From samples taken during the oceanographic cruises TALUD IV-X in the southern and central Gulf of California, Mexico, 291 specimens of Lucinoma heroica were obtained in a depth interval of 731 to 991 m. The species occurred under conditions of severe (,0.1 ml l 21 O 2 ) and moderate hypoxia (0.1 -0.5 ml l 21 O 2 ). The correlation between height and length of the shell showed isometric growth with a trimodal size distribution, showing an average interval of 3.75 mm to 47.40 mm in height and 4.96 mm to 54.00 mm in length. Small individuals (≤20 mm) were distributed in a moderate hypoxic environment, while the larger (.35 mm) tolerated an almost anoxic habitat. Medium-sized specimens (21-35 mm) were found in concentration close to 0.2 ml l 21 O 2 . Average density was 1.532 ind l 21 in infauna samples (dredge and core) and 0.002 ind m 22 in epifauna samples (benthic sledge).
Knowledge of echinoderms from Zihuatanejo and Acapulco, Guerrero is currently limited to taxonomic listings. This work attempts to characterize better the community of these organisms associated to coral reefs in this region using band transects of 50 m length by 1 m width. Two samplings were carried out in 2004, one in the rainy season and other in the dry season. Ten species, three Asteroidea, six Echinoidea and one Holothuroidea, were found. The mean values obtained for diversity in the 13 study sites (1.036 bits ind-1) are considered low when compared with the maximum possible diversity (3.322 bits ind-1), and this is likely due to the dominance of the black sea urchin Diadema mexicanum and the starsh Phataria unifascialis, with densities reported of 1.45±0.60 ind m-2 and 0.12±0.02 ind m-2, respectively. The highest diversity was associated with low tide, which is not different between localities. The spatial arrangement of the echinoderm species composition obtained by the multidimensional scaling analysis denotes the formation of ve conglomerates according to similarity, where the substratum and reef cover are the possible determinant variables. The four predominant species (D. mexicanum, P. unifascialis, Toxopneustes roseus and Hesperocidaris asteriscus), whose densities were compared with those of other sites of the Oriental Tropical Pacic, show, in general, inferior values for Echinoidea and intermediate values for the Asteroidea. For the specic case of D. mexicanum, there are differences in the densities between localities, depths, and time of year, and the mean value obtained of 1.45±0.60 ind m-2 was low compared to densities recorded in other zones. Also, it was observed that in some localities, such as Playa Coral, Caleta de Chon, Punta del Cerro Colorado, and Zacatoso, the sea urchin densities increased considerably during the rainy season, and these high densities maintain a positive correlation with coral cover, which is indicative of a balanced ecosystem. It was also detected that in localities close to Acapulco, which undergo more tourist activity, such as Isla Roqueta, Ensenada de Llantos, and Pichilingue, the diversity of echinoderms is lower (0.6 bits ind-2) and the abundance of D. mexicanum is higher. These results, plus those of other studies at Acapulco Bay, suggest that pertinent actions should be taken to avoid similar phase shifts on reefs of Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, which are currently considered to be the best developed in the Mexican Tropical Pacic.
De octubre de 2002 a agosto de 2003 se realizaron muestreos bimestrales de la abundancia de erizos en el arrecife de La Entrega. El arrecife fue dividido en dos profundidades (somero 0-6 m y profundo 6-12 m). En cada profundidad se realizaron seis transectos de 50 m de largo por 1 m de ancho. La mayor densidad anual correspondió a Diadema mexicanum (5.96±0.85 ind/m2), seguido de Eucidaris thouarsii (0.46±0.14 ind/m2); Echinometra vanbrunti y Toxopneustes roseus presentaron densidades bajas (0.03±0.01 ind/m2 y 0.02±0.01 ind/m2, respectivamente). Las cuatro poblaciones de erizos presentaron diferencias entre profundidades observándose mayor densidad en lo profundo; si consideramos la abundancia total de erizos en el arrecife, no se registraron diferencias temporales. Empero, al analizar por separado las profundidades, sólo E. thouarsii no presentó diferencias temporales en ambas profundidades. En diciembre, las densidades de D. mexicanum y E. thouarsii disminuyeron en lo profundo y aumentaron en lo somero, posiblemente porque sucedió una mortalidad coralina en lo somero del arrecife y el incremento de las algas motivó a estas especies a desplazarse a la parte dañada. Actualmente el arrecife de La Entrega se encuentra en avanzado estado de erosión lo que puede favorecer que la abundancia de erizos se incremente al igual que su actividad bioerosionadora. Population density of four species of sea urchin (Echinodermata: Echinoidea) at La Entrega Reef, Oaxaca Bimonthly samples of sea urchins fauna inhabiting the La Entrega Reef, Oaxaca, Mexico, were obtained from October 2002 to August 2003. The reef area was divided in two sampling zones, corresponding to shallow (0-6 m) and deep (6-12 m) water. Six transects of 50 m length by 1 m wide were sampled in each zone. Greatest annual density corresponded to Diadema mexicanum (5.96 ± 0.85 ind/m2),followed by Eucidaris thouarsii (0.46 ± 0.14 ind/m2); Echinometra vanbrunti and Toxopneustes roseus presented low densities (0.03 ± 0.01 indv/m2 and 0.02 ± 0.01 ind/m2, respectively). Density of the four populations varied considerably and higher densities were observed in the deep zone. Total abundance of sea urchins (shallow and deep samples) did not vary significantly over time. Abundance per depth range, however, was different over time for all species except for E. thouarsii. In December densities of D. mexicanum and E. thouarsii decreased in the deep zone and increased in the shallow zone, due to massive mortality of coral in the shallow part of the reef and to subsequent increase of algal coverage attracting these species to the shallowest part of the reef. The La Entrega reef is presently in an advanced state of erosion that could favor an increase of sea urchins abundance and of their bioerosion activity.
The oegopsid squids Abraliopsis and Pterygioteuthis are abundant and diverse genera with taxonomic and distributional problems. Identification and distribution of species in the Mexican Pacific has been somewhat controversial. Here are provided a large series of new records for Abraliopsis affinis, Abraliopsis falco, Pterygioteuthis gemmata, Pterygioteuthis giardi and Pterygioteuthis hoylei from the Gulf of California and off the SW coast of Mexico. All five species were collected in the central or the southern Gulf of California, or in both. Abraliopsis affinis was found in seven samples with a total of 48 specimens, from 21°59' to 24°53'12"N. Abraliopsis falco was much less represented in the samples (14 specimens) but it was found in 10 localities, four of which correspond to the central-southern Gulf of California (north to 27°44'53"N) and six to SW Mexico (south to 16°49'18"N). In the case of Pterygioteuthis gemmata, only two records (three specimens) were obtained, both in the SW Gulf of California, while Pterygioteuthis giardi (nine specimens) records were all from the central Gulf of California (27°44'53” to 25°39'59"N). In the case of Pterygioteuthis hoylei (nine specimens), material was obtained in six localities, also in a restricted latitudinal range (24°23'48” to 25°56'56"N).
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