et al. 2010). Sea cucumbers represented 3.6 % of the total echinoderms collected.
Most were identified to species level, except for a morpho-species classified as
Synallactidae morphotype 1. The most abundant species were Mesothuria verrilli,
Molpadia blakei, Deima validum validum and Molpadiodemas porphyrus.
Barboza et al. (2011) used metadata from several echinoderm studies and data
from the Brazilian continental margin in order to evaluate the potential relationship between the faunas from South America and the Antarctic region, taking into
account the proximity of both continents and the fact that they were the last to
separated from Gondwana around 34 million years ago. These authors recorded
602 echinoderm species from both regions, 101 of them (*17 %) were shared
between the continents. Around 47 % of these are typically from the deep-sea,
most deep-sea records being from Brazil.
More recently, other wide spread programs have been carried out by the energy
companies in different regions off the Brazilian continental margin. Many new
echinoderm records are expected in the near future. Taking into account the length
of the Brazilean coastline (*8,000 km), and the fact that around 70 % of its
exclusive economic zone, defined between 19.3 km (12 NM) and 321.8 km (200
NM) off the coast, is within the slope and abyss zones (Miloslavich et al. 2011),
much work is still needed in order to enhance our knowledge on Brazilian deep sea
echinoderms.
9.2.7 Ecology and reproduction
Ecological studies of echinoderms from the Brazilian shallow waters concern
spatial distribution patterns (Borzone 1991; Ventura and Fernandes 1995; Sanchez-Jérez et al. 2001; MacCord and Duarte 2002; Capítoli and Benvenutti 2006),
population size structure (Ventura and Fernandes 1995; Junqueira et al. 1997),
feeding biology (Lima-Verde and Matthews 1969; Ventura et al. 1994; 2001; Calil
et al. 2009) and ecological association (Ribeiro et al. 2003; Clavico et al. 2006).
MacCord and Duarte (2002) described the dispersion pattern and the size
structure of the crinoid Tropiometra carinata along the southeastern coast of
Brazil (São Sebastião Channel, São Paulo). This species shows a clumped distribution (especially for smaller individuals), with a preference for attachment to the
lateral surface of rocks. Adults are predominant in rocky environment and recruits
among algae. The size structure of the population was stable throughout one year.
Regarding sea stars, Ventura and Fernandes (1995) studied the bathymetrical
distribution and population size structure of paxillosid species in the upwelling
environment of the continental shelf of Cabo Frio. Five species were found but
three were mostly frequent for three years: Astropecten cingulatus, A. brasiliensis
and Luidia ludwigi scotti. Their bathymetric distribution in this soft-bottom
environment is very distinct, according to the grain size of the sediments:
A. brasiliensis occurs at a depth of 30 m (from very well to well-sorted medium
sand) and a depth of 45 m (from well to moderated-well sorted medium sand);
9 Echinoderm from Brazil
315
Most were identified to species level, except for a morpho-species classified as
Synallactidae morphotype 1. The most abundant species were Mesothuria verrilli,
Molpadia blakei, Deima validum validum and Molpadiodemas porphyrus.
Barboza et al. (2011) used metadata from several echinoderm studies and data
from the Brazilian continental margin in order to evaluate the potential relationship between the faunas from South America and the Antarctic region, taking into
account the proximity of both continents and the fact that they were the last to
separated from Gondwana around 34 million years ago. These authors recorded
602 echinoderm species from both regions, 101 of them (*17 %) were shared
between the continents. Around 47 % of these are typically from the deep-sea,
most deep-sea records being from Brazil.
More recently, other wide spread programs have been carried out by the energy
companies in different regions off the Brazilian continental margin. Many new
echinoderm records are expected in the near future. Taking into account the length
of the Brazilean coastline (*8,000 km), and the fact that around 70 % of its
exclusive economic zone, defined between 19.3 km (12 NM) and 321.8 km (200
NM) off the coast, is within the slope and abyss zones (Miloslavich et al. 2011),
much work is still needed in order to enhance our knowledge on Brazilian deep sea
echinoderms.
9.2.7 Ecology and reproduction
Ecological studies of echinoderms from the Brazilian shallow waters concern
spatial distribution patterns (Borzone 1991; Ventura and Fernandes 1995; Sanchez-Jérez et al. 2001; MacCord and Duarte 2002; Capítoli and Benvenutti 2006),
population size structure (Ventura and Fernandes 1995; Junqueira et al. 1997),
feeding biology (Lima-Verde and Matthews 1969; Ventura et al. 1994; 2001; Calil
et al. 2009) and ecological association (Ribeiro et al. 2003; Clavico et al. 2006).
MacCord and Duarte (2002) described the dispersion pattern and the size
structure of the crinoid Tropiometra carinata along the southeastern coast of
Brazil (São Sebastião Channel, São Paulo). This species shows a clumped distribution (especially for smaller individuals), with a preference for attachment to the
lateral surface of rocks. Adults are predominant in rocky environment and recruits
among algae. The size structure of the population was stable throughout one year.
Regarding sea stars, Ventura and Fernandes (1995) studied the bathymetrical
distribution and population size structure of paxillosid species in the upwelling
environment of the continental shelf of Cabo Frio. Five species were found but
three were mostly frequent for three years: Astropecten cingulatus, A. brasiliensis
and Luidia ludwigi scotti. Their bathymetric distribution in this soft-bottom
environment is very distinct, according to the grain size of the sediments:
A. brasiliensis occurs at a depth of 30 m (from very well to well-sorted medium
sand) and a depth of 45 m (from well to moderated-well sorted medium sand);
9 Echinoderm from Brazil
315