了 2018 年长棘海星大规模死亡事件，并记录了马德拉岛南部沿海该物种的种群进展情况。一项针对海洋利益相关者的公民科学调查旨在了解该群岛周围该事件的范围和强度。在大规模死亡事件之前、期间和之后进行的种群密度水下调查，评估了事件的严重程度和规模，以及海胆种群的恢复情况。对死亡原因进行了初步评估。该事件在群岛的主要岛屿上均有报道，使种群数量减少了 90%。然而，在接下来的几个月里，种群数量迅速恢复，表明繁殖成功率没有受到影响。对有症状和无症状个体在事件期间和之后的微生物分析没有得出明确结论。然而，可能是细菌鲑鱼气单胞菌或革兰氏阴性菌，或不同类型细菌的相互作用导致了疾病爆发。需要进一步的研究来评估病原体在海胆大规模死亡事件中的作用，以及海胆在当地生境和沿海海洋生态系统生态功能中的复合影响。
