Dataset Information

Nine new species of Bugula Oken (Bryozoa: Cheilostomata) in Brazilian shallow waters.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Bugula is a speciose genus of marine bryozoans, represented by both endemic and cosmopolitan species distributed in tropical and temperate waters and important to marine biologists because of the occurrence of many species in harbor and fouling communities, therefore as potential invaders. The southeastern Brazilian coast in the southern Atlantic hosts the highest known diversity of the genus, a status intimately associated with the intensity of collecting efforts. METHODOLOGY: Morphological data based on the examination of living specimens, scanning electron and light microscopic images, and morphometric analyses were used to assess the diversity of Bugula along the coastal areas of southern, northeastern, and southeastern Brazil. In this study, morphological species boundaries were based mainly on avicularian characters. For two morphologically very similar species, boundaries are partially supported by 16 S rDNA molecular data. RESULTS: Nine species are newly described from Brazil, as follows: Bugula bowiei n. sp. ( = Bugula turrita sensu Marcus, 1937) from the southern, northeastern, and southeastern coasts; Bugula foliolata n. sp. ( = Bugula flabellata sensu Marcus, 1938), Bugula guara n. sp., Bugula biota n. sp. and Bugula ingens n. sp from the southeastern coast; Bugula gnoma n. sp. and Bugula alba n. sp. from the northeastern coast; Bugula rochae n. sp. ( = Bugula uniserialis sensu Marcus, 1937) from the southern coast; and Bugula migottoi n. sp., from the southeastern and southern coasts. CONCLUSION: The results contribute to the morphological characterization and the knowledge of the species richness of the genus in the southwestern Atlantic (i.e., Brazil), through the description of new species in poorly sampled areas and also on the southeastern coast of that country. Additionally, the taxonomic status of the Brazilian specimens attributed to B. flabellata, B. turrita and B. uniserialis are clarified by detailed studies on zooidal and avicularia morphology.

SUBMITTER: Vieira LM

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3395711 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Nine new species of Bugula Oken (Bryozoa: Cheilostomata) in Brazilian shallow waters.

Vieira Leandro M LM Winston Judith E JE Fehlauer-Ale Karin H KH

PloS one 20120712 7

<h4>Background</h4>Bugula is a speciose genus of marine bryozoans, represented by both endemic and cosmopolitan species distributed in tropical and temperate waters and important to marine biologists because of the occurrence of many species in harbor and fouling communities, therefore as potential invaders. The southeastern Brazilian coast in the southern Atlantic hosts the highest known diversity of the genus, a status intimately associated with the intensity of collecting efforts.<h4>Methodol ...[more]

PMID: 22808173

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Project description:BACKGROUND: The phylogenetic position of Bryozoa is one of the most controversial issues in metazoan phylogeny. In an attempt to address this issue, the first bryozoan mitochondrial genome from Flustrellidra hispida (Gymnolaemata, Ctenostomata) was recently sequenced and characterized. Unfortunately, it has extensive gene translocation and extremely reduced size. In addition, the phylogenies obtained from the result were conflicting, so they failed to assign a reliable phylogenetic position to Bryozoa or to clarify lophophorate phylogeny. Thus, it is necessary to characterize further mitochondrial genomes from slowly-evolving bryozoans to obtain a more credible lophophorate phylogeny. RESULTS: The complete mitochondrial genome (15,433 bp) of Bugula neritina (Bryozoa, Gymnolaemata, Cheilostomata), one of the most widely distributed cheliostome bryozoans, is sequenced. This second bryozoan mitochondrial genome contains the set of 37 components generally observed in other metazoans, differing from that of F. hispida (Bryozoa, Gymnolaemata, Ctenostomata), which has only 36 components with loss of tRNAser(ucn) genes. The B. neritina mitochondrial genome possesses 27 multiple noncoding regions. The gene order is more similar to those of the two remaining lophophorate phyla (Brachiopoda and Phoronida) and a chiton Katharina tunicate than to that of F. hispida. Phylogenetic analyses based on the nucleotide sequences or amino acid residues of 12 protein-coding genes showed consistently that, within the Lophotrochozoa, the monophyly of the bryozoan class Gymnolaemata (B. neritina and F. hispida) was strongly supported and the bryozoan clade was grouped with brachiopods. Echiura appeared as a subtaxon of Annelida, and Entoprocta as a sister taxon of Phoronida. The clade of Bryozoa + Brachiopoda was clustered with either the clade of Annelida-Echiura or that of Phoronida + Entoprocta. CONCLUSION: This study presents the complete mitochondrial genome of a cheliostome bryozoan, B. neritina. The phylogenetic analyses suggest a close relationship between Bryozoa and Brachiopoda within the Lophotrochozoa. However, the sister group of Bryozoa + Brachiopoda is still ambiguous, although it has some attractions with Annelida-Echiura or Phoronida + Entoprocta. If the latter is a true phylogeny, lophophorate monophyly including Entoprocta is supported. Consequently, the present results imply that Brachiozoa (= Brachiopoda + Phoronida) and the recently-resurrected Bryozoa concept comprising Ectoprocta and Entoprocta may be refuted.

Project description:Mutualistic relationships are beneficial for both partners and are often studied within a single environment. However, when the range of the partners is large, geographical differences in selective pressure may shift the relationship outcome from positive to negative. The marine bryozoan Bugula neritina is a colonial invertebrate common in temperate waters worldwide. It is the source of bioactive polyketide metabolites, the bryostatins. Evidence suggests that an uncultured vertically transmitted symbiont, "Candidatus Endobugula sertula", hosted by B. neritina produces the bryostatins, which protect the vulnerable larvae from predation. Studies of B. neritina along the North American Atlantic coast revealed a complex of two morphologically similar sibling species separated by an apparent biogeographic barrier: the Type S sibling species was found below Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, while Type N was found above. Interestingly, the Type N colonies lack "Ca. Endobugula sertula" and, subsequently, defensive bryostatins; their documented northern distribution was consistent with traditional biogeographical paradigms of latitudinal variation in predation pressure. Upon further sampling of B. neritina populations, we found that both host types occur in wider distribution, with Type N colonies living south of Cape Hatteras, and Type S to the north. Distribution of the symbiont, however, was not restricted to Type S hosts. Genetic and microscopic evidence demonstrates the presence of the symbiont in some Type N colonies, and larvae from these colonies are endowed with defensive bryostatins and contain "Ca. Endobugula sertula". Molecular analysis of the symbiont from Type N colonies suggests an evolutionarily recent acquisition, which is remarkable for a symbiont thought to be transmitted only vertically. Furthermore, most Type S colonies found at higher latitudes lack the symbiont, suggesting that this host-symbiont relationship is more flexible than previously thought. Our data suggest that the symbiont, but not the host, is restricted by biogeographical boundaries.

Project description:Parasmittina is the most representative cheilostome genus of the family Smittinidae, often reported in the fouling non-indigenous marine community. Here, we present a review of Parasmittina species reported in the Southwestern Atlantic including the characterization of one species from Argentina (P. dubitata) and ten from the Brazilian coast: P. abrolhosensis, P. alba, P. bimucronata, P. ligulata comb. nov., P. longirostrata, P. pinctatae, P. serrula, P. simpulata, P. winstonae and the new species Parasmittina falciformis sp. nov. The new species is characterized by a smooth distally primary orifice with 1-2 oral spines, large lyrula, serrated condyles with hooked tips, and two types of avicularia-small and subtriangular and large sublanceolate. This study does not recognize four species previous recorded in Brazil: reports of P. betamorphaea and P. trispinosa are now assigned to P. pinctatae; records of P. munita belong to P. falciformis sp. nov.; and reports of P. spathulata encompass at least two taxa, including P. abrolhosensis and P. simpulata. In this study, five species complexes (P. alba, P. longirostrata, P. serrula, P. simpulata and P. winstonae) were identified and require further investigations. While six species characterized here were first described based on specimens from the Southwestern Atlantic (P. abrolhosensis, P. alba, P. dubitata, P. ligulata comb. nov., P. simpulata and P. falciformis sp. nov.), the remaining species are mainly known from the Indo-Pacific. These taxa are here recognized as exotic (P. longirostrata) and cryptogenic (P. bimucronata, P. pinctatae, P. serrula and P. winstonae) in the studied area. Most of the non-native taxa are widespread along the Brazilian coast, growing on both artificial and natural surfaces, indicating that they are well-established in the area. As non-native bryozoans can negatively influence the environment, affecting human economic activities and beach usage, further studies on the fauna presented here are suggested to determine the origin of these taxa and help prevent bioinvasion events along the SW Atlantic.

Dataset Information

Nine new species of Bugula Oken (Bryozoa: Cheilostomata) in Brazilian shallow waters.

Publications

Nine new species of Bugula Oken (Bryozoa: Cheilostomata) in Brazilian shallow waters.

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