Echinoderm diversity in the soft bottom of Wulan Estuary, Demak, Indonesia

Abstract

The majority of research on echinoderms in the tropics has involved coral reefs. There are relatively few studies on echinoderms connected to soft bottoms and estuaries. This work describes echinoderm species found in the soft-bottom sediments of the Wulan estuary in Demak, Indonesia, are described. Twelve species from Holothuroidea, Ophiuroidea, Asteroidea, and Echinoidea were identified. The three most prevalent species identified were Astropecten sp., P. chilensis, and Paracaudina sp. The species found differ depending on the sampling sites. Still, this knowledge expands our understanding of the richness of soft-bottom megabenthic fauna, especially the echinoderm. It could be used as a baseline to track the consequences of potential changes on this heavily sedimented river.