Sea urchins are a major component of the world ocean. They are important ecologically and often greatly affect marine communities. They have an excellent fossil record and consequently are of interest to paleontologists. Research has increased in recent years stimulated first by a recognition of their ecological importance and then because of their economic importance. Scientists around the world are actively investigating their potential for aquaculture.
This book is designed to provide a broad understanding of the biology and ecology of sea urchins. Synthetic chapters consider biology of sea urchins as a whole to give a broad view. The topics of these chapters include reproduction, metabolism, endocrinology, larval ecology, growth, digestion, carotenoids, disease and nutrition. Subsequent chapters consider the ecology of individual species that are of major importance ecologically and economically. These include species from Japan, New Zealand, Australia, Europe, North America, South America and Africa.
Preface. The edible sea-urchins (J.M. Lawrence). Reproduction of sea urchins (C.W. Walker, T. Unuma, N.A. McGinn, L.M. Harrington, M.P. Lesser). Energy metabolism and gonad development (A.G. Marsh, S.A. Watts). Reproductive endocrinology of sea urchins (K.M. Wasson, S.A. Watts). Echinoid larval ecology (L.R. McEdward, B.G. Miner). Growth and survival of post-settlement sea urchins (T.A. Ebert). Digestion in sea urchins (J.M. Lawrence, T.S. Klinger). Carotenoids in sea urchins (T. Matsuno, M. Tsushima). Disease in edible sea urchins (K. Tajima, J.M. Lawrence). The ecology of Centrostephanus rodgersii (N. Andrew, M. Byrne). The ecology of Loxechinus albus (J. Vasquez). The ecology of Paracentrotus lividus (C.-F. Boudouresque, M. Verlaque). The ecology of Psammechinus miliaris (M. Kelly, E. Cook). The ecology of Echinometra (T.R. McClanahan, N.A. Muthiga). The ecology of Evechinus chloroticus (M.F. Barker). The ecology of Heliocidaris erythrogramma (J. Keesing). The ecology of Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis (R.E. Scheibling, B.G. Hatcher). The ecology of Strongylocentrotus franciscanus and Strongylocentrotus purpuratus (M.J. Tegner). The ecology of Strongylocentrotus intermedius (Y. Agatsuma). The ecology of Strongylocentrotus nudus (Y. Agatsuma). The ecology of Lytechinus variegatus (S.A. Watts, J.B. McClintock, J.M. Lawrence). The ecology of Tripneustes (J.M. Lawrence, Y. Agatsuma). Sea-urchin roe cuisine (J.M. Lawrence).
S. Robinson ...I would heartily recommend this book for marine science libraries as well as all persons working with sea urchins considering the global distribution of these echinoderms. It is a good review of the state of the basic biology and ecological knowledge of urchins and it will be referred to numerous times by both researcher and student alike. Aquaculture