The echinoderms of the soft bottoms of the South-Western lagoon of New Caledonia | Proceedings of the sixth international coral reef symposium
1988
Richer de Forges, Bertrand | Menou, Jean-Louis
A bionomic mapping survey of the soft bottoms of the South-Western lagoon of New Caledonia was carried out by dredging. From analysis of the sediments and the fauna and flora found in 489 dredgings, it was possible to define three main benthic communities. Echinodermata were found in 37,8 % of the dredges : 22 species of #Echinoidea$, 30 #Asteroidea$ species and 26 species of #Holothuroidea$. Correlations existed between the presence of principal species, the mud content of the sediments and the bathymetry. Distribution maps are given for the following species. #Laganum depresum, Maretia planulata, Gymnechimus epistichus, Brissopsis luzonica, Astropecten polyacanthus, Pentaceraster alveolatus, Echinaster luzonicus$ and #Tamaria fusca$. Some species have very particular ecological requirements, such a #Brissopsis luzonica$ which is a mud-dwelling; #Gymnechinus epistichus$ and #Maretia planulata$ live in sand but dislike mud. Other species such as #Laganum depressum$ and #Astropecten polyacanthus$, are very ubiquitous and their distribution seems to be unaffected by sediments or depth. (Résumé d'auteur)
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