Exposure to wave action: some consequences for the sea urchin Stomopneustes variolaris on the Natal coast

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Population size structure in the intertidal echinoid, Stomopneustes variolaris, has been observed to vary between habitats, in a manner which suggests the influence of factors in addition to variation in recruitment success. This paper reports on an investigation into the hypothesis that exposure to wave action might be a factor accounting for the variation in population size structure between habitats at Sheffield Beach. *********** AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Populasiegroottestruktuur in die tussengety echinoidea, Stomopneustes variolaris varieer tussen habitatte op 'n wyse wat die invloed van faktore bUlte en behalwe 'n variasie In aanwerwingsukses aandui. In hierdie artikel word die hipotese ondersoek dat blootsteiling aan golfaksie 'n moontlike faktor kan wees in die variasie in populasiegroottestruktuur tussen die Sheffieldstrandhabitatte.