the Gulf of Panama and then moved northward by the Costa Rica Coastal Current
along the coast of CA, and finally joins the North Equatorial Current (Wyrtki
1967; Brenes and Gutiérrez 1998; Kessler 2006).
The Caribbean coast of CA is characterized by relatively stable water temperatures, extensive coral reefs and seagrass beds, and large areas of carbonate
platforms (Cortés 2007). This side of CA is considered a passive margin with few
elevated outcrops (Coates 1997). This coast is characterized by lower levels of
Fig. 3.1 Central America main currents and distribution of reefs (R), mangroves (M) and
seagrass (S) ecosystems (modified from Lessios et al. 1984; Glynn et al. 1996; Cortés 2007)
3 Central America Echinoderms: Diversity, Ecology and Future Perspectives
69
along the coast of CA, and finally joins the North Equatorial Current (Wyrtki
1967; Brenes and Gutiérrez 1998; Kessler 2006).
The Caribbean coast of CA is characterized by relatively stable water temperatures, extensive coral reefs and seagrass beds, and large areas of carbonate
platforms (Cortés 2007). This side of CA is considered a passive margin with few
elevated outcrops (Coates 1997). This coast is characterized by lower levels of
Fig. 3.1 Central America main currents and distribution of reefs (R), mangroves (M) and
seagrass (S) ecosystems (modified from Lessios et al. 1984; Glynn et al. 1996; Cortés 2007)
3 Central America Echinoderms: Diversity, Ecology and Future Perspectives
69