Showing papers on "Holothuria published in 2003"

Seasonal variation in the food composition of Holothuria theeli(Holothuroidea: Aspidochirotida) with observations on density and distribution patterns at the central coast of Ecuador

Abstract: The seasonal variability of the ingested matter found in the digestive tract of the burrowing holothurian Holothuria theeli (Aspidochirotida) was studied on a shallow tidal reef flat at the Puntilla Santa Elena, Ecuador in 1994. H. theeli attained its maximum density at lowest tidal level (0 m) with 3.05 ind m -2 and was concentrated in shallow tide pools. Holothuria theeli fed on invertebrates and microscopic algae. 65% of the gut contents consisted of eight zoobenthic groups, where the most dominant species were meiobenthic crustaceans (46.5% , of which 35.5% were harpacticoid copepods), and microphytobenthos (35%, of which 91% were diatoms). May was the transition period (during water temperature changes) in which the population was dormant after spawning. The seasonal variation in the quantity and type of ingested matter may be related to several related factors, such as: (1) availability of food resources, (2) high food consumption rate in the dry season for energy storage to offset the lean rainy season, and (3) high energetic needs for reproductive activities. Holothuria theeli is a non-selective generalist species, which probably plays an important role in determining benthic community structure in the rocky intertidal at the central coast off Ecuador.

The holothurian subgenus Mertensiothuria (Aspidochirotida: Holothuriidae) revisited

Abstract: Mertensiothuria is one of the 20 subgenera currently recognized under Holothuria. The diagnosis of the subgenus is amended with new information on the ossicles found in the longitudinal muscles. The number of species of Mertensiothuria considered to be valid at present is six. These species are redescribed on the basis of new material, type and non-type museum material and on re-evaluation of literature. Two of them, Holothuria hilla and Holothuria aphanes, are transferred from the subgenus Thymiosycia to Mertensiothuria. Four species formerly referred to Mertensiothuria are removed; provisionally they are not referred to any of the known subgenera of Holothuria. Full annotated descriptions or (where the type material was not available) references to the literature are given for each species. An identification key is given to the species belonging to the subgenus Mertensiothuria.

The Asteroidea, Echinoidea, and Holothuroidea (Echinodermata) of the Mariana Islands

Abstract: The asteroid, echinoid, and holothuroid faunas of the Mariana Islands are reviewed and 35, 53, and 47 species recorded, respectively. Four asteroids, 28 echinoids, and 9 holothuroids are newly recorded for the archipelago. Together with 21 crinoids (Kirkendale & Messing 2003) and 47 ophiuroids (Starmer 2003), the echinoderm fauna of the archipelago now stands at 202 species, with 196 of these known from Guam. That 41% of the echinoderms of the Marianas were hitherto undocumented demonstrates how poorly known even these large, popular, and much-studied marine invertebrates are in the tropical Pacific, even at extensively surveyed locations such as Guam. Holothuria guamensis Quoy & Gaimard, 1833 is placed in synonymy of Actinopyga mauritiana (Quoy & Gaimard, 1833).