diversity of species and was the result of expedition by the New York Zoological
Society and the Allan Hancock Foundation. These expeditions resulted in the
collection of a vast number of specimens (some 28,835 echinoids alone from
eastern Pacific of the Americas) with the description of many new species. The
third phase of echinoderm research in Panama began with the inception of the
marine program at STRI in 1961. This has resulted in extensive ecological and
evolutionary echinoderm research, which has increased knowledge of echinoderms
not only in Panama, but in many countries in tropical America, and other regions
in the Atlantic and Pacific. Most of this knowledge concerns the ecology, reproduction and evolution in echinoids and certain species of asteroids (e.g. A. planci
and O. reticulatus). However, less is known about holothuroids, ophiuroids and
crinoids, particularly on a molecular and ecological level, highlighting a need for
more research in these classes of echinoderm.
The continued monitoring of populations of Diadema antillarum needs to be
maintained to determine whether the recently observed population increase is
sustained, while the monitoring of sea cucumber populations, particularly in Bocas
del Toro is needed to protect against illegal fishing. Guzman and Guevara (2002b)
have proposed that protected areas should be established allowing the monitoring
of natural populations. These could be part of the Parque Nacional Marino Isla
Bastimentos (PNMIB) or may be located close to fishing communities willing to
protect the resource.
Acknowledgments Simon Coppard thanks SENACYT (La Secretaría Nacional de Educación
Superior Ciencia Tecnología e Innovación) (Panama) who helped fund this project as part of
project COL08-002 and David M. Rubenstein who funded Simon through a Smithsonian
Rubenstein fellowship. Juan José Alvarado thanks Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología
(CONACYT; Mexico) and Consejo Nacional para Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas
(CONICIT; Costa Rica). We are grateful to Edgardo Ochoa, Juan Sánchez, Angel Chiriboga and
Dave Pawson for providing us with photographs. We appreciate the comments made by J. Cortés,
J. Lawrence and H.A. Lessios that improved this paper.
References
Agassiz A (1892) Reports on an exploration off the west Coast of Mexico, Central and South
America, and off Galápagos Island, in Charge of Alexander Agassiz by the U.S. Fish
Commission Steamer ‘‘Albatross’’ during 1891, Lieut. Commander Tanner ZL, U. S. N.
Commanding. I. Calamocrinus diomedae Agassiz A new stalked crinoid. With notes on the
apical system and the homologies of echinoderms.Mem Mus Comp Zool Harvard Coll 17:1–95
Agassiz A (1898) Preliminary report on the echini. Dredging operations of the Albatross. Bull
Mus Comp Zool 32:71–86
Agassiz A (1904) The Panamic deep sea Echini. Report XXXII on an exploration off the west
coasts of Mexico, Central and South America, and off the Galapagos Islands. Mem Mus Comp
Zool Harvard Coll 31:1–243
Alvarado JJ, Solis-Marin FA, Ahearn C (2008) Equinodermos (Echinodermata) del Caribe
Centroamericano. Rev Biol Trop 56(Suppl 3):37–55
4 Echinoderm Diversity in Panama
137
Society and the Allan Hancock Foundation. These expeditions resulted in the
collection of a vast number of specimens (some 28,835 echinoids alone from
eastern Pacific of the Americas) with the description of many new species. The
third phase of echinoderm research in Panama began with the inception of the
marine program at STRI in 1961. This has resulted in extensive ecological and
evolutionary echinoderm research, which has increased knowledge of echinoderms
not only in Panama, but in many countries in tropical America, and other regions
in the Atlantic and Pacific. Most of this knowledge concerns the ecology, reproduction and evolution in echinoids and certain species of asteroids (e.g. A. planci
and O. reticulatus). However, less is known about holothuroids, ophiuroids and
crinoids, particularly on a molecular and ecological level, highlighting a need for
more research in these classes of echinoderm.
The continued monitoring of populations of Diadema antillarum needs to be
maintained to determine whether the recently observed population increase is
sustained, while the monitoring of sea cucumber populations, particularly in Bocas
del Toro is needed to protect against illegal fishing. Guzman and Guevara (2002b)
have proposed that protected areas should be established allowing the monitoring
of natural populations. These could be part of the Parque Nacional Marino Isla
Bastimentos (PNMIB) or may be located close to fishing communities willing to
protect the resource.
Acknowledgments Simon Coppard thanks SENACYT (La Secretaría Nacional de Educación
Superior Ciencia Tecnología e Innovación) (Panama) who helped fund this project as part of
project COL08-002 and David M. Rubenstein who funded Simon through a Smithsonian
Rubenstein fellowship. Juan José Alvarado thanks Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología
(CONACYT; Mexico) and Consejo Nacional para Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas
(CONICIT; Costa Rica). We are grateful to Edgardo Ochoa, Juan Sánchez, Angel Chiriboga and
Dave Pawson for providing us with photographs. We appreciate the comments made by J. Cortés,
J. Lawrence and H.A. Lessios that improved this paper.
References
Agassiz A (1892) Reports on an exploration off the west Coast of Mexico, Central and South
America, and off Galápagos Island, in Charge of Alexander Agassiz by the U.S. Fish
Commission Steamer ‘‘Albatross’’ during 1891, Lieut. Commander Tanner ZL, U. S. N.
Commanding. I. Calamocrinus diomedae Agassiz A new stalked crinoid. With notes on the
apical system and the homologies of echinoderms.Mem Mus Comp Zool Harvard Coll 17:1–95
Agassiz A (1898) Preliminary report on the echini. Dredging operations of the Albatross. Bull
Mus Comp Zool 32:71–86
Agassiz A (1904) The Panamic deep sea Echini. Report XXXII on an exploration off the west
coasts of Mexico, Central and South America, and off the Galapagos Islands. Mem Mus Comp
Zool Harvard Coll 31:1–243
Alvarado JJ, Solis-Marin FA, Ahearn C (2008) Equinodermos (Echinodermata) del Caribe
Centroamericano. Rev Biol Trop 56(Suppl 3):37–55
4 Echinoderm Diversity in Panama
137