One‐year observation on the population structure of Diopatra neapolitana Delle Chiaje (Polychaeta: Onuphidae) in Izmir Bay (Aegean Sea, eastern Mediterranean)

Abstract

The present paper deals with the morphology and population structure of Diopatra neapolitana collected in Izmir Bay between July 1997 and June 1998. The density of the species in the area ranged from 42 ind·m−2 (November 1997) to 198 ind·m−2 (March 1998), the biomass from 84 g·m−2 (November) to 408 g·m−2 (March). The coelom contained gametes in all months, except for January, indicating that it has a very long reproductive period in the area. The relationships among the biometrical measurements taken on specimens of Diopatra neapolitana from Izmir Bay were assessed by using regression and correlation analysis. A re‐description of the species is provided.

Redescription and biology of Diopatra neapolitana (Annelida: Onuphidae), a protandric hermaphrodite with external spermaducal papillae

“…These findings were confirmed with studies by Conti et al (2005) who described the sperm of D. neapolitana as a typical ect-aquasperm as defined by Jamieson and Rouse (1989). Dagli et al (2005) carried out a one-year study of a population in Izmir Bay (Aegean Sea, eastern Mediterranean). They reported coelomic gametes in all months of the year except January, with a peak reproductive period from April to August.…”

“…Although the original description was brief, the diagnostic characters generic rather than specific and the exact locality was not specified, the report mentioned already that this large littoral species was used as fish bait (Delle Chiaje, 1841). From the initial harvest of D. neapolitana by local fishermen, the activity has grown into a considerable industry with live bait being shipped throughout the Mediterranean and Iberia (Dagli et al, 2005;Pires et al, 2012a). Diopatra neapolitana is distributed throughout the Mediterranean and along the Atlantic Iberian and French coast in intertidal and shallow subtidal depths, often reaching high densities (Berke et al, 2010).…”

Introducing a Regulatory Policy Framework of Bait Fishing in European Coastal Lagoons: The Case of Ria de Aveiro in Portugal

“…In our case, D. neapolitana is an intertidal, sedentary, omnivorous species that hides deep in its burrow at low tide and feeds during high tide [7,49]. Apart from small differences in depth distribution (individuals living close to the extreme low water level have more time to feed but are presumably more susceptible to predation by fish) we are not aware of any habitat feature that might lead us to suspect that individual growth and mortality might differ considerably among individuals.…”

Preliminary evaluation of Diopatra neapolitana regenerative capacity as a biomarker for paracetamol exposure

“…The sediment grain size at the sampling site varied from silty very fine sand to mud, with an organic matter content of less than 4 % (Carregosa et al 2014). D. neapolitana individuals inhabit a membranous tube buried in sediments with mud or a mixture of mud and sand, and might grow up to a total length of 70 cm (Dagli et al 2005;Pires et al 2012b), being manually collected with a shovel.…”

“…However, considering the importance of the polychaete species D. neapolitana in the Mediterranean and Southeast Atlantic areas, the present study intended to validate the use of this species as a sentinel organism for paracetamol exposure. This species represents a wide spatial distribution, being reported in intertidal and shallow subtidal habitats, namely in the Red Sea and Indian Ocean (Wehe and Fiege 2002), the Mediterranean Sea (Arvanitides 2000;Dagli et al 2005;Gambi and Giangrande 1986), and the Atlantic Ocean (Fauvel 1923;Lourido et al 2008;Moreira et al 2006;Pires et al 2012b). D. neapolitana is collected to be sold as fish bait, and this activity can be locally intense and economically important (Gambi et al 1994;Conti and Massa 1998;Cunha et al 2005).…”