Iribarne, Oscar Osvaldo

Schwindt, Evangelina

Schwindt, E.

Iribarne, O.O.

Revistes Catalanes amb Accés Obert

Reef of Ficopomatus enigmaticus (Polychaeta; Serpulidae) in the Mar Chiquita Coastal Lagoon, Argentina

Biblioteca Digital de les Illes Balears

Reef of Ficopomatus enigmaticus 
(polychaeta; Serpulidae) in the Mar 
Chiquita CoastaI Lagoon, Argentina 
Evangelina SCHWINDT & Osear Osvaldo IRIBARNE 
SHNB 
SOCIETAT O'HISTORIA 
NATURAL DE LES BALEARS 
Schwindt, E. & Iribarne, 0.0. 1998. Reef of Ficopomatus enigmaticus 
(Polychaeta; Serpulidae) in the Mar Chiquita Coastal Lagoon, Argentina. Boll. 
Soco Hist. Nat. Ba/ears, 41: 35-40. ISSN 0212-260X. Palma de Mallorca. 
Ficopomatus enigmaticus (Polychaeta, Serpulidae) is a reef-building polychaete 
that since the sixties has colonized the SW Atlantic Mar Chiquita coastal lagoon 
(Argentina, 37° 32' to 37° 45' S and 57° 19' to 57° 26' W; a UNESCO MAS 
site). The reefs have an approximately circular shape reaching up to 4 m in 
diameter and 0.5 m in height. Living individuals are at the edges where larval 
settlement occurs. Settlement has al so been observed on shells, bottles, rocks, 
pillars and bones. The habitat created by their tubes provide shelter for 
numerous organisms that have largely increased the amount of organisms that 
inhabit in structured habitats. AII evidence accumulated to the present suggests 
that the introduction of this reef building species has provoked a significant 
environmental change, affecting the sediment dynamics and the ecological 
structure of the lagoon. 
Keywords: Ficopomatus enigmaticus, reef, po/ychaete, coastal /agoon. 
ESCULLS DE F1COPOMATUS EN1GMATlCUS (POLYCHAETA; 
SERPULIDAE) EN LA LLACUNA COSTERA DE MAR CHIQUITA, 
ARGENTINA. Ficopoma/us enigmaticus (Polychaeta, Serpulidae), és un 
poliquet formador d'esculls que des deis anys 60 ha colonitzat la lIacuna costera 
Mar Chiquita del sud-oest atlimtic (Argentina, 37° 32' a 37° 45' S Y 57° 19' a 
57° 26' O; un 1I0c MAS de I'UNESCO). Els esculls tenen una forma 
aproximadament circular, podent arribar fins els 4 m de diametre i 0,5 m 
d'al¡¡;ilria. Els individus vius es troben en les vores, on també esdevé 
I'assentament larval. L'assentament també ha estat observat sobre les valves, 
ampolles, roques, pilars de ponts i 05505. L'habitat creat pels seu s tubs dóna 
refugi a nombrosos organismes i ha augmentat en gran manera I'abundancia 
d'organismes que viuen en hilbitats estructurats. Totes les evidencies acumulades 
fins ara suggereixen que la introducció d'aquesta especie ha provocat un canvi 
ambiental significatiu, afectant la dinilmica sedimentaria i I'estructura ecológica 
de la lIacuna. 
Paran/es clan: Ficopomatus enigmaticus, escull, polique/s, llacuna costera. 
Evangelina SCHW1NDT and Osear Osvaldo lRlBARNE Labora/orio de Ecología, 
Depar/amento de Biología (FCEyN), Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, 
Argentina. Dirección Postal: Casilla de Correo 573. Correo Central Mar de/ 
Plata, (7600) Mar del Plata, Argentina. Correo Electrónico: 
schwindt@mdp.edu.ar 
Recepció del manuscrit: 6-ago-98; revisió acceptada: 16-set-98. 
36 Boll. Soco Hist. Nat. Balears, 41 (/998) 
Human beings have radically altered the 
world wide species distribution pattern by 
transporting species throughout the world 
deliberately and accidentally, and introducing 
them into areas where they are not native 
(e.g. by shipping; Primack, 1993; Cohen & 
Carlton 1998). These exotic species may 
displace native species through competition 
for limited resources, predation to the point of 
extinction or, change the habitat to such 
extent that natives are no longer able to 
persist (Primack, 1993). Several exotic species 
are easily able to invade and dominate new 
habitats for many reasons. One of these being 
the absence of their natural predators to con-
trol their population growth. Exotic species 
may also have better adaptive qualities than 
native species to the disturbances generated 
by the activity of modern humans (e.g. 
dredging, contamination, resource overex-
ploitation; Adam, 1990). Moreover, exotic 
species may be very difficult to remove from 
the colonized environments (Coblentz, 1990). 
Most accidental introductions are from 
fouling organisms growing on the undersides 
of ships (e.g. barnacles; Raffaelli & Hawkins, 
1997) favoring their dispersion. Serpulid 
worms are one of the most important groups 
of fouling organisms (AlIen, 1953). Fico-
pomatus enigmaticus (Polychaeta, Serpulidae) 
is a calcareous reef-building species dis-
tributed in brackish waters in temperate zones 
throughout the world (Ten Hove & 
Weerdenburg, 1978). This species originated 
in Australia (AlIen, 1953) and was observed 
in Argentina in 1943 (Rioja, 1943 in 
Orensanz & Estivariz, 1971). This species 
was already present in the Mar Chiquita 
coastal lagoon (Argentina, 37° 32' to 37° 45' 
S, and 57° 19' to 57° 26' W; Fig. 1) in the 
early seventies (Orensanz & Estivariz, 1971). 
However, there is no evidence of their 
presence in Holocene sediments (Orensanz & 
Estivariz, 1971) which suggest that it is a 
new invader. 
Mar Chiquita is one of the few coastal 
lagoons of Argentina which has evolved 
following the relative oscillations of sea level 
that occurred during the Holocene period 
(Fasano et al., 1982). Today the lagoon 
covers a surface of approximately 46 km2 and 
has a drainage basin of about 10.000 km2• 
The shape is elongated with an NE-SW 
orientation, and is characterized by mudflats 
and large surrounding areas dominated by the 
cordgrass Spartina densiflora (Olivier et al., 
1972a; Fasano et al., 1982). The mean depth 
is 0.6 m, but depths of up to 2 m occur 
along the discharges channel (Isla, 1997). The 
mouth of the lagoon is affected by low 
amplitude (S 1.5 m) tides, and the lagoon 
receives sediment and water charges from 
creeks and artificial channels (Fasano et al., 
1982). Wind is the principal force controlling 
the variations in water level (Reta et al., 
1997). Salinity changes are particularly 
important oscillating from a salt content 
higher than the sea during the summer (up to 
40, pers. obs.) mainly due to marine input 
and evaporation, and to freshwater during the 
rainy autumn (Fasano etal., 1982). The mean 
annual precipitation in the area is 790 mm (in 
30 years, Fasano et al., 1982). 
The lagoon mudflats are important 
stopover sites for several migratory shorebirds 
that breeds in the northern parts of North 
America wintering in South America (e.g., 
Charadrius falklandicus, two-banded plover; 
Calidris canutus, red knot; C. alba, 
sanderling; C. fuscicollis, white-rumped 
sandpiper; Limosa haemastica, hudsonian 
godwit; Tringa melanoleuca, greater 
yellowlegs; T. flavipes, lesser yellowlegs; 
Pluvialis dominica, American golden plover; 
P. squatarola, black-bellied plover; Numenius 
phaeopus, whimbrel; Botto el al., 1998). 
Several bird species are residents of this site 
(Martínez, 1993; Bortolus et al., 1998) 
including swans (Cygnus melancoryphus and 
Coscoroba coscoroba), roseate spoonbills 
(Platalea ajaja), flamingos (Phoenicopterus 
chilensis), white-faced ibis (Plegadis chihi) 
and oystercatchers (Haematopus palliatus). 
Due in part to their importance as a sto po ver 
site for shorebirds the lagoon is now a "Man 
and the Biosphere" (MAB) site and is being 
E. Schwindt & 0.0. Iribarne, Reel 01 Ficopomatus enigmaticus in Argentina 37 
Fig. 1. Map showing the location of the Mar 
Chiquita Coastal Lagoon (Buenos Aires, Argenti-
na). lnset in the lower right comer shows the 
location of the lagoon in South America. 
Fig. l. Localització de la l/acuna costera de Mar 
Chiquita (Buenos Aires, Argentina). El requadre 
de la part inferior dreta mostra la localització de 
la l/acuna costanera a Sudamerica. 
proposed as a "Ramsar" site. However, this is 
the only SW Atlantic estuarine environment 
notoriously invaded by the reef-building 
serpulid Ficopomatus enigmaticus, and today 
the reefs occur in almost all sites of the 
lagoon (Pezzani & Obenat, 1994). 
The size of Ficopomatus enigmaticus 
reefs depends on their location. The areas 
most covered by reefs are the embayments 
where the water flow is multidirectional 
dominated by wind (pers. obs.). In these areas 
mean depth is 0.4 m depending of rainfall 
and reefs have an approximately circular 
shape (Fig. 2). The size is variable (up to 4 
m in diameter and 0.5 m in height) and the 
maximum height depends on the water level 
(Obenat & Pezzani, 1994). It is also common 
to find pairs of reefs that are fused (Obenat 
& Pezzani, 1989; Schwindt, 1997a). When 
water flow is unidirectional (i.e. in channels 
and creeks), the shapes of reefs are generally 
elongated, mainly parallel to current direction. 
The accumulation of sediment inside the reef 
produces the mortality of the oldest organisms 
(Keene, 1980; Pezzani & Obenat, 1988). The 
abundance of reefs decreases towards the 
mouth of the lagoon (where salinity 
increases), and their distribution is restricted 
to only a few sites (mainly pillars; pers. obs.). 
Areas covered by reefs, lead to 
retention of sediments that would otherwise 
be transported out of the lagoon (pers. obs.). 
As a result sediment input to the lagoon 
during heavy rainfall, river drainage or human 
activities is accumulating, decreasing the 
lagoons mean depth (Fasano et al., 1982). 
Ficopomatus enigmaticus is an annual 
iteroparous whose females may produce 1 to 
2 batches of small eggs per reproductive 
period that are freely released into the water. 
The eggs develop into planktonic 
planktothrophic larvae that act as a dispersal 
phase (Obenat & Pezzani, 1994). There are 
two larval settlement periods, the first occurs 
between March and April and the second 
between November and December (Obenat & 
Pezzani, 1994), and individuals reach up to 
55 mm in length (Obenat, 1984). Individuals 
are suspension feeders mainly capturing 
detritus (Olivier el al., 1972b). The only 
predator described is a reef inhabitant fish 
(Austrogobius parri, Olivier et al., 1972b), a 
species found at very low density in the 
lagoon (pers. obs.). 
The living polychaetes are at the reef 
edges and larval settlement occurs between 
their calcareous tubes (Obenat & Pezzani, 
38 Bol/. SOCo ¡-lis/. Na /. Balears, ./1 (/998) 
Fig, 2, Photograph showin g the sizc and shape of the Ficopolllo /us el1ig lllo/lCIIs reefs. 
Fig. 2. Fa/agrafia que lilas/ro la Iluda i jarillo deis esculls de Fico[10lllatll s cni glllat icus. 
1994). Recruilmenl also may occur on shell s, 
principally on lhe gaslropod Adelomelon 
brasiliana, and second aril y on lhe bivalves 
Mac/ra isabel/eana and Tagelus plebeius 
(Schw indl & Iribarne 1998). The lhree 
spec ies are represenled in Holocene fossil 
shell assemblages (Fasano e / al., 1982). 
However. today on ly T. plebeius lives in lhe 
lagoon wh il e A . brasilia na and M. 
isabel/eana are exc lusive ly mar ine spec ies. 
Occasionall y lhe larval settl emenl occurs on 
bottl es, rocks, pi ll ars bones and di slodged 
parls of lhe reefs (pers. obs. ). bul which 
allVays need a hard fi xed subslralum on lhe 
sedimen l (Obenal & Pezzani , 1994). 
Similarly lo other reefs. lhe one 's 
generated by Ficopoma/us enig ma/icus 
increase lhe hab il at" s Slru Clural compl ex ily, 
affecling abundance. diversily and dislri bul ion 
of ilS associated fau na. In thi s case lhere is a 
significanl increase of ad ults and juveniles of 
lhe crab Cyr/ograpsus altimanus (E. Sp ivak 
pers. co m. ) and recenll y mo lted juveni les of 
th c crab e. angula/us (4 to 7 mm size) with 
an abundance of up lO 4.800 incl ivicl uals'm'¡ 
(Spivak e/ al .. 1994). The F. enigrna/icus 
lu bes also provicle refuge to numerous 
organi sms (Orensanz & ESli vari z, 197 1; 
Schwin cl t. 1997a) including lhe mollusk: 
Lilloridina parchappi. po lychaetes (adu lt s ancl 
ju ven il es): Laeonereis acura, He/eromas/us 
simi/is, Nephtys fluviati/is , Nean/hes succinea, 
Polydora /ig ni and Boccardia hama/a , 
amphipods: Corophium insidiosus and Melita 
palma/a. Severa l aq uali c birds (e.g .. swans, 
dueks) use the ree fs as resting siles incrcasing 
the concent ration of guano (pers. obs. ). The 
tubes, wh ich are white when inili ally secreled. 
are slcacli ly covercd by br iozoa (Conopeum 
cf. seura/i) , green algae (Cladophora sp. and 
En/eromorpha sp.) and dialoms (Obenat. 
1984) as th ey age. Large grapsid crabs (e. 
angula /us ancl Chasmag na/hlls g ranilla/a) 
shelter unclerneath the reefs e. (Schwindt. 
1997a) . e. angll la /lIs is th e mosl cOlllmon 
erab and their abunclance is positi vely rclaled 
lo Ihe reef size (Schwin clt. 1997b) . 
The soft bo tt om arcas surroundin g Ihe 
reefs are inhabited by four infauna l 
po lyehaetes: Laeonereis aCllra, He/eromas/lIs 
simi/is . /\'eph/ys flllvinri/is and Neal7lhes 
s llccinea (lhe latler found in low abunclanee). 
The abundanee of infaun al po lychaetes is 
affected by lh e rcels. JI. sill/i/is and L. aC II/a 
decrease in c1cn sity while N. flll1'ia/i/is 
E. Schwindt & 0.0. Iribarne. Reel 01 Ficopomatus enigmaticus in Argentina 39 
in crease as the result of distance (0.2 m, 2 m 
and 6 m) to the reefs (Schwindt, I 997a). The 
meiofaunal organisms that inhabit the upper 
sediment (approximately 3 cm) are dominated 
by: ostracods, juvenile polychaetes, copepods 
harpacticoideos, nematodes, the gastropod 
Littoridina parchappi and the amphipods 
Melita palmata and Corophium insidiosus. 
The most abundant meiofaunal organisms are 
ostracods and juvenile polychaetes (93% of 
the total abundance), and their abundance is 
not affected by the reefs (Schwindt, 1997a). 
After rainfall periods, and fresh water drai-
nage from the creeks, there are also observed, 
ciliates, cladocerans, hydroids, gnathosto-
mulids, the shrimp Palaeomonetes argentinus 
and hirudineans (Schwindt, 1997a). 
In conclusion the introduction of 
Ficopomatus enigmaticus in the Mar Chiquita 
coastal lagoon has provoked a significant. 
change in the lagoons ecological and 
sedimentological dynamics, affecting recrea-
tional and sport navigation given the changes 
in depth. This pattern is similar to changes 
reported for serpulid in other coastal lagoons 
(Fornós et al., 1997). Furthermore,. all 
evidence suggests that the reefs have pro-
duced a large change in the ecology of·this 
environment, mainly by transforming a soft 
bottom habitat into a structured hard bottom 
environment (Schwindt, 1997a; 1997b). 
Acknowledgments 
We thank to Dr. J. J. Fornós and A. 
Bortolus for his useful comments on the 
manuscript and F. 1. Isla for his enthusiasm. 
Support for this project was provided by 
grants from Percy Sladen Memorial Fund and 
Lerner Gray Fund for Marine Research of the 
American Museum of Natural History to E. 
Schwindt, and Universidad Nacional de Mar 
del Plata, CONICET (PIA No: 6097) and IFS 
(Sweden, No. A/2501-1/2) to O. Iribarne. E. 
Schwindt was supported by a scholarship 
from crc (Argentina). 
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Reef of Ficopomatus enigmaticus (Polychaeta; Serpulidae) in the Mar Chiquita Coastal Lagoon, Argentina

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