Observations on the population characteristics of<i> Apionsoma (Apionsoma) misakianum </i>(Sipuncula: Phascolosomatidae), a new species for the Mediterranean fauna

Abstract

SUMMARY: The present paper deals with the ecology and population characteristics of the sipunculid Apionsoma (A.) misakianum from the Aegean Sea, which is a new record for the Mediterranean Sea. A total of 571 specimens of this species were collected at 25 stations between 41 and 195 m depth. The majority of specimens were found between the depth intervals 101-150 m (46%) and 151-200 m (45.2%). The biometrical parameters such as the trunk length and individual wet weight of the specimens were evaluated using regression and correlation analyses. In addition, the morphological, ecological and distributional features of the species are given and discussed.Keywords: Apionsoma (Apionsoma) misakianum, Sipuncula, distribution, ecology, biometry, Aegean Sea, Mediterranean Sea. RESUMEN: OBSERVACIONES SOBRE LAS CARACTERÍSTICAS POBLACIONALES DE APIONSOMA (APIONSOMA) MISAKIANUM(SIPUNCULA: PHASCOLOSOMATIDAE), UNA NUEVA ESPECIE PARA LA FAUNA MEDITERRÁNEA. -El presente trabajo trata sobre la ecología y características poblacionales del sipuncúlido Apionsoma (A.) misakianum en el Mar Egeo, lo que constituye la primera cita de esta especie en el Mar Mediterráneo. Un total de 571 especímenes de esta especie fueron recolectados en 25 estaciones a profundidades comprendidas entre 41 y 195 m. La mayor parte de ejemplares se encontró en los intervalos de profundidad 101-150 m (46%) y 151-200 m (45.2%). Los parámetros biométricos, como la longitud del tronco y el peso húmedo individual, fueron evaluados usando análisis de regresión y correlación. Adicionalmente, se presentan y discuten las características morfológicas, ecológicas y de distribución de la especie.

A new species of African Forest Robin from Gabon (Passeriformes: Muscicapidae: Stiphrornis)

“…muelleri and Phascolosoma (Phascolosoma) granulatum Leuckart, 1828] were reported from general ecological studies (Kocatas 1978;Çinar et al 2002;Dogan et al 2005). Recently, Açik (2007;2008) reported A. (A.)…”

“…The phylum has almost 162 species world-wide (Cutler 1994) and 34 species in the Mediterranean Sea (Açik 2007). Sipunculans have not been studied in detail on the coasts of Turkey.…”

Checklist of Sipuncula from the coasts of Turkey

“…More recently, Açik (2011) gave the first record of Nephasoma (N.) eremita in the Mediterranean Sea. This species might have been introduced to the region by ballast water of ships (Açik, 2011 (Açik, 2007(Açik, , 2008(Açik, , 2009(Açik, , 2010(Açik, , 2011Açık, 2008Açık, , 2010Çinar et al, 2012). The distribution of the number of alien species in the region is shown in Figure 4 The morphological and distributional aspects of the species are given below.…”

“…In the bay, several studies encountered sipunculan species in association with algae , sponges (Çinar et al, 2002), rocks (Açık, 2008), and soft substrata (Doğan et al, 2005;Koçak and Katağan, 2005;Aydın et al, 2007;Açik, 2009;Çinar et al, 2012). In Gencelli Bay and on Markiz Island, and Dağlı et al (2008) found 5 sipunculan species at depths between 5 and 50 m. The most detailed studies regarding the sipunculan diversity in the area were carried out by the present author (Açik, 2007, Acik, 2007Açık, 2010), who found 17 sipunculan species from a variety of biotopes.…”

First record of the sipunculan worm Phascolion (Phascolion) caupo Hendrix, 1975 in the Mediterranean Sea

“…To date, after recent contributions (Açik, 2007(Açik, , 2011, a total of 35 sipunculan species are known in the Mediterranean Sea. A detailed list can be consulted in Coll et al (2010).…”