ecosystem. Others, like the sea cucumber Actinopyga agassizi, have been found
with relative frequency in coral reefs. It can also be collected with some frequency
in seagrasses associated with rocks and stones. Holothuria thomasi has been
observed with less frequency. In seagrasses, the most frequent and abundant
species are H. mexicana and H. floridana. In bays and coastal lagoons I. badionotus can be found at times with very high densities. Holothuria arenicola is
common on beaches and/or sandy plains.
12.4 Ecology
The Workshop of Eco-regionalization and classification of marine habitats in the
Cuban platform, celebrated in 2002, brought together Cuban and foreigner specialists in different fields of study. They undertook the task of analyzing the
geographic, geomorphologic, and ecological characteristics of the Cuban platform,
as well as the distribution of its biotopes. The main objectives of this workshop
were to identify the regions that form the marine platform of the Cuban Archipelago and to determine the main biotopes of the Cuban marine ecosystem. As
result of the analysis, nine ‘‘ecoregions’’ were established (Areces 2002)
(Fig. 12.1), named later by Claro (2007) as ‘‘ecozones’’. It was stated that the main
biotopes of the marine ecosystem in Cuba are coral reefs and hard non-reef bottoms (from interior waters); non-consolidated sediments (sand, mud); submerged
vegetation (seagrasses and macroalgae, mangrove swamps, coastal lagoons and
estuaries, low rocky coasts or with cliffs, and beaches).
Among the ecological studies performed in the island platform of Cuba are the
major ones made in Punta del Este (at La Isla de la Juventud, ecozone 4), and the
Golfo de Batabanó macro-lagoon (ecozone 4), the echinoderm communities of
Sabana-Camagüey Archipelago (ecozone 8), of Jururú and Vita bays (ecozone 9),
of Jardines de la Reina Archipelago (ecozone 2) and the northern coast of HabanaMatanzas (ecozone 7) (Fig. 12.1).
An integrative analysis of the ecological results for the Golfo de Batabanó
macro-lagoon, Sabana-Camagüey Archipelago (ecozones 4 and 8, respectively)
(Fig. 12.1), and the Jururú and de Vita bays (ecozone 9) showed all were dominated by unconsolidated sediments (sand and mud) and submerged vegetation
(seagrasses and macroalgae). Both biotopes are present in different proportions
(sand-mud, seagrasses-macroalgae), according to the oceanographic and geomorphologic characteristics of each locality.
At Golfo de Batabanó (ecozone 4) (Fig. 12.1), were recorded 50 species of
echinoderms (33 brittle stars, four seastars, seven echinoids, and six holothurians).
The most important species of brittle stars, due to their wide distribution within
that macro-lagoon were Ophioderma olivaceum, Ophiolepis elegans, and Ophiostigma isacanthum (Corvea et al. 1990). The richest and most diverse sites corresponded to those zones where appropriate geomorphologic and oceanographic
conditions exist for the development of macro-vegetation and the establishment of
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R. d. Valle-García et al.
with relative frequency in coral reefs. It can also be collected with some frequency
in seagrasses associated with rocks and stones. Holothuria thomasi has been
observed with less frequency. In seagrasses, the most frequent and abundant
species are H. mexicana and H. floridana. In bays and coastal lagoons I. badionotus can be found at times with very high densities. Holothuria arenicola is
common on beaches and/or sandy plains.
12.4 Ecology
The Workshop of Eco-regionalization and classification of marine habitats in the
Cuban platform, celebrated in 2002, brought together Cuban and foreigner specialists in different fields of study. They undertook the task of analyzing the
geographic, geomorphologic, and ecological characteristics of the Cuban platform,
as well as the distribution of its biotopes. The main objectives of this workshop
were to identify the regions that form the marine platform of the Cuban Archipelago and to determine the main biotopes of the Cuban marine ecosystem. As
result of the analysis, nine ‘‘ecoregions’’ were established (Areces 2002)
(Fig. 12.1), named later by Claro (2007) as ‘‘ecozones’’. It was stated that the main
biotopes of the marine ecosystem in Cuba are coral reefs and hard non-reef bottoms (from interior waters); non-consolidated sediments (sand, mud); submerged
vegetation (seagrasses and macroalgae, mangrove swamps, coastal lagoons and
estuaries, low rocky coasts or with cliffs, and beaches).
Among the ecological studies performed in the island platform of Cuba are the
major ones made in Punta del Este (at La Isla de la Juventud, ecozone 4), and the
Golfo de Batabanó macro-lagoon (ecozone 4), the echinoderm communities of
Sabana-Camagüey Archipelago (ecozone 8), of Jururú and Vita bays (ecozone 9),
of Jardines de la Reina Archipelago (ecozone 2) and the northern coast of HabanaMatanzas (ecozone 7) (Fig. 12.1).
An integrative analysis of the ecological results for the Golfo de Batabanó
macro-lagoon, Sabana-Camagüey Archipelago (ecozones 4 and 8, respectively)
(Fig. 12.1), and the Jururú and de Vita bays (ecozone 9) showed all were dominated by unconsolidated sediments (sand and mud) and submerged vegetation
(seagrasses and macroalgae). Both biotopes are present in different proportions
(sand-mud, seagrasses-macroalgae), according to the oceanographic and geomorphologic characteristics of each locality.
At Golfo de Batabanó (ecozone 4) (Fig. 12.1), were recorded 50 species of
echinoderms (33 brittle stars, four seastars, seven echinoids, and six holothurians).
The most important species of brittle stars, due to their wide distribution within
that macro-lagoon were Ophioderma olivaceum, Ophiolepis elegans, and Ophiostigma isacanthum (Corvea et al. 1990). The richest and most diverse sites corresponded to those zones where appropriate geomorphologic and oceanographic
conditions exist for the development of macro-vegetation and the establishment of
414
R. d. Valle-García et al.