Ecology Summary - Echinothrix diadema

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Ecology of Echinothrix diadema

Main Ref.	Schoppe, S., 2000
Remarks	Occurs in shallow coral and coral rubble areas at depths of 1 to 40 m (Ref. 81254), coral reefs and sandy areas (Ref. 129602). A generalist herbivore displaying nocturnal feeding behavior (Ref. 81254). Known to graze (Also Ref. 129602) on organic material and adults may also feed on live hard corals. Sometimes associated with commensal shrimp Stegopontonia commensalis (Ref. 800). Commonly found with Diadema spp. Bioeroder. Feeds on small and turf algae over hard substrates (Ref. 129602).

Main Ref.

Schoppe, S., 2000

Remarks

Occurs in shallow coral and coral rubble areas at depths of 1 to 40 m (Ref. 81254), coral reefs and sandy areas (Ref. 129602). A generalist herbivore displaying nocturnal feeding behavior (Ref. 81254). Known to graze (Also Ref. 129602) on organic material and adults may also feed on live hard corals. Sometimes associated with commensal shrimp Stegopontonia commensalis (Ref. 800). Commonly found with Diadema spp. Bioeroder. Feeds on small and turf algae over hard substrates (Ref. 129602).

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 Echinothrix diadema may be found.

Habitat

Substrate	Benthic: mobile; Soft Bottom: sand; Hard Bottom: rocky;
Substrate Ref.	Schoppe, S., 2000
Special habitats	Coral Reefs: lagoons;
Special habitats Ref.	Pante, E., M. Adjeroud, P. Dustan, L. Penin and M. Schrimm, 2006

Associations

Ref.	Schoppe, S., 2000
Associations	commensalism;
Associated with	Diadema spp. (Ref. 129602). Stegopontonia commensalis.
Association remarks
Parasitism

feeding

Feeding type	mainly plants/detritus (troph. 2-2.19)
Feeding type Ref.	de Beer, M., 1990
Feeding habit	browsing on substrate
Feeding habit Ref.	de Beer, M., 1990

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	2.48	0.33			Trophic level estimated from a number of food items using a randomized resampling routine.
Ref.

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