Books by Blanca Figuerola
Marine Pollution Bulletin, 2022
Plastic debris provides long-lasting substrates for benthic organisms, thus acting as a potential... more Plastic debris provides long-lasting substrates for benthic organisms, thus acting as a potential vector for their dispersion. Its interaction with these colonizers is, however, still poorly known. This study examines fouling communities on beached, buoyant and benthic plastic debris in the Catalan Sea (NW Mediterranean), and characterizes the plastic type. We found 14 specimens belonging to two phyla (Annelida and Foraminifera) on microplastics, and more than 400 specimens belonging to 26 species in 10 phyla (Annelida, Arthropoda, Brachiopoda, Bryozoa, Chordata, Cnidaria, Echinodermata, Mollusca, Porifera and Sipuncula) on macroplastics. With 15 species, bryozoans are the most diverse group on plastics. We also report 17 egg cases of the catshark Scyliorhinus sp., and highlight the implications for their dispersal. Our results suggest that plastic polymers may be relevant for distinct fouling communities, likely due to their chemical structure and/or surface properties. Our study provides evidence that biofouling may play a role in the sinking of plastic debris, as the most abundant fouled plastics had lower densities than seawater, and all bryozoan species were characteristic of shallower depths than those sampled. More studies at low taxonomic level are needed in order to detect new species introduction and potential invasive species associated with plastic debris.
Papers by Blanca Figuerola
<i>Reteporella maryae</i> n. sp. (FIg. 20; TAbLE 22) <b>Etymology.</b> NA... more <i>Reteporella maryae</i> n. sp. (FIg. 20; TAbLE 22) <b>Etymology.</b> NAMED AFTER MARY SPENCER JONES (NHMUK) FOR HER STERLINg HELP WITH ROUTINE ENqUIRIES AND PROVISION OF SCANNINg ELECTRON MICROgRAPHS OF TYPE SPECIMENS. <b>Material examined.</b> <i>HΟlΟtype:</i> CRBA-58255, STN PAT 0209DR02, FRAgMENT C. 20 MM LONg, 14 MM WIDE, LACKINg PROXIMAL AND DISTAL PORTIONS. <i>Paratype:</i> CRBA-58256, STN PAT 0209DR14, FRAgMENT C. 25 MM LONg, 16 MM WIDE, LACKINg PROXIMAL AND DISTAL PORTIONS. <b>Description.</b> COLONY ARCHITECTURE AND OVERALL SIZE UNKNOWN. FENESTRAE ELONgATE, OVAL, IRREgULAR, 1.5–3.0 LONg bY 1.0–2.0 MM WIDE; TRAbECULAE CONSISTINg OF 3–5 LONgITUDINAL, ALTERNATINg AUTOZOOIDAL SERIES. AUTOZOOIDS IRREgULARLY POLYgONAL, WITH bOUNDARIES MARKED bY DISTINCT, RAISED SUTURES. FRONTAL SHIELD SMOOTH WITH FEW PORES. PRIMARY ORIFICE TRANSVERSELY OVAL, WIDER THAN LONg; DISTAL RIM WITH DENTICULATION. NO ORAL SPINES PRESENT. INNER PROXIMAL MARgIN OF PERISTOME WITH A LYRULA, THE SIDES DEVELOPED AS PROjECTINg LATERAL FLAPS. EACH AUTOZOOID WITH ONE OR MORE ADVENTITIOUS AVICULARIA FRONTALLY, VARIAbLY POSITIONED AND ORIENTATED, MOST FREqUENTLY OVAL WITH A CROSSbAR, LACKINg A COLUMELLA, AND AN EXTENSIVE PALATE. ENLARgED AVICULARIA ALONg bRANCH EDgES. ROSTRUM HOOKED. OVICELL INCONSPICUOUS, ELONgATE, OVAL, WITHOUT FRONTAL SUTURE AND WITH A WELL-DEVELOPED PROXIMAL LAbELLUM. BASAL SURFACE OF COLONY SMOOTH, WITH SUTURES, bEARINg A FEW OVAL AVICULARIA IDENTICAL TO THOSE ON THE FRONTAL SURFACE. <b>Remarks.</b> <i>RetepΟrella maryae</i> <b>n. sp.</b> RESEMbLES <i>R. antarctica</i> (WATERS, 1904) IN THE SMOOTH FRONTAL SHIELD, AUTOZOOIDS SEPARATED bY DISTINCT SUTURES, LATERAL PERISTOMIAL ELEVATIONS AND THE PRESENCE OF ONE OR MORE FRONTAL OVAL ADVENTITIOUS AVICULARIA ON EACH AUTOZOOID. IT DIFFERS IN THE PRESENCE OF A SUbPERISTOMIAL LYRULA AND AVICULARIA ALONg bRANCH EDgES. n, number of measurements made; SD, standard deviation
<i>Spigaleos simplex</i> n. sp. (FIg. 18; TAbLE 20) <b>Etymology.</b> LAT... more <i>Spigaleos simplex</i> n. sp. (FIg. 18; TAbLE 20) <b>Etymology.</b> LATIN ' <i>simplex</i> ', SIMPLE, ALLUDINg TO THE AbSENCE OF AN AVICULARIUM. <b>Material examined.</b> <i>HΟlΟtype:</i> CRBA-58263, STN PAT0209DR15, COLONY FRAgMENT C. 20 MM LONg, 1 MM WIDE, LACKINg PROXIMAL AND DISTAL PORTIONS. <b>Description.</b> COLONY ERECT, DICHOTOMOUSLY bRANCHINg, THE bRANCHES CYLINDRICAL; OVERALL SIZE NOT KNOWN. AUTOZOOIDS IN SPIRAL WHORLS OF FOUR, ELONgATE, CONVEX, SEPARATED bY FAINT gROOVES. FRONTAL WALL FINELY gRANULAR; MARgINAL PORES SMALL, SIDES LONgITUDINALLY TAPERINg. PRIMARY ORIFICE WIDER THAN LONg, PROXIMAL EDgE WITH A SHORT U- SHAPED SINUS. NO ORAL SPINES. PERISTOME DEEP, CONCEALINg ORIFICE. NO AVICULARIA. OVICELLS NOT PRESENT IN THE AVAILAbLE MATERIAL. BASAL SURFACE OF COLONY WITH SCATTERED PORES bUT NO SUTURES. <b>Remarks.</b> <i>SpigaleΟs simplex</i> <b>n. sp.</b> REPRESENTS THE FOURTH SPECIES OF THE gENUS AND THE FIRST RECORD IN THE PATAgONIAN REgION (PREVIOUSLY REPORTED ONLY IN ANTARCTICA). ALTHOUgH HAYWARD (1992) DESCRIbED SUbORAL AVICULARIA AS AN IMPORTANT gENERIC CHARACTER, <i>S. simplex</i> HAS OTHER SHARED CHARACTERS WITH <i>SpigaleΟs</i>: ERECT COLONY DICHOTOMOUSLY bRANCHINg, CYLINDRICAL STEMS, AUTOZOOIDS IN WHORLS OF FOUR, FRONTAL WALL WITH MARgINAL PORES, PRIMARY ORIFICE WITH A MEDIO-PROXIMAL SINUS AND NO ORAL SPINES. IT IS DISTINgUISHED FROM THE TYPE SPECIES ESPECIALLY IN THE AbSENCE OF A SUbORAL AVICULARIUM. THE CHARACTER OF THE ORIFICE RESEMbLES THAT IN <i>S. elegans</i> DE BLAUWE &amp; GORDON, 2014 AND <i>S. striatula</i> HAYWARD &amp; WINSTON, 2011 IN WHICH THE PRIMARY ORIFICE IS WIDER THAN LONg, AND <i>S. hΟrnerΟides</i> (WATERS, 1904) WITH A U-SHAPED SINUS. THE NEW SPECIES HAS A FINELY gRANULAR FRONTAL WALL AS IN <i>S. hΟrnerΟides</i>. n, number of measurements made; SD, standard deviation
<i>Fenestrulina multiflorum</i> n. sp. (FIg. 15; TAbLE 17) <b>Etymology.</b&... more <i>Fenestrulina multiflorum</i> n. sp. (FIg. 15; TAbLE 17) <b>Etymology.</b> LATIN ' <i>multi-</i> ', MORE THAN ONE, AND ' <i>flΟs</i> ', FLOWER, ALLUDINg TO THE LARgE FLOWER-LIKE PORES. <b>Material examined.</b> <i>HΟlΟtype:</i> CRBA-58233, STN PAT0209DR05, COLONY C. 10 MM LONg, 2 MM WIDE, ENCRUSTINg CORAL. <b>Description.</b> COLONY FORMINg ENCRUSTINg PATCHES; COLONY SIZE AbOUT 10 MM LONg bY 2 MM WIDE. AUTOZOOIDS ELONgATE-OVAL TO HEXAgONAL, CONVEX, SEPARATED bY DEEP, WIDE gROOVES, WITH THE VERTICAL WALLS OF EACH AUTOZOOID FORMINg A bORDER TO THE FRONTAL WALL; UNCALCIFIED WINDOW IN THE bASAL WALLS. FRONTAL SHIELD WITH NUMEROUS LARgE, CLOSELY SPACED, STELLATE PORES OVER ITS WHOLE SURFACE, AND WITH A SINgLE SERIES bETWEEN THE ORIFICE AND THE ASCOPORE. PRIMARY ORIFICE WIDER THAN LONg. FOUR OR FIVE SLENDER ORAL SPINES. ASCOPORE SEPARATED FROM THE ORIFICE bY A DISTANCE ALMOST EqUIVALENT TO THE ORIFICE LENgTH; NARROWLY OVAL, FINELY DENTICULATE. OVICELL gLObOSE, SURFACE CORRUgATED. <b>Remarks.</b> THIS gENUS IS DIVERSE IN ANTARCTIC AND SUbANTARCTIC SOUTH ATLANTIC WATERS bUT ONLY THE NEW SPECIES HAS AUTOZOOIDS WITH FOUR OR FIVE ORAL SPINES IN THE SAME COLONY. THE ANTARCTIC SPECIES <i>Fenestrulina mariΟni</i> HAYWARD &amp; RYLAND, 1990 HAS STRICTLY FIVE ORAL SPINES, AND SIX ANTARCTIC AND SUbANTARCTIC SPECIES CONSISTENTLY HAVE FOUR ORAL SPINES: <i>F</i>. <i>amplissima</i> HAYWARD, 1980, <i>F</i>. <i>cerνicΟrnis</i> HAYWARD &amp; RYLAND, 1990, <i>F</i>. <i>dictyΟta</i> HAYWARD &amp; RYLAND, 1990, <i>F</i>. <i>dupla</i> HAYWARD &amp; RYLAND, 1990, <i>F</i>. <i>hΟrrida</i> MOYANO, 1985 AND <i>F</i>. <i>specca</i> GORDON, 1989. <i>F</i>. <i>mariΟni</i> HAS A SINgLE MARgINAL SERIES OF STELLATE PORES. <i>F</i>. <i>multiflΟrum</i> <b>n. sp.</b> DIFFERS FROM <i>F. amplissima</i>, <i>F. cerνicΟrnis</i> AND <i>F. dictyΟta</i> MAINLY IN THE PRESENCE OF STOUT SPINES, bIFURCATED IN THE LATTER SPECIES. <i>F. hΟrrida</i> HAS A SMALLER, VERYINCONSPICUOUS ASCOPORE. <i>F. dupla</i> HAS PORES OVER ITS WHOLE SURFACE AND A SINgLE SERIES bETWE [...]
<i>Orthoporidra nova</i> n. sp. (FIg. 22; TAbLE 24) <b>Etymology.</b> LAT... more <i>Orthoporidra nova</i> n. sp. (FIg. 22; TAbLE 24) <b>Etymology.</b> LATIN ' <i>nΟνus</i> ', NEW. <b>Material examined.</b> <i>HΟlΟtype:</i> CRBA-58252, STN PAT 1208DR11, LARgEST OF FOUR FRAgMENTS FROM ONE COLONY, C. 2 MM LONg, 7 MM WIDE. <b>Description.</b> COLONY RObUST, CONSISTINg OF CYLINDRICAL bRANCHES, OVERALL SIZE NOT KNOWN. AUTOZOOIDS CONVEX, OPENINg ON ALL SURFACES OF THE bRANCH. CALCIFICATION THICK AND SMOOTH, WITH FEW SMALL AREOLAR PORES, USUALLY AROUND AUTOZOOIDAL MARgINS. PRIMARY ORIFICE AS WIDE AS LONg, DISTAL EDgE NOTCHED MEDIALLY, WITH bROAD, DEEP CONDYLES DEFININg A NARROW, U-SHAPED SINUS. PERISTOME LOW AND THICK, NOT ENTIRELY ObSCURINg PRIMARY ORIFICE; PERISTOMIAL AVICULARIUM COLUMNAR, WITH ELONgATE-TRIANgULAR, DISTALLY DIRECTED LARgE AVICULARIUM WITH A HASTATE MANDIbLE AT THE APEX, ROSTRUM HOOKED AT THE TIP. ADDITIONALLY, A LARgE, NON-COLUMNAR, SPATULATE AVICULARIUM. A SMALL PERISTOMIAL AVICULARIUM PROXIMAL TO THE ORIFICE SEEMS TO bE PRESENT, ALTHOUgH NOT SEEN bECAUSE ALL THE PERISTOMES ARE bROKEN. OVICELL SUbSPHERICAL, CUCULLATE WITH A LARgE OPENINg, MOSTLY CONCEALED bY SMOOTH SECONDARY CALCIFICATION, WITH THIN SMOOTH PROXIMOFRONTAL RIM OF ECTOOECIUM PROjECTINg bEYOND SECONDARY CALCIFICATION, AbOVE THE OPENINg. <b>Remarks.</b> <i>OrthΟpΟridra nΟνa</i> <b>n. sp.</b> IS THE SIXTH DESCRIbED SPECIES OF THE gENUS. IT RESEMbLES <i>O. brachyrhyncha</i> MOYANO, 1985 FROM ANTARCTICA AND <i>O. stenΟrhyncha</i> MOYANO, 1985 FROM SOUTH AMERICA IN HAVINg A DISTINCT SINUS, bUT ONLY IN <i>O. nΟνa</i> <b>n. sp.</b> IS THE SINUS PERFECTLY U-SHAPED. <i>O. nΟνa</i> <b>n. sp.</b> ALSO DIFFERS IN HAVINg TWO TYPES OF LARgE AVICULARIA, ONE WITH A HASTATE MANDIbLE AND THE OTHER WITH A NARROW-bASED SPATULATE MANDIbLE. n, number of measurements made; SD, standard deviation.
<i>Malakosaria cecilioi</i> n. sp. (FIg. 16; TAbLE 18) <b>Etymology.</b> ... more <i>Malakosaria cecilioi</i> n. sp. (FIg. 16; TAbLE 18) <b>Etymology.</b> NAMED AFTER CECILIO FERNáNDEZ, IN APPRECIATION OF HIS FRIENDSHIP, SUPPORT AND CONTINUOUS ENCOURAgEMENT TO THE FIRST AUTHOR THROUgHOUT HER RESEARCH CAREER. <b>Material examined.</b> <i>HΟlΟtype:</i> CRBA-58239, STN PAT0210DR11, COLONY C. 30 MM LONg, 0.5 MM WIDE, WITH PROXIMAL AND DISTAL PORTIONS, SOME bRANCHES bROKEN. <i>Paratypes:</i> CRBA-58240, STN PAT0209DR14, COLONY C. 30 MM LONg, 0.5 MM WIDE, WITH PROXIMAL AND DISTAL PORTIONS; CRBA-58241, STN PAT1108DR10, COLONY C. 20 MM LONg, 0.5 MM WIDE, WITH PROXIMAL AND DISTAL PORTIONS; ATTACHED TO CORAL. <b>Description.</b> COLONY ERECT, DICHOTOMOUSLY bRANCHINg; COLONY C. 30 MM LONg bY 0.5 MM WIDE. ZOOIDS ELONgATE, ARRANgED bACK TO bACK IN OVERLAPPINg ALTERNATINg PAIRS. FRONTAL-SHIELD CALCIFICATION SMOOTH, IMPERFORATE, EXCEPT FOR A CRESCENTIC ASCOPORE AND SIX SHALLOW, SUbRECTANgULAR TO OVAL EXCAVATIONS AROUND THE SEMICIRCULAR ORIFICE, OF WHICH TWO OCCUR bETWEEN THE ASCOPORE AND THE ORIFICE; bETWEEN EACH PAIR OF PORE-CHAMbERS A MUCH SMALLER CIRCULAR PORE. NO ORAL SPINES, bUT A bLUNT TUbERCLE OCCURS ON EACH DISTOLATERAL CORNER OF THE ORIFICE. OVICELLS NOT PRESENT IN THE AVAILAbLE MATERIAL. <b>Remarks.</b> <i>M. phΟlaramphΟs</i> GOLDSTEIN, 1882 WAS ESTAbLISHED FOR A SPECIMEN COLLECTED FROM MARION ISLAND, SOUTH INDIAN OCEAN, bY THE CHALLENgER EXPEDITION. BUSK (1884) SYNONYMIZED <i>M. phΟlaramphΟs</i>, AND FURTHER MATERIAL COLLECTED FROM HEARD ISLAND, WITH <i>OnchΟpΟra sinclairii</i> BUSK, 1857, DESCRIbED FROM NEW ZEALAND. WHEN REDESCRIbINg THIS LATTER SPECIES, AS <i>Calwellia sinclairii</i>, GORDON (1984) ACCEPTED BUSK'S SYNONYMY CONCERNINg <i>M. phΟlaramphΟs</i>, bUT LATER SHOWED THAT <i>MalakΟsaria</i> IS SEPARAbLE FROM <i>Calwellia</i> (GORDON 1989). IT IS NOW CLEAR THAT <i>M. phΟlaramphΟs</i> IS NOT SYNONYMOUS WITH <i>M. sinclairii</i> FROM NEW ZEALAND bUT IS SYNONYMOUS WITH BUSK'S MATERIAL FROM HEARD ISLAND MISATTRIbUTED TO <i>M. sinclairii</i>. <i>M. phΟlaramphΟs</i> DIFFERS, INTER ALIA, IN HAVIN [...]
<i>Smittina acicularis</i> n. sp. (FIg. 7; TAbLE 9) <b>Etymology.</b> LAT... more <i>Smittina acicularis</i> n. sp. (FIg. 7; TAbLE 9) <b>Etymology.</b> LATIN ' <i>acicula</i> ', LITTLE NEEDLE, ALLUDINg TO THE PAIR OF ANgLED NEEDLE-LIKE PIVOTS. <b>Material examined.</b> <i>HΟlΟtype:</i> CRBA-58261, STN PAT0209DR09, COLONY C. 15 MM LONg, 5 MM WIDE, ENCRUSTINg CORAL. <b>Description.</b> COLONY ENCRUSTINg, UNILAMINAR; COLONY SIZE C. 15 MM LONg, 5 MM WIDE. AUTOZOOIDS HEXAgONAL TO RECTANgULAR, THE LATERAL WALL VISIbLE AS THIN RIDgES. FRONTAL WALL DENSELY PERFORATED bY ROUND PORES. PRIMARY ORIFICE WIDER THAN LONg, LYRULA SHORT AND bROAD, WITH STRAIgHT EDgE AND SHARPLY CUSPED CORNERS, OCCUPYINg MOST OF PROXIMAL bORDER OF ORIFICE. NO ORAL SPINES. PERISTOME WELL DEVELOPED AND SUbTUbULAR, WITH ELEVATED SLOPINg SIDES LIKE A bROAD-bASED CONE. AVICULARIUM SITUATED PROXIMAL TO A SMALL PERISTOMIAL PSEUDOSPIRAMEN; ROSTRUM NORMAL TO FRONTAL PLANE, ELONgATE; A PAIR OF ANgLED NEEDLE-LIKE PIVOTS; PALATE ALMOST ENTIRE, WITH A SMALL FORAMEN bELOW THE PIVOTS. OVICELL SLIgHTLY WIDER THAN LONg, CONVEX, PERFORATED bY VARIAbLY SIZED PORES. <b>Remarks.</b> <i>Smittina</i> IS A DIVERSE gENUS WITH A WORLDWIDE DISTRIbUTION bUT, AMONg THE SUbANTARCTIC SPECIES, ONLY A FEW HAVE THE SUbORAL AVICULARIUM SITUATED PROXIMAL TO THE PERISTOME AND WITHOUT A PSEUDOSINUS LIKE THE PRESENT SPECIES. <i>S. lebruni</i> (WATERS, 1905), <i>S</i>. <i>leptΟdentata</i> HAYWARD &amp; THORPE, 1990 AND <i>S</i>. <i>mΟnacha</i> (JULLIEN, 1888) HAVE A PERISTOME WITH A LARgE PROXIMAL FORAMEN AND THE LATTER SPECIES SHOW DIFFERENT TYPES OF SUbORAL AVICULARIA (WITH ROUNDED OR SPATULATE ROSTRUM). <i>S. acicularis</i> <b>n. sp.</b> CLOSELY RESEMbLES <i>Smittina Οblita</i> LóPEZ-GAPPA, 2002, WHICH WAS ALSO RECORDED FROM THE SOUTHWESTERN ATLANTIC bUT IN SHALLOWER WATERS (92–183 M). IT MAY bE DISTINgUISHED FROM IT IN HAVINg A gREATER PSEUDOPORE DENSITY (63–77 PER ZOOID COMPARED TO 35–46), A PROPORTIONATELY SMALLER PSEUDOSPIRAMINAL PORE, A bROADER EXPANSE OF PERISTOMIAL WALL AbOVE THE PSEUDOSPIRAMEN, AND MANDIbULAR PIVOTS INSTEAD OF A COMPLETE CROSSbAR. LóPEZ-GA [...]
<i>Biconcavus</i> n. gen. <b>Type species.</b> <i>Biconcavus batman... more <i>Biconcavus</i> n. gen. <b>Type species.</b> <i>Biconcavus batmani</i> <b>n. sp.</b> (SEE DESCRIPTION bELOW). <b>Etymology.</b> LATIN ' <i>cΟncaνus</i> ', CONCAVE, ALLUDINg TO THE bILATERALLY CONCAVE OPERCULAR MARgIN. <b>Diagnosis.</b> COLONY ENCRUSTINg, MULTISERIAL. AUTOZOOIDS WITH ELEVATED, TUbERCULAR DISTAL MARgIN. UMbONULOID SHIELD DENSELY gRANULAR, FRONTALLY IMPERFORATE, WITH NUMEROUS, SMALL, DISTOLATERAL PERFORATIONS LIKELY TO bE PSEUDOPORES OUTSIDE THE bOUNDARY OF THE UMbONULOID FRONTAL SHIELD AND/OR MARgINAL AREOLAR OPENINgS. OPERCULUM WITH bICONCAVE LATERAL MARgINS. ORIFICE SUbqUADRATE, PROXIMAL AND DISTAL bORDERS STRAIgHT. NO ORAL SPINES OR LYRULA. AVICULARIA, OVICELLS AND ANCESTRULA NOT SEEN. <b>Remarks.</b> OWINg TO THE PAUCITY OF MATERIAL AND THE AbSENCE OF AVICULARIA AND OVICELLS, IT IS HARD TO PLACE THIS TAXON WITHIN A FAMILY. THE LARgE SIZE OF THE AUTOZOOIDS, THE COARSELY gRANULAR FRONTALLY IMPERFORATE CALCIFICATION, AND THE DISTAL ORIFICIAL TUbERCLES ARE REMINISCENT OF <i>AspidΟstΟma cΟrΟnatum</i> (THORNELY, 1924). THE bILATERALLY bICONCAVE OPERCULAR MARgIN AND THE LARgE NUMbER OF DISTOLATERAL PORES, WOULD SEEM TO PRECLUDE ACCOMMODATION IN <i>AspidΟstΟma</i> OR ASPIDOSTOMATIDAE, HOWEVER. THERE ARE NO INTERNAL SUbORIFICIAL RIDgES, LIKE THOSE IN <i>A. cΟrΟnatum</i>, WHICH WOULD CORRESPOND TO OPESIULAR CHANNELS FOR ACCOMMODATION OF MUSCLES. ON THE OTHER HAND, THIS NEW SPECIES MAY bE COMPARED TO <i>Escharella mamillata</i> HAYWARD &amp; THORPE, 1989, WHICH HAS A SIMILAR FRONTAL SHIELD AND NO ARTICULATED ORAL SPINES IN ZOOIDS bEYOND THE gROWINg MARgIN. THE AbSENCE OF A LYRULA, HOWEVER, WOULD SEEM TO PRECLUDE ACCOMMODATION IN <i>Escharella</i>. FOR THESE REASONS, A NEW gENUS IS INTRODUCED HERE TO ACCOMMODATE THIS UNUSUAL NEW SPECIES.
<i>Amastigia zigzag</i> n. sp. (FIg. 1; TAbLE 2) <b>Etymology.</b> ALLUDI... more <i>Amastigia zigzag</i> n. sp. (FIg. 1; TAbLE 2) <b>Etymology.</b> ALLUDINg TO THE ZIgZAg ARRANgEMENT OF THE bASAL AVICULARIA; USED AS A NOUN IN APPOSITION. <b>Material examined.</b> <i>HΟlΟtype:</i> CRBA-58227, STN PAT 1208DR17. COLONY, AbOUT 40 MM IN HEIgHT, bRANCHES AbOUT 0.7 MM WIDE; WITH PROXIMAL AND DISTAL PORTIONS, SOME bRANCHES bROKEN. <b>Description.</b> COLONY ERECT, UNILAMINAR, bRANCHINg, COMPRISINg THREE LONgITUDINAL SERIES OF AUTOZOOIDS; COLONY HEIgHT AbOUT 40 MM, AND bRANCH WIDTH AbOUT 0.7 MM. AUTOZOOIDS IN ALTERNATINg LONgITUDINAL SERIES, MORE OR LESS RECTANgULAR; AN OVAL OPESIA OCCUPYINg MOST OF FRONTAL AREA, COMPLETELY CONCEALED bY PROMINENT SCUTUM WITH SEMIELLIPTICAL PROXIMAL LObE, AND TRUNCATED DISTAL LObE THAT IS SOMEWHAT INCLINED FRONTALWARDS; ATTACHMENT POINT OF SCUTUM MEDIAN OR NEAR-MEDIAN. ZOOIDS WITH TWO SPINES AT OUTER DISTAL ANgLE, ONE ON THE INNER CORNER. TWO FRONTAL AVICULARIA, SMALL, THE ROSTRUM PERPENDICULAR TO FRONTAL PLANE, HOOKED, WITH bROADLY TRIANgULAR MANDIbLE. AbFRONTAL SIDE OF bRANCH WITH MEDIAN ZOOIDAL SERIES EXCLUDED; bASAL AVICULARIA PRESENT, ONE PER ZOOID, ANgLED ObLIqUELY PROXIMALLY TOWARDS THE NEXT PROXIMAL AVICULARIUM, FORMINg A SOMEWHAT ZIgZAg SERIES; ROSTRUM AND MANDIbLE ELONgATE-TRIANgULAR. OOECIUM LONgER THAN WIDE, ECTOOECIUM MOSTLY MEMbRANOUS, ITS CALCIFIED MARgIN FORMINg A DISTINCT RIM AROUND THE EXTENSIVE SMOOTHLY CALCIFIED ENDOOECIUM; PAIRED AVICULARIA OCCURRINg AT THE DISTAL END OF THE OVICELL, THE TRIANgULAR ROSTRUM POINTED ObLIqUELY OUTWARD. RHIZOIDS ARISE FROM DISTObASAL WALL OF MARgINAL AUTOZOOIDS. n, number of measurements made; SD, standard deviation <b>Remarks.</b> AMONg SOUTH ATLANTIC, SUbANTARCTIC AND ANTARCTIC SPECIES OF <i>Amastigia,</i> SEVEN SPECIES HAVE ZOOIDS WITH LARgE SCUTA: <i>A. abyssicΟla</i> (KLUgE, 1914), <i>A. benemunita</i> (BUSK, 1884), <i>A. crassimarginata</i> (BUSK, 1884), <i>A. funiculata</i> (MACGILLIVRAY, 1886), <i>A. gaussi</i> (KLUgE, 1914), <i>A. magna</i> GORDON, 1986 AND <i>A. puysegurensis</i> GORDON, 1986. <i>A. zigzag</i [...]
Science Advances, 2022
Phylogenetic relationships and the timing of evolutionary events are essential for understanding ... more Phylogenetic relationships and the timing of evolutionary events are essential for understanding evolution on longer time scales. Cheilostome bryozoans are a group of ubiquitous, species-rich, marine colonial organisms with an excellent fossil record but lack phylogenetic relationships inferred from molecular data. We present genome-skimmed data for 395 cheilostomes and combine these with 315 published sequences to infer relationships and the timing of key events among c. 500 cheilostome species. We find that named cheilostome genera and species are phylogenetically coherent, rendering fossil or contemporary specimens readily delimited using only skeletal morphology. Our phylogeny shows that parental care in the form of brooding evolved several times independently but was never lost in cheilostomes. Our fossil calibration, robust to varied assumptions, indicates that the cheilostome lineage and parental care therein could have Paleozoic origins, much older than the first known fossi...
Marine pollution bulletin, 2022
Plastic debris provides long-lasting substrates for benthic organisms, thus acting as a potential... more Plastic debris provides long-lasting substrates for benthic organisms, thus acting as a potential vector for their dispersion. Its interaction with these colonizers is, however, still poorly known. This study examines fouling communities on beached, buoyant and benthic plastic debris in the Catalan Sea (NW Mediterranean), and characterizes the plastic type. We found 14 specimens belonging to two phyla (Annelida and Foraminifera) on microplastics, and more than 400 specimens belonging to 26 species in 10 phyla (Annelida, Arthropoda, Brachiopoda, Bryozoa, Chordata, Cnidaria, Echinodermata, Mollusca, Porifera and Sipuncula) on macroplastics. With 15 species, bryozoans are the most diverse group on plastics. We also report 17 egg cases of the catshark Scyliorhinus sp., and highlight the implications for their dispersal. Our results suggest that plastic polymers may be relevant for distinct fouling communities, likely due to their chemical structure and/or surface properties. Our study p...
Continental Shelf Research, 2018
Deception Island is an active volcano located at the southern end of the South Shetland Archipela... more Deception Island is an active volcano located at the southern end of the South Shetland Archipelago, in the Antarctic Ocean. After the last eruption in 1970, benthic recolonization took place within the bay, with echinoderms being the dominant epifauna (e.g., the ophiuroid Ophionotus victoriae, the echinoid Sterechinus neumayeri and the sea star Odontaster validus), together with dense infaunal communities (mostly composed by oligochaetes, polychaetes, and bivalves). Here, we aim to describe the actual status of the marine benthic ecosystems inhabiting the shallow subtidal areas of this volcanic island. Benthic species were qualitatively scored as presence versus absence, considering the different sampling effort between localities done over the years. A total of 139 species of macroorganisms, belonging to 16 phyla were found, including fauna and flora, increasing the species richness values previously reported in all sites surveyed within the volcano caldera. Moreover, a dramatic increase in biodiversity was found towards the entrance of the bay. We suggest, however, that recolonization from external waters may not be the only reason for this pattern. In fact, sediment flux rates and substrate instability are common disturbances within the bay, probably being among the major factors determining benthic community assemblages. These processes probably favour deposit feeding communities at the innermost locations of the bay. This study provides a remarkably increased and updated species inventory from previous reports, altogether with a description of the main communities inhabiting the bay and the abiotic factors regulating this, mainly the bottom type.
Hydrobiologia, 2017
Environmental and biological factors play important roles in determining the skeletal morphology ... more Environmental and biological factors play important roles in determining the skeletal morphology and mineralogy of modular colonial organisms such as bryozoans. The broad bathymetrical ranges of Antarctic bryozoans make them useful organisms for evaluating depth-related changes in colony morphology, including branch diameter, which has been shown to decrease with depth in various ramose colonial animals. The current study focuses on the bryozoan Fasciculipora ramosa, using 32 specimens collected at East Antarctica from 185 to 597 m deep during the CEAMARC cruise (2007-2008). In order to test for the expected inverse relationship between depth and branch diameter, measurements of branch diameters were made. Levels of Mg in the calcite skeleton were determined as this was also predicted to follow changes in branch diameter. A significant negative correlation was found between branch diameter and depth. No significant relationship was detected between branch diameter and skeletal Mg, suggesting that these variables are driven by different factors. The thickest branches were found in current-influenced sites on Adélie Bank where temperature and salinity are both lower and planktonic food supply may also be different from the other sites. Further studies are needed along a wider bathymetrical range to clarify which factors influence branch diameter as well as Mg content in F. ramosa and to test its potential as an environmental indicator.
Marine environmental research, Jan 21, 2017
There are a number of remote archipelagos distributed between 45 and 60 °S. The biota of these is... more There are a number of remote archipelagos distributed between 45 and 60 °S. The biota of these islands provide useful information to describe and understand patterns in biodiversity and biogeography as well as potential impacts of climate change on marine ecosystems. They are in key locations either side of the Polar Front but also have limited influence from human activities. Here we investigate one taxon, bryozoans, on South Atlantic shelf habitats of the Falkland (FI) and the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia (SG). We present new data on spatial distribution in these islands, as well as an analysis of the bryozoological similarities between these and neighbouring regions. A total of 85 species of cheilostome bryozoans (351 samples) were found, belonging to 33 genera, including 18 potentially new genera and 23 new species. Remarkably 65% and 41% of species were reported for the first time at FI and SG, respectively. The highest and the lowest value of species richness and spec...
Oceanography: Open Access, 2013
Antarctic benthic communities below anchor ice and ice scour are subjected to intense biotic inte... more Antarctic benthic communities below anchor ice and ice scour are subjected to intense biotic interactions, and this has propitiated the development of chemicals to avoid predation, competition, and/or fouling avoidance. In particular, Sterechinus neumayeri, a common eurybathic sympatric sea urchin species, can have a negative effect on early recruitment of benthic organisms through grazing. An adaptive response of these co-existing benthic animals may consist in displaying cytotoxic activities, poorly investigated so far in Antarctic ecosystems, in order to prevent the settlement of embryos and larvae of this sea urchin on them or near and, consequently, to decrease its grazing pressure. Cytotoxic activities of Antarctic benthic organisms, mainly from the deep waters of the poorly surveyed area of the eastern Weddell Sea, were assessed against embryos and sperm of the sea urchin S. neumayeri.
El Jardí de l’Edifici Històric de la Universitat de Barcelona, batejat des del 1995 com a Jardí F... more El Jardí de l’Edifici Històric de la Universitat de Barcelona, batejat des del 1995 com a Jardí Ferran Soldevila, es troba ubicat al bell mig de Barcelona, i constitueix un petit pulmó verd de poc menys d’una hectàrea en un dels espais amb major concentració de trànsit i contaminació atmosfèrica de la ciutat. Atès que va ser creat a finals del segle XIX com un jardí amb sentit botànic i que històricament ha servit per fer les pràctiques de botànica de diverses facultats de ciències, aquest espai excedeix la funció estètica de les zones verdes urbanes, i per tant pot esdevenir un recurs educatiu a disposició de tota la societat. El projecte dut a terme comporta la transformació del Jardí d’un espai d’esbarjo i lleure en un recurs d’educació per la sostenibilitat. Aquest canvi no és significatiu en quant a l’aspecte que el Jardí te per al visitant, ja que no varien les espècies presents, el nombre d’exemplars ni la seva ubicació, però sí comporta una variació profunda del paper que ha...
Hydrobiologia, 2012
Sewage effluents are one of the main anthropogenic stressors in Mediterranean rivers. The establi... more Sewage effluents are one of the main anthropogenic stressors in Mediterranean rivers. The establishment of a cause-effect relationship is hindered in natural systems by the existence of confounding factors (i.e. biotic interactions). Here we analysed the effects that anthropogenic stressors have on a mono-specific fish community (Iberian redfin barbel population, Barbus haasi) inhabiting the northern edge of its distribution range. In Spring 2004, a total of 40 consecutive sampling sites were surveyed in Vallvidrera creek, and 1,331 specimens were measured and weighed. A principal component analysis was performed to synthesize the information provided by 22 environmental variables. Analysis of variance, bivariate correlation analyses and multiple linear regressions were then used to determine the influence of the environmental gradients built (water quality, hydromorphology, woods and macrophytes, and degree of silting) on fish population features (fish size, body condition status, density and biomass). The findings revealed that water quality was the most significant environmental gradient for this fish population. In particular, fish density decreases and fish length increases in those sites exposed to sewage. Additionally, our results showed the best body condition of those specimens inhabiting fast flow reaches which confirms the rheophilous condition of B. haasi. However, these findings were unnoticed for the current version of the index of biotic integrity using fish as bioindicators in Catalonia. Resource managers need to refine diagnostic tools in order to detect subtle deleterious changes on fish communities before they become evident at population scale. Conservation measures should be focused in these small streams in where the best preserved native fish populations usually inhabit. This study suggests the need to change water management policies in Mediterranean rivers to improve the water quality of sewage effluents and increase the dilution power of these rivers.
FIGURE 19. Reteporella kuklinskii n. sp., HOLOTYPE. A, PORTION OF THE COLONY; B, DETAIL OF THE PR... more FIGURE 19. Reteporella kuklinskii n. sp., HOLOTYPE. A, PORTION OF THE COLONY; B, DETAIL OF THE PRIMARY ORIFICE WITH AVICULARIA; C, PORTION OF A COLONY WITH A GROUP OF LARGE AVICULARIA; D, DETAIL OF THE LARGE ADVENTITIOUS AVICULARIUM. SCALE bARS: A, C, 1 MM; B, D, 300 ΜM.
FIGURE 18. Spigaleos simplex n. sp., HOLOTYPE. A, PORTION OF A bRANCH; B, DETAIL OF THE PRIMARY O... more FIGURE 18. Spigaleos simplex n. sp., HOLOTYPE. A, PORTION OF A bRANCH; B, DETAIL OF THE PRIMARY ORIFICE WITH THE U-SHAPED SINUS; C, A bRANCH DICHOTOMY; D, bASAL PORTION. SCALE bARS: A, 500 ΜM; B, 50 ΜM; C, 1 MM; D, 200 ΜM.
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