Planktonic Ctenophora of the Madeira archipelago (Northeastern Atlantic) (original) (raw)
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On the natural history and distribution of oceanic ctenophores
Deep Sea Research, 1978
Abslract-Oceamc ctenophores show a great diversity in feeding hiology, ranging from Leucothea multlcornts, which can eat only small copepods, to species of Ocyropsis, which can capture and ingest small fish and euphausuds The Cydlppida capture prey with tentacles, while most of the Lobata use tentacles and their mucus-covered oral lobes. Leucothea multtcornis has elaborate oral lobes, which can function independently of one another; Ocyropsls crystalhna feeds by trapping prey m its muscular oral lobes, wtthout use of mucus or tentacles These two speoes represent extremes in the feeding bmlogy of the Lobata. The Cestida feed by trapping small prey on tentacles that lie over the sides of the body Several genera of hypenld amplupods are closely associated with ctenophores, both as parasites and predators Medusae and heteropods have also been seen to feed on ctenophores. We have encountered oceamc ctenophores oRen in abundance on about 75% of the 250 dives we have made in the past three years. Our colleeUons from the North AtlanUc and Indian oceans suggest that ctenophores are important predators m the upper waters of the open sea Because most of the spexaes discussed in this paper are never reported from net plankton collecuons, they constitute a hitherto ignored component of the open ocean ecosystem * Contn'buUon No_ 3929 of the Woods Hole Oceanographic lnsUtuuon_
Plankton and Benthos Research, 2020
On April 10, 2015, three individuals of an undescribed species of ctenophore were observed moving just above the seafloor in the Arecibo Amphitheater inside the Guajataca Canyon, north-northwest of Puerto Rico at a depth of approximately 3,900 m. The ctenophore is distinctive; having two prominent tentacle arms, a body that is rectangular when observed laterally along the tentacular plane, and rounded when observed laterally along the stomodeal plane. The tentacle arms each give rise to an extensible tentacle bearing short tentilla of uniform length and distribution. One ctenophore appeared to be anchored to the seafloor by its two long flexible tentacles, as well as by two filaments exiting its oral end. The overall form of the ctenophore suggests classification within the problematic, non-monophyletic order Cydippida, but the robust tentacle arms are more reminiscent of benthic species of Platyctenida, particularly those of families Lyroctenidae and Ctenoplanidae. Whereas most platyctenid ctenophores do not possess ctene rows in their adult forms, features that are possessed by the new species described herein, species of Ctenoplanidae retain comb rows as adults and are capable of limited swimming. The species described herein is easily distinguishable from all other known species of Ctenophora and may trace its origin to a lineage diverging near the origin of Platyctenida.
Marine Biodiversity, 2019
We surveyed the gelatinous zooplankton (Cnidaria, Ctenophora, Chaetognatha, Tunicata) fauna from the Cananeia-Iguape Coastal System (CICS; São Paulo, Brazil; ~ 25°S). This area includes a natural reserve formed by the Atlantic Rain Forest and mangroves, having a high biological productivity and being recognized as a wildlife sanctuary. We analyzed 164 plankton samples collected between January 2012 and January 2013, along with visual records of living and stranded large (>2 cm) gelatinous zooplankton. More than 29,000 organisms were studied, which combined with literature totaled 16 orders, 40 families and 56 species: two cubomedusae, five scyphomedusae, two siphonophores, 34 hydromedusae, two ctenophores, five chaetognaths, three appendicularians and three thaliaceans. Twenty-seven species are new records for the CICS, six species for the state of São Paulo, and Tiaricodon sp. is newly recorded for the Brazilian coast and is described in details. Most of the species from CICS (37 spp.; 66%) are meroplanktonic, whereas the most abundant taxa are holoplanktonic (>95% of all gelatinous). Meroplanktonic taxa tended to be more species rich in brackish-waters (salinity 20–30) with most species occurring in one or two seasons, particularly during summer and/or autumn, while holoplanktonic species tended to occur throughout the year, and to be more species-rich in more saline waters (>30). These observations indicate different strategies of estuarine occupation driven by life cycle. Our results underscore the high diversity of meroplanktonic gelatinous organisms from subtropical estuaries and emphasize the need for comprehensive sampling surveys in such ecosystems, which are mostly understudied worldwide.
Zootaxa, 3398: 1-21, 2012
The present study reports on a survey of the gelatinous zooplankton fauna (Cnidaria, Ctenophora and Thaliacea) from the proposed Baía da Babitonga marine protected area (southern Brazil; ~26°S), based on collections from multiple sites over different seasons and from published literature. In order to sample both small and large gelatinous animals, plankton hauls (n = 255) and fishing trawls (n = 126) were employed. More than 20,000 organisms were studied, which, including literature data, totaled 48 species: one cubomedusa, three scyphomedusae, four siphonophores, 36 hydromedusae, two ctenophores, and two thaliaceans. Among these, the hydromedusae Cnidostoma fallax Vanhöffen and Helgicirrha sp. are recorded for the first time from the southwestern Atlantic coast and Paulinum sp. and Protiara sp. are recorded for the first time from the South Atlantic. A description of young stages of the hydromedusa Gossea brachymera Bigelow is presented and shows that Octobulbacea montehermosensis Zamponi is a junior synonym of the former. Although comprehensive local assessment of diverse taxonomic groups is still lacking, the high diversity observed herein underscores the importance of Baía da Babitonga as a high priority site for conservation of regional marine biodiversity.
Aquatic Invasions, 2012
The ctenophore Euplokamis sp. was observed and collected in the Gullmar fjord on the west coast of Sweden in April-August 2011 during regular jellyfish and zooplankton monitoring. In April-May 2011, both larval and adult Euplokamis sp. were collected in the surface water of the fjord and in June-August in the deep part of the fjord at 110-100 m. The typical morphological and behavioral characters of Euplokamis sp. were observed (i.e. coiled tentacle side branches and rapid swimming both in forward and reverse). With no published sequence data from the ctenophore family Euplokamidae, molecular identification using the nuclear 18S rRNA gene and internal transcribed spacer region I region (ITS1) revealed that Euplokamis sp. individuals were closely related to the morphologically similar ctenophore family Mertensiidae. Therefore, morphological and molecular data support the identification as Euplokamis. Euplokamis sp. densities in the deep water of the Gullmar fjord in June 2011 reached similar densities as the local ctenophore Beroe spp. The presence of Euplokamis sp. and other ctenophores in the area is discussed together with the importance of continuous monitoring of gelatinous forms to include detection of less frequent and more fragile ctenophore species. We also discuss the importance of molecular identification for ctenophore larvae and adult ctenophores of small size.
Actiniaria and Ceriantharia of the Azores (Cnidaria Anthozoa)
Helgoland Marine Research, 2003
The common shallow water species of sea anemones (Actiniaria) and tube anemones (Ceriantharia) of the Azores are listed. Eight species of sea anemones are mentioned, the species Cereus pedunculatus and Sagartia affinis being new records for the archipelago. Both species of Ceriantharia, namely Arachnanthus nocturnus and Pachycerianthus solitarius, are recorded from the Azores for the first time. Arachnanthus nocturnus is also recorded from the Cape Verde Islands and from Madeira for the first time.