Peter Funch | Aarhus University (original) (raw)

Papers by Peter Funch

Zoologischer Anzeiger, Sep 1, 2019

Frontiers in Microbiology, Apr 26, 2016

Systematic and Applied Microbiology, Jul 1, 2016

Frontiers in Microbiology, Jul 12, 2016

Invertebrate Biology, May 12, 2005

Abstract. The body-wall and visceral musculature of Notholca acuminata was visualized using phall... more Abstract. The body-wall and visceral musculature of Notholca acuminata was visualized using phalloidin-linked fluorescent dye under confocal laser scanning microscopy. The body-wall musculature includes dorsal, lateral, and ventral pairs of longitudinally oriented body retractor muscles, two pairs of head retractors, three pairs of incomplete circular muscles, which are modified into dorso-ventral muscles, and a single pair of dorsolateral muscles. The visceral musculature consists of a complex of thick muscles associated with the ...

Acta Zoologica, Jan 20, 2011

Here, we report on the sperm ultrastructure of Xenoturbella bocki (Westblad 1949), which we studi... more Here, we report on the sperm ultrastructure of Xenoturbella bocki (Westblad 1949), which we studied for the first time in detail using light, scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The mature spermatozoa are of the bilaterian primitive type, also called aquasperm and develop as uniflagellate sperm consisting of a round head with distinct mitochondria at the base and a 9+2 flagellum of approximately 42 μm in length. The acrosomal complex consists of a small, round electron translucent acrosomal vesicle and a subacrosomal base. There is no ...

Aquatic Microbial Ecology, 2000

Aquatic Microbial Ecology, 2001

BMC Genomics, Dec 29, 2022

Journal of Morphology, Jan 6, 2003

Canadian Journal of Zoology, Sep 1, 2003

HAL (Le Centre pour la Communication Scientifique Directe), 2008

Journal of Marine Science and Engineering, Sep 16, 2022

This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY

Journal of Zoology, Feb 26, 2008

Studies of geographic variation in anhydrobiotic tolerance may increase our understanding of the ... more Studies of geographic variation in anhydrobiotic tolerance may increase our understanding of the population dynamics of terrestrial meiofauna and the relative importance of local adaptation and microhabitat niche separation. Although anhydrobiosis in tardigrades has been studied extensively, few studies have dealt with intraspecific variation in survival and none of these included genetic data to validate the intraspecific nature of the comparisons. Such data are necessary when working with meiofauna as cryptic species are common. We analysed the anhydrobiotic survival and genetic variation in cytochrome oxidase subunit I of two eutardigrades (Richtersius coronifer and Ramazzottius oberhaeuseri) from Italy and Sweden to detect possible local adaptation. Survival was analysed as a multidimensional contingency table and showed that anhydrobiotic survival was higher in Sweden for Ra. oberhaeuseri whereas no significant geographic variation was found for Ri. coronifer. Our genetic analysis indicated the coexistence of two cryptic species of Ra. oberhaeuseri in Italy, only one of which was found in Sweden. It could not be determined whether the variation in Ramazzottius is intra‐ or interspecific due to the presence of these cryptic species. We suggest that geographic variation in anhydrobiotic survival may be a general phenomenon in tardigrades but further research is necessary to determine the degree of intraspecific variation. The genetic analysis showed indications of long‐term isolation of the individual populations of Ri. coronifer but recent dispersal in one of the cryptic species of Ramazzottius. We found higher survival in Ra. oberhaeuseri than in Ri. coronifer. These results indicate a possible coupling between anhydrobiotic survival and dispersal rate.

Springer eBooks, 2001

Knowledge of rotifers from Greenland is poor. Those from marine and other saline waters have espe... more Knowledge of rotifers from Greenland is poor. Those from marine and other saline waters have especially been poorly investigated. The authors have studied meiofauna from different saline localities at Disko Island, West Greenland on several occasions from 1990 to 1999. Samples from the intertidal zone, rock pools and a saline, radioactive spring contained 16 rotifer species. Six of these are new to Greenland. The radioactive salt spring has previously been suggested to contain marine relicts dating back to a warmer period ...

Marine Biology, Nov 3, 2005

The microhabitat of Symbion pandora (Cycliophora) was described by recording the prevalence and d... more The microhabitat of Symbion pandora (Cycliophora) was described by recording the prevalence and distribution of two life cycle stages, namely feeding individuals and chordoid cysts on the mouth appendages of 65 Norway lobsters. The commensals infested lobsters with a carapace length >35 mm, while the intensity of the commensals increased with host size up to more than 1,100 feeding individuals and 173 chordoid cysts. Feeding individuals and chordoid cysts were found on all six pairs of mouth appendages, but were rare on Mxp3. A Kruskal-Wallis analysis of variance showed that the distribution of the two stages over individual segments deviated significantly from random expectations (P<0.001). Feeding individuals densely aggregated on a few medial segments, generally those that are pervaded by suspended food particles during host feeding. Chordoid cysts, which arise from non-feeding females occurred in low numbers and were more evenly distributed over the segments, often aggregating on the lateral parts and in the articulations of the segments. Based on these findings we suggest that the feeding activity of S. pandora is synchronized with that of the host.

Marine Biology, Mar 16, 2007

Symbion americanus was recently described as the second species in the phylum Cycliophora, living... more Symbion americanus was recently described as the second species in the phylum Cycliophora, living commensally on the American commercial lobster Homarus americanus. A previous genetic analysis of American and European populations of cycliophorans suggested that haplotype divergence in S. americanus was much greater than in its European counterpart S. pandora. This study examined the population structure and demographics of 169 individuals thought to belong to S. americanus collected from lobsters over 13 North American localities (Nova Scotia, Canada to Maryland, USA) between October 2003 and January 2006. Cytochrome c oxidase subunit I sequence data clearly suggested the presence of three cryptic lineages in a species complex, often co-occurring in the same lobster specimens. One of these lineages, named the "G" lineage, was represented by very few individuals and therefore was excluded from subsequent statistical analyses. The other two sympatric lineages, named the "T" and "C" lineages, showed diVerent population structure and demography. Although limited geographic structure was found in the T lineage, the C lineage showed higher nucleotide and haplotype diversity values, as well as more variation between localities. The data also indicated that the T lineage underwent a recent population expansion, suggesting that the C and T lineages may have speciated in allopatry but a subsequent population expansion may have been responsible for their current sympatric distribution. Studies on the anatomy and ecology of the sympatric lineages of this species complex should provide further information on the identity of the holotype of S. americanus, which currently cannot be ascribed to any of the three cryptic lineages. Communicated by J.P. Grassle.

Journal of Biogeography, Jun 15, 2011

Aim To analyse the phylogeographical history of intertidal tardigrades in the North Atlantic in o... more Aim To analyse the phylogeographical history of intertidal tardigrades in the North Atlantic in order to improve our understanding of geographical differentiation in microscopic organisms, and to understand the potential importance of the Mid-Atlantic Islands as stepping stones between the American and European coasts of the Atlantic Ocean. Location Twenty-four localities from the Mid-Atlantic Islands (Greenland, Iceland and the Faroe Islands) and both sides of the North Atlantic Ocean. Methods A mitochondrial marker (cytochrome c oxidase subunit I) was sequenced from individual tardigrades belonging to the genus Echiniscoides. The existence of cryptic species was detected using generalized mixed Yule coalescence analysis; lineage ages were estimated with relaxed clock methods; and the degree of geographical differentiation was analysed with samova analyses, haplotype networks and Mantel tests. Results Echiniscoides hoepneri, previously known only from Greenland, was recovered throughout the Mid-Atlantic Islands. The Faroe Islands population was isolated from Greenland and Iceland, but overall genetic variation was low. The morphospecies Echiniscoides sigismundi had high genetic variation and consisted of at least two cryptic species. A northern and a southern species were both recovered on both sides of the Atlantic, but only the northern species was found on the Mid-Atlantic Islands. The northern species showed signs of long-term isolation between the Western and Eastern Atlantic, despite the potential of the Mid-Atlantic islands to act as stepping-stones. There was no sign of long-term isolation in the southern species. The Mid-Atlantic individuals of the northern species were of Eastern Atlantic origin, but Greenland and Iceland showed signs of long-term isolation. The genetic pattern found in the southern species is not clearly geographical, and can probably be best explained by secondary contact between former isolated populations. Main conclusions North Atlantic intertidal tardigrades from the genus Echiniscoides showed strong geographical differentiation, and the Mid-Atlantic Islands seemed unimportant as stepping stones across the Atlantic. The geographical variation of the northern species of E. sigismundi suggests postglacial recolonization from several refugia.

Nature, Dec 1, 1995

The mouthparts of the Norway lobster Nephrops are colonized by an acoelomate metazoan, Symbion pa... more The mouthparts of the Norway lobster Nephrops are colonized by an acoelomate metazoan, Symbion pandora gen. et sp. nov. Sessile&amp;quot; stages continually produce inner buds replacing feeding structures. They also produce one of three motile stages:(1) larvae containing new feeding stages,(2) dwarf males, which settle on feeding stages, or (3) females, which settle onto lobster mouthparts, and eventually degenerate, giving rise to dispersive larvae. All motile stages are short-lived, and do not feed. The structure and function of the cilia ...