Four new species and three new records of benthic ctenophores (Family: Coeloplanidae) from the Red Sea

Alamaru, Ada; Brokovich, Eran; Loya, Yossi

doi:10.1007/s12526-015-0362-4

Cited by 25 publications

(61 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…We show that COI is a variable marker within Coeloplanidae and can thus be used to identify species in this family. Moreover, our results support the designation of four new Red Sea Coeloplana species that were recently described by Alamaru et al 2 .…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

“…We tested the validity of these genes as molecular markers using various species from the Gulf of Aqaba (Red Sea) that were recently described 2 , as well as two additional unidentified species collected off northern Borneo (Sulu Sea). Despite its relatively low genetic divergence rate in ctenophores, the nuclear marker 18S rDNA was first analyzed allowing us to verify that our specimens are indeed ctenophores from the Coeloplanidae family.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Molecular diversity of benthic ctenophores (Coeloplanidae)

Alamaru

Hoeksema

Meij

et al. 2017

Sci Rep

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Coeloplanidae, the largest family of benthic ctenophores, comprises 33 species, all described based on traditional morphological characteristics, such as coloration, length, and number of aboral papillae, which are highly variable and can be affected by fixation methods and environmental conditions. Thus, there is a need for reliable genetic markers to complement the morphological identifications at the species level. Here, we analyzed 95 specimens from 11 morphologically distinct species of benthic ctenophores from the Red Sea and Sulu Sea, and tested selected regions of four genetic markers (ITS1, 18S rRNA, 28S rRNA and COI) for their ability to differentiate between species. We show that the barcoding region of the mitochondrial gene, cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI), is highly variable among species of Coeloplanidae, and effectively discriminates between species in this family. The average Kimura-2-parameter (K2P) distance between species-level clades was 10%, while intraspecific variation was ~30 times lower (0.36%). COI-based phylogeny supported the delineation of four recently described new species from the Red Sea. The other nuclear markers tested were found to be too conserved in order to separate between species. We conclude that COI is a potential molecular barcode for the family Coeloplanidae and suggest to test it in pelagic ctenophores.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Molecular diversity of benthic ctenophores (Coeloplanidae)

Alamaru

Hoeksema

Meij

et al. 2017

Sci Rep

Self Cite

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“…As suggested by Alamaru et al. (), the global occurrence of V. multiformis in tropical and subtropical waters probably owes this widespread distribution to its ability to inhabit inanimate as well as a variety of biotic substrates.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 81%

“…); Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea (Alamaru et al. ); Gulf of Kutch, India (Prasade et al. ); Kane'ohe Bay, Hawaii (Galt ; Carlton & Eldredge ); and San Diego Bay, California (Mills & Haddock ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Benthic ctenophores (Platyctenida: Coeloplanidae) in south Florida: environmental conditions, habitats, abundances, and behaviors

Glynn

Coffman

Fuller

et al. 2017

Invertebrate Biology

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Two benthic ctenophores, Coeloplana waltoni and Vallicula multiformis, are contrasted in terms of their coastal environments, habitats, abundances, seasonal occurrences, and behavior in south Florida. Coeloplana waltoni occurs as an epibiont on octocorals in open water settings, and V. multiformis is present in bio‐fouling communities, associated with macroalgae, bryozoans, and inanimate substrates in protected, back‐water habitats. In our study, individuals of C. waltoni were found under moderate to strong current flow and relatively constant temperature and salinity (T/S) conditions, whereas individuals of V. multiformis occurred at sites of low current flow and more variable T/S conditions. In C. waltoni, individuals generally adhered tightly to host colony surfaces, whereas in V. multiformis, individuals often disassociated from substrates and floated free. Mean population densities of C. waltoni ranged ~500–850 individuals 100 mL−1 (measured as the displacement volume of the octocoral habitat), and densities of V. multiformis ranged 5–360 individuals 100 mL−1 (measured as the displacement volume of the biofouling habitat). Abundance of C. waltoni was significantly highest in the 2014 warm season (June–October) when numerous minute (≤0.5 mm body length) juveniles were present. Vallicula multiformis was abundant in the 2015 and 2016 warm seasons (July–October), and also relatively abundant in the 2016 cool season (March–April). Ctenophore abundance and surface seawater temperature indicate a significant positive response to warm‐season conditions in C. waltoni, whereas numbers of V. multiformis did not show any effect of seawater temperature. Recently settled individuals of V. multiformis (≤1.0 mm) occurred throughout the year. Individuals of V. multiformis recruited to fiber‐coated sponges during warm and cool periods, with mean body sizes increasing in one cohort from 1.41 to 6.46 mm over a 39‐d period, suggesting a growth rate of ~4% d−1. Feeding in both species involves tentacle capture of water‐borne zooplankton and particulate organic matter. Individuals of C. waltoni were also observed inserting tentacles into octocoral polyps, possibly pilfering food. Chlorophyll a was detected in extracts of both ctenophore species. The high abundances and feeding behavior of benthic ctenophores could have a strong influence on octocoral and biofouling communities.

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