Chapter 19 The ecology of Strongylocentrotus franciscanus and Strongylocentrotus purpuratus

Abstract

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the ecology of Strongylocentrotus franciscanus (S. franciscanus) and Strongylocentrotus purpuratus (S. purpuratus). Red sea urchins, S. franciscanus, and purple sea urchins, S. purpuratus, are the most studied and well-known echinoid species in the world. Red and purple sea urchins are dominant members of near shore rocky reef communities along the North American west coast and are capable of structuring subtidal algal communities and influencing community diversity. Red and purple sea urchins are also the basis for important fisheries, with purple sea urchins making up a minor component of the fishery. Purple sea urchins are collected extensively for scientific research, including fertilization biology, embryology, genome analysis, and fertilization bioassays that are used to assess the toxicity of marine pollutants, silt, pulp-mill effluent, and ultraviolet radiation. Red sea urchins are important for fisheries, in part because of their large body size. Red and purple sea urchins reside on rocky substrates with a broad geographic and depth distribution.