5. Clyepaster europacificus: Insufficient data.
6. Loxechinus albus: Vulnerable.
7. Tripneustes depressus: Endangered.
8. Athyonidium chilensis: Almost threatened.
9. Isostichopus fuscus: Endangered.
10. Pattalus mollis: Almost threatened.
8.6 Recommendations and Concluding Remarks
Peru has 215 species of echinoderms inhabiting its territorial sea. Crinoidea (1
species), Asteroidea (50 species), Ophiuroidea (32 species), Echinoidea (23 species) and Holothuroidea (53 species). This compilation is important to make
recommendations: It is necessary to do more ecological studies. The situation
previously described regarding publications about ecology of echinoderms in Peru
provides evidence of an unequal and limited development of ecological studies
related echinoderms. There are no papers that analyze echinoderm communities in
Peru. It is important to have more information about their density and other
population parameters, including growth, reproduction, feeding and their relation
to biotic and abiotic conditions in the environment. This would make it possible to
evaluation of environmental factors that could affect their presence in a certain
location and indicate their vulnerability to climate change. This information will
be of great importance for the basis for developing strategies leading towards
sustainable production of echinoderms as a resource and their administration, as
well as the search of alternatives to increase their production through aquaculture.
One of the main problems in Peru, as well as in neighboring countries, is the
lack of taxonomists who can work full time reviewing and identifying specimens
in biological collections. Deep water specimens as well as brittle stars should be
reviewed. This should increase greatly the number of species reported from Peru.
Complete knowledge of the echinoderm fauna will allow ecological research
directed towards understanding the function of each species in the ecosystem allow
researchers to monitor climate change associated with El Niño, and the distribution
and biogeography of the species.
Controlled production of commercial species should be developed in order to
reduce the impact of fishing on natural resources. Creation of new MPAs should
guarantee conservation of exploited species.
Acknowledgments To Dr. Tina Kameya Kameya, Unidad de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad,
Instituto del Mar del Peru (IMARPE), for providing access to IMARPE’s echinoderm collection.
8 Echinoderms of Peru
297
6. Loxechinus albus: Vulnerable.
7. Tripneustes depressus: Endangered.
8. Athyonidium chilensis: Almost threatened.
9. Isostichopus fuscus: Endangered.
10. Pattalus mollis: Almost threatened.
8.6 Recommendations and Concluding Remarks
Peru has 215 species of echinoderms inhabiting its territorial sea. Crinoidea (1
species), Asteroidea (50 species), Ophiuroidea (32 species), Echinoidea (23 species) and Holothuroidea (53 species). This compilation is important to make
recommendations: It is necessary to do more ecological studies. The situation
previously described regarding publications about ecology of echinoderms in Peru
provides evidence of an unequal and limited development of ecological studies
related echinoderms. There are no papers that analyze echinoderm communities in
Peru. It is important to have more information about their density and other
population parameters, including growth, reproduction, feeding and their relation
to biotic and abiotic conditions in the environment. This would make it possible to
evaluation of environmental factors that could affect their presence in a certain
location and indicate their vulnerability to climate change. This information will
be of great importance for the basis for developing strategies leading towards
sustainable production of echinoderms as a resource and their administration, as
well as the search of alternatives to increase their production through aquaculture.
One of the main problems in Peru, as well as in neighboring countries, is the
lack of taxonomists who can work full time reviewing and identifying specimens
in biological collections. Deep water specimens as well as brittle stars should be
reviewed. This should increase greatly the number of species reported from Peru.
Complete knowledge of the echinoderm fauna will allow ecological research
directed towards understanding the function of each species in the ecosystem allow
researchers to monitor climate change associated with El Niño, and the distribution
and biogeography of the species.
Controlled production of commercial species should be developed in order to
reduce the impact of fishing on natural resources. Creation of new MPAs should
guarantee conservation of exploited species.
Acknowledgments To Dr. Tina Kameya Kameya, Unidad de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad,
Instituto del Mar del Peru (IMARPE), for providing access to IMARPE’s echinoderm collection.
8 Echinoderms of Peru
297