and diversity, ecological studies that include structure of assemblages of species,
distribution, population densities, and breeding seasons. These biological characteristics must be related to the environmental and oceanographic conditions of the
study areas (e.g. coastal and marine National Natural Parks, such as Ensenada de
Utría, Bahia Malaga, and Gorgona and Malpelo Islands).
Bioerosion activity caused by some sea urchins has been studied around
Gorgona Island, but there is no information on bioerosion rates and the causes of
greater or lesser bioerosion action. Similarly, further studies are necessary to
explain the causes of important and sudden variations in the populations that occur
in some beach echinoderms (Encope and Mellita) and coral reefs (Diadema,
Centrostephanus and Holothuria) at certain times of the year. It is also important
to study these variations in relation to oceanographic features that affect the
Eastern Tropical Pacific, particularly El Niño phenomenon that apparently
increased populations of some echinoderms in Gorgona Island in 1982 and 1997.
Finally, although there is no commercial exploitation of echinoderm species in
the Colombian Pacific, it is necessary to initiate studies to establish the potential of
some species that are exploited in other regions. It may also be important to initiate
preliminary assays of culture of the potentially important species.
Acknowledgments The authors wish to express thanks to J.J. Alvarado for the invitation to
participate in this synthesis on the Latinoamerican echinoderms. The results presented in this
chapter have been produced by different kinds of research projects on both Colombian coasts. We
are grateful for the support of the Ministry of Environment, Housing and Territorial Development
(MAVDT), the Administrative Department of Science, Technology and Innovation
(COLCIENCIAS), the Autonomous Regional Corporation of La Guajira (CORPOGUAJIRA),
and the National Hydrocarbons Agency (ANH), among others, all of them with the participation
of INVEMAR. For the Pacific coast, the projects ‘‘The relationship between bioerosion and
growth rates in Colombian Pacific coral reefs of the island of Gorgona (project UNIVALLE
1106-09-069–96), Biomalaga (project INVEMAR-UNIVALLE INCIVA 210509-16821), and
Biodiversity of vulnerable stages of benthic fauna of Bahía Malaga (project UNIVALLE-INVEMAR 1106-405-20155) were logistically and financially supported by the Universidad del
Valle and COLCIENCIAS with the participation of INVEMAR. We thank G. Hendler, D.Pawson, C. Ahearn, and C. Mah, C. Messing, R. Mooi, J. Lawrenc, and F. Solís-Marín, who have
contributed permanently to the echinoderm collection of the Universidad del Valle (CRBMUV),
and the Colombian Museum of Marine Natural History MHNMC-INVEMAR through confirmation of species identification, advice, and literature. We also would like thank Colombian
researchers dedicated to taxonomy, especially G. Navas and O.D. Solano. Finally, we would like
to thank J. Espriella and R.Pinzón Corredor, members of the System Information Laboratory
LABSIS-INVEMAR for preparing the maps elaboration in this chapter and P. Silverstone-Sopkin
for correcting the English grammar.
References
Agassiz A (1881) Report of the echinoidea dredged by the H.M.S Challenger during the year
1873–76. Zool 3:1–321
Agassiz A (1888) XIX Characteristic deep-sea types-Echinoderms. Three cruises of the United
States Coast and Geodetic Survey Steamer ‘‘Blake’’ in the Gulf of Mexico in the Caribbean
5 Echinoderms of Colombia
175
distribution, population densities, and breeding seasons. These biological characteristics must be related to the environmental and oceanographic conditions of the
study areas (e.g. coastal and marine National Natural Parks, such as Ensenada de
Utría, Bahia Malaga, and Gorgona and Malpelo Islands).
Bioerosion activity caused by some sea urchins has been studied around
Gorgona Island, but there is no information on bioerosion rates and the causes of
greater or lesser bioerosion action. Similarly, further studies are necessary to
explain the causes of important and sudden variations in the populations that occur
in some beach echinoderms (Encope and Mellita) and coral reefs (Diadema,
Centrostephanus and Holothuria) at certain times of the year. It is also important
to study these variations in relation to oceanographic features that affect the
Eastern Tropical Pacific, particularly El Niño phenomenon that apparently
increased populations of some echinoderms in Gorgona Island in 1982 and 1997.
Finally, although there is no commercial exploitation of echinoderm species in
the Colombian Pacific, it is necessary to initiate studies to establish the potential of
some species that are exploited in other regions. It may also be important to initiate
preliminary assays of culture of the potentially important species.
Acknowledgments The authors wish to express thanks to J.J. Alvarado for the invitation to
participate in this synthesis on the Latinoamerican echinoderms. The results presented in this
chapter have been produced by different kinds of research projects on both Colombian coasts. We
are grateful for the support of the Ministry of Environment, Housing and Territorial Development
(MAVDT), the Administrative Department of Science, Technology and Innovation
(COLCIENCIAS), the Autonomous Regional Corporation of La Guajira (CORPOGUAJIRA),
and the National Hydrocarbons Agency (ANH), among others, all of them with the participation
of INVEMAR. For the Pacific coast, the projects ‘‘The relationship between bioerosion and
growth rates in Colombian Pacific coral reefs of the island of Gorgona (project UNIVALLE
1106-09-069–96), Biomalaga (project INVEMAR-UNIVALLE INCIVA 210509-16821), and
Biodiversity of vulnerable stages of benthic fauna of Bahía Malaga (project UNIVALLE-INVEMAR 1106-405-20155) were logistically and financially supported by the Universidad del
Valle and COLCIENCIAS with the participation of INVEMAR. We thank G. Hendler, D.Pawson, C. Ahearn, and C. Mah, C. Messing, R. Mooi, J. Lawrenc, and F. Solís-Marín, who have
contributed permanently to the echinoderm collection of the Universidad del Valle (CRBMUV),
and the Colombian Museum of Marine Natural History MHNMC-INVEMAR through confirmation of species identification, advice, and literature. We also would like thank Colombian
researchers dedicated to taxonomy, especially G. Navas and O.D. Solano. Finally, we would like
to thank J. Espriella and R.Pinzón Corredor, members of the System Information Laboratory
LABSIS-INVEMAR for preparing the maps elaboration in this chapter and P. Silverstone-Sopkin
for correcting the English grammar.
References
Agassiz A (1881) Report of the echinoidea dredged by the H.M.S Challenger during the year
1873–76. Zool 3:1–321
Agassiz A (1888) XIX Characteristic deep-sea types-Echinoderms. Three cruises of the United
States Coast and Geodetic Survey Steamer ‘‘Blake’’ in the Gulf of Mexico in the Caribbean
5 Echinoderms of Colombia
175