Photoquadrat analysis of how sea urchins reduce abundance of Kappaphycus and analysis of regrowth of coral on plots in Kaneohe Bay, Oahu, Hawaii in 2002 (NODC Accession 0001022)

An experiment was performed to assess the potential to use native sea urchins as biocontrols for alien/invasive seaweeds. One species of urchin, tripneustes gratilla, was bedded in a 1/4 m2 plot with > 50% kappaphycus cover. Fences were made out of plastic coated chicken wire and were surveyed every month with photoquadrats to assess kappaphycus abundance. In addition, regrowth of plots where kappaphycus had been removed was monitored.