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Review of Echinoderm Research in Puerto Rico, with the Focus on Biological and Ecological Aspects

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Echinoderm Research and Diversity in Latin America

Abstract

Echinoderms are functionally important components on coral reef ecosystems. Coral reef communities on the insular shelf of Puerto Rico have been studied, especially in the southwest region of the island. However, many of these reef surveys do not include the abundance of echinoderms. Echinoderm research carried out in Puerto Rico has mostly focused on ecological aspects. During 2006, Benavides revised the taxonomic list of shallower water Echinodermata in Puerto Rico. She identified a total of 108 echinoderm species (6 crinoid species, 14 asteroid species, 44 ophuiroid species, 15 echinoid species and 29 holothuroid species). In addition, Hernández-Delgado has carried out multiple studies describing echinoderm distribution around Puerto Rico, especially in areas where research has been limited. The University of Puerto Rico (UPR), an important research center, has supported multiple studies related to echinoderms. The laboratory of Jose García-Arrarás in the Department of Biology at UPR has done comprehensive work on the process of intestinal regeneration in the sea cucumber Holothuria (Selenkothuria) glaberrima (Selenka); in the hope that researchers would start considering echinoderms as model systems for pharmacological studies in muscle development and regeneration. Cameron and Williams et al. have described the reproduction patterns, larval distribution/settlement and recruitment of different sea urchin species in La Parguera, Puerto Rico. Other ecological studies such as bioerosion and echinoderm diversity are also discussed. In this chapter we present a comprehensive historical account of echinoderm research in Puerto Rico. We also make recommendations for future research.

Resumen

Los equinodermos son funcionalmente importantes componentes en los ecosistemas de arrecifes de coral, los cuales han sido estudiados en la isla de Puerto Rico especialmente en la región suroccidental; Sin embargo, dentro de estos estudios el grupo de los equinodermos ha sido poco estudiado. Las pocas investigaciones realizadas dentro del grupo, han sido especialmente sobre aspectos de su biología y ecología. En el año 2006, Benavides-Serrato realizó una revisión del listado taxonómico de los equinodermos de aguas someras de éste grupo para la isla de Puerto Rico; se identificaron 108 especies de equinodermos (seis crinoideos, 14 asteroideos, 44 ofiuroideos, 15 equinoideos y 29 holothuroideos). Sumado a esto, Hernández-Delgado ha llevado a cabo múltiples estudios que describen la distribución de éste grupo alrededor de la isla, especialmente en áreas donde la información ha sido limitada. La Universidad de Puerto Rico (UPR) es un importante centro de estudios que ha respaldado múltiples estudios relacionados con equinodermos. En el Departamento de Biología de la UPR, recinto de Río Piedras, el laboratorio José García-Arrarás ha realizado un extensivo trabajo relacionado con la regeneración intestinal del pepino de mar Holothuria (Selenkothuria) glaberrima (Selenka) con el objetivo principal de escogerlo como modelo para estudios farmacológicos dentro del desarrollo muscular y regeneración. Cameron y Williams et al. han descrito patrones de reproducción, distribución, establecimiento y reclutamiento larval de erizos de mar. Otros estudios ecológicos, tales como bioerosión y la diversidad de equinodermos también son discutidos. En éste capítulo presentamos un recuento histórico de los estudios llevados a cabo en Puerto Rico hasta el momento, brindando adicionalmente algunas recomendaciones para su estudio posterior y futuras investigaciones.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centro de Investigación en Ciencias del Mar y Limnología (CIMAR), Universidad de Costa Rica, San Pedro, San José, CR, 11501-2060, USA

    Stacey M. Williams

  2. Echinoderm Curator Museo de Historia Natural Marina de Colombia, Biodiversity Marine Ecosystems (BEM), Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras-INVEMAR, A.A 1016, Santa Marta, Colombia

    Milena Benavides-Serrato

  3. Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico, PO Box 23360, Río Piedras, San Juan, PR, 00931-3360, USA

    Jose E. García-Arrarás, Edwin A. Hernández-Delgado & Ruber Rodríguez-Barreras

Authors
  1. Stacey M. Williams
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  2. Milena Benavides-Serrato
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  3. Jose E. García-Arrarás
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  4. Edwin A. Hernández-Delgado
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  5. Ruber Rodríguez-Barreras
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Stacey M. Williams .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Centro de Investigaciónes en Ciencias, del Mar y Limnologia, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, 11501-2060, Colombia

    Juan José Alvarado

  2. Instituto de Ciencias del Mar, y Limnologia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Circuito Universitario s/n, México City, 04510, Mexico

    Francisco Alonso Solis-Marin

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Williams, S.M., Benavides-Serrato, M., García-Arrarás, J.E., Hernández-Delgado, E.A., Rodríguez-Barreras, R. (2013). Review of Echinoderm Research in Puerto Rico, with the Focus on Biological and Ecological Aspects. In: Alvarado, J., Solis-Marin, F. (eds) Echinoderm Research and Diversity in Latin America. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-20051-9_14

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