Abstract
There are numerous and important coral reefs in the Mexican Pacific, but scarce studies of brittle stars conducted in these ecosystems. In this regard, this work provides the first annotated checklist of brittle stars associated with coral communities and reefs in the Mexican Pacific and an illustrated key to identify the species. We also provide taxonomic descriptions, spatial and bathymetric distributions and some important remarks of the species. We report a total of 14 species of brittle stars belonging to nine genera and seven families. Ophiocnida hispida in Jalisco, Ophiophragmus papillatus in Guerrero, and Ophiothrix (Ophiothrix) spiculata and Ophiactis simplex in Colima are new distribution records. The record of O. papillatus is remarkable because the species has not been reported since its description in 1940. The brittle stars collected in this study, represent 22.2% of the total species previously reported from the Mexican Pacific. Presently, anthropogenic activities on the coral reefs of the Mexican Pacific have increased, thus the biodiversity of brittle stars in these ecosystems may be threatened.
Highlights
Coral reefs are among the most diverse and complex of all ecosystems and their diversity is comparable to that of the most diverse terrestrial habitats (Reaka-Kudla 1997)
The aim of the present work is to provide an annotated checklist of brittle stars that inhabit these ecosystems and a key to identify species associated with coral reefs and coral communities. This project was part of a larger multidisciplinary and inter-institutional programme on the regarding fauna associated with coral reef zones along the Mexican Pacific
We identified a total of 14 species of Ophiuroidea from the coral reefs from the Mexican Pacific, distributed in seven families (Amphiuridae Ljungman, 1867; Ophiotrichidae Ljungman, 1867; Ophiactidae Matsumoto, 1915; Ophionereididae Ljungman, 1867; Ophiocomidae Ljungman, 1867; Ophiodermatidae Ljungman, 1867; Ophiolepididae Ljungman, 1867) and nine genera
Summary
Coral reefs are among the most diverse and complex of all ecosystems and their diversity is comparable to that of the most diverse terrestrial habitats (Reaka-Kudla 1997). Echinoderms are conspicuous invertebrates on coral reefs and greatly contribute to the overall ecosystem biomass. Brittle stars are well represented in coral reef ecosystems and most species are associated with various invertebrate hosts or microhabitats (Glynn and Enochs 2011). Some studies reveal that coral reef-associated brittle stars can occur in densities from 20 to 15,000 individuals/m2 (Chartock 1983, Hendler et al 1995). Birkeland (1989) suggests that in virtue of the abundance, biomass and energy flow, it is assumed that brittle stars are influential in coral-reef trophic functioning. Pomory and Lawrence (2001) suggest brittle stars regeneration can contribute from 0.05 to 0.07% of the net primary production on a reef, providing an important biomass flow to higher trophic levels
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