Intertidal Ophiuroid Distribution, Zonation, Density, and Abundance at three sites in Bahia Kino Nuevo, Sonora, Mexico

Between 3-27-06 and 3-31-06, 400 ophiuroid specimens were collected from three locations in Kino Nuevo, Sonora, Mexico; windy point, Punta Ignacio, and Punta Blanca. Each site was split into distinct zones base on dominant sessile organisms that were characteristic of the zones. The zones are as follows, starting from high to low; High Chthamalus, mid Chthamalus, low Chthamalus, high Colpomenia, and mid Colpomenia. Ten meter transects were run parallel to the waters edge. A total of 31 transects were run, 4 from the High Chthamalus, 5 from the mid Chthamalus, 7 from the low Chthamalus 13 from the high Colpomenia, 2 from the mid Colpomenia.
Of the 400 specimens found, 8 species were identified. These species were Ophionereis annulata, Ophiactis simplex, Ophactis savignyi, Ophiocoma aethiops, Ophiocoma alexanderi, Ophioderma panamense, Ophioderma teres, and Ophiothrix spiculata.

The following information was recorded for each specimen:
o Species
o Diameter of disk
o Length of arm span
o The substrate that it was found on
o If they are under a rock, if so how big
o If it was found in water
o If it is regenerating arms and if so how many
o If more then 50% of the regenerating arms were missing

Possible paper topics:
o Arm regeneration in relation to species, substrate, or disk diameter of each individual.
o Density, size, and species abundance as a function of zonation.