grows allometrically at the site. Five gonadal stages were described according to
cell types present in the gonad. The results showed this holothurian spawns
annually during summer. Variations of the gonad index were directly related to
gonad development and sea-surface temperature, with highest values in summer
corresponding with ripe gonads and the highest sea-surface temperature.
Some other studies have been directed to chemical analysis. Bakus (1974)
demonstrated the toxicity to fishes of some holothurian species (Isostichopus
fuscus, Holothuria impatiens, H. imitans, Neothyne gibbosa and Parastichopus
parvimensis) occurring in the Mexican Pacific (Gulf of California). The evidence
supports the hypothesis that toxicity in this species has evolved as a chemical
defense mechanism against predation by fishes.
The small number of publications about ecology of echinoderms in Mexico
provides evidence of unequal and limited development of ecological studies
related to this group (Fig. 2.4). There are few papers analyzing echinoderm
communities in Mexico, and only four species have been studied in terms of
population ecology. Furthermore, basically all the studies have been focused
mainly on the Gulf of California and the Mexican Pacific, leaving the rest of the
shoreline practically unstudied ecologically, except for two projects performed in
the Gulf of Mexico (Fig. 2.1). This is an indicator of the geographical location and
field of influence of the institutions that hold specialists who are dedicated to the
study of ecology of echinoderms; therefore it is important and essential to become
involved with other institutions in order to develop collaborations that make
possible an increase of knowledge of the current status and the dynamics of
populations of echinoderms, in terms of their relationships with their biotic and
abiotic environments, in order to obtain a more comprehensive knowledge of
echinoderm communities in the entire country.
2.3.3 Chemical Studies of Echinoderms in Mexico
There are few studies about the chemistry on Mexican echinoderms. The first was
by Lara-Guadarrame (1985), who determinated the basic biochemical compounds
in the gonads of the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus franciscanus. Encarnacion et al.
(1989) isolated the first marine natural product from a Mexican echinoderm,
‘‘Neothyside A’’ from the sea cucumber Neothyone gibbosa. This tryterpenoid
tetraglycoside was isolated with cromatographic techniques. Another natural
product isolated from N. gibbosa is Neothyoside B, a triterpenoid diglycoside
(Encarnacion et al. 1996).
Encarnacion et al. (1996) wrote a book about the traditional southern California
medicine. They mentioned that Indians used some marine organism as traditional
drugs, including the sea urchin Echinometra vanbrunti and the sea star Astropecten
armatus. Both are still used as traditional medicines as anti-abortion agents, as
agents to remove scars and as a preventive for vaginal bleeding.
36
F. A. Solís-Marín et al.
cell types present in the gonad. The results showed this holothurian spawns
annually during summer. Variations of the gonad index were directly related to
gonad development and sea-surface temperature, with highest values in summer
corresponding with ripe gonads and the highest sea-surface temperature.
Some other studies have been directed to chemical analysis. Bakus (1974)
demonstrated the toxicity to fishes of some holothurian species (Isostichopus
fuscus, Holothuria impatiens, H. imitans, Neothyne gibbosa and Parastichopus
parvimensis) occurring in the Mexican Pacific (Gulf of California). The evidence
supports the hypothesis that toxicity in this species has evolved as a chemical
defense mechanism against predation by fishes.
The small number of publications about ecology of echinoderms in Mexico
provides evidence of unequal and limited development of ecological studies
related to this group (Fig. 2.4). There are few papers analyzing echinoderm
communities in Mexico, and only four species have been studied in terms of
population ecology. Furthermore, basically all the studies have been focused
mainly on the Gulf of California and the Mexican Pacific, leaving the rest of the
shoreline practically unstudied ecologically, except for two projects performed in
the Gulf of Mexico (Fig. 2.1). This is an indicator of the geographical location and
field of influence of the institutions that hold specialists who are dedicated to the
study of ecology of echinoderms; therefore it is important and essential to become
involved with other institutions in order to develop collaborations that make
possible an increase of knowledge of the current status and the dynamics of
populations of echinoderms, in terms of their relationships with their biotic and
abiotic environments, in order to obtain a more comprehensive knowledge of
echinoderm communities in the entire country.
2.3.3 Chemical Studies of Echinoderms in Mexico
There are few studies about the chemistry on Mexican echinoderms. The first was
by Lara-Guadarrame (1985), who determinated the basic biochemical compounds
in the gonads of the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus franciscanus. Encarnacion et al.
(1989) isolated the first marine natural product from a Mexican echinoderm,
‘‘Neothyside A’’ from the sea cucumber Neothyone gibbosa. This tryterpenoid
tetraglycoside was isolated with cromatographic techniques. Another natural
product isolated from N. gibbosa is Neothyoside B, a triterpenoid diglycoside
(Encarnacion et al. 1996).
Encarnacion et al. (1996) wrote a book about the traditional southern California
medicine. They mentioned that Indians used some marine organism as traditional
drugs, including the sea urchin Echinometra vanbrunti and the sea star Astropecten
armatus. Both are still used as traditional medicines as anti-abortion agents, as
agents to remove scars and as a preventive for vaginal bleeding.
36
F. A. Solís-Marín et al.