Ophiolepis elegans, at a salinity of 42.2 %. This is the most salinity-tolerant
species reported in Cuban waters.
A major variation in particulate organic matter content was found within the
sediments of the interior parts of Sabana-Camagüey Archipelago. The greatest
species numbers (33–36) were found at stations with low-medium content of
organic matter (2.5–15.5 %). The species number was greatly reduced (11–5) in
places with high-medium percentages (15.6–35.0 %) (Espinosa and Abreu-Pérez
unpublished data). This observation is very similar to that found by Alcolado et al.
(1998) for all mega-zoobenthic organisms he studied.
The sites with greater species richness were those with good water circulation
and exchange of interior waters with the open sea, presence of good development
of macro-vegetation, salinity values lower than 38 %, and moderate particulate
organic matter and silt values. The highest species density values were recorded in
regions where the geographic configuration favors particle retention (pocket effect)
(seston and larvae from benthic colonizers), provided that stress factor values were
at the levels indicated above.
In a general sense, the results from studies at Bahías de Jururú and Vita
(ecozone 9), Cárdenas and Nuevitas (ecozone 8) (Fig. 12.1) showed the same
pattern observed in Sabana-Camagüey Archipelago.
Comparison of the echinoderm list of ASC with the Golfo de Batabanó macrolagoon and Bahías de Jururú and Vita, using Sorensen’s Similarity Index (1948),
shows that a high faunistic affinity exists. Integration of the echinoderm species
lists from all of the studied sites in Cuba indicates that the echinoderm communities present in soft bottoms total 91 species. Fifty six are brittle stars, 18 holothurians, nine echinoids, and eight seastars.
Another relevant ecological study was performed on three coral reefs in Golfo
de Batabanó (Espinosa and Abreu-Pérez unpublished data) (Fig. 12.1). The main
characteristics of echinoderm communities present were analyzed in different
zones (reef lagoon (L), rear zone (ZT), plain (M), pounding zone (ZE), abrasive
rocky esplanade (ER) at 5 m depth, and external slope (PE) at 10, 15, and 20 m).
The ‘‘Juan García’’ reef, located in the western part of Golfo de Batabanó, is the
most exposed of the three reefs. It receives a strong influence from enriched water
with organic matter from Isle of Youth and the numerous adjacent cays and little
cays. The ‘‘Cantiles’’ reef is located south of Golfo de Batabanó, in a more
protected zone and is the one receiving the least land influence. The ‘‘Diego
Pérez’’ reef, located east of Golfo de Batabanó, is the most protected one and
receives a major land influence from Península de Zapata, a region rich in swamps
and mangroves. Major differences were found among the three reefs in the ecological structure of echinoderm communities, as well as between the zones that
composed them (coastal lagoon, reef plain complex, abrasive rocky esplanade, and
external slope at 10, 15, and 20 m)
The number of species in ‘‘Juan García’’ reef was less than in the other two
reefs, except on the external slope. These results have an important relationship
with different environmental factors acting negatively on the ecological structure
of echinoderm communities. Among them are the greater degree of exposure to
416
R. d. Valle-García et al.
species reported in Cuban waters.
A major variation in particulate organic matter content was found within the
sediments of the interior parts of Sabana-Camagüey Archipelago. The greatest
species numbers (33–36) were found at stations with low-medium content of
organic matter (2.5–15.5 %). The species number was greatly reduced (11–5) in
places with high-medium percentages (15.6–35.0 %) (Espinosa and Abreu-Pérez
unpublished data). This observation is very similar to that found by Alcolado et al.
(1998) for all mega-zoobenthic organisms he studied.
The sites with greater species richness were those with good water circulation
and exchange of interior waters with the open sea, presence of good development
of macro-vegetation, salinity values lower than 38 %, and moderate particulate
organic matter and silt values. The highest species density values were recorded in
regions where the geographic configuration favors particle retention (pocket effect)
(seston and larvae from benthic colonizers), provided that stress factor values were
at the levels indicated above.
In a general sense, the results from studies at Bahías de Jururú and Vita
(ecozone 9), Cárdenas and Nuevitas (ecozone 8) (Fig. 12.1) showed the same
pattern observed in Sabana-Camagüey Archipelago.
Comparison of the echinoderm list of ASC with the Golfo de Batabanó macrolagoon and Bahías de Jururú and Vita, using Sorensen’s Similarity Index (1948),
shows that a high faunistic affinity exists. Integration of the echinoderm species
lists from all of the studied sites in Cuba indicates that the echinoderm communities present in soft bottoms total 91 species. Fifty six are brittle stars, 18 holothurians, nine echinoids, and eight seastars.
Another relevant ecological study was performed on three coral reefs in Golfo
de Batabanó (Espinosa and Abreu-Pérez unpublished data) (Fig. 12.1). The main
characteristics of echinoderm communities present were analyzed in different
zones (reef lagoon (L), rear zone (ZT), plain (M), pounding zone (ZE), abrasive
rocky esplanade (ER) at 5 m depth, and external slope (PE) at 10, 15, and 20 m).
The ‘‘Juan García’’ reef, located in the western part of Golfo de Batabanó, is the
most exposed of the three reefs. It receives a strong influence from enriched water
with organic matter from Isle of Youth and the numerous adjacent cays and little
cays. The ‘‘Cantiles’’ reef is located south of Golfo de Batabanó, in a more
protected zone and is the one receiving the least land influence. The ‘‘Diego
Pérez’’ reef, located east of Golfo de Batabanó, is the most protected one and
receives a major land influence from Península de Zapata, a region rich in swamps
and mangroves. Major differences were found among the three reefs in the ecological structure of echinoderm communities, as well as between the zones that
composed them (coastal lagoon, reef plain complex, abrasive rocky esplanade, and
external slope at 10, 15, and 20 m)
The number of species in ‘‘Juan García’’ reef was less than in the other two
reefs, except on the external slope. These results have an important relationship
with different environmental factors acting negatively on the ecological structure
of echinoderm communities. Among them are the greater degree of exposure to
416
R. d. Valle-García et al.