Program of the Sustainable Yield of Living Resources from the Brazilian Exclusive Economic Zone (Programa de Avaliação do Potencial Sustentável de
Recursos Vivos na Zona Econômica Exclusiva—REVIZEE) sampled down to
800 m in the South region and deeper than 1,000 m at the Southeast one (PiresVanin 1993; Lana et al. 1996; Sumida and Pires-Vanin 1997; Amaral et al. 2004;
Ventura et al. 2006). Diversity of echinoderm fauna from the Brazilian Southeastern coast is higher between depths of 20 and 100 m and decreases gradually up
to 400 m. However, higher frequencies of species are found between depths of 400
and 600 m and diversity increases to similar values at depths of 100–200 m
(Ventura et al. 2006). Borges et al. (2002b, 2004a, b) explored ophiuroid diversity
and Ventura et al. (2006) expanded the list to other echinoderm classes found at
depths down to 2,000 m. Most biodiversity data originated from the South and
Southeast upper slope, some stations from the lower slope and a few from the
abyss, although a few records were also established in the Northeast (Sumida and
Pires-Vanin 1997; Amaral et al. 2004; Amaral and Rossi-Wongtschowski 2004;
Lavrado 2006; Lavrado and Brasil 2010; Lavrado et al. 2010a, b; Amaral and
Jablonsky 2005; Capítoli and Bemvenuti 2006; Capítoli and Bonilha 2010).
Studies on the effect of anthropogenic activities at the Brazilian continental
margin have enhanced our knowledge on benthic communities, especially at
Campos Basin down to nearly 3,000 m (Santos et al. 2009; Campos et al. 2010;
Lavrado et al. 2010a, b). Echinoderms have been one of the most abundant
invertebrate groups sampled during the megabenthic campaigns at Campos Basin
(Rio de Janeiro State), representing approximately 45 % of the total megafauna
(Lavrado et al. 2010a, b). During February (summer) and August (winter) 2003,
4,392 specimens were collected by trawling. The Ophiuroidea were the most
abundant amongst the echinoderms (n = 3,281) followed by the Asteroidea
(n = 936) and Holothuroidea (n = 158). The Echinoidea were very rare (n = 17),
and no Crinoidea were collected. The abundance of ophiuroids and asteroids was
higher at a depth of 1,100 m, and had the tendency to decrease with increasing
depth. But this essentially happened because of the presence of a few dominant
species from both classes [Ophiuroidea (Ophiura ljungmani, Ophiophycis sp.1)
and Asteroidea (Plutonaster bifrons and Nymphaster arenatus)]. The higher
expected species values were found at a depth of 1,300 m.
According to Campos et al. (2010), 39 species (Appendix) were identified at
Campos Basin (CB) during the Campos Basin Deep-Sea Environmental Project/
PETROBRAS. (Caracterização Ambiental de Águas Profundas a Bacia de Campos/CENPES/PETROBRAS). Amongst the ophiuroids, the species Asteroschema
(A. arenosum), Histampica (H. duplicata), Ophiuraster (Ophiuraster sp.),
Ophiosphalma (O. armigerum), Ophiacantha (O. aristata, O. metallacta and
O. anomala) were new records for Brazilian waters. Eight asteroid species from
five families (Astropectinidae, Benthopectinidae, Goniasteridae, Zoroasteridae and
Brisingidae) were identified: Astropecten sp. 1; Plutonaster bifrons; Cheiraster
(Cheiraster) sepitus; Ceramaster sp. 1; Nymphaster arenatus; Pseudarchaster
gracilis gracilis; Zoroaster fulgens; and Brisinga sp. 1. Pseudarchaster gracilis
gracilis and Cheiraster (Cheiraster) sepitus were new records for Brazil (Campos
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C. R. R. Ventura et al.
Recursos Vivos na Zona Econômica Exclusiva—REVIZEE) sampled down to
800 m in the South region and deeper than 1,000 m at the Southeast one (PiresVanin 1993; Lana et al. 1996; Sumida and Pires-Vanin 1997; Amaral et al. 2004;
Ventura et al. 2006). Diversity of echinoderm fauna from the Brazilian Southeastern coast is higher between depths of 20 and 100 m and decreases gradually up
to 400 m. However, higher frequencies of species are found between depths of 400
and 600 m and diversity increases to similar values at depths of 100–200 m
(Ventura et al. 2006). Borges et al. (2002b, 2004a, b) explored ophiuroid diversity
and Ventura et al. (2006) expanded the list to other echinoderm classes found at
depths down to 2,000 m. Most biodiversity data originated from the South and
Southeast upper slope, some stations from the lower slope and a few from the
abyss, although a few records were also established in the Northeast (Sumida and
Pires-Vanin 1997; Amaral et al. 2004; Amaral and Rossi-Wongtschowski 2004;
Lavrado 2006; Lavrado and Brasil 2010; Lavrado et al. 2010a, b; Amaral and
Jablonsky 2005; Capítoli and Bemvenuti 2006; Capítoli and Bonilha 2010).
Studies on the effect of anthropogenic activities at the Brazilian continental
margin have enhanced our knowledge on benthic communities, especially at
Campos Basin down to nearly 3,000 m (Santos et al. 2009; Campos et al. 2010;
Lavrado et al. 2010a, b). Echinoderms have been one of the most abundant
invertebrate groups sampled during the megabenthic campaigns at Campos Basin
(Rio de Janeiro State), representing approximately 45 % of the total megafauna
(Lavrado et al. 2010a, b). During February (summer) and August (winter) 2003,
4,392 specimens were collected by trawling. The Ophiuroidea were the most
abundant amongst the echinoderms (n = 3,281) followed by the Asteroidea
(n = 936) and Holothuroidea (n = 158). The Echinoidea were very rare (n = 17),
and no Crinoidea were collected. The abundance of ophiuroids and asteroids was
higher at a depth of 1,100 m, and had the tendency to decrease with increasing
depth. But this essentially happened because of the presence of a few dominant
species from both classes [Ophiuroidea (Ophiura ljungmani, Ophiophycis sp.1)
and Asteroidea (Plutonaster bifrons and Nymphaster arenatus)]. The higher
expected species values were found at a depth of 1,300 m.
According to Campos et al. (2010), 39 species (Appendix) were identified at
Campos Basin (CB) during the Campos Basin Deep-Sea Environmental Project/
PETROBRAS. (Caracterização Ambiental de Águas Profundas a Bacia de Campos/CENPES/PETROBRAS). Amongst the ophiuroids, the species Asteroschema
(A. arenosum), Histampica (H. duplicata), Ophiuraster (Ophiuraster sp.),
Ophiosphalma (O. armigerum), Ophiacantha (O. aristata, O. metallacta and
O. anomala) were new records for Brazilian waters. Eight asteroid species from
five families (Astropectinidae, Benthopectinidae, Goniasteridae, Zoroasteridae and
Brisingidae) were identified: Astropecten sp. 1; Plutonaster bifrons; Cheiraster
(Cheiraster) sepitus; Ceramaster sp. 1; Nymphaster arenatus; Pseudarchaster
gracilis gracilis; Zoroaster fulgens; and Brisinga sp. 1. Pseudarchaster gracilis
gracilis and Cheiraster (Cheiraster) sepitus were new records for Brazil (Campos
314
C. R. R. Ventura et al.