Copepoda associated with the coral Gardineroseris planulata (Dana) on the Great Barrier Reef,northeastern Australia

Three new lichomolgid copepods associated with the scleractinian Gardineroseris planulata (Dana) are described: Sociellus torus, n. gen., n. sp., characterized by a 2-segmented endopod in leg 3 and the lack of an inner seta on the first segment of the endopod in legs 1–3; Odontomolgus pumilus, n. sp., of very small size and having a much elongated free segment in leg 5 of the female; and Paramolgus ampullaceus, n. sp., distinguished by the bottle-shaped genital segment of the female. In addition, the harpacticoid Alteuthellopsis corallina Humes, 1981, is reported from this coral. With the inclusion of 3 species of the poecilostomatoid genus Xarifia already described (Humes, 1985) there are now 7 species of copepods known to be associated with Gardineroseris planulata on the Great Barrier Reef.     

Copepoda (cyclopoida,Lichomolgidae) associated with the Alcyonacean Nephthea in the moluccas

In the Moluccas five lichomolgid copepods are associated with soft corals of the genus Nephthea. Paramolgus nephtheanus, n. sp., from Nephthea chabrolii, Nephthea sphaerophora, Nephthea cupressiformis, Nephthea albida, and Nephthea galbuloides, Paramolgus prominulus, n. sp., from N. sphaerophora, N. cupressiformis, and N. albida, and Paramolgus accinctus, n. sp., from N. sphaerophora, N. cupressiformis, N. albida, and N. galbuloides are distinguished from conspecifics by combinations of several characters. These include, among others, the length of the caudal ramus, the form of the female genital segment, and the shape of leg 5 in the female. Mecra ellipsaria, n. gen., n. sp., from N. sphaerophora has only two setae on the fourth segment of the first antenna, the formula II, 2 on the third endopod segment of leg 3, and five aesthetes on the second segment of the first antenna of the male. In Metaxymolgus lumarius, n. sp., from N. galbuloides and N. cupressiformis, the two claws on the second antenna are longer than the fourth second antennal segment and the proximal inner expansion of leg 5 in the female has a thorn-like process. Metaxymolgus aculeatus (Humes & Ho, 1968) occurs on N. chabrolii, N. sphaerophora, N. cupressiformis, N. albida, and N. galbuloides.     

Intertidal interstitial Halicyclops from the Brazilian coast (Copepoda: Cyclopoida)

H. tageae sp. n. and Halicyclops ytororoma sp. n. are described from the intertidal interstitial water of Brazilian beaches. H. tageae is distinguished from all congeneric species by the number of setae on legs 1–4 endopodite 2 (1, 1, 2, 2) and by possessing a reduced inner spine on the leg 5 exopodite. It shares with H. brevispinosus, H. pusillus and H. canui the spine formula 2, 3, 3, 3 on exopodite 3 of swimming legs 1–4. H. ytororoma closely resembles H. gauldi and differs from this species by having 4 setae on leg 1 endopodite 3; H. gauldi has 3 setae on this segment.This is the first record of Halicyclops from marine interstitial water in Brazil.     

New species of Stygiopontius (Copepoda, Siphonostomatoida) from a deep–sea hydrothermal vent at the East Pacific Rise

Three dirivultid copepods, Stygiopontius puxillifer sp.n . and S. appositus sp.n., unusual in having pegs along the ventral edges of the cephalosome, and S. lurniger sp.n., distinguiahcd from congeners by the modificd thorn-like seta on the second segment of the maxilliped, arc dcscrihcd from a depth of 2616 m at 21°N in the eastern Pacific.     

The cyclopoid copepods of a wet campo marsh in central Brazil

Eight species of cyclopoid copepods were recorded from 1979–1983 in the complex microhabitats of a wet campo (campo úmido) marsh in central Brazil. Ectocyclops herbsti and Paracyclops fimbriatus occurred most often in areas with water covering the soil; Muscocyclops therasiae n. sp. occurred mainly in soils with no surface water; while Metacyclops campestris n. sp. showed no distinct microhabitat preference. Occurrence of the remaining four species was too sporadic to determine microhabitat preference. Paracyclops carectum n. sp., Metacyclops campestris n. sp., Muscocyclops therasiae n. sp., Muscocyclops bidentatus n. sp. and Ponticyclops boscoi n. g. n. sp. are described. A key to the New World species of Metacyclops s. str. is provided.     

Partial recovery of a eutrophic reservoir through managed phosphorus limitation and unmanaged macrophyte growth

An 18-day mesocosm study was performed in central Norway to assess the effect of enhanced nutrient input to the marine plankton community. This paper reports the responses of micro- and mesozooplankton to increased food supply due to elevated nutrient input. Seven mesocosms (M1–M7) were added variable doses of N, ranging from 0 to 2.19 m N l^–1 d^–1. Phosphorus and silicate was added in Redfield ratios. The ciliate community responded rapidly to the treatment, and reached maximum biomass of 88 g C l^–1 within a week in the most fertilised mesocosm (M7). Tontonia sp. and a small Strombidium sp. dominated biomass and numbers, respectively. Ciliate biomass declined rapidly after the peak, returning to initial values by the end of the experiment (Day 18). Mesozooplankton biomass increased from the second week, due to recruitment of Acartia spp., Centropages spp. and Oithona sp. Numbers of Temora longicornis and Pseudocalanus sp. remained low. Highest biomass of mesozooplankton (116 g C l^–1) was recorded in M6 by Day 18. Egg production rates for Acartia spp. peaked in M3 at Day 11, while calculated mortality rates for juvenile copepods was highest in M1 and M7. Estimated community net growth rates were highest in the most fertilised mesocosms for both copepods and ciliates. It is concluded that enhanced nutrient input affected both biomass and the relative species composition of the zooplankton community.     

Bomolochus peruensis n. sp. (Copepoda: Bomolochidae), a parasite of sciaenid fishes from the Peruvian coast

Bomolochus peruensis n. sp., a parasite of the sciaenid fishes Menticirrhus ophicephalus and Sciaena deliciosa from the central Peruvian coast, is described and illustrated. The new taxon differs from all other Bomolochus species in a combination of characteristics of leg 2, leg 4 and leg 6 and by the presence of spinules on the ventral surface of the last abdominal segment only. This is the first record of Bomolochus from South America.     

Two new species of poecilostomatoid copepods symbiotic on the venomous echinoid <Emphasis Type="Italic">Toxopneustes pileolus</Emphasis> (Lamarck) (Echinodermata) from Vietnam

Two new coexisting species of crustacean copepods (Poecilostomatoida) belonging to the echinoid-specific genera Mecomerinx Humes, 1977 (Pseudanthessiidae) and Clavisodalis Humes, 1970 (Taeniacanthidae) found associated with the venomous flower urchin Toxopneustes pileolus (Lamarck) (Echinodermata: Echinoidea: Toxopneustidae) in the South China Sea (Vietnam) are described. The diagnostic features of Mecomerinx ohtsukai n. sp. are: (i) three setae and one aesthetasc on the first segment of antennules; (ii) relatively long caudal ramus; (iii) elongated terminal segment of the antenna; and (iv) two claws on the terminal segment of antenna slightly unequal in length. The taeniacanthid copepod Clavisodalis toxopneusti n. sp. is distinguished from all seven known congeners by having two-segmented endopod of the legs 2–4 and four setae on the distal endopodal segment of the leg 1. This is the first report on copepods associated with echinoids of the genus Toxopneustes Agassiz and the first finding of Mecomerinx as well as taeniacanthid copepods in the South China Sea associated with echinoids.     

Propappidae and aquatic Enchytraeidae (Oligochaeta) from the farthest southeast of Russia

Two mountain streams north and northeast of Vladivostok were studied in 1983–1984. In the Komarovka Stream, a great variety of Mesenchytraeus occurred in the spring zone, among them M. crenobius sp. n. with giant setae in the ventral bundles of VI–VIII and M. vshivkovae sp. n. with numerous spermathecal diverticula. In the stream zone of the Frolovka Stream Cernosvitoviella pensau sp. n., characterized by a complicated penial bulb and a very long spermathecal ampulla, was the dominant oligochaete. Propappus arhynchotus Sokolskaya was the second most abundant oligochaete in this stream. It proved to be a true member of this genus and not synonymous with any other species. These are the first records of aquatic enchytraeids for the Primorski Region of Russia.     

A new Stygonitocrella Petkovski (Copepoda: Harpacticoida) from a cave in Northern Mexico with comments on the taxonomy of the genus

The cave-dwelling harpacticoid copepod fauna of Mexico is still yet to be known. There are only a few records related to karstic caves, but most refer to epigean forms. The analysis of samples collected in a cave system in Northern Mexico yielded two female specimens of an unknown harpacticoid copepod species which is described herein. It was assigned to the genus Stygonitocrella Petkovski, 1976 mainly because of the presence of a single endopodal segment on legs 1–4; the new species, S. mexicana n. sp. differs from its congeners by a combination of characters related to the segmentation and armature of the swimming legs 1–4, the fifth leg of the female, and the strcture of the antennae. Based on the current limits of Stygonitocrella, two new subgenera are proposed to recognize different morphological patterns based on the presence or absence of an inner baseoendopodal lobe in the female fifth leg, a character not evaluated before. This lobe is absent in the new species and in other five species now contained in the subgenus Eustygonitocrella. A lobe is present in the new subgenus Fiersiella, also with six species. This is the second record of Stygonitocrella in North America, after S. (Fiersiella) sequoyahi Reid, Hunt & Stanley, 2003; it is the only North American cave-dwelling species of the genus. It is suggested that the influence of marine transgressions in Northern Mexico was related to the origin of the new species as part of a group of troglobitic forms originated from marine interstitial ancestors that colonized the freshwater caves. A key for the identification of all the known species of Stygonitocrellais also provided.     

A new species of Pseudomacrochiron Reddiah, 1969 (Crustacea: Copepoda: Macrochironidae) associated with scyphistomae of the moon jellyfish Aurelia sp. (Cnidaria: Scyphozoa) off Japan

A new species of the Macrochironidae Humes & Boxshall, 1996 (Copepoda: Cyclopoida), Pseudomacrochiron aureliae n. sp., is described based on adult specimens extracted from the gastrovacular cavity of the scyphistomae of Aurelia sp. (Cnidaria: Scyphozoa) collected in the Seto Inland Sea and Ise Bay off the coast of Japan. The new species differs from its congeners by having the following combination of characters: a caudal ramus with a length to width ratio of 3.1; an accessory flagellum on caudal setae II, III and VI; three apical setae on the maxillule; only setae I and II on the maxillary basis; two short spines on the female maxilliped claw (endopod); an armature of III, I, 4 on the terminal exopodal segment of leg 3; an armature of I, II, 2 on the terminal endopodal segment of leg 3; an armature of II, I, 4 on the terminal exopodal segment of leg 4; and a short free exopodal segment of leg 5 (length to width ratio of 1.4) armed with a long seta and short spine. P. aureliae n. sp. is the first member of the genus reported from off Japan and from the scyphistomae of its scyphozoan host.     

Two new species of Copepoda associated with the basket star Astroboa nuda (Ophiuroidea) in the Moluccas

Doridicola connexus sp.n. (Poeclostomatoida, Lichomolgidae) and Collocherides singularis sp.n. (Siphonostomatoida, Asterocheridae) are described from specimens found on the ophiuroid Astroboa nuda in the Moluccas. D. connexus may be recognized by the small discoidal free segment of leg 5 in the female. C. singularis is characterized by having only one seta on the second segment of the endopod of legs 1–3 and by the rounded inner lobe on the proximal segment of leg 5.     

Notes on some tardigrades from Thailand,with descriptions of two new species

Abstract

Three species of tardigrades are reported from Thailand: Pseudechiniscus quadrilobatus Iharos, 1969, Calcarobiotus (Calcarobiotus) digeronimoi sp. n., and Mixibius sutirae sp. n. Calcarobiotus (C.) digeronimoi sp. n. has claws of Calcarobiotus type; those of the first three pairs of legs have a medial and a lateral spur, those of the hind legs lack basal spurs. Mixibius sutirae sp. n. has a densely sculptured dorsal cuticle and two macroplacoids; it lacks lunules and other thickenings on the legs. It is similar to Mixibius ornatus Pilato et al., 2001, from which it differs in characteristics of the cu‐ticular sculpture and by having the ventral surface unsculptured.     

A new species of Procolobomatus Castro Romero, 1994 (Copepoda: Philichthyidae) endoparasitic in a deepwater longtail red snapper (Actinopterygii: Lutjanidae) off Ishigaki Island, Japan, with records of philichthyid copepods reported from Asian waters

A new species of the Philichthyidae Vogt, 1877 (Copepoda: Poecilostomatoida), Procolobomatus hoi n. sp., is described based on adult female specimens recovered from the cephalic sensory canals of Etelis coruscans Valenciennes (Actinopterygii: Lutjanidae) caught off Ishigaki Island, the Ryukyu Islands, southern Japan. The new species differs from its congeners by having the following combination of characters: a long medial cephalic lobe about one-third the length of the body; an armature of five spines on the distal exopodal segment of leg 2; one long apical seta on the papillose leg 4; a caudal ramus armed with one medial and four terminal setae (two middle setae are inflated); and spinulose ornamentation covering the body. Procolobomatus hoi n. sp. is the first member of the genus reported from the western Pacific Ocean and from a host of the family Lutjanidae. Previous records of philichthyid copepods from Asian waters are also reported.     

A new genus of monstrilloid copepods (Crustacea) with anteriorly pointing ovigerous spines and related adaptations for subthoracic brooding

Maemonstrilla gen. nov. , known exclusively from females, is proposed for Monstrilla longipes A. Scott, 1909, M. turgida A. Scott, 1909, and five new species from coral reef plankton in the Ryukyu Islands, Japan: Maemonstrilla hyottoko sp. nov. (type species), M. polka sp. nov. , M. spinicoxa sp. nov. , M. simplex sp. nov. and M. okame sp. nov. A syntype of M. turgida was examined, but the holotype of M. longipes is lost; the latter species, being similar to several of the new species, is regarded as unidentifiable, and the identity of specimens assigned to it by several authors is put in doubt. Until now, all known female monstrilloids have had posteriorly trailing ovigerous spines, but in Maemonstrilla gen. nov. these spines point anteriorly and hold the egg mass between the legs beneath the thorax. This is the first known instance of subthoracic brooding in a planktonic copepod; its functional significance is discussed, and brooding habits of non‐planktonic copepods are briefly reviewed. The intercoxal sclerites of legs 1–4 in Maemonstrilla gen. nov. are very wide, making room for the eggs. In all species except M. turgida comb. nov. , the inner seta of the proximal segment of each leg ramus is either absent or reduced to a nub; this may lessen interference of the egg mass with leg movement. All species have a uniramous leg 5 with two setae, except M. turgida comb. nov. (biramous with setae on both rami); M. turgida comb. nov. is evidently the sister‐group of its congeners, each sister‐group in the genus being defined by additional autapomorphies. Scanning electron micrographs of all the Ryukyuan species except M. simplex sp. nov. are provided; these constitute a preliminary survey of monstrilloid integumental organs and cuticular ornamentation. Among the unusual features are two lobes at the base of the coxa in legs 1–4 of M. polka sp. nov. and M. spinicoxa sp. nov. and two pairs of posterodorsal spine‐like scales on the first and second free pedigers of M. turgida comb. nov. Newly hatched nauplii of M. okame sp. nov. , examined by scanning electron microscopy, are generally similar to those of Monstrilla hamatapex Grygier & Ohtsuka, 1995, but with a different mandibular structure in which the distal hook and seta clearly represent the endopod, not enditic armament of the basis. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 152 , 459–506.     

The influence of copepod and krill grazing on the species composition of phytoplankton communities from the Scotia Weddell sea

The influence of copepods (mainly Oithona sim-ilis) and krill (Euphausia superba) grazing on the species composition of plankton communities in ship board con tainers was investigated during the spring and post spring period in the Scotia Weddell Sea in the Antarctic ocean. Numbers of grazers were experimentally manipulated in containers with natural phytoplankton assemblages. With ratural levels of copepods but no krill a high (700–950 g C·l¹, ca 30 g chl a·.l¹) phytoplankton biomass developed. In these cultures large diatoms, e.g. Corethron criophilum and chains of Thalassiosira sp., made up 80% of total phytoplankton cell carbon at the end of the experiment. In cultures with elevated numbers of copepods (5X or 10X the natural level) phytoplankton biomass was somewhat reduced (ca 23 g chl a · l¹) compared to cultures with natural copepod abundance, but still high. Phytoplankton species composition was on the other hand greatly influenced. Instead of large diatoms these cultures were dominated by Phaeocystis pouchetii (70%) together with small Nitszchia sp. and Chaetoceros neogracile (20%). In containers with krill (both juveniles and adults), but without elevated numbers of copepods, phytoplankton biomass rapidly approached zero. With 10X the in situ level of copepods, krill first preyed on these before Corethron criophilum and Thalassiosira sp. were grazed. When krill were removed a plankton community dominated by flagellates (60–90%), e.g. Pyramimonas sp. and a Cryptophycean species, grazed by an unidentified droplet-shaped heterothrophic flagellate, developed. These flagellates were the same as those which dominated the plankton community in the Weddell Sea after the spring bloom. A similar succession was observed in situ when a krill swarm grazed down a phytoplankton bloom in a few hours. Our experiments show that copepods cannot control phytoplankton biomass in shipboard cultures even at artificially elevated numbers. Krill at concentrations similar to those in natural swarms have a great impact on both phytoplankton biomass and species composition in shipboard cultures. Both copepods and krill may have an impact on phytoplankton species composition and biomass in situ since the rates of phytoplankton cell division were probably artificially increased in shipboard cultures compared to natural conditions, where lower growth rates make phytoplankton more vulnerable to grazing. A similarity between phytoplankton successions in containers and in situ, especially with respect to krill grazing, supports the conclusion that grazing may structure phytoplankton communities in the Scotia-Weddell Sea.Data presented here were collected during the European Polarstern Study (EPOS) sponsored by the European Science Foundation     

Three new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Hatschekia</Emphasis> Poche, 1902 (Copepoda: Siphonostomatoida: Hatschekiidae) parasitic on <Emphasis Type="Italic">Abalistes filamentosus</Emphasis> (Pisces: Tetraodontiformes: Balistidae) from off Okinawa,Japan

Three new species of the copepod genus Hatschekia Poche, 1902, H. lima n. sp., H. cylindrus n. sp. and H. sunaoi n. sp., are described from the gill filaments of a triggerfish, Abalistes filamentosus Matsuura & Yoshino, caught off the Ryukyu Islands, Okinawa, Japan. These new species share an unusual morphological character, i.e. four stout posterior spines on the intercoxal sclerites of legs 1 and 2. H. lima n. sp. differs from its congeners in having a robust inner lobe on the maxillule and leg 3 with a swollen basal lobe. H. cylindrus n. sp. is distinguishable from its congeners by having a cephalothorax fused to the trunk and a double-semicircular chitinous frame. H. sunaoi n. sp. is characterised by leg 3 with a swollen basal lobe and an oval cephalothorax.     

Kinorhyncha from the stomach of the shrimp Pleoticus muelleri (Bate, 1888) from Comodoro Rivadavia, Argentina

Six kinorhynchs were found in the stomachs of the Argentine red shrimp, Pleoticus mulleri (Bate, 1888) from the Argentine coast of Patagonia. Three new species are described: Condyloderes storchi n. sp., Pycnophyes argentinensis n. sp. and P. neuhausi n. sp. A fourth species, Kinorhynchus anomalus Lang, 1953 was previously known only from the coast of Chile. This is the third known record of kinorhynchs documented as a food source. Condyloderes storchi, n. sp. is the fourth new species in this genus. It is distinguished by its paradorsal cuspidate spines on segments 7 and 9, lateral accessory and ventrolateral spines on segments 3, 6, 7, 10 and 11. P. argentinensis, n. sp. has nearly equal sternal width for segments 3–11 (about 7% of the trunk length), episternal plates with three distinct areas along the anterior margin, mid-sternal plate with even margin, mid-dorsal spinose protrusions along the terminal borders of segments 11 and 12, and lateral terminal spines 176 μm long, about 21% of trunk length. P. neuhausi, n. sp.has a prominent posterior elongation of the tergal plate of segment 3, uneven lateral margins of the mid-sternal plate, a maximum sternal width at segment 3, no mid-dorsal spinose processes and mid-ventral thickenings on segments 10–12.     

Coordination and neuromuscular control of rhythmic behaviors in the blue crab,Callinectes sapidus

The stereotypical courtship display (CD) behavior of the male blue crab, Callinectes sapidus, includes an unusual component: the rhythmic waving of the swimming appendages above the carapace. This behavior occurs in a unique context but it resembles two other rhythmic behaviors performed using the swimming legs: sideways swimming and backward swimming. As a first step to understanding the mechanisms that allow the expression of apparently different rhythmic motor patterns, we have examined these behaviors using slow motion video analysis and electromyography of the basal muscles of the swimming legs in freely behaving crabs. The results show that these behaviors are distinguished by four parameters: the frequency of leg waving, the phase relationship between the legs, the presence of a stationary pause in basal muscle activity combined with rotation of the distal leg during CD, and an extended range of motion of these legs during CD and backward swimming, relative to sideways swimming. EMG analysis revealed that during sideways swimming, the sequence of muscular activity between the two legs was different. In contrast, during CD and backward swimming the sequence of activity for these legs is identical.Abbreviations CD courtship display - EMGs electromyograms - CD AMP courtship display in crabs with amputated fifth legs - CD1 crabs that voluntarily used one leg to perform courtship display waving - CD 1–3 courtship waving in cycles 1–3 - CD MID courtship waving after cycles 1–3 - M-C meral-carpal joint     

Monogeneans from the gills of glassfishes (Teleostei: Perciformes: Ambassidae) in India, with the proposal of Chandacleidus n. g. (Monogenea: Dactylogyridae)

Chandacleidus n. g. (Monogenea, Dactylogyridae) is proposed to include three species collected from the gills of Indian glassfishes (Ambassidae): Chandacleidus recurvatus (Jain, 1961) n. comb. (syn. Urocleidus recurvatus Jain, 1961) from Chanda nama and C. ranga (new host record) is redescribed; and Chandacleidus saiensis n. sp. and C. lucknowensis n. sp., both from Chanda nama and C. baculis, are described. Chandacleidus n. g. is characterised by species possessing: posteriorly united intestinal caeca; overlapping gonads (testis dorsal to ovary); a counterclockwise male copulatory organ; a grooved accessory piece; a dextro-marginal vaginal pore; a haptor with two lateral flaps and armed with dissimilar dorsal and ventral anchor/bar complexes and 14 similar hooks (dissimilar in size); and hook shanks comprised of two subunits.