Posted by Dr Bill on March 11, 2003 at 23:54:35:
In Reply to: casino point is a very good example of a great eco system at work... posted by cynde on March 09, 2003 at 13:49:19:
Cynde- Don't know if urchin densities would ever reach the point where kelp was threatened here. Back in the "early days" (50's-70's) the urchins that truly threatened kelp forests were receiving "supplemental" food in the form of untreated human wastes that allowed them to survive in the barrens after decimating the kelp. Thus the small kelp plants could never get a foothold.
Since Catalina waters are largely unimpacted by such sources of supplemental food (due to small population size here and treatment of wastes mandated by the Federal Clean Water Act of 1972), it is doubtful we would ever have a serious problem.
If we did, I'm not sure how effective urchin relocation would be except as a short-term solution. Young urchins would settle out of the plankton and re-colonize the areas where urchins had been removed anyway.