This project addresses the decline of coral reefs in the Caribbean, where hard coral cover has dropped drastically over recent decades due to climate change, pollution, overfishing, and disease. A critical species for reef health is the black long-spined sea urchin (Diadema antillarum), which plays a keystone role in controlling algae and supporting coral recovery. However, two major disease-driven mortality events, in 1983 and again in 2022, decimated populations of this species, causing severe ecosystem imbalance across the region. While some reefs where D. antillarum recovered show improved coral recruitment, many remain dominated by algae, highlighting the species’ importance to reef resilience.
Building on previous surveys in Grenada’s Grand Anse Bay, this project will assess D. antillarum densities, size structure, and benthic cover at Grand Anse and Coral Bank over a six-month monitoring period, including measurements of growth rates and grazing efficiency. It will also evaluate long-term population trends in relation to mass mortality events and hurricane impacts, including the effects of Hurricane Beryl. The findings will provide critical data for monitoring reef health, understanding resilience, and informing conservation strategies in the face of ongoing climate change and environmental disturbances.
