been found in these beds. Tripneustes ventricosus and Lytechinus variegatus have
been frequently observed, especially in the ecorregions SAN, GUA, TAY and
ARCO. In some areas particularly in the ecoregions GUA and ARCO, populations
of Oreaster reticulatus are frequent. Specific studies focused on echinoderms
associated with this ecosystem are few. Moreno-Forero and Hernández-Torres
(1992) published an ecological study of size composition of L. variegatus associated with sea grass beds of Thalassia testudinum in Isla Grande–Islas Rosario
(ARCO ecoregion). The size composition and some morphometric relations are
described, and some ecological notes on the population are given.
Soft Bottoms
Soft bottoms are extensive marine ecosystems, at depths from 0 to more than
10,000 m. They predominate in the territorial sea of the Colombian Caribbean and
Pacific Oceans, with an extension of 889.400 km
2 , comprising 99.5 % of underwater ecosystems (Guzmán-Alvis and Solano 2002). Soft bottoms can include
sand, clay, silt and mud particles, are not stable substrates, and only form low
topographic features (Montoya-Cadavid 2010). Data collected from 1998 to 2011
show increasing of knowledge of this ecosystem in Colombia. Taxonomic studies
have concentrated on the Guajira (GUA), Tayrona (TAY), Magdalena (MAG), and
Oceanic Caribbean (COC; depth [ 200 m) ecosystems (INVEMAR 2010). Most
of the specific echinoderm studies on this ecosystem, has been developed at depths
between 20 and 1,000 m, which are mentioned in the next section on deep water
ecosystems. The only study in shallow soft bottoms was published by Vélez
(2003), who studied some structural aspects of the ophiuroid community associated with infaunal bottoms in shallow waters of the San Andrés and Providencia
Archipelago (SAN ecoregion). During this research, that identified 15 species of
ophiuroids, two climatic periods were included during 1 year (1999–2000).
Deep Water Ecosystems
Research in deep water ecosystems has been conducted throughout the Colombian
Caribbean Sea and not confined to sites like most studies in shallow water. Most
studies have been carried out in the soft bottom ecosystem, which is dominant at
depths greater than 200 m. As a result of exploration in soft bottoms, banks of
deep azooxanthellate coral communities have been found, which are mentioned
below.
Soft Bottoms
For this habitat in deep waters, it is important to consider the marine explorations
made before 1998 by international and national investigations focused especially
164
M. Benavides-Serrato et al.
been frequently observed, especially in the ecorregions SAN, GUA, TAY and
ARCO. In some areas particularly in the ecoregions GUA and ARCO, populations
of Oreaster reticulatus are frequent. Specific studies focused on echinoderms
associated with this ecosystem are few. Moreno-Forero and Hernández-Torres
(1992) published an ecological study of size composition of L. variegatus associated with sea grass beds of Thalassia testudinum in Isla Grande–Islas Rosario
(ARCO ecoregion). The size composition and some morphometric relations are
described, and some ecological notes on the population are given.
Soft Bottoms
Soft bottoms are extensive marine ecosystems, at depths from 0 to more than
10,000 m. They predominate in the territorial sea of the Colombian Caribbean and
Pacific Oceans, with an extension of 889.400 km
2 , comprising 99.5 % of underwater ecosystems (Guzmán-Alvis and Solano 2002). Soft bottoms can include
sand, clay, silt and mud particles, are not stable substrates, and only form low
topographic features (Montoya-Cadavid 2010). Data collected from 1998 to 2011
show increasing of knowledge of this ecosystem in Colombia. Taxonomic studies
have concentrated on the Guajira (GUA), Tayrona (TAY), Magdalena (MAG), and
Oceanic Caribbean (COC; depth [ 200 m) ecosystems (INVEMAR 2010). Most
of the specific echinoderm studies on this ecosystem, has been developed at depths
between 20 and 1,000 m, which are mentioned in the next section on deep water
ecosystems. The only study in shallow soft bottoms was published by Vélez
(2003), who studied some structural aspects of the ophiuroid community associated with infaunal bottoms in shallow waters of the San Andrés and Providencia
Archipelago (SAN ecoregion). During this research, that identified 15 species of
ophiuroids, two climatic periods were included during 1 year (1999–2000).
Deep Water Ecosystems
Research in deep water ecosystems has been conducted throughout the Colombian
Caribbean Sea and not confined to sites like most studies in shallow water. Most
studies have been carried out in the soft bottom ecosystem, which is dominant at
depths greater than 200 m. As a result of exploration in soft bottoms, banks of
deep azooxanthellate coral communities have been found, which are mentioned
below.
Soft Bottoms
For this habitat in deep waters, it is important to consider the marine explorations
made before 1998 by international and national investigations focused especially
164
M. Benavides-Serrato et al.