Petroleum hydrocarbon ecological risk and changes induced on macrobenthic communities of a microtidal estuary in South America.

The coastal areas of Montevideo-Canelones, Uruguay, are strongly affected by anthropogenic activities. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are of especial ecological concern due to their acute toxicity. The study aimed to evaluate the relationship between different pollution levels and the ecological structure of macrobenthic communities of the subtidal coastal zone and to assess the ecological risk of the 16 PAHs identified by US EPA for these communities. Communities in Montevideo Bay are under the influence of combined effects of natural oscillations and anthropic pollution, while the adjacent coastal areas communities are strongly influenced by El Niño Southern Oscillation. Toxicity assessments classified two sites in Montevideo Bay as medium to low risk. This study allowed recognizing the complex nature of the responses of benthic organisms to multiple stressors and the importance of considering different approaches.

The role of spine length in crustacean and fish associations with echinoids at Los Cabos, Baja California Sur, Mexico / El papel de la longitud de la espina en la asociación de crustáceos y peces con equinoideos en Los Cabos, Baja California Sur, México

Introduction: Echinoids (sea urchins) provide shelter for a variety of facultative or obligatory ectosymbionts. Objective: To evaluate the hypothesis that decapods and fishes prefer to associate with echinoid individuals and species that have longer spines. Methods: We visually studied the frequency of decapod crustaceans and fishes associated with echinoids in shallow water (< 4 m) and deeper water (5-20 m) at Los Cabos, Baja California Sur, Mexico, during 1-6 January 2019. Results: We inspected 1 058 echinoids of six species. Five decapod species associated with three species of echinoids. When compared with other echinoid species, in shallow water, decapods associated 5.1 times more often with the longest-spined echinoid Diadema mexicanum (7.0 times more decapods per individual D. mexicanum); in deeper water, association frequency was similar for all echinoid species. Fourteen fish species associated with four echinoid species. In shallow water, fishes associated 2.6 times more with D. mexicanum (4.5 times more fishes per individual). There was no preferred echinoid species in deeper water. Longer-spined D. mexicanum had more decapods and fishes. Associations were more frequent in shallow water. Multiple individuals and species of decapods and fish often associated together with a single D. mexicanum. The decapod that presumably is Tuleariocaris holthuisi showed a possible obligatory association with one of the equinoids (D. mexicanum); the other decapods and all fish species are facultative associates. Conclusion: Our results support the hypothesis that decapods and fishes associate most frequently with echinoids with the longest spines, presumably to reduce the risk of predation.

Introducción: Los equinoideos (erizos de mar) brindan refugio a una variedad de ectosimbiontes facultativos u obligatorios. Objetivo: Evaluar la hipótesis de que los decápodos y los peces prefieren asociarse con individuos y especies de equinoideos con espinas más largas. Métodos: Estudiamos visualmente la frecuencia de crustáceos decápodos y peces asociados con equinoideos en aguas poco profundas (< 4 m) y aguas más profundas (5-20 m) en Los Cabos, Baja California Sur, México, del 1-6 de enero 2019. Resultados: Examinamos 1 058 equinoideos de seis especies. Cinco especies de decápodos se asociaron con tres especies de equinoideos. Al comparar con otras especies de equinoideos, en aguas poco profundas, los decápodos se asociaron 5.1 veces más frecuentemente con la especie de equinoideo de espinas más largas, Diadema mexicanum (7.0 veces más decápodos por individuo en D. mexicanum); en aguas más profundas, la frecuencia fue similar para todas las especies de equinoideos. Catorce especies de peces se asociaron con 4 especies de equinoideos. En aguas poco profundas, los peces se asociaron 2.6 veces más con D. mexicanum (4.5 veces más peces por individuo). No hubo preferencia por una especie de equinoideo en aguas más profundas. Individuos de D. mexicanum con espinas largas tuvieron más asociación con decápodos y peces. Las asociaciones se dieron con mayor frecuencia en aguas poco profundas. Múltiples individuos y especies de decápodos y peces a menudo se asociaron con un solo D. mexicanum. Un decápodo que presumiblemente es Tuleariocaris holthuisi mostró una posible asociación obligatoria con uno de los equinoideos (D. mexicanum); las otras especies de decápodos y todas las especies de peces presentaron asociaciones facultativas. Conclusión: Nuestros resultados apoyan la hipótesis de que los decápodos y los peces se asociaron con mayor frecuencia con los equinoideos con las espinas más largas, presumiblemente para reducir el riesgo de depredación.

Macroalgae metal-biomonitoring in Antarctica: Addressing the consequences of human presence in the white continent.

Marine ecosystems in the Arctic and Antarctica were once thought pristine and away from important human influence. Today, it is known that global processes as atmospheric transport, local activities related with scientific research bases, military and touristic maritime traffic, among others, are a potential source of pollutants. Macroalgae have been recognized as reliable metal-biomonitoring organisms due to their accumulation capacity and physiological responses. Metal accumulation (Al, Cd, Cu, Fe, Pb, Zn, Se, and Hg) and photosynthetic parameters (associated with in vivo chlorophyll a fluorescence) were assessed in 77 samples from 13 different macroalgal species (Phaeophyta; Chlorophyta; Rhodophyta) from areas with high human influence, nearby research and sometimes military bases and a control area, King George Island, Antarctic Peninsula. Most metals in macroalgae followed a pattern influenced by rather algal lineage than site, with green seaweeds displaying trends of higher levels of metals as Al, Cu, Cr and Fe. Photosynthesis was also not affected by site, showing healthy organisms, especially in brown macroalgae, likely due to their great dimensions and morphological complexity. Finally, data did not demonstrate a relationship between metal accumulation and photosynthetic performance, evidencing low anthropogenic-derived impacts associated with metal excess in the area. Green macroalgae, especially Monostroma hariotti, are highlighted as reliable for further metal biomonitoring assessments. In the most ambitious to date seaweed biomonitoring effort conducted towards the Austral pole, this study improved by 91% the overall knowledge on metal accumulation in macroalgae from Antarctica, being the first report in species as Sarcopeltis antarctica and Plocamium cartilagineum. These findings may suggest that human short- and long-range metal influence on Antarctic coastal ecosystems still remains under control.

The cascade of effects caused by emersion during early ontogeny in porcelain crabs of the Southeast Pacific coast: Biochemical responses of offspring.

Petrolisthes crabs inhabit a wide range of coastal environments, from the upper intertidal to the subtidal, experiencing regular changes in pH, salinity, and temperature. Hence, such subtidal and intertidal invertebrates are likely to show physiological and biochemical adaptive responses in order to successfully develop during early ontogenetic stages and thus reach reproduction. We herein evaluated the biochemical responses to contrasting environmental conditions of the early ontogenetic stages of two coastal crabs from the Southeast Pacific coast: Petrolisthes laevigatus and Allopetrolisthes punctatus. For this purpose, stage I embryos of both species were subjected to two treatments: (1) emersion (i.e., a daily 3 h aerial exposure until the zoeas hatched) and (2) immersion (i.e., uninterrupted underwater submersion until the zoeas hatched); the total contents of glucose, proteins, lipids, and fatty acids of the organisms were measured in stage I embryos and recently hatched zoeas in order to assess the biochemical constitution of the two species. Both species showed changes in their energetic reserves when treatments within species were compared. Our results found that A. punctatus was negatively affected by stressful periods of emersion, while P. laevigatus showed the opposite tendency and was affected by periods of immersion. The sensitivity of the response and the contrasting outcomes for these two crabs underpin the fact that changes in environmental conditions along the Chilean coast due to climate change (e.g., increased anoxic coastal waters) may have significantly negative consequences on the populations of these ecologically important species and the associated taxa within their ecosystems.

Colonization of novel algal habitats by juveniles of a marine tube-dwelling amphipod.

BACKGROUND: Dispersal is an important process affecting population dynamics and connectivity. For marine direct developers, both adults and juveniles may disperse. Although the distribution of juveniles can be initially constrained by their mothers' choice, they may be able to leave the parental habitat and colonize other habitats. We investigated the effect of habitat quality, patch size and presence of conspecific adults on the colonization of novel habitats by juveniles of the tube-dwelling amphipod Cymadusa filosa associated with the macroalgal host Sargassum filipendula. METHODS: We tested the factors listed above on the colonization of juveniles by manipulating natural and artificial plants in both the field and laboratory. RESULTS: In the laboratory, juveniles selected high-quality habitats (i.e., natural alga), where both food and shelter are provided, when low-quality resources (i.e., artificial alga) were also available. In contrast, habitat quality and algal patch size did not affect the colonization by juveniles in the field. Finally, the presence of conspecific adults did not affect the colonization of juveniles under laboratory condition but had a weak effect in the field experiment. Our results suggest that C. filosa juveniles can select and colonize novel habitats, and that such process can be partially affected by habitat quality, but not by patch size. Also, the presence of conspecifics may affect the colonization by juveniles. Successful colonization by this specific developmental stage under different scenarios indicates that juveniles may act as a dispersal agent in this species.

Redescription of Leiocapitella atlantica Hartman, 1965 and description of a new species from the Southeast Brazil (Annelida, Capitellidae).

The genus Leiocapitella was described as having a wide variation on the number of thoracic chaetigers (13-17); however, this variation was added to the diagnosis of the genus based on undescribed species. A shortening in the range of variation of thoracic chaetigers is proposed until a re-examination of these species and a formal description be made. Currently, there are five valid species and a single species has been previously recorded in Brazil. The aim of this study was to investigate the diversity of this genus occurring in the Southeast Brazil. A new species has been found in samples collected on subtidal areas, Leiocapitella sensibilis sp. nov., and it is described and compared to other species of the genus. Leiocapitella atlantica Hartman, 1965 is redescribed after examination of the type material.

The sea anemone Exaiptasia diaphana (Actiniaria: Aiptasiidae) associated to rhodoliths at Isla del Coco National Park, Costa Rica / La anémona de mar Exaiptasia diaphana (Actiniaria: Aiptasiidae) asociada a rodolitos en el Parque Nacional Isla del Coco

Introduction: The sea anemones diversity is still poorly studied in Isla del Coco National Park, Costa Rica. Objective: To report for the first time the presence of the sea anemone Exaiptasia diaphana. Methods: Some rhodoliths were examined in situ in Punta Ulloa at 14 m depth, by SCUBA during the expedition UCR-UNA-COCO-I to Isla del Coco National Park on 24th April 2010. Living anemones settled on rhodoliths were photographed and its external morphological features and measures were recorded in situ. Results: Several individuals of E. diaphana were observed on rodoliths and we repeatedly observed several small individuals of this sea anemone surrounding the largest individual in an area (presumably the founder sea anemone) on rhodoliths from Punta Ulloa. Conclusions: The geographic distribution is extended as well as their bathymetric distribution from the intertidal to 14 m depth. The photographs provide evidence of clonal reproduction by pedal laceration.

Introducción: La diversidad de anémonas de mar en el Parque Nacional Isla del Coco, Costa Rica, está aún poco estudiada. Objetivo: Reportar por primera vez la presencia de la anémona de mar Exaiptasia diaphana. Métodos: Algunos rodolitos fueron examinados in situ en Punta Ulloa a 14 m. de profundidad mediante SCUBA durante la expedición UCR-UNA-COCO-I al Parque Nacional Isla del Coco el 24 de abril de 2010. Especímenes vivos fijados sobre rodolitos fueron fotografiados y sus medidas y carácterísticas morfológicas externas fueron registradas in situ. Resultados: Varios individuos de E. diaphana fueron observados sobre rodolitos y observamos repetidamente pequeños individuos rodeando a un individuo mayor (presumiblemente la anémona fundadora) sobre rodolitos de Punta Ulloa. Conclusiones: La distribución geográfica de esta especie es extendida, como así también su distribución batimétrica desde el intermareal hasta los 14 m de profundidad. Las imágenes obtenidas aportan evidencia de reproducción clonal por laceración pedal.

Marine invertebrate and seaweed biodiversity of continental coastal Ecuador.

This study summarises the diversity of living macroinvertebrates and seaweeds from the intertidal and subtidal rocky shores along Ecuadorian continental coast. Benthic macroinvertebrate communities and seaweeds were quantified over quadrants (50 × 50 cm) randomly placed on transects of 50 m length. A checklist of 612 species was generated: 479 species of macroinvertebrates and 133 species of seaweeds. Groups recorded were Mollusca (184 species), Cnidaria (70), Arthropoda (68), Annelida (60), Echinodermata (42), Chordata (18), Bryozoa (13), Porifera (22), Sipuncula (2), Brachiopoda and Platyhelminthes (only identified as morphotypes). The seaweeds were represented by Rhodophyta (78), Chlorophyta (37), Ochrophyta (13), Cyanobacteria (5) and 19 biotic complexes. Furthermore, 22 new taxa and six alien species were recorded from the intertidal zone. This study provides the first large scale report of benthic communities in different marine coastal ecosystems in mainland Ecuador, covering 1,478 km2 of protected areas and 382 km2 of non-protected areas. The highest benthic diversity was registered in the protected areas and rocky shores from the intertidal zone. The biological data, herein reported, are useful for a long-term monitoring programme to evaluate the status of conservation and to detect rapid changes in the benthic biodiversity from coastal areas.

Marine Tardigrada from the Mexican Caribbean with the description of Styraconyx robertoi sp. nov. (Arthrotardigrada: Styraconyxidae).

Marine tardigrades were sampled at three sites on Mexico's Caribbean coast. Eleven taxa were collected, one of which is described as a new species. Styraconyx robertoi sp. nov. is characterized by: asymmetric primary clavae; dorsal cuticle with a grid-like sculpture; claws with reduced accessory hooks; females with peduncles on only two digits (the external) of legs I-IV; males with peduncles only on the external digits of legs I-III and peduncles on all four digits of leg IV. Styraconyx robertoi sp. nov. is most similar to S. craticuliformis Chang Rho, 1998 and S. kristenseni Renaud-Mornant, 1981 by having asymmetric primary clavae but differs from S. craticuliformis mainly by the number of peduncles and from S. kristenseni mainly by the presence of a grid-like dorsal sculpture. Additionally, a comparison of material collected from the same region, but reported previously only as genus level records, was carried out in order to produce a refined list of the known Mexican marine tardigrade species.

Consumer mobility predicts impacts of herbivory across an environmental stress gradient.

Environmental stress impedes predation and herbivory by limiting the ability of animals to search for and consume prey. We tested the contingency of this relationship on consumer traits and specifically hypothesized that herbivore mobility relative to the return time of limiting environmental stress would predict consumer effects. We examined how wave-induced water motion affects marine communities via herbivory by highly mobile (fish) vs. slow-moving (pencil urchin) consumers at two wave-sheltered and two wave-exposed rocky subtidal locations in the Galapagos Islands. The exposed locations experienced 99th percentile flow speeds that were 2-5 times greater than sheltered locations, with mean flow speeds >33 cm/s vs. <16 cm/s, 2-7 times higher standing macroalgal cover and 2-3 times lower cover of crustose coralline algae than the sheltered locations. As predicted by the environmental stress hypothesis (ESH), there was a negative relationship between mean flow speed and urchin abundance and herbivory rates on Ulva spp. algal feeding assays. In contrast, the biomass of surgeonfishes (Acanthuridae) and parrotfishes (Labridae: Scarinae) was positively correlated with mean flow speed. Ulva assays were consumed at equal rates by fish at exposed and sheltered locations, indicating continued herbivory even when flow speeds surpassed maximum reported swimming speeds at a rate of 1-2 times per minute. Modeled variation in fish species richness revealed minimal effects of diversity on herbivory rates at flow speeds <40 cm/s, when all species were capable of foraging, and above 120 cm/s, when no species could forage, while increasing diversity maximized herbivory rates at flow speeds of 40-120 cm/s. Two-month herbivore exclusion experiments during warm and cool seasons revealed that macroalgal biomass was positively correlated with flow speed. Fish limited macroalgal development by 65-91% at one exposed location but not the second and by 70% at the two sheltered locations. In contrast, pencil urchins did not affect algal communities at either exposed location, but reduced macroalgae by 87% relative to controls at both sheltered locations. We propose an extension of the ESH that is contingent upon mobility to explain species-specific changes in feeding rates and consumer effects on benthic communities across environmental gradients.

Metagenomic Analysis of Subtidal Sediments from Polar and Subpolar Coastal Environments Highlights the Relevance of Anaerobic Hydrocarbon Degradation Processes.

In this work, we analyzed the community structure and metabolic potential of sediment microbial communities in high-latitude coastal environments subjected to low to moderate levels of chronic pollution. Subtidal sediments from four low-energy inlets located in polar and subpolar regions from both Hemispheres were analyzed using large-scale 16S rRNA gene and metagenomic sequencing. Communities showed high diversity (Shannon's index 6.8 to 10.2), with distinct phylogenetic structures (<40% shared taxa at the Phylum level among regions) but similar metabolic potential in terms of sequences assigned to KOs. Environmental factors (mainly salinity, temperature, and in less extent organic pollution) were drivers of both phylogenetic and functional traits. Bacterial taxa correlating with hydrocarbon pollution included families of anaerobic or facultative anaerobic lifestyle, such as Desulfuromonadaceae, Geobacteraceae, and Rhodocyclaceae. In accordance, biomarker genes for anaerobic hydrocarbon degradation (bamA, ebdA, bcrA, and bssA) were prevalent, only outnumbered by alkB, and their sequences were taxonomically binned to the same bacterial groups. BssA-assigned metagenomic sequences showed an extremely wide diversity distributed all along the phylogeny known for this gene, including bssA sensu stricto, nmsA, assA, and other clusters from poorly or not yet described variants. This work increases our understanding of microbial community patterns in cold coastal sediments, and highlights the relevance of anaerobic hydrocarbon degradation processes in subtidal environments.

Owenia caissara sp. n. (Annelida, Oweniidae) from Southern Brazil: addressing an identity crisis

We re-assess the taxonomic status of Owenia Delle Chiaje, 1841 from Southern Brazil based on estuarine specimens from Paranaguá Bay (Paraná) and Babitonga Bay (Santa Catarina), and literature records. Owenia caissara sp. n. is diagnosed by a branchial crown with five pairs of tentacles, branched close to the base of the crown, rectilinear collar with a pronounced lateral slit, two ventrolateral ocelli partially covered by the collar, up to 23 hooks on a single row in the first abdominal segment, regularly curved nuchal shape, regularly moderate teeth curvature, and long and thin scales with oval transition. The description of Owenia caissara sp. n. reinforces the idea that Owenia fusiformis sensu lato is a complex of closely related species that can be distinguished on the basis of both macro- and micro- morphological traits.(AU)

Owenia caissara sp. n. (Annelida, Oweniidae) from Southern Brazil: addressing an identity crisis

We re-assess the taxonomic status of Owenia Delle Chiaje, 1841 from Southern Brazil based on estuarine specimens from Paranaguá Bay (Paraná) and Babitonga Bay (Santa Catarina), and literature records. Owenia caissara sp. n. is diagnosed by a branchial crown with five pairs of tentacles, branched close to the base of the crown, rectilinear collar with a pronounced lateral slit, two ventrolateral ocelli partially covered by the collar, up to 23 hooks on a single row in the first abdominal segment, regularly curved nuchal shape, regularly moderate teeth curvature, and long and thin scales with oval transition. The description of Owenia caissara sp. n. reinforces the idea that Owenia fusiformis sensu lato is a complex of closely related species that can be distinguished on the basis of both macro- and micro- morphological traits.

Composition and abundance of porcellanid crabs (Crustacea: Decapoda: Anomura) from rocky bottoms off Vitória Island, southeast coast of Brazil

This study aimed to describe the species composition and abundance of the porcellanid crabs inhabiting the consolidated sublittoral off an island on the southeastern coast of Brazil. During a sampling program at Vitória Island (23º44'S, 45º01'W), collections were carried out monthly from February 2004 through January 2006. The crabs were hand-caught by SCUBA divers during the daytime. The greatest carapace width (CW) was measured, and the sex and developmental stage were identified for each crab. The specimens were grouped into five demographic categories: juvenile males, adult males, juvenile females, adult females, and ovigerous females. A total of 275 crabs belonging to three genera and six species were obtained. Petrolisthes amoenus (Guérin-Méneville, 1855) and Pachycheles riisei (Stimpson, 1858) were the most abundant species. Most of the demographic classes were represented for both species, except that no adult females of P. riisei were recorded. Among the porcellanids, Pachycheles monilifer (Dana, 1852) was the dominant species; it comprised more than 75% of the total individuals sampled, and showed the highest constancy index for the region. The results obtained in this study provided information regarding the faunal composition and the relative abundance of the species, which will be useful as a reference for other sublittoral consolidated-bottom regions along the southeast Brazilian coast.

Composition and abundance of porcellanid crabs (Crustacea: Decapoda: Anomura) from rocky bottoms off Vitória Island, southeast coast of Brazil

This study aimed to describe the species composition and abundance of the porcellanid crabs inhabiting the consolidated sublittoral off an island on the southeastern coast of Brazil. During a sampling program at Vitória Island (23º44'S, 45º01'W), collections were carried out monthly from February 2004 through January 2006. The crabs were hand-caught by SCUBA divers during the daytime. The greatest carapace width (CW) was measured, and the sex and developmental stage were identified for each crab. The specimens were grouped into five demographic categories: juvenile males, adult males, juvenile females, adult females, and ovigerous females. A total of 275 crabs belonging to three genera and six species were obtained. Petrolisthes amoenus (Guérin-Méneville, 1855) and Pachycheles riisei (Stimpson, 1858) were the most abundant species. Most of the demographic classes were represented for both species, except that no adult females of P. riisei were recorded. Among the porcellanids, Pachycheles monilifer (Dana, 1852) was the dominant species; it comprised more than 75% of the total individuals sampled, and showed the highest constancy index for the region. The results obtained in this study provided information regarding the faunal composition and the relative abundance of the species, which will be useful as a reference for other sublittoral consolidated-bottom regions along the southeast Brazilian coast.

Composition and abundance of porcellanid crabs (Crustacea: Decapoda: Anomura) from rocky bottoms off Vitória Island, southeast coast of Brazil

This study aimed to describe the species composition and abundance of the porcellanid crabs inhabiting the consolidated sublittoral off an island on the southeastern coast of Brazil. During a sampling program at Vitória Island (23º44'S, 45º01'W), collections were carried out monthly from February 2004 through January 2006. The crabs were hand-caught by SCUBA divers during the daytime. The greatest carapace width (CW) was measured, and the sex and developmental stage were identified for each crab. The specimens were grouped into five demographic categories: juvenile males, adult males, juvenile females, adult females, and ovigerous females. A total of 275 crabs belonging to three genera and six species were obtained. Petrolisthes amoenus (Guérin-Méneville, 1855) and Pachycheles riisei (Stimpson, 1858) were the most abundant species. Most of the demographic classes were represented for both species, except that no adult females of P. riisei were recorded. Among the porcellanids, Pachycheles monilifer (Dana, 1852) was the dominant species; it comprised more than 75% of the total individuals sampled, and showed the highest constancy index for the region. The results obtained in this study provided information regarding the faunal composition and the relative abundance of the species, which will be useful as a reference for other sublittoral consolidated-bottom regions along the southeast Brazilian coast.