Sea Urchin Party
A Lagoon Party… for Science!
Last Friday night, while most people were getting ready for the weekend, our team and a group of amazing volunteers threw a very special party in Moorea, underwater!
Armed with headlamps, buckets, and a shared mission, we dived in the lagoon by night to release 600 sea urchins into carefully chosen reef areas.
Why? Because these small, spiky creatures have an important job to do.
Sea Urchins to the Rescue
This nighttime mission is part of a research project led by PhD student Aurélie Aqua and Lucas Trouillet, engineer in aquariology, who are studying how sea urchins can help restore coral reefs.
They may seem small and harmless, but they’re hardworking algae-eaters that help maintain the reef’s harmony.
Aurélie’s work focuses on Turbinaria, a brown macroalga that has been spreading across some reef areas.
Turbinaria is a problem because it:
Forms dense underwater forests that shade corals,
Blocks sunlight needed for coral growth,
Outcompetes coral larvae trying to settle,
Reduces reef biodiversity by taking over space.
The Urchin Cleanup Crew
Species like Tripneustes gratilla are natural reef grazers. Using their five-toothed mouth (the well-known Aristotle’s lantern), they scrape and eat algae straight off the reef.
Their research explores a simple question:
Can reintroducing sea urchins in a controlled way help reduce Turbinaria and give the reef a chance to recover?
If the answer is yes, these small workers could become important allies in reef restoration.
A Reef With Balance is a Reef With Life
A reef with balance is a reef with life. Active grazers such as those small urchins can play a decisive role in the future of coral reefs. Stay tuned to find out what happens next in their little adventures.
