Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Overgrazing of kelp beds along the coast of Norway

  • Conference paper
Eighteenth International Seaweed Symposium

Part of the book series: Developments in Applied Phycology ((DAPH,volume 1))

  • 2546 Accesses

Abstract

The aim of this study was to better understand the down-grazing of kelp beds by sea urchins (Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis) along the coast of Norway. Barren grounds were first observed in sheltered areas along the coast of the counties of Trøndelag, Nordland and Troms in 1974. In the 1980s, the barren grounds spread to areas more heavily exposed to waves. In the 1990s, the kelp beds were re-established in some localities in southern Trøndelag, initially in wave-exposed areas. In the northernmost parts of Norway, i.e. the counties of Troms and Finnmark, the barren ground areas may still be increasing. Crabs (Cancer pagurus) and common eiders are the most common predators on urchins. Predation on sea urchins in kelp beds is probably not among the factors that limit the sea urchin populations. Along the coast of Nordland and further north, sea urchins are infected by nematodes, resulting in a low, but significant increase in their mortality. No re-growth of kelp beds has been found in the most infected areas. In the late 1960s and the early 1970s, a high occurrence of echinoderm larvae was observed in deeper waters. This was a period with cold water, which may have caused high recruitment of sea urchins. The bet-hedging life strategy of sea urchins may account for the sudden increase in the size of the populations. In the present paper I propose the hypothesis that higher individual growth rates and higher mortality rates in the south than in the north may explain the decrease in the populations, which may in turn account for the re-growth of kelp in the southern areas.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Asplin L, Dahl E (2003) Havets miljø2003, Fisken og havet. Særnummer 2: 2003. 122pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Braarud T, Nygaard I (1980) Phytoplankton observations in offshore Norwegian coastal waters between 62°N and 69°N. 2. Diatom societies from Møre to Vesterålen, March–April 1968–1971. Sarsia 65: 93–114.

    Google Scholar 

  • Breen PA, Mann KH (1976a) Changing lobster abundance and the destruction of kelp beds by sea urchins. Mar. Biol. 34: 137–142.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Breen PA, Mann KH (1976b) Destructive grazing of kelp by sea urchins in eastern Canada. J. Fish. Res. Bd. Canada 33: 1278–1283.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bustnes JO, Lønne OJ (1996) Sea ducks as predators on sea urchins in a northern kelp forest. In Skjoldal HR, Hopkins CCE, Erikstad KE, Leinaas HP (eds) Ecology in fjords and coastal waters, Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp 599–608.

    Google Scholar 

  • Christie H, Leinaas HP, Skadsheim A (1995) Local patterns in mortality of the green sea urchin, Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis, at the Norwegian coast. In Skjoldal HR, Hopkins CCE, Erikstad KE, Leinaas HP (eds), Ecology of fjords and coastal waters, Elsevier, Amsterdam, 573–584.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dayton PK (1985) Ecology of kelp communities. Ann. Rev. Ecol. Syst. 16: 215–245.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Düben GVJ von (1847) In Forhandlinger ved de skandinaviske naturforskeres fjerde møte i Christiania den 11–18 Juli 1844. Cristiania (Oslo): 250–255.

    Google Scholar 

  • Döderlein L von (1900) II Die Echinodermen. In Wissenschaftliche Meeresuntersuchungen. Kommission zur wissenschaftlichen Untersuchungen der deutsche Meer in Kiel und der Biologische Astalt auf Helgoland. 195–249.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ebert TA (1982) Longevity, life history, and relative body wall size in sea urchins. Ecol. Monogr. 52: 353–394.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ebert TA (1983) Recruitment in echinoderms. In Jangoux M, Lawrence JM (eds) Echinoderm studies I, Balkema, Rotterdam, pp. 169–201.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ebert TA (1985) Sensitivity of fitness to macroparameter changes: An analysis of survuvorship and individual growth in sea urchin life histories. Oecologia 65: 461–467.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Elner RW, Vadas RL (1990) Inference in ecology: The sea urchin phenomenon in the northwestern Atlantic. Am. Nat. 136: 108–125.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Emlet RB, McEdward LR, Strathmann RR (1987) Echinoderm larval ecology viewed from the egg. In Jangoux M, Lawrence JM (eds), Echinoderm studies, Balkema, Rotterdam, pp 55–136.

    Google Scholar 

  • Falk-Petersen I-B (1982) Ecological investigations on zooplankton community of Balsfjord, northern Norway. Planktonic eggs and larvae from March 1978 to February 1980. Sarsia 67: 69–78.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fishery statistics, (1961–1973) Central bureau of statistics, Oslo. Annual reports.

    Google Scholar 

  • Follestad A, Larsen BH, Nygaard T (1986) Sjøfuglundersøkelser langs kysten av Sørog Nord-Trøndelag og sørlige del av Nordland 1983–1986. Direktoratet for naturforvaltning, Trondheim, Viltra pp 41: 1–113. (In Norwegian).

    Google Scholar 

  • Foreman RE (1977) Benthic community modification and recovery following intensive grazing by Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis. Helgol. Wiss. Meeresunters. 30: 468–484.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hagen NT (1987) Sea urchin outbreaks and nematode epizootics in Vestfjorden, northern Norway. Sarsia 72: 213–229.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hagen NT (1995) Recurrent destructive grazing of successionally immature kelp forests by green sea urchins in Vestfjorden, north Norway. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 123: 95–106.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hart MW, Scheibling RE (1988) Heat waves, baby bloom, and the destruction of kelp beds by sea urchins. Mar. Biol. 99: 167–176.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hawkins SJ, Hartnoll RG (1983) Grazing of intertidal algae by marine invertebrates. Oceanogr. Mar. Biol. Ann. Rev. 21: 195–286.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hjort J, Ruud JT (1927) A method for the analysis and comparison of plankton samples. Nytt. Mag. Nat. 65: 137–144.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hooper R (1980) Observations on algal-grazer interactions in Newfoundland and Labrador. In Pringle, JD, Sharp GJ, Caddy JF (eds), Proceedings of the workshop on the relationship between sea urchin grazing and commercial plant/animal harvesting. Canadian Technical Report of Fisheries and Aquatic Science 954:120–124.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hopkins CCE, Nilssen EM (1990) Population biology of the deepwater prawn (Pandalus borealis) in Balsfjord, northern Norway: I. Abundance, mortality, and growth, 1979–1983. J. Explor. Mer 47: 148–166.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jackson JBC, Kirby MX, Berger WH, Bjorndal KA, Botsford LW, Bourque BJ, Brandbury RH, Cooke R, Erlandson J, Estes JA, Hughes TP, Kidwell S, Lange CB, Lenihan HS, Pandolfi JM, Peterson CH, Steneck RS, Tegner MJ, Warner RR (2001) Historical overfishing and the resent collapse of coastal ecosystems. Science 293: 629–638.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lawrence JM (1975) On the relationship between marine plants and sea urchins. Oceanogr. Mar. Biol. Ann. Rev. 13: 213–286.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mehlum F, Gabrielsen GW (1995) Energy expenditure and food consumption by sea bird populations in the Barents sea region. In Skjoldal HR, Hopkins CCE, Erikstad KE, Leinaas HP (eds), Ecology in fjords and coastalwaters, Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp 457–470.

    Google Scholar 

  • Miller RJ (1985) Seaweeds, sea urchins, and lobsters: A reappraisal. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 42: 2061–2072.

    Google Scholar 

  • Murphy GI (1968) Pattern of life history and the environment. Am. Nat. 102: 391–403.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Parsons LS and Lear WH (2001) Climate variability and marine ecosystem impacts: A North Atlantic perspective. Prog. Oceanogr. 49: 167–188.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pauly D (1982) Studying single-species dynamics in a tropical multispecies context. In Pauly D, Murphy GI (eds), Theory and management of tropical fisheries. ICLARM Conference Proceedings 9: 33–70.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pitcher TJ, Hart PJB (1982) Fisheries ecology, Chapman and Hall, London, pp 1–414.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rasmussen B (1967) Temperaturforhold og rekefiske i Skagerak 1962–66. Fiskets Gang 47: 842–847.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roff DA (1992) The evolution of the life histories. Theory and analysis, Chapmann and Hall, London, New York, pp 1–535.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schaffer MW (1974) Optimal reproductive effort in fluctuating environments. Am. Nat. 108: 783–790.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schaffer WM, Gadgil M (1975) Selection for optimum life history in plants. In Cody ML, Diamond JM (eds), Ecology and evolution of communities, Belknap Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. pp 142–157.

    Google Scholar 

  • Scheibling RE, Hennigar AW (1997) Recurrent outbreaks of disease in sea urchins Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis in Nova Scotia: Evidence for a link with large-scale meteorologic and oceanographic events. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 152: 155–165.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sivertsen K (1996) Incidence, occurrence and distribution of the nematode Echinomermella matsi in its echinoid host, Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis, in northern Norway. Mar. Biol. 126: 703–714.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sivertsen K (1997a) Geographic and environmental factors affecting the distribution of kelp beds and barren grounds and changes in biota associated with kelp reduction at sites along the Norwegian coast. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 54: 2872–2887.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sivertsen K (1997b) Dynamics of sea urchins and kelp during overgrazing of kelp forests along the Norwegian coast. Thesis. Norwegian College of Fishery Science. University of Tromsø, Norway. 127 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sivertsen K (2003) Harvestable sea urchin (Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis) resources along the Norwegian coast. Proceedings. International Conference on Sea-urchin Fisheries and Aquaculture, Puerto Varas, Chile, 25–27 March 2003. pp. 1–7.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sivertsen K, Hopkins CCE (1995) Demography of the echinoid Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis related to biotope in northern Norway. In Skjoldal HR, Hopkins CCE, Erikstad KE, Leinaas HP (eds), Ecology of fjords and coastalwaters, Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp 573–584.

    Google Scholar 

  • Skadsheim A, Christie H, Leinaas HP (1995) Population reductions of Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis (Echinodermata) in Norway and the distribution of its endoparasite Echinomermella matsi (Nematoda). Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 119: 199–209.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stearns SC (1976) Life-history tactics: A review of ideas. Q. Rev. Biol. 51: 3–47.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stearns CS (1977) The evolution of life history traits: A critique of the theory and a review of the data. Ann. Rev. Ecol. Syst. 8:145–171.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Steneck RS, Graham MH, Bourque BJ, Corbett D, Erlandson JM, Estes JA, Tegner MJ (2002) Kelp forests ecosystems: Biodiversity, stability, resilience and future. Env. Cons. 29: 436–459.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stien A, Halvorsen O, Leinaas HP (1995) No evidence of Echinomermella matsi (Nematoda) as a factor in a local mass mortality of Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis (Echinodea). In Skjoldal HR, Hopkins CCE, Erikstad KE, Leinaas HP (eds) Ecology of fjords and coastal waters, Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp 585–592.

    Google Scholar 

  • Svåsand T, Kristiansen TS, Pedersen T, Salvanes AGB, Engelsen R, Nødtvedt M (1998) Havbeite med torsk-artsrapport. Norges forskningsråd. Oslo. 1–78.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wiborg KF (1962) Estimation of numbers in the laboratory. Rapp. et proc.-verb 153: 74–77.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wing SR, Largier JL, Botsford LW, Quinn JF (1995) Settlement and transport of bentic invertebrates in an intermitted upwelling region. Limnol. Oceanogr. 40: 316–329.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Finnmark University College, N-9509, Alta, Norway

    Knut Sivertsen

Authors
  1. Knut Sivertsen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Marine and Coastal Management, South Africa

    Robert Anderson

  2. Bath Spa University College, UK

    Juliet Brodie

  3. Degussa Texturant Systems France Sas, France

    Alan T. Critchley

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2006 Springer

About this paper

Cite this paper

Sivertsen, K. (2006). Overgrazing of kelp beds along the coast of Norway. In: Anderson, R., Brodie, J., Onsøyen, E., Critchley, A.T. (eds) Eighteenth International Seaweed Symposium. Developments in Applied Phycology, vol 1. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-5670-3_45

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation