Observations on the morphology of <i>Echinocardium cordatum</i> (Echinoidea: Spatangoida) from diverse geographical areas

Higgins, R. C.

doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1975.tb02255.x

Cited by 8 publications

(3 citation statements)

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“…In contrast, the specimen lacks many features expected in a typical E. cordatum , having a weakly sunken ambulacrum III aborally. On the other hand, E. cordatum is characterised by a high degree of morphological variation and the observed departure from the norm is well inside the documented variability of this species (see Higgins 1974, 1975). Unfortunately, only one type of pedicellariae was found.…”

Section: List Of Speciessupporting

confidence: 74%

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2019

Zootaxa

1,524

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In more than 150 years of research in the waters surrounding the Azores, several publications on the fauna of echinoderms of the archipelago have been produced, in the form of papers, notes, reports, reviews, and monographs. This work attempts to summarize the present knowledge on this marine group in the Azorean exclusive economic zone (i.e., waters within 200 nautical miles of the archipelago’s shores). A short review of the history of the species’ taxonomy is given, with key references, geographical distribution, ecology, additional notes and, when possible, figures. We herein report 172 species of echinoderms (6 crinoids, 55 ophiuroids, 45 asteroids, 36 holothurians, and 30 echinoids) from the Azores Archipelago, most of them inhabiting deep waters (>200 m). Only 29 shallow-water species were recorded locally (≤50 m depth). In general, the echinoderm species present in the Azores are characterized by a wide geographical distribution in the Atlantic Ocean. Only nine taxa (all deep-water species, >840 m) appear to be restricted to the Azorean waters. Overall, the knowledge of the echinoderm fauna of the Azores is out-dated, with many species last collected in the archipelago over 100 years ago. A recent interest in the Azorean Mid-Atlantic waters has brought oceanographic cruises back to the archipelago, thus providing new opportunities for the renewal of 150 years of echinoderm studies in the area.

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Section: List Of Speciessupporting

confidence: 74%

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2019

Zootaxa

1,524

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“…Analyses of the pigments found in the test and spines of the various morphotypes of E. rostrata may provide more information about differences in their chemical composition. Many echinoids exhibit high levels of within‐species variability in color, shape, and spine length (Millott 1953; Nichols 1959; Chesher 1968; Chesher 1970; Serafy 1973; Higgins 1974; Higgins 1975; Marcus 1983; Lewis & Storey 1984). Color and morphological variability within echinoid species has often been linked to environmental factors such as light levels (Kristensen 1964), wave activity (Lewis & Storey 1984), and sediment type (Higgins 1974; Higgins 1975), none of which applies to E. rostrata .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genetic and anatomic relationships among three morphotypes of the echinoid Echinocrepis rostrata

Vardaro

2010

Invertebrate Biology

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Abstract. Three morphotypes—purple, tan, and white—of an irregular echinoid of the genus Echinocrepis are commonly observed in the deep North Pacific Ocean. Mitochondrial (mt) 16S DNA and cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) DNA sequences were amplified from gonadal tissue samples from specimens of each morphotype. These portions of the mitochondrial genome are commonly used in species barcoding, and their similarities were compared and placed in 95% connection limit parsimony networks. All three morphotypes have similar 16S mtDNA and COI mtDNA sequences, and are thus likely representatives of the same species, Echinocrepis rostrata. Specimens of the white morphotype were smaller than the specimens of the other two morphotypes, had less gonad tissue, and had a different body shape, suggesting that it represents the juvenile form of E. rostrata. Resolving the three morphotypes into one species simplifies the identification of E. rostrata from photographs and leads to a greater understanding of the life history and reproductive cycle of a species vital to deep‐sea bioturbation and carbon sequestration.

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“…The aspect of disturbance that we studied is just one small part of the disturbance regime at our site. Nevertheless, bioturbation is a critical element of softsediment ecosystems everywhere (Wheatcroft et al 1990, Boudreau 1998, Lohrer et al 2004, Solan et al 2004, and large burrowing spatangoid urchins are dominant bioturbators in many systems worldwide (Higgins 1975, Thompson et al 1987, Ghiold 1989, Widdicombe and Austen 1998, Bird et al 1999, Nakamura 2001, Lohrer et al 2005, Thompson and Riddle 2005. Bioturbation by spatangoid urchins has been linked to several important ecosystem services, particularly the flux of inorganic nutrients from sediment to water column (Widdicombe and Austen 1998, Bird et al 1999, Lohrer et al 2004) and increased levels of benthic primary production in shallow subtidal habitats (Lohrer et al 2004).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biogenic Disturbance Determines Invasion Success in a Subtidal Soft‐sediment System

Lohrer

Chiaroni

Hewitt

et al. 2008

Ecology

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Theoretically, disturbance and diversity can influence the success of invasive colonists if (1) resource limitation is a prime determinant of invasion success and (2) disturbance and diversity affect the availability of required resources. However, resource limitation is not of overriding importance in all systems, as exemplified by marine soft sediments, one of Earth's most widespread habitat types. Here, we tested the disturbance-invasion hypothesis in a marine soft-sediment system by altering rates of biogenic disturbance and tracking the natural colonization of plots by invasive species. Levels of sediment disturbance were controlled by manipulating densities of burrowing spatangoid urchins, the dominant biogenic sediment mixers in the system. Colonization success by two invasive species (a gobiid fish and a semelid bivalve) was greatest in plots with sediment disturbance rates < 500 cm(3) x m(-2) x d(-1), at the low end of the experimental disturbance gradient (0 to > 9000 cm(3) x m(-2) x d(-1)). Invasive colonization declined with increasing levels of sediment disturbance, counter to the disturbance-invasion hypothesis. Increased sediment disturbance by the urchins also reduced the richness and diversity of native macrofauna (particularly small, sedentary, surface feeders), though there was no evidence of increased availability of resources with increased disturbance that would have facilitated invasive colonization: sediment food resources (chlorophyll a and organic matter content) did not increase, and space and access to overlying water were not limited (low invertebrate abundance). Thus, our study revealed the importance of biogenic disturbance in promoting invasion resistance in a marine soft-sediment community, providing further evidence of the valuable role of bioturbation in soft-sediment systems (bioturbation also affects carbon processing, nutrient recycling, oxygen dynamics, benthic community structure, and so on.). Bioturbation rates are influenced by the presence and abundance of large burrowing species (like spatangoid urchins). Therefore, mass mortalities of large bioturbators could inflate invasion risk and alter other aspects of ecosystem performance in marine soft-sediment habitats.

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Observations on the morphology of Echinocardium cordatum (Echinoidea: Spatangoida) from diverse geographical areas

Cited by 8 publications

References 1 publication

Untitled

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Genetic and anatomic relationships among three morphotypes of the echinoid Echinocrepis rostrata

Biogenic Disturbance Determines Invasion Success in a Subtidal Soft‐sediment System

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