surface while they still were able to direct spines toward tactile stimulation. The
gas production and lost of spines suggests that this species was involved in a
disturbance, primary or secondary pathogen. A similar die-off was reported
between September and November 1990 in La Parguera (Colon-Jones 1993). This
die-off was due to air exposure and/or higher seawater temperatures. The extent,
significance and frequency of these die-offs must be better understood in order to
identify the cause and their relationship with any other disturbance affecting their
habitat.
14.6 Recommendations
The knowledge of echinoderms in Puerto Rico has been scarce and focused
principally to ecological studies. Although inventories have been developed, this is
incomplete, especially in the north of the island. The focus of research has been
mainly located in La Parguera, Puerto Rico. The facilities located on the Isla of
Magayues (UPR at Mayagüez) are conveniently located for scientists to carry out
research in La Parguera region. Research needs to be extended and increased in
other zones of the Archipelago, especially the little islands: Mona, Culebra, Vieques and Desecheo. In order to increase the research of these echinoderms, it is
necessary to encourage to students and scientists to study this phylum, especially
phylogeny, taxonomy, biogeography and functional aspects.
References
Acevedo R, Morelock J (1988) Effects of terrigenous sediment influx on coral reef zonation in
southwestern Puerto Rico. Proc 6th Int Coral Reefs Symp 2:189–194
Almy C, Carrión-Torres D (1963) Shallow-water stony corals of Puerto Rico. Carib J Sci
3:133–162
Bak RPM (1985) Settlement patterns and mass mortalities in the sea urchin Diadema antillarum.
Proc 5th Coral Reef Congr, Tahiti 5:267–272
Bak RPM, Carpay MJE, de van Ruyter ED (1984) Densities of the sea urchin Diadema antillarum
before and after mass mortalities on the coral reefs of Curaçao. Mar Ecol Prog Ser
17:105–110
Bauer JC (1980) Observations on geographical variations in population density of the echinoid
Diadema antillarum within the western North Atlantic. Bull Mar Sci 30:509–515
Benavides-Serrato M (2006) Taxonomic list of the shallow water echinoderms of Puerto Rico
with new information for La Parguera. MSc Thesis, Univ Puerto Rico, Mayagüez
Cabrera-Serrano A, García-Arrarás JE (2004) RGD-containing peptides inhibit intestinal
regeneration in the sea cucumber Holothuria glaberrima. Dev Dyn 231:171–178
Cameron RA (1983) Dribblers and swampers: Reproductive period and recruitment in Caribbean
sea urchins. Am Zool 23:964
Cameron RA (1986) Reproduction, larval occurrence and recruitment in Caribbean sea urchins.
Bull Mar Sci 39:332–346
464
S. M. Williams et al.
gas production and lost of spines suggests that this species was involved in a
disturbance, primary or secondary pathogen. A similar die-off was reported
between September and November 1990 in La Parguera (Colon-Jones 1993). This
die-off was due to air exposure and/or higher seawater temperatures. The extent,
significance and frequency of these die-offs must be better understood in order to
identify the cause and their relationship with any other disturbance affecting their
habitat.
14.6 Recommendations
The knowledge of echinoderms in Puerto Rico has been scarce and focused
principally to ecological studies. Although inventories have been developed, this is
incomplete, especially in the north of the island. The focus of research has been
mainly located in La Parguera, Puerto Rico. The facilities located on the Isla of
Magayues (UPR at Mayagüez) are conveniently located for scientists to carry out
research in La Parguera region. Research needs to be extended and increased in
other zones of the Archipelago, especially the little islands: Mona, Culebra, Vieques and Desecheo. In order to increase the research of these echinoderms, it is
necessary to encourage to students and scientists to study this phylum, especially
phylogeny, taxonomy, biogeography and functional aspects.
References
Acevedo R, Morelock J (1988) Effects of terrigenous sediment influx on coral reef zonation in
southwestern Puerto Rico. Proc 6th Int Coral Reefs Symp 2:189–194
Almy C, Carrión-Torres D (1963) Shallow-water stony corals of Puerto Rico. Carib J Sci
3:133–162
Bak RPM (1985) Settlement patterns and mass mortalities in the sea urchin Diadema antillarum.
Proc 5th Coral Reef Congr, Tahiti 5:267–272
Bak RPM, Carpay MJE, de van Ruyter ED (1984) Densities of the sea urchin Diadema antillarum
before and after mass mortalities on the coral reefs of Curaçao. Mar Ecol Prog Ser
17:105–110
Bauer JC (1980) Observations on geographical variations in population density of the echinoid
Diadema antillarum within the western North Atlantic. Bull Mar Sci 30:509–515
Benavides-Serrato M (2006) Taxonomic list of the shallow water echinoderms of Puerto Rico
with new information for La Parguera. MSc Thesis, Univ Puerto Rico, Mayagüez
Cabrera-Serrano A, García-Arrarás JE (2004) RGD-containing peptides inhibit intestinal
regeneration in the sea cucumber Holothuria glaberrima. Dev Dyn 231:171–178
Cameron RA (1983) Dribblers and swampers: Reproductive period and recruitment in Caribbean
sea urchins. Am Zool 23:964
Cameron RA (1986) Reproduction, larval occurrence and recruitment in Caribbean sea urchins.
Bull Mar Sci 39:332–346
464
S. M. Williams et al.