Astichopus multifidus, Isostichopus badionotus, Actinopyga agassizii, Holothuria
mexicana, H. cubana, H. arenicola, H. grisea, H. surinamensis, and Euapta lappa.
Gómez et al. (1980) evaluated the macrobenthos of the Golfo de Batabanó.
They provide ecological data of interest related to echinoderms. BerovidesAlvarez and Ortíz-Touzet (1981) studied color polymorphism in the seastar
Oreaster reticulatus, finding four patterns of coloration: olive green, red, reddish
brown and creamy yellow. They concluded that the most frequent pattern is the
reddish brown with 49.2 % of presence and the olive green pattern was frequent in
juveniles. Herrera-Moreno et al. (1981) used random sampling to study populations of the sea urchin Diadema antillarum in front of the rocky zone of the
Instituto de Oceanología. Espinosa (1982) analyzed the stomach contents of the
predatory seastar Astropecten articulatus and A. duplicatus. Martínez-Estalella
(1984) contributed a list of organisms associated with coral reefs. Beltrán et al.
(1988) used the sea urchin Echinometra lucunter as an indicator of oil pollution in
the rocky littoral adjacent to Bahía de la Habana. Ablanedo et al. (1990) used the
same species as an indicator of heavy metals (iron, zinc, manganese, and mercury)
pollution. They measured the concentration of these metals in sea urchins gonads
and skeletal parts (test, Aristotle’s lantern). The results obtained showed that heavy
metals accumulate differentially in different body tissues: iron and mercury in
gonads, zinc and manganese in skeletal parts. They also observed that accumulation of heavy metal showed seasonal variation.
Ortea et al. (1991) pointed out the 30 most conspicuous species of echinoderms
inhabiting the Cuban Archipelago. These included Luidia senegalensis, A. duplicatus, Linckia guildingii, O. reticulatus, Astrophyton muricatum, Ophiocoma riisei,
Ophiothrix suensonii, D. antillarum, E. tribuloides, E. lucunter, E. viridis, Tripneustes ventricosus, L. variegatus, Clypeaster rosaceus, Leodia sexiesperforata,
Meoma ventricosa ventricosa, Holothuria cubana, H. arenicola, I. badionotus and
Stichopus regalis.
Santana et al. (2001) documented the ingestion of a specimen of D. antillarum
(30 mm test diameter) by the sea anemone Condylactis gigantea in an aquarium.
Six stages were involved in this process during a period of 24 h. All of the skeletal
material of the sea urchin was discarded by the anemone at the end of digestion.
Castellanos-Iglesias et al. (2004) performed the ‘‘Reef Check Monitoring’’ at
‘‘Rincón de Guanabo’’ reef in la Habana. As part of the results, they showed that
the population density of D. antillarum was extremely low in this reef.
Nodarse-Konnorov (2001) analyzed the ecological structure of E. lucunter
populations in a coastal reef at Ciudad de la Habana, using a stratified random
sampling. The goal was to detect possible natural regularities in abundance and
size of the E. lucunter over space and time. The authors found that anfractuosity
was larger in the middle strata (5–15 m away from the shore), therefore containing
the major refuge availability, and with greater densities per month. Depth, an
indicator of the hydro-physical stress, increased farther from shore. Smaller
individuals were collected in the deeper strata during September and November.
For this reason, it was concluded distribution and size of individuals were related.
12 Echinoderms of the Cuban Archipelago
411
mexicana, H. cubana, H. arenicola, H. grisea, H. surinamensis, and Euapta lappa.
Gómez et al. (1980) evaluated the macrobenthos of the Golfo de Batabanó.
They provide ecological data of interest related to echinoderms. BerovidesAlvarez and Ortíz-Touzet (1981) studied color polymorphism in the seastar
Oreaster reticulatus, finding four patterns of coloration: olive green, red, reddish
brown and creamy yellow. They concluded that the most frequent pattern is the
reddish brown with 49.2 % of presence and the olive green pattern was frequent in
juveniles. Herrera-Moreno et al. (1981) used random sampling to study populations of the sea urchin Diadema antillarum in front of the rocky zone of the
Instituto de Oceanología. Espinosa (1982) analyzed the stomach contents of the
predatory seastar Astropecten articulatus and A. duplicatus. Martínez-Estalella
(1984) contributed a list of organisms associated with coral reefs. Beltrán et al.
(1988) used the sea urchin Echinometra lucunter as an indicator of oil pollution in
the rocky littoral adjacent to Bahía de la Habana. Ablanedo et al. (1990) used the
same species as an indicator of heavy metals (iron, zinc, manganese, and mercury)
pollution. They measured the concentration of these metals in sea urchins gonads
and skeletal parts (test, Aristotle’s lantern). The results obtained showed that heavy
metals accumulate differentially in different body tissues: iron and mercury in
gonads, zinc and manganese in skeletal parts. They also observed that accumulation of heavy metal showed seasonal variation.
Ortea et al. (1991) pointed out the 30 most conspicuous species of echinoderms
inhabiting the Cuban Archipelago. These included Luidia senegalensis, A. duplicatus, Linckia guildingii, O. reticulatus, Astrophyton muricatum, Ophiocoma riisei,
Ophiothrix suensonii, D. antillarum, E. tribuloides, E. lucunter, E. viridis, Tripneustes ventricosus, L. variegatus, Clypeaster rosaceus, Leodia sexiesperforata,
Meoma ventricosa ventricosa, Holothuria cubana, H. arenicola, I. badionotus and
Stichopus regalis.
Santana et al. (2001) documented the ingestion of a specimen of D. antillarum
(30 mm test diameter) by the sea anemone Condylactis gigantea in an aquarium.
Six stages were involved in this process during a period of 24 h. All of the skeletal
material of the sea urchin was discarded by the anemone at the end of digestion.
Castellanos-Iglesias et al. (2004) performed the ‘‘Reef Check Monitoring’’ at
‘‘Rincón de Guanabo’’ reef in la Habana. As part of the results, they showed that
the population density of D. antillarum was extremely low in this reef.
Nodarse-Konnorov (2001) analyzed the ecological structure of E. lucunter
populations in a coastal reef at Ciudad de la Habana, using a stratified random
sampling. The goal was to detect possible natural regularities in abundance and
size of the E. lucunter over space and time. The authors found that anfractuosity
was larger in the middle strata (5–15 m away from the shore), therefore containing
the major refuge availability, and with greater densities per month. Depth, an
indicator of the hydro-physical stress, increased farther from shore. Smaller
individuals were collected in the deeper strata during September and November.
For this reason, it was concluded distribution and size of individuals were related.
12 Echinoderms of the Cuban Archipelago
411