Enrichetti, Francesco; Baldrighi, Elisa; Bavestrello, Giorgio; Betti, Federico; Canese, Simonepietro; Costa, Andrea; del Pasqua, Michela; Giangrande, Adriana; Langeneck, Joachim; Misic, Cristina; Putignano, Matteo; Toma, Margherita; Bo, Marzia. (2022). Ecological role and phylogenetic position of a new habitat-forming species (Canalipalpata, Sabellidae) from the Mediterranean mesophotic soft bottoms. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science. 265: 107737.

425441

10.1016/j.ecss.2021.107737 [view]

Enrichetti, Francesco; Baldrighi, Elisa; Bavestrello, Giorgio; Betti, Federico; Canese, Simonepietro; Costa, Andrea; del Pasqua, Michela; Giangrande, Adriana; Langeneck, Joachim; Misic, Cristina; Putignano, Matteo; Toma, Margherita; Bo, Marzia

2022

265: 107737

Publication

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0272771421005850

World Polychaeta Database (WPolyD). Online 29 December 2021, but as there is no ZooBank registration online or in the article the publication date of the print journal, 5 February, 2022, is the species date.

Available for editors   [request]

This study presents a description of Bispira riccardi sp. nov., a new habitat-forming sabellid polychaete from the mesophotic NW Mediterranean Sea. Individuals, up to 20 cm long, show a peculiar morphology of radioles, thoracic uncini, companion chaetae and ventral shield of the collar. The phylogenetic position of this new taxon in the genus Bispira has been validated using nuclear (18S rRNA) and mitochondrial (COI) markers. Aggregations of B. riccardi sp. nov. were found by ROV on horizontal muddy bottoms between 56 and 85 m, in areas subjected to high trophic inputs. Patches are fragmented and dense (up to 943 individuals m-2) probably accounting for various hectares. A 5-days continuous monitoring, carried out using an autonomous lander, revealed that the contraction of the branchial crown was positively affected by temperature and current, rapidly responding to meteorological events. The filtering activity and high density of these fields suggest a considerable impact on the pelagic-benthic coupling and the amount of organic matter in the sediments. Indeed, meiofaunal abundance and diversity within the aggregations resulted significantly higher than in outer stations. These findings highlight the undisclosed potential of the deep Mediterranean Sea for sabellid diversity and their importance as habitat-forming species on mesophotic soft bottoms.

Mediterranean Sea in general

Molecular systematics, Molecular biology
Systematics, Taxonomy

Annelida
Polychaeta

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