Foreword
This is a remarkable book. First and foremost, it compiles an immense amount of
literature on all aspects of echinoderm biology and ecology over an extremely
broad geographical range. This will be extremely useful because much of the
literature is relatively unknown to the world at large. The description of the
oceanography and marine environments of each country in a comprehensive way
will be of considerable interest to marine biologists in general.
One of the most interesting aspects of this book is the section devoted to the
history of echinoderm studies in each country. The first reports about echinoderms
were isolated and sporadic, not systematic studies. These generally did not begin
until the 1850s with various foreign expeditions along the coasts of Latin America.
Studies of echinoderms by workers in Latin American countries themselves did
not begin to develop appreciably until the 1950s. This has changed in a dramatic
way. In the latter part of the twentieth century, interest in marine biology and
recognition of its importance in terms of basic science, the environment and
conservation, and economics increased greatly. This led to an increase in the
number of marine biologists in general and of echinoderm biologists in particular.
The amount of research activity that has developed since then is impressive.
Another thing that impressed me, apparent in the book, is the passion of Latin
American biologists for echinoderms, their commitment to conservation, their
desire to assist their countries through their efforts, and their collegiality.
Florida, USA, March 2012
John M. Lawrence
Department of Integrative Biology,
University of South Florida,
Tampa
vii
This is a remarkable book. First and foremost, it compiles an immense amount of
literature on all aspects of echinoderm biology and ecology over an extremely
broad geographical range. This will be extremely useful because much of the
literature is relatively unknown to the world at large. The description of the
oceanography and marine environments of each country in a comprehensive way
will be of considerable interest to marine biologists in general.
One of the most interesting aspects of this book is the section devoted to the
history of echinoderm studies in each country. The first reports about echinoderms
were isolated and sporadic, not systematic studies. These generally did not begin
until the 1850s with various foreign expeditions along the coasts of Latin America.
Studies of echinoderms by workers in Latin American countries themselves did
not begin to develop appreciably until the 1950s. This has changed in a dramatic
way. In the latter part of the twentieth century, interest in marine biology and
recognition of its importance in terms of basic science, the environment and
conservation, and economics increased greatly. This led to an increase in the
number of marine biologists in general and of echinoderm biologists in particular.
The amount of research activity that has developed since then is impressive.
Another thing that impressed me, apparent in the book, is the passion of Latin
American biologists for echinoderms, their commitment to conservation, their
desire to assist their countries through their efforts, and their collegiality.
Florida, USA, March 2012
John M. Lawrence
Department of Integrative Biology,
University of South Florida,
Tampa
vii