Victor Surugiu | Universitatea Alexandru Ioan Cuza Iasi (original) (raw)

Papers by Victor Surugiu

The taxonomic, morphological, biological, behavioural and ecological characteristics of three spe... more The taxonomic, morphological, biological, behavioural and ecological characteristics of three species of spionid poly-chaetes from the Black Sea belonging to the Polydora-complex are summarised and discussed on the basis of the author′s collections along Romanian coasts as well as on material from other parts of the Black Sea. It is apparent that at least two species have been included under the name ′ Polydora ciliata′ in the Black Sea literature. All previous records of Polydora that bore into calcareous substrates are most likely Polydora websteri. The individuals building muddy tubes on all types of substrata at depths less than 20 m, previously identified as P. ciliata or P. limicola, are P. cornuta. The presence of true P. ciliata in the Black Sea is questionable and older records must be re-evaluated. Dipolydora quadrilobata is a new record for the Romanian coast of the Black Sea, and has established dense populations in deeper (>30 m) soft bottom sediments. Descriptions and figures of these species, as well as a key to actual species of the Polydora-complex occurring in the Black Sea, are provided.

In this study we analyzed at a submeso‐geographic scale (2 km) the genetic diversity of two sub‐ ... more In this study we analyzed at a submeso‐geographic scale (2 km) the genetic diversity of two sub‐ populations of Platynereis dumerilii and correlated this with the physical characteristics of the marine currents along the western Black Sea coast. For this purpose, we developed a set of 13 new polymorphic microsatellite markers and used them to assess the genetic differentiation, as well as the bi‐directional migration rates between the studied sub‐populations. We also computed the Peclet number (Pe) as an indicator of the relative effect of advection and eddy diffusion on larval dispersion for the specific conditions of the Black Sea study area. The results indicated no genetic structure in P. dumerilii sub‐populations which indicates that the longitudinal alongshore currents dominate in the population structuring of this species. This finding is important, because with the average current speeds of 5 cm/sec on the Black Sea coast during May–August we might have expected a certain population structuring to occur. In accordance with the periodical change of direction of the longitudinal current (either form North to South, or form South to North) the gene flow was found to be bi‐directional, with the same intensity.

In order to clarify taxonomic problems relating to the identity of Scolelepis (Scolelepis) specim... more In order to clarify taxonomic problems relating to the identity of Scolelepis (Scolelepis) specimens from the Black Sea, the identified material was compared with specimens of Scolelepis cirratulus (Delle Chiaje, 1829) from the Mediterra-nean, of S. squamata (Abildgaard, in O.F. Müller, 1806) from the North Sea and the Atlantic coast of Spain, and with the syntypes of S. mesnili (Bellan & Lagardère, 1971) from the Atlantic coast of France. The examination of a large number of specimens (both juveniles and adults) reveals that the currently accepted morphological differences distinguishing all species show size-related patterns, suggesting that they all belong to one species. Therefore, this study supports the view that Scolelepis cirratulus and Scolelepis mesnili are junior synonyms of Scolelepis (Scolelepis) squamata. As a result of the re-assessment of the species limits of Scolelepis (Scolelepis) squamata, a new species, Scolelepis (Scolelepis) neglecta sp. nov., is distinguished and described from the Cantabrian coast of Spain. It inhabits shallow sublittoral fine sands and was earlier misidentified and reported from the Atlantic coast of Europe and the Mediterranean Sea as Scolelepis squa-mata, Scolelepis mesnili, Scolelepis cantabra (Rioja, 1918), or Dispio uncinata Hartman, 1951. The new species is characterized by having a trilobate prostomium with an acuminate medial portion, a short peristomium with well-developed dorso-lateral wings, short palps with two longitudinal bands of elevated lobes, neuropodial postchaetal lamellae notched from chaetigers 14–41, and strongly curved bidentate neuropodial hooded hooks with a slight constriction on the shaft starting from chaetigers 19–49. The morphology, diagnostic characters and ecology of both Scolelepis (Scolelepis) squa-mata and Scolelepis (Scolelepis) neglecta sp. nov. are discussed. Introduction The genus Scolelepis represents a group of spionid polychaetes that share the presence of a pointed prostomium, branchiae beginning from chaetiger 2, the lack of ciliated grooves on palps, and a cushion-like pygidium without cirri. The genus Scolelepis (sensu lato), currently comprising around 85 species, is commonly divided into two subgenera, Scolelepis Blainville, 1828 (sensu stricto) with approximately 73 species and Parascolelepis Maciolek, 1987 with 12 species (Sikorski & Pavlova 2015; Meißner & Götting 2015; Read 2016). The diagnostic characters that have proven to be relevant in distinguishing species of Scolelepis (sensu lato) are those related to the shape of the prostomium, the presence and size of lateral wings on the peristomium, the shape of the basal palpal sheaths, the palp ciliation pattern, the presence or absence of notochaetae on chaetiger 1, the shape of postchaetal lamellae of chaetiger 1, the degree of branchial fusion, the shape and the distribution of hooded hooks, the nature of notopodial capillaries, the ratio of the length of the hood to main fang, the shape of the anterior and posterior neuropodial postchaetal lamellae, the shape of the posterior notopodial postchaetal lamellae, and the shape of the pygidium

There are many taxonomic problems in polychaete species names and solving confusing or inadequate... more There are many taxonomic problems in polychaete species names and solving confusing or inadequate taxonomic procedures is both time-demanding and extremely important. Our objective in this contribution was to analyse what is the current taxonomic situation for Nereis falsa de Quatrefages, 1866; it was based upon Nereis pulsatoria? Rathke, 1837 from the Black Sea, and it is currently regarded as having a very wide distribution. The species has been collected from different benthic substrates and even can be found on floating objects or marine turtles. Nereis falsa has been recorded from the Mediterranean Sea, the Eastern Atlantic along Africa, the Western Atlantic (Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea, Brazil), and the Indian Ocean. However, despite the fact N. falsa was proposed as a species from the Black Sea, it has not yet been found there. How can we explain that a species is able to attain a very wide distribution and yet be missing from its type locality? After a careful study of previous publications and with our understanding of the systematics of nereidid polychaetes, we clarify the current situation by examining several related species and pointed out some nomenclatural issues. Our analysis indicates there is more than one species included under the same name, and in this contribution we propose some means to promote discussion and actions, and suggest some basic research for solving this issue. Rev. Biol. Trop. 65 (3): 847-857. Epub 2017 September 01.

Italian Journal of Zoology, 2011

Populations of Alitta (=Neanthes) succinea (Frey and Leuckart, 1847) collected from two closely s... more Populations of Alitta (=Neanthes) succinea (Frey and Leuckart, 1847) collected from two closely situated locations on the Romanian coast of the Black Sea were analysed from March 2007 to May 2008 in order to elucidate their population dynamics and genetics. The mean density was 655 ind. m−2, presenting two peaks, the first in June 2007 with 950 ind. m−2 and the second in November 2007 with 1633 ind. m−2. The mean biomass over entire period of survey was 4.33 g dry weight (DW) m−2, with a minimum of 1.15 g DW m−2 in September 2007 and a maximum of 8.08 g DW m−2 in June 2007. The decrease of density and biomass in winter is determined by the mortality of adults, whereas the increase in numerical abundance in late spring–early summer and especially in the autumn can be explained by the recruitment of juveniles. The analysis of the size frequency histograms indicated the existence of two recruitment periods: the first in May–June and the second in September–November. From June 2007 to May 2008, the annual secondary production, mean biomass and the production/biomass ratio (P/ ) for the entire population were estimated to be 5.66 g DW m−2 year−1, 4.22 g DW m−2 and 1.34 year−1, respectively.Extracts for isozyme analysis were prepared from 23 individuals from the polluted Danube–Black Sea Canal (population C) and 25 individuals from relatively pristine area situated at only 2 km distance (population A). A genetic analysis was conducted with 29 DNA markers on 10 individuals from population A and 10 individuals from population C. The value of Nei's genetic index was h = 0.1873 for population A, h = 0.2099 for population C and h = 0.2172 for the total, while the gene flow was Nm = 1.12. The results showed that the two sampled populations are genetically close and could be considered as a single population and genetic pool.