Mass spawning by the sea urchin Evechinus chloroticus (Echinodermata: Echinoidea) in a New Zealand fiord |
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Authors: | M D Lamare B G Stewart |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Marine Science, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand, NZ |
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Abstract: | A mass synchronous spawning of the sea urchin Evechinus chloroticus (Valenciennes) was observed in situ in Doubtful Sound, a large New Zealand fiord. Spawning occurred between 17:30 hrs and
18:30 hrs on 27 January 1994 and coincided with a full moon, spring tides and a period of decreasing sea temperatures. During
spawning, the sea urchins formed a dense spawning aggregation of both sexes, with >90% of the urchins observed spawning at
the time. Spawned gametes clouded the water column, and some were eaten by small labrid fish species. The spawning, which
may have been as widespread as 40 km, marked a 42 to 50% decrease in gonad indices and resulted in a widespread, dense cohort
of E. chloroticus larvae within the fiord.
Received: 25 September 1997 / Accepted: 6 March 1998 |
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