Bryozoan Species Research Articles

Bryozoans from Rio Grande do Sul Continental Shelf, Southern Brazil

The continental shelf of Rio Grande do Sul (RS) is predominantly composed of unconsolidated sediments with a few hard substrates represented principally by beachrock. In this area there are elongate deposits of shell gravel material which are interpreted as indicators of the palaeo-shorelines. These Pleistocene deposits are overlapped by Holocene sediments (Recent), but are exposed during erosive events caused by extra-tropical cyclones, which provide the mixture of both sediments mainly during autumn and winter. The few studies on bryozoans made in this area previously recorded seven species, one fossil and the other six from Recent fluvial and marine environments. The aim of the present study was to describe the eight most abundant bryozoan species that occur in the inner RS shelf. Of these, four are new records for RS State (Arachnopusia aff. pusae, Hippomonavella brasiliensis, Turbicellepora pourtalesi, and Lifuella gorgonensis), and the other four are new to science (Chaperia taylori, Micropora nodimagna, Cellaria riograndensis, and Exochella moyani).

Primeros registros del Phylum Bryozoa asociados a habitats artificiales en el Caribe colombiano

During the assessment of spiny lobster (Panulirus argus) settlement on suspended artificial collectors at Santa Marta region, the fishes and other invertebrates associated to these habitats were evaluated. The aim of this research was determine the species of bryozoans present in the artificial habitats deployed in Pozos Colorados Bay, Isla Pelicano and Taganga Bay, as well as analyse the ecological factors of their distribution. As a result, ten bryozoans species were found, from which Alcyonidium cf. mamillatum, Bugula neritina, Bugula cf. guara, Catenicella uberrima and Aspiscellaria piscaderaensis were reported for the first time in the Colombian Caribbean and for some of these, it extended their distribution to the Tropical Western Atlantic. In the rainy season (September-November) in Isla Pelicano and Pozos Colorados were recorded the highest bryozoans richness and abundance, probably related with increased sedimentation and turbidity, in contrast with the wet season (December-February). On the other hand, Taganga station presented reduced values of biological variables possibly by their environmental characteristics of clear water, reduced water movement and scarce food. Artificial collectors function as suspended shelters for the settlement and development of these invertebrates, and clearly are effective tools for diversity and ecological evaluations, as well as mariculture activities.

New species and new records of bryozoans from shallow waters of Madeira Island.

Two new species of bryozoans encrusting subtidal rocks are described from the shallow waters of Madeira Island. We describe one cyclostome, Favosipora purpurea sp. nov., which represents the first record of this genus in the Atlantic Ocean, and one cheilostome, Rhynchozoon papuliferum sp. nov. In addition, one species, Beania maxilladentata, is recorded for the first time outside of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Six other species previously recorded in Madeira are redescribed to provide new data and SEM images.

Analyses with newly developed microsatellite markers elucidate the spread dynamics of Tricellaria inopinata d’Hondt and Occhipinti-Ambrogi, 1985 - a recently established bryozoan along the New England seashore

The majority of bryozoans possess short-lived larvae with limited dispersal potential, yet many species of bryozoans have obtained global distributions. The marine bryozoan Tricellaria inopinata d’Hondt and Occhipinti-Ambrogi, 1985 was first described from specimens collected in 1982 in the Lagoon of Venice, but is thought to be native to the northeast Pacific. By 2009, it could be found in various locales in the eastern Atlantic including Spain, France, England, and Ireland. In 2010, T. inopinata was found for the first time in the western Atlantic in Eel Pond, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, and shortly thereafter was collected in several other locales in the area. A newly developed suite of polymorphic microsatellite loci was used to investigate this recent range expansion of T. inopinata in an effort to understand what makes these animals such successful invaders. We examined various aspects of the population genetics of adult colonies collected from four sites in eastern Massachusetts: Eel Pond, Boston Harbor, Marblehead and Gloucester. There was significant genotypic differentiation between all sites. Higher homogeneity between the Eel Pond and Boston Harbor populations, as well as the potential for Eel Pond acting as a source of migrants for Boston Harbor, suggest that Eel Pond was a source population for the Boston Harbor population. In contrast, levels of genotypic differentiation and a lack of migrants suggested that the Marblehead and Gloucester populations likely did not originate from animals in Eel Pond. Thus, the recent range expansion by T. inopinata in the western Atlantic appears to be a result of multiple introduction events.

UPPER FRASNIAN (UPPER DEVONIAN) BRYOZOANS IN PROXIMAL FACIES OF SOUTHERN BELGIUM

Seven bryozoan species are described from the shallow-water Aisemont and Lambermont formations (upper rhenana Conodont zone, upper Frasnian) in southern Belgium. The studied interval is situated between the lower and upper Kellwasser events. Among the recognized taxa two species are new: Triznotrypa potii n. sp. and Isostylus veserensis n. sp. In addition, the following species were identified in this assemblage: Fistulipora pavimenta Bigey, 1988, Canutrypa hemispheroidea (Yang, 1954), Eostenopora conspersa Volkova, 1974, Leptotrypella radiata Bigey, 1988, and Anastomopora inflata (Bigey, 1988). The studied bryozoan assemblage of the Frasnian age shows palaeogeographic connections to Iran, Russia (Altai) and Afghanistan. Most of them are documented for the first time in this area and it provides important knowledge of the distribution of bryozoans in the late Frasnian and near the Frasnian-Famennian boundary.

BRYOZOAN DIVERSITY IN THE MIOCENE OF THE KUTAI BASIN, EAST KALIMANTAN, INDONESIA

Miocene bryozoans from the Indonesian Archipelago have seldom been investigated in the past. Several factors combine to explain their poor fossil record, including rare exposures in a lushly vegetated terrane, dominance of inconspicuous encrusting species, and the adverse effects of diagenesis on fossil preservation. A large collection of samples from the Kutai Basin (East Kalimantan) has allowed new insights into the diversity of Miocene bryozoans in this region. The bryozoan assemblage as a whole consists of 123 species; a remarkable increase in known diversity. Substrate availability appears to be the main factor controlling bryozoan distribution. The majority of encrusting species are associated with plate-like scleractinian corals. Collecting curves allow sampled sites to be divided into three groups characterized by high, medium, and low species richness. The site of highest diversity is a mesophotic reef slope, an environment influenced by high input of terrigenous sediment. Ordination plots show no clear patterns of distribution among sites, with putatively endemic species accounting for most of the discrimination. A similar level of endemism and habitat heterogeneity characterizes modern, tropical bryozoan faunas. However, many more intermediate sites need to be sampled to achieve a fuller understanding of the true pattern of bryozoan species distribution in the Miocene of the Kutai Basin.

A DIVERSE PATCH REEF FROM TURBID HABITATS IN THE MIDDLE MIOCENE (EAST KALIMANTAN, INDONESIA)

The Kutai Basin (East Kalimantan, Indonesia) contains a rich and well-preserved Miocene fossil record of small patch reefs that developed under the influence of high siliciclastic input associated with the progradation of the Mahakam Delta. In this study, we reconstruct the biodiversity and paleoenvironments on one of these delta-front, mixed carbonate-siliciclastic systems that developed at the Serravallian–Tortonian boundary near the city of Samarinda. In two newly exposed sections, we analyzed the sedimentology and distribution of the main fossil biota including corals, foraminifers, coralline algae, and bryozoans. Seven facies are herein defined, including two dominated by platy corals and two by larger benthic foraminifera. Facies distributions were driven by changes in depth and variations in terrigenous input within a range of delta-front habitats. Despite the turbid conditions, fossil assemblages are highly diverse, including 69 coral species and 28 bryozoan species that occur in coral-dominated facies. Crustose coralline algae were mainly associated with the coral-dominated facies. Larger benthic foraminifera showed broader ecological tolerance within the range represented in the studied sections and thus are common in most facies. These diverse patch reef ecosystems were able to cope with high siliciclastic input during the early development of the Miocene coral reef biota.

Exceptional bryozoan assemblage of a microbial-dominated reef from the early Wenlock of Gotland, Sweden

Eleven bryozoan species were described from Nors Stenbrott (Gotland, Sweden), represented by six trepostomes, four cystoporates and one fenestrate. Three genera with three species are new: two cystoporates Acantholunaria expansa gen. n. sp. n. and Curviporamonostylata gen. n. sp. n., and a trepostome Stellatotrypa hirsuta gen. n. sp. n. Two trepostome species are new: Leptotrypa perforata sp. n. and Leptotrypa enodis sp. n. The described bryozoan fauna is dominated by thin encrusting taxa which are involved in intensive interactions with calcimicrobes in bryozoan-microbial crusts in the reef. The bryozoan-microbial crusts (bryoliths) show certain sequences by microbes, encrusting bryozoans and tabulate corals. Multiple self-overgrowth of bryozoans occurs frequently and is interpreted as a defensive tactic against microbial fouling. Bryozoans avoid vicinity to tabulate corals, apparently due to strong competition for substrate. The bryozoan fauna from Nors Stenbrott is highly endemic, only two species are known elsewhere (North America and Great Britain).

On rediscovered types of Santonian cheilostome bryozoans described by Ehrhard Voigt (1924, 1930) from the Subhercynian Cretaceous Basin and its surroundings

Type material of three bryozoan species first described by Ehrhard Voigt in his early publications of 1924 and 1930 has been rediscovered. All bryozoan material described by Voigt between 1923 and 1942 was previously believed to have been either destroyed in 1943 or otherwise lost. The rediscovered material belonged to the collections of Hermann Brandes and the Preusische Geologische Landesanstalt (PGL), and comes from the Middle Santonian of two localities in northern Germany. Three cheilostome bryozoan species—Conopeum congestum Voigt, 1924d, Ogiva promonturiorum Voigt, 1924d and Membranipora brandesi Voigt, 1930—from the Subhercynian Cretaceous Basin and the eastern Lower Saxony Basin are revised herein using new SEM and microphotographic images. C. congestum and M. brandesi are transferred to Chiplonkarina Taylor & Badve, 1995 and Wilbertopora Cheetham, 1954, respectively, while O. promonturiorum is transferred back to its original genus Ogiva Jullien, 1882. The holotypes of C. congestum and M. brandesi are the only known specimens belonging to these species, whereas O. promonturiorum is a common and characteristic species of the Santonian and Lower Campanian in northern Germany. The new species Ogiva ellinorvoigtae sp. nov. is introduced for material in the Voigt Collection that is morphologically similar to but distinct from O. promonturiorum.

Palaeoenvironment of a monospecific association of a new bryozoan species, Schizoretepora tamagawensis sp. n. (Phidoloporidae, Bryozoa), from the Miocene Tanosawa Formation, Northern Japan

A new species of Phidoloporidae (Bryozoa), Schizoretepora tamagawensis sp. n. is reported from the Tanosawa Formation (Miocene) in northern Japan. This species is very similar to the Recent Schizoretepora tumescens (Ortmann, 1890). The unique occurrence in circular patches in an almost monospecific association indicates a shallow subtidal and soft substrate environment which limited the occurrence of other benthic species.

Bryozoans are returning home: recolonization of freshwater ecosystems inferred from phylogenetic relationships.

Bryozoans are aquatic invertebrates that inhabit all types of aquatic ecosystems. They are small animals that form large colonies by asexual budding. Colonies can reach the size of several tens of centimeters, while individual units within a colony are the size of a few millimeters. Each individual within a colony works as a separate zooid and is genetically identical to each other individual within the same colony. Most freshwater species of bryozoans belong to the Phylactolaemata class, while several species that tolerate brackish water belong to the Gymnolaemata class. Tissue samples for this study were collected in the rivers of Adriatic and Danube basin and in the wetland areas in the continental part of Croatia (Europe). Freshwater and brackish taxons of bryozoans were genetically analyzed for the purpose of creating phylogenetic relationships between freshwater and brackish taxons of the Phylactolaemata and Gymnolaemata classes and determining the role of brackish species in colonizing freshwater and marine ecosystems. Phylogenetic relationships inferred on the genes for 18S rRNA, 28S rRNA, COI, and ITS2 region confirmed Phylactolaemata bryozoans as radix bryozoan group. Phylogenetic analysis proved Phylactolaemata bryozoan's close relations with taxons from Phoronida phylum as well as the separation of the Lophopodidae family from other families within the Plumatellida genus. Comparative analysis of existing knowledge about the phylogeny of bryozoans and the expansion of known evolutionary hypotheses is proposed with the model of settlement of marine and freshwater ecosystems by the bryozoans group during their evolutionary past. In this case study, brackish bryozoan taxons represent a link for this ecological phylogenetic hypothesis. Comparison of brackish bryozoan species Lophopus crystallinus and Conopeum seurati confirmed a dual colonization of freshwater ecosystems throughout evolution of this group of animals.

Scientific Results of theHasslerExpedition. Bryozoa. No. 2. Brazil

Fifty species of bryozoans from three Brazilian stations dredged by L. Agassiz and L. F. Pourtalès during the Hassler Expedition (1871–1872) are described and illustrated here.The U.S.S. Hassler was built in New Jersey for use by the U.S. Coast Survey off the west coast of North America. Benjamin Peirce, then superintendent of the Survey, invited L. Agassiz to form a scientific party to collect specimens and make scientific observations during the course of repositioning the Hassler from Boston to San Francisco. The bryozoan samples were discovered in the Invertebrate Paleontology collection at the Museum of Comparative Zoology and are now incorporated into the collections of the Department of Marine Invertebrates of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University. The first paper on the collection, consisting of the bryozoan material from Barbados, was published in 2009 (Winston and Woollacott 2009).Taxonomic results from the Brazilian segment of the expedition include 24 new cheilostome species, Antropora hastata, Retevirgula multipunctata, Parellisina lunatirostris, Discoporella salvadorensis, Canda alsia, Micropora angustiscapulis, Floridina proterva, Labioporella tuberculata, Cellaria brasiliensis, Puellina octospinosa, Trypostega tropicalis, Poricella frigorosa, Exochella frigidula, Metrarabdotos jani, Parasmittina simpulata, Parasmittina loxoides, Stylopoma rotundum, Stylopoma carioca, Fenestrulina constellata, Buffonellaria variavicularis, Turbicellepora brasiliensis, Fodinella atlantica, Plesiocleidochasma foliosum, and Cigclisula tuberculata; one new combination; and three new cyclostome species, Plagioecia bugei, Nevianopora arcuata, and Disporella brasiliana. Two new families, Marcusadoreidae and Vitrimurellidae, and one new genus, Vitrimurella, are also described.The bryozoan material comes from three of the Brazilian locations where the Hassler Expedition dredged. Eleven species were collected from a station north of Salvador, Bahia state, in 15–17 fathoms (fms) (27.4–31 m). The other two stations were both off Cabo Frio, Rio de Janeiro state. Eleven species were found in the dredge haul from 35 fms (56.7 m), while 32 species occurred in the second haul from 35–45 fms (56.7–82 m). Species from the Bahia station have more tropical affinities; those collected from off Cabo Frio are subtropical–temperate. There was no overlap between the stations from the two regions. Most striking is the fact that 142 years after the collections were made, and on the basis of this very limited material, more than half the species found were new to science, or were species that had previously been misidentified, so needed new names and descriptions: Canda alsia, Labioporella tuberculata, Metrarabdotos jani, Nevianipora arcuata, Parasmittina loxoides, Parasmittina simpulata, and Plagioecia bugei.

Deep-sea fauna of European seas: An annotated species check-list of benthic invertebrates living deeper than 2000 m in the seas bordering Europe. Bryozoa

An annotated check-list is given of Bryozoa species occurring deeper than 2000 m in the seas bordering Europe. The check-list is based on published data. The check- list includes 60 species. For each species synonymy, data on localities in European seas and general species distribution are provided. Station data are presented separately in the present thematic issue. How to cite this atricle: Denisenko N.V. 2014. Deep-sea fauna of European seas: An annotated species check-list of benthic invertebrates living deeper than 2000 m in the seas bordering Europe. Bryozoa // Invertebrate Zoology. Vol.11. No.1. P.89-98.

Variability in the skeletal mineralogy of temperate bryozoans: the relative influence of environmental and biological factors

Bryozoans exhibit a highly variable geochemistry within their calcium carbonate skeletons. Previous studies have predominantly attributed this variability to differences in seawa- ter temperature influencing the relative deposition of aragonite and calcite, and the extent of mag- nesium incorporation into the calcite lattice. However, the patterns and scale of this variability have not been examined in detail. We conducted a high-replicate, multi-site study on the skeletal mineralogy of temperate Northern Hemisphere bryozoans to investigate the range of skeletal aragonite and Mg-calcite variability between species and the relative influence of environmental and biological factors on skeletal biogeochemistry. During a cruise in May 2012 in Scapa Flow, Orkney, Northeast Scotland, 480 specimens from 3 bryozoan species were collected by SCUBA diving. Samples were obtained from 5 study sites with similar depths and physical characteristics. All specimens were collected within the same week and were selected to be of similar size, age and breeding status. The results of X-ray diffraction analysis showed that wt% MgCO3 in calcite and wt% aragonite in total CaCO3 were statistically different between sites for all species. This may be explained by differential population connectivity between sites influenced by the tidal regimes of Scapa Flow. No temperate bryozoan species showed the expected positive trends of increasing wt% MgCO3 in calcite or wt% aragonite in total CaCO3 with seawater temperature. Based on the data generated in this study, we suggest that both environmental and biological factors are involved in the control of skeletal mineralogy in some temperate bryozoan species.

Antimicrobial activity of Antarctic bryozoans: An ecological perspective with potential for clinical applications

The antimicrobial activity of Antarctic bryozoans and the ecological functions of the chemical compounds involved remain largely unknown. To determine the significant ecological and applied antimicrobial effects, 16 ether and 16 butanol extracts obtained from 13 different bryozoan species were tested against six Antarctic (including Psychrobacter luti, Shewanella livingstonensis and 4 new isolated strains) and two bacterial strains from culture collections (Escherichia coli and Bacillus cereus). Results from the bioassays reveal that all ether extracts exhibited antimicrobial activity against some bacteria. Only one butanol extract produced inhibition, indicating that antimicrobial compounds are mainly lipophilic. Ether extracts of the genus Camptoplites inhibited the majority of bacterial strains, thus indicating a broad-spectrum of antimicrobial activity. Moreover, most ether extracts presented activities against bacterial strains from culture collections, suggesting the potential use of these extracts as antimicrobial drugs against pathogenic bacteria.

Bryozoa of the uppermost Gerster Limestone (late Wordian, Permian), Medicine Range, northeastern Nevada, U.S.A.

Abundant bryozoans occur in the uppermost Gerster Limestone (Permian) in a saddle directly west of the main Medicine Range section of the Gerster Limestone of northeastern Nevada. The stratigraphic position of this shaly limestone is confirmed by the conodont Merrilina praedivergens (late Wordian), which occurs elsewhere in the uppermost Gerster Limestone. Three new genera and five new species of bryozoans have been discovered in this shaly limestone. Subsequent analyses identified the new genera as Autospinifera n. gen., Utgaardostylus n. gen., and Wyseotrypa n. gen. The new species are Autospinifera rossae n. sp., Utgaardostylus stylata n. sp., Wyseotrypa parallela n. sp., Dyscritella triangulara n. sp., and Dyscritellina laminata n. sp. Other species of bryozoans present were previously described from the Russian Far East, Murdock Mountain Formation of the Leach Mountains of northeastern Nevada, Phosphoria Formation of eastern Idaho, and Gerster Limestone of the Medicine Range section of Nevada. This bryozoan fauna represents a late middle-Permian boreal fauna.

Bryozoans from RV Sonne deep-sea cruises SO 167 'Louisville' and SO 205 'Mangan'.

The German research vessel Sonne is operating in the Pacific, Southern and Indian Oceans. In the current stage of development in Pacific deep-sea mining projects, prior understanding of biodiversity patterns in the affected regions is one of the major research goals of the RV Sonne cruises. In the present study, nine bryozoan species are reported from the Equatorial East Pacific and the Kermadec-Tonga Ridge, collected during RV Sonne cruises SO 167 "Louisville" and SO 205 "Mangan", from 356-4007 m. Two new species, Raxifabia oligopora n. sp. and Opaeophora triangula n. sp., are described.

Triticella minini – a new ctenostome bryozoan from the abyssal plain adjacent to the Kuril–Kamchatka Trench

A new species of ctenostome bryozoan, Triticella minini sp. nov., is described from the abyssal plain adjacent to the Kuril–Kamchatka Trench, based on material collected by the Russian-German deep-sea expedition KuramBio 2012. Colonies of T. minini sp. nov. were found attached to the oral spines of irregular sea urchin Echinosigra (Echinogutta) amphoraMironov, 1974 by means of rhizoid fibers that penetrated the substratum through circular borings. The specimens were examined by light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and confocal laser scanning microscopy with phalloidin and nuclear labeling. The description of T. minini sp. nov. combines a general taxonomic description with a description of the anatomy of the muscular system. The new species differs from congeners in lacking a stolon. It has an intertentacular organ. T. minini sp. nov. is the eleventh species described in the genus TriticellaDalyell, 1848, and the first record for this genus from the northwestern Pacific. The new species is the fifth ctenostome bryozoan known to occur in 5001–5500m depth interval worldwide, and the deepest record reported for Triticella.

A new genus of the family Jaculinidae (Cheilostomata, Bryozoa) from the Miocene of the tropical western Atlantic.

Pirabasoporella gen. nov. is introduced for three new bryozoan species from the Early Miocene of the tropical western Atlantic. The genus is placed in the family Jaculinidae Zabala, a peculiar group of cheilostome bryozoans characterised by reticulate colonies formed by uni- or biserial branches that are connected by kenozooidal struts. This colonial morphology superficially resembles colonies of the Paleozoic order Fenestrata (Stenolaemata) and some Recent Cyclostomata. As jaculinid colonies are anchored to soft sediments via rhizoids, however, they differ in life habit from Paleozoic and modern fenestrate colonies, which are firmly attached to stable substrata by an encrusting base. The three new species are Pirabasoporella atalaiaensis n. sp. from the Brazilian Pirabas Formation, Pirabasoporella baitoae n. sp. from the Baitoa Formation (Dominican Republic), and Pirabasoporella chipolae n. sp. from the Floridan Chipola Formation. Their presence in the Early Miocene western Atlantic represents the earliest record of Jaculinidae, and suggests that the origin of the family, the only living species of which are known from the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea, extends well into the Paleogene. The Jaculinidae is here transferred from the lepraliomorph superfamily Schizoporelloidea Jullien to the umbonulomorph Lepralielloidea Vigneaux owing to the partly umbonuloid frontal shield and non-schizoporelloid ovicell.

Famennian (Upper Devonian) bryozoans from borehole Velbert 4, Rhenish Massif (Germany)

Eleven bryozoan species are described from the Velbert Formation (Famennian, westernmost Rhenish Massif) in Germany, including two new monospecific genera: Velbertopora geometrica gen. et sp. nov. and Rhenishella hirsuta gen. et sp. nov. The following additional species were identified in the assemblage: Nikiforovella cavernosa (Nekhoroshev, 1932), Cyphotrypa explorata Troizkaya 1968, Clausotrypa ramosa (oweN, 1973), Pamirella cf. minor (Ulrich, 1890), and Penniretepora cf. volgensis shishova, 1959. Four species were identified only to genus level: Fistulipora sp., Leptotrypella sp., Dyscritella sp., and Hinaclema sp. The bryozoan assemblage of the Velbert Formation shows palaeogeographical connections with uppermost Famennian assemblages from Kazakhstan, Russia, Azerbaijan, Mongolia and China.