Advanced Biology (Period A)

Echinoderm Conservation Assignment

4th June, 2018

Group Members:

Kanyaorn Ruetaijetjaroen(Mimi) 5961221

Kanokpon Nagavajara(Ploy) 5961125
Pongpisit Iamsomboonkorn(Nett) 5961220
Kanyarat Tirasirichai(Jenny) 5961082
The European Edible Sea Urchin

The European Edible Sea Urchin or ​Echinus esculentus​ of the family Echinidae is one of a
marine invertebrate found along the European coastline. The European Edible Sea Urchin
located estimately 1,200 m down. International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
has currently recorded this specific species included in the Red List of Threatened Species.
Figure​ 1 shows the population overtime of the ​Echinus esculentus​ in the coastal areas of
western Europe.

Figure 1. The population overtime of the Echinus esculentus in the coastal areas of western
Europe

Figure 2. Graph Data of population overtime of the Echinus esculentus

Summary

The report in​ figure 1 and figure 2 ​demonstrate the similar trends referring to the rate of the
Echinus esculentus ​population of the varieties of countries along the European coast from
1985 to 2015. There are three defined trends that has become apparent from the data. The
analyzed trends illustrates the relationship of the rate or the population of ​Echinus esculentus
population and the location of each country. The location is emphasizing the shared water
portion of the ocean. The groups are categorized into three distinct groups. Firstly, group one,
which consists of Portugal, Spain, France. The three countries located close by to the North
Atlantic Ocean as seen on ​figure​ 3. Secondly, Netherlands, United Kingdom, Denmark, and
Ireland, which located close by the North Sea. The last group consists of Sweden and
Norway. Both countries located close by the Baltic Sea.

There are several

factors that contribute
to the reduction of the
population size which
are basically from
human. For instance,
the rise of the pollution
from the human
activities, the growth
of the fishing rate to
support the economic,
and the alternation of
the environment
condition.
Subsequently, these
creature maybe put in
jeopardy in the future.
Figure 3. European Map

The two main contributing factors that is predicted by the scientific about the decline in the
population of European Edible Sea Urchin which is the rising temperature of the sea water
and the present consumption of the species.

One of the major threats to marine biodiversity is the increase in sea water temperature
related to climate change. The effects of the following cause includes changes in species
distribution range and phenology traits and mass mortality events. During 1971–2010, there
was an increase in temperature of 0.11 °C. 0.6–2 °C is predicted to be the change in Earth’s
temperature for the 21st century.
Figure 4. The Average Population size of individual per hectare througout the years

The correlation between the number of the population of Echinoderms in numerous European
regions from 1985 to 2015 are demonstrated in ​figure 2​. In all, the average population size of
the Echinoderms decreases gradually, demonstrated in ​figure 4​. The countries with the same
source of water will likely to shift in the same fashion. Around the Atlantic Ocean region, the
number of the Sea Urchin declines about 25 individuals/hectares
Figure 5. Trends of Portugal, Spain, and France decrease drastically throughout 1985-2015

Figure​ 5 shows the declining of the population of European Edible Sea Urchin in Portugal,
Spain, and France. Comparing of the other two groups, the first group shows the most
drastically decreasing of the European Edible Sea over 30 years. During 1985, Portugal has
30 individually population per hectare, and in 2015 the population has decreased to 2
individually per hectare. Meanwhile, In 1985 Spain’s population is 45 individual per hectare,
throughout the time until 2015, the population decrease to 1 individual per hectare. Spain
loss 95.556% of the population over 30 years, whereas the Portugal loss about 91.667% of its
population. Moreover, the rate of the population in France decreases approximately 90.476%.
The population of European Edible Sea Urchin individuals per hectare of the first groups in
2015 is the least of all three.

Figure 6. Trends of Netherlands, United Kingdom,Denmark, and Ireland, Population of sea

urchin in Netherlands, United Kingdom, Denmark and Ireland decrease individually per
hectare.
The graph above conveys the lessen in the population of ​Echinus esculentus ​through the years
of the location that shares the North Sea. Even though the population of individual per
hectare of the four countries are not declining with the drastic slope as in group one, some
alerts are filling to the organizations and people in the location, especially in Denmark. In
1985, Netherlands has 45 individual population per hectare until 2015 population were
decrease to 1 individual per hectare. For the United Kingdom in 1985 individual population
was 48 per hectare until in year 2015 population was decreasing to 22 individual population
per hectare. Meanwhile, in 1985 in Denmark number of individual population was 27 per
hectare later in 2015 the number left as 3 individual population per hectare. Lastly in Ireland
their population was the highest which was 55 individual population per hectare and in 2015
the number ends up to 16 individual population per hectare. During 1985-1990, Ireland
population slightly decreases while other countries falls evenly. The Ireland population
decreases about 69.091%, while the United Kingdom decline around 54.167%. In addition,
Netherlands reduce approximately 64.444%. Denmark started off less than three other
countries that has similar decreasing rate which decreases estimately 89.286%.

Figure 7. Trends of Sweden and Norway, Population of sea urchin in Sweden and Norway
increase individually per hectare.

The population in Sweden and Norway as shown in ​figure ​7 are the only two countries of
nine countries to have the increase in the individual per hectare of the European Edible Sea
Urchin. The slope of the graph shows a constant increase in the population from 1985 to
2015. In 1985, The population in Sweden is 22 individual per hectare and in 2015 the
population increase to 42 individual per hectare. Population in Norway during 1985 is 19
individual per hectare, and during 2015 the population increase to 51 individual per hectare.
Sweden and Norway are located upper of the longitude than the rest of the countries. The two
countries share Baltic Sea together. The climate of the two countries also could be a
contribution to the rising of both populations.
Agrument: The loss of the European Edible Sea Urchin is not an urgent problem at present.

According to the graph above, it is obvious that the loss of the European Edible Sea Urchin is
not an urgent problem at present. At first, the average population decreases dramatically during the
first ten years(1985-1995). After about five years, the number of the population started decline
gradually compares to the first three years which can implies that the Sea Urchin adapted through
time. As a result, it is not an urgent problem at present.