New Records of Marine Wood Borers (Bivalvia: Teredinidae and Isopoda: Limnoriidae) from São Miguel, Azores, with a Discussion of Some Aspects of Their Biogeography
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AÇOREANA, 2014, Suplemento 10: 109-116 NEW RECORDS OF MARINE WOOD BORERS (BIVALVIA: TEREDINIDAE AND ISOPODA: LIMNORIIDAE) FROM SÃO MIGUEL, AZORES, WITH A DISCUSSION OF SOME ASPECTS OF THEIR BIOGEOGRAPHY Luísa M.S. Borges & Filipe O. Costa Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal e-mail: [email protected] Helmhol -Zentrum Geesthacht, Zentrum für Material- und Küstenforschung GmbH, Max-Planck-Straße 1, 21502 Geesthacht, Deutschland/Germany ABSTRACT Specimens of the morpho-species Lyrodus pedicellatus (Bivalvia: Teredinidae) and Limnoria tripunctata and L. quadripunctata (Isopoda: Limnoridae) were extracted from wood samples collected during July 2012. Limnoria tripunctata and L. quadripunctata coexisted in the same wood piece, which is rare for limnoriids. All three species were recorded for the fi rst time from São Miguel waters and L. quadripunctata was also recorded for the fi rst time from the Azores. The recent recorded presence of these species in the Azores suggests a recent range expansion from southern Europe. RESUMO Espécimes da morfo-espécie Lyrodus pedicellatus (Bivalvia: Teredinidae) e espécimes das espécies Limnoria tripunctata e L. quadripunctata (Isopoda: Limnoriidae) foram extraídos de pedaços de madeira coletados durante o Workshop Sabrina, Mosteiros, São Miguel, Açores. L. tripunctata e L. quadripuncta foram encontradas a coexistir no mesmo pedaço de madeira, o que é uma observação rara em limnorideos. Este é o primeiro registo para estas três espécies em São Miguel e também o primeiro registo da espécie L. quadripunctata nos Açores. A ocorrência destas três espécies nos Açores, coincidente com o aumento da actividade destes organismos na última década na Europa, sugere uma recente expansão com origem no Sul da Europa. INTRODUCTION synonymised by Turner (1966) with Teredo navalis (Linnaeus, 1758), Nototeredo arine wood borers are an norvagica (Spengler, 1792) and Psiloteredo Mheteregeneous group of xylotrophic megotara (Hanley, 1848) and an isopod (wood feeding) organisms, including species, which was interpreted to be bivalves (Teredinidae [Distel, 2003]) and Limnoria lignorum (Rathke, 1799) (Clapp & Crustacea (Limnoriidae [Cragg, 2003]). Kenk, 1963). They are considered serious pests due Since these early studies, a large to the destruction they infl ict on man- number of teredinids have been reported made wooden structures in the marine upon from European waters from cold environment (Turner & Johnson, 1971). Norway (Santhakumaran & Sneli, 1978; Indeed, economic and safety issues Borges, 2007) to the warm Mediterranean were the main motivation for the fi rst Sea (Bobat, 1995; Borges, 2007; Sivrikaya scientifi c studies of the species in the 18th et al., 2009). The large number of century, when outbreaks of wood borers publications describing new teredinid in the wooden dykes of the Netherlands species in the 18th, 19th and early 20th caused catastrophic destruction. Among centuries created many synonyms. the numerous reports produced on This situation left the systematics and wood borers at the time (Clapp & Kenk, taxonomy of the Teredinidae in a chaotic 1963), the most important was that of state. One of the reasons for this was Sellius (1733) wherein he recognised probably the fact that teredinids are a three teredinid species, which were particularly diffi cult group of bivalves PPaginação_Açoreana_Suplementoaginação_Açoreana_Suplemento 10_prova05.indd10_prova05.indd 109109 005-10-20145-10-2014 117:44:337:44:33 110AÇOREANA 2014, Suplemento 10: 109-116 to identify. Whereas in the majority of respectively. The taxonomic status of the bivalves morphological identifi cation la er was, however, considered uncertain is based on shell features, in the case of (Cookson, 1990) but the species has now the Teredinidae, the shells show high been re-described (Castelló, 2011). intraspecifi c variation and interspecifi c Three teredinid species have been similarity and thus identifi cation is almost reported from the Azores in the early entirely based on the morphology of the literature. Nototeredo norvagica, from São pallets (Turner, 1966). In the catalogue Miguel, Faial (Dau enberg, 1889) and of the Teredinidae by Turner (1966), the Pico Islands (Nobre, 1924) and both N. taxonomy of the family was reviewed norvagica and Psiloteredo megotara were and six species were identifi ed from the reported as occurring commonly in Atlantic and the Mediterranean coasts of driftwood in the vicinity of the Azores Europe. In the last decade, however, the (Morton et al., 1998). In the last decade, number of teredinid species in Europe has although N. norvagica is still recorded increased to nine, including two invasive from São Miguel (Martins et al., 2009), the species (Borges et al., submi ed) and two species occurring in the Azores seems to cryptic species in the pedicellatus-like have changed. Teredora malleolus (Turton, Lyrodus complex of species (Borges et al., 1822) was reported for the fi rst time from 2012). São Miguel (Martins et al., 2009) and The Limnoridae includes wood and Lyrodus pedicellatus (Quatrefages, 1849) algae boring species. Of all the limnoriid was reported also for the fi rst time from species reported from Europe, fi ve are Terceira waters (Borges, 2007). In the case wood borers. Limnoria lignorum was of limnoriids, Limnoria tripunctata is the the fi rst limnoriid species described by only species recorded from the Azores, at Rathke (1799) as Cymothoa lignorum. Later Terceira (Borges, 2007). on, it was recognised by White (1857) as The malacological fauna of the Azores being synonymous with Limnoria terebrans has been the subject of several studies Leach, but subsequent authors referred to (Gofas, 1990; Morton, 1995; Ávila et al. the species as Limnoria lignorum, as it is now 1998, 2000; Martins et al., 2009). Similarly, known. For many years, it was thought there are a number of studies on the to be the only wood boring limnoriid crustacean fauna of the Azores (Paula et species, which led to several erroneous al., 1992; Southward, 1998; Costa & Jones, identifi cations (Neves, 1962). One and 2000; Rubal & Larsen, 2012; Torres et al., a half centuries later, a second wood 2012). No specifi c studies have, however, boring limnoriid, Limnoria quadripunctata been undertaken either on teredinids or Holthuis, 1949, was described from the on limnoriids, probably because, in the Netherlands. Soon after, a third species, Azores, contrarily to what happens in Limnoria tripunctata Menzies, 1951, was northern European countries, marine described from Southern California but wood borers do not pose a threat to was later found in southern Europe, in maritime structures, such as harbours, countries such as Portugal (Franco, 1962; pontoons and je ies, which are usually Neves, 1962) up to the English Channel constructed of concrete. These organisms (Eltringham & Hockley, 1958). The last are inconspicuous, due to the specifi c two limnoriid species, Limnoria borealis substrata they inhabit and thus they Kussakin, 1963 and Limnoria carinata might easily be missed in general surveys, Menzies & Becker, 1957 were reported which is probably the reason for the from Europe but only in Icelandic paucity of information in the literature. waters and in the Mediterranean Sea, The aim of the present work was, thus, PPaginação_Açoreana_Suplementoaginação_Açoreana_Suplemento 10_prova05.indd10_prova05.indd 110110 005-10-20145-10-2014 117:44:337:44:33 BORGES & COSTA: MARINE WOOD BORERS FROM SÃO MIGUEL, AZORES 111 to investigate the diversity of teredinids of the pleotelson (tubercles), according and limnoriids occurring in São Miguel to the keys in Menzies (1957) and the waters, as a contribution to knowledge of descriptions in Holthuis (1949). Complete the local fauna. specimens were preserved individually in 96% ethanol for future molecular analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS RESULTS Wood pieces were collected during a dive at a depth of 10 metres at Aquário Twenty teredinid and twenty-nine (station SAB2011.DI3), Mosteiros, São limnoriid specimens were extracted Miguel, Azores (37º53´N; 25º48´W), in from the wood. All complete teredinid July 2011, during the ‘Sabrina’ Workshop. specimens were identifi ed as belonging to Limnoriid specimens were collected the morpho-species Lyrodus pedicellatus. from the wood surface, by carefully Some specimens were lacking pallets and spli ing the tunnels with forceps were identifi ed only to family level, as under a stereo dissecting microscope. without pallets further identifi cation is After the limnoriids were collected, the not possible. Limnoriid specimens were wood pieces were split up to extract the identifi ed as Limnoria quadripunctata and teredinids. In the majority of cases whole Limnoria tripunctata. Both species were specimens were removed but, in others, found co-existing in the same piece of the soft tissues had ro en and only pallets wood. Many specimens were identifi ed and shells were found. Morphological only to genus level, Limnoria sp., due identifi cations of teredinids were based to damage to the pleotelson tubercles. on pallet characters according to the keys All three species are reported for the in Turner (1971) and the illustrations and fi rst time from São Miguel and Limnoria descriptions in Turner (1966). In the case of quadripunctata is also reported for the fi rst limnoriids, morphological identifi cations time from the Azores. were based mainly on the ornamentations FIGURE 1. Specimen