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In the deep ocean, whale falls (deceased whales that sink to the seafloor) act as a boost of productivity in this otherwise generally food-limited setting, nourishing organisms from sharks to microbes during the various stages of their decomposition. Annelid worms are habitual colonizers of whale falls, with new species regularly reported from these settings and their systematics helping to resolve biogeographic patterns among deep-sea organic fall environments. During a 2017 expedition of the Australian research vessel RV Investigator to sample bathyal to abyssal communities off Australia's east coast, a natural whale fall was opportunistically trawled at 1000 m depth. In this study, we provide detailed taxonomic descriptions of the annelids associated with this whale-fall community, using both morphological and molecular techniques. From this material we describe nine new species from five families (Dorvilleidae: Ophryotrocha dahlgreni sp. nov. Ophryotrocha hanneloreae sp. nov., Ophryotrocha ravarae sp. nov.; Hesionidae: Vrijenhoekia timoharai sp. nov.; Nereididae: Neanthes adriangloveri sp. nov., Neanthes visicete sp. nov.; Orbiniidae: Orbiniella jamesi sp. nov.), including two belonging to the bone-eating genus Osedax (Siboglinidae: Osedax waadjum sp. nov., Osedax byronbayensis sp. nov.) that are the first to be described from Australian waters. We further provide systematic accounts for 10 taxa within the Ampharetidae, Amphinomidae, Microphthalmidae, Nereididae, Orbiniidae, Phyllodocidae, Protodrilidae, Sphaerodoridae and Phascolosomatidae. Our investigations uncover unique occurrences and for the first time enable the evaluation of biogeographic links between Australian whale falls and others in the western Pacific as well as worldwide.

Studies examining biological communities in relation to environmental factors over time are essential for understanding natural sources of community variation (i.e., structure and function), as well as their response to stressors. Benthic macrofauna are important biological indicators used to assess environmental quality in marine ecosystems. Placentia Bay is a large subarctic embayment on the southeast coast of Newfoundland (NL) that has been identified as an Ecologically and Biologically Significant Area (EBSA) that is exposed to anthropogenic stressors (e.g., fisheries and hazardous substances). The overarching aim of my thesis research was to assess the influence of various environmental factors on the community structure and functional traits of macrofauna in Placentia Bay using contemporary and historical biological and environmental data. Comparison of macrofauna at 8 stations sampled in 1998 and 2019–2020 (n=77) showed significant temporal changes in community structure and function, without loss of function (i.e., 36 morphological/behavioral modalities). The historical community had significantly higher densities, but lower evenness and diversity compared to contemporary years. Macrofauna were dominated by highly tolerant (82.3%) subsurface deposit feeders (62.1%) having small body sizes, whereas contemporary communities had a higher proportion of medium tolerant species/taxa (7.2 vs. 36.7%) and nearly equal proportions of subsurface and surface deposit feeders (26.7 and 29.1%) with small-medium body sizes. These changes are likely a reflection of the large reduction in the relative proportion of polychaetes (91 vs. 58%). Community patterns were related to the sedimentary habit. Sediments have become coarser with higher levels of sedimentary total organic matter in the contemporary compared to the historical years. Interestingly, while grain size has also become coarser between 2019 and 2020 communities were similar. Moreover, even though contaminants (exam

In the deep ocean, whale falls (deceased whales that sink to the seafloor) act as a boost of productivity in this otherwise generally food-limited setting, nourishing organisms from sharks to microbes during the various stages of their decomposition. Annelid worms are habitual colonizers of whale falls, with new species regularly reported from these settings and their systematics helping to resolve biogeographic patterns among deep-sea organic fall environments. During a 2017 expedition of the Australian research vessel RV Investigator to sample bathyal to abyssal communities off Australia's east coast, a natural whale fall was opportunistically trawled at 1000 m depth. In this study, we provide detailed taxonomic descriptions of the annelids associated with this whale-fall community, using both morphological and molecular techniques. From this material we describe nine new species from five families (Dorvilleidae: Ophryotrocha dahlgreni sp. nov. Ophryotrocha hanneloreae sp. nov., Ophryotrocha ravarae sp. nov.; Hesionidae: Vrijenhoekia timoharai sp. nov.; Nereididae: Neanthes adriangloveri sp. nov., Neanthes visicete sp. nov.; Orbiniidae: Orbiniella jamesi sp. nov.), including two belonging to the bone-eating genus Osedax (Siboglinidae: Osedax waadjum sp. nov., Osedax byronbayensis sp. nov.) that are the first to be described from Australian waters. We further provide systematic accounts for 10 taxa within the Ampharetidae, Amphinomidae, Microphthalmidae, Nereididae, Orbiniidae, Phyllodocidae, Protodrilidae, Sphaerodoridae and Phascolosomatidae. Our investigations uncover unique occurrences and for the first time enable the evaluation of biogeographic links between Australian whale falls and others in the western Pacific as well as worldwide.

Ophryotrocha craigsmithi (Wiklund, Glover & Dahlgren, 2009) has repeatedly been observed in high densities at salmonid fish farms in Norway and has been shown to feed on the organic waste released during fish production. This species has therefore been pointed out as a candidate for the benthic component of integrated multitrophic aquaculture (IMTA). Little is known about the life history traits of Ophryotrocha species found at greater depths in temperate waters. Insight into life traits is of key importance in evaluating the bio-mitigation and harvest potential of (benthic) species within IMTA systems. In this study, we aimed to describe key life history traits for O. craigsmithi, such as growth, reproductive pattern, and offset of reproduction. The main findings are as follows: (I) O. craigsmithi exhibits early sexual maturation and rapid growth, going from 5 to 16 mm in length in 8 weeks; (II) their estimated lifetime is approximately 15 weeks with a generation time of 4 weeks; (III) there are strong indications that they are gonochoric semicontinuous spawners; (IV) the majority of mature eggs ranged from 120 to 150 µm; and (V) the larvae developed into a free-swimming stage after approximately 1 week. To this end, we present a framework for assessing the suitability of deposit-feeding polychaetes as candidate species in IMTA, considering environmental adaptiveness, production potential, as well as carbon and nitrogen mitigation capacity. On the basis of this, O. craigsmithi shows a high suitability as an extractive farmed species in benthic IMTA.

n the deep ocean, whale falls (deceased whales that sink to the seafloor) act as a boost of productivity in this otherwise generally food-limited setting, nourishing organisms from sharks to microbes during the various stages of their decomposition. Annelid worms are habitual colonizers of whale falls, with new species regularly reported from these settings and their systematics helping to resolve biogeographic patterns among deep-sea organic fall environments. During a 2017 expedition of the Australian research vessel RV Investigator to sample bathyal to abyssal communities off Australia’s east coast, a natural whale fall was opportunistically trawled at ~1000 m depth. In this study, we provide detailed taxonomic descriptions of the annelids associated with this whale-fall community, using both morphological and molecular techniques. From this material we describe nine new species from five families (Dorvilleidae: Ophryotrocha dahlgreni sp. nov. Ophryotrocha hanneloreae sp. nov., Ophryotrocha ravarae sp. nov.; Hesionidae: Vrijenhoekia timoharai sp. nov.; Nereididae: Neanthes adriangloveri sp. nov., Neanthes visicete sp. nov.; Orbiniidae: Orbiniella jamesi sp. nov.), including two belonging to the bone-eating genus Osedax (Siboglinidae: Osedax waadjum sp. nov., Osedax byronbayensis sp. nov.) that are the first to be described from Australian waters. We further provide systematic accounts for 10 taxa within the Ampharetidae, Amphinomidae, Microphthalmidae, Nereididae, Orbiniidae, Phyllodocidae, Protodrilidae, Sphaerodoridae and Phascolosomatidae. Our investigations uncover unique occurrences and for the first time enable the evaluation of biogeographic links between Australian whale falls and others in the western Pacific as well as worldwide.

Studies examining biological communities in relation to environmental factors over time are essential for understanding natural sources of community variation (i.e., structure and function), as well as their response to stressors. Benthic macrofauna are important biological indicators used to assess environmental quality in marine ecosystems. Placentia Bay is a large subarctic embayment on the southeast coast of Newfoundland (NL) that has been identified as an Ecologically and Biologically Significant Area (EBSA) that is exposed to anthropogenic stressors (e.g., fisheries and hazardous substances). The overarching aim of my thesis research was to assess the influence of various environmental factors on the community structure and functional traits of macrofauna in Placentia Bay using contemporary and historical biological and environmental data. Comparison of macrofauna at 8 stations sampled in 1998 and 2019–2020 (n=77) showed significant temporal changes in community structure and function, without loss of function (i.e., 36 morphological/behavioral modalities). The historical community had significantly higher densities, but lower evenness and diversity compared to contemporary years. Macrofauna were dominated by highly tolerant (82.3%) subsurface deposit feeders (62.1%) having small body sizes, whereas contemporary communities had a higher proportion of medium tolerant species/taxa (7.2 vs. 36.7%) and nearly equal proportions of subsurface and surface deposit feeders (26.7 and 29.1%) with small-medium body sizes. These changes are likely a reflection of the large reduction in the relative proportion of polychaetes (91 vs. 58%). Community patterns were related to the sedimentary habit. Sediments have become coarser with higher levels of sedimentary total organic matter in the contemporary compared to the historical years. Interestingly, while grain size has also become coarser between 2019 and 2020 communities were similar. Moreover, even though contaminants (exam

Three new species of Marphysa Quatrefages, 1866, Marphysa bananasp. nov., Marphysa papuaensissp. nov., and Marphysa zanolaesp. nov. are described from deep-sea sunken vegetation off Papua New Guinea, using both morphology and molecular data (for two species). With the presence of compound spinigers only and the branchiae present over many chaetigers, Marphysa bananasp. nov. belongs to the group B2. This species is characterised by the presence of eyes, the presence of branchiae starting from chaetiger 20, and by the presence of three types of pectinate chaetae and bidentate subacicular hooks starting from chaetigers 13–52. With the presence of compound falcigers only and the branchiae restricted to a short anterior region, Marphysa papuaensissp. nov. belongs to the group C1. This species has a bilobed prostomium but no eyes, has branchiae from chaetigers 7 to 14–16 with up to 16 filaments. Marphysa papuaensissp. nov. is also characterised by the presence of bidentate subacicular hooks from chaetiger 20 and by a single type of pectinate chaetae. Finally, Marphysa zanolaesp. nov. belongs to the group C2, with the presence of compound falcigers only and the branchiae present over many chaetigers. This species is characterised by the absence of eyes, by the presence of branchiae with a single long filament starting from chaetiger 31, by unidentate subacicular hooks starting from chaetiger 28 and finally by one type of pectinate chaetae with very long outer teeth.

[Resumo] Diopatra é un xénero de poliquetos cunha elevada diversidade taxonómica e ecolóxica, polo que resulta ideal á hora de investigar diferentes hipóteses evolutivas en relación coas estratexias reprodutivas e modos de desenvolvemento. Pese a importancia ecolóxica e económica que presenta, este traballo demostra que aínda existe un baleiro importante no noso coñecemento acerca dos aspectos máis básicos da súa bioloxía e ecoloxía. En concreto, unicamente se atopou información reprodutiva para un terzo das especies que compoñen o xénero e, ademais, na mesma puideron detectarse diferentes sesgos. Por outra banda, a información xenética dispoñible, se ben considerable, foi obtida en numerosos casos a partir de espécimes sen identificar. As anteriores trabas unidas ao escaso solapamento entre o conxunto de datos reprodutivos e o conxunto de datos xenéticos limitaron enormemente a formulación de inferencias evolutivas. Porén, este traballo constitúe un importante punto de partida e marca futuras liñas de investigación., [Resumen] Diopatra es un género de poliquetos con una elevada diversidad taxonómica y ecológica, por lo que resulta ideal a la hora de investigar diferentes hipótesis evolutivas en relación con las estrategias reproductivas y los modos de desarrollo. Pese a la importancia ecológica y económica que presenta, este trabajo demuestra que aún existe un vacío importante en nuestro conocimiento acerca de los aspectos más básicos de su biología y ecología. En concreto, únicamente se encontró información reproductiva para un tercio de las especies que componen el género y, además, en la misma pudieron detectarse diferentes sesgos. Por otro lado, la información genética disponible, se bien considerable, fue obtenida en numerosos casos a partir de especímenes sin identificar. Los anteriores inconvenientes unidos al escaso solapamiento entre el conjunto de datos reproductivos y el conjunto de datos genéticos limitaron enormemente la formulación de inferencias evolutivas. Sin embargo, este trabajo constituye un importante punto de partida y marca futuras líneas de investigación., [Abstract] Diopatra is a genus of polychaetes with high taxonomic and ecological diversity, making it ideal for investigating different evolutionary hypotheses regarding reproductive strategies and developmental modes. Despite its ecological and economic importance, this work shows that there is still an important gap in our knowledge about the most basic aspects of its biology and ecology. Specifically, reproductive information was found for only one third of the species that compose the genus and, in addition, different biases could be detected in this information. On the other hand, the available genetic information, although considerable, was obtained in many cases from unidentified specimens. These drawbacks, together with the low overlap between the reproductive data set and the genetic data set, greatly limited the formulation of evolutionary inferences. Nevertheless, this work constitutes an important starting point and marks future lines of research.

Background: To date, the genus Amphiduros (Annelida: Hesionidae: Amphidurine) is considered as monotypic. Its single species, Amphiduros fuscescens (Marenzeller, 1875), is well characterised by lacking proboscideal papillae and emerging acicular chaetae, as well as by having three antennae, eight pairs of tentacular cirri and inflated dorsal cirri with characteristic alternating length and colour (transparent, with median orange band and white tips) in live animals. New information: Three specimens, one male and two females, were found below boulders at 5–7 m depth in Punta Santa Anna, Blanes and Cala Maset, Sant Feliu de Guixols (Catalan Sea, NW Mediterranean, Iberian Peninsula). Our finding allowed us to describe different, unreported morphological traits and lead us to support the existence of sexual dimorphism (in terms of colouring, cirri morphology and distribution of sexual products along the body). Despite A. fuscescens having been previously reported from the Atlantic and the Mediterranean (particularly in SE French coasts), the specimens from Blanes represent the first record of the species from the Iberian Peninsula. In addition, our molecular results strongly support that Amphiduros pacificus Hartman, 1961 from California (currently synonymised with A. fuscescens) requires to be re-described and reinstalled as a valid species. In turn, our morphological observations support suggesting all other non-Mediterranean reports of A. fuscescens, including the species still under synonymy (i.e. Amphidrornus izukai Hessle, 1925 and Amphidromus setosus Hessle, 1925) as likely being a cryptic species complex whose the taxonomic status requires further assessment.

The morphological reexamination of specimens previously identified as Laonice bahusiensis Söderström, 1920 from North European and Mediterranean collections, supported by the molecular analysis of freshly collected material, enabled the recognition of four different species in the region: the genuine L. bahusiensis, L. irinae n. sp. from North European waters, and L. grimaldii n. sp. and L. mediterranea n. sp. from the Mediterranean Sea. The morphology of these species is described and illustrated, and their distributions are clarified based on old and new materials. A key for their identification is also provided. The Bayesian analysis of the COI sequences (483 bp) showed that these four species form a clade, namely the L. bahusiensis species complex, morphologically characterized by the continuous dorsal crests on postbranchiate chaetigers in the adults. The genetic p-distances between the species of the complex ranged from 13.27% to 17.99%, while the intraspecific variability ranged from 0.6% to 1.57%. Together with the sister species Laonice cirrata (Sars, 1851), the L. bahusiensis complex formed the Laonice (Laonice) clade, which is morphologically characterized by the prostomium fused with the anterior peristomial margin. However, the monophyly of the L. bahusiensis complex, as well as that of the clade Laonice (Laonice), needs to be further supported through the analysis of a greater set of genes from a larger number of species.

BackgroundThe unusual holopelagic annelid Poeobius meseres Heath, 1930 (Flabelligeridae) was first collected from Monterey Bay, California and has been subsequently recorded across the northern Pacific from Japan to the Gulf of California. Rare occurrences in the eastern tropical Pacific have extended as far as 7° S off Peru.New informationUsing molecular phylogenetic analysis of a newly-collected specimen from the Salas y Gómez Ridge off Chile, we extend the known geographic range of P. meseres southwards by 2040 km. This subtropical specimen showed higher genetic similarity to a specimen from the type locality (< 1.5% pairwise COI distance) than to representatives from the Aleutian Islands and Japan (5-6%), establishing the first genetically-confirmed occurrence of this species in the Southern Hemisphere. The latitudinal range of P. meseres encompasses the sole collection locality, off Ecuador, of Enigma terwielii Betrem, 1925, a pelagic annelid which has been compared to P. meseres, but is indeterminable due to an inadequate description. We therefore suggest that the earlier sole record of E. terwielii may have been an occurrence of what is known now as P. meseres.

The concentration of the heavy metals Fe, Mn, Zn, and Cu was determined in a homogenized sample of the polychaete Americonuphis reesei tissue in three sampling stations in Playa El Salado, Parita Bay, during the dry season in 2017. Three sampling locations were established at each station, 50 m apart from each other. Samples were digested with nitric acid, and metal concentration was determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The highest concentration recorded was Fe, with an average of 581.98 µg·gˉ¹, followed by Mn with 25.71 µg·gˉ¹. The lowest values were reported for Zn, 16.05 µg·gˉ¹ and Cu, 3.52 µg·gˉ¹. A significant correlation was found between Fe and Mn (r = 0.95) and Mn and Cu (r = 0.71) P <0.01 as well as a highly significant correlation between Fe and Cu (r = 0.64) P <0.002. The sizes of polychaetes in stations 1 (Rio Santa María) and 3 (Palo Blanco) show no significant differences; however, sizes in station 2 (El Playón) showed differences compared to the other two stations. No correlation was found between length and metal concentration. Metal concentrations between the stations indicate that there is a significant difference in Mn and Fe in stations 1 and 3, and in Fe between stations 1 and 2. Metals detected in the tissue do not pose any risk since the concentrations are below the values of the established standards., Determinou-se a concentração de metais traço Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu no homogeneizado de todo o tecido do poliqueta Americonuphis reesei, em três estações de amostragem na praia El Salado, baia de Parita, na temporada seca de 2017. Em cada estação, foram estabelecidos três pontos de coleta separados por 50 m entre si. As amostras foram digeridas com ácido nítrico e os metais determinados por espectrofotometria de absorção atômica. Os valores máximos registrados foram o Fe, com uma média de 581.98 µg·gˉ¹, seguido do Mn com 25.71 µg·gˉ¹. Os valores mais baixos relatados foram para o Zn, 16.05 µg·gˉ¹ e o Cu, 3.52 µg·gˉ¹. Existe correlação significativa entre os metais Fe e Mn (r= 0.95), Mn e Cu (r= 0.71) P < 0.01 e, altamente significativa, entre Fe e Cu (r= 0.64) P < 0.002. Os tamanhos dos poliquetas, medidos com fita métrica nas estações 1 (rio Santa Maria) e 3 (Palo Blanco), não apresentaram diferenças significativas, porém no El Playón houve diferenças com relação às outras. Os tamanhos e os metais não se relacionaram. Os valores entre os pontos de coleta indicam que existe diferença significativa de Mn e Fe nas zonas 1 e 3, e de Fe entre a 1 e 2. Os metais detectados nos tecidos não indicam risco, pois estão abaixo dos valores dos padrões estabelecidos., Se determinó la concentración de metales trazas Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu en el homogeneizado de todo el tejido del poliqueto Americonuphis reesei, en tres estaciones de muestreo en la playa El Salado, bahía de Parita, en temporada seca de 2017. En cada estación, se establecieron tres puntos de colecta, separados por 50 m entre sí. Las muestras fueron digeridas con ácido nítrico y los metales se determinaron por espectrofotometría de absorción atómica. Los máximos valores registrados fueron el Fe, con promedio de 581.98 µg·gˉ¹, seguido del Mn con 25.71 µg·gˉ¹. Los valores más bajos se reportaron para el Zn, 16.05 µg·gˉ¹ y el Cu, 3.52 µg·gˉ¹. Existe correlación significativa entre los metales Fe y Mn (r= 0.95), Mn y Cu (r= 0.71) P < 0.01 y altamente significativa entre Fe y Cu (r= 0.64) P < 0.002. Las tallas de los poliquetos, medidos con cinta métrica, en las estaciones 1 (río Santa María) y 3 (Palo Blanco) no presentaron diferencias significativas, pero en El Playón hubo diferencias con respecto a las otras. Las tallas y los metales no se relacionaron. Los valores entre los puntos de colecta indican que existe diferencia significativa de Mn y Fe en las zonas 1 y 3, y de Fe entre la 1 y 2. Los metales detectados en los tejidos no suponen riesgo, ya que están por debajo de los valores de los estándares establecidos.

The spionid polychaete Boccardia proboscidea Hartman, 1940 is a tube-dweller and shell/stone-borer widely occurring in temperate waters across the world and considered invasive in many areas. It was originally described from California, USA, and later reported from Pacific Canada, the Asian Pacific, Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, South Africa, and northern Europe. The Bayesian inference analysis of sequence data of three gene fragments (836 bp in total) of the mitochondrial 16S rDNA, nuclear 28S rDNA, and Historie 3 has shown that individuals from the Pacific coasts of Canada and the USA, Argentina, Australia, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and Mediterranean France were genetically very similar (maximal average p-distance value, 0.49%, was between 16S rDNA sequences). We consider these individuals to be conspecific and report the earliest records of B. proboscidea from the UK and a possible first Mediterranean record in the Gulf of Lion. The high 16S haplotype diversity of B. proboscidea detected in the north-eastern Pacific suggests a native distribution for the species in the northern Pacific and subsequent introductions through human activities to other parts of the world. The histories of these introductions are reviewed and the hypotheses about times and places of introductions are updated.

The spionid polychaete Boccardia proboscidea Hartman, 1940 is a tube-dweller and shell/stone-borer widely occurring in temperate waters across the world and considered invasive in many areas. It was originally described from California, USA, and later reported from Pacific Canada, the Asian Pacific, Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, South Africa, and northern Europe. The Bayesian inference analysis of sequence data of three gene fragments (836 bp in total) of the mitochondrial 16S rDNA, nuclear 28S rDNA, and Historie 3 has shown that individuals from the Pacific coasts of Canada and the USA, Argentina, Australia, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and Mediterranean France were genetically very similar (maximal average p-distance value, 0.49%, was between 16S rDNA sequences). We consider these individuals to be conspecific and report the earliest records of B. proboscidea from the UK and a possible first Mediterranean record in the Gulf of Lion. The high 16S haplotype diversity of B. proboscidea detected in the north-eastern Pacific suggests a native distribution for the species in the northern Pacific and subsequent introductions through human activities to other parts of the world. The histories of these introductions are reviewed and the hypotheses about times and places of introductions are updated.

The spionid polychaete Boccardia proboscidea Hartman, 1940 is a tube-dweller and shell/stone-borer widely occurring in temperate waters across the world and considered invasive in many areas. It was originally described from California, USA, and later reported from Pacific Canada, the Asian Pacific, Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, South Africa, and northern Europe. The Bayesian inference analysis of sequence data of three gene fragments (836 bp in total) of the mitochondrial 16S rDNA, nuclear 28S rDNA, and Historie 3 has shown that individuals from the Pacific coasts of Canada and the USA, Argentina, Australia, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and Mediterranean France were genetically very similar (maximal average p-distance value, 0.49%, was between 16S rDNA sequences). We consider these individuals to be conspecific and report the earliest records of B. proboscidea from the UK and a possible first Mediterranean record in the Gulf of Lion. The high 16S haplotype diversity of B. proboscidea detected in the north-eastern Pacific suggests a native distribution for the species in the northern Pacific and subsequent introductions through human activities to other parts of the world. The histories of these introductions are reviewed and the hypotheses about times and places of introductions are updated.

The family Flabelligeridae was previously represented in Tunisia by four genera including four species: Bradabyssa villosa (Rathke, 1843), Therochaeta flabellata (M. Sars in G.O. Sars, 1872), Pherusa plumosa (Müller, 1776), and Piromis eruca (Claparède, 1869). In this paper we report a fifth genus, Trophoniella, for the first time in Tunisia. The specimens were collected in Radés Station, Gulf of Tunis (Central Mediterranean) and belong to a new species, namely Trophoniella radesiensis n. sp., which is characterized by having: (1) a very smooth tunic, body covered dorsally, ventrally, and laterally by sediment grains (except in the posterior region), and (2) well-developed parapodia showing short neurohooks from chaetiger 6 to 19 and anchylosed neurohooks from chaetiger 20. Based on the 16S, the new species belongs to a low supported Piromis/Trophoniella clade and shows a 16.1% of genetic distance from Trophoniella hephaistos Jimi & Fujiwara, 2016, the single known species of the genus sequenced to date. [Zoobank lsid: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:D7C85C70-87FF- 4AF4-8599-A8462B3FB8B1]

Next-generation sequencing (NGS) has become a powerful tool in phylogenetic and evolutionary studies. Here we applied NGS to recover two ribosomal RNA genes (18S and 28S) from 16 species and 15 mitochondrial genomes from 16 species of scale worms representing six families in the suborder Aphroditiformia (Phyllodocida, Annelida), a complex group of polychaetes characterized by the presence of dorsal elytra or scales. The phylogenetic relationship of the several groups of scale worms remains unresolved due to insufficient taxon sampling and low resolution of individual gene markers. Phylogenetic tree topology based on mitochondrial genomes is comparable with that based on concatenated sequences from two mitochondrial genes (cox1 and 16S) and two ribosomal genes (18S and 28S) genes, but has higher statistical support for several clades. Our analyses show that Aphroditiformia is monophyletic, indicating the presence of elytra is an apomorphic trait. Eulepethidae and Aphroditidae together form the sister group to all other families in this suborder, whereas Acoetidae is sister to Iphionidae. Polynoidae is monophyletic, but within this family the deep-sea subfamilies Branchinotogluminae and Macellicephalinae are paraphyletic. Mitochondrial genomes in most scale-worm families have a conserved gene order, but within Polynoidae there are two novel arrangement patterns in the deep-sea clade. Mitochondrial protein-coding genes in polynoids as a whole have evolved under strong purifying selection, but substitution rates in deep-sea species are much higher than those in shallow-water species, indicating that purifying selection is relaxed in deep-sea polynoids. There are positive selected amino acids for some mitochondrial genes of the deep-sea clade, indicating they may involve in the adaption of deep-sea polynoids. Overall, our study (1) provided more evidence for reconstruction of the phylogeny of Aphroditiformia, (2) provided evidence to refute the assumption that mitochondr

Next-generation sequencing (NGS) has become a powerful tool in phylogenetic and evolutionary studies. Here we applied NGS to recover two ribosomal RNA genes (18S and 28S) from 16 species and 15 mitochondrial genomes from 16 species of scale worms representing six families in the suborder Aphroditiformia (Phyllodocida, Annelida), a complex group of polychaetes characterized by the presence of dorsal elytra or scales. The phylogenetic relationship of the several groups of scale worms remains unresolved due to insufficient taxon sampling and low resolution of individual gene markers. Phylogenetic tree topology based on mitochondrial genomes is comparable with that based on concatenated sequences from two mitochondrial genes (cox1 and 16S) and two ribosomal genes (18S and 28S) genes, but has higher statistical support for several clades. Our analyses show that Aphroditiformia is monophyletic, indicating the presence of elytra is an apomorphic trait. Eulepethidae and Aphroditidae together form the sister group to all other families in this suborder, whereas Acoetidae is sister to Iphionidae. Polynoidae is monophyletic, but within this family the deep-sea subfamilies Branchinotogluminae and Macellicephalinae are paraphyletic. Mitochondrial genomes in most scale-worm families have a conserved gene order, but within Polynoidae there are two novel arrangement patterns in the deep-sea clade. Mitochondrial protein-coding genes in polynoids as a whole have evolved under strong purifying selection, but substitution rates in deep-sea species are much higher than those in shallow-water species, indicating that purifying selection is relaxed in deep-sea polynoids. There are positive selected amino acids for some mitochondrial genes of the deep-sea clade, indicating they may involve in the adaption of deep-sea polynoids. Overall, our study (1) provided more evidence for reconstruction of the phylogeny of Aphroditiformia, (2) provided evidence to refute the assumption that mitochondr

Next-generation sequencing (NGS) has become a powerful tool in phylogenetic and evolutionary studies. Here we applied NGS to recover two ribosomal RNA genes (18S and 28S) from 16 species and 15 mitochondrial genomes from 16 species of scale worms representing six families in the suborder Aphroditiformia (Phyllodocida, Annelida), a complex group of polychaetes characterized by the presence of dorsal elytra or scales. The phylogenetic relationship of the several groups of scale worms remains unresolved due to insufficient taxon sampling and low resolution of individual gene markers. Phylogenetic tree topology based on mitochondrial genomes is comparable with that based on concatenated sequences from two mitochondrial genes (cox1 and 16S) and two ribosomal genes (18S and 28S) genes, but has higher statistical support for several clades. Our analyses show that Aphroditiformia is monophyletic, indicating the presence of elytra is an apomorphic trait. Eulepethidae and Aphroditidae together form the sister group to all other families in this suborder, whereas Acoetidae is sister to Iphionidae. Polynoidae is monophyletic, but within this family the deep-sea subfamilies Branchinotogluminae and Macellicephalinae are paraphyletic. Mitochondrial genomes in most scale-worm families have a conserved gene order, but within Polynoidae there are two novel arrangement patterns in the deep-sea clade. Mitochondrial protein-coding genes in polynoids as a whole have evolved under strong purifying selection, but substitution rates in deep-sea species are much higher than those in shallow-water species, indicating that purifying selection is relaxed in deep-sea polynoids. There are positive selected amino acids for some mitochondrial genes of the deep-sea clade, indicating they may involve in the adaption of deep-sea polynoids. Overall, our study (1) provided more evidence for reconstruction of the phylogeny of Aphroditiformia, (2) provided evidence to refute the assumption that mitochondr

Annelids represent a metazoan taxon with remarkable regenerative abilities, used during reproduction as well as after injury. Although many studies of different aspects of annelid regeneration are available, detailed morphological investigations regarding the regeneration of specific organ systems such as the nervous system are scarce. Using immunohistochemical staining techniques combined with subsequent confocal laser scanning microscopy (cLSM) and a 3D-reconstruction based on histological sections of the anterior nervous system in adults for comparison, we investigated the redevelopment of the anterior and posterior nervous system during posttraumatic regeneration in Typosyllis antoni. In both processes, the first signs of a regenerated nervous system are neurites infiltrating the regeneration blastema. During posterior regeneration, the neurites are reorganized in a terminal commissure within the new pygidium. Afterwards, neuronal structures of the ventral nerve cord such as segmental nerves were developed. This occurs in conformity with the development of new segments by the reestablished posterior segment addition zone, comparable to normal growth. During anterior nervous system regeneration, the neurites form loops close to the stump of the remaining nerve cord, that attach its contralateral connectives. Later, these loops become the dorsal and ventral roots of the circumesophageal connectives and the brain reoccurs in an anteriormost position. This kind of anterior regeneration agrees with the general pattern known in annelids.

Acromegalomma, nomen novum, is introduced as a replacement name for the polychaete genus Megalomma Johansson, 1926 (Annelida, Sabellidae), preoccupied by Megalomma Westwood, 1842 (Insecta, Coleoptera, Carabidae). The historical background of the homonymy and a full list with 36 new combinations in the new genus are included, while two species are considered as species inquirenda.

While the majority of bioluminescent pelagic organisms emit blue light, some transparent planktonic annelids (Tomopteridae) have been found to emit yellow light from parapodial glands (rosette and hyaline). Since long wavelengths have a weak propagation coefficient and appear to be imperceptible to most midwater species, this bioluminescence is commonly thought to act as a private communication channel. This work aims to explore this functional hypothesis through a multidisciplinary approach of bioluminescence in Tomopteris helgolandica as main model species and in four related species: T. carpenteri, T. pacifica, T. planktonis and T. septentrionalis. The structural homology between the rosette of the tail-bearing species and the hyaline glands of the tail-less species is evidenced, suggesting that both gland types evolved from a common light-emitting structure and differentiated along a functional and migrational axis extending from endocrine secretion close to the coelomic ramus to exocrine secretion close to the lateral margin of the pinna. In T. helgolandica, bioluminescence is triggered by the activation of nicotinic cholinergic receptors and a Ca2+-dependent mechanism involving L-type volgate-gated channels. Despite significant differences in their light emission patterns, cholinergic control is also suggested in T. planktonis. Indeed, an unexpected diversity in emission patterns is highlighted including yellow and blue, intra- and extraglandular displays. Consequently, the ecological advantage provided by this bioluminescence could be more diverse than originally suspected. Although the first behavioural approach of light perception by T. helgolandica tends to support the hypothesis of intraspecific communication, the possibility of a defensive use of bioluminescence should remain an open question., (SC - Sciences) -- UCL, 2016

Cossura chilensis is one of the most abundant polychaete species on soft-bottom benthic communities in central Chile. Nevertheless, it was firstly described by Hartmann-Schröder in 1965 and re-described by Carrasco in 1977; both studies with incomplete specimens. The aim of this research was to made a new description of the species in a detailed way from entire specimens using Scanning Electronic Microscopy. Cossura chilensis has a conical prostomium with a dorsal furrow and its peristomium is short and split by transverse ring. The first chaetiger is uniramous and the following ones are biramous. The branchial filament arises from the anterodorsal part of third chaetiger. Chaetae include short capillaries in the 3 first chaetigers; long capillaries in both rami along the rest of the body and thick capillaries in neuropodia of chaetigers 2-10. In addition, short spine-like chaetae are present from posterior segments. All chaetae are hirsute presenting a dense feather-appearance just by one side of the chaetae. Thoracic segments are short and crowded, while abdominal segments are longer than broad and less crowded. The pygidium is small and round-tip with 3 long cirri around anus. Methyl green staining is intense in prostomium, less intense in peristomium, first two chaetigers and in lateral patches from third chaetiger. The highest mean abundance by field work was 897 ind. m-2 in September 2013 being a dominant species of the soft-bottom Valparaiso bay, central Chile., Cossura chilensis es una de las especies más abundantes de poliquetos en las comunidades bentónicas de fondos blandos de Chile central. Sin embargo, fue descrita originalmente por Hartmann-Schröder en 1965 y redescrita por Carrasco en 1977; ambos estudios con ejemplares incompletos. El objetivo de este trabajo fue realizar una nueva descripción de la especie, en detalle y a partir de ejemplares enteros, usando Microscopia Electrónica de Barrido. Cossura chilensis tiene un prostomio cónico con un pliegue dorsal y su peristomio es corto y está divido por un anillo transversal. El primer segmento setígero es unirrámeo mientras que los siguientes son birrámeos. El filamento branquial surge desde la parte anterodorsal del tercer setígero. Los ejemplares presentan setas capilares cortas en los primeros 3 setígeros, setas capilares largas en las dos ramas de la mayor parte del cuerpo y setas capilares gruesas en los neuropodios de los segmentos 2-10. Adicionalmente, están presentes setas cortas con forma de espina en los segmentos posteriores. Todas las setas son hirsutas presentando un aspecto densamente plumoso en un sólo lado de la seta. Los segmentos torácicos son cortos y bien agrupados, mientras que los del abdomen son más largos que anchos y menos agrupados. El pigidio es pequeño y redondeado con 3 cirros largos alrededor del ano. El patrón de tinción con verde metilo muestra una intensa tinción del prostomio, en menor grado del peristomio y los 2 primeros setígeros y la formación de parches laterales desde el tercer setígero. La mayor abundancia promedio por campaña fue de 897 ind. m-2 en septiembre 2013, constituyéndose en una especie dominante de los fondos sedimentarios de la Bahía de Valparaíso, Chile central.

The non-indigenous sabellid polychaete Branchiomma coheni Tovar-Hernández and Knight-Jones, 2006, has been collected in the estuarine waters of Morrosquillo at Bahía Cispatá, in Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta on mangrove roots, and in La Escollera, Gaira, in oyster spat collectors. This species is representative of a fouling community in mangrove roots and lives together with other invertebrates. This is the first record of B. coheni from the Caribbean coast of Colombia., A espécie invasora Branchiomma coheni Tovar-Hernández e Knight-Jones, 2006, da família Sabellidae, foi recolhida na Baía de Cispatá, Morrosquillo e na Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta, nas raízes dos mangues e em La Escollera, na Gaira, sobre coletores de ostras. Esta espécie da comunidade bentônica cobre as raízes de mangue compartindo o substrato com outros invertebrados. Este é o primeiro registro de B. coheni para o Caribe colombiano., La especie invasora Branchiomma coheni Tovar-Hernández y Knight-Jones, 2006, familia Sabellidae, ha sido recolectada en la Bahía de Cispatá, Morrosquillo y en la Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta, en las raíces de los mangles y en La Escollera en Gaira sobre recolectores de ostras. Esta especie de la comunidad bentónica cubre las raíces de mangle compartiendo el sustrato con otros invertebrados. Este es el primer registro de B. coheni para el Caribe colombiano.

Nereididae is one of the most ubiquitous of polychaete families, yet knowledge of their diversity in the northern Great Barrier Reef is poor; few species have been previously reported from any of the atolls or islands including Lizard Island. In this study, the diversity of the family from Lizard Island and surrounding reefs is documented based on museum collections derived from surveys conducted mostly over the last seven years. The Lizard Island nereidid fauna was found to be represented by 14 genera and 38 species/species groups, including 11 putative new species. Twelve species are newly reported from Lizard Island; four of these are also first records for Australia. For each genus and species, diagnoses and/or taxonomic remarks are provided in addition to notes on their habitat on Lizard Island, and general distribution; the existence of tissue samples tied to vouchered museum specimens is indicated. Fluorescence photography is used to help distinguish closely similar species of Nereis and Platynereis. A key is provided to facilitate identification and encourage further taxonomic, molecular and ecological studies on the group.

A new cryptic species of Neanthes (Nereididae), N. wilsonchani, new species, is described from intertidalmudflats of eastern Singapore. The new species was confused with both Ceratonereis (Composetia) burmensis(Monro, 1937) and Neanthes glandicincta Southern, 1921, which were found to be conspecific with the latter namehaving priority. Neanthes glandicincta is newly recorded from Singapore, its reproductive forms (epitokes) areredescribed, and Singapore specimens are compared with topotype material from India. The new species can bedistinguished from N. glandicincta by slight body colour differences and by having fewer pharyngeal paragnathsin Areas II (4–8 vs 7–21), III (11–28 vs 30–63) and IV (1–9 vs 7–20), and in the total number of paragnaths forall Areas (16–41 vs 70–113). No significant differences were found in the morphology of the epitokes between thetwo species. The two species have largely non-overlapping distributions in Singapore; the new species is restrictedto Pleistocene coastal alluvium in eastern Singapore, while N. glandicinta occurs in western Singapore as well asin Malaysia and westward to India.

More than half of the species in NamanereisChamberlin, 1919 (Nereididae: Namanereidinae), are adapted to life in subterranean waters. We document the taxonomy, distribution, and adaptations of the groundwater-inhabiting species in this genus for the first time, starting from the description of two new stygobitic species. The first, Namanereis pilbarensis sp. nov. from water-table carbonate deposits in the Pilbara region of north-west Australia, is representing the first record of a stygobitic polychaete from Australia, and the second, Namanereis socotrensis sp. nov., from karstic groundwater on Socotra Island (Yemen) is the second stygobitic Namanereis species from Socotra. Troglomorphic adaptations observed include the absence (or reduction) of eyes and cuticular pigment, and cirriform appendages of the head, parapodia, and pygidium that are all considerably longer than in their marine counterparts. The chaetae and jaws differ in some groundwater species but not others, so the troglomorphic nature of these features is less certain. Remarkably, the two species of the Socotra Archipelago (Namanereis gesaeFiege & Van Damme, 2002, from Abd al Kuri and the new species) seem to derive from different ancestors, respectively single terminal tooth and bifid tooth-jawed lineages. Based on the jaw morphologies, we suggest that the groundwater polychaetes of this genus might not have entered groundwater from freshwater/anchialine habitats during a single colonization event, as previously suggested, but at different times. Different geographical origins of two groups of species (Gondwanan and Tethyan) are suggested based on recent distribution patterns.

During the last two decades major changes of the benthic fauna have occurred in the northern Baltic Sea, the Gulf of Bothnia. The native amphipod, Monoporeia affinis, has shown a large-scale abundance decrease, while polychaetes, Marenzelleria spp. have invaded the system. Marenzelleria co-exist with the native fauna in the southern Baltic Sea, but in the north the pelagic production might be too low to allow co-existence. Thus, M. affinis might have been out-competed by Marenzelleria in the Gulf of Bothnia. This hypothesis was tested in a competition experiment with a high and a low fresh phytoplankton food supply. When exposed to high food supply both species showed stable or increased biomass over the four week test period. In low food supply, however, M. affinis was found to have a competitive advantage. The experimental data were also related to Baltic Sea monitoring data on primary production, sedimentation and invertebrate abundances. Data from the northern Baltic Sea show that the dominance in the benthic community by M. affinis was replaced by Marenzelleria around 2001. The amphipod decrease might be explained by a marked decrease in primary production during this period. Combining monitoring and experimental data suggests that the invasion of Marenzelleria did not cause the decrease of M. affinis in the northern Baltic Sea; it rather took advantage of the density gap that had occurred. A shift may thus have been established in the Bothnian Sea benthic community. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

During the last two decades major changes of the benthic fauna have occurred in the northern Baltic Sea, the Gulf of Bothnia. The native amphipod, Monoporeia affinis, has shown a large-scale abundance decrease, while polychaetes, Marenzelleria spp. have invaded the system. Marenzelleria co-exist with the native fauna in the southern Baltic Sea, but in the north the pelagic production might be too low to allow co-existence. Thus, M. affinis might have been out-competed by Marenzelleria in the Gulf of Bothnia. This hypothesis was tested in a competition experiment with a high and a low fresh phytoplankton food supply. When exposed to high food supply both species showed stable or increased biomass over the four week test period. In low food supply, however, M. affinis was found to have a competitive advantage. The experimental data were also related to Baltic Sea monitoring data on primary production, sedimentation and invertebrate abundances. Data from the northern Baltic Sea show that the dominance in the benthic community by M. affinis was replaced by Marenzelleria around 2001. The amphipod decrease might be explained by a marked decrease in primary production during this period. Combining monitoring and experimental data suggests that the invasion of Marenzelleria did not cause the decrease of M. affinis in the northern Baltic Sea; it rather took advantage of the density gap that had occurred. A shift may thus have been established in the Bothnian Sea benthic community., AuthorCount:2

Marine benthic polychaete Capitella sp. I is widely known to adapt to polluted habitats; however, its response to xenobiotics under hypoxic conditions has been rarely studied. This research aimed to test the hypothesis that interactive effects of hypoxia and congener BDE-47 of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE), which is ubiquitous in marine sediments, may alter the settlement of Capitella sp. I. Our results revealed that under hypoxic condition, settlement success and growth in body length of Capitella larvae were significantly reduced compared to those under normoxia of similar BDE-47 concentration. While no significant changes in morphology of settled larvae were noted in both exposure conditions, the presence of BDE-47 could enhance polychaete growth. The present findings demonstrated that the interactive effects of hypoxia and environmentally realistic concentrations of BDE-47 in sediments could affect polychaete settlement, which, in turn, reduce its recruitment and subsequent population size in the marine benthic ecosystem. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Los organismos bentónicos han sido señalados como buenos indicadores de alteraciones en el medio marino, particularmente porque la mayoría de los contaminantes se van al fondo marino, afectando a las comunidades que allí habitan. En el presente trabajo se desarrolló un método no invasivo para colectar los celomocitos usando el poliqueto marino Eurythoe complanata con potencial aplicación en toxicología. El método de extrusión utilizado provocó la expulsión del 95% del fluido celómico, mostrando una mayor eficiencia que el método de puntura en Lombricus terrestre en relación al número de celomocitos y la viabilidad celular. El conteo total de celomocitos por este método fue 2.6 x 106cells·mL-1vs 1.4 x 106cells·mL-1para el método de puntura. Los resultados indican una completa recuperación en el número de celomocitos a los 20 días posteriores a la extrusión; utilizando el conteo celular total, viabilidad y conteo diferencial celular. Este método fue desarrollado para estudios de inmunotoxicidad de xenobioticos en la interfase sedimento-agua de ambientes marinos.

Marine benthic polychaete Capitella sp. I is widely known to adapt to polluted habitats; however, its response to xenobiotics under hypoxic conditions has been rarely studied. This research aimed to test the hypothesis that interactive effects of hypoxia and congener BDE-47 of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE), which is ubiquitous in marine sediments, may alter the settlement of Capitella sp. I. Our results revealed that under hypoxic condition, settlement success and growth in body length of Capitella larvae were significantly reduced compared to those under normoxia of similar BDE-47 concentration. While no significant changes in morphology of settled larvae were noted in both exposure conditions, the presence of BDE-47 could enhance polychaete growth. The present findings demonstrated that the interactive effects of hypoxia and environmentally realistic concentrations of BDE-47 in sediments could affect polychaete settlement, which, in turn, reduce its recruitment and subsequent population size in the marine benthic ecosystem. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Two undescribed species of polychaetes in Mediomastus (Annelida: Capitellidae) were collected from intertidal to shallow habitats in Tokyo Bay, Japan. These are M. duobalteus sp. n. and M. hanedaensis sp. n. Mediomastus duobalteus sp. n. is distinguishable from all congeners by the following characters: 1) segments 3, 4, 8-11 stainable with methyl green, 2) thoracic capillary chaetae unilimbate, 3) abdominal capillary chaetae absent, 4) paddle-like chaetae in the thorax absent, and 5) abdominal hooded hooks not flared. Mediomastus hanedaensis sp. n. is similar to M. warrenae Green, 2002, but differs from the latter in the shapes of the thoracic capillary chaetae and the abdominal hooded hooks, and the staining pattern with methyl green. In addition, a key to all Mediomastus species is provided.

Two undescribed species of polychaetes in Mediomastus (Annelida: Capitellidae) were collected from intertidal to shallow habitats in Tokyo Bay, Japan. These are M. duobalteus sp. n. and M. hanedaensis sp. n. Mediomastus duobalteus sp. n. is distinguishable from all congeners by the following characters: 1) segments 3, 4, 8-11 stainable with methyl green, 2) thoracic capillary chaetae unilimbate, 3) abdominal capillary chaetae absent, 4) paddle-like chaetae in the thorax absent, and 5) abdominal hooded hooks not flared. Mediomastus hanedaensis sp. n. is similar to M. warrenae Green, 2002, but differs from the latter in the shapes of the thoracic capillary chaetae and the abdominal hooded hooks, and the staining pattern with methyl green. In addition, a key to all Mediomastus species is provided.

Marine benthic polychaete Capitella sp. I is widely known to adapt to polluted habitats; however, its response to xenobiotics under hypoxic conditions has been rarely studied. This research aimed to test the hypothesis that interactive effects of hypoxia and congener BDE-47 of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE), which is ubiquitous in marine sediments, may alter the settlement of Capitella sp. I. Our results revealed that under hypoxic condition, settlement success and growth in body length of Capitella larvae were significantly reduced compared to those under normoxia of similar BDE-47 concentration. While no significant changes in morphology of settled larvae were noted in both exposure conditions, the presence of BDE-47 could enhance polychaete growth. The present findings demonstrated that the interactive effects of hypoxia and environmentally realistic concentrations of BDE-47 in sediments could affect polychaete settlement, which, in turn, reduce its recruitment and subsequent population size in the marine benthic ecosystem. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Los organismos bentónicos han sido señalados como buenos indicadores de alteraciones en el medio marino, particularmente porque la mayoría de los contaminantes se van al fondo marino, afectando a las comunidades que allí habitan. En el presente trabajo se desarrolló un método no invasivo para colectar los celomocitos usando el poliqueto marino Eurythoe complanata con potencial aplicación en toxicología. El método de extrusión utilizado provocó la expulsión del 95% del fluido celómico, mostrando una mayor eficiencia que el método de puntura en Lombricus terrestre en relación al número de celomocitos y la viabilidad celular. El conteo total de celomocitos por este método fue 2.6 x 106cells·mL-1vs 1.4 x 106cells·mL-1para el método de puntura. Los resultados indican una completa recuperación en el número de celomocitos a los 20 días posteriores a la extrusión; utilizando el conteo celular total, viabilidad y conteo diferencial celular. Este método fue desarrollado para estudios de inmunotoxicidad de xenobioticos en la interfase sedimento-agua de ambientes marinos., Los organismos bentónicos han sido señalados como buenos indicadores de alteraciones en el medio marino, particularmente porque la mayoría de los contaminantes se van al fondo marino, afectando a las comunidades que allí habitan. En el presente trabajo se desarrolló un método no invasivo para colectar los celomocitos usando el poliqueto marino Eurythoe complanata con potencial aplicación en toxicología. El método de extrusión utilizado provocó la expulsión del 95% del fluido celómico, mostrando una mayor eficiencia que el método de puntura en Lombricus terrestre en relación al número de celomocitos y la viabilidad celular. El conteo total de celomocitos por este método fue 2.6 x 106cells·mL-1vs 1.4 x 106cells·mL-1para el método de puntura. Los resultados indican una completa recuperación en el número de celomocitos a los 20 días posteriores a la extrusión; utilizando el conteo celular total, viabilidad y conteo diferencial celular. Este método fue desarrollado para estudios de inmunotoxicidad de xenobioticos en la interfase sedimento-agua de ambientes marinos.

Since its description from the Galapagos Rift in the mid-1980s, Archinome rosacea has been recorded at hydrothermal vents in the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans. Only recently was a second species described from the Pacific Antarctic Ridge. We inferred the identities and evolutionary relationships of Archinome representatives sampled from across the hydrothermal vent range of the genus, which is now extended to cold methane seeps. Species delimitation using mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) recovered up to six lineages, whereas concatenated datasets (COI, 16S, 28S and ITS1) supported only four or five of these as clades. Morphological approaches alone were inconclusive to verify the identities of species owing to the lack of discrete diagnostic characters. We recognize five Archinome species, with three that are new to science. The new species, designated based on molecular evidence alone, include: Archinome levinae n. sp., which occurs at both vents and seeps in the east Pacific, Archinome tethyana n. sp., which inhabits Atlantic vents and Archinome jasoni n. sp., also present in the Atlantic, and whose distribution extends to the Indian and southwest Pacific Oceans. Biogeographic connections between vents and seeps are highlighted, as are potential evolutionary links among populations from vent fields located in the east Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, and Atlantic and Indian Oceans; the latter presented for the first time.

Since its description from the Galapagos Rift in the mid-1980s, Archinome rosacea has been recorded at hydrothermal vents in the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans. Only recently was a second species described from the Pacific Antarctic Ridge. We inferred the identities and evolutionary relationships of Archinome representatives sampled from across the hydrothermal vent range of the genus, which is now extended to cold methane seeps. Species delimitation using mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) recovered up to six lineages, whereas concatenated datasets (COI, 16S, 28S and ITS1) supported only four or five of these as clades. Morphological approaches alone were inconclusive to verify the identities of species owing to the lack of discrete diagnostic characters. We recognize five Archinome species, with three that are new to science. The new species, designated based on molecular evidence alone, include: Archinome levinae n. sp., which occurs at both vents and seeps in the east Pacific, Archinome tethyana n. sp., which inhabits Atlantic vents and Archinome jasoni n. sp., also present in the Atlantic, and whose distribution extends to the Indian and southwest Pacific Oceans. Biogeographic connections between vents and seeps are highlighted, as are potential evolutionary links among populations from vent fields located in the east Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, and Atlantic and Indian Oceans; the latter presented for the first time.

Since its description from the Galapagos Rift in the mid-1980s, Archinome rosacea has been recorded at hydrothermal vents in the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans. Only recently was a second species described from the Pacific Antarctic Ridge. We inferred the identities and evolutionary relationships of Archinome representatives sampled from across the hydrothermal vent range of the genus, which is now extended to cold methane seeps. Species delimitation using mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) recovered up to six lineages, whereas concatenated datasets (COI, 16S, 28S and ITS1) supported only four or five of these as clades. Morphological approaches alone were inconclusive to verify the identities of species owing to the lack of discrete diagnostic characters. We recognize five Archinome species, with three that are new to science. The new species, designated based on molecular evidence alone, include: Archinome levinae n. sp., which occurs at both vents and seeps in the east Pacific, Archinome tethyana n. sp., which inhabits Atlantic vents and Archinome jasoni n. sp., also present in the Atlantic, and whose distribution extends to the Indian and southwest Pacific Oceans. Biogeographic connections between vents and seeps are highlighted, as are potential evolutionary links among populations from vent fields located in the east Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, and Atlantic and Indian Oceans; the latter presented for the first time.

The polychaete Hydroides elegans (Serpulidae, Lophotrochozoa) is a problematic marine fouling organism in most tropical and subtropical coastal environment. Competent larvae of H. elegans undergo the transition from the swimming larval stage to the sessile juvenile stage with substantial morphological, physiological, and behavior changes. This transition is often referred to as larval settlement and metamorphosis. In this study, we examined the possible involvement of calmodulin (CaM) - a multifunctional calcium metabolism regulator, in the larval settlement and metamorphosis of H. elegans. A full-length CaM cDNA was successfully cloned from H. elegans (He-CaM) and it contained an open reading frame of 450 bp, encoding 149 amino acid residues. It was highly expressed in 12 h post-metamorphic juveniles, and remained high in adults. In situ hybridization conducted in competent larvae and juveniles revealed that He-CaM gene was continuously expressed in the putative growth zones, branchial rudiments, and collar region, suggesting that He-CaM might be involved in tissue differentiation and development. Our subsequent bioassay revealed that the CaM inhibitor W7 could effectively inhibit larval settlement and metamorphosis, and cause some morphological defects of unsettled larvae. In conclusion, our results revealed that CaM has important functions in the larval settlement and metamorphosis of H. elegans. (C) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The polychaete Hydroides elegans (Serpulidae, Lophotrochozoa) is a problematic marine fouling organism in most tropical and subtropical coastal environment. Competent larvae of H. elegans undergo the transition from the swimming larval stage to the sessile juvenile stage with substantial morphological, physiological, and behavior changes. This transition is often referred to as larval settlement and metamorphosis. In this study, we examined the possible involvement of calmodulin (CaM) - a multifunctional calcium metabolism regulator, in the larval settlement and metamorphosis of H. elegans. A full-length CaM cDNA was successfully cloned from H. elegans (He-CaM) and it contained an open reading frame of 450 bp, encoding 149 amino acid residues. It was highly expressed in 12 h post-metamorphic juveniles, and remained high in adults. In situ hybridization conducted in competent larvae and juveniles revealed that He-CaM gene was continuously expressed in the putative growth zones, branchial rudiments, and collar region, suggesting that He-CaM might be involved in tissue differentiation and development. Our subsequent bioassay revealed that the CaM inhibitor W7 could effectively inhibit larval settlement and metamorphosis, and cause some morphological defects of unsettled larvae. In conclusion, our results revealed that CaM has important functions in the larval settlement and metamorphosis of H. elegans. (C) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

We describe two new species and redescribe one in the polychaete genus Amphicorina Claparède, 1864 (Sabellidae) from Hokkaido, Japan. Amphicorina ascidicola sp. n. differs from its 38 congeners chiefly in the reduction of the collar, but also in having three pairs of radioles, one pair of ventral radiolar appendages, a bifurcate ventral lobe on the anterior peristomial ring, six abdominal chaetigers, and a large anterior tooth on the abdominal uncini. Amphicorina ezoensis sp. n. has a crenulated collar, three pairs of radioles, and more than eight (12) abdominal chaetigers; A. ezoensis sp. n. shares these character states with A. anneae (Rouse, 1994), A. eimeri (Langerhans, 1880), and A. persinosa (Ben-Eliahu, 1975), but differs from them in having two pairs of ventral radiolar appendages and a non-oblique collar. Amphicorina mobilis (Rouse, 1990) was previously known only from the type locality (New South Wales, Australia), but we identify our Japanese material as conspecific on the basis of morphological and molecular similarity.

We describe two new species and redescribe one in the polychaete genus Amphicorina Claparède, 1864 (Sabellidae) from Hokkaido, Japan. Amphicorina ascidicola sp. n. differs from its 38 congeners chiefly in the reduction of the collar, but also in having three pairs of radioles, one pair of ventral radiolar appendages, a bifurcate ventral lobe on the anterior peristomial ring, six abdominal chaetigers, and a large anterior tooth on the abdominal uncini. Amphicorina ezoensis sp. n. has a crenulated collar, three pairs of radioles, and more than eight (12) abdominal chaetigers; A. ezoensis sp. n. shares these character states with A. anneae (Rouse, 1994), A. eimeri (Langerhans, 1880), and A. persinosa (Ben-Eliahu, 1975), but differs from them in having two pairs of ventral radiolar appendages and a non-oblique collar. Amphicorina mobilis (Rouse, 1990) was previously known only from the type locality (New South Wales, Australia), but we identify our Japanese material as conspecific on the basis of morphological and molecular similarity.

The polychaete Hydroides elegans (Serpulidae, Lophotrochozoa) is a problematic marine fouling organism in most tropical and subtropical coastal environment. Competent larvae of H. elegans undergo the transition from the swimming larval stage to the sessile juvenile stage with substantial morphological, physiological, and behavior changes. This transition is often referred to as larval settlement and metamorphosis. In this study, we examined the possible involvement of calmodulin (CaM) - a multifunctional calcium metabolism regulator, in the larval settlement and metamorphosis of H. elegans. A full-length CaM cDNA was successfully cloned from H. elegans (He-CaM) and it contained an open reading frame of 450 bp, encoding 149 amino acid residues. It was highly expressed in 12 h post-metamorphic juveniles, and remained high in adults. In situ hybridization conducted in competent larvae and juveniles revealed that He-CaM gene was continuously expressed in the putative growth zones, branchial rudiments, and collar region, suggesting that He-CaM might be involved in tissue differentiation and development. Our subsequent bioassay revealed that the CaM inhibitor W7 could effectively inhibit larval settlement and metamorphosis, and cause some morphological defects of unsettled larvae. In conclusion, our results revealed that CaM has important functions in the larval settlement and metamorphosis of H. elegans. (C) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Author Posting. © Inter-Research, 2005. This article is posted here by permission of Inter-Research for personal use, not for redistribution. The definitive version was published in Marine Ecology Progress Series 302 (2005): 147-157, doi:10.3354/meps302147., Animal communities on the walls of deep-sea hydrothermal chimneys are distributed in mosaics of patches that may evolve as local environmental conditions change and biological interactions develop. Alvinella pompejana Desbruyères et Laubier, 1980 is one of the first metazoan colonisers of new surfaces created by mineral precipitation, and therefore may be particularly important in community establishment in active parts of smokers. Here our goal was to investigate the colonisation mechanisms of A. pompejana in new patches and determine whether these mechanisms may influence population structure and reproductive patterns in this species. We deployed a series of TRAC (Titanium Ring for Alvinellid Colonisation) devices at East Pacific Rise (EPR) vent sites to compare the size and stage (i.e. reproductive maturity) distribution of A. pompejana individuals between recently colonised patches (TRACs) and established patches (grabbed by submersible). TRACs deployed for short time periods (11 d to 1 mo) were generally colonised by smaller individuals than those found in background populations or in TRACs deployed for longer time periods (>1 mo). Colonists into new patches were a mix of juveniles and individuals that were sexually mature but non-reproductive (i.e. not producing gametes), whereas background population and older patches harboured a mixture of individuals at different stages including reproductive females. Although some individuals may have recruited on TRACs as larvae, the major colonisation process involved was probably immigration of post-larval stages. In long-term TRAC, reproductive females were not reproductively synchronised. In this dynamic environment, reproduction would be triggered by the disturbance/migration processes, explaining the heterogeneity observed in reproductive patterns., The research was funded by INSU, CNRS, IFREMER, Dorsales and NSF grant OCE-9712233 to L.S.M.