Ecology Summary - Diadema antillarum

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Ecology of Diadema antillarum

Main Ref.	Collin, R., M.C. Díaz, J. Norenburg, R.M. Rocha, J.A. Sánchez, M. Schulze, A. Schwartz and A. Valdés, 2005
Remarks	This is an epibenthic, subtidal species found in coral reefs and rocky bottoms (Ref. 83942). On coral reefs to a depth of 50 m, but common in shallow water (Ref. 415, 86574); and on Thalassia sp. beds (Ref. 86574). Nocturnal grazers (Ref. 415).

Aquatic zones / Water bodies

	Marine - Neritic	Marine - Oceanic	Brackishwater	Freshwater
Marine zones / Brackish and freshwater bodies	supra-littoral zone littoral zone sublittoral zone	epipelagic mesopelagic epipelagic abyssopelagic hadopelagic	estuaries/lagoons/brackish seas mangroves marshes/swamps	rivers/streams lakes/ponds caves exclusively in caves

Highighted items on the list are where Diadema antillarum may be found.

Habitat

Substrate	Benthic: megabenthos; Soft Bottom: sand; Hard Bottom: rocky;
Substrate Ref.	Alvarado, J.J. and J. Cortés, 2009
Special habitats	Beds: sea grass; Coral Reefs;
Special habitats Ref.	Kier, P.M., 1975

Associations

Ref.	Randall, J.E., R.E. Schroeder and W.A. Starck, 1964
Associations	commensalism;
Associated with	mysid shrimp such as Mysidium gracile, two palaemonid shrimps (Stegopontia sp. and Periclimenes sp.) and young West Indian reef fishes such as grunts (Haemulon spp.), drums (Equetus spp.), wrasses (Labridae) butterflyfishes (Chaetodontidae), and adult cardinalfishes (Apogon spp.).
Association remarks	mysid shrimps often in groups hovering and seeking the interspaces between the spines of Diadema antillarum. The same for the reef fishes, most likely seeking protection from the sea urchin. Two palaemonid shrimps were found inhabiting the test and spines.
Parasitism

feeding

Feeding type	mainly plants/detritus (troph. 2-2.19)
Feeding type Ref.	Collin, R., M.C. Díaz, J. Norenburg, R.M. Rocha, J.A. Sánchez, M. Schulze, A. Schwartz and A. Valdés, 2005
Feeding habit	browsing on substrate
Feeding habit Ref.	Collin, R., M.C. Díaz, J. Norenburg, R.M. Rocha, J.A. Sánchez, M. Schulze, A. Schwartz and A. Valdés, 2005

Trophic Level(s)

Estimation method	original sample		unfished population		Remark
Estimation method	Troph	s.e.	Troph	s.e.	Remark
From diet composition
From individual food items	2.00	0.00			Trophic level and s.e. inferred from exclusive plant/detritus food items.
Ref.

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