Hydrozoa, fjord Comau, Chile.

The shallow-water hydrozoan fauna of fjordComau is surveyed. A total of thirty three specieswere recorded. They have been assigned to eightfamilies of Athecata, eight families of Thecata,two families of Narcomedusae and one family ofTrachymedusae. Their ecology is brieflydiscussed

Desmophyllum dianthus (Esper, 1794) in the scleractinian phylogeny and its intraspecific diversity

© The Author(s), 2012. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License. The definitive version was published in PLoS One 7 (2012): e50215, doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0050215.The cosmopolitan solitary deep-water scleractinian coral Desmophyllum dianthus (Esper, 1794) was selected as a representative model species of the polyphyletic Caryophylliidae family to (1) examine phylogenetic relationships with respect to the principal Scleractinia taxa, (2) check population structure, (3) test the widespread connectivity hypothesis and (4) assess the utility of different nuclear and mitochondrial markers currently in use. To carry out these goals, DNA sequence data from nuclear (ITS and 28S) and mitochondrial (16S and COI) markers were analyzed for several coral species and for Mediterranean populations of D. dianthus. Three phylogenetic methodologies (ML, MP and BI), based on data from the four molecular markers, all supported D. dianthus as clearly belonging to the “robust” clade, in which the species Lophelia pertusa and D. dianthus not only grouped together, but also shared haplotypes for some DNA markers. Molecular results also showed shared haplotypes among D. dianthus populations distributed in regions separated by several thousands of kilometers and by clear geographic barriers. These results could reflect limited molecular and morphological taxonomic resolution rather than real widespread connectivity. Additional studies are needed in order to find molecular markers and morphological features able to disentangle the complex phylogenetic relationship in the Order Scleractinia and to differentiate isolated populations, thus avoiding the homoplasy found in some morphological characters that are still considered in the literature.This study was funded by CTM2009-00496 and CGL2011-23306 projects of the “Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación” (Spain). Research at sea was partly supported by the European Commission F. P.VI Project HERMES Contract No. GOCE-CT-2005-511234-1) and the EU F.P. VII Project HERMIONE(contract number no. 226354)

Out of Their Depth? Isolated Deep Populations of the Cosmopolitan Coral Desmophyllum dianthus May Be Highly Vulnerable to Environmental Change

Deep sea scleractinian corals will be particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change, facing loss of up to 70% of their habitat as the Aragonite Saturation Horizon (below which corals are unable to form calcium carbonate skeletons) rises. Persistence of deep sea scleractinian corals will therefore rely on the ability of larvae to disperse to, and colonise, suitable shallow-water habitat. We used DNA sequence data of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS), the mitochondrial ribosomal subunit (16S) and mitochondrial control region (MtC) to determine levels of gene flow both within and among populations of the deep sea coral Desmophyllum dianthus in SE Australia, New Zealand and Chile to assess the ability of corals to disperse into different regions and habitats. We found significant genetic subdivision among the three widely separated geographic regions consistent with isolation and limited contemporary gene flow. Furthermore, corals from different depth strata (shallow <600 m, mid 1000–1500 m, deep >1500 m) even on the same or nearby seamounts were strongly differentiated, indicating limited vertical larval dispersal. Genetic differentiation with depth is consistent with the stratification of the Subantarctic Mode Water, Antarctic Intermediate Water, the Circumpolar Deep and North Pacific Deep Waters in the Southern Ocean, and we propose that coral larvae will be retained within, and rarely migrate among, these water masses. The apparent absence of vertical larval dispersal suggests deep populations of D. dianthus are unlikely to colonise shallow water as the aragonite saturation horizon rises and deep waters become uninhabitable. Similarly, assumptions that deep populations will act as refuges for shallow populations that are impacted by activities such as fishing or mining are also unlikely to hold true. Clearly future environmental management strategies must consider both regional and depth-related isolation of deep-sea coral populations

Spatial Scales of Bacterial Diversity in Cold-Water Coral Reef Ecosystems

Background: Cold-water coral reef ecosystems are recognized as biodiversity hotspots in the deep sea, but insights into their associated bacterial communities are still limited. Deciphering principle patterns of bacterial community variation over multiple spatial scales may however prove critical for a better understanding of factors contributing to cold-water coral reef stability and functioning. Methodology/Principal Findings: Bacterial community structure, as determined by Automated Ribosomal Intergenic Spacer Analysis (ARISA), was investigated with respect to (i) microbial habitat type and (ii) coral species and color, as well as the three spatial components (iii) geomorphologic reef zoning, (iv) reef boundary, and (v) reef location. Communities revealed fundamental differences between coral-generated (branch surface, mucus) and ambient microbial habitats (seawater, sediments). This habitat specificity appeared pivotal for determining bacterial community shifts over all other study levels investigated. Coral-derived surfaces showed species-specific patterns, differing significantly between Lophelia pertusa and Madrepora oculata, but not between L. pertusa color types. Within the reef center, no community distinction corresponded to geomorphologic reef zoning for both coral-generated and ambient microbial habitats. Beyond the reef center, however, bacterial communities varied considerably from local to regional scales, with marked shifts toward the reef periphery as well as between different in- and offshore reef sites, suggesting significant biogeographic imprinting but wea

Estimates of abundance and trend on a Blue Whale feeding ground off Isla de Chiloé, Chile

Since 1970, blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus) have been seen feeding in the waters off southern Chile during the summer and autumn (December to May). Investigation of the genetic, acoustic and morphological characteristics of these blue whales shows that they are a distinct but unnamed subspecies, called the Chilean blue whales. Photo-identification surveys have been conducted in the waters off northwestern Isla Grande de Chiloé, southern Chile from 2004–2012 and Isla Chañaral, central Chile in 2012. Over this time, 1,070 blue whales were encountered yielding, after photo-quality control, 318 and 267 unique photographs of the left and right side of the flank respectively. Using mark-recapture analysis of left and right side photographs collected from Isla Grande de Chiloé (2004–2012), open population models estimate that ~570–760 whales are feeding seasonally in this region. POPAN superpopulation abundance estimates for the same feeding ground in 2012 are 762 (95% confidence intervals, CI = 638–933) and 570 (95% CI 475–705) for left and right side datasets respectively, very similar to results from closed population models. Estimates of trend revealed strong variation in abundance, peaking in 2009 and [suggesting] fluctuating use in the survey area over time, likely related to the density of their prey. High inter-annual return rates suggest a degree of site-fidelity of individuals to Isla Grande de Chiloé and that the number of whales using this feeding ground is relatively small

First report on large scleractinian (Cnidaria: Anthozoa) accumulations in cold-temperate shallow water of south Chilean fjords

South Chilean fjords contain an astonishing diverse benthic macrofauna of which anthozoans form a major portion. Azooxanthellate solitary scleractinians, which were hitherto known from major depths, were found as shallow as 8 m during several expeditions to the south Chilean fjord region. At some sites, stony corals dominate the macrofauna and form dense aggregations, which may cover several 10’s of square meters in depths below 25 m. The discovery of these communities in shallow water for the first time allows for in situ observations and structural analysis of these populations by means of SCUBA diving. For further studies, living and dead corals were sampled, photographed, and dried for preservation. Several specimens and tissue samples were preserved in 96% ethanol. The sampled specimens were identified as Desmophyllum dianthus (Esper, 1794) and Caryophyllia Lamarck, 1801 spec. nov. Specimens of D. dianthus found on a shipwreck allowed for growth rate estimations. Minimum growth rates were estimated as 2.3 mm longitudinal growth per year and 1.6 mm diameter growth. Due to increasing human impact on benthic communities in Chilean fjords, especially through salmon farming, it cannot be excluded that these coral communities are in danger before they are even studied

Incrustatus comauensis Ofwegen, Häussermann & Försterra, 2006, n. sp.

Incrustatus comauensis n. sp. (Figs. 1–5) Holotype: RMNH Coel. 33864, colony on Crepidula, Chile, Comau Fjord, steep wall north of Punta Llonco, 42 º 19.894 ’ S, 72 º 27.661 ’ W (Fig. 5 b: 5), depth 8.5 m, coll. VH & GF, 25 December 2004. Paratypes: MZUC­UCCC 31589, colony on gorgonian, Chile, Isla Laitec (SW of Chiloé Island), Piedra Lile, 43 ° 10 ’ S, 73 ° 37 ’ W (Fig. 5 a: S 3), depth 13–20 m, coll. VH, 4 March 2005; MZUC­UCCC 31590, colony on Crepidula, Chile, Comau Fjord, steep wall north of Punta Llonco, 42 º 19.894 ’ S, 72 º 27.661 ’ W (Fig. 5 b: 5), depth 3 m, coll. VH & GF, 25 December 2004; MZUC­UCCC 31591, unattached fragments, Chile, Comau Fjord, western shore of Isla Lilihuapi, 42 °09.722’ S, 72 ° 35.915 ’ W (Fig. 5 b: 12), steep wall, depth 5 m, coll. GF, 12 January 2005; MZUC­UCCC 31592, colony on Crepidula, Chile, western shore of Comau Fjord opposite of Huinay Station, 42 º 23.276 ’ S, 72 º 27.657 ’ W (Fig. 5 b: 3), depth 20 m, coll. VH & GF, 20 December 2004; MZUC­UCCC 31593, unattached fragments, Chile, Bernardo Area, Canal Caldcleugh N, 48 ° 24 ’ 46.4 ’’ S, 74 ° 18 ’ 23.6 ’’ W (Fig. 5 c: C 3), depth 6 m, coll. VH & GF, 29 March 2005; MZUC­UCCC 31594, colonies on polychaete tubes, Chile, Comau Fjord, steep wall north of Punta Llonco, 42 º 19.894 ’ S, 72 º 27.661 ’ W (Fig. 5 b: 5), depth 5.7 m, coll. VH & GF, 25 December 2004; MZUC­UCCC 31595, fragment, Chile, Comau Fjord, steep wall behind Punta Huinay, 42 º 21.843 ’ S, 72 º 26.297 ’ W (Fig. 5 b: 13), depth 15 m, coll. VH & GF, 4 May 2005; RMNH Coel. 33865, colony on mytilid shell, Chile, Comau Fjord, Punta Huinay, 42 º 22.483 ’ S, 72 º 25.693 ’ W (Fig. 5 b: 7), depth 7.5 m, coll. VH & GF, 25 December 2004; RMNH Coel. 33866, colony on polychaete tubes, Chile, Muelle (dock) Melinka (Guaitecas Islands), 43 ° 53 ’ S, 73 ° 45 ’ W (Fig. 5 a: S 4), depth 20 m, coll. VH & GF, 6 March 2005; RMNH Coel. 33867, colony on polychaete tubes, one microscope slide, Chile, western shore of Comau Fjord opposite of Huinay Station, 42 º 23.276 ’ S, 72 º 27.657 ’ W (Fig. 5 b: 3), depth 14 m, coll. VH & GF, 21 December 2004; RMNH Coel. 33868, colony on gorgonian axis, two microscope slides, Chile, Bernardo Fjord, Isla Caldcleugh S, 48 ° 26 ’ 45 ’’ S, 74 °09’ 41 ’’ W (Fig. 5 c: B 2), depth 15 m, coll. VH & GF, 28 March 2005; RMNH Coel. 33869, colony on Crepidula, depth 13 m, and one on gorgonian axis, depth 15 m, one microscope slide, Chile, Seno de Reloncaví, Lenca, Punta Chaica, 41 ° 38.303 ’ S, 72 ° 40.116 ’ W (Fig. 5 a: S 2), coll. VH & GF, 24 January 2000; RMNH Coel. 33870, several colonies on rock fragments, together with another clavulariid, Chile, western shore of Comau Fjord opposite of Huinay Station, 42 º 23.276 ’ S, 72 º 27.657 ’ W (Fig. 5 b: 3), depth 18 m, coll. VH & GF, 21 December 2004; RMNH Coel. 33871, colony on gorgonian axis, Chile, Bernardo Area, Estero Farquhar, 48 ° 29 ’ 18.7 ’’ S, 74 ° 12 ’ 25.7 ’’ W (Fig. 5 c: B 3), depth 14 m, coll. VH & GF, 29 March 2005; RMNH Coel. 33872, colony on Crepidula, Chile, Comau Fjord, wall north of Punta Llonco, 42 º 19.894 ’ S, 72 º 27.661 ’ W (Fig. 5 b: 5), depth 14.5 m, coll. VH & GF, 25 December 2004; RMNH Coel. 33873, unattached fragments, Chile, Dichato, on rocky ledge north of Pingueral, Bahía de Coliumo, 36 ° 31 ’ S, 72 ° 56 ’ W (Fig. 5 a: S 1), depth 10 m, coll. VH, 13 December 2005; USNM 1084290, colony on gorgonian, together with another clavulariid, Chile, entrance Quintupeu Fjord, 42 º 28.215 ’ S, 72 º 28.214 ’ W (Fig. 5 b: 10), depth 15–25 m, coll. M. Schrödl, 25 February 2005; USNM 1084291, colony on Crepidula, Chile, western shore of Comau Fjord opposite of Huinay Station, 42 º 23.276 ’ S, 72 º 27.657 ’ W (Fig. 5 b: 3), depth 20 m, coll. VH & GF, 20 December 2004; USNM 1084292, colony on polychaete tube, Chile, Comau Fjord, wall north of Punta Llonco, 42 º 19.894 ’ S, 72 º 27.661 ’ W (Fig. 5 b: 5), coll. VH & GF, depth 12.7 m, 25 December 2004; USNM 1084293, unattached fragments, Chile, Comau Fjord, western shore of Isla Lilihuapi, 42 °09.722’ S, 72 ° 35.915 ’ W (Fig. 5 b: 12), steep wall, depth 5 m, coll. GF, 12 January 2005; USNM 1084294, unattached fragments, Chile, Comau Fjord, western shore of Isla Lilihuapi, 42 °09.722’ S, 72 ° 35.915 ’ W (Fig. 5 b: 12), steep wall, depth 5 m, coll. GF, 12 January 2005; USNM 1084295, colony on polychaete tubes, Chile, Comau Fjord, steep wall behind Punta Huinay, 42 º 21.843 ’ S, 72 º 26.297 ’ W (Fig. 5 b: 13), depth 28 m, coll. VH & GF, 4 May 2005; USNM 1084296, colony on polychaete tube on scleractinian Desmophyllum dianthus, Chile, Guaitecas Islands, Melinka, Canal Betecoi, 43 ° 56 ’ S, 73 ° 52 ’ W (Fig. 5 a: S 4), depth 25 m, coll. VH & GF, 8 March 2005; ZSM 20060119, colony on mytilid, Chile, Bernardo Fjord, 12 km, S shore, 48 ° 29 ’ 37.4 ’’ S, 74 °05’ 2 ’’ W (Fig. 5 c: B 1), depth 8 m, coll. VH & GF, 27 March 2005; ZSM 20060120, several colonies on polychaete tubes, Chile, Guaitecas Islands, Melinka, Canal Betecoi, 43 ° 56 ’ S, 73 ° 52 ’ W (Fig. 5 a: S 4), depth 20–30 m, coll. VH & GF, 8 March 2005; ZSM 20060121, unattached colony, Chile, Comau Fjord, Isla Lilihuapi West, 42 °09.722’ S, 72 ° 35.915 ’ W (Fig. 5 b: 12), steep wall, depth 5 m, coll. GF, 12 January 2005; ZSM 20060122, colony on Crepidula, Chile, Comau Fjord, Isla Lilihuapi West, 42 °09.722’ S, 72 ° 35.915 ’ W (Fig. 5 b: 12), steep wall, depth 0.6 m, coll. GF, 12 January 2005; ZSM 20060123, colony on wood, Chile, Comau Fjord, steep wall behind Punta Huinay, 42 º 21.843 ’ S, 72 º 26.297 ’ W (Fig. 5 b: 13), depth 12 m, coll. VH & GF, 4 May 2005; ZSM 20060124, colony on gorgonian, Chile, Bernardo Fjord, Boca Bernardo S (Canal Farquhar), 48 ° 34 ’ 40 ’’ S, 74 ° 20 ’ 18 ’’ W (Fig. 5 c: B 4), depth 20 m, coll. VH & GF, 30 March 2005; ZSM 20060125, colony on gorgonian axis, Chile, Cailín Island (SW of Chiloé Island), 43 °09’ S, 73 ° 35 ’ W (Fig. 5 a: S 3), depth 13 m, coll. VH & GF, 26 December 1999; ZSM 20060126, colony on Crepidula, Chile, Seno Reloncaví, Lenca, Punta Chaica, 41 ° 38.303 ’ S, 72 ° 40.116 ’ W (Fig. 5 a: S 2), coll. VH & GF, 14 January 1998; ZSM 20060127, colony on gorgonian axis, Chile, Bahía of Coliumo, Pingueral, 36 ° 31 ’ S, 72 ° 56 ’ W (Fig. 5 a: S 1), depth 5 m, coll. VH & GF, 6 November 1997; ZSM 20060128, unattached fragments, Chile, Comau Fjord, depth 15–20 m, coll. VH & GF, 2003. Description The holotype consists of an encrusting colony partly covering a Crepidula shell (Figs. 1 a, 2 a). The calyces are conical, up to about 1 mm high; a few are hardly projecting above the colony surface. All polyps are retracted. Sclerites of encrusting part and calyces are similar in shape; eight­radiates and derivatives of these. The smallest are about 0.06 mm long, with complex tubercles (Fig. 3 a). Larger radiates have bigger complex tubercles (Fig. 3 b–c), and the largest, which are up to 0.12 mm long, become oval bodies with complex tubercles (Fig. 3 d). A few of the sclerites have the sculpture of the outer surface rounded and smoother than that of the inner surface (Fig. 3 e). Quite a few polyps have a few small spindles, up to 0.12 mm long, with simple tubercles (Fig. 3 f). These spindles are irregularly arranged in the polyps and several polyps even seem to lack them completely. Colour. Preserved colony completely white, sclerites colorless. Alive, the colony was pinkish with white polyps (Fig. 2 a). Etymology The species is named after the Comau Fjord, the type locality. Habitat, distribution and abundance The species can be found from shallow water down to at least 30 m along the exposed coast south of Dichato (approx. 37 °S). Within the fjord region it inhabits the channels as well as the inner fjords where it was even sampled in shallow water habitats that are strongly influenced by a low salinity layer (see material and Fig. 5). It is very abundant in the mouth of the Comaufjord and around Chiloe Island between 3 and 15 m where it can cover important proportions of rock and secondary hard susbstratum. In the region south of the Peninsula Taitao it was only found in the Bernardo fjord area, but not in the Tempano (Iceberg) Fjord that is strongly influenced by glacial sediment. Incrustatus comauensis represents one more species with a continuous distribution crossing the traditionally assumed zoogeographical limit between the Peruvian and Magellanic Provinces at approximately 42 °S (Brattström & Johanssen, 1983; Häussermann & Försterra, 2005). Variability When alive, the color of the colonies can vary to some degree. They can be pinkish (Fig. 2 a, f–h), completely white (Fig. 2 d), faintly orange (Fig. 2 c), or whitish with pink calyces (Fig. 2 e). The polyps always seem to be white. Some colonies clearly form stolons (Fig. 1 b, 2 c–d), others cover the substrate completely (Fig. 1 a, c, 2 a–b, e–h). Several types of substrate were found: Crepidula and mytilid shells, polychaete tubes, the axis of gorgonians (Primnoella sp.), or the colonies were simply overgrowing rocks. The length of the calyces also varies to some extent, from hardly protruding above the coenenchyme to several mm long. Finally, the sclerites do vary somewhat; for comparison the sclerites of specimens growing on a mytilid shell (Fig. 4 a–c) and polychaete tubes (Fig. 4 e–g) are also presented. Notably, the specimens growing on gorgonian axes or polychaete tubes have more sclerites with sculpture of the outer surface rounded and smoother than that of the inner surface (Fig. 4 g). Several specimens have hardly any polyp spindles. Remarks In the family Clavulariidae, Incrustatus comauensis most closely resembles Cryptophyton goddardi Williams, 2000. But it differs in having sclerites in the form of radiates and derivatives of these; especially, the sclerites with rounded sculpture on the outer surface, smoother than that of inner surface, are completely absent in C. goddardi. This latter sclerite type is found in species of Paratelesto Utinomi, 1958, and Telesto Lamouroux, 1812, but these taxa have arborescent colony shapes.Published as part of Van Ofwegen, L. P., Häussermann, V. & Försterra, G., 2006, A new genus of soft coral (Octocorallia: Alcyonacea: Clavulariidae) from Chile, pp. 47-57 in Zootaxa 1219 on pages 49-56, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17250

Incrustatus Ofwegen, Häussermann & Försterra, 2006, new genus

Incrustatus, new genus Diagnosis Colonies form encrusting sheets or the polyps are connected to each other by stolons. Sclerites are radiates and derivatives of these; sculpture of outer surface sometimes rounded and smoother than that of inner surface. Polyps are retractile, weakly armed with only a few rods or all together without sclerites. When preserved, colonies are white with colorless sclerites. Type species Incrustatus comauensis n. sp., by original designation and monotypy. Etymology The generic name is from the Latin incrusto, encrusting, referring to the encrusting nature of the colonies. Gender masculine.Published as part of Van Ofwegen, L. P., Häussermann, V. & Försterra, G., 2006, A new genus of soft coral (Octocorallia: Alcyonacea: Clavulariidae) from Chile, pp. 47-57 in Zootaxa 1219 on page 48, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17250