Florofaunistic changes in the infralittoral zone after the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus (L.) population explosion

Abstract

        Comparative studies on benthic communities before (1972) and after (1980) the explosion of the sea urchin population (Paracentrotus lividus) in the Piran Bay (Gulf of Triest) revealed:

         1. Reduction of the infralitoral species from 447 in 1972 to only 35 species in 1980.

         2. Decline of the vegetation was followed by elimination of 95% animal species that were presumably linked to the vegetation.