Records of sea urchins species of genus Abatus in Antarctic and Subantarctic environments

Study Extent

Samples were collected from Magellan Strait in southern South America. Samples from Kerguelen Islands were collected in the campaigns 1, 5, 8 and 9 of PROTEKER project. Samples from Malvinas Islands were collected during SAERI expedition. Antarctic material was collected from the South Shetlands Islands and Antarctic peninsula under the Antarctic Scientific Expeditions (ECA) 40, 42, 45, 47, 53, 56 and 60.

Sampling

To collect the samples two methods were used: 1) manual collection inthe infralittoral zone at low tide, and 2) SCUBA diving between 1 to 15 meters deep at high tide. After collection, each individual was preserved in ethanol 95%, the geographic coordinates were recorder using GPS, and the samples were transported onboard or to the research station. Species identification was performed in the laboratory and following the taxonomic key “Antarctic Echinoidea” (http://echinoidea-so.identificationkey.org/mkey.html). Each sea urchins were observed and identified based on diagnostic morphological descriptors.

Quality Control

Manual sampling was carried out at random points in the study area. In the other hand, the SCUBA diving sampling points were systematically established with a separation of 500 meters in the study area.

Method steps

1. The step-by-step methodology details of each project can be obtained from their respective researchers through the provided contact information (email).

This dataset groups four species of Abatus genus belonging to Spantagoida sea urchin family

1. Abatus agassizii
   common name: heart urchins rank: species
2. Abatus cavernosus
   common name: heart urchins rank: species
3. Abatus cordatus
   common name: heart urchins rank: species
4. Abatus curvidens
   common name: heart urchins rank: species

This work covers the records of Abatus species from Magellan Strait, Kerguelen Islands, Falklands/Malvinas Islands, South Shetlands Islands, and Antarctic Peninsula.