SYSTEMATICS AND ECOLOGY OF THE POLYCHAETA (ANNELIDA) OF A SEAGRASS BE0 IN BERMUDA PATRlClA POCKLINGTON A thesis submittod in confonrrity with the requimm~ts for the degree of Master of Science Graduate Department of Zoology University of Toronto O Copyright by PaMcia Pocklington 2001 National Library Bbliothèque nationale 1*1 of Camda du Canada Acquisitions and Acquisitions et Bibliogrâphic Services wwices bibliographiques 305 Wdfngtm Strwt 395, nie Wdingîm OltawaON K1AON4 OnawaON KlAûN4 Canada Caneda The author has granted a non- L'auteur a accordé une licence non exclusive licence dowing the exclusive permettant à la National Libraxy of Canada to Biblidkque nationale du Canada de reproduce, loan, distnbute or sell reprodiite, prêter, distribuer ou copies of this thesis in microfom, vendre des copies de cette thèse sous paper or electronic formats. la forme de microfiche/film, de reproduction sur papier ou sur format électronique. The author retains ownership of the L'auteur conserve la proprieté du copyright in this thesis. Neither die &oit d'auteur qui protège cette thése. thesis nor substantial extracts fhnit Ni fa thèse ni des extraits substantiels may be printed or otherwise de celle-ci ne doivent être imprim6s reproduced without the author's ou autrement reproduits sans son pemission. autorisation. ABSTRACT SYSTEMATlCS AND ECOLOGY OF THE POLYCHAETEA (ANNELIDA) OF A SEAGRASS BED IN BERMUDA M.Sc. 2001 Patricia Pocklington Oepartment of Zoology, University of Toronto A review of the literature showed 267 species of polychaetes have been found in Bermuda. In this study, 4618 individuals from 91 species of polychaetes were collecteci from four sites, sampled in spring and fall. Three new species were described. Confusion found in the literature about some species assigned to Branchiosyllis (Syllidae) required redescnption of this genus, and a new genus - Ungulosyllis (Sy tlidae: Polychaeta) - is proposed. Phylogenetic analysis of al1 Syllinae genera did not resolve Ungulosy/Iisas the immediate sister to the confusing genera. Statistical analysis of polychaete species and abundance in spring and fall, and across the seabed showed notable differences. The species found, their life histories, and their feeding strategies, suggest that these seagrass beds are different (less stable) than seagrass beds of other subttopicat locations. It is suggested mat potychaetes may be used as an indicator of the status of the entire macrobenthic community. I gratefully acknowledge: financial support for this study provided by grants to Dr. Kathryn Coates and to myself from the Canadian Associates of the Bermuda Biological Station (CABBS) and the Munson Foundation at the Bermuda Biological Station for Research lnc.(8BSR), two fellowships - the Jeanne F. Goulding Award and the Ide award - provided to me through the Zaology Department, University of Toronto, the BBSR for access to al1 its facilities, Or. Struan (Robbie) Smith for access to his North Shore samples. The polychaetes studied in this project were from samples collected as psi: of project undertaken by Dr. Smith of the BBSR Dr. Doug Currie of the Royal Ontario Museum, for guidance while Iwas on campus, fellow graduate students - Miranda Smith, Sanja Hinic, Beth Long and Francesca Santini - of the Zoology Department of the University of Toronto, for theit cheerful carnpanionship, and my husband for his wonderful sense of humor and unfailing support. iii C hapter 1. - Oeveloped the concept of assessing the status of the polychaete fauna of Bermuda. - Performed the literature search, and prepared a list of polychaetes reported from Bermuda over the last 115 years. - Where possible, collected original description of al1 species reported from Bermuda. - ldentified al1 of the polychaetes in 64 sediment samples taken as part of an ecotogical survey along the North Shore of Bermuda in 1992. - The study was done based upon the concept that polychaetes might be used to assess the status and health of the entire benthic community of a seagrass bed associated with coral island ecosystems. Chapter 2. - Recognized a problern regarding the identification of some syllids. - Discovered confusion of the syllid genera in the literature. - Examined original descriptions of the confused genera, and both type material and new material from type locality. - Revised the genus Branchiosyllis and described a new genus Ungulosyllis. Chapter 3. - Recognized some specimens in the study as previously undescribed (confimed this by examining type material of similar species from Bermuda deposited by A. E. Venill at the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History). - Oescribed and illustrated three new species of polychaetes. Chapter 4. - Reviewed literature on the macrofauna of seagrass bed. - Prepared the polychaete data for analysis; analyted data and interpreted results. ABSTRACT .............................................................................................................. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .......................................................................................Irr CONTRIBUTION OF P.P. .......................................................................................iv TABLE OF CONTENTS ........................................................................................v LIST OF TABLES ................................................................................................ vi LIST OF FIGURES .............................................................................................vii LIST OF APPENDICES ....................................................................................... viii CHAPTER 1......................................................................................................... 1 SYSTEMATICS AND ECOLOGY POLYCHAETES COLLECTED IN A BERMUDA SEAGRASS BED ..................................................................................................1 INTRODUCTION ..............................................................................................1 REFERENCES ..............................................................................................10 CHAPTER 2 .........................................................................................................19 DISCUSSION OF THE BRANCHIOSYLIS EMUS GROUP AND DESCRlPTlON OF A NEW GENUS (SYLLIDAE. ANNELIDA) ..........................................................................19 ABSTRACT ...................................................................................................19 INTRODUCTION .................................... .. ............................................... 19 METHODS AND MATERIALS ..........................................................................24 RESULTS .................................................................................................... 29 CONCLUSIONS ............................................................................................52 REFERENCES ..............................................................................................52 CHAPTER 3 ..........................................................................................................59 THREE NEW SPECIES OF POLYCHAETA (ANNELIDA) FROM BERMUDA .................59 ABSTRACT ..................................................................................................59 INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................-59 METHODS AND MATERIALS .........................................................................-60 CONCLUSIONS ...........................................................................................76 REFERENCES .............................................................................................77 CHAPTER 4 ..........................................................................................................84 THE POCYCHAETE FAUNA OF A BERMUDA SEAGRASS BED: TEMPORAL AND SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION AND RELATlONSHlP TO TROPHlC STRUCTURE AND LIFE HISTORY 84 ABSTRACT ..................................................................................................84 INTRODUCTION ...........................................................................................85 METHODS AND MATERIALS ..........................................................................90 RESULTS ....................................................................................................94 DISCUSSION .............................................................................................-114 CONCLUSIONS ..................................................................................... 125 REFERENCES .......................................................................................... 127 CHAPTER 5 .........................................................................................................738 SlGNlFlCANCE OF THE POLYCHAETE FAUNA OF A SEAGRASS BED IN BERMUDA 138 GENERAL CONCLUSIONS ............................................................................138 REFERENCES ...........................................................................................144 LIST OF TABLES Table 24. Taxa of the Syllis (Typosylia) exil& gmup. tnnrfemd to Bmnchiorylll. sensu Licher 2000 .(Note the circumtmpical distribution of these rpociea.) ..................... 23 Table 24. Chancten. States and C~din~............................... .. ..........................m...28 Table 2-3 . Matrix for Phylogenetic Analysis of the Genen of Syllinae uring EusyINs