First record of the polychaete Ficopomatus uschakovi (Pillai, 1960) (Annelida, Serpulidae) in the Colombian Caribbean, South America

Abstract

The genus Ficopomatus (Serpulidae) consists of sessile, tubicolous polychaete annelid worms that may colonize a diversity of substrata, and tolerate considerable variations in salinity. Thus, members of this genus, including Ficopomatus uschakovi, in some cases are exotic and maybe invasive. The purpose of our research was to collect and identify marine organisms associated with the submerged roots of mangrove trees in the Gulf of Urabá, Colombian Caribbean, South America. Within the Gulf, there is a well-developed forest of the Red Mangrove, Rhizophora mangle, along the margins of El Uno Bay. We sampled the roots of R. mangle from five stations of the bay, and we identified specimens of F. uschakovi from each of those stations. Ficopomatus uschakovi was found to be more abundant in regions of the bay that exhibit the lowest salinity. Based on a morphological comparison of the present specimens with the original species description, revised descriptions, and other records from the Indo-West Pacific, Mexican Pacific, and Venezuelan and Brazilian Caribbean, we suggest that F. uschakovi has a broader geographical distribution. Furthermore, because of this broad distribution, and the observed tolerance for low salinity in our study, we also suggest that F. uschakovi is a euryhaline species. It is also likely that F. uschakovi will be found in other localities in the Gulf of Urabá, and in other regions of the Colombian Caribbean. Thus, this record extends the distribution of the species to the Colombian Caribbean, giving the species a continuous distribution across the northern coast of South America.

Polychaetes from red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle) and their relationship with the water conditions in the Gulf of Urabá, Colombian Caribbean

“…This exotic polychaete was observed forming conglomerates of calcareous tubes as reported by de Assis et al, (2008) and in sympatry with F. miamiensis. Probably, these two species are competing for food and space on R. mangle roots as was suggested by Arteaga-Flórez et al, (2014).…”

“…This species is considered an exotic species, and it was first registered in the Colombian Caribbean by Arteaga-Flórez et al, (2014); given the physicochemical conditions under this species was found, we can consider it as euryhaline and eurythermal. Also, F. uschakovi was found in greater proportions in areas with the lowest percentage of dissolved oxygen.…”

“…Along the Gulf of Urabá, particularly for the zones of the Marirrío Bay and the Rionegro Cove (South Colombian Caribbean), there are no reports about ecological aspects of polychaete species, only a few taxonomic studies have been conducted (Arteaga-Flórez, 2010;Arteaga-Flórez et al, 2014). Thus, this is the first ecological research about polychaetes in the Gulf of Urabá.…”

“…The researchers have focused mainly on taxonomy (see LaverdeCastillo and Rodríguez-Gómez, 1987;Dueñas, 1999;Londoño-Mesa et al, 2002;Báez and Ardila, 2003;Bolaño-Lara et al, 2005;Londoño-Mesa, 2011;Arteaga-Flórez et al, 2014;Arteaga-Flórez and Londoño-Mesa, 2015;MolinaAcevedo and Londoño-Mesa, 2015). However, studies such as Moreno (2002) and Romero-Murillo and Polanía (2008) have presented some ecological aspects in polychaetes, for example, analysis of the taxocenosis process of Polychaeta, Mollusca and Crustacea in red mangrove areas.…”

The fouling serpulids (Polychaeta: Serpulidae) from United States coastal waters: an overview

“…Since the 1950's, the species has been recorded in the Gulf of Guinea, Western Africa. Recently, it was recorded from eastern Brazil (de Assis et al 2008), Chiapas, the southern Mexican Pacific (Bastida-Zavala & García-Madrigal 2012), Venezuela (Liñero-Arana & Díaz -Díaz 2012) and the Colombian Caribbean (Arteaga-Flórez et al 2014). In this work, the species is recorded in the northern Gulf of Mexico and the U.S. east coast and, likely, has been present since at least 1997 (USNM and SERC, collection data).…”