diverse and abundant echinoderm communities. Whereas, in some interior zones,
where muddy bottoms without vegetation predominate, very few or no species
were recorded. The dry biomass values varied between 0 and 4.72 g m
-2 . The
highest ones corresponded to ‘‘Cayo Largo del Sur’’ zone, part of the Northwestern
zone of ‘‘Isla de la Juventud’’ (ecozone 4) (Fig. 12.1). The poorest zones in biomass were the Southeast part of Golfo de Batabanó, ‘‘La Broa’’ inlet (ecozone 1)
(Fig. 12.1), which suffers from strong erosion in the northern muddy coasts, due to
disappearance of the protective red mangrove. This produced a marked and permanent water turbidity that has eliminated the seagrasses throughout the west part
of this inlet where some benthic organisms were once abundant (Alcolado 2007).
All over the macro-lagoon, the dominant species in biomass were the sea urchin
L. variegatus, the seastar O. reticulatus, and the irregular echinoid C. rosaceus.
This study showed L. variegatus plays an important role in seagrasses from Golfo
de Batabanó, because is an active and abundant micro phytobenthos consumer and
represents the main biological energy mobilizing mesh in the ecosystem (Alcolado
1990).
The mega-benthic communities of the Sabana-Camagüey Archipelago (ASC,
ecozone 8) were analyzed using a 109 stations network and numerous oceanographic parameters including temperature, current, salinity, particulate organic
matter and silt content in sediments (Espinosa and Abreu-Pérez unpublished data;
Alcolado et al. 1998). Echinoderms represented by 53 species (29 brittle stars, 12
holothurians, seven echinoids, and five seastars) were recorded in 71 stations just
like the Golfo de Batabanó macro-lagoon, the dominant species in number in most
stations (18) and with the largest frequency of appearance (32 stations), was
L. variegatus. Other conspicuous species in terms of numbers were the brittle stars
were evident: O. angulata (seven stations), Ophiostigma isacanthum, Ophioderma
olivaceum, Ophiothrix orstedii, and O. angulata. These also were important for
being recorded in 20, 19, 18, and 12 stations, respectively.
It is interesting to note the high abundance in number in which the brittle star
O. angulata occurred. Over two thousand specimens were collected in 1 min of
sampling. This seston-feeder species was found on the red algae Acanthophora sp.
at a station located at the western of Bahía de Santa Clara, where the current
provoked by predominant winds (from east to west) accumulates a larger amount
of nutrients, producing the so called ‘‘pocket’’ effect which favors this kind of
organism (Alcolado 1990).
The greatest species number, as well as the highest Margalef’s Richness Index
(1951) (R1 = 3.9), was found at station 36. This station is located in an external
area where good exchange of water with the ocean exists and the bottom is covered
with seagrass. When the 109 stations are combined, taking into account the biotope
type, the greatest species number corresponded to seagrass growing on thick
aleurite. In addition, it was observed that the brittle stars I. isacanthum, O. angulata,
and O. oerstedii were the species appearing on a larger numbers of biotopes.
The effect of salinity was also analyzed. Of the 53 potential species existing in
the Sabana-Camagüey Archipelago at salinities of 36 %, the number is markedly
reduced as salinity rises, down to 10 species at 41 % and only one, the brittle star
12 Echinoderms of the Cuban Archipelago
415
where muddy bottoms without vegetation predominate, very few or no species
were recorded. The dry biomass values varied between 0 and 4.72 g m
-2 . The
highest ones corresponded to ‘‘Cayo Largo del Sur’’ zone, part of the Northwestern
zone of ‘‘Isla de la Juventud’’ (ecozone 4) (Fig. 12.1). The poorest zones in biomass were the Southeast part of Golfo de Batabanó, ‘‘La Broa’’ inlet (ecozone 1)
(Fig. 12.1), which suffers from strong erosion in the northern muddy coasts, due to
disappearance of the protective red mangrove. This produced a marked and permanent water turbidity that has eliminated the seagrasses throughout the west part
of this inlet where some benthic organisms were once abundant (Alcolado 2007).
All over the macro-lagoon, the dominant species in biomass were the sea urchin
L. variegatus, the seastar O. reticulatus, and the irregular echinoid C. rosaceus.
This study showed L. variegatus plays an important role in seagrasses from Golfo
de Batabanó, because is an active and abundant micro phytobenthos consumer and
represents the main biological energy mobilizing mesh in the ecosystem (Alcolado
1990).
The mega-benthic communities of the Sabana-Camagüey Archipelago (ASC,
ecozone 8) were analyzed using a 109 stations network and numerous oceanographic parameters including temperature, current, salinity, particulate organic
matter and silt content in sediments (Espinosa and Abreu-Pérez unpublished data;
Alcolado et al. 1998). Echinoderms represented by 53 species (29 brittle stars, 12
holothurians, seven echinoids, and five seastars) were recorded in 71 stations just
like the Golfo de Batabanó macro-lagoon, the dominant species in number in most
stations (18) and with the largest frequency of appearance (32 stations), was
L. variegatus. Other conspicuous species in terms of numbers were the brittle stars
were evident: O. angulata (seven stations), Ophiostigma isacanthum, Ophioderma
olivaceum, Ophiothrix orstedii, and O. angulata. These also were important for
being recorded in 20, 19, 18, and 12 stations, respectively.
It is interesting to note the high abundance in number in which the brittle star
O. angulata occurred. Over two thousand specimens were collected in 1 min of
sampling. This seston-feeder species was found on the red algae Acanthophora sp.
at a station located at the western of Bahía de Santa Clara, where the current
provoked by predominant winds (from east to west) accumulates a larger amount
of nutrients, producing the so called ‘‘pocket’’ effect which favors this kind of
organism (Alcolado 1990).
The greatest species number, as well as the highest Margalef’s Richness Index
(1951) (R1 = 3.9), was found at station 36. This station is located in an external
area where good exchange of water with the ocean exists and the bottom is covered
with seagrass. When the 109 stations are combined, taking into account the biotope
type, the greatest species number corresponded to seagrass growing on thick
aleurite. In addition, it was observed that the brittle stars I. isacanthum, O. angulata,
and O. oerstedii were the species appearing on a larger numbers of biotopes.
The effect of salinity was also analyzed. Of the 53 potential species existing in
the Sabana-Camagüey Archipelago at salinities of 36 %, the number is markedly
reduced as salinity rises, down to 10 species at 41 % and only one, the brittle star
12 Echinoderms of the Cuban Archipelago
415