1. Sea Urchin Population Issues in California Kelp Forests Andy Ostrowski Bio 457- Fall 2004

2. Sea Urchins Of Southern Ca.  Purple (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus) and Red Sea Urchins (S. franciscanus)  Subtidal foraging Omnivores that prefer kelp  Enchinoderms: sea stars, sea cucumbers, brittle stars.  Hardy, Long lasting  Use Tube feet for locomotion

3. Their Affects on Kelp Forests  Eat base stronghold of Kelp, disabling it  Floats to the surface and dies  Abundant urchin populations create “Barrons” –Eat on floating algae and don’t allow kelp recruitments

4. Why a Problem?  Natural Predators are lacking –California Sea Otters are endangered –Sheepshead are being fished  Creates different population dynamics in system

5. Population Control  Increased fishing of Red Sea Urchin for Export to Japan –One of California’s most valuable fisheries –Declining rapidly  Protection of the Sea Otter population by numerous agencies  Regulation of size of urchin allowed to catch  Regulation of Sheepshead Fishing  Increased areas of kelp growth to avoid “barrons”