Dataset: Herbivorus green sea urchin counts from surveys conducted in St. Joseph Bay, Florida, USA in May 2016 and August 2019

This dataset has not been validatedData not availableVersion 1 (2025-04-08)Dataset Type:Unknown

Principal Investigator: Kenneth Heck (Dauphin Island Sea Lab)

Co-Principal Investigator: Dorothy Byron (Dauphin Island Sea Lab)

Technician: Alexandra Rodriguez (Dauphin Island Sea Lab)

BCO-DMO Data Manager: Shannon Rauch (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)

Project: RAPID: Species on the Move: Tropicalization of Western Atlantic Seagrass Beds (Tropicalization in seagrass)

Abstract

The herbivorus green sea urchin (Lytechinus variegatus) was surveyed across the southern part of St. Joseph Bay at 16 sites spaced approximately 1 nautical mile apart. Initial surveys were performed in May 2016 as part of a prior study of seagrass coverage, reproduction, and herbivore intensity. Using RAPID funds, the same survey was conducted in August 2019, 11 months after Hurricane Michael, an extremely powerful category 5 tropical cyclone, made landfall nearby with devastating effects. Densi...

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Data were collected during day trips aboard a 21-foot powerboat conducted once per week in St. Joseph Bay, Florida during May 2016 and August 2019.

Lytechinus variegatus were surveyed at 16 sites spaced approximately 1 nautical mile apart in the southern part of St. Joseph Bay to estimate how Hurricane Michael's passage impacted resident urchin densities. Densities were recorded by snorkelers in 5 replicate, haphazardly thrown 0.25-square-meter (m2) quadrats at each site. Initial surveys were performed in May 2016, and post-hurricane surveys took place in August 2019. A t-test compared urchin density means between pre- and post-hurricane surveys.

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Byron, D., Heck, K., Rodriguez, A. (2025) Herbivorus green sea urchin counts from surveys conducted in St. Joseph Bay, Florida, USA in May 2016 and August 2019. Biological and Chemical Oceanography Data Management Office (BCO-DMO). (Version 1) Version Date 2025-04-08 [if applicable, indicate subset used]. http://lod.bco-dmo.org/id/dataset/958329 [access date]

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This dataset is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0.


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Funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation