• Skip to main content
  • Skip to after header navigation
  • Skip to site footer
ERN: Emerging Researchers National Conference in STEM

ERN: Emerging Researchers National Conference in STEM

  • About
    • About AAAS
    • About the NSF
    • About the Conference
    • Partners/Supporters
    • Project Team
  • Conference
  • Abstracts
    • Undergraduate Abstract Locator
    • Graduate Abstract Locator
    • Abstract Submission Process
    • Presentation Schedules
    • Abstract Submission Guidelines
    • Presentation Guidelines
  • Travel Awards
  • Resources
    • Award Winners
    • Code of Conduct-AAAS Meetings
    • Code of Conduct-ERN Conference
    • Conference Agenda
    • Conference Materials
    • Conference Program Books
    • ERN Photo Galleries
    • Events | Opportunities
    • Exhibitor Info
    • HBCU-UP/CREST PI/PD Meeting
    • In the News
    • NSF Harassment Policy
    • Plenary Session Videos
    • Professional Development
    • Science Careers Handbook
    • Additional Resources
    • Archives
  • Engage
    • Webinars
    • ERN 10-Year Anniversary Videos
    • Plenary Session Videos
  • Contact Us
  • Login

The West Indian Sea Egg (Tripneustes ventricosus) is Negatively Impacted by the Invasive Seagrass Halophila stipulacea

Undergraduate #208
Discipline: Ecology Environmental and Earth Sciences
Subcategory: Ecology

Kyle Jerris - University of the Virgin Islands
Co-Author(s): Teresa Turner, University of the Virgin Islands, USVI



The West Indian Sea Egg (Tripneustes ventricosus) is one of the most prominent grazers on Caribbean seagrass beds. On some Caribbean islands such Martinique and St. Lucia, there is a commercial fishery for it. Because Caribbean seagrass beds are being invaded by the Indian Ocean seagrass Halophila stipulacea, T. ventricosus is a prime candidate to control it. This study conducted on St. Thomas United States Virgin Islands, aimed to determine whether Tripneustes can act as a biological control for Halophila as well as what effects this seagrass might have on the urchin. To determine site preference, surveys were conducted at three habitat types. These surveys showed that theses urchins preferred turtle grass (Thalassia testudinum) beds and rock substrate over Halophila beds (ANOVA p=0.0022). Only one urchin was found in a Halophila bed, suggesting it might not control the invasive seagrass. A multi choice feeding experiment was then conducted to determine preference among the seagrass species found on the island. The experiment showed that T. ventricosus greatly preferred T. testudinum over any of the other seagrasses. (Friedman test p=0.0001) To further determine if the West Indian Sea egg would be a suitable biocontrol for H. stipulacea, urchins were fed either Halophila or Thalassia for five weeks. At first some of the urchins in the Halophila treatment refused to eat. After some time, more urchins started to eat the Halophila, which suggests that they can eat Halophila in natural conditions. As a proxy for health, I observed the urchins’ righting behavior. The majority of the Halophila treatment urchins had a dropping behavior when righting themselves, suggesting that they have poor health on this food. Thus Tripneustes probably cannot control Halophila and indeed its population might be negatively impacted by the invasion.

Funder Acknowledgement(s): This research was supported in part by the National Science Foundation’s Virgin Islands Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (VIEPSCoR award #1355437) and the Center for Marine and Environmental Studies at the University of the Virgin Islands.

Faculty Advisor: Teresa Turner,

Sidebar

Abstract Locators

  • Undergraduate Abstract Locator
  • Graduate Abstract Locator

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) under Grant No. DUE-1930047. Any opinions, findings, interpretations, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of its authors and do not represent the views of the AAAS Board of Directors, the Council of AAAS, AAAS’ membership or the National Science Foundation.

AAAS

1200 New York Ave, NW
Washington,DC 20005
202-326-6400
Contact Us
About Us

  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

The World’s Largest General Scientific Society

Useful Links

  • Membership
  • Careers at AAAS
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use

Focus Areas

  • Science Education
  • Science Diplomacy
  • Public Engagement
  • Careers in STEM

Focus Areas

  • Shaping Science Policy
  • Advocacy for Evidence
  • R&D Budget Analysis
  • Human Rights, Ethics & Law

© 2023 American Association for the Advancement of Science