DOCSLIB.ORG

Opisthobranch Mollusks of Parque Nacional De Coiba, Panama (Tropical Eastern Pacific)

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Opisthobranch Mollusks of Parque Nacional De Coiba, Panama (Tropical Eastern Pacific) Vol. XXXVI(9): 2004 THE FESTIVUS Page 105 OPISTHOBRANCH MOLLUSKS OF PARQUE NACIONAL DE COIBA, PANAMA (TROPICAL EASTERN PACIFIC) ALICIA HERMOSILLO1 Universidad de Guadalajara Centro Universitario de Ciencias Biologicas y Agropecuarias Las Agujas, Zapopan Jalisco, Mexico E-mail: alicia [email protected] Abstract: In May 2003 a faunal study was conducted in Parque Nacional de Coiba aboard Smithsonian's RV Urracd. During the expedition, opisthobranchs were targeted during the 50 dives, 22 trawls and 8 intertidal surveys. Over 950 specimens of 75 species of opisthobranchs in the orders "Cephalaspidea," "Notaspidea," Anaspidea, Sacoglossa and Nudibranchia were found. Locality data, size, depth and habitat observations were recorded for each specimen found. Twenty-two of these species have not been previously reported as occurring within Parque Nacional de Coiba, Golfo de Chiriqui, Panama or anywhere else south of Panama; 10 species found are unidentified or yet undescribed. Species previously reported for Parque Nacional de Coiba are discussed herein. Introduction Parque Nacional de Coiba is a group of islands located south of the Veraguas Province (in the southwest of the Republica de Panama) in the southeast part of the Golfo de Chiriqui between 7°10' and 7°53'N and 81°32' and 81°56'W. Because of its geographical isolation, a penal colony was established at Isla de Coiba in 1910. It is still active today and has contributed to the preservation of the flora and fauna on the islands. Parque Nacional de Coiba was established in 1991, under the administration of ANAM (Autoridad Nacional de Medio Ambiente), to protect and preserve its natural environment and wildlife. Coiba itself, (50,314 ha) is among the largest islands of the American Pacific. The other islands in the Park are Rancheria, known also as Coibita (242 ha), Jicaron Figure 1. Map of the Republica de Panama and insert of Parque (2,002 ha), Jicarita (125 ha), Afuerita (27 ha), Canal de Nacional de Coiba. Afuera (240 ha), Pajaros (45 ha), Uva (257 ha) and Brincanco (330 ha) for a total land surface of 53,582 ha There are two distinct climatic seasons in Parque together with 216,543 ha of marine areas making Parque Nacional de Coiba: the dry season from December to Nacional de Coiba one of the most extensive parks in the April, with strong winds that cause up welling, a drop in world. It protects three kinds of ecosystems: the islands, water temperature (from 20 to 15°C) and a rise in reefs and marine life (San Martin et al., 1997) (Figures nutrient levels, and the rainy season, from May to 1&2). December, with typical afternoon showers, higher water Mailing address: Tenochtitlan #214, Cd. del Sol, Zapopan, Jalisco, C.P. 45050, Mexico. Page 106 THE FESTIVUS Vol. XXXVI(9): 2004 -82*00' -81* 50" -81'4ff -81*30' and Troncoso (1999, 2001) described two species whose type localities are within Parque Nacional de Coiba. 7*50' t r 7* SO' During the present study, several species of opisthobranchs not previously known from the Park or &"&\ Panama were collected. i rw Ma Canal ~'--*V-. 7*40' Other authors have studied other elements of the svV ^Q de Afiiera molluscan fauna (Bivalvia, Polyplacophora and the shelled groups of Gastropoda) of the Golfo de Chiriqui r in the Veraguas Province: Strong (1939); Hertlein 7*30' ^Isladt /* 7*30' Coiba ^ (1946-1950); Gonzalez, G. (1983); Aviles (1984); Gil (1996) and Gonzalez, M. (1999). -f\ v_ 7*20' '20' Materials and Methods Collecting and observation were conducted during % IsIaJicarita the month of May 2003 aboard the RV Urracd. The "10- | 7* 10" areas surveyed were sand and rocky shores, sea mounts, 2*00' -81*50' -81*40' -81*30' islets, estuaries and reefs in order to find the species living in all distinct habitats within the Park. The survey Figure 2. Map of Parque National de Coiba. covered three different zones: intertidal, subtidal (5 to 25 m by scuba-diving) and deep (51 to 106 m) by temperatures and clearer waters (San Martin etal, 1997). trawling. Opisthobranchs were found on and under rocks, within cracks and crevices and on potential prey There is a paucity of information on Coiba and most or habitat (such as algae, sponges, hydroids, bryozoans, data were generated during the development of the corals and gorgonians). Specimens were deposited at management plan of Parque Nacional de Coiba. The the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, present paper is the result of an expedition, part of an California Academy of Sciences and the KL Kaiser ongoing faunal study of the coastal and oceanic islands Collection. of the Tropical Eastern Pacific conducted by the The trawling was done aboard the RV Urracd. The Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama, with otter trawl used was 5 m wide, with a protective net of the goal of increasing our knowledge of the local fauna. 3 cm and an inner mesh of 6 mm. The net was lowered Keen (1971) reports 28 species of both shelled and by a metal cable with a winch. The length of the cable shell-less opisthobranchs for Panama and 10 additional was calculated to three times the depth. Once the cable species that occur in adjacent areas and would be was fully extended, the trawl was conducted for 15 expected to inhabit suitable substrates of Panama. Later, minutes. The net was then winched up to the surface various authors reported 18 species from Panama but not and untied on the deck where the specimens collected specifically for Parque Nacional de Coiba: Sphon (1971) were sorted by taxonomic group. one species; Bertsch et al. (1973) one species; Abbott Size, depth and habitat observations were recorded (1974) four species; Ferreira & Bertsch (1975) one for each opisthobranch found. The size was measured species; Bertsch (1979) one species; Bertsch & Kerstitch in situ with a metric ruler and depth and temperature (1984) one species; Gosliner & Bertsch (1988) one were taken with an Uwatec Smart dive computer. A species; Gosliner (1990, 1991 & 1994) seven species; station number was assigned to each dive, trawl and Gosliner & Behrens (1998) one species. intertidal survey, with the acronym ICP (Isla de Coiba, San Martin et. al. (1997) report a species list of 12 Panama) and a consecutive number. For each station opisthobranchs for Parque Nacional de Coiba; 15 we recorded date, latitude and longitude, time of day, additional species are listed in Vega et al. (2000) in an temperature range, depth range surveyed, type of extensive paper listing mollusks for the Veraguas substrate, energy level and dominant reef Province (of these, 5 are reported from the Park and 10 characteristics. All species were photographed in situ in other locations of the Veraguas Province). Garcia when possible and/or in an aquarium. Vol. XXXVI(9): 2004 THE FESTIVUS Page 107 Results and Discussion Anaspidea, 9 "Notaspidea," 5 Sacoglossa and 52 Nudibranchia. Of this total, 22 species collected have not Reported herein are the 75 species of been previously reported as occurring within Parque opisthobranchs that were found during the month of Nacional de Coiba, Panama, or in localities south of May 2003 in 22 trawls, 50 dives and 8 shore Panama. Additionally, 10 species are new to science. excursions. They include members in the orders In order to simplify the presentation of results, all "Cephalaspidea," "Notaspidea,"Anaspidea, Sacoglossa collecting stations were grouped into major areas of the and Nudibranchia. A total of 951 specimens of Park. Table 1 presents these localities, me general latitudes opisthobranchs were measured and recorded. Seventy- and longitudes and shorter names (i.e. Isla de Coiba five species were identified: 4 "Cephalaspidea," 5 northwest as Coiba NW) and are then used in Table 2. Table 1, Collecting Areas in Parque Nacional de Coiba. Areas As referred to in Table 2 Longitude and Latitude Canal de Rancheria Rancheria 07'37'N, 081'42'W Isla Afuerita Afuerita 07'42'N, 081'37'W Isla Brincanco Brincanco 07"52'N, 081'47'W Isla Canal de Afuera C. Afuera 07'41'N, 081'37'W Isla Coibita Coibita 07'39'N, 081'43'W Isla de Coiba east Coiba E 07'24'N.0S1'39'W Isla de Coiba northeast Coiba NE 07'35'N, 081'42'W Isla de Coiba northwest Coiba NW 07'37'N, 081'47'W Isla de Coiba southeast Coiba SE 07'25'N, 081'41'W Isla de Coiba west Coiba W 07'31'N.081*53'W Isla Jicarita Jicarita 07'13'N,081'48'W Isla Jicaron Jicaron 07'17'N,081'48'W Isla Uva Uva 07'49'N,08r45'W Islas Contreras Contreras 07'46'N, 081'45'W Trawl off Isla Jicaron and Trawl 1 07'17'N, 081'43'W Jicarita Trawl off Islas Contreras Trawl 2 07'40'N,081'44'W Benthic Trawl Collections Flabeilina cynara (Marcus & Marcus, 1967) (12 Benthic trawls brought up specimens of all major specimens were collected without any cerata remaining taxonomic groups: mollusks, fish, crustaceans, sponges but identified by the unique purple markings on foot, and a few cnidarians. Opisthobranchs taken in trawl tail, oral tentacles and rhinophores); Bertheilitja ilisima samples normally suffer from distortion and damage due Marcus & Marcus, 1967; Berthella californka (Ball, to their soft bodies. Nonetheless, the species of 1990); Armina californica (Cooper, 1863); Navanax opisthobranchs collected in the trawls were successfully aenigmaiicus (Bergh, 1894) and Chromodoris marislae identified. Bertsch & Ferreira, 1973. The latter is the first report A total of 76 specimens of an undescribed species of of this species outside of Mexico. Armina Raftnesque, 1848 (Nudibranchia: Arminina), were collected live along with what is its known Subtidal and Intertidal Collections preferred alcyonarian prey (Cavemularia sp.).
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Diversity of Norwegian Sea Slugs (Nudibranchia): New Species to Norwegian Coastal Waters and New Data on Distribution of Rare Species
    Fauna norvegica 2013 Vol. 32: 45-52. ISSN: 1502-4873 Diversity of Norwegian sea slugs (Nudibranchia): new species to Norwegian coastal waters and new data on distribution of rare species Jussi Evertsen1 and Torkild Bakken1 Evertsen J, Bakken T. 2013. Diversity of Norwegian sea slugs (Nudibranchia): new species to Norwegian coastal waters and new data on distribution of rare species. Fauna norvegica 32: 45-52. A total of 5 nudibranch species are reported from the Norwegian coast for the first time (Doridoxa ingolfiana, Goniodoris castanea, Onchidoris sparsa, Eubranchus rupium and Proctonotus mucro- niferus). In addition 10 species that can be considered rare in Norwegian waters are presented with new information (Lophodoris danielsseni, Onchidoris depressa, Palio nothus, Tritonia griegi, Tritonia lineata, Hero formosa, Janolus cristatus, Cumanotus beaumonti, Berghia norvegica and Calma glau- coides), in some cases with considerable changes to their distribution. These new results present an update to our previous extensive investigation of the nudibranch fauna of the Norwegian coast from 2005, which now totals 87 species. An increase in several new species to the Norwegian fauna and new records of rare species, some with considerable updates, in relatively few years results mainly from sampling effort and contributions by specialists on samples from poorly sampled areas. doi: 10.5324/fn.v31i0.1576. Received: 2012-12-02. Accepted: 2012-12-20. Published on paper and online: 2013-02-13. Keywords: Nudibranchia, Gastropoda, taxonomy, biogeography 1. Museum of Natural History and Archaeology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, NO-7491 Trondheim, Norway Corresponding author: Jussi Evertsen E-mail: [email protected] IntRODUCTION the main aims.
    [Show full text]
  • DEEP SEA LEBANON RESULTS of the 2016 EXPEDITION EXPLORING SUBMARINE CANYONS Towards Deep-Sea Conservation in Lebanon Project
    DEEP SEA LEBANON RESULTS OF THE 2016 EXPEDITION EXPLORING SUBMARINE CANYONS Towards Deep-Sea Conservation in Lebanon Project March 2018 DEEP SEA LEBANON RESULTS OF THE 2016 EXPEDITION EXPLORING SUBMARINE CANYONS Towards Deep-Sea Conservation in Lebanon Project Citation: Aguilar, R., García, S., Perry, A.L., Alvarez, H., Blanco, J., Bitar, G. 2018. 2016 Deep-sea Lebanon Expedition: Exploring Submarine Canyons. Oceana, Madrid. 94 p. DOI: 10.31230/osf.io/34cb9 Based on an official request from Lebanon’s Ministry of Environment back in 2013, Oceana has planned and carried out an expedition to survey Lebanese deep-sea canyons and escarpments. Cover: Cerianthus membranaceus © OCEANA All photos are © OCEANA Index 06 Introduction 11 Methods 16 Results 44 Areas 12 Rov surveys 16 Habitat types 44 Tarablus/Batroun 14 Infaunal surveys 16 Coralligenous habitat 44 Jounieh 14 Oceanographic and rhodolith/maërl 45 St. George beds measurements 46 Beirut 19 Sandy bottoms 15 Data analyses 46 Sayniq 15 Collaborations 20 Sandy-muddy bottoms 20 Rocky bottoms 22 Canyon heads 22 Bathyal muds 24 Species 27 Fishes 29 Crustaceans 30 Echinoderms 31 Cnidarians 36 Sponges 38 Molluscs 40 Bryozoans 40 Brachiopods 42 Tunicates 42 Annelids 42 Foraminifera 42 Algae | Deep sea Lebanon OCEANA 47 Human 50 Discussion and 68 Annex 1 85 Annex 2 impacts conclusions 68 Table A1. List of 85 Methodology for 47 Marine litter 51 Main expedition species identified assesing relative 49 Fisheries findings 84 Table A2. List conservation interest of 49 Other observations 52 Key community of threatened types and their species identified survey areas ecological importanc 84 Figure A1.
    [Show full text]
  • Biodiversity Journal, 2020, 11 (4): 861–870
    Biodiversity Journal, 2020, 11 (4): 861–870 https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2020.11.4.861.870 The biodiversity of the marine Heterobranchia fauna along the central-eastern coast of Sicily, Ionian Sea Andrea Lombardo* & Giuliana Marletta Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences - Section of Animal Biology, University of Catania, via Androne 81, 95124 Catania, Italy *Corresponding author: [email protected] ABSTRACT The first updated list of the marine Heterobranchia for the central-eastern coast of Sicily (Italy) is here reported. This study was carried out, through a total of 271 scuba dives, from 2017 to the beginning of 2020 in four sites located along the Ionian coasts of Sicily: Catania, Aci Trezza, Santa Maria La Scala and Santa Tecla. Through a photographic data collection, 95 taxa, representing 17.27% of all Mediterranean marine Heterobranchia, were reported. The order with the highest number of found species was that of Nudibranchia. Among the study areas, Catania, Santa Maria La Scala and Santa Tecla had not a remarkable difference in the number of species, while Aci Trezza had the lowest number of species. Moreover, among the 95 taxa, four species considered rare and six non-indigenous species have been recorded. Since the presence of a high diversity of sea slugs in a relatively small area, the central-eastern coast of Sicily could be considered a zone of high biodiversity for the marine Heterobranchia fauna. KEY WORDS diversity; marine Heterobranchia; Mediterranean Sea; sea slugs; species list. Received 08.07.2020; accepted 08.10.2020; published online 20.11.2020 INTRODUCTION more researches were carried out (Cattaneo Vietti & Chemello, 1987).
    [Show full text]
  • John E. Morris Ally Described in 1860 As Sarcoptilus (Ptilosarcus) Gurneyi
    AN ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS OF ROBERT EDWARD BATIEfor the MASTER OF SCIENCE (Name) (Degree) in Zoology presented on (Major) (Late) Title:TAXONOMY AND SOME ASPECTS OF THE BIOLOGY OF THE SEA PEN PTLLOSARCUS GURNEYI (CNIDARIA, PENNATULAC EA) Redacted for Privacy Abstract approved: Redacted for Privacy John E. Morris At present there is much confusion regarding the correct genus and species name for the shallow water, West coast sea pen.Origin- ally described in 1860 as Sarcoptilus (Ptilosarcus) gurneyi Gray, this sea pen has subsequently been placed inthree different genera, one of which has had three spelling variations, and in three different species groups under three spelling variations.Not only is there ex- tensive synonymy, but also homonymy exists between the generic names of a sea pen and a moth. The purpose of this investigation was to determine the valid taxonomic name and to supply more information about the sea pen with respect to its anatomy and biology. Sea pens were collected from Puget Sound, Washington, and from Monterey Bay, California,Their internal and external morpholo.- gies were compared; no detectable differences were found between the two populations, except in coloration.Coloration was not considered to be a stable enough character upon which tobase species differences. The taxonomic history of the West coast sea pen waspresented and reasons given for the subordination of the genusLeioptilus to the genus Ptilosarcus.Ptilosarcus gurneyi was recommended as the proper and valid binomen forthe shallow water sea pen with all other names being subordinated. Taxonomy and Some Aspects of the Biology of the Sea Pen Ptilosarcus gurn (Cnidaria, Pennatulacea) by Robert Edward Batie A THESIS submitted to Oregon State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science June 1971 APPROVED: Redacted for Privacy Dr.
    [Show full text]
  • Ringiculid Bubble Snails Recovered As the Sister Group to Sea Slugs
    www.nature.com/scientificreports OPEN Ringiculid bubble snails recovered as the sister group to sea slugs (Nudipleura) Received: 13 May 2016 Yasunori Kano1, Bastian Brenzinger2,3, Alexander Nützel4, Nerida G. Wilson5 & Accepted: 08 July 2016 Michael Schrödl2,3 Published: 08 August 2016 Euthyneuran gastropods represent one of the most diverse lineages in Mollusca (with over 30,000 species), play significant ecological roles in aquatic and terrestrial environments and affect many aspects of human life. However, our understanding of their evolutionary relationships remains incomplete due to missing data for key phylogenetic lineages. The present study integrates such a neglected, ancient snail family Ringiculidae into a molecular systematics of Euthyneura for the first time, and is supplemented by the first microanatomical data. Surprisingly, both molecular and morphological features present compelling evidence for the common ancestry of ringiculid snails with the highly dissimilar Nudipleura—the most species-rich and well-known taxon of sea slugs (nudibranchs and pleurobranchoids). A new taxon name Ringipleura is proposed here for these long-lost sisters, as one of three major euthyneuran clades with late Palaeozoic origins, along with Acteonacea (Acteonoidea + Rissoelloidea) and Tectipleura (Euopisthobranchia + Panpulmonata). The early Euthyneura are suggested to be at least temporary burrowers with a characteristic ‘bubble’ shell, hypertrophied foot and headshield as exemplified by many extant subtaxa with an infaunal mode of life, while the expansion of the mantle might have triggered the explosive Mesozoic radiation of the clade into diverse ecological niches. The traditional gastropod subclass Euthyneura is a highly diverse clade of snails and slugs with at least 30,000 living species1,2.
    [Show full text]
  • 61-68, 2001 Genus Doriopsilla Bergh (Gastropoda
    BASTERIA, 65: 61-68, 2001 A new of Nudibranchiaofthe species genusDoriopsilla Bergh (Gastropoda, Opisthobranchia) from SouthAfrica Antonio+S. Perrone Via Palermo 7, 73014 Gallipoli, Italy A of the nudibranch new species genus Doriopsilla Bergh, 1880,D. debruini, is described from Hout South is Bay, Africa. The new species distinguished externally by a number oflarge dark brown the of sheaths and notch patches, presence high rhinophore a very deep on the ante- rior foot. the of the is for the with the Internally arrangement organs typical genus presence of female and flat Differences between the a large gland a prostatic gland. known species are tabulated. Key words: Opisthobranchia, Nudibranchia, Dendrodorididae, Doriopsilla, South Africa, taxonomy. INTRODUCTION The genus Doriopsilla (family Dendrodorididae) was established by Bergh (1880) and the type species, Doriopsilla areolata, was described from the MediterraneanSea. Further known from Doriopsilla species are different seas (Alder & Hancock, 1864; D'Oliveira, 1895; Baba, 1949; Marcus, 1961; Burn, 1962, 1989; Marcus & Marcus, 1967; Edmunds, 1968; Meyer, 1977; Valdes & Behrens, 1998; Gosliner, Schaefer & Millen, 1999, etc.). Some ascribed Dendrodoris Doriopsilla species were to (Allan, 1933; Pruvot-Fol, 1951, 1954; Behrens, 1980, 1991; McDonald & Nybakken, 1981; McDonald, 1983; Baba, 1933, since 1949) the two are similar. the was genera superficially Recently genus Doriopsilla reviewed Valdes but (Valdes, 1996; & Ortea, 1997) the numberof valid species is uncer- tain. Four species are known from South Africa (Bergh, 1907; Gosliner, 1987) and only of these named. One of the unnamed South African two are species shows the typical habitus of Doriopsilla but with a peculiar pattern consisting of large darkbrown patches brown notal The on a pale background.
    [Show full text]
  • Abstract Volume
    ABSTRACT VOLUME August 11-16, 2019 1 2 Table of Contents Pages Acknowledgements……………………………………………………………………………………………...1 Abstracts Symposia and Contributed talks……………………….……………………………………………3-225 Poster Presentations…………………………………………………………………………………226-291 3 Venom Evolution of West African Cone Snails (Gastropoda: Conidae) Samuel Abalde*1, Manuel J. Tenorio2, Carlos M. L. Afonso3, and Rafael Zardoya1 1Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN-CSIC), Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biologia Evolutiva 2Universidad de Cadiz, Departamento CMIM y Química Inorgánica – Instituto de Biomoléculas (INBIO) 3Universidade do Algarve, Centre of Marine Sciences (CCMAR) Cone snails form one of the most diverse families of marine animals, including more than 900 species classified into almost ninety different (sub)genera. Conids are well known for being active predators on worms, fishes, and even other snails. Cones are venomous gastropods, meaning that they use a sophisticated cocktail of hundreds of toxins, named conotoxins, to subdue their prey. Although this venom has been studied for decades, most of the effort has been focused on Indo-Pacific species. Thus far, Atlantic species have received little attention despite recent radiations have led to a hotspot of diversity in West Africa, with high levels of endemic species. In fact, the Atlantic Chelyconus ermineus is thought to represent an adaptation to piscivory independent from the Indo-Pacific species and is, therefore, key to understanding the basis of this diet specialization. We studied the transcriptomes of the venom gland of three individuals of C. ermineus. The venom repertoire of this species included more than 300 conotoxin precursors, which could be ascribed to 33 known and 22 new (unassigned) protein superfamilies, respectively. Most abundant superfamilies were T, W, O1, M, O2, and Z, accounting for 57% of all detected diversity.
    [Show full text]
  • Table of Contents
    ALL INDIA CO-ORDINATED PROJECT ON TAXONOMY OF MOLLUSCA ANNUAL REPORT (December 2016 – May 2018) GUJARAT STATE BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY Dr. Deepak Apte Director Dr. Dishant Parasharya Dr. Bhavik Patel Scientist – B Scientist – B All India Coordinated Project on Taxonomy – Mollusca , Gujarat State Acknowledgements We are thankful to the Department of Forest and Environment, Government of Gujarat, Mr. G. K. Sinha, IFS HoFF and PCCF (Wildlife) for his guidance and cooperation in the work. We are thankful to then CCF Marine National Park and Sanctuary, Mr. Shyamal Tikader IFS, Mr. S. K. Mehta IFS and their team for the generous support, We take this opportunity to thank the entire team of Marine National Park and Sanctuary. We are thankful to all the colleagues of BNHS who directly or indirectly helped us in our work. We specially thank our field assistant, Rajesh Parmar who helped us in the field work. All India Coordinated Project on Taxonomy – Mollusca , Gujarat State 1. Introduction Gujarat has a long coastline of about 1650 km, which is mainly due to the presence of two gulfs viz. the Gulf of Khambhat (GoKh) and Gulf of Kachchh (GoK). The coastline has diverse habitats such as rocky, sandy, mangroves, coral reefs etc. The southern shore of the GoK in the western India, notified as Marine National Park and Sanctuary (MNP & S), harbours most of these major habitats. The reef areas of the GoK are rich in flora and fauna; Narara, Dwarka, Poshitra, Shivrajpur, Paga, Boria, Chank and Okha are some of these pristine areas of the GoK and its surrounding environs.
    [Show full text]
  • The Feeding Habits of Pleurobranchaea
    THE FEEDING HABITS OF PLEUROBRANCHAEA CALIFORNICA MACFARLAND, 1966 (OPISTHOBRANCHIA, NOTASPIDEA) IN MONTEREY BAY, CALIFORNIA A Thesis Presented to the Faculty of California State University, Stanislaus and Moss Landing Marine Laboratories In Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Science in Marine Science By Karen E. Battle August, 1994 ABSTRACT The natural diet of Pleurobranchaea californica was studied in Monterey Bay, California. Specimens were collected from January 29 to November 9, 1992, at depths of 30-100 meters, using an otter trawl and an interfacial trawl. Three hundred fty-six animals were collected and ranged in size from 0.01-411 grams with most of the animals weighing between 1.0 and 50 grams. The gut contents were examined and 16 different prey types were identified. Thirty-three percent of the guts were empty. Many animals had sediment in their guts, which was presumed to be a result of their ingesting or attempting to ingest prey items that live on or below the substratum. P. californica a euryphagic predator with pronounced cannibalism. Individual Index of Relative Importance values showed that opisthobranchs made up the largest portion of the diet of P. californica. The opisthobranchs in the diet included P. californica (as prey), Armina californica and Aglaja sp. The diets were similar specimens of P. californica collected at all depths, but did change depending upon the season in which the animals were collected, and their size. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank my committee members, Dr. James Nybakken, Dr. Gregor Cailliet, and Dr. Pamela Roe for their guidance and advice throughout this study.
    [Show full text]
  • Prey Preference Follows Phylogeny: Evolutionary Dietary Patterns Within the Marine Gastropod Group Cladobranchia (Gastropoda: Heterobranchia: Nudibranchia) Jessica A
    Goodheart et al. BMC Evolutionary Biology (2017) 17:221 DOI 10.1186/s12862-017-1066-0 RESEARCHARTICLE Open Access Prey preference follows phylogeny: evolutionary dietary patterns within the marine gastropod group Cladobranchia (Gastropoda: Heterobranchia: Nudibranchia) Jessica A. Goodheart1,2* , Adam L. Bazinet1,3, Ángel Valdés4, Allen G. Collins2 and Michael P. Cummings1 Abstract Background: The impact of predator-prey interactions on the evolution of many marine invertebrates is poorly understood. Since barriers to genetic exchange are less obvious in the marine realm than in terrestrial or freshwater systems, non-allopatric divergence may play a fundamental role in the generation of biodiversity. In this context, shifts between major prey types could constitute important factors explaining the biodiversity of marine taxa, particularly in groups with highly specialized diets. However, the scarcity of marine specialized consumers for which reliable phylogenies exist hampers attempts to test the role of trophic specialization in evolution. In this study, RNA- Seq data is used to produce a phylogeny of Cladobranchia, a group of marine invertebrates that feed on a diverse array of prey taxa but mostly specialize on cnidarians. The broad range of prey type preferences allegedly present in two major groups within Cladobranchia suggest that prey type shifts are relatively common over evolutionary timescales. Results: In the present study, we generated a well-supported phylogeny of the major lineages within Cladobranchia using RNA-Seq data, and used ancestral state reconstruction analyses to better understand the evolution of prey preference. These analyses answered several fundamental questions regarding the evolutionary relationships within Cladobranchia, including support for a clade of species from Arminidae as sister to Tritoniidae (which both preferentially prey on Octocorallia).
    [Show full text]
  • An Annotated Checklist of the Marine Macroinvertebrates of Alaska David T
    NOAA Professional Paper NMFS 19 An annotated checklist of the marine macroinvertebrates of Alaska David T. Drumm • Katherine P. Maslenikov Robert Van Syoc • James W. Orr • Robert R. Lauth Duane E. Stevenson • Theodore W. Pietsch November 2016 U.S. Department of Commerce NOAA Professional Penny Pritzker Secretary of Commerce National Oceanic Papers NMFS and Atmospheric Administration Kathryn D. Sullivan Scientific Editor* Administrator Richard Langton National Marine National Marine Fisheries Service Fisheries Service Northeast Fisheries Science Center Maine Field Station Eileen Sobeck 17 Godfrey Drive, Suite 1 Assistant Administrator Orono, Maine 04473 for Fisheries Associate Editor Kathryn Dennis National Marine Fisheries Service Office of Science and Technology Economics and Social Analysis Division 1845 Wasp Blvd., Bldg. 178 Honolulu, Hawaii 96818 Managing Editor Shelley Arenas National Marine Fisheries Service Scientific Publications Office 7600 Sand Point Way NE Seattle, Washington 98115 Editorial Committee Ann C. Matarese National Marine Fisheries Service James W. Orr National Marine Fisheries Service The NOAA Professional Paper NMFS (ISSN 1931-4590) series is pub- lished by the Scientific Publications Of- *Bruce Mundy (PIFSC) was Scientific Editor during the fice, National Marine Fisheries Service, scientific editing and preparation of this report. NOAA, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115. The Secretary of Commerce has The NOAA Professional Paper NMFS series carries peer-reviewed, lengthy original determined that the publication of research reports, taxonomic keys, species synopses, flora and fauna studies, and data- this series is necessary in the transac- intensive reports on investigations in fishery science, engineering, and economics. tion of the public business required by law of this Department.
    [Show full text]
  • Australasian Nudibranch News
    australasian nudibranchNEWS No.6 February 1999 Ceratosoma brevicuadatum Editors Notes Abraham, 1867 Helmut Debilius’s second edition of Nudibranchs and Sea Snails is now This species is endemic to the temper- available (see review page 4). Neville Coleman has supplied the updated spe- ate southern Australia, from Cape Byron in cies list for his Nudibranchs of the South Pacific (see page 3). For the full up- the east to Houtman Abrolhos in the west. It date, including the new distribution notes, send an email and we will forward a is the dominate species in Victorian waters. copy. The body and mantle colour can be The Port Stephens nudibranch list has drawn some attention, a film maker bright red, pink, orange, pale brown or yel- recently contacted us after seeing the list on our web site. We are now looking low and bear red, blue or purple spots often at how we can assist him in making a documentory on the Rocky Shore. All with white rings. The rhinophores and specimens are to be photographed and then released unharmed. tripinnate gills are the same colour as the Surfing the nudibranch sites recently I came across a site created by Lim mantle and foot. Yun Ping. Have a look at http://arl.nus.edu.sg/mandar/yp/EPIC/nudi.html The body is firm, high, slender and in- flexible. The mantle has a continuous wavy notal ridge which develops into a posterior Feedback mantle projection. This distinguishes it from In answer to Lindsay Warren's request for information: tropical species which have elongated and Helmut's book (Edition one): recurved projections.This species can grow page 139 (middle): is Philinopsis cyanea.
    [Show full text]