Holothuroidea
Some holothurian specialists that worked with species from Argentina were Risso
(1826), Lesson (1830), Müller (1850), Phillipi (1857), Lampert (1889), Perrier
(1904, 1905) and Cherbonnier (1941). More recently Pawson (1964, 1969, 1970)
studied some species distributed from Chile to Argentina. Massin (1994),
O’Loughlin (2002, 2009), Bohn (2007), O’Loughlin and Ahearn (2008) and
O’Loughlin (2009) studied the distribution and taxonomy of many species from
Antarctica and near waters with distribution in Argentina. Important advances in
taxonomy of holothurians from Argentine waters have been made by Tommasi,
through multiple expeditions made with the Brazilian vessel N/Oc. Almirante
Saldanha (Tommasi 1969a, 1971, 1974; Tommasi et al. 1988a, b).
Bernasconi described some species from the collection of the MACN (1934,
1941b). Hernández (1981) described the holothurians of Puerto Deseado and three
members of the genus Trachythyone from the southwestern Atlantic, Trachythyone
peruana, T. parva and T. lechleri (Hernández 1982); he also described Trachythyone baja (Hernández 1987). According to O
0 Loughlin (2009) this species is a
synonym of T. bouvetensis. Hernández (1985) studied several aspects of different
holothurian species, including a taxonomic description of all species inhabiting the
Argentine Sea. He also analyzed the phenetic relationship among the holothurian
species found, and the phylogenetic relationships of five genera of the family
Cucumariidae, studied the biology and ecology of some intertidal species, publishing data on their distribution. Besides this, he studied the sediment feeding
behavior and evisceration as a defense mechanism of Chiridota pisanii (Hernández
1985). Martinez et al. (2009) reported the total number of holothurians from
Argentina, and developed tools for species recognition in the families Cucumariidae (Fig. 11.4d) and Psolidae (Fig. 11.4c).
Different authors have studied multiple aspects of the reproduction of the
brooding dendrochirotid Psolus patagonicus (Martinez 2008; Giménez and
Penchaszadeh 2010; Martinez et al. 2011). Martinez (2008) studied the ecology
and reproduction of a P. patagonicus population that inhabits the shelf break at
38°S (*100 m depth). This species exhibited an annual reproductive cycle with
one reproductive event in late summer/autumn (February–March). The maximum
oocyte diameter registered in P. patagonicus was 900 lm with more or less
continuous development and growth of oocytes all through the year. Giménez and
Penchaszadeh (2010) estimated the brooding season from February to October and
the beginning of the brooding period is consistent with a decrease in the gonadal
index of females, larger oocytes and mature spermatozoa in males (Martinez 2008;
Martinez et al. 2011). Schejter et al. (2002) reported a seasonal food input in the
associated Patagonian scallop community, which is correlated with the reproductive timing of P. patagonicus, thus reinforcing the contention that this factor
influences the timing of reproduction (Martinez 2008; Martinez et al. 2011).
380
M. I. Brogger et al.
Some holothurian specialists that worked with species from Argentina were Risso
(1826), Lesson (1830), Müller (1850), Phillipi (1857), Lampert (1889), Perrier
(1904, 1905) and Cherbonnier (1941). More recently Pawson (1964, 1969, 1970)
studied some species distributed from Chile to Argentina. Massin (1994),
O’Loughlin (2002, 2009), Bohn (2007), O’Loughlin and Ahearn (2008) and
O’Loughlin (2009) studied the distribution and taxonomy of many species from
Antarctica and near waters with distribution in Argentina. Important advances in
taxonomy of holothurians from Argentine waters have been made by Tommasi,
through multiple expeditions made with the Brazilian vessel N/Oc. Almirante
Saldanha (Tommasi 1969a, 1971, 1974; Tommasi et al. 1988a, b).
Bernasconi described some species from the collection of the MACN (1934,
1941b). Hernández (1981) described the holothurians of Puerto Deseado and three
members of the genus Trachythyone from the southwestern Atlantic, Trachythyone
peruana, T. parva and T. lechleri (Hernández 1982); he also described Trachythyone baja (Hernández 1987). According to O
0 Loughlin (2009) this species is a
synonym of T. bouvetensis. Hernández (1985) studied several aspects of different
holothurian species, including a taxonomic description of all species inhabiting the
Argentine Sea. He also analyzed the phenetic relationship among the holothurian
species found, and the phylogenetic relationships of five genera of the family
Cucumariidae, studied the biology and ecology of some intertidal species, publishing data on their distribution. Besides this, he studied the sediment feeding
behavior and evisceration as a defense mechanism of Chiridota pisanii (Hernández
1985). Martinez et al. (2009) reported the total number of holothurians from
Argentina, and developed tools for species recognition in the families Cucumariidae (Fig. 11.4d) and Psolidae (Fig. 11.4c).
Different authors have studied multiple aspects of the reproduction of the
brooding dendrochirotid Psolus patagonicus (Martinez 2008; Giménez and
Penchaszadeh 2010; Martinez et al. 2011). Martinez (2008) studied the ecology
and reproduction of a P. patagonicus population that inhabits the shelf break at
38°S (*100 m depth). This species exhibited an annual reproductive cycle with
one reproductive event in late summer/autumn (February–March). The maximum
oocyte diameter registered in P. patagonicus was 900 lm with more or less
continuous development and growth of oocytes all through the year. Giménez and
Penchaszadeh (2010) estimated the brooding season from February to October and
the beginning of the brooding period is consistent with a decrease in the gonadal
index of females, larger oocytes and mature spermatozoa in males (Martinez 2008;
Martinez et al. 2011). Schejter et al. (2002) reported a seasonal food input in the
associated Patagonian scallop community, which is correlated with the reproductive timing of P. patagonicus, thus reinforcing the contention that this factor
influences the timing of reproduction (Martinez 2008; Martinez et al. 2011).
380
M. I. Brogger et al.