96 research outputs found
Unravelling the moons: review of the genera Paratetilla and Cinachyrella in the Indo-Pacific (Demospongiae, Tetractinellida, Tetillidae)
Paratetilla bacca (Selenka, 1867) and Cinachyrella australiensis (Carter, 1886) occur in a broad range of marine environments and are allegedly widely distributed species in the Indo-Pacific. We coin the term ‘moon sponges’ for these species as they are spherical in shape with numerous porocalices resembling the lunar surface. Both species have a complex taxonomic history with high synonymization, in particular by Burton (1934, 1959). An examination of the junior synonyms proposed by Burton (1934, 1959) was conducted to establish the validity of the names. More than 230 specimens from Naturalis Biodiversity Center were reviewed that belong to the genera Paratetilla and Cinachyrella from marine lakes, coral reefs, and mangroves in Indonesia. The aim of the current study was to untangle the taxonomic history, describe the collection of moon sponges from Indonesia, and develop a key. We extensively reviewed the taxonomic literature as well as holotypes of most of the species synonymized by Burton. The taxonomic history of Paratetilla spp. and Cinachyrella australiensis showed some cases of misinterpreted synonyms, misidentifications, and lack of detailed descriptions for some species. The conclusion of the revision is that there are three valid species of Paratetilla (P. arcifera, P. bacca, and P. corrugata) and four valid species of Cinachyrella (C. australiensis, C. porosa, C. paterifera, and C. schulzei) in Indonesia. This is furthermore corroborated by molecular work from previous studies. Paratetilla arcifera Wilson 1925 and C. porosa (Lendenfeld, 1888) are resurrected. A full review of taxonomic history is provided as well as a key for identification of moon sponges from Indonesia. All species are sympatric and we expect that there are undescribed species remaining within the Tetillidae from the Indo-Pacific. Our current review provides the framework from which to describe new species in the genera Paratetilla and Cinachyrella from the Indo-Pacific
Stylasterid corals: a new paleotemperature archive
Stylasterids are a ubiquitous deep-sea coral taxon that build their skeletons from either calcite, aragonite, or both. Yet, robust geochemical proxy data from these corals are limited. In this study, 95 modern stylasterids, spanning a wide range of depths (63 to 2894 m) and ambient seawater temperatures (0 to 17 °C), were tested for their potential use as paleoceanographic archives. Stable oxygen and carbon isotopic composition (O and C) were measured from the main trunk of all specimens and five specimens were further sub-sampled to assess internal chemical variability. The isotope data show non-equilibrium precipitation from seawater for both O and C, with the growing tips of colonies yielding the isotopically lowest values. Overall, the calcitic corals showed lower isotope values for O and C than aragonitic specimens. Within the aragonite corals, we present a O:temperature calibration that exhibits a significant linear relationship with the equation Ocoral-seawater = −0.22(°C) + 3.33(±0.06) across a temperature range of 0 to 30 °C, using samples from this study and published data. This work highlights the potential application of stylasterid coral
O data to reconstruct paleo seawater temperature
Growth responses of mixotrophic giant clams on nearshore turbid coral reefs
Increasing evidence suggests that nearshore turbid coral reefs may mitigate bleaching of reef building calcifiers and play a critical role in the future of marine biodiversity in coastal areas. However, biomineralization processes on turbid reefs are relatively understudied compared to clear water counterparts and most published work focuses on corals. Here, we investigate how the mixotrophic giant clam Tridacna squamosa, a bivalve with ecological, cultural and economic significance, grows across a mosaic of less turbid to turbid reefs in the Coral Triangle. We construct growth chronologies from live and dead collected shells by measuring daily growth increments with petrography and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to gain insight into growth rate on daily, seasonal and annual scales. We find annual growth is not significantly different across a turbidity gradient when scaled to ontogeny, while seasonal growth highly varies. Kd(490) (a measurement positively correlated with turbidity) and chlorophyll-a are likely important factors driving seasonal growth on a turbid reef near a river, compared to sea surface temperature (SST), cloud cover and rainfall on a less turbid reef. On a daily scale, we investigate increment microstructure and spectral characteristics of chronologies, finding a relationship between tidal range and daily increments. Overall, our results indicate that light-enhanced calcification is likely most important in the less turbid reef, compared to heterotrophic feeding in the turbid reef. The trophic plasticity of T. squamosa may allow for its sustained growth in marginal conditions, supporting evidence that these habitats serve as important conservation hotspots for diverse reef building taxa
Implications of population connectivity studies for the design of marine protected areas in the deep sea: An example of a demosponge from the Clarion-Clipperton Zone
The abyssal demosponge Plenaster craigi inhabits the Clarion‐Clipperton Zone (CCZ) in the northeast Pacific, a region with abundant seafloor polymetallic nodules with potential mining interest. Since P. craigi is a very abundant encrusting sponge on nodules, understanding its genetic diversity and connectivity could provide important insights into extinction risks and design of marine protected areas. Our main aim was to assess the effectiveness of the Area of Particular Environmental Interest 6 (APEI‐6) as a potential genetic reservoir for three adjacent mining exploration contract areas (UK‐1A, UK‐1B and OMS‐1A). As in many other sponges, COI showed extremely low variability even for samples ~900 km apart. Conversely, the 168 individuals of P. craigi, genotyped for 11 microsatellite markers, provided strong genetic structure at large geographical scales not explained by isolation by distance (IBD). Interestingly, we detected molecular affinities between samples from APEI‐6 and UK‐1A, despite being separated ~800 km. Although our migration analysis inferred very little progeny dispersal of individuals between areas, the major differentiation of OMS‐1A from the other areas might be explained by the occurrence of predominantly northeasterly transport predicted by the HYCOM hydrodynamic model. Our study suggests that although APEI‐6 does serve a conservation role, with species connectivity to the exploration areas, it is on its own inadequate as a propagule source for P. craigi for the entire eastern portion of the CCZ. Our new data suggest that an APEI located to the east and/or the south of the UK‐1, OMS‐1, BGR, TOML and NORI areas would be highly valuable
Global Diversity of Sponges (Porifera)
With the completion of a single unified classification, the Systema Porifera (SP) and subsequent development of an online species database, the World Porifera Database (WPD), we are now equipped to provide a first comprehensive picture of the global biodiversity of the Porifera. An introductory overview of the four classes of the Porifera is followed by a description of the structure of our main source of data for this paper, the WPD. From this we extracted numbers of all ‘known’ sponges to date: the number of valid Recent sponges is established at 8,553, with the vast majority, 83%, belonging to the class Demospongiae. We also mapped for the first time the species richness of a comprehensive set of marine ecoregions of the world, data also extracted from the WPD. Perhaps not surprisingly, these distributions appear to show a strong bias towards collection and taxonomy efforts. Only when species richness is accumulated into large marine realms does a pattern emerge that is also recognized in many other marine animal groups: high numbers in tropical regions, lesser numbers in the colder parts of the world oceans. Preliminary similarity analysis of a matrix of species and marine ecoregions extracted from the WPD failed to yield a consistent hierarchical pattern of ecoregions into marine provinces. Global sponge diversity information is mostly generated in regional projects and resources: results obtained demonstrate that regional approaches to analytical biogeography are at present more likely to achieve insights into the biogeographic history of sponges than a global perspective, which appears currently too ambitious. We also review information on invasive sponges that might well have some influence on distribution patterns of the future
Stephanocyathus (Stephanocyathus) isabellae Reyes & Santodomingo & Cairns 2009, new species
Stephanocyathus (Stephanocyathus) isabellae , new species Figs. 3O–R Description: The corallum is free, with a slightly rounded base without trace of previous attachment scar; however, regeneration scars are always present; polychaete tubes have been incorporated on the base of some specimens. The C1-C2 septocostae are thin, not well defined, but always reach the base center; C3 is evident, only near the calicular edge, and the C4-C5 are a series of minute spurs near the calicular margin. Costae are formed by the lateral fusion of the high and slender granules bases; dorsal costae and coastal granules bear a shallow and thin furrow along its length as fracture lines. Intercostal spaces are wide, showing along its central section relatively deep holes alternating with tall spine shape granules, some of the latter are fused near the calicular margin constituting a short secondary ridged costae. The calicular edge is slightly lanceolated, projecting at the S1-S2 ends. The septal arrangement is not well defined; but corallites always show up to 103 septa in five cycles (S1≥S2>S3>S4≥S5), the fifth never complete. S1 are the only independent septa; S3-S4 join to their superior septa through several slender synapticulae or by a thin plate. S5 are conspicuous near the calicular edge, but up to 1/3–1/2 of the columella distance each S5 is reduced to a slender spines row that reach the columella. Paliform lobes (P1-P2) are small and their septal notches are shallow and wide; S3 to S5 no have paliform lobes. Upper septal and palar edges are smooth near the calicular margin, but from half of the columella distance they become serrated and bear numerous transversely oriented bent granules. The S2- S3 axial sides present granules which are fused to the columella elements. Lateral septal faces present low and rounded scattered granules. All septa are exsert (S1≥S2>S3≥S4>>S5). Columella is small, fascicular in larger corallites, composed of elements derived from the axial edge of septa; sometimes absent in smaller corallites. Fossa is shallow. Corallites are white or creamy. Discussion: S. isabellae belongs to the genus Stephanocyathus because of the presence of paliform lobes instead of pali, the septal notches are shallow and wide, and its columella is composed by elements derived from the septal axial edges. S. isabellae differs from other Atlantic Stephanocyathus, but some specimens resemble juvenile forms of S. diadema, due to their lanceolated calicular edges (Cairns 1979). The septal edge granulation, and its rudimentary S5 are similar to those described for Stephanocyathus moseleyanus (Sclater, 1886) sensu Zibrowius (1980: pl. 49 fig. F). On the other hand, the small paliform lobes and the septal edge ornamentation are similar to Stephanocyathus crassus (Jourdan, 1895) sensu Zibrowius (1980: pl. 50, fig. G), but neither of the mentioned species had been previous recorded in the tropical western Atlantic. S. isabellae is distinguishable from the other species of the genus by its basal regeneration scars, the observed thin furrows at the dorsal section of the costae, and by its particular intercostal spaces as longitudinal fracture lines, all perhaps due to its characteristic parricidal budding as the common reproductive mode in the species. Distribution: Tropical western Atlantic, off Louisiana (Gulf of Mexico); Caribbean, off the southwestern Walton Bank (Jamaica). In Colombia, this species was found off Cabo de La Vela (La Guajira) to off San Bernardo Islands; ranging from 408 to 732 m depth. Etymology: This new species is named after the youngest daughter of J. Reyes, Isabella Reyes. Material: Holotype, INV CNI395, 1 specimen, 24.7 mm GCD, E54, Colombia (off Bocas de Ceniza). Paratypes: INV CNI694, 2 specimens, 25.5 and 24.4 mm GCD, respectively, E150, Colombia (off San Bernardo Islands); USNM 100539, 1 specimen, 12.7 mm GCD, P - 1256, Jamaica (SE of Walton Bank); USNM 100538, 1 specimen, 20.9 mm GCD, CI-83 R / V Columbus Iselin, Straits of Florida; USNM 100537, 1 specimen, O-3252, Gulf of Mexico (off Louisiana). Additional records: USNM 100540, 1 fragment, P-776, Colombia (La Guajira, off Aramtka Point); INV CNI691, 1 specimen and 3 fragments, E93, Colombia (La Guajira, off Cabo de la Vela); INV CNI692, 3 fragments, E115, Colombia (La Guajira, off Buritaca); INV CNI693, 1 specimen, E92, Colombia (La Guajira, off Cabo de la Vela).Published as part of Reyes, Javier, Santodomingo, Nadiezhda & Cairns, Stephen, 2009, Caryophylliidae (Scleractinia) from the Colombian Caribbean, pp. 1-39 in Zootaxa 2262 (1) on page 19, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.2262.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/530637
Deltocyathus eccentricus Cairns 1979
Deltocyathus eccentricus Cairns, 1979 Figs. 3G–H Deltocyathus agassizii Pourtalès, 1871: 15 (in part); 1874: 35–36 (in part: off Barbados); 1878: 200 (in part).— Moseley, 1876: 546 (in part). Deltocyathus italicus Pourtalès, 1880: 101 (in part).— Moseley, 1881: 145 (in part).— Jourdan, 1895: 16 (in part).— Gravier, 1920: 34 (in part). Deltocyathus andamanicus Gravier, 1920: 37, pl. 4, figs. 55–59, pl. 15, fig. 209. Deltocyathus eccentricus Cairns, 1979: 98–100, pl. 18, figs 8–11.— Zibrowius, 1980: 86–87, pl. 40, figs. A–M, pl. 41, figs. A–N.—Lattig, 2000: 125–126, fig. 65.— Kitahara, 2007: 502–503 (listed).— Santodomingo et al., 2007: 286 (listed). Remarks: It was remarkable that all Colombian specimens have a conical base and a very thin theca. No major differences were observed among the Colombian specimens and those described by Cairns (1979) and Zibrowius (1980). Distribution: Amphi-atlantic distribution, tropical and sub-tropical, from the South Carolina coast to off the Amazon River delta, and from Portugal to Cape Verde Islands; 183–1000 m (Cairns 1979; Zibrowius 1980). In Colombia, D. eccentricus has been collected from off Portete Bay (La Guajira) to the Gulf of Morrosquillo; 270–500 m depth. Material: USNM 46423, 4 specimens, P-394; USNM 46434, 1 specimen, P-1356; INV CNI382, 4 specimens, E13; INV CNI383, 1 specimen, E42; INV CNI384, 1 specimen, E64; INV CNI385, 3 specimens, E65; INV CNI386, 6 specimens, E71; INV CNI716, 7 specimens, E149; INV CNI717, 7 specimens, E149; INV CNI718, 10 specimens, E153; INV CNI719, 2 specimens, E150; INV CNI720, 2 specimens, E153; INV CNI721, 3 specimens, E150; INV CNI722, 2 specimens, E143.Published as part of Reyes, Javier, Santodomingo, Nadiezhda & Cairns, Stephen, 2009, Caryophylliidae (Scleractinia) from the Colombian Caribbean, pp. 1-39 in Zootaxa 2262 (1) on page 17, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.2262.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/530637
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