(GOR), Malpelo (MAL), and Pacific Ocean (PAO) (Fig. 5.5). These ecoregions
will be used to present the diversity and distribution of echinoderms. Six of these
sectors are coastal and limited by the 200 m isobath, which in turn defines the
continental shelf. In the cases of GOR, geographical boundaries are the 40 m
isobath, on the eastern side and the 200 m isobath on the western side, while MAL
emerges from 500 m deep sea floor isobath, beyond the continental shelf. The
ecoregion PAO is represented by all jurisdictional Colombian marine areas on the
Pacific, adjacent to the conventional boundary of the continental shelf below a
depth of 200 m (INVEMAR 2000). Table 5.1 summarizes the main physical,
oceanographic, and ecological features of these ecoregions.
5.2 Echinoderm Research
5.2.1 Historical Account of Scientific Studies About Echinoderms
on the Caribbean Coast of Colombia
Studies of the echinoderms in the Colombian Caribbean Sea are recent, dating
from the 1970s. They have been focused on shallow waters (0–50 m). The studies,
which were mostly taxonomic, were published by Allain (1976), Meyer and
Macurda (1976), Caycedo (1978, 1979), Álvarez (1981), Quiñones (1981), Gallo
(1985, 1988a, b), and Aguilar-Duarte (2005). These authors published taxonomic
lists and ecological and biological notes of echinoderms of different ecosystems
along the Colombian Caribbean coast, particularly of Tayrona National Natural
Park (PNNT), other areas near Santa Marta and Rosario Corals, and San Bernardo
Islands National Natural Park (PNNCRSB). Three new species of echinoderms
were described from Colombian material, Ctenantedon kinziei Meyer, 1972,
Holothuria (Thymiosycia) thomasi Pawson and Caycedo, 1980, and Ophiothrix
synoecina Schoppe, 1996.
Some investigations have been focused on the ecology of the echinoderm
community in different kinds of habitats, such as sandy beaches and rocky shores
(Arevalo 1978; Schoppe 1993). This kind of research has increased during the last
decade including soft bottom, coral reefs, and other ecosystems (Gárces and
Romero 2003; Vélez 2003; Bejarano et al. 2004; Aguilar-Duarte 2005; Monroy
and Solano 2005; Gómez and Rodriguez 2009; Romero 2009; González-Gaviria
2010). On the other hand, echinoderms have been incorporated into the Coral
Reefs Monitoring National System (SIMAC) in Colombia. On the Caribbean
Colombian coast, echinoderms have been observed from 1998 to 2011. Studies
have focused on seven species of sea urchins: Diadema antillarum, Echinometra
viridis, E. lucunter, Eucidaris tribuloides, Lytechinus variegatus, L. williamsi, and
Tripneustes ventricosus (Navas-Camacho et al. 2010).
Some studies have been conducted, such as Allain (1978), who studied
the deformations of tests of Lytechinus variegatus collected in Cartagena Bay
154
M. Benavides-Serrato et al.
will be used to present the diversity and distribution of echinoderms. Six of these
sectors are coastal and limited by the 200 m isobath, which in turn defines the
continental shelf. In the cases of GOR, geographical boundaries are the 40 m
isobath, on the eastern side and the 200 m isobath on the western side, while MAL
emerges from 500 m deep sea floor isobath, beyond the continental shelf. The
ecoregion PAO is represented by all jurisdictional Colombian marine areas on the
Pacific, adjacent to the conventional boundary of the continental shelf below a
depth of 200 m (INVEMAR 2000). Table 5.1 summarizes the main physical,
oceanographic, and ecological features of these ecoregions.
5.2 Echinoderm Research
5.2.1 Historical Account of Scientific Studies About Echinoderms
on the Caribbean Coast of Colombia
Studies of the echinoderms in the Colombian Caribbean Sea are recent, dating
from the 1970s. They have been focused on shallow waters (0–50 m). The studies,
which were mostly taxonomic, were published by Allain (1976), Meyer and
Macurda (1976), Caycedo (1978, 1979), Álvarez (1981), Quiñones (1981), Gallo
(1985, 1988a, b), and Aguilar-Duarte (2005). These authors published taxonomic
lists and ecological and biological notes of echinoderms of different ecosystems
along the Colombian Caribbean coast, particularly of Tayrona National Natural
Park (PNNT), other areas near Santa Marta and Rosario Corals, and San Bernardo
Islands National Natural Park (PNNCRSB). Three new species of echinoderms
were described from Colombian material, Ctenantedon kinziei Meyer, 1972,
Holothuria (Thymiosycia) thomasi Pawson and Caycedo, 1980, and Ophiothrix
synoecina Schoppe, 1996.
Some investigations have been focused on the ecology of the echinoderm
community in different kinds of habitats, such as sandy beaches and rocky shores
(Arevalo 1978; Schoppe 1993). This kind of research has increased during the last
decade including soft bottom, coral reefs, and other ecosystems (Gárces and
Romero 2003; Vélez 2003; Bejarano et al. 2004; Aguilar-Duarte 2005; Monroy
and Solano 2005; Gómez and Rodriguez 2009; Romero 2009; González-Gaviria
2010). On the other hand, echinoderms have been incorporated into the Coral
Reefs Monitoring National System (SIMAC) in Colombia. On the Caribbean
Colombian coast, echinoderms have been observed from 1998 to 2011. Studies
have focused on seven species of sea urchins: Diadema antillarum, Echinometra
viridis, E. lucunter, Eucidaris tribuloides, Lytechinus variegatus, L. williamsi, and
Tripneustes ventricosus (Navas-Camacho et al. 2010).
Some studies have been conducted, such as Allain (1978), who studied
the deformations of tests of Lytechinus variegatus collected in Cartagena Bay
154
M. Benavides-Serrato et al.