On some amphicorina (polychaeta, sabellidae) species from the mediterranean coast, with the description of A. grahamensis

Species belonging to the genus Amphicorina are reported from some areas of the Mediterranean Sea, with the description of the new species A. grahamensis. The description of another species, Amphicorina sp., close to an Australian taxon, together with the redescriptions of A. pectinata, A. persinosa, and A. armandi are also given; the variability of this last taxon, probably deriving from misidentiflcations, is also considered. Examined specimens were prevalently from the Italian coast, and in particular from the Adriatic Sea. © 1999 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC

Settlement patterns of two spirorbidae (annelida, polychaeta) species in the harbour of Ischia (Gulf of Naples, Mediterranean Sea)

Studies on settlement rate of Neodexiospira pseudocorrugata and Simplaria pseudomilitaris (Polychaeta, Spirorbidae) in the Port of Ischia (Naples) are reported. Observations were carried out monthly, during a one-year cycle (April 1995-April 1996) at two different depths (0.5 and 1.5 m) using unglazed ceramic tiles as substrate. Both species reproduced throughout the year with maximum settlement in June and July at 1.5 m depth. On tiles exposed during June, 40% of individuals of N. pseudocorrugata, ranging between 0.8 and 1.6 mm coil diameter, were brooding, with broods smaller (6–14 eggs, egg diameter 75 um) than in most spirorbid species. Simplaria pseudomilitaris did not reach brooding size within any of the monthly exposure periods. In and after August, an algal bloom of attached brown filaments (Ectocarpa-ceae) covered the tiles and was accompanied by decreased settlement and heavy mortality of spirorbids. © 2000 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC

Clearance rates of Sabella spallanzanii and Branchiomma luctuosum (Annelida: Polychaeta) on a pure culture of Vibrio alginolyticus

The influence exerted by filter-feeding activity on bacterial density by two sabellid species from the Mediterranean Sea (Ionian Sea, Italy), Branchiomma luctuosum Grube and Sabella spallanzanii Gmelin (Annelida: Polychaeta) was investigated. Clearance rates and retention efficiencies were estimated utilizing the species Vibrio alginolyticus selected on account of previous field studies and its importance in fish culture pathogenicity. The Cmax was 43.2±2.63 L h-1 g-1 DW for B. luctuosum and 12.4±2.22 L h-1 g-1 DW for S. spallanzanii. The Retention efficiency was 98% corresponding to a removed bacterial biomass of 44.8+7.88 μgC L-1 g-1 DW for B. luctuosum and 70% corresponding to a bacterial biomass of 23.8+2.95 μgC L-1 g -1 DW for S. spallanzanii. Maximum retention was recorded after 20 min for the first species and after 30 min for the second one. Present laboratory experiments represent a contribution to the knowledge of the filtration activity of the two polychaetes, characterizing the filtration process on bacterioplankton. Both species resulted extremely efficient in removing V. alginolyticus from seawater in experimental tanks, thus confirming the previous data from the field studies and suggesting their employment as biofilters of microbially contaminated waters in intensive aquaculture. © 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Epibiontic and endobiontic polychaetes of Geodia cydonium (Porifera, Demospongiae) from the Mediterranean Sea

Polychaete assemblages associated to the sponge Geodia cydonium were investigated at two sampling sites in the Mediterranean Sea: Porto Cesareo Basin (Apulia) and Marsala Lagoon (Sicily), both characterized by sheltered hydrodynamic conditions. Samples were seasonally performed during 1997, in order to compare the assemblages coming from the two localities studied, considering separately the internal and external tissues of the sponge, and with the aim of evaluating the influence of sponge size on polychaete colonization. The examined sponge is characterized by a peculiar stratification of its tissues: an external thick and hard layer, the cortex, and an internal softer one, the choanosome. Statistical analysis showed that this was the main factor controlling polychaete assemblage, with the internal tissue, less rich and diversified, appearing impoverished with respect to the external layer. A similarity in species composition was observed between sites, even though some differences were evidenced in the abundance of some species, mainly reflecting differences in local environmental conditions. Species richness and density increased with the increasing sponge size. Such a situation is particularly evident at Porto Cesareo, where sponges are covered by an algal layer which is particularly rich on the largest specimens, thus suggesting that most of the species of polychaetes were linked more to the neighbouring environment than to the sponge itself

11/08/1989 - Green Joins Eastern

Sabellidae is the second most diverse polychaete family in the Adriatic Sea, after Syllidae. Herein we report the updated list of the Sabellidae and Fabriciidae families in the Adriatic Sea deriving both from literature data and presently conducted researches in the northern Adriatic. During these researches polychaetes were sampled from three offshore soft-bottom and three coastal rocky shore stations. Among the analysed material three Sabellidae species are new records for the Adriatic fauna, while four Sabellidae and one Fabriciidae species were recorded for the first time in the northern part. Two new species were found and described: Amphicorina rovignensis spec. nov. and Megalomma pseudogesae spec. nov. These findings increase the number of Sabellidae taxa recorded in the northern Adriatic from 29 to 38. Our results point out the lack of the recent taxonomic studies in the area, but might also indicate the widening of the species areal. Taking into consideration that studies on only six stations raised the number of known sabellid taxa from the area by 31%, our results support the need for the regular taxonomic updating of the polychaete fauna in the northern Adriatic

Addition to the knowledge on Acromegalomma messapicum (Giangrande & Licciano, 2008) (Annelida: Sabellidae)

The genus Acromegalomma has been recently introduced as nomen novum for the polychaete genus Megalomma. Recently specimens of A. messapicum were collected from the coastal area of Civitavecchia (Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy) and re-collected from the type locality (Brindisi, Adriatic Sea, Italy) allowing us to examine additional fresh material and to add some useful morphological and biological information to the original description. The present data widens the distribution of the species. The possibility to examine several specimens of A. messapicum collected in different areas allowed us to state with certainty the absence of variability as concerns both the distribution of the radiolar eyes and the collar shape. The new findings revealed a colouration pattern present in the thorax and in the branchial crown, as well as the presence of large pygidial eyes previously not reported. Specimens have very broadly hooded chaetae, especially at the beginning of the abdomen, becoming more slender and therefore narrowly hooded, proceeding towards the end of the abdomen. This could explain the incorrect statement in the original description, of the presence of narrowly hooded abdominal chaetae as characterising A. messapicum. The present data also allowed some biological observations. Acromegalomma messapicum is gonocoric with eggs measuring about 120 mm in diameter. Most of the specimens were collected in cold months but ripe specimens were found in warm months. In addition a scheme of groups of Acromegalomma species modified from that previously proposed by different authors is given, where some taxa have been moved to different groups on the basis of a new interpretation of the collar features

Filtration of the Microalga Amphidinium carterae by the Polychaetes Sabella spallanzanii and Branchiomma luctuosum: A New Tool for the Control of Harmful Algal Blooms?

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are extreme biological events representing a major issue in marine, brackish, and freshwater systems worldwide. Their proliferation is certainly a problem from both ecological and socioeconomic contexts, as harmful algae can affect human health and activities, the marine ecosystem functioning, and the economy of coastal areas. Once HABs establish, valuable and environmentally friendly control actions are needed to reduce their negative impacts. In this study, the influence exerted by the filter‐feeding activity of the two sabellid polychaetes Branchiomma luctuosum (Grube) and Sabella spallanzanii (Gmelin) on a harmful dinoflagellate was investigated. Clearance rates (C) and retention efficiencies were estimated by employing the microalga Amphidinium carterae Hulburt. The Cmax was 1.15 ± 0.204 L h−1 g−1 DW for B. luctuosum and 0.936 ± 0.151 L h−1 g−1 DW for S. spallanzanii. The retention efficiency was 72% for B. luctuosum and 68% for S. spallanzanii. Maximum retention was recorded after 30 min for both species. The obtained results contribute to the knowledge of the two polychaetes’ filtration activity and to characterize the filtration process on harmful microalgae in light of the protection of water resources and human health. Both species, indeed, were extremely efficient in removing A. carterae from seawater, thus suggesting their employment as a new tool in mitigation technologies for the control of harmful algae in marine environments, as well as in the aquaculture facilities where HABs are one of the most critical threats

Larval development and post-larval growth of Branchiomma bairdi (Annelida: Sabellidae) from a Mediterranean population

Branchiomma bairdi is a Caribbean fan worm introduced in several localities worldwide, including the Mediterranean Sea, where the species' range has rapidly expanded. Reproduction in B. bairdi was previously investigated in both extra-Mediterranean and Mediterranean areas, but no information is available on larval development and post-larval growth. In the present article, we examined these features for a population from the Mar Grande of Taranto (Ionian Sea). The species is hermaphrodite, and fertilization occurs in situ. Mucus seems to play an important role in fertilization, and also in preserving eggs before fertilization. The trochophore stage develops within the mucus and after hatching, larvae swim for about 3 d before settlement. The trochophore showed a distinct prototroch and two red dorsolateral larval eyes. The pelagic stage takes only 96 h even though prototroch is maintained after settlement, disappearing at 5 d, when larvae showed three chaetigers and branchial crown consisted of four radioles. Some interesting observations concerning changes in the morphology of chaetae and in the number of uncini during growth are also reported, together with discussion of the development of stylodes, an important diagnostic feature in Branchiomma species identification

Shift in Sabella spallanzanii (Polychaeta, Sabellidae) spawning period in the Central Mediterranean Sea: a consequence of climate change?

Sabella spallanzanii is a large tubicolous filter feeder polychaete common in the Mediterranean fouling assemblages where it plays an important role in structuring the community. Its reproductive biology is well known and had been investigated since 1993. During the past few years a shift in its reproductive period has been observed. In 2008 the presence of ripe eggs in the females was observed at least two months in advance compared to the past. This was confirmed during the 2009 when spawning and fertilization were observed three months in advance compared to the past. Possible causes of this shift may be related to the increasing surface temperature in the Central Mediterranean Sea

Sabellidae (Annelida) from the Faro coastal lake (Messina, Ionian Sea), with the first record of the invasive species Branchiomma bairdi along the Italian coast

In the present paper, morphological and ecological observations on 4 sabellid taxa, Branchiomma bairdi, B. luctuosum,Megalomma lanigera and Myxicola sp., collected from the coastal lake of Faro (Messina, Ionian Sea) (26-36 psu), are reported. Megalomma lanigera, Myxicola sp. and B. luctuosum were collected from the soft bottom in shallow water and B. bairdi from the hard bottom of an internal channel. The presence of the latter is remarkable, as there is no previous record of this species along the Italian coast, and it confirms the lake of Faro as a very favourable environment for the introduction of alien species, which has occurred frequently as a result of aquaculture. High intraspecific variation was observed for M. lanigera, whilst more extensive analysis is required to ascertain the taxonomic status of the Myxicola specimens, including a review of all Mediterranean data currently attributed to M. infundibulum