Polynoidae Research Articles

New records of scale worms (Polychaeta: Annelida) from the Red Sea collected during the KAU–SRI biodiversity survey along the coast of Saudi Arabia. Families Iphionidae, Polynoidae and Sigalionidae

Polychaetous annelids were collected during biodiversity surveys conducted by the King Abdulaziz University–Senckenberg Research Institute along the coast of Saudi Arabia. The aphroditoid polychaetes belonging to Iphionidae, Polynoidae and Sigalionidae are reported here, with comments on their distribution. Seventeen species are identified, two of which represent new records for the Red Sea.

Adaptation and evolution of deep-sea scale worms (Annelida: Polynoidae): insights from transcriptome comparison with a shallow-water species

Polynoid scale worms (Polynoidae, Annelida) invaded deep-sea chemosynthesis-based ecosystems approximately 60 million years ago, but little is known about their genetic adaptation to the extreme deep-sea environment. In this study, we reported the first two transcriptomes of deep-sea polynoids (Branchipolynoe pettiboneae, Lepidonotopodium sp.) and compared them with the transcriptome of a shallow-water polynoid (Harmothoe imbricata). We determined codon and amino acid usage, positive selected genes, highly expressed genes and putative duplicated genes. Transcriptome assembly produced 98,806 to 225,709 contigs in the three species. There were more positively charged amino acids (i.e., histidine and arginine) and less negatively charged amino acids (i.e., aspartic acid and glutamic acid) in the deep-sea species. There were 120 genes showing clear evidence of positive selection. Among the 10% most highly expressed genes, there were more hemoglobin genes with high expression levels in both deep-sea species. The duplicated genes related to DNA recombination and metabolism, and gene expression were only enriched in deep-sea species. Deep-sea scale worms adopted two strategies of adaptation to hypoxia in the chemosynthesis-based habitats (i.e., rapid evolution of tetra-domain hemoglobin in Branchipolynoe or high expression of single-domain hemoglobin in Lepidonotopodium sp.).

Phylogeny and biogeography of the scaleless scale worm Pisione (Sigalionidae, Annelida).

Pisione is a scaleless group of small scale worms inhabiting sandy bottoms in shallow marine waters. This group was once considered rare, but now 45 described species can be characterized, among others, by their paired, segmental copulatory organs (one to multiple external pairs), which display a complexity of various accessory structures. The evolutionary significance of these unique organs was suggested in the late 1960s, but has been heavily debated since the late 1990s and remains controversial. In the present paper, we study the internal relationships within Pisione, employing combined phylogenetic analyses of both molecular and morphological data from 16 terminals of Pisione, as well as two terminals of Pisionidens, and eight additional scale worms as outgroups. Our taxon sampling covers all geographical areas where the genus has been reported, as well as most of their morphological and copulatory variability, including representatives of the “africana,” “remota,” “crassa,” and “papuensis” groups, established previously by Yamanishi. We hereby provide a first insight into the relationships of the genus, testing previously proposed hypotheses on the evolutionary significance of male copulatory structures within Pisione, while attempting to understand patterns of distribution. The phylogenetic analyses using maximum likelihood and Bayesian methods consistently recovered two large clades spanning the East Atlantic (including the Mediterranean) and the Indo‐Pacific–West Atlantic, respectively. Character optimization on our trees revealed a high degree of homoplasy in both non‐reproductive and sexual characters of Pisione, with buccal acicula found to be the sole apomorphy among the morphological features assessed herein, with none defining the biogeographical subclades within. Overall, our comparative analyses highlight the high degree of morphological variation in this widely distributed genus, rejecting previous assertions of an increasing number and complexity of copulatory structures across the genus.

New record of commensal scale worms, Arctonoe vittata (Grube, 1855) and Hyperhalosydna striata (Kinberg, 1856) (Polychaeta: Polynoidae) from Korean waters

Two scale worms of the family Polynoidae, Arctonoe vittata (Grube, 1855) and Hyperhalosydna striata (Kingberg, 1856) were found for the first time from Korea by SCUBA diving survey. The two species are free-living organisms or associated commensally with a wide variety of other invertebrates. Specimens of A. vittata were collected from the East Sea and were closely associated with asteroids, holothuroids, gastropods and nudibranchs species. Specimens of H. striata were collected from Jeju-do Island, and of these, one specimen was collected in a tube of eunicid species. The two species can be easily distinguished from their congeners by distinct morphological characteristics as follows: (1) A. vittata has pigmented band near segment eight and two kinds of neurochaetae; (2) H. striata has reddish-brown longitudinal striped elytra. The morphological key characteristics of both species agreed well with their original descriptions and redescriptions. In this study, the descriptions, detailed illustrations and ecological photographs of two species based on Korean materials were provided.

New species of Pisionidens (Sigalionidae, Annelida) from Akumal, México.

Pisionidens Aiyar & Alikuhni, 1943 is a genus of small scale-less annelids formerly belonging to the family 'Pisionidae', now synonymized with the scale worm family Sigalionidae. A new species from Akumal, México, Pisionidens ixazaluohae n. sp., is herein described, including a genetic barcode, and diagnosed by parapodia from segment 8, males having a continuous line of midventral pores, and the presence of a single copulatory segment without parapodia. The new species differs in morphology from the three previously described species, including P. indica (Aiyar & Alikuhni, 1940), representing the only other species previously reported from the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico. A comparative table with a summary of the main taxonomic characters of all described species of the genus, including information on distribution, is provided.

Two new species of scale worms (Polychaeta: Aphroditiformia) from deep-sea habitats in the Gulf of Cadiz (NE Atlantic).

Two new species of scale worms are described from the Gulf of Cadiz (NE Atlantic), at depths between 1100 and 2230 m. Australaugeneria iberica sp. nov. (Polynoidae) was obtained from an alcyonarian colony collected at the flank of Carlos Ribeiro mud volcano; it is characterized by the presence of neuropodial hooks only on segment two and by having the first parapodia not enlarged. This is the first report of the genus for the deep sea. The diagnosis of Australaugeneria is emended and a table comparing all species of the genus is provided. Pholoe petersenae sp. nov. (Pholoidae) was collected from the crater of three mud volcanoes (Darwin, Captain Arutyunov and Carlos Ribeiro) in areas of active seepage. This species is characterized by the presence of prostomial peaks and parapodia stylodes and the absence of eyes.

Range extension of the deep-sea polychaete worm Neopolynoe acanellae in Canada

Specimens of the deep-sea scale worm Neopolynoe acanellae (Verrill, 1881) (Polychaeta, Polynoidae) were collected at depths between 466 and 1405 m in Canadian waters while still attached to their host, the pennatulacean coral (sea pen) Pennatula grandis Ehrenberg, 1834. The present records extend the northern latitude of occurrence of N. acanellae in North America by 17o (~2000 km) to include the northern continental shelf of Newfoundland and Labrador and the lower Arctic, off the southern coast of Baffin Island (Canada). Analysis of the worm's intestinal content confirmed the presence of sea pen soft tissues and sclerites, suggesting that this species feeds on its host and is therefore parasitic.

Malmgrenia louiseae sp. nov., a new scale worm species (Polychaeta: Polynoidae) from southern Europe with a key to European Malmgrenia species

Malmgrenia louiseae sp. nov. is described from both the western Mediterranean in the Gulf of Lions, and the north-east Atlantic from off Portugal and the Bay of Biscay. The species was found in muddy sediments in shallow water and is possibly associated with echiurids or synaptid holothurians. Malmgrenia louiseae sp. nov. can be clearly distinguished from all other known Malmgrenia species by the presence of an infra-acicular process in addition to the supra-acicular process on the acicular lobe of the neuropodia, the lack of microtubercules on the elytra, two kinds of notochaetae (stout with blunt tip and slender with fine pointed tip), and exclusively unidentate neurochaetae. An identification key to the north-east Atlantic and Mediterranean Malmgrenia species is provided.

New species of the scale worm genus Pholoides (Polychaeta: Sigalionidae) from south-east Brazil

A new species of scale worm, Pholoides brasiliensis sp. nov., belonging to the family Sigalionidae, has been found in Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo States, south-east Brazil. The new species is mainly characterized by a long papilla in the subdistal region of the neuropodia and a prominent papilla on the ventral side of the tentaculophore. Pholoides remains species-poor compared to most Sigalionidae genera, and currently comprises four species.

First record of Harmothoe mariannae Barnich & Fiege, 2009 (Polychaetea: Polynoidae) in the Mediterranean Sea, France

The scale worm Harmothoe mariannae Barnich & Fiege, 2009 is recorded for the first time in the Mediterranean Sea. This is also the first record of the species since its description in the Northeast Atlantic. The geographical distribution of H. mariannae is considerably enlarged to the Mediterranean Sea which now has 18 Harmothoe species.

New species of the scale worm genus Pholoe (Polychaeta: Pholoidae) from southeast Brazil.

Exploration of poorly known regions of the Brazilian coast has resulted in the discovery of a new species in the scale worm family Pholoidae. Pholoe microantennata sp. nov. occurs at the Campos Basin (states of Espirito Santo and Rio de Janeiro) and along the northern coast of São Paulo State. It differs from other species in the genus because it has numerous large and conical marginal papillae on the elytra and two small lateral antenna attached to the distal portion of the prostomium. The family Pholoidae remains species-poor compared with most polychaete families, and it currently comprises 24 species worldwide. In Brazil, only three species of this family have been recorded.

Scale worms (Polychaeta: Aphroditiformia) associated with cold-water corals in the eastern Gulf of Mexico

During a recent cruise to investigate the cold-water coral habitats in the eastern Gulf of Mexico seven scale worm species (Polychaeta: Aphroditiformia) were found, with four of them new to science:Laetmonice tunicatasp. nov. (Aphroditidae);Eunoe purpureaTreadwell, 1936,Gorgoniapolynoe caeciliae(Fauvel, 1913),Harmothoe dannyisp. nov.,Harmothoe cedricisp. nov. andSubadyte campechensissp. nov. (Polynoidae); andLeanira robustaVerrill, 1885 (Sigalionidae). An extended taxonomic account is given for all species, with detailed descriptions and figures for the new species. Three of the five polynoid species were found associated with a coral host:E. purpureawithBathypathescf.alternataBrook, 1898 (Antipatharia);G. caeciliaewithAcanthogorgia armataVerrill, 1878 andCandidella imbricata(Johnson, 1862) (Octocorallia) andH. dannyisp. nov. withStylaster erubescensPourtalès, 1868 (Hydrozoa). These associations are characterized in detail and documented byin situROV pictures and microscopic images and videos of the live animals, together with their respective host.

Revision of Halosydna Kinberg, 1856 (Annelida: Polychaeta: Polynoidae) from the Tropical Eastern Pacific and Grand Caribbean with descriptions of new species

The genus Halosydna is a member of the family Polynoidae, comprising a group of polychaete annelids commonly known as scale worms. The main results in this study are the redescriptions of 14 species. Four new species are described from the Mexican Pacific. Halosydna leucohyba is newly recorded for the Mexican Caribbean, and H. leius and H. tuberculifer from the Mexican Pacific. The identities of some widely recorded species are clarified, among them H. brevisetosa, H. glabra, H. fuscomarmorata and H. parva. Finally, H. nebulosa and H. virgini are re-established as valid species and a dichotomous key for Halosydna specimens from the tropical eastern Pacific, Grand Caribbean, and other worldwide localities is included.http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:AE52ECA9-090C-469B-9503-557B3DBB24BC

ERRANT POLYCHAETE CRYPTOFAUNA (EXCLUDING SYLLIDAE AND NEREIDAE) FROM RIMS OF SIMILAR INTERTIDAL VERMETID REEFS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN COAST OF ISRAEL AND IN THE GULF OF ELAT

ABSTRACT The Eirantia were from two similar habitats in the Gulf of Elat and the Mediterranean coast of Israel. These were porous reefs of aggregated Dendropoma spp. tubes encrusted on the seaward margins of intertidal platforms. The two most abundant families, Syllidae and Nereidae, are treated in separate papers. Eleven comparatively rare families remain. Six are from the Mediterranean: Amphinomidae, Phyllodocidae, Eunicidae, Lumbrineridae, Arabellidae and Dorvilleidae, with 12 species in all, of which three are identified tentatively and one is identified only to genus. Excepting Amphinomidae and Dorvilleidae, these families are also present in the Gulf of Elat, with five additional families: Polynoidae, Chrysopetalidae, Euphrosinidae, Pilargidae and Glyceridae, making a total of nine families and 15 species, two of which are identified tentatively and one is identified only to genus. Two species are new records for the eastern Mediterranean: Phyllodoce longifrons Ben-Eliahu and Arabella geniculata (Cl...

Remarks on some scale worms (Polychaeta, Polynoidae) from the Southwest Atlantic with notes on the genus Eucranta Malmgren, 1866, and description of a new Harmothoe species

In a collection of polychaetes from the Southwest Atlantic, off the Argentinian coast, ten scale worm species of the family Polynoidae were found. The following nine species are already known to science and their synonymy, diagnostic characters, and distribution are given together with remarks on taxonomy and geographical distribution: Eucranta mollis (McIntosh, 1876), Eucranta notialis Monro, 1936, Harmothoe exanthema (Grube, 1858), Harmothoe magellanica (McIntosh, 1885), Polyeunoa laevis McIntosh, 1885, Halosydna patagonica Kinberg, 1856, Halosydnella australis (Kinberg, 1856), Lepidasthenia esbelta Amaral and Nonato, 1982 and Showapolynoe marmorata (Hartmann-Schroder, 1965) n. comb. Additionally, a new Harmothoe species was discovered and is described in detail. Differentiating characters of the new species and Harmothoe ciliata Monro, 1936 from the Magellan region are discussed. Since two species of Eucranta Malmgren, 1866 out of four known worldwide occur in the Southwest Atlantic and since the genus has never been revised in the past, we discuss the distinguishing characters of the species and present a synoptic table. Furthermore, we raise two subspecies to species level, i.e. Eucranta villosa notialis Monro, 1936 to E. notialis Monro, 1936 and Harmothoe brevipalpa ciliata Monro, 1936 to H. ciliata Monro, 1936. Two new junior synonyms are also recognised: Harmothoe fimbriata Hartmann-Schroder, 1965 is referred to H. ciliata Monro, 1936 and Halosydna brasiliensis Kinberg, 1857 to Halosydnella australis (Kinberg, 1856). An identification key is given to all species found in the considered area.

Poliquetos escamosos (Annelida, Polychaeta) colectados en las campañas “Fauna II, III, IV” (Proyecto “Fauna Ibérica”) y catálogo de las especies conocidas para el ámbito íbero-balear

The present paper includes a check-list of the 42 species of scale-worm polychaetes (families Aphroditidae, Acoetidae, Polynoidae, Pholoidae and Sigalionidae) collected during the “Fauna Iberica II, III and IV” cruises, as well as the data on the corresponding sampling stations. Three new records for the Iberian Peninsula are reported: Acanthicolepis zibrowii Barnich & Fiege, 2010; Harmothoe aequespina (Langerhans, 1884) and Neolagisca jeffreysi (McIntosh, 1876). An updated check-list of the 65 scale worm species known for the Iberian Peninsula is also presented.

Geographic mosaic of mutually exclusive dominance of obligate commensals in symbiotic communities associated with a burrowing echiuran worm

Species richness and community composition of symbionts associated with the burrowing echiuran worm, Ochetostoma erythrogrammon Leuckart & Ruppell, 1828, were quantitatively surveyed on subtropical intertidal flats in the Ryukyu Archipelago, Japan. Overall, we recorded seven species of burrow associates, including at least six obligate commensals. According to symbiont community composition, the study sites were largely divided into two groups; one was characterized by the dominance of a snapping shrimp, Alpheus barbatus Coutiere, 1897, and the other by the dominance of a scale worm, Lepidonotus sp. Furthermore, a granulometric analysis showed that the sediment characteristics differed significantly between shrimp- and scale worm-dominant sites in terms of median diameter and inclusive graphic standard deviation. These results suggest that these symbionts have different habitat requirements, resulting in the mutually exclusive dominance pattern. Our findings indicate that habitat heterogeneity is important to the evaluation and conservation of the symbiotic diversity in intertidal flats.

Invasion-mediated shifts in the macrobenthic assemblage of a rocky subtidal ecosystem

We tracked changes in community composition that occurred with state shifts in the rocky subtidal ecosystem in Nova Scotia, Canada, from 1992 to 2008. At the beginning of our study, a dense aggregation of sea urchins was destructively grazing a kelp bed, leaving coralline- algae- dominated barrens in its wake. In subsequent years, the system underwent a series of state shifts mediated by mass mortality of sea urchins due to amoebic disease, defoliation of kelp by an invasive bryozoan Membranipora membranacea, invasion of the green alga Codium fragile ssp. fragile, and finally decline of C. fragile and recolonisation by kelps. Using multidimensional scal- ing (MDS), we found 4 macroalgal assemblage types (dominated by kelp, coralline algae, C. frag- ile, or a transitional mixture of species), each associated with a distinct invertebrate assemblage. Sea stars and kelp-grazing gastropods were associated with the kelp-dominated state; sea urchins, chitons and scale worms were most abundant in the barrens state; and small bivalves and amphipods were most abundant in the C. fragile-dominated state. Invertebrate diversity remained relatively constant despite dramatic shifts in the algal assemblage. Although the system was vul- nerable to multiple perturbations between 1992 and 2002, the partial recovery of kelp beds and associated fauna by 2008 demonstrates some resilience in the longer term.

A full scale worm reactor for efficient sludge reduction by predation in a wastewater treatment plant

Sludge predation can be an effective solution to reduce sludge production at a wastewater treatment plant. Oligochaete worms are the natural consumers of biomass in benthic layers in ecosystems. In this study the results of secondary sludge degradation by the aquatic Oligochaete worm Aulophorus furcatus in a 125 m 3 reactor and further sludge conversion in an anaerobic tank are presented. The system was operated over a period of 4 years at WWTP Wolvega, the Netherlands and was fed with secondary sludge from a low loaded activated sludge process. It was possible to maintain a stable and active population of the aquatic worm species A. furcatus during the full period. Under optimal conditions a sludge conversion of 150–200 kg TSS/d or 1.2–1.6 kg TSS/m 3/d was established in the worm reactor. The worms grew as a biofilm on carrier material in the reactor. The surface specific conversion rate reached 140–180 g TSS/m 2d and the worm biomass specific conversion rate was 0.5–1 g TSS sludge/g dry weight worms per day. The sludge reduction under optimal conditions in the worm reactor was 30–40%. The degradation by worms was an order of magnitude larger than the endogenous conversion rate of the secondary sludge. Effluent sludge from the worm reactor was stored in an anaerobic tank where methanogenic processes became apparent. It appeared that besides reducing the sludge amount, the worms’ activity increased anaerobic digestibility, allowing for future optimisation of the total system by maximising sludge reduction and methane formation. In the whole system it was possible to reduce the amount of sludge by at least 65% on TSS basis. This is a much better total conversion than reported for anaerobic biodegradability of secondary sludge of 20–30% efficiency in terms of TSS reduction.

Two new species of Eulepethidae (Polychaeta) from Australian seas

Exploration of poorly known regions of the Australian continental margin has resulted in the discovery of two new species in the scale worm family Eulepethidae. Grubeulepis kurnai sp. nov. occurs in southeastern Australia while Proeulepethus payungu sp. nov. was collected at one site in the Indian Ocean on the continental margin of Western Australia. Pareulepis malayana (Horst, 1913), also collected from the continental margin of Western Australia, is newly recorded from Australia, representing a range extension of that species previously known from Madagascar, Malaysia and the South China Sea. Four species, and four of the six known genera of Eulepethidae are now known from Australian waters. The family Eulepethidae remains species-poor compared with most polychaete families, and now comprises 21 species world wide.