BIOICE Project Research Articles

A Taxonomic Baseline to Monitor Retreating Arctic Biota: The Marine Invertebrate Collection of the Icelandic Institute of Natural History (IINH)

The IINH collection comprises ~5.3 million specimens of marine invertebrates, collected within 758,000 km2 of the 200-mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of Iceland, which is a significant part of the greater Arctic-Boreal biogeographic boundary in the northern Atlantic. The oldest collected specimen is from 1871, but most of the specimens (4.7 million) were collected during the BIOICE project between 1991 and 2004. The program objective is to build a museum collection, reflecting the geographical distribution and morphological variation of benthic species. Over 1,390 zoological samples were collected following a stratified random sampling plan with 579 stations at a depth range of 20 to 3,000 m, and temperatures from −1°C to over +9°C. The material is sorted to about 50 higher taxonomic groups, and 3,007 benthic species, of which fifty-one are new to science. The collection offers a baseline to monitor changing biodiversity at the Arctic-Boreal boundary, with rising temperature, salinity, and acidification.

Taxonomy and distribution of Pectinariidae (Annelida) from Iceland with a comparative analysis of uncinal morphology

Based on samples collected during the BIOICE project off Iceland, four species of marine annelids belonging to the family Pectinariidae were identified: Amphictene auricoma (O.F. Müller, 1776), Cistenides granulata (Linnaeus, 1767), Cistenides hyperborea Malmgren, 1865 and Lagis koreni Malmgren, 1866. Taxonomic remarks and data on geographical and bathymetric distribution are presented. The distribution of each species off Iceland was evaluated and two patterns were defined: C. granulata and C. hyperborea were mainly found in waters off the northeast coast, while A. auricoma and L. koreni were found on the southern coast. Several body characters with taxonomic value in this family were reviewed under the stereo microscope and scanning electron microscope, with special emphasis on the neuropodial uncini. Remarks on these special chaetae are included in the diagnoses.

Taxonomy and distribution of Icelandic Fauveliopsidae (Annelida) collected during the BIOICE project

ABSTRACT Samples collected during the BIOICE project off Iceland yielded three species of marine annelids belonging to the family Fauveliopsidae: Fauveliopsis olgae Hartmann-Schröder, 1983, Laubieriopsis brevis (Hartman, 1967) and Laubieriopsis cabiochi (Amoureux, 1982). Taxonomic remarks and data on geographical and bathymetric distribution are presented and several body characters of taxonomic value were reviewed with Scanning Electron Microscope. Fauveliopsis olgae and L. brevis are reported for the first time in the area. Specimens of L. cabiochi showed some morphological variability compared to previous descriptions of the species. The three species had a similar geographic distribution along the south side of the GIF ridge, from NW to SE Iceland; F. olgae and L. brevis were, however, found in a wider range of depths and values of bottom temperature than L. cabiochi.

Exploring the anatomy of Cossura pygodactylata Jones, 1956 (Annelida, Cossuridae) using micro-computed tomography, with special emphasis on gut architecture

The anatomy of Cossura pygodactylata Jones, 1956 (Annelida; Cossuridae) is presented, based on the study of specimens collected during the BIOICE project in Icelandic waters and additional material from the White Sea. General gross external and internal anatomy were investigated by means of micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) and compared with results obtained with light microscopy histological sectioning (LMHS). Micro-CT revealed a highly regionalised gut, posterior to the pharyngeal cavity and oesophagus, divided in an anterior stomach and a posterior intestine with different morphologies. The stomach is in the thoracic region, dorsally positioned and divided in a short and narrow anterior part and a longer posterior one, with an increasing diameter towards its posterior end. Both stomach regions bear a dorsal infolding of tissue, along its inner wall, that resembles to the typhlosole of the Clitellata. The heart is dorsally located and contains a heart body above the hind stomach. The intestine is wider than the stomach, without dorsal infolding inside the lumen and filling most part of the internal body cavity. A transitional cup-shaped gut element connecting the stomach and the intestine could be observed at the level of the last thoracic segment. In general, the resolution of micro-CT images reflects reasonably well the main elements of gross external and internal anatomy of cossurids, and that of gut architecture in particular.

Rotifers and lower crustaceans from South-western Iceland.

Iceland is one of the countries with the highest freshwater availability according to UNEP's Vital water graphics (http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/152861/). Additionally, being an island, it is rich in coastal brackish and saline aquatic habitats. However, little is known about the microcrustaceans and rotifers inhabiting these numerous habitats. The freshwater fauna of Iceland is relatively understudied compared to the fauna of adjacent marine ecosystems. Exhaustive sampling of deep-sea fauna was conducted within the inter-Nordic BIOICE project. As a result, Apostolov (2011) recorded 32 copepod harpacticoids of which 20 are new for the fauna of Iceland. The first data on freshwater microinvertebrate fauna of Iceland date back to the 19th century (Guerne and Richard 1892a, Guerne and Richard 1892b). The first study on the rotifer fauna from the middle of the 20th century listed 59 species or subspecies (Bartos 1951). The majority of the available studies on inland water bodies focused on large lakes: Mývatn in the north-east (Ornolfsd and Einarsson 2004, Adalsteinsson 1979, Jonasson 1979, Lindegaard 1979); and Thingvallavatn (Antonsson 1992) and Kerið Lakes (Evtimova et al. 2014) in the south-west of the country. Recently scientists have become increasingly interested in the inland freshwater copepods and cladocerans from small freshwater bodies (Novichkova et al. 2014, Scher et al. 2000). Data on observed morphological variability and teratology of lower crustacean in subpolar environments, including Iceland, were presented by Sinev et al. (2012), Pandourski and Evtimova (2009), Pandourski and Evtimova (2006), Pandourski and Evtimova (2005). These aberrations affected the fifth pair of legs in calanoids, the posterior part of the body in cyclopoids, or the head and antennule in cladocerans. Our study presents data on taxa composition of Rotifera, Cladocera, and Copepoda in various aquatic habitats from South-western Iceland, including marine interstitial, wet bryophytes, springs, brackish and freshwater ponds and lakes.

Diversity and Taxonomy of Ampharetidae (Polychaeta) from Icelandic Waters

Abstract Based on material collected during the BIOICE project off Iceland, the taxonomy and distribution of seventeen species (11 genera) of polychaetous annelids belonging to the family Ampharetidae (Annelida; Polychaeta) is reviewed. Eleven of these species were previously reported in the area or nearby areas: Amage auricula, Anobothrus gracilis, Glyp-hanostomum pallescens, Grubianella klugei, Lysippe fragilis, L. labiata, L. sexcirrata, L. vanelli, Samythella elongata, Sosane bathyalis and S. wireni. Five species, Amage benhami, Melinnampharete eoa, Noanelia hartmanae, Ymerana pteropoda and Zatsepinia rittichae, either never or only once reported after original description, are redescribed or discussed. A potentially new species, Amage sp., is described but not named because only one specimen is present. Several body characters of high taxonomic relevance in Ampha-retidae are reviewed using SEM. The distribution of each species off Iceland is provided.

First record of Longosomatidae (Annelida: Polychaeta) from Iceland with a worldwide review of diagnostic characters of the family

The family Longosomatidae Hartman, 1944 (Annelida: Polychaeta) is newly reported for Icelandic waters. The diversity, taxonomy and ecology of this poorly-known monogeneric family are reviewed based on material collected during the BIOICE project. Two species of the genus Heterospio are recorded and redescribed: Heterospio longissima Ehlers, 1874 sensu Hartman (1965) and Heterospio reducta Laubier, Picard and Ramos, 1972–73. Several body structures of high taxonomic relevance in the genus are reviewed and discussed.

Polychaetes of the genus Ampharete (Polychaeta: Ampharetidae) collected in Icelandic waters during the BIOICE project

Based on material collected during the BIOICE project off Iceland, the taxonomy and distribution of eight species of polychaetous annelids belonging to the genus Ampharete (Polychaeta: Ampharetidae) are reviewed. Five of these species were previously reported in the area: Ampharete acutifrons, Ampharete borealis, Ampharete finmarchica, Ampharete octocirrata and Ampharete petersenae; two are new to Icelandic waters: Ampharete baltica and Ampharete lindstroemi; and one is new to science: Ampharete villenai sp. nov. A. petersenae was found for the first time after the original description and is redescribed. A. villenai sp. nov. is primarily characterized by the size, shape and disposition of the paleae, a special kind of chaetae located on the first body chaetiger. Several body characters of high taxonomic relevance in Ampharetidae are reviewed under the SEM. The distribution of each species off the coast of Iceland and a key to all species recorded in European Boreo-Arctic waters is provided.

Taxonomy and distribution of Terebellides (Polychaeta, Trichobranchidae) in Icelandic waters, with the description of a new species

Based on material collected during the BIOICE project, the taxonomy and distribution of Terebellides (Polychaeta; Trichobranchidae) in Icelandic waters is presented. Terebellides stroemii Sars, 1853 and Terebellides gracilis Malm, 1874 (as Terebellides williamsae Jirkov, 1989) were previously reported from the area. Terebellides atlantis Williams, 1984 is reported for the first time after the original description and redescribed. Terebellides bigeniculatus sp. nov. is diagnosed by the presence of two thoracic chaetigers with geniculate chaetae. Terebellides williamsae Jirkov, 1989 is proposed as a junior synonym of T. gracilis, whose holotype is redescribed herein. Several body characters with high taxonomic value in Terebellides are reviewed under the SEM; additions to the diagnosis and new potential characters for a future taxonomic revision and phylogenetic study of the genus are also suggested. The geographical and bathymetric distribution of each species in relation to the GIF Ridge is discussed, and a key to Terebellides species from North East Atlantic waters is provided.

Taxonomy and distribution of the genus Amphicteis (Polychaeta: Ampharetidae) collected by the BIOICE project in Icelandic waters

Based on material collected during the BIOICE project off Iceland, four species of polychaetous annelids belonging to the genus Amphicteis Grube, 1850 (Polychaeta: Ampharetidae) were found: Amphicteis gunneri, Amphicteis ninonae, Amphicteis vestis and Amphicteis wesenbergae sp. nov. The differences between A. gunneri and A. ninonae, two species usually confused in the literature, are reviewed. Amphicteis vestis is described from newly collected material and its taxonomy in relation to other ampharetid taxa with modified notopodia is discussed. Amphicteis wesenbergae sp. nov. is described; the new species is characterized by the presence of long, slender and evenly tapered paleae, and long dorsal cirri on thoracic and abdominal neuropodia. Several body characters with high value in Amphicteis taxonomy, particularly the dorsolateral protrusions of abdominal chaetigers called rudimentary notopodia, are reviewed using scanning electron microscopy. A key to species of the genus Amphicteis described or reported in European Boreo-Arctic waters is provided.

Distribution and diversity of the Opheliidae (Annelida, Polychaeta) on the continental shelf and slope of Iceland, with a review of the genus Ophelina in northeast Atlantic waters and description of two new species

The diversity, taxonomy and distribution of the Opheliidae (Annelida: Polychaeta) in Icelandic waters is reviewed based on material collected during the BIOICE project. Nine opheliid species are recorded from Iceland; of these, three were previously reported in the area (Ophelia limacina, Ophelina cylindricaudata and O. acuminata), four are new for Icelandic waters (Ammotrypanella cf. arctica, Ophelina abranchiata, O. helgolandica and Tachytrypane jeffreisii), and two are new to science. Ophelina basicirra sp. nov. is distinguished by having a narrow anal tube with one short proximal anal cirrus in ventral position. Ophelina bowitzi sp. nov. is characterized by the small size of its anterior branchiae, which become larger in the middle and posterior body regions, and by an upwardly bent anal tube that is wide at the base and narrowing distally. The genera Euzonus, Armandia and Polyophthalmus are not represented in the BIOICE samples. The distribution of each species off Iceland is presented; one species is restricted to shallow waters of northwestern fjords, three species are found south of the GIF Ridge, and five species are circumicelandic. Several body characters with taxonomic relevance in some species are reviewed based on SEM images. Furthermore, as a first step towards a future revision of the genus Ophelina Orsted 1843 in North Atlantic waters, the status of each species originally described or subsequently reported from the area is commented on, and a key to the currently valid species is presented. Ophelina longicephala Hartmann-Schroder, 1977, formerly a subspecies of O. delapidans (Kinberg, 1866), is raised to species status.

The genera Myriochele and Myrioglobula (Polychaeta, Oweniidae) in Icelandic waters with the revision of type material of Myriochele heeri Malmgren, 1867, and the description of a new species

Based on the study of specimens previously identified as Myriochele heeri Malmgren, 1867 (Polychaeta, Oweniidae) in Icelandic waters collected during the BIOICE project, a redescription of this taxon is presented, a Pacific species—Myriochele olgae Blake, 2000—is reported, and one new species is described: Myrioglobula malmgreni sp. nov. Myriochele heeri is characterized by three short anterior uniramous chaetigers of similar length. The revision of the type series of M. heeri showed that the length of the anterior chaetigers and the chaetal composition is variable in the different specimens, thus demonstrating that more than one species is involved. Complementary anatomical (prostomial, foregut, and peristomial ciliary fields, ventral pharyngeal organ) and biological (food composition, tube ornamentation, body regeneration) observations from selected specimens are provided. Additions to the original description of Myrioglobula islandica Parapar, 2003a and an updated key to the species of Oweniidae recorded in Arctic and East Atlantic Boreal waters are also presented. Aspects on geographical distribution and phylogeny of the family are also discussed.

Oweniidae (Annelida, Polychaeta) from Icelandic waters, collected by the BIOICE project, with a description of Myrioglobula islandica n. sp.

Based on material collected during the BIOICE project off Iceland, the taxonomy and distribution of six species of polychaetous annelids belonging to the family Oweniidae are reviewed. Three species were previously reported in the area: Owenia fusiformis Delle Chiaje, Myriochele heeri Malmgren and Galathowenia oculata (Zaks); two are new to Icelandic waters: G. fragilis (Nilsen & Holthe) and Myriochele danielsseni Hansen, and one is new to science: Myrioglobula islandica, which is described and compared with Myrioglobula antarctica Hartman and Myrioglobula japonica Imajima & Morita. Several body characters with a high taxonomic value in oweniids were reviewed under the scanning electron microscope. In G. fragilis, the presence of an anteroventral structure, possibly related to tube construction, is presented, as well as its original description, proposed to be emended, due to the confirmation of a hook-shaped variability over the length of the body. The distribution of each species off Iceland was evaluated and two patterns were defined: O. cf. fusiformis and G. oculata were mainly found in sublittoral (<200 m) cold waters off the north coast, while G. fragilis and Myriochele heeri were found in a wide range of depth and temperatures all around Iceland. A key to the species of the family Oweniidae recorded in Icelandic waters is provided.

Anthurideans (Crustacea, isopoda) from the North Atlantic and the Arctic Ocean

Abstract Eight species of the suborder Anthuridea (Crustacea, Isopoda) were collected in the northernmost part of the North Atlantic and in the Arctic Ocean during the BIOICE project. Two species were new to science: Haliophasma mjoelniri sp. nov. found at depths between 340 and 508 m west ofIceland, and Quantanthura tyri sp. nov. at depths between 304 and 1212 m south-west and west ofIceland. Other species found were Ananthura sulcaticauda Barnard, 1925, Calathura brachiata (Stimpson, 1853), Leptanthura affinis (Bonnier, 1896), L. chardyi Negoescu, 1992, L. micrura Kensley, 1982, and L. victori Negoescu, 1985. All eight species were found in the North Atlantic Ocean, and only Ananthura sulcaticauda and Calathura brachiata were additionally found in the Arctic Ocean. A. sulcaticauda and L. affinis are redescribed. The male of L. affinis shows remarkable sexual dimorphism in the shape of per eo pods 4 to 6. A new character, the structure of the comb of setae on article 3 of the mandibular palp, is suggeste...