Sea Urchins

“It spread so rapidly in the Caribbean, which suggests it could spread quickly through the Pacific," said Isabella Ritchie, a Ph.D. student at USF and the lead author of a recent study.

An alarming number of sea urchins dying in the Caribbean and along Florida's east coast had scientists wondering why.

Scientists investigating the sudden widespread die-off of the critical species across the Caribbean and Florida identified the parasite with remarkable speed, thanks to social media, avid divers and advances in DNA.

Around 200 sea urchins were spawned at the aquarium and released in a coral reef off the Florida Keys, where they will eat algae that can overrun the reef.

Florida researchers hoping to save coral reefs have begun depositing groups of sea urchins at a Key Biscayne restoration site to see if they can help cure ailing reefs.