Echinoderm (Echinodermata) species richness in Cozumel Reefs National Park and the northern part of the island, Mexican Caribbean
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| Autoři: | , |
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| Stav: | Versión publicada |
| Datum vydání: | 2026 |
| Popis: | Introduction: Echinoderms are essential to coral reefs, yet a checklist focused on this ecosystem had not yet documented their species richness on Cozumel Island. Objective: Determine the current species richness and present an annotated checklist of echinoderm species from the northern part of the island and Cozumel Reefs National Park (PNAC). Methods: We conducted survey dives using free diving and SCUBA between 2018 and 2025. We covered depths from 0 to 32 m at 14 reefs within the PNAC and in the northern area (Santa Pilar). We recorded substrates and organisms via in situ video. Results: A total of 29 species belonging to five classes were recorded during fieldwork. The Echinoidea class (31 %) and the Ophiuroidea class (28 %) were the most prevalent. Sea urchins of the species Echinometra lucunter and Diadema antillarum were the most numerous. The sea cucumber Holothuria (Halodeima) mexicana was the most common species, found at 10 reefs. A total of 19 species were identified in the PNAC, and 18 species were recorded in the northern region of the island. Six new records were documented on the island: the crinoid Davidaster discoideus, the sea star Luidia alternata alternata, the sea urchin Leodia sexiesperforata, and the sea cucumbers Actinopyga agassizii, Astichopus multifidus, and Holothuria (Thymiosycia) impatiens. Conclusions: When the species richness found during fieldwork is combined with that previously reported in the literature, a total of 39 species of echinoderms are identified in the coral reefs of Cozumel (25 in the northern area and 30 in the PNAC; 13 species are common to both areas). The species richness of echinoderms in Cozumel is lower than in the Mexican Caribbean. However, the area harbors ecologically critical populations and commercial resources that lack adequate regulation. Given the alarming population decline of these organisms, it is imperative to implement a specific monitoring program. |
| Země: | Portal de Revistas UCR |
| Instituce: | Universidad de Costa Rica |
| Repositorio: | Portal de Revistas UCR |
| Jazyk: | Inglés |
| OAI Identifier: | oai:portal.revistas.ucr.ac.cr:article/14601 |
| On-line přístup: | https://revistas.ucr.ac.cr/index.php/rrbt/article/view/14601 |
| Klíčové slovo: | annotated checklist; new records; protected natural area; coral systems; benthic organisms. listado comentado; registros nuevos; área natural protegida; sistemas coralinos; organismos bentónicos. |