We report the first study of sperm whale-fall ecosystems, based on mass sinking of whale carcasses at shelf depths in the northwest Pacific. We conducted three observations over a 2-year period on replicate sperm-whale carcasses implanted at depths of 219-254 m off the southern part of Japan from July 2003 to August 2005. The study was made possible by a mass stranding of sperm whales in January 2002, and the subsequent sinking of 12 carcasses in the waters off Cape Nomamisaki. Dense aggregations of unique chemosynthesis-based fauna had formed around the whale carcasses after 18 months (July 2003). The mytilid mussel Adipicola pacifica was the most abundant macrofaunal species and covered most of the exposed bone surfaces. The general composition of the fauna was similar to that of deep-water reducing habitats, but none of the species appearing in this study has been found at hydrothermal vents, cold seeps or deep-water whale falls. A new species of lancelet, which was the first record of the subphylum Cephalochordata from reducing environments, a new species of Osedax; a rarely encountered benthic ctenophore, and a rare gastropod species were discovered at this sperm whale-fall site. Benthic communities were similar across all the carcasses studied, although the body sizes of the whales were very different. The succession of epifaunal communities was relatively rapid and the sulphophilic stage was considerably shorter than that of other known whale falls.
Species of the Polydora-complex (i.e. polydorids) are the most common shell-boring polychaetes found on cultured molluscs. However, which species become problematic depend on their ability to reach mollusc farms and flourish under culture conditions. We therefore hypothesise that the planktonic larval phases of pest polydorids on molluscs grown on-shore will be short (as is typical of adelphophagic larvae, which can maintain large local populations) while those of polydorids on molluscs grown off-shore will be long (as is typical of planktotrophic larvae, which can disperse long distances to farms). Principal component and discriminant analyses of information extracted from the literature partly supported this hypothesis by identifying larval developmental mode and pest species as contributing more to pest status than host species and culture mode, with differential influence on pest status in different situations and potential bias through incorrect identification of polydorid species. χ 2 analyses confirmed that pest status depended on host culture method and pest larval mode. Pest polydorids producing adelphophagic larvae in on-shore systems may reflect the development of large local populations on hosts with culture periods > 2 yr. The many records of pests in off-shore and near-shore systems with pest species producing planktotrophic larvae may reflect shorter host culture periods and the higher incidence of planktotrophy among polydorid species in general. Polydora websteri, P. uncinata, P. hoplura and P. haswelli are the most frequently recorded and widespread pest species globally, although the taxonomy of these and shell-boring P. ciliata and Boccardia polybranchia need to be clarified. The positive relationships between the numbers of alien shell-borers and pests, and the number of hosts cultured per country confirm that mollusc aquaculture is an important vector and reservoir of alien pest polychaetes.
A total of 13 boring species of spionid polychaetes were extracted from 28 different calcareous substrata (i.e. mollusc shells, coralline algae and barnacle tests) from Japan. The spionids were: seven Polydora spp.: Polydora brevipalpa, P. websteri, P. curiosa, P. uncinata, P. aura, P. glycymerica, Polydora sp; five Dipolydora spp.: Dipolydora concharum, D. bidentata, D. alborectalis, D. giardi, D. armata; and one Carazziella sp.: Carazziella reishi. All of them inhabited self-excavated burrows in living and/or migratory calcareous substrata and they were never found from soft sediments. Burrow structures were species-specific. The Polydora species basically excavated simple U-shaped burrows, while the Dipolydora species excavated more varied, distinct burrows. The boring activity seemed species-specific among polydorids. This study attempts to summarize and discuss the biological characteristics of these boring species inhabiting Japan. In addition, P. curiosa, P. glycymerica, Polydora sp., D. giardi and C. reishi are new to Japan.
A total of 11 polydorid species of the family Spionidae were extracted from non-calcareous substrata from Japan. The polydorids were: one Polydora sp., Polydora cornuta; three Dipolydora spp., Dipolydora quadrilobata, D. cardalia, D. socialis; one Carazziella sp., Carazziella spongilla; one Boccardiella sp., Boccardiella hamata; two Boccardia spp., Boccardia perata, B. proboscidea; three Pseudopolydora spp., Pseudopolydora cf. kempi, P. antennata, P. paucibranchiata. All inhabited mud deposits including mud in crevices of calcareous substrata, sponge and sandstone rocks, and were never found in self-excavated burrows in calcareous substrata. This study attempts to summarize and discuss the taxonomic, morphological, and behavioural characteristics of these non-boring species inhabiting Japanese waters and to compare them with the previously known boring species. The 11 non-boring species belonged to six genera. Thus their taxonomic and morphological variability was higher than those of boring species, which belonged only to three genera. A generic overview suggests that some genera contain many species capable of boring and others contain many species incapable of boring. Branchial blood vessels were thick and conspicuous in non-boring species. Moreover, they showed high crawling activity and a strong, vigorous palp movement. These observations suggest a possible link between boring activity and the morphology and behaviour in polydorids. In addition, Polydora cornuta, Dipolydora quadrilobata, D. cardalia, D. socialis, Boccardia perata and Pseudopolydora cf. kempi are new to Japan.
Eight species of polydorid polychaetes were found to inhabit mollusc shells from south-western Australian waters. Numerous individuals of Polydora uncinata were extracted for the first time from the shells of both land-based cultured abalone Haliotis laevigata and H. roei, as well as from natural subtidal H. roei and Chlamys australis. Shells of the oyster Saccostrea commercialis cultured in sea-based systems were infested by Boccardia knoxi which was first recorded in these waters. Polydora aura, Dipolydora giardi, D. armata, D. aciculata and Boccardia proboscidea were common among shells of various natural intertidal and subtidal molluscs. A small number of P. haswelli were extracted from their self-excavated burrows in shells of cultured oysters. Boccardia knoxi and D. aciculata were redescribed based on the newly collected materials. Polydora uncinata and B. knoxi exhibited similar larval development patterns (exolecithotrophy and adelphophagy), iteroparity and longer life span, suggesting a high reproductive potential. This study suggests that further monitoring of polydorid species is needed not only from the viewpoint of marine biology but also to survey the risk invasive species pose to commercially important molluscs in this region and worldwide.
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