and 17 species deterred feeding by C. variegatus. Only two species deterred
feeding L. emarginata (Table 2.1). Juárez-Espinoza (2010) screened antibacterial,
antioxidant and hemolitic activity from ethanolic extracts of D. antillarlum.
2.3.4 Molecular Systematics Studies on Mexican Echinoderms
McCartney et al. (2000) sequenced 630 bp of the cytochrome oxidase I (COI)
mitochondrial gene of seven species of the genus Echinometra (including E.
vanbrunti from the Mexican Pacific) to provide comparable information on the
eastern Pacific and Atlantic species, to estimate dates for cladogenic events. They
found that an earlier split, assumed to have been coincident with the completion of
the Isthmus of Panama, separated the eastern Pacific E. vanbrunti from the Atlantic
common ancestor and concluded gene flow within species is generally high.
Lessios et al. (2001) reconstructed the phylogeny of the sea urching genus
Diadema using mitochondrial DNA sequences from individuals around the world
to determine the efficacy of barriers to gene flow and to ascertain the history of
dispersal and vicariance events that led to speciation. They used D. mexicanum
from the Gulf of California in the analysis. The D. mexicanum specimens grouped
with species from the West Pacific and western and central Atlantic (D. antillarum,
D. savignyi and D. paucispinun). They found that Indo-Pacific populations
apparently maintained genetic contact with Atlantic populations around the
southern tip of Africa for some time after the Isthmus of Panama was completed.
2.3.5 Biogeography Studies
Studies on echinoderm distribution patterns in Mexico are relatively recent. In
addition, they are poorly documented. The first approaches have been made to
understand the affinities between faunal provinces or regions in the Mexican territory. One of the earliest works in Mexico was made by Parker (1963). His study
analyzed the zoogeography and ecology of benthic invertebrates in the Gulf of
California, recognizing 11 faunal assemblages based on the characterization of its
environments. He found that, compared with benthic communities elsewhere in the
world, the diversity of shallow-water species in the Gulf of California is striking.
No single species is dominant. Comparisons between the macro-invertebrate
assemblages of the Gulf of California and those of the Gulf of Mexico and other
parts of the world demonstrate that great similarities, generally at the subgeneric
level, exist in similar environments throughout the subtropical and tropical regions
of the world.
Laguarda-Figueras et al. (2002) analyzed the geographical and bathymetric
distribution of Mexican Caribbean asteroids, evaluating the distributional patters
and their affinities. They found that the ‘‘extended-Western Atlantic’’ and ‘‘warm
38
F. A. Solís-Marín et al.
feeding L. emarginata (Table 2.1). Juárez-Espinoza (2010) screened antibacterial,
antioxidant and hemolitic activity from ethanolic extracts of D. antillarlum.
2.3.4 Molecular Systematics Studies on Mexican Echinoderms
McCartney et al. (2000) sequenced 630 bp of the cytochrome oxidase I (COI)
mitochondrial gene of seven species of the genus Echinometra (including E.
vanbrunti from the Mexican Pacific) to provide comparable information on the
eastern Pacific and Atlantic species, to estimate dates for cladogenic events. They
found that an earlier split, assumed to have been coincident with the completion of
the Isthmus of Panama, separated the eastern Pacific E. vanbrunti from the Atlantic
common ancestor and concluded gene flow within species is generally high.
Lessios et al. (2001) reconstructed the phylogeny of the sea urching genus
Diadema using mitochondrial DNA sequences from individuals around the world
to determine the efficacy of barriers to gene flow and to ascertain the history of
dispersal and vicariance events that led to speciation. They used D. mexicanum
from the Gulf of California in the analysis. The D. mexicanum specimens grouped
with species from the West Pacific and western and central Atlantic (D. antillarum,
D. savignyi and D. paucispinun). They found that Indo-Pacific populations
apparently maintained genetic contact with Atlantic populations around the
southern tip of Africa for some time after the Isthmus of Panama was completed.
2.3.5 Biogeography Studies
Studies on echinoderm distribution patterns in Mexico are relatively recent. In
addition, they are poorly documented. The first approaches have been made to
understand the affinities between faunal provinces or regions in the Mexican territory. One of the earliest works in Mexico was made by Parker (1963). His study
analyzed the zoogeography and ecology of benthic invertebrates in the Gulf of
California, recognizing 11 faunal assemblages based on the characterization of its
environments. He found that, compared with benthic communities elsewhere in the
world, the diversity of shallow-water species in the Gulf of California is striking.
No single species is dominant. Comparisons between the macro-invertebrate
assemblages of the Gulf of California and those of the Gulf of Mexico and other
parts of the world demonstrate that great similarities, generally at the subgeneric
level, exist in similar environments throughout the subtropical and tropical regions
of the world.
Laguarda-Figueras et al. (2002) analyzed the geographical and bathymetric
distribution of Mexican Caribbean asteroids, evaluating the distributional patters
and their affinities. They found that the ‘‘extended-Western Atlantic’’ and ‘‘warm
38
F. A. Solís-Marín et al.