Density and distribution pattern of sea urchins in Barangay Panubuatan, Iba, Zambales

• Main Author: De Mesa, Erwin R.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 1993
• Subjects: Sea-urchins; Geographical distribution of animals and plants
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_bachelors/1136
• Institution: De La Salle University

Four different species of sea urchins were found along a 200 meter transect line which was laid perpendicular to the coast of Zambales Bay. The species were identified as Echinometra oblonga, Diadema setosum, Echinothrix calamaris and Tripneustes gratilla.Sea urchins found within the ten-9 square meter quadrats which were laid out every ten meters along the transect were counted and classified.E. Oblonga showed the highest frequency followed by D. setosum, E. calamaris then T. gratilla. Both D. setosum and E. calamaris showed a clumped distribution while E. oblonga showed a random distribution in all the sampling months.E. oblonga were mostly found in rock crevices while D. setosum and E. calamaris were found in rocky and sandy substratum. T. gratilla was found in the sea grass area.The species D. setosum showed the highest wet weight followed by E. calamaris, T. gratilla then E. oblonga. E. calamaris showed the highest measurement in diameter followed by T. garatilla, D. setosum and then E. oblonga.