Long-spined sea urchins are the unsung heroes of Caribbean reefs, despite their villainous appearance. These sea creatures play a vital role in maintaining the health of coral ecosystems by consuming large amounts of algae that can smother corals. However, disease has decimated about 97 percent of long-spined sea urchins across the Caribbean, leading to a decline in live coral cover by over 80 percent since the 1970s.
To address this issue, the Florida Aquarium and the University of Florida have teamed up to raise sea urchins in custom-designed aquariums. These efforts aim to replenish struggling reefs in Florida and beyond by releasing lab-raised sea urchins into the wild. Raising long-spined sea urchins in labs is a challenging task, as these creatures have a delicate larval stage that requires special care and pristine water quality.
The urchin lab team has made significant progress in raising sea urchins, with thousands of young urchins successfully raised since the project began in 2018. These lab-raised sea urchins are then released into the ocean to study their behavior in the wild and their impact on reef ecosystems. While the presence of sea urchins can help control algae growth on reefs, it is not a solution to larger threats such as marine heat waves and climate change.
Despite the challenges ahead, researchers remain optimistic about the role of sea urchins in reef restoration efforts. By creating space for corals to grow and thrive, these sea creatures can contribute to the overall health and biodiversity of coral reefs. While restoring sea urchin populations is just one piece of the puzzle in reef conservation, it is a crucial step in preserving these important marine ecosystems for future generations.
