A trophic link between the cold-water coral Desmophyllum dianthus and filter-feeding bivalves?

Cold-water corals play an important role as ecosystem engineers by providing the three-dimensional structural basis and habitat for a rich associated fauna. In southern Chile, the cold-water scleractinian Desmophyllum dianthus populates the steep walls of Comau Fjord. Where its principal energy source, the zooplankton, is less abundant in winter. This coral specie is often associated with filter-feeders, but the nature and possible trophic significance of this relationship remains enigmatic. Dense belts of the mussel Aulacomya atra and the brachiopod Magellania venosa thrive in the productive waters above and between D. dianthus, and both, visual observation and diver-operated push net samples revealed a rain of biodeposits (faeces and pseudofaeces) from these filter-feeders to the corals. This study aims to determine if the conversion by filter-feeders of microscopic plankton inaccessible to corals to macroscopic strings of faeces and pseudofaeces accessible to the corals’ tentacles may represent a new and so far overlooked trophic link channeling surface production to the corals. Preliminary in vitro experiments show that D. dianthus ingests biodeposits of the mussel Mytilus edulis, but only after the consumption of juvenile krill (Euphausia pacifica). This indicates that biodeposits of active filter feeders may play a role as a food supplement for corals. Follow-up experiments with biodeposits produced under natural conditions by the native filter-feeder community are expected to compound the evidence

Early life history of the cold-water coral Caryophyllia huinayensis from the Chilean Fjord Region

Cold-water corals (CWC) build complex, three-dimensional habitats for diverse communities of associated species. In spite of their importance, very little is known on their reproductive biology. In the Patagonian fjords of Chile, three caryophylliid CWC abound: Desmophyllum dianthus Es-per 1794 along with the recently described Caryophyllia huinayensis Cairns et al. 2005 and Tethocyathus endesa Cairns et al. 2005. This study reports first in situ and in vitro observations of the early life history of the latter two species along with in vitro growth data of juvenile C. huina-yensis. Both are brooding species with translucent tissues, which allowed us to detect and monitor larval development in the gastrovascular system of living specimens. In situ observations from summer 2017 showed between 15 and 25 milky white reproductive stages in the tentacle portion of the gastrovascular cavity of one adult specimen. Up to five younger, round stages were ob-served in groups in the tips of the tentacles. Small planulae of 1.13-1.28 mm length were observed in the tips of the tentacles or organized radially around the mouth. Observations from C. huina-yensis maintained (> 1 yr) in an aquarium system showed that the 620 µm large orange planulae may swim with a velocity of 230 µm s-1 and thus may move from the tentacle tip to the mouth within less than a minute and thereafter reappear in the same or another tentacle in the similar time. After release larvae were found to be negatively buoyant, crawl along the substrate and settle between four and 16 days. Recently settled juveniles increased their basal disc diameter with a rate of 10 µm d-1. After 30 months of maintenance in the aquarium system (Temperature: 12.5 °C, Salinity 32, pH 8, argonite >1, feed with Artemia salina nauplii twice a week) recruits may gain 4.22 (+/-) 0.03 mm yr-1 in diameter and reach the mean size observed for adults in the field after three years. Research on the early life history of CWC is important to understand larval dispersal and connectivity of populations threatened by a changing climate and increasing eutrophication by expanding salmon farming operations

Gastrointestinal Parasites and Bacteria in Free-Living South American Sea Lions (Otaria flavescens) in Chilean Comau Fjord and New Host Record of a Diphyllobothrium scoticum-Like Cestode

Present study aimed to characterize gastrointestinal parasites and culturable bacteria from free-living South American sea lions (Otaria flavescens) inhabiting waters of Comau Fjord, Patagonia, Chile. Therefore, a total of 28 individual fecal samples were collected from sea lions within their natural marine habitat during several diving expeditions. Using classical parasitological techniques, study revealed infections with five different gastrointestinal parasite genera. In addition, bacterial cultures showed presence of at least 28 different bacterial genera. Referring to parasites, protozoan, and metazoan species were found with some of them bearing anthropozoonotic potential and/or pathogenic impact for these marine mammals. As such, four of identified parasite genera harbored zoonotic potential (i.e., Entamoeba, Balantidium, Diphyllobothrium, Anisakis) and one genus (Parafilaroides) represented a specific lungworm of marine pinnipeds. Proglottids from fecal samples showed high morphological homology to “Diphyllobothrium” scoticum (Rennie and Reid, 1912; Meggitt, 1924), which was found in Antarctic sea leopards (Hydrurga leptonyx; Phocidae), but contained eggs of smaller size. Molecular characterization revealed 97–100% identity to a new “Diphyllobothrium” species which was recently isolated from a Californian sea lion (Zalophus californianus; Otariidae) in San Francisco. As such, O. flavescens represents a new host record for this parasite species. Furthermore, potential zoonotic bacteria (i.e., Clostridium, Escherichia, Vibrio, Yersinia, Salmonella) were identified amongst others in O. flavescens indicating a reservoir role for these pinnipeds in marine ecosystem. Current data should be considered as a baseline study for future monitoring surveys on anthropozoonotic pathogens circulating in wild free-living sea lions and their possible impact on public health issues and marine wildlife

Atmospheric controls on hydrogen and oxygen isotope composition of meteoric and surface waters in Patagonia

The southern tip of South America, commonly referred to as Patagonia, is a key area to understand SouthernHemisphere Westerlies (SHW) dynamics and orographic isotope effects in precipitation. However, only few studies haveaddressed these topics. We evaluated the stable isotope (2H, 18O) compositions of precipitation, lentic waters, and lotic waters in that area to characterize and understand isotope fractionation processes associated with orographic rainout, moisture 20 recycling and moisture sources. Observational data were interpreted with the help of backward trajectory modelling of moisturesources using reanalysis climate data. While the Pacific serves as the exclusive moisture source for sites upwind of the Andes and on the immediate downwind area of the Andes, recycled moisture from the continent seems to be the main humidity source at the Patagonian Atlantic coast. In contrast, the Pampean Atlantic coast north of Patagonia obtains moisture from the Atlantic Ocean. In the core zone of the SHW at a latitude of 50° S, a depletion in the heavy isotopes of 10 ? and 85 ?, for 18O and 25 2H, respectively, occurs due to orographic rainout corresponding to a drying ratio of 0.45.Fil: Mayr, Christoph. Universitat Erlangen-Nuremberg; Alemania. Universitat Technical Zu Munich; AlemaniaFil: Langhamer, Lukas. Universidad de Innsbruck; AustriaFil: Wissel, Holger. Universitat Erlangen-Nuremberg; AlemaniaFil: Meier, Wolfgang. Universitat Erlangen-Nuremberg; AlemaniaFil: Sauter, Tobias. Universitat Erlangen-Nuremberg; AlemaniaFil: Laprida, Cecilia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Estudios Andinos "Don Pablo Groeber". Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Estudios Andinos "Don Pablo Groeber"; ArgentinaFil: Massaferro, Julieta. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte; Argentina. Administración de Parques Nacionales. Delegación Regional Patagonia; ArgentinaFil: Försterra, Günter. Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso; ChileFil: Lücke, Andreas. Universitat Erlangen-Nuremberg; Alemani

Growth rates and skeletal density of Desmophyllum dianthus - Effect of association with endolithic algae

It has been suggested that endolithic algae inside the skeleton of cold-water corals might have a symbiotic relationship with the coral host and would positively affect coral calcification. However, so far this hypothesis has not yet been further explored. This study investigated the effect of endolithic algae on the growth performance and skeletal density of the cold-water coral Desmophyllum dianthus at Fjord Comau, southern Chile. The fluorescent staining agent calcein was used to document coral growth by measuring the upward linear extension of septa for a period of one and a half years. Observations on skeletal density were recorded using x-ray computed tomography. The results of this study show a severe reduction of growth rates associated with the presence of endolithic algae. Infested individuals grew about half as fast as non-infested polyps with median value of 1.18μm/day compared to 2.76μm/day. Data on skeletal density revealed a similar – although not statistically significant – trend displaying mean values of 2.160g/cm³ compared to 2.294g/cm³, respectively. These results point towards a parasitic relationship between D. dianthus and its endolithic algae refuting the hypothesis of a mutually beneficial association. However, although this study appears to conclusively indicate a negative effect of the association of D. dianthus with endolithic algae, controversial evidence has been discovered regarding the mode of the relationship. Despite the decrease in growth performance, the coral host seems to benefit from a low transfer of metabolites from the endoliths to the coral tissue. Further research will be necessary to fully resolve the matter

Patrones de distribución de anémonas de mar chilenas de aguas someras (cnidaria: anthozoa: actiniaria, corallimorpharia); con una discusión de las relaciones taxonómicas y zoogeográficas de la actinofauna del Pacífico sudoriental, el Atlántico sudoccidental y la Antártida

The first complete zoogeographical analysis of Chilean shallow water sea anemones (Actiniaria and Corallimorpharia) and their taxonomic relations with neighbouring faunas is provided, based on extensive recent sampling in combination with a literature review. Between 1994 and 2004, we collected more than 1000 specimens of 32 distinct species of Actiniaria and Corallimorpharia at more than 100 sites along the Chilean coast between Arica (18°30’S; 70°19’W) and the Straits of Magellan (53°36’S 70°56’W). Sampling was done in the intertidal during low tides and in the subtidal by means of SCUBA diving down to depths of 40 m. The northern part of the Chilean fjord region showed the highest number of species (23). Our results contradict an abrupt general change in the marine faunal composition at 42°S, instead showing the continuation of species of the exposed coast and the joining of fjord species due to the availability of additional habitats in the richly structured fjord region south of 42°S, and also to eurybathy. The southern distribution limits of the species we found in northern and central Chile show only one significant concentration around the Peninsula Taitao (approx. 48°S). This either indicates a zoogeographic barrier for shallow water species at the Peninsula Taitao, or is a sampling artifact caused by poor data from the region between the Peninsula Taitao and the Straits of Magellan. According to the literature, 18 of the 63 described Chilean sea anemones (Pacific Ocean) can also be found in Argentina (Atlantic Ocean) and 13 in the Antarctic. However, many records and statuses of the common species of the South East Pacific and the South West Atlantic/Antarctic are uncertain or doubtful and need revision or confirmation.La presente publicación provee un primer análisis zoogeográfico completo de las anémonas de mar (Actiniaria y Corallimorpharia) de las aguas someras a lo largo de la costa chilena y de sus relaciones con faunas vecinas, basando en un extenso muestreo en los últimos años en combinación con revisiones de la literatura. Desde 1994 hasta 2004 obtuvimos mas de 1000 ejemplares pertenecientes a 32 especies de Actiniaria y Corallimorpharia. Se muestrearon mas de 100 lugares enclavados en el intermareal y el submareal hasta 40 metros de profundidad, a lo largo de la costa chilena entre Arica (18°30’S 70°19’W) y el Estrecho de Magallanes (53°36’S 70°56’W). La parte norte de la región de los fiordos chilenos presenta el máximo número de especies (23). Nuestros resultados muestran la continuación de especies características de costas expuestas y la agregación de especies típicas de los fiordos, lo cual se contradice con el concepto arraigado del cambio brusco y general en la composición de la fauna marina a partir de 42ºS. Los límites de distribución sureña de especies que encontramos en la región del centro-norte de Chile muestran solamente una concentración significativa alrededor de la Península Taitao (aprox. 48ºS). Esto bien indica una barrera zoogeográfica para especies de aguas someras en la Península Taitao o también puede ser debido a un artefacto de muestreo causado por la falta de datos que existe de la región entre la Península Taitao y el Estrecho de Magallanes. Según la literatura, 18 de las 63 especies de anémonas de mar descritas para Chile (Pacifico Sudoriental) han sido también citadas en Argentina (Atlántico Sudoccidental) y 13 en la Antártida. Sin embargo muchos registros y estatus taxonómicos de las especies comunes del Pacifico Sudoriental y del Atlántico Sud-occidental/Antártida son dudosos y requieren revisión y confirmación

Paraisanthus fabiani Häussermann & Försterra, 2008, new species

Paraisanthus fabiani new species External anatomy (Fig. 2). Size in vivo, measured in aquaria: oral disc 7–12 mm diameter, column to 10 mm diameter, pedal disc to 19 mm diameter, 13–20 mm long, tentacles about half as long as diameter of oral disc. Size preserved: oral disc to 8 mm diameter, pedal disc to 19 mm diameter, column to 16 mm long, tentacles to 5 mm long. Colour (Figs. 3 A–G). Oral disc red, orange, yellowish, pale rose, pink, light brown or ochre; uniformly coloured or with (often 12) reddish-brown radial lines visible on endocoels, or with 12 -lobed, petal-like white and yellow pattern (Fig. 2 B). Mesenterial insertions visible through oral disc. Actinopharynx yellow to light brown. Tentacles slightly transparent, rose to red or pink, yellowish, light brown or ochre; uniformly coloured (Figs. 2 D–G) or with 3–6 brown transverse bands at inner and outer or only inner side (Figs. 2 A–C). Column rose-coloured, reddish, yellowish, orange to ochre, or light brown; uniformly coloured or distalmost 1 / 4 – 1 / 5 more intensely coloured (often brown; Fig. 2 D) with a short transition to paler proximal portion of column; colour generally continuously fading towards pedal disc. Pedal disc coloured as column, not transparent. Preserved specimens whitish to brown. Oral disc and tentacles. Between 66 and 110 conical tentacles, hexamerously arranged in 5–6 cycles, last cycle generally not complete, length about half diameter of oral disc, inner longer than outer, situated on outer third to half of oral disc, innermost 12 (two cycles) in many animals slightly more central (Fig. 2 A), more intensely coloured and directed upward. Oral disc circular, mesenterial insertions in many specimens visible as darker lines (Figs. 2 A,C,D,E). Mouth opening central, slightly oval, slightly elevated in many specimens. Column. In situ higher than broad, after sampling broader than high, proximally broader than distally; smooth, often with loose ring of mucus and dirt in proximal part (Figs. 2 C,D,G). Small fosse. Column can completely cover tentacles when retracted. Pedal disc. More or less circular, generally wider than column and oral disc, limbus slightly lobed. Internal anatomy. In most parts of column, 24 mesenteries hexamerously arranged in four cycles, first cycle (six pairs) including directives fertile macrocnemes with strong circumscript retractors, second and third cycle (six plus 12 pairs) sterile microcnemes without retractors, fourth cycle incomplete, pairs of extremely small microcnemes only just below margin, unequal proximal extension of mesenteries of a pair. Mesenteries of second cycle wider than those of third cycle. More tentacles than mesenteries in mid-column and at base. Actinopharynx deeply furrowed, with two distinct siphonoglyphs, about half length of column; two pairs of FIGURE 3. Histological sections of Paraisanthus fabiani: A, macrocneme with retractor and parietobasilar muscle; B, transverse section of the upper column; C, transverse section of the lower column; D, longitudinal section of the upper column with sphincter; E, cross section through tentacle; F, longitudinal section of the pedal disc with basilar muscles. 1 st to 3 rd cycle of mesenteries I, II, III, basilar muscles bm, directives d, ectoderm ec, endoderm en, ectodermal longitudinal muscles of tentacle et, mesogloea m, macrocnemes ma, filaments mf, microcnemes mi, parietobasilar muscles pb, actinopharynx ph, retractor muscles r, sperms s, siphonoglyph si, sphincter sp. TABLE 2. Size and distribution of cnidae of Paraisanthus fabiani n. sp. (ZSM 20070247 / 1, letters refer to Fig. 4), in each tissue in order of abundance: s: sporadic, f: few, c: common and v: very common. “m l“ and “m w” are the means, “d l” and “d w” are the standard deviations (all in µm), “t” is the apparent total number of turns of spine-rows on the shaft, “#” is the number of capsules measured, “p” is the proportion of specimens having this cnida type. Exceptional sizes in parentheses. Spirocysts (A,M), basitrichs (B,C,D,F,H,J,L,O), microbasic p-mastigophores (E,N,P), microbasic pmastigophores B 1 (G,I,K). directives. Oral and marginal stomata; marginal stomata circular, in the centre of stronger mesenteries (stomata not always visible in smaller specimens). Sexes separate, no signs of asexual reproduction. Five of the sectioned specimens with reproductive tissue, collected in February and March, four male (ZSM 20070246, ZSM 20070247 / 1, ZSM 20070249, USNM 1101612), one female (ZSM 20051690). No zooxanthellae. Sphincter mesogloeal, strong, nearly entire width of mesogloea (Fig. 3 D), restricted to uppermost part (~ 1 / 8 – 1 / 10) of column. Macrocneme retractors strong, strongly restricted to circumscribed (Figs. 3 A–C). Parietobasilar muscles distinct on perfect mesenteries (Figs. 3 A–C); basilar muscles distinct (Fig. 3 F). Longitudinal muscles of tentacles (Fig. 3 E) and radial muscles of oral disc ectodermal. Endodermal circular muscles of column well marked, weaker at sphincter level (Fig. 3 D). Cnidom. Spirocysts, basitrichs, microbasic p-mastigophores B (Fig. 4). Cnidae of eight specimens were examined. Etymology. The species is dedicated to our son Fabian who was born on May 16 th 2007 some days after the submission of this paper. Habitat, distribution, and zoogeography. Shallow subtidal to at least 30 m in less protected channels and at exposed islands of Chilean fjord region between Faro Corona, Chiloé Island (41 ° 47 ’02.0’’S; 73 ° 52 ’ 58.8 ’’W) and Archipelago Madre de Dios (50 ° 20 ’ 23.1 "S; 75 ° 22 ’ 39.2 "W) (Fig. 1). Not present along exposed coast north of fjord region between Faro Corona, North Chiloé Island, and Arica, North Chile (41 ° 47 ’S to about 15 °S), or in southern third of fjord region between Archipelago Madre de Dios and Straits of Magellan (50 ° 20 ’S to about 53 °S) (Fig. 1); neither present in protected fjords and channels with superficial fresh water layer. Thus, it is present in both the Northern and the Central Patagonian Zone (see Pickard 1971; Häussermann 2006), which are separated by Peninsula Taitao and Golfo de Penas (Fig. 1), hypothesized by Lancellotti and Vasquez (2000) and Häussermann and Försterra (2005) to be zoogeographic barriers, but not in the Southern Patagonian Zone south of the Straits of Magellan. Natural history and field notes. Not abundant at any site, but if present, generally several clustered specimens found (Fig. 5). Pedal disc and column generally hidden in holes or crevices of rocky substrate, between stones or between polychaete tubes into which entire animal retracts when disturbed (Fig. 5). Tentacles of neighbouring specimens regularly in contact with each other. Specimens observed in same habitat with the sea anemones Halcurias pilatus McMurrich, 1893, Phellia exlex McMurrich, 1904, Sagartiidae sp. (Fig. 5 C), and a corallimorpharian (Corynactis sp.); in Central Patagonian Zone also with the sea anemone Metridium senile lobatum Carlgren, 1899 (Riemann-Zürneck 1975). Difficult to collect without injury due to cryptic microhabitats; ideally collected with hammer and chisel together with substrate. Specimens relatively sensitive; reattach only slowly to hard substrate in aquarium even if not injured. In the aquarium, specimens soon hide column between or under stones or in holes in substrate (such as dead barnacles). Addition of MgCl 2 to aquarium water (for relaxation) provoked spawning in one specimen collected in February 1998 at Quellón.Published as part of Häussermann, Verena & Försterra, Günter, 2008, A new species of sea anemone from the Chilean fjord region, Paraisanthus fabiani (Actiniaria: Isanthidae), with a discussion of the family Isanthidae Carlgren, 1938, pp. 27-42 in Zootaxa 1897 on pages 32-39, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.18446

Tasas de crecimiento in situ a largo plazo del coral de agua fría Tethocyathus endesa en un gradiente de pH natural

Desde la Revolución Industrial, el pH de la superficie de los océanos ha bajado por 0,1 unidades y probablemente bajará otras 0,3-0,4 unidades hasta 2100 (Guinott et al., 2006, Hennnige et al., 2013), debido a que la cantidad creciente de CO2 atmosférico absorbido afecta a la química de los carbonatos en el agua marina. El escleractínio Tethocyathus endesa (Cairns, Häussermann and Försterra, 2005), recientemente descubierto, es un coral pétreo de agua fría que prospera en el fiordo Comau (Chile). Este estudio tuvo como objetivo una mejor comprensión de la reacción de corales de agua fría en un océano cambiante. Para describir el crecimiento in situ de T. endesa y su adaptabilidad a un cambio de pH los objetivos fueron: I.Determinar tasas de crecimiento in situ a largo plazo (un año) para T. endesa mediante la técnica de peso boyante. II.Identificar la adaptabilidad de T. endesa a un pH cambiante mediante un experimento de trasplante cruzado en dos sitios de estudio (centro del fiordo Comau y fuera del fiordo)

Isanthidae Carlgren 1938

Family Isanthidae Carlgren, 1938 <p>Definition of the family Isanthidae</p> <p> Carlgren (1938, p. 59) defined the family Isanthidae as “ Nynantheae with basilar muscles. Sphincter mesogloeal. Mesenteries divisible into macro- and microcnemes. No acontia.” In his catalogue, Carlgren (1949, p. 76) changed the family definition to “Thenaria (Mesomyaria) with well developed mesogloeal sphincter. Mesenteries divisible into macro- and microcnemes. No acontia. Retractors of mesenteries very strong, strongly restricted (reniform) to almost circumscribed.” Due to the weak sphincter of <i>Eltaninactis infundibulum</i>, Dunn (1983, p. 58) proposed to alter the first sentence of the generic description to “Thenaria (Mesomyaria) with mesogloeal sphincter...” instead of “….with well developed mesogleal sphincter…”. Uncertainty remains over the affiliation of the genus <i>Eltaninactis</i> to the family Isanthidae, as noted in Sanamyan’s (2001) description of <i>E. psammophorum</i>.</p> <p> <b>Type species:</b> <i>Isanthus capensis</i> Carlgren, 1938 (Fig. 6)</p> <p> Definition of the genus <i>Paraisanthus</i> Sanamyan and Sanamyan, 1998:</p> <p>Isanthidae with well-developed pedal disc. Column smooth. Margin distinct. Sphincter mesogloeal, well developed. Radial muscles of oral disc and longitudinal muscles of tentacles ectodermal. Two siphonoglyphs, two pairs of directives. Six pairs of macrocnemes. More mesenteries distally than proximally, at least in adults.</p> <p>Cnidom: spirocysts, p-mastigophores, basitrichs, heterotrichs, holotrichs.</p> <p> <b>Type species:</b> <i>Paraisanthus tamarae</i> Sanamyan and Sanamyan, 1998</p>Published as part of <i>Häussermann, Verena & Försterra, Günter, 2008, A new species of sea anemone from the Chilean fjord region, Paraisanthus fabiani (Actiniaria: Isanthidae), with a discussion of the family Isanthidae Carlgren, 1938, pp. 27-42 in Zootaxa 1897</i> on pages 31-32, DOI: <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/184465">10.5281/zenodo.184465</a&gt