Ecology Summary - Sphaerechinus granularis

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Ecology of Sphaerechinus granularis

Main Ref.	Gaspar, M.B., M.D. Dias, A. Campos, C.C. Monteiro, M.N. Santos, A. Chicharo and L. Chicharo, 2001
Remarks	Intertidal (Ref. 106595) to sublittoral (Ref. 106593). Found on rocky shores (Refs. 106372, 106591, 106593, 106597). Also on grounds consisting of gravel encrusted with calcareous red algae (Ref. 106597). Herbivorous grazer (Ref. 106997). Grazes on encrusting coralline algae on rocks, on dead Posidonia oceanica leaves and their epiphytes, and on the rhizomes and roots of the seagrass when accessible (Ref. 106595). Scrapes the external part of rhizomes and consumes the roots entirely (Ref. 106997). Bioeroder since it feeds on any coralline substrate (Ref. 106598).

Main Ref.

Gaspar, M.B., M.D. Dias, A. Campos, C.C. Monteiro, M.N. Santos, A. Chicharo and L. Chicharo, 2001

Remarks

Intertidal (Ref. 106595) to sublittoral (Ref. 106593). Found on rocky shores (Refs. 106372, 106591, 106593, 106597). Also on grounds consisting of gravel encrusted with calcareous red algae (Ref. 106597). Herbivorous grazer (Ref. 106997). Grazes on encrusting coralline algae on rocks, on dead Posidonia oceanica leaves and their epiphytes, and on the rhizomes and roots of the seagrass when accessible (Ref. 106595). Scrapes the external part of rhizomes and consumes the roots entirely (Ref. 106997). Bioeroder since it feeds on any coralline substrate (Ref. 106598).

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 Sphaerechinus granularis may be found.

Habitat

Substrate	Benthic: mobile; Soft Bottom: sand; Hard Bottom: rocky;
Substrate Ref.	Agassiz, A., 1881
Special habitats	Beds: algae/seaweed; rock; sea grass; Other habitats: seamounts;
Special habitats Ref.	Agassiz, A., 1881

Associations

Ref.	Gaspar, M.B., M.D. Dias, A. Campos, C.C. Monteiro, M.N. Santos, A. Chicharo and L. Chicharo, 2001
Associations
Associated with
Association remarks
Parasitism

feeding

Feeding type	mainly plants/detritus (troph. 2-2.19)
Feeding type Ref.	Martínez-Pita, I., A.I. Sánchez-España and F.J. García, 2008
Feeding habit	grazing on aquatic plants
Feeding habit Ref.	Martínez-Pita, I., A.I. Sánchez-España and F.J. García, 2008

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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