The Application of DNA Barcodes for the Identification of Marine Crustaceans from the North Sea and Adjacent Regions

During the last years DNA barcoding has become a popular method of choice for molecular specimen identification. Here we present a comprehensive DNA barcode library of various crustacean taxa found in the North Sea, one of the most extensively studied marine regions of the world. Our data set includes 1,332 barcodes covering 205 species, including taxa of the Amphipoda, Copepoda, Decapoda, Isopoda, Thecostraca, and others. This dataset represents the most extensive DNA barcode library of the Crustacea in terms of species number to date. By using the Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLD), unique BINs were identified for 198 (96.6%) of the analyzed species. Six species were characterized by two BINs (2.9%), and three BINs were found for the amphipod species Gammarus salinus Spooner, 1947 (0.4%). Intraspecific distances with values higher than 2.2% were revealed for 13 species (6.3%). Exceptionally high distances of up to 14.87% between two distinct but monophyletic clusters were found for the parasitic copepod Caligus elongatus Nordmann, 1832, supporting the results of previous studies that indicated the existence of an overlooked sea louse species. In contrast to these high distances, haplotype-sharing was observed for two decapod spider crab species, Macropodia parva Van Noort & Adema, 1985 and Macropodia rostrata (Linnaeus, 1761), underlining the need for a taxonomic revision of both species. Summarizing the results, our study confirms the application of DNA barcodes as highly effective identification system for the analyzed marine crustaceans of the North Sea and represents an important milestone for modern biodiversity assessment studies using barcode sequence

sFDvent: A global trait database for deep‐sea hydrothermal‐vent fauna

Motivation: Traits are increasingly being used to quantify global biodiversity patterns, with trait databases growing in size and number, across diverse taxa. Despite grow‐ ing interest in a trait‐based approach to the biodiversity of the deep sea, where the impacts of human activities (including seabed mining) accelerate, there is no single re‐ pository for species traits for deep‐sea chemosynthesis‐based ecosystems, including hydrothermal vents. Using an international, collaborative approach, we have compiled the first global‐scale trait database for deep‐sea hydrothermal‐vent fauna – sFD‐ vent (sDiv‐funded trait database for the Functional Diversity of vents). We formed a funded working group to select traits appropriate to: (a) capture the performance of vent species and their influence on ecosystem processes, and (b) compare trait‐based diversity in different ecosystems. Forty contributors, representing expertise across most known hydrothermal‐vent systems and taxa, scored species traits using online collaborative tools and shared workspaces. Here, we characterise the sFDvent da‐ tabase, describe our approach, and evaluate its scope. Finally, we compare the sFD‐ vent database to similar databases from shallow‐marine and terrestrial ecosystems to highlight how the sFDvent database can inform cross‐ecosystem comparisons. We also make the sFDvent database publicly available online by assigning a persistent, unique DOI. Main types of variable contained: Six hundred and forty‐six vent species names, associated location information (33 regions), and scores for 13 traits (in categories: community structure, generalist/specialist, geographic distribution, habitat use, life history, mobility, species associations, symbiont, and trophic structure). Contributor IDs, certainty scores, and references are also provided. Spatial location and grain: Global coverage (grain size: ocean basin), spanning eight ocean basins, including vents on 12 mid‐ocean ridges and 6 back‐arc spreading centres. Time period and grain: sFDvent includes information on deep‐sea vent species, and associated taxonomic updates, since they were first discovered in 1977. Time is not recorded. The database will be updated every 5 years. Major taxa and level of measurement: Deep‐sea hydrothermal‐vent fauna with spe‐ cies‐level identification present or in progress. Software format: .csv and MS Excel (.xlsx).This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited

Canagliflozin and Cardiovascular and Renal Outcomes in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Chronic Kidney Disease in Primary and Secondary Cardiovascular Prevention Groups

Background: Canagliflozin reduces the risk of kidney failure in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease, but effects on specific cardiovascular outcomes are uncertain, as are effects in people without previous cardiovascular disease (primary prevention). Methods: In CREDENCE (Canagliflozin and Renal Events in Diabetes With Established Nephropathy Clinical Evaluation), 4401 participants with type 2 diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease were randomly assigned to canagliflozin or placebo on a background of optimized standard of care. Results: Primary prevention participants (n=2181, 49.6%) were younger (61 versus 65 years), were more often female (37% versus 31%), and had shorter duration of diabetes mellitus (15 years versus 16 years) compared with secondary prevention participants (n=2220, 50.4%). Canagliflozin reduced the risk of major cardiovascular events overall (hazard ratio [HR], 0.80 [95% CI, 0.67-0.95]; P=0.01), with consistent reductions in both the primary (HR, 0.68 [95% CI, 0.49-0.94]) and secondary (HR, 0.85 [95% CI, 0.69-1.06]) prevention groups (P for interaction=0.25). Effects were also similar for the components of the composite including cardiovascular death (HR, 0.78 [95% CI, 0.61-1.00]), nonfatal myocardial infarction (HR, 0.81 [95% CI, 0.59-1.10]), and nonfatal stroke (HR, 0.80 [95% CI, 0.56-1.15]). The risk of the primary composite renal outcome and the composite of cardiovascular death or hospitalization for heart failure were also consistently reduced in both the primary and secondary prevention groups (P for interaction >0.5 for each outcome). Conclusions: Canagliflozin significantly reduced major cardiovascular events and kidney failure in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease, including in participants who did not have previous cardiovascular disease

Canagliflozin and renal outcomes in type 2 diabetes and nephropathy

BACKGROUND Type 2 diabetes mellitus is the leading cause of kidney failure worldwide, but few effective long-term treatments are available. In cardiovascular trials of inhibitors of sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2), exploratory results have suggested that such drugs may improve renal outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes. METHODS In this double-blind, randomized trial, we assigned patients with type 2 diabetes and albuminuric chronic kidney disease to receive canagliflozin, an oral SGLT2 inhibitor, at a dose of 100 mg daily or placebo. All the patients had an estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of 30 to <90 ml per minute per 1.73 m2 of body-surface area and albuminuria (ratio of albumin [mg] to creatinine [g], >300 to 5000) and were treated with renin–angiotensin system blockade. The primary outcome was a composite of end-stage kidney disease (dialysis, transplantation, or a sustained estimated GFR of <15 ml per minute per 1.73 m2), a doubling of the serum creatinine level, or death from renal or cardiovascular causes. Prespecified secondary outcomes were tested hierarchically. RESULTS The trial was stopped early after a planned interim analysis on the recommendation of the data and safety monitoring committee. At that time, 4401 patients had undergone randomization, with a median follow-up of 2.62 years. The relative risk of the primary outcome was 30% lower in the canagliflozin group than in the placebo group, with event rates of 43.2 and 61.2 per 1000 patient-years, respectively (hazard ratio, 0.70; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.59 to 0.82; P=0.00001). The relative risk of the renal-specific composite of end-stage kidney disease, a doubling of the creatinine level, or death from renal causes was lower by 34% (hazard ratio, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.53 to 0.81; P<0.001), and the relative risk of end-stage kidney disease was lower by 32% (hazard ratio, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.54 to 0.86; P=0.002). The canagliflozin group also had a lower risk of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, or stroke (hazard ratio, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.67 to 0.95; P=0.01) and hospitalization for heart failure (hazard ratio, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.47 to 0.80; P<0.001). There were no significant differences in rates of amputation or fracture. CONCLUSIONS In patients with type 2 diabetes and kidney disease, the risk of kidney failure and cardiovascular events was lower in the canagliflozin group than in the placebo group at a median follow-up of 2.62 years

Anthropogenically driven habitat formation by a tube dwelling diatom on the Northern Patagonian Atlantic coast

The tube dwelling diatom Berkeleya rutilans (Trentepohl) Grunow plays a key role as early colonizer and bloom former in coastal zones. Exuding large quantities of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), it can form dense colonies in mucilaginous macroscopic branches, containing thousands of cells. Due to their pronounced three dimensional growths of its mucilaginous structures, it supports a variety of organisms and traps grains and detritus, which makes it an important habitat former and ecosystem engineer, contributing to sediment stabilization, which is a crucial issue in sedimentary areas. In the present study we investigated the identity and structural morphology of B. rutilans, blooming in a tidal channel in Northern Patagonia (S40◦ 43 W64◦ 56) and experimentally tested its potential physiological responses (e.g. growth rate) to nutrient elevation. The observed morphological plasticity and measured high growth rates under nutrient exposure make B. rutilans a likely indicator for eutrophication in sedimentary marine habitats. As to our knowledge the present study provides the first record of B. rutilans for Argentinean waters, we discussed the potential reasons for its occurrence and evaluated the ecological impacts of its presence. Due to the observed high colonization capability and rapid response to environmental alterations (e.g. eutrophication, substrate changes) it seems to benefit from human activities, which will consequently favor its further expansion within the disturbed area.Fil: Fricke, Anna Lena. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Instituto Argentino de Oceanografía. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Instituto Argentino de Oceanografía; Argentina. German Centre for Marine Biodiversity Research; Alemania. Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research ; AlemaniaFil: Kihara,Terue Cristina. German Centre For Marine Biodiversity Research; AlemaniaFil: Kopprio, Germán Adolfo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Instituto Argentino de Oceanografía. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Instituto Argentino de Oceanografía; Argentina. Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research ; AlemaniaFil: Hoppenrath, M.. German Centre for Marine Biodiversity Research; Alemani

Immunoglobulins and C3 in the P. brasiliensis granuloma

Utilizou-se o modelo experimental de paracoccidioidomicose, em camundongos, induzida pela inoculação endovenosa de suspensão de formas cerebriformes do P. brasiliensis (cepa Bt2; 1x10(6) formas viáveis/animal), para avaliar, após 2, 4, 8, 16 e 20 semanas: 1. A presença de imunoglobulinas e C3 nos granulomas pulmonares, por imunofluorescência direta; 2. A resposta imune humoral (imunodifusão) e celular (teste do coxim plantar), e 3. A histopatologia das lesões. Os camundongos apresentaram resposta imunocelular positiva desde a 2a. semana, com depressão transitória na 16a. semana, e anticorpos desde a 4a. semana, com pico na 16a. semana. Os granulomas pulmonares foram epitelióides, com numerosos fungos e microabscesses; a extensão das lesões foi progressiva até a 16a. semana, com regressão discreta na 20a. semana. Desde a 2a. semana, houve deposição de IgG e C3 na parede dos fungos no interior dos granulomas e a presença de células IgG positivas no halo linfomononuclear periférico; estes achados foram máximos entre a 4a. e 16a. semanas. Não se detectou depósito de IgG e C3 no interstício dos granulomas. IgG e C3 parecem exercer papel precoce e importante na defesa do hospedeiro contra o P. brasiliensis, contribuindo possivelmente para a destruição dos fungos e bloqueando a difusão de antígenos para fora dos granulomas.The experimental model of paracoccidioidomycosis induced in mice by the intravenous injection of yeast-forms of P. brasiliensis (Bt2 strain; 1 x 10(6) viable fungi/animal) was used to evaluate sequentially 2, 4, 8, 16 and 20 weeks after inoculation: 1. The presence of immunoglobulins and C3 in the pulmonary granuloma-ta, by direct immunofluorescence; 2. The humoral (immunodiffusion test) and the cellular (footpad sweeling test) immune response; 3. The histopathology of lesions. The cell-immune response was positive since week 2, showing a transitory depression at week 16. Specific antibodies were first detected at week 4 and peaked at week 16. At histology, epithelioid granulomas with numerous fungi and polymorphonuclear agreggates were seen. The lungs showed progressive involvement up to week 16, with little decrease at week 20. From week 2 on, there were deposits of IgG and C3 around fungal walls within the granulomas and IgG stained cells among the mononuclear cell peripheral halo. Interstitital immunoglobulins and C3 deposits in the granulomas were not letected. IgG and C3 seen to play an early an important role in. the host defenses against P. brasiliensis by possibly cooperating in the killing of parasites and blocking the antigenic diffusion

Austroniscus brandtae Kaiser, Stransky & Brix 2023, n. sp.

Austroniscus brandtae Kaiser, Stransky & Brix n. sp. (Figures 7–16) Type fixation: Holotype, adult male, SMF 57927 (Voucher No. R4 B), 2.7 cm, designated here. Material examined: see Tables 1 and 2. Etymology: The new species (brandtae, Latin genitive, feminine) is named in honour of Angelika Brandt, doctoral mother of three of the authors, for her commitment and achievements in deep-sea isopod research and thanks to her as a pathfinder to the authors on their way into deep-sea science. Distribution: Abyssal and hadal of the Puerto Rico Trench, 4,552 –8,338 m. Diagnosis: Pereonite 1 lateral margins frontally directed. Pereonite 1 coxae each with a spine-like frontally directed appendix, tipped with a small spine-like seta and clearly visible in dorsal view, almost reaching second article of the antennula; pereonites 1–4 anterolateral margins each with a spine-like seta on apex; pereonite 1 anterolateral margins each with 2 spine-like setae in female. Rostrum with 2 slender setae in female. Antennula with 7 articles in male and with 6 articles in female. Description of holotype (SMF 57927) and paratype male (SMF 57929): Habitus (Figs7A, 10, 11)dorsoventrally considerably flattened and broadened, body length 2.5 pereonite 2 width; pereonites 2–7 coxae not visible in dorsal view; pereonites 2–7 and pleotelson of similar width; pereonites 1–4 with strongly frontally directed lateral margins, tipped with a small spine-like seta apically. Pereonite 1 narrowest, length 0.1 width; coxae each with a spine-like frontally directed appendix, tipped with a small spine-like seta and clearly visible in dorsal view, almost reaching second article of the antennula. Pereonite 2 width 1.2 pereonite 1 width, length 1.8 pereonite 1 length; pereonites 2 and 3 of similar length; pereonite 4 longest, length 3.0 pereonite 1 length. Pereonite 5–7 of similar length, 2.5 pereonite 1 length; pereonite 5 anterior margin straight; pereonites 6–7 anterior margins convex. Pleotelson length 0.3 body length, 0.6 width; width 1.3 pereonite 1 width, posterior margin semi-circular, anterior margin slightly concave. Uropod length 0.4 pleotelson length, projecting beyond posterior margin. Cephalothorax (Figs 7A, 10A, 11A) free, length 0.5 width. Rostrum well developed. Cephalothorax anterior margin slightly concave, posterior margin slightly rounded, antennae inserting frontolaterally in a deep fold between rostral crest and anterolateral, triangular projections; each fold with a single robust seta medially. Antennula (Figs 7D, 11A) length 0.2 body length, with 7 articles (article 6 damaged, article 7 broken off in paratype); first article ovoid and broadest, length 1.1 width, with 1 broom seta, 1 slender simple seta and 1 robust unequally bifid seta distally; second article length 1.2 article 1 length, 4.7 width, with 4 long broom setae and 2 simple setae distally; article 3 length 0.4 article 1 length, 2.5 width, with 1 simple seta distally; article 4 length one-third article 1 length, twice width, with 1 small broom seta laterally; article 5 length about 0.6 article 1 length. Antenna (Fig. 7B), drawn in situ; only peduncular articles 1–4 present; articles 1–4 short; article 2 with a small robust seta distally; article 4 with 1 robust spine tipped with a small seta distally. Left mandible (Fig. 8E) palp well developed, consisting of 3 articles, extending beyond distal tip of incisor. Palpal article 1 length 0.7 article 2 length; article 2 with 2 simple setae medially, with a row of fine setules laterally; terminal article length about one-third article 2 length, with several fine setules ventrally, and 3 robust setae terminally. Incisor process with 6 distal teeth and 1 subdistal tooth. Lacinia mobilis with 4 teeth. Setal row with 9 robust setae, dentation decreasing, seta size increasing proximally. Molar process triangular, with 7 long, serrate setae distally. Maxillula (Fig. 8C) outer endite length about 4.0 width, with 13 strong spine-like setae and 10 simple setae distally, with several simple setae of varying length laterally; inner endite width 0.5 outer endite width, with several fine setae distally and laterally. Maxilla (Fig. 8B, D) mesial endite as long as middle endite, with several setae distally; lateral endite and middle endite each with 4 strong setae distally. Maxilliped (Fig. 8F) with 2 long retinacula. Epipod smooth, triangular, slender, length 4.2 width, reaching mid of palpal article 3. Palpal article 1 short, width 2.5 length, with several small setae laterally; article 2 length 2.3 article 1 length, width 1.1 length, with several small setae and with 2 simple setae laterally; article 3 length 1.7 article 1 length, width 1.5 length, with 5 robust sensory setae and 1 simple seta distally; article 4 length 1.2 article 1 length, width 0.4 length, with a distal projection exceeding tip of article 5, with 7 long, slender setae distally; article 5 length 0.5 article 1 length, width 0.3 length, with 3 slender setae terminally. Endite distal margin with some robust, dentate setae, lateral margin with several fine setae laterally. Pereopod I (Fig. 7G) more robust than pereopod III; basis length 6.0 width, with 1 simple seta dorsally and 2 simple setae ventrally; ischium length about half basis length, 3.1 width, with 1 simple seta distodorsally, and 2 simple setae ventrally; merus length 0.5 ischium length, 1.6 width, with 2 robust setae distodorsally, and 2 simple setae of varying size distoventrally; carpus length 2.4 merus length, 5.2 width, with 1 simple seta dorsally, 1 somewhat longer simple seta distodorsally, with 3 unequally bifid setae and 3 somewhat longer simple setae ventrally; propodus length 0.6 carpus length, 3.3 width, with 2 simple setae dorsally, with 2 somewhat longer simple setae distodorsally, with 2 simple setae ventrally and 2 robust unequally bifid setae distoventrally; dactylus length 0.6 propodus length, 4.4 width, with 2 slender setae medially, with 1 small simple seta distroventrally; unguis length 0.2 dactylus length, with 2 long, slender setae between unguis and ventral claw. Pereopod II only described in female paratype. Pereopod III (Fig. 9B) basis length 4.8 width, with 1 simple seta dorsally, with 3 simple setae ventrally and 1 somewhat longer simple seta distroventrally; ischium0.7 basis length,3.6width,with1robust simple seta dorsally,with 1 simple seta and 1 unequally bifid seta ventrally; merus length 0.4ischium length, 1.7width, with2 robust simple setae distodorsally,with 1somewhat longer simple seta distoventrally; carpus length 4.6merus length,7.7 width, with4setae (1 broken off, 1simple,2 unequally bifid) dorsally,with a row of 9stout unequally bifid setae ventrally; propodus length 0.9 carpus length, 9.4 width, with 4 simple setae of varying size dorsally, with 4 stout unequally bifid setae and 1 small simple seta ventrally, with 3 setae (1 unequally bifid and 2 simple) distoventrally; dactylus length 0.3 propodus length, 5.0 width, with 1 simple seta dorsally; unguis length 0.3 dactylus length, with 2 long slender seta underneath unguis. Pereopod IV (Fig. 9C) basis length 5.3 width, with 3 simple setae dorsally, with 2 simple setae ventrally and 1 somewhat longer simple seta distoventrally; proximal part of ischium slightly damaged, length 0.6 basis length, length 3.3 width; merus length 0.4 ischium length, length 1.4 width, with 3 simple setae distodorsally, with 1 somewhat longer simple seta distoventrally; carpus length 5.7 merus length, length 8.0 width, with 3 simple setae dorsally, with a row of 8 stout unequally bifid setae ventrally; propodus length 0.8 carpus length, length 10.0 width, with 4 setae (2 broken off, 1 long, 1 small simple) dorsally, with 6 setae (4 unequally bifid, 2 broken off) ventrally; dactylus length 0.3 propodus length, length 4.5 width, with 1 simple seta medially; unguis length 0.2 dactylus length, with 1 slender seta underneath unguis. Pereopod V only described in female paratype. Pereopod VI (Fig. 9D) basis broken off. Ischium length 3.0 width, with 1 unequally bifid seta distodorsally and 1 simple seta ventrally; merus length half ischium length, length 1.8 width, with 2 simple setae of varying size distoventrally, with 1 long simple seta dorsally; carpus length 3.7 merus length, length 8.2 width, with 4 slender unequally bifid setae and 1 small simple seta dorsally, with 1 long and 1 short simple seta distodorsally, with 8 unequally bifid setae ventrally; propodus length 0.8 carpus length, 10.0 width, with 3 simple setae dorsally, with 5 setae (2 broken off, 2 unequally bifid) ventrally, and 3 setae (1 unequally bifid, 2 slender simple) distoventrally; dactylus length 0.3 propodus length, 4.5 width, with 1 simple seta medially; unguis length 0.3 dactylus length, with 3 slender setae underneath unguis. Pereopod VII (Fig. 9E) basis length 4.5 width, with 2 simple setae dorsally, 1 small simple seta medially, with 4 simple setae ventrally. Ischium length 0.6 basis length, length 3.3 width; merus length 0.4 ischium length, length 1.7 width, with 2 simple setae distodorsally, with 1 simple seta (broken off) distoventrally; carpus length 3.7 merus length, length 6.1 width, with 4 slender setae (3 simple, 1 broken off) dorsally, with 2 simple setae medially, with 2 setae (1 stout unequally bifid, 1 broken off) dorsally, and 2 unequally bifid setae distoventrally; propodus length 0.9 carpus length, length 11.3 width, with 3 simple setae dorsally, with 2 setae distally, with 6 unequally bifid setae ventrally; dactylus length 0.3 propodus length, length 4.5 width, with 1 robust seta medially; unguis length 0.6 dactylus length, with 1 slender seta between unguis and claw (damaged). Pleopod I (Fig. 7E) length 2.3 proximal width; distal projection width 0.5 proximal width, lateral margins straight; lateral lobes rounded; distal margins semi-circular, with eight simple setae of varying length each. Pleopod II (Fig. 7F) sympod length 3.0 width; lateral margin rounded, with 8 setae (2 simple, 6 broken off); endopod inserting 0.3 from distal tip of sympod; stylet length 0.8 sympod length, slightly curved, distal end not extending beyond distal tip of sympod; exopod short and rounded, inserting 0.1 from distal tip of sympod. Uropod (Figs 7H, 11C) biramous; sympod trapezoid, length about twice width, with 2 simple setae laterally (1 broken off), with 3 simple setae distally (2 broken off); exopod length 0.8 sympod length, length 3.8 width, with 3 setae terminally (broken off); endopod length 1.2 exopod length, length 4.5 width, with 1 simple seta laterally, with 6 long simple (3 broken off) setae terminally. Differences in paratype female (SMF 57930): Habitus (Figs 12A–B, E, 14) 1.9 cm long. Pereonite 1 anterolateral margins each tipped with 2 small spine-like setae apically; pleotelson length 0.2 body length, length 0.4 width. Cephalothorax (Figs 12A, 14A, 15A) rostrum well developed with 2 small simple setae dorsally. Antennula (Fig. 12C) with 6 articles; first article length 1.5 width, with 3 broom setae of varying size and 1 unequally bifid seta distally; second article length 6.3 width, with 4 long broom setae and 1 simple seta distally; article 6 length 0.3 article 1 length, length 5.0 width, with 1 aesthetasc and 3 simple setae terminally. Pereopod I (Fig. 13C) distal part of basis slightly damaged, length 5.0 width, with 1 simple seta dorsally and 2 simple setae ventrally; ischium length 2.8 width, with 2 simple setae ventrally; merus length 0.6 ischium length; carpus length 2.5 merus length, length 5.0 width, with 3 simple setae dorsally, with 2 unequally bifid setae and 1 long simple seta ventrally; propodus length 0.6 carpus length, length 4.0 width; dactylus length 0.7 propodus length, length 4.0 width, with 3 slender setae medially; unguis with 2 long, slender setae underneath unguis. Pereopod II (Fig. 13D), basis length 4.8 width, with 2 broom setae and 1 simple seta dorsally, with 1 long simple seta distoventrally; ischium length 0.6 basis length, length 3.2 width, with 1 long simple seta and 1 unequally bifid seta dorsally; merus length 0.6 ischium length, length 2.0 width, with 1 long simple seta distodorsally, with 1 long simple seta distoventrally; carpus length 3.2 merus length, length 6.4 width, with 4 setae (all broken off) dorsally, with a row of 5 unequally bifid setae ventrally; propodus length 0.8 carpus length, length 8.3 width, with 3 setae (1 broken off, 1 long simple, 1 short simple) dorsally and 3 unequally bifid setae ventrally; dactylus length 0.3 propodus length, length 4.0 width, with 1 simple seta dorsally, with numerous small setae, membranously embedded ventrally; unguis length 0.4 dactylus length, with 2 slender setae (1 broken off) underneath unguis. Pereopod III (Fig. 13E) only basis present; length 6.3 width, with 3 simple setae and 1 long broom seta dorsally. Pereopod IV (Fig. 13F) basis length 4.1 width, with 2 simple setae and 2 long broom setae dorsally, with 2 simple setae ventrally and 1 simple seta (broken off) distoventrally; ischium with 1 small simple seta distodorsally, with 3 simple setae (all broken off) ventrally; merus with 1 long simple seta distodorsally; carpus with 3 setae (2 simple, 1 broken off) dorsally, with 3 stout unequally bifid setae ventrally, with 1 simple seta distoventrally propodus with 1 simple seta (broken off) dorsally, with 3 stout unequally bifid setae ventrally; unguis with 2 slender setae between unguis and ventral claw. Pereopod V (Fig. 13G) basis length 4.7 width, with 2 simple setae (broken off) dorsally, with 1 long simple seta ventrally; ischium length 0.7 basis length, length 3.3 width, with 2 long simple seta dorsally, with 1 simple seta ventrally; merus length about half ischium length, length 1.5 width, with 1 long simple seta distodorsally, with 1 small simple seta distoventrally; carpus length 3.1 merus length, length 5.6 width, with 1 simple seta and 1 unequally bifid seta dorsally, with 1 long simple seta distodorsally, with 1 simple seta medially, with 2 simple and 2 unequally bifid setae ventrally; propodus about as long as carpus, length 9.7 width, with 2 simple setae dorsally, with 4 unequally bifid setae ventrally; dactylus length 0.3 propodus length, length 4.5 width, with 1 robust seta medially; unguis length 0.4 dactylus length, with 2 slender setae between unguis and ventral claw. Pereopod VI (Fig. 13H) basis length 5.0 width; ischium length 0.8 basis length, with 3 setae (2 unequally bifid setae, 1 broken off) dorsally, with 3 setae (1 simple, 2 broken off) ventrally; merus with 3 simple setae distodorsally, with 1 simple seta distoventrally; carpus with 3 simple setae dorsally, with 2 simple setae ventrally and 1 stout unequally bifid seta distoventrally; propodus with 1 simple seta distodorsally, with 3 unequally bifid setae ventrally; dactylus with 3 simple setae and 1 robust seta medially; unguis with 1 slender seta between unguis and ventral claw. Pereopod VII (Fig. 13I) basis length 6.6 width, with 1 simple seta dorsally, with 3 simple setae (1 broken off) ventrally; ischium with 1 simple seta dorsally; merus with 1 simple seta distodorsally, with 2 simple setae distoventrally; carpus with 2 simple setae dorsally, with 2 setae (1 broken off, 1 simple) ventrally; propodus with 2 slender simple setae dorsally, with 3 setae (2 unequally bifid setae, 1 simple seta) ventrally; unguis length 0.3 dactylus length. Operculum (Fig. 12D, 14B, 15C) length 1.4 width; lateral margin slightly rounded, posterior margin almost straight, with several (> 20) simple setae. Pleopod III (Fig. 12G) sympod length 1.3 width, length 0.7 endopod length; exopod 1.3 endopod length, length 3.0 width, tapering distally, with numerous short simple setae laterally, 2 somewhat longer simple setae distally and 1 long slender simple seta terminally; endopod length twice width, with 3 long plumose setae distally, distal end strongly rounded. Pleopod IV (Fig. 12H) sympod rectangular, length 0.7 width, about 0.6 endopod length; exopod slender, about as long as endopod, length 8.6 width, with several thin setules laterally and 1 long plumose seta distally; endopod almost triangular, strongly tapering distally, distal margin rounded, length 2.3 width. Pleopod V (Fig. 12I) small oval lobe, without setation, about as long as pleopod IV; length 2.5 proximal width, width tapering towards distal end. Uropods (Fig. 12F) biramous; sympod trapezoid, length 1.5 width, with 1 simple seta laterally, with 4 simple setae (2 broken off, 1 long, 1 short) distally; exopod as long as sympod, length 4.0 width, with 5 long simple setae of varying size terminally; endopod length 1.3 exopod length, length 4.3 width, with 2 seta (1 broken off) laterally, with 7 simple setae of varying size terminally. Description of Manca (SMF 57944): Habitus (Figs 16A–C) 1.1 mm long. Body dorsoventrally flattened, body length 3.2 pereonite 2 width. Coxae not visible in dorsal view, coxae of pereonite 1 without spine-like appendix. Pereonites 2–4 of similar width, 1.1 pereonite 1 width. Pereonites 2–4 with frontally directed anterolateral margins, pereonite 2 tipped with 1 small spine-like seta apically. Pleotelson length 0.3 body length, length 0.5 width; width 0.9 pereonite 1 width; posterior margin strongly rounded, uropods missing. Cephalothorax (Figs 16A, C) free, length 0.6 width. Rostrum poorly developed. Cephalothorax anterior margin straight, posterior and lateral margins slightly rounded. Antenna inserting anterolaterally in a deep fold. Antennula 0.3 body length. Remarks. Austroniscus brandtae n. sp. is most similar to the Southern Ocean species A. chelus Kaiser & Brandt, 2007, and A. obscurus Kaiser & Brandt, 2007 in having two spine-like frontally directed appendices extending from the coxae of pereonite 1. The new species, however, can be clearly distinguished from these species by the following characters: A. brandtae n. sp. with 2 robust spine-like setae on pereonite 1 anterolateral margins in female (1 in A. chelus and A. obscurus); with 2 slender setae on the rostrum in female (absent). Furthermore, the new species differs from A. chelus as follows: male antennula with 7 articles (6). Notably, pereopods of Austroniscus specimens were covered with epibiont ciliates (exemplary illustrated in Fig 13G, see also Fig. 14). These have been previously found in deep-sea isopods (Ólafsdóttir & Svavarsson 2002) and also specimens in the family Macrostylidae from the hadal PRT (Kniesz et al. 2018). Epibionts indicate an epibenthic lifestyle as they are shaved off the body by digging (Ólafsdóttir & Svavarsson 2002); Kniesz et al. (2018) therefore suspected a different lifestyle between male and female for the macrostylid species examined, as these were populated by epibionts to different degrees. Although we did not assess the epibiont infestation quantitatively, there seemed to be little difference between the sexes, suggesting a similar epibenthic way of life and thus capability to disperse.Published as part of Kaiser, Stefanie, Stransky, Bente, Jennings, Robert M., Kihara, Terue Cristina & Brix, Saskia, 2023, Combining morphological and mitochondrial DNA data to describe a new species of Austroniscus Vanhöffen, 1914 (Isopoda, Janiroidea, Nannoniscidae) linking abyssal and hadal depths of the Puerto Rico Trench, pp. 401-434 in Zootaxa 5293 (3) on pages 415-427, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5293.3.1, http://zenodo.org/record/796122