rubble bottom (34 and 53 %, respectively). On coral reefs and in kelp forest, the
classes Ophiuroidea (33 and 36 %, respectively) and Holothuroidea (33 and 36 %,
respectively) were predominantd. Holothuroidea were predominant on muddy
bottoms (30 %). On sandy bottoms, Asteroidea (26 %) and Ophiuroidea (26 %)
were predominant. Most of the species in the Pacific list were found in only one
habitat (each 47 %) while only 0.2 % were found in five and seven habitats
(Fig. 16.19b). In the Caribbean and Atlantic list, most of the species were on sandy
bottoms (357 species) (Fig. 16.20a), 33 % in the class Asteroidea. This class also
was predominant on rubble (33 %) and muddy (30 %) bottoms. The class
Ophiuroidea was predominant on coral reefs (50 %), mangroves (62 %), seagrass
(43 %) and rocky bottoms (30 %). Most of the species in the Caribbean and
Atlantic lists were found in only one habitat (33 %) while only 3 % and 1 % were
found in six and seven habitats respectively (Fig. 16.20b).
There are three groups according to habitat categories in the Pacific
(Fig. 16.21a). The first group is composed of coral reefs, muddy, rocky and sandy
bottoms. These habitats possess the highest values of total species richness
(94–294), Margalef species richness (20.3–51.4) and Shannon Diversity (5.3–5.9).
The second group is composed by sea grass, mangroves and rubble bottom. These
habitats possess low values of total species richness (2–15), Margalef species
richness (1.4–5.2) and Shannon Diversity (0.7–2.7). The third group is composed
by the kelp forest that possesses low values of the total species richness (11),
Margalef species richness (4.2) and Shannon Diversity (2.3). In the CaribbeanAtlantic, the nMDS indicates the presence of four groups (Fig. 16.21b). The first
one is composed of sandy and muddy bottoms that possess the highest values of
total species richness (357–333 species respectively), Margalef species richness
(60.4–57.1 respectively) and Shannon Diversity (5.9–5.8). The second group is
composed of rocky bottoms and coral reefs that possess high to moderate values of
total species richness (298–199 species respectively), Margalef species richness
(52.1–37.4 respectively) and Shannon Diversity (5.7–5.3 respectively). The third
group is composed of seagrass and rubble bottoms with moderate values of total
species richness (94–143 species respectively), Margalef species richness
(20.5–28.6 respectively) and Shannon Diversity (4.5–4.9 respectively). The last
group is composed of mangroves that possess the lowest values of total species
richness (29), Margalef species richness (8.3) and Shannon Diversity (3.4).
Acknowledgments We are grateful with all the authors that participated on this contribution.
We appreciate the help and extensive work of the students from the Laboratorio de Ecología y
Taxonomía de Equinodermos, Colección Nacional de Equinodermos Dra. María Elena Caso,
Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología from the Universidad Autónoma Nacional de México.
JJA wants to acknowledge Monica Chavez for preparing all the figures from this chapter and
CONACYT and CONICIT for all the economic support during the preparation and analysis of
this review.
540
A. Pérez-Ruzafa et al.
classes Ophiuroidea (33 and 36 %, respectively) and Holothuroidea (33 and 36 %,
respectively) were predominantd. Holothuroidea were predominant on muddy
bottoms (30 %). On sandy bottoms, Asteroidea (26 %) and Ophiuroidea (26 %)
were predominant. Most of the species in the Pacific list were found in only one
habitat (each 47 %) while only 0.2 % were found in five and seven habitats
(Fig. 16.19b). In the Caribbean and Atlantic list, most of the species were on sandy
bottoms (357 species) (Fig. 16.20a), 33 % in the class Asteroidea. This class also
was predominant on rubble (33 %) and muddy (30 %) bottoms. The class
Ophiuroidea was predominant on coral reefs (50 %), mangroves (62 %), seagrass
(43 %) and rocky bottoms (30 %). Most of the species in the Caribbean and
Atlantic lists were found in only one habitat (33 %) while only 3 % and 1 % were
found in six and seven habitats respectively (Fig. 16.20b).
There are three groups according to habitat categories in the Pacific
(Fig. 16.21a). The first group is composed of coral reefs, muddy, rocky and sandy
bottoms. These habitats possess the highest values of total species richness
(94–294), Margalef species richness (20.3–51.4) and Shannon Diversity (5.3–5.9).
The second group is composed by sea grass, mangroves and rubble bottom. These
habitats possess low values of total species richness (2–15), Margalef species
richness (1.4–5.2) and Shannon Diversity (0.7–2.7). The third group is composed
by the kelp forest that possesses low values of the total species richness (11),
Margalef species richness (4.2) and Shannon Diversity (2.3). In the CaribbeanAtlantic, the nMDS indicates the presence of four groups (Fig. 16.21b). The first
one is composed of sandy and muddy bottoms that possess the highest values of
total species richness (357–333 species respectively), Margalef species richness
(60.4–57.1 respectively) and Shannon Diversity (5.9–5.8). The second group is
composed of rocky bottoms and coral reefs that possess high to moderate values of
total species richness (298–199 species respectively), Margalef species richness
(52.1–37.4 respectively) and Shannon Diversity (5.7–5.3 respectively). The third
group is composed of seagrass and rubble bottoms with moderate values of total
species richness (94–143 species respectively), Margalef species richness
(20.5–28.6 respectively) and Shannon Diversity (4.5–4.9 respectively). The last
group is composed of mangroves that possess the lowest values of total species
richness (29), Margalef species richness (8.3) and Shannon Diversity (3.4).
Acknowledgments We are grateful with all the authors that participated on this contribution.
We appreciate the help and extensive work of the students from the Laboratorio de Ecología y
Taxonomía de Equinodermos, Colección Nacional de Equinodermos Dra. María Elena Caso,
Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología from the Universidad Autónoma Nacional de México.
JJA wants to acknowledge Monica Chavez for preparing all the figures from this chapter and
CONACYT and CONICIT for all the economic support during the preparation and analysis of
this review.
540
A. Pérez-Ruzafa et al.