11.1 Introduction
Echinoderm research in Argentina began with Professor Irene Bernasconi
(1896–1989; Fig. 11.1), at the Argentine Museum of Natural Sciences ‘‘Bernardino
Rivadavia’’ (MACN), who dedicated 55 years of her life to study the echinoderms
inhabiting the Argentine Sea. Her first studies were focused on Echinoidea of Tierra
del Fuego (54°S, 68°W) and Ophiuroidea and Crinoidea of South Georgia islands.
In 1924, she published the first work with pictures and drawings of the most
common sea urchins (Bernasconi 1924). In 1935, she published her first taxonomic
publication about Asteroidea describing new species of the genus Pteraster
(Bernasconi 1935). From that date, Asteroidea became the focus of her research,
describing two new species of the genus Luidia (e.g. Luidia patriae) (Bernasconi
1941a). She revised the taxonomy of seven families: Pterasteridae (Bernasconi
1937), Luidiidae (Bernasconi 1943), Odontasteridae (Bernasconi 1962a), Goniasteridae (Bernasconi 1963), Ganeriidae (Bernasconi 1964a), Asterinidae (Bernasconi 1973a) and Echinasteridae (Bernasconi 1980). The 1960’s were the most
productive of her life. She published 15 papers (e.g. Bernasconi 1961, 1962a, b,
1963, 1964a, b, c, 1965a, b, c, 1966a, b), described one new genus (Vemaster;
Bernasconi 1965a) and four new species (e.g. Vemaster sudatlanticus). In 1964, she
published the first key for orders, families and genera of Asteroidea from the
Argentine Sea (Bernasconi 1964b). Although her major contribution was with sea
stars, she also made significant advances in taxonomic research of sea urchins (e.g.
Bernasconi 1953) and brittle stars (e.g. Bernasconi and D’Agostino 1977).
Irene Bernasconi was a pioneer in echinoderm research in Argentina. At the age
of 72 she travelled on an expedition to Antarctica (1968–1969), being one of the
first Argentinean female scientists to explore the white continent (Fig. 11.1). Her
work was and still is invaluable for all the research on echinoderms in Argentina.
She retired in 1984 and passed away in 1989. We would like to dedicate this
chapter to Professor Irene Bernasconi, the first echinoderm specialist in our
country.
This chapter reviews all knowledge of Argentine echinoderms up to the present
time, available in published papers, meetings, and Licentiate and PhD theses
focused on this Phylum. Several studies that focus on Antarctic echinoderms are
beyond the scope of this chapter, which is restricted to the Argentine Sea (from the
Río de la Plata to Tierra del Fuego and Malvinas Islands). Current PhD projects
and soon to be published data about chemical, biological, ecological and taxonomic research conducted by the authors and other colleagues are not included in
this chapter. Information about depth range, habitat and taxonomic accounts of the
species is limited to published information.
360
M. I. Brogger et al.
Echinoderm research in Argentina began with Professor Irene Bernasconi
(1896–1989; Fig. 11.1), at the Argentine Museum of Natural Sciences ‘‘Bernardino
Rivadavia’’ (MACN), who dedicated 55 years of her life to study the echinoderms
inhabiting the Argentine Sea. Her first studies were focused on Echinoidea of Tierra
del Fuego (54°S, 68°W) and Ophiuroidea and Crinoidea of South Georgia islands.
In 1924, she published the first work with pictures and drawings of the most
common sea urchins (Bernasconi 1924). In 1935, she published her first taxonomic
publication about Asteroidea describing new species of the genus Pteraster
(Bernasconi 1935). From that date, Asteroidea became the focus of her research,
describing two new species of the genus Luidia (e.g. Luidia patriae) (Bernasconi
1941a). She revised the taxonomy of seven families: Pterasteridae (Bernasconi
1937), Luidiidae (Bernasconi 1943), Odontasteridae (Bernasconi 1962a), Goniasteridae (Bernasconi 1963), Ganeriidae (Bernasconi 1964a), Asterinidae (Bernasconi 1973a) and Echinasteridae (Bernasconi 1980). The 1960’s were the most
productive of her life. She published 15 papers (e.g. Bernasconi 1961, 1962a, b,
1963, 1964a, b, c, 1965a, b, c, 1966a, b), described one new genus (Vemaster;
Bernasconi 1965a) and four new species (e.g. Vemaster sudatlanticus). In 1964, she
published the first key for orders, families and genera of Asteroidea from the
Argentine Sea (Bernasconi 1964b). Although her major contribution was with sea
stars, she also made significant advances in taxonomic research of sea urchins (e.g.
Bernasconi 1953) and brittle stars (e.g. Bernasconi and D’Agostino 1977).
Irene Bernasconi was a pioneer in echinoderm research in Argentina. At the age
of 72 she travelled on an expedition to Antarctica (1968–1969), being one of the
first Argentinean female scientists to explore the white continent (Fig. 11.1). Her
work was and still is invaluable for all the research on echinoderms in Argentina.
She retired in 1984 and passed away in 1989. We would like to dedicate this
chapter to Professor Irene Bernasconi, the first echinoderm specialist in our
country.
This chapter reviews all knowledge of Argentine echinoderms up to the present
time, available in published papers, meetings, and Licentiate and PhD theses
focused on this Phylum. Several studies that focus on Antarctic echinoderms are
beyond the scope of this chapter, which is restricted to the Argentine Sea (from the
Río de la Plata to Tierra del Fuego and Malvinas Islands). Current PhD projects
and soon to be published data about chemical, biological, ecological and taxonomic research conducted by the authors and other colleagues are not included in
this chapter. Information about depth range, habitat and taxonomic accounts of the
species is limited to published information.
360
M. I. Brogger et al.