Experiment testing the temperature dependence of urchin grazing at the Galapagos Science Center on San Cristobal Island from February to March 2018

Abstract

This study was conducted from February to March 2018 at the Galapagos Science Center on San Cristobal Island. The rate of Ulva sp. consumption by the two sea urchins, Lytechinus semituberculatus and Eucidaris galapagensis was measured at 10 temperatures: 14°, 16°, 18°, 20°, 22°, 24°, 26°, 28°, 30°, 32°C. L. semituberculatus (green urchin), E. galapaguensis (pencil urchin) and T. depressus (white urchin) are the three most common species in the Galapagos Islands and together make up 91% of the sea urchin biomass. Ulva sp. was used as the prey item because it is one of the most abundant macroalgal species, together with turf, encrusting coralline algae and Sargassum near the Galapagos and coast and because it is highly palatable for herbivores.

For a complete list of measurements, refer to the full dataset description in the supplemental file 'Dataset_description.pdf'. The most current version of this dataset is available at: https://www.bco-dmo.org/dataset/775500