A paper published in Marine Biodiversity journal investigated the fishes associated with the long-spined sea urchin
Diadema antillarum in Trindade Island, an oceanic island in southwestern Atlantic. The survey is part of the
Long-Term Biodiversity Monitoring Program on Brazilian Oceanic Islands (PELD – ILOC). Researchers found nine
species of fishes associated with sea urchins, which provide important shelter especially for juveniles of the
Noronha wrasse, Thalassoma noronhanum. Overall, larger fishes were found at higher densities associated to sea
urchins with larger spines. At reefs with low complexity, sea urchins can be an important refuge for small-bodied
fishes.

Reef fishes associated with sea urchins in Trindade Island. A and C: Thalassoma noronhanum; B: Amblycirrhitus
pinos. Credits: Vinicius J Giglio and Moysés C Barbosa

Reference: Giglio VJ, Ternes MLF, Barbosa MC, Cordeiro CAMM, Floeter SR, Ferreira CEL (2017) Reef fish
associations with sea urchins in an Atlantic oceanic island. Marine Biodiversity. doi: 10.1007/s12526-017-0677-4 (PDF)

Written by: Vinicius J Giglio