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PrionospioMalmgren 1867 andAurospioMaciolek 1981 (Annelida: Spionidae) are polychaete genera commonly found in the deep sea. Both genera belong to thePrionospiocomplex, whose members are known to have limited distinguishing characters. Morphological identification of specimens from the deep sea is challenging, as fragmentation and other damages are common during sampling. These issues impede investigations into the distribution patterns of these genera in the deep sea. In this study, we employ two molecular markers (16S rRNA and 18S) to study the diversity and the distribution patterns ofPrionospioandAurospiofrom the tropical North Atlantic, the Puerto Rico Trench and the central Pacific. Based on different molecular analyses (Automated Barcode Gap Discovery, GMYC, pairwise genetic distances, phylogenetics, haplotype networks), we were able to identify and differentiate 21 lineages (three lineages composed solely of GenBank entries) that represent putative species. Seven of these lineages exhibited pan-oceanic distributions (occurring in the Atlantic as well as the Pacific) in some cases even sharing identical 16S rRNA haplotypes in both oceans. Even the lineages found to be restricted to one of the oceans were distributed over large regional scales as for example across the Mid-Atlantic Ridge from the Caribbean to the eastern Atlantic (> 3389 km). Our results suggest that members ofPrionospioandAurospiomay have the potential to disperse across large geographic distances, largely unaffected by topographic barriers and possibly even between oceans. Their high dispersal capacities are probably explained by their free-swimming long-lived planktonic larvae.

We analyzed composition and variations in benthic macrofaunal communities along a transect of the entire length of the Vema-Fracture Zone on board of RV Sonne (SO-237) between December 2014 and January 2015 in order to test whether the Mid-Atlantic Ridge serves as a barrier limiting benthic taxon distribution in the abyssal basins on both sides of the ridge or whether the fracture zone permits the migration of species between the western and eastern abyssal Atlantic basins. The Puerto Rico Trench, much deeper than the surrounding abyssal West Atlantic, was sampled to determine whether the biodiversity of its hadal macrofauna differs from that of the abyssal Atlantic. The composition of the macrofauna from the epibenthic sledge catches yielded a total of 21,332 invertebrates. Crustacea occurred most frequently (59%) with 12,538 individuals followed by Annelida (mostly Polychaeta) (26%) with 5491 individuals, Mollusca (7%) with 1458 individuals, Echinodermata (4%) with 778 individuals, Nematoda (2%) with 502 individuals and Chaetognatha (1%) with 152 and Porifera (1%) with 131 individuals. All other taxa occurred with overall less than ten individuals (Hemichordata, Phoronida, Priapulida, Brachiopoda, invertebrate Chordata, Echiurida, Foraminifera (here refereed to macrofaunal Komokiacea only), Chelicerata, Platyhelminthes). Within the Crustacea, Peracarida (62.6%) with 7848 individuals and Copepoda (36.1%) with 44,526 individuals were the most abundant taxa. Along the abyssal Vema-Fracture Zone macrofaunal abundances (ind./1000 m 2 ) were generally higher on the eastern side, while the highest normalized abundance value was reported in the Puerto Rico Trench at abyssal station 14-1 2313 individuals/1000 m 2 . The lowest abundance was reported at station 11-4 with 120 ind./1000 m 2 located at the western side of the Vema-Fracture Zone. The number of major macrofaunal taxa (phylum, class) ranged between five (stations 12-5, 13-4 and 13-5 at hadal depths in the Puerto Rico Trench) and 14 (station 9-8) in the western abyssal basin of the Vema-Fracture Zone. Differences are seen in the distribution of Porifera at macrofaunal level between eastern and western sides of the Vema-Fracture Zone. Macrofaunal composition of the study area is compared with data from other expeditions in the Atlantic and the northwest Pacific Ocean.

A generic character of the genus Spiophanes (Annelida, Sedentaria: Spionidae) is the presence of parapodial glandular organs. Parapodial glandular organs in Spiophanes species include secretory cells with cup-shaped microvilli, similar to those present in deep-sea inhabiting vestimentiferans and frenulate Siboglinidae. These cells are supposed to secrete β-chitin for tube-building. In this study, transverse histological and/or ultrathin sections of parapodial glandular organs and tubes of Spiophanes spp. as well as of Glandulospio orestes (Spionidae) and Owenia fusiformis (Oweniidae) were examined. Fluorescent markers together with confocal laser scanning microscopy, and Raman spectroscopy were used to detect chitin in the parapodial glandular organs of Spiophanes and/or in the glands of Owenia and Glandulospio. Tubes of these taxa were tested for chitin to elucidate the use of it for tube-building. The examinations revealed a distinct labelling of the gland contents. Raman spectroscopy documented the presence of β-chitin in both gland types of Spiophanes. The tubes of Spiophanes were found to have a grid-like structure that seems to be built with this β-chitin. Tests of tubes of Dipolydora quadrilobata (Spionidae) for chitin were negative. However, the results of our study provide strong evidence that Spiophanes species, O. fusiformis and probably also G. orestes produce chitin and supposedly use it for tube-building. This implies that the production of chitin and its use as a constituent part of tube-building is more widespread among polychaetes as yet known. The histochemical data presented in this study support previous assumptions inferring homology of parapodial glandular organs of Spionidae and Siboglinidae based on ultrastructure. Furthermore, transmission electron microscopy-based evidence of secretory cells with nail-headed microvilli in O. fusiformis suggests homology of parapodial grandular organs across annelids including Sipuncula.

A generic character of the genus Spiophanes (Annelida, Sedentaria: Spionidae) is the presence of parapodial glandular organs. Parapodial glandular organs in Spiophanes species include secretory cells with cup-shaped microvilli, similar to those present in deep-sea inhabiting vestimentiferans and frenulate Siboglinidae. These cells are supposed to secrete β-chitin for tube-building. In this study, transverse histological and/or ultrathin sections of parapodial glandular organs and tubes of Spiophanes spp. as well as of Glandulospio orestes (Spionidae) and Owenia fusiformis (Oweniidae) were examined. Fluorescent markers together with confocal laser scanning microscopy, and Raman spectroscopy were used to detect chitin in the parapodial glandular organs of Spiophanes and/or in the glands of Owenia and Glandulospio. Tubes of these taxa were tested for chitin to elucidate the use of it for tube-building. The examinations revealed a distinct labelling of the gland contents. Raman spectroscopy documented the presence of β-chitin in both gland types of Spiophanes. The tubes of Spiophanes were found to have a grid-like structure that seems to be built with this β-chitin. Tests of tubes of Dipolydora quadrilobata (Spionidae) for chitin were negative. However, the results of our study provide strong evidence that Spiophanes species, O. fusiformis and probably also G. orestes produce chitin and supposedly use it for tube-building. This implies that the production of chitin and its use as a constituent part of tube-building is more widespread among polychaetes as yet known. The histochemical data presented in this study support previous assumptions inferring homology of parapodial glandular organs of Spionidae and Siboglinidae based on ultrastructure. Furthermore, transmission electron microscopy-based evidence of secretory cells with nail-headed microvilli in O. fusiformis suggests homology of parapodial grandular organs across annelids including Sipuncula.

Spionidae (Polychaeta) collected from seamounts in the Atlantic Ocean were studied. Altogether six species were found of which two are new to science and one belongs to a new genus. Aonidella cf. dayi Maciolek in López-Jamar, 1989 and Glandulospio orestes gen. et sp. nov. were the most common species and occurred on both the Great and Little Meteor Seamount, the Irving Seamount and the Hyeres Seamount. Laonice norgensis Sikorski, 2003 and Malacoceros jirkovi Sikorski, 1992 have a wider distribution in the North Atlantic, including the Mediterranean Sea in case of L. norgensis. Aonides selvagensis Brito, Núñez and Riera, 2006 is only known from the Macaronesian Region. Dipolydora paracaulleryi sp. nov. has been collected from both the Great and Little Meteor Seamounts. All species are compared with morphological similar species and their taxonomy is discussed. Detailed descriptions are provided for the species new to science and descriptions of the previously known species are amended. Accompanying histological studies revealed the presence of very strong dorsoventral musculature in A. cf. dayi and for G. orestes gen. et sp. nov. the presence of glandular organs in the middle body region. Laonice maciolekae AguirrezabalagaCeberio, 2005 was found to be a junior synonym of L. appellöfi Söderström, 1920 and is formally synonymised. Molecular data suggest gene flow between seamounts and autochthonous as well as allochthonous larval recruitment for different species. The results of previous studies by other authors, that polychaete communities of the North Atlantic Seamounts are characterized by low diversity, low rates of endemism, and the predominance of widely distributed (and cosmopolitan) species is not corroborated by our results.

Spionidae (Polychaeta) collected from seamounts in the Atlantic Ocean were studied. Altogether six species were found of which two are new to science and one belongs to a new genus. Aonidella cf. dayi Maciolek in Lopez-Jamar, 1989 and Glandulospio orestes gen. et sp. nov. were the most common species and occurred on both the Great and Little Meteor Seamount, the Irving Seamount and the Hyeres Seamount. Laonice norgensis Sikorski, 2003 and Malacoceros jirkovi Sikorski, 1992 have a wider distribution in the North Atlantic, including the Mediterranean Sea in case of L. norgensis. Aonides selvagensis Brito, Nunez and Riera, 2006 is only known from the Macaronesian Region. Dipolydora paracaulleryi sp. nov. has been collected from both the Great and Little Meteor Seamounts. All species are compared with morphological similar species and their taxonomy is discussed. Detailed descriptions are provided for the species new to science and descriptions of the previously known species are amended. Accompanying histological studies revealed the presence of very strong dorsoventral musculature in A. cf. dayi and for G. orestes gen. et sp. nov. the presence of glandular organs in the middle body region. Laonice maciolekae Aguirrezabalaga & Ceberio, 2005 was found to be a junior synonym of L. appellofi Soderstrom, 1920 and is formally synonymised. Molecular data suggest gene flow between seamounts and autochthonous as well as allochthonous larval recruitment for different species. The results of previous studies by other authors, that polychaete communities of the North Atlantic Seamounts are characterized by low diversity, low rates of endemism, and the predominance of widely distributed (and cosmopolitan) species is not corroborated by our results.