Mediterranean Marine Science Vol. 11, 2010 Shift in Sabella spallanzanii (Polychaeta, Sabellidae) spawning period in the Central Mediterranean Sea: a consequence of climate change? GIANGRANDE A. Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of Lecce, Complesso Ecotekne, Via Prov. le Lecce- Monteroni, 73100 Lecce LICCIANO M. Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche ed Ambientali, Universitΰ del Salento 73100 (Lecce) MUSCO L. Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche ed Ambientali, Universitΰ del Salento 73100 (Lecce) STABILI L. Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche ed Ambientali, Università del Salento 73100 (Lecce) http://dx.doi.org/10.12681/mms.86 Copyright © 2010 To cite this article: GIANGRANDE, A., LICCIANO, M., MUSCO, L., & STABILI, L. (2010). Shift in Sabella spallanzanii (Polychaeta, Sabellidae) spawning period in the Central Mediterranean Sea: a consequence of climate change?. Mediterranean Marine Science, 11(2), 373-380. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.12681/mms.86 http://epublishing.ekt.gr | e-Publisher: EKT | Downloaded at 04/02/2020 04:29:27 | Mediterranean Marine Science Short Communication Indexed in WoS (Web of Science, ISI Thomson) The journal is available on line at http://www.medit-mar-sc.net Shift in Sabella spallanzanii (Polychaeta, Sabellidae) spawning period in the Central Mediterranean Sea: a consequence of climate change? A. GIANGRANDE1, M. LICCIANO1, L. MUSCO1 and L. STABILI1-2 1 Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche ed Ambientali, Università del Salento 73100 (Lecce) Italy 2 Istituto per l’Ambiente Marino Costiero, Sezione di Taranto, CNR, Italy Corresponding author: [email protected] Received: 28 July 2010; Accepted: 14 September 2010; Published on line: 5 November 2010 Abstract Sabella spallanzanii is a large tubicolous filter feeder polychaete common in the Mediterranean fouling assemblages, where it plays an important role in structuring the community. Its reproductive biology is well known and had has been investigated since 1993. During the past few years, a shift in its reproductive period has been observed. In 2008 the presence of ripe eggs in the females was observed at least two months in advance compared to the past. This was confirmed during the 2009 when spawning and fertilization were observed three months in advance compared to the past. Pos- sible causes of this shift may be related to the increasing surface temperature in the Central Mediter- ranean Sea. Keywords: Polychaetes; Reproduction; Sea temperature; Structuring species; Fouling communities. Introduction found in the southernmost parts of the basin now being found in more northerly In recent years, numerous studies have locations (GRUBELIC et al., 2004; focused on the potential effects of global MIKAC & MUSCO, 2010). Comparing warming upon organisms and the interac- present data on hydroid distribution with tions between global warming and changes that of about 20 years ago, PUCE et al. in life cycles, physiology and behaviour for (2009) found that species have reacted to a wide range of organisms (PARMESAN increases in water temperature by modify- & YOHE, 2003). ing their seasonal patterns. Species that The change in the fauna of the were active only in the summer are now Mediterranean Sea in response to global present throughout the year, and norther- warming is becoming increasingly evident ly species are now occupying deeper and (BIANCHI, 2007), with species that were colder layers in the water column. Com- Medit. Mar. Sci., 11/2, 2010, 373-379 373 http://epublishing.ekt.gr | e-Publisher: EKT | Downloaded at 04/02/2020 04:29:27 | munities are therefore changing with According to the most recent study regard to their composition, depth of (GIANGRANDE et al., 2000), S. spallan- occurrence and timing of reproduction in zanii reproduces once a year in winter, and response to increasing water temperature. in the Mediterranean the spawning occurs In the Mediterranean most studies on from January to February. Eggs reach up the consequences of climate change have to 250 Ìm and give rise to a lecithotrophic focused on the distribution patterns of the development with larvae spending up to 15 recently introduced thermophilic alien days in the water column. Gametogenesis species (OCCHIPINTI-AMBROGI & occurs from July to January and appears SAVINI, 2003; ZENETOS et al., 2005; synchronized within populations so that 2008). Few studies have dealt with the population dynamics were easily pre- impact of the increasing water tempera- dictable, with massive recruitment events ture on the biology and ecology of occurring regularly each year. The species autochthonous species (eg. PUCE et al., grows rapidly, reaching about 10 cm in 2009; CONVERSI et al., 2009; MAZARIS body length during the first year, and can et al., 2008), and on the ecological conse- live for more than 5 years, reaching up to quences that changes in the time of repro- 40 cm in length (GIANGRANDE & duction of some species can have on the PETRAROLI, 1994). The species is high- entire community. Response by individual ly efficient in removing POM, DOM and species to climate change may disrupt their bacteria from the water column interactions with others. Due to the differ- (LICCIANO et al., 2005; STABILI et al., ent response or susceptibility to change, 2006; CAVALLO et al., 2007). This, cou- the outcome of their interactions may be pled with the high density reached, led to altered, as long term data on both terres- hypothesise that this species plays an trial and marine organisms indicate important role in controlling bacterial (WALTHER et al., 2002). diversity (LICCIANO et al., 2007). We report observations on the shift in The species has an Atlantic-Mediter- reproduction period of a species playing ranean distribution, although about 15 an important functional role within years ago, it was introduced into West Mediterranean fouling communities, as Australia and subsequently into eastern well as a role as a structuring taxon. Australia where it became a pest species, heavily impacting on marine ecosystems Sabella spallanzanii (Gmelin, 1791): biol- with serious coastal economic conse- ogy and ecological role quences (CLAPIN & EVANS, 1995). Indeed, it has been estimated that the fil- Sabella spallanzanii is a large tubicolous tering activity of S. spallanzanii is of the filter feeder polychaete common within same order of magnitude as that of the Mediterranean fouling communities, both native seagrass community it replaced in pioneering and in the late stages of these (LEMMENS et al., 1996). Manipulative assemblages. The species colonizes every experiments conducted in the area where artificial substrate in eutrophic environ- the species was introduced, indicate that at ments where it can reach a density of about a high density, adults of S. spallanzanii are 800 specimens per square meter able to alter the structure of benthic com- (GIANGRANDE et al., 2005). munities (HOLLOWAY & KEOUGH 374 Medit. Mar. Sci., 11/2, 2010, 373-379 http://epublishing.ekt.gr | e-Publisher: EKT | Downloaded at 04/02/2020 04:29:27 | 2002a, b), with a selective action on the year. During 2006 and 2007 the complete settlement of other invertebrates. This absence of settled juveniles on collectors effect is related to its particular tree-like led us to reinvestigate on the reproductive morphology with the fan on the top of a cycle of this species by egg measurements. long slender tube creating a canopy of During 2008 we observed females carrying feeding fans, interfering with the settle- ripe eggs ready to be spawned, in ment of other invertebrates. advance early when compared to the pre- At present we are investigating the vious investigated period: eggs from role that S. spallanzanii can exert in the females collected in early November 2008 Mediterranean area, in the biotope where measured 225 ± 24 Ìm vs an average of it normally is a dominant taxon. Prelimi- 151 ± 45 Ìm observed during November nary observations suggest that this poly- 2000. A similar advance in egg maturation chaete can exert a role in structuring the was found during late October 2009, when community also during the early stage of individuals spawned in the laboratory and colonization when specimens are still too 100% of the fertilization occurred. This small to show a canopy effect (unpublished confirmed an advance in the spawning data). period of at least 3 months if compared to the past. Sabella spallanzanii: present observed changes Discussion We have been studying this species in In the past, spawning of S. spallanzanii the Mediterranean since 1993. Initially we occurred when seawater temperatures investigated its life cycle (GIANGRANDE ranged from 11 to 14Æ C both in the & PETRAROLI, 1993; GIANGRANDE Mediterranean area (February) (GIAN- et al., 2000) also in the light of its employ- GRANDE et al., 2000) and in Port Phillip ment as a bioremediator of aquaculture Bay in Australia (August) (CURRIE et al., waste (GIANGRANDE et al., 2005). In a 2000), leading to the hypothesise that the pilot study the species was reared in poly- reproductive cycle was consistent with culture with Mytilus galloprovincialis, col- either temperature or photoperiod con- lecting juveniles using the same strategy trolling gametogenesis. However, accord- utilized for mussels (CECERE et al., 2006; ing to CURRIE et al. (2000) the relative PIERRI et al., 2006). Recruitment of S. importance of these two physical parame- spallanzanii was easily observed over sev- ters in controlling