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New insights on the taxonomy of Diadumene paranaensis (Cnidaria: Actiniaria) associated with mangrove roots in the Brazilian semi-arid coast

Abstract

A dense estuarine aggregation of Diadumene paranaensis Beneti, Stampar, Maronna, Morandini & Da Silveira, 2015 associated with Rhizophora mangle L. was found at the Arpoeiras Beach, mouth of Acaraú River, Ceará, Brazilian semi-arid coast. Here, we compare biological and taxonomical traits with the type material, collected from the portuary zone of Paranaguá Bay, and propose modifications in the diagnosis of the species, as well as of the family Diadumenidae and genus Diadumene, to align with the description of our specimens. In addition, we discuss its tolerance to high salinity and predict a much broader geographic range for this sea anemone in Brazil.

Key words
Diadumene; estuary; nematocyst; new occurrence; Northeast Brazil; sea anemone

INTRODUCTION

Sea anemones are among the most well distributed anthozoans in the world (Daly et al. 2008DALY M, CHAUDHURI A, GUSMÃO L & RODRÍGUEZ E. 2008. Phylogenetic relationships among sea anemones (Cnidaria: Anthozoa: Actiniaria). Mol Phylogenet Evol 48 (1): 292-301., Rodríguez et al. 2014RODRÍGUEZ E, BARBEITOS MS, BRUGLER MR, CROWLEY LM, GRAJALES A, GUSMÃO L, HÄUSSERMANN V, REFT A & DALY M. 2014. Hidden among sea anemones: the first comprehensive phylogenetic reconstruction of the order Actiniaria (Cnidaria, Anthozoa, Hexacorallia) reveals a novel group of hexacorals. PLoS ONE 9(5): e96998.), successfully colonizing different types of substrates (e.g. rocky reefs, sand, mud or gravel bottoms) (Raghunathan et al. 2014RAGHUNATHAN C, RAGHURAMAN R, CHOUDHURY S & VENKATARAMAN K. 2014. Diversity and distribution of sea anemones in India with special reference to Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Rec Zool Surv India 114(2): 269-294., González-Muñoz et al. 2016GONZÁLEZ-MUÑOZ R ET AL. 2016. Sea anemones (Cnidaria: Actiniaria, Corallimorpharia, Ceriantharia, Zoanthidea) from marine shallow-water environments in Venezuela: new records and an updated inventory. Mar Biodivers Rec 9(1): 1-35.), but also associated with living organisms such as scleractinian corals, sponges, crustaceans, mollusks, fishes, and even sea turtles, freshwater crocodiles and whale carcasses (Caine 1986CAINE EA. 1986. Carapace epibionts of nesting loggerhead sea turtles: Atlantic coast of USA. J Exp Mar Biol Ecol 95 (1): 15-26., Frick et al. 2000FRICK MG, WILLIAMS KL, VELJACIC D, PIERRARD L, JACKSON JÁ & KNIGHT SE. 2000. Newly documented epibiont species from nesting loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) in Georgia, USA. MTN 88: 3-5., Randall & Fautin 2002RANDALL J & FAUTIN D. 2002. Fishes other than anemonefishes that associate with sea anemones. Coral Reefs 21(2): 188-190., Patzner 2004PATZNER RA. 2004. Associations with sea anemones in the Mediterranean Sea: a review. Ophelia 58(1): 1-11., Mercier et al. 2011MERCIER A, SCHOFIELD M & HAMEL J. 2011. Evidence of dietary feedback in a facultative association between deep-sea gastropods and sea anemones. J Exp Mar Biol Ecol 396(2): 207-215., González-Muñoz et al. 2012GONZÁLEZ-MUÑOZ R, SIMÕES N, SANCHEZ-RODRIGUEZ J, RODRIGUEZ E & SEGURA-PUERTAS L. 2012. First inventory of sea anemones (Cnidaria: Actiniaria) of the Mexican Caribbean. Zootaxa 3556(1): 1-38., Charruau & González-Muñoz 2016CHARRUAU P & GONZÁLEZ-MUÑOZ R. 2016. Epibiont sea anemones inhabiting theAmerican crocodile Crocodylus acutus. Mar Biodivers 46(1): 11-12.). Species belonging to the genus Diadumene Stephenson, 1920 are readily known for presenting high tolerance of abiotic stressors fluctuation (e.g., salinity, temperature, pH), being able to access practically all types of human-made structures (Gollasch & Riemann-Zürneck 1996GOLLASCH S & RIEMANN-ZÜRNECK K. 1996. Transoceanic dispersal of benthic macrofauna: Haliplanella luciae (Verrill, 1898) (Anthozoa, Actiniaria) found on a ship’s hull in a shipyard dock in Hamburg Harbour, Germany. Helgoländer Meeresun 50(2): 253-258., Podbielski et al. 2016PODBIELSKI I, BOCK C, LENZ M & MELZNER F. 2016. Using the critical salinity (S crit) concept to predict invasion potential of the anemone Diadumene lineata in the Baltic Sea. Mar Biol 163(11): 1-15., Glon et al. 2020GLON H, DALY M, CARLTON JT, FLENNIKEN MM & CURRIMJEE Z. 2020. Mediators of invasions in the sea: life history strategies and dispersal vectors facilitating global sea anemone introductions. Biol Invasions 2(11): 3195-3222.). Although less common, associations with mangrove and seagrass have also been registered for Diadumene lineata (Verrill, 1869) (Molina et al. 2009MOLINA L, VALIÑAS MS, PRATOLONGO PD, ELIAS R & PERILLO GME. 2009. First record of the sea anemone Diadumene lineata (Verrill 1871) associated to Spartina alterniflora roots and stems, in marshes at the Bahia Blanca estuary, Argentina. Biol Invasions 11(2): 409-416.), Diadumene leucolena (Verrill, 1866) (Allee 1923ALLEE WC. 1923. Studies in marine ecology. I. The distribution of common littoral invertebrates of the Woods Hole region. Biol Bull 44: 167-191., Olsen et al. 2013OLSEN YS, FOX SE, HOFMAN L & VALIELA I. 2013. Benthic community composition and faunal stable isotopic signatures differ across small spatial scales in a temperate estuary. Mar Environ Res 86: 12-20.), and Diadumene schilleriana (Stoliczka, 1869) (Mitra & Pattanayak 2013MITRA S & PATTANAYAK JG. 2013. Diversity and Distribution of Sea-Anemones (Cnidaria: Actiniaria) in the Estuaries and Mangroves of Odisha, India. Rec Zool Surv India 113(3): 113-118., Mitra et al. 2019MITRA S, SHAW S & MISHRA SS. 2019. Animal diversity in the mangrove forest at Bichitrapur of Balasore district, Odisha, India-A case study. Rec Zool Surv India 119(1): 9-17.) in the USA, Argentina and India.

The ability to tolerate harsh environmental conditions exhibited by the genus Diadumene can be explained by a series of biological and ecological strategies displayed by many diadumenid species (Glon et al. 2020GLON H, DALY M, CARLTON JT, FLENNIKEN MM & CURRIMJEE Z. 2020. Mediators of invasions in the sea: life history strategies and dispersal vectors facilitating global sea anemone introductions. Biol Invasions 2(11): 3195-3222.). Densely nematocyst-charged structures called acontia, and aggressive catch-tentacles for agonistic purposes, as well as being capable of different asexual propagation tactics, such as pedal laceration and longitudinal fission, may imply rapidly stablishing populations under optimal conditions (Uchida 1932UCHIDA T. 1932. Occurance in Japan of Diadumene luciae, a remarkable actinian of rapid dispersal. J Fac Sci, Hokkaido Univ, S VI 2: 69-82., Chia 1976CHIA F. 1976. Sea anemone reproduction: patterns and adaptive radiations.In: Coelenterate ecology and behavior, Plenum Press, New York, p. 261-270., Minasian & Mariscal 1979MINASIAN JR LL & MARISCAL RN. 1979. Characteristics and regulation of fission activity in clonal cultures of the cosmopolitan sea anemone, Haliplanella luciae (Verrill). Biol Bull 157(3): 478-493., Ryan & Kubota 2016RYAN WH & KUBOTA S. 2016. Morphotype distribution of the sea anemone Diadumene lineata in Tanabe Bay, Wakayama: a comparison with Uchida (1936) after 80 years. P Seto Mar Biol Lab 44: 1-6.). In addition, some individuals can be transported overseas by ships and minor vessels, increasing the distribution range of the species (Shick & Lamb 1977SHICK JM & LAMB AN. 1977. Asexual reproduction and genetic population structure in the colonizing sea anemone Haliplanella luciae. Biol Bull 153(3): 604-617., Zabin et al. 2004ZABIN CJ, CARLTON JT & GODWIN LS. 2004. First report of the Asian sea anemone Diadumene lineata from the Hawaiian Islands. Bishop Mus Occas Pap 79: 54-58., Glon et al. 2020GLON H, DALY M, CARLTON JT, FLENNIKEN MM & CURRIMJEE Z. 2020. Mediators of invasions in the sea: life history strategies and dispersal vectors facilitating global sea anemone introductions. Biol Invasions 2(11): 3195-3222.).

From the 12 valid species within the genus, 4 can be found along the South American Atlantic coast: Diadumene lineata, Diadumene paranaensis Beneti, Stampar, Maronna, Morandini & Da Silveira, 2015, Diadumene leucolena and Diadumene manezinha Gusmão, Grajales & Rodríguez, 2018. Diadumene paranaensis was originally described from the portuary area of Paranaguá Bay, Brazil. Depth, salinity and water temperature were reported for the holotype, detached from a mussel, 1-2 meters deep, salinity of 26 psu at 20°C. Other individuals were found on mussels, oysters, and concrete pilings in a wharf sector. Despite the collection of numerous individuals, it has been hypothesized that it is a species not native to Brazil, since only individuals with no gametogenic tissue, most probably clones, were observed (Beneti et al. 2015BENETI JS, STAMPAR SN, MARONNA MM, MORANDINI AC & DA SILVEIRA FL. 2015. A new species of Diadumene (Actiniaria: Diadumenidae) from the subtropical coast of Brazil. Zootaxa 4021 (1): 56-168., Glon et al. 2020GLON H, DALY M, CARLTON JT, FLENNIKEN MM & CURRIMJEE Z. 2020. Mediators of invasions in the sea: life history strategies and dispersal vectors facilitating global sea anemone introductions. Biol Invasions 2(11): 3195-3222.). Later to its original description, D. paranaensis was shortly mentioned to occur in California, USA, on artificial structures (Glon et al. 2020GLON H, DALY M, CARLTON JT, FLENNIKEN MM & CURRIMJEE Z. 2020. Mediators of invasions in the sea: life history strategies and dispersal vectors facilitating global sea anemone introductions. Biol Invasions 2(11): 3195-3222.)

Similarly, small anemones were observed in an estuarine zone, at Ceará State, Northeast Brazil, attached to mangrove roots. Here, we identify D. paranaensis, for the first time outside a direct portuary zone, as a more broad-ranged and salinity tolerant diadumenid than known, and discuss some taxonomic aspects related to morphological variation of fighting tentacles, and nematocyst terminology. Therefore, we suggest that since it appears to have a broader distribution, and because of its wide tolerance to changes in salinity, this species could be widely dispersed.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Sampling

Individuals of D. paranaensis were collected on March, 2018, from an estuarine mangrove forest, at the Acaraú river mouth, Ceará state, Brazil (02°48’55” S, 40°12’14” W) (Figure 1). The sea anemones were found on clusters of mussels and oysters, or directly attached to Rhizophora mangle L. prop roots in the mesolitoral and infralitoral zones. Photographs in situ were taken to better capture the coloration and spatial distribution of specimens when alive. Specimens were then removed, transported to the Laboratório de Ecologia de Manguezais (ECOMANGUE/IFCE) and preserved in a saltwater solution of 10% formaldehyde.

Figure 1
Geographical distribution of D. paranaensis, known from its type location, in Paraná state (blue star) and from the sampling location of this study (red star), in Ceará state, Brazil.

Morphological analysis

Specimens were observed externally for size, number and organization of structures such as tentacles and cinclides. Lately, they were dissected in order to analyze internal structures and fertility in the Laboratório de Ecologia e Conservação de Ecossistemas Marinhos (LECEM-UFRPE). Cross sections of the the column, 7 mm thick, were performed, embedded in parafin and stained with Hematoxylin/Eosin. For the cnidome, 30 capsules of each type of cnidae were photographed and measured from each relevant taxonomic structure with the aid of an optic microscope with 1000x magnification. These data were plotted in a size and frequency table, including the maximum, minimum length and width, as well as the mean and standard deviation values.

The study of Beneti et al. (2015)BENETI JS, STAMPAR SN, MARONNA MM, MORANDINI AC & DA SILVEIRA FL. 2015. A new species of Diadumene (Actiniaria: Diadumenidae) from the subtropical coast of Brazil. Zootaxa 4021 (1): 56-168. was consulted for taxonomic comparison. Diagnosis of D. paranaensis was reviewed based on Beneti et al. (2015)BENETI JS, STAMPAR SN, MARONNA MM, MORANDINI AC & DA SILVEIRA FL. 2015. A new species of Diadumene (Actiniaria: Diadumenidae) from the subtropical coast of Brazil. Zootaxa 4021 (1): 56-168. and Gusmão et al. (2018)GUSMÃO LC, GRAJALES A & RODRÍGUEZ E. 2018. Sea anemones through X-rays: visualization of two species of Diadumene (Cnidaria, Actiniaria) using micro–CT. Am Mus Novit 2018(3907): 1-47.. Systematic classification follows Rodríguez et al. (2014)RODRÍGUEZ E, BARBEITOS MS, BRUGLER MR, CROWLEY LM, GRAJALES A, GUSMÃO L, HÄUSSERMANN V, REFT A & DALY M. 2014. Hidden among sea anemones: the first comprehensive phylogenetic reconstruction of the order Actiniaria (Cnidaria, Anthozoa, Hexacorallia) reveals a novel group of hexacorals. PLoS ONE 9(5): e96998.. Nomenclature of the cnidae is discussed according Gusmão et al. (2018)GUSMÃO LC, GRAJALES A & RODRÍGUEZ E. 2018. Sea anemones through X-rays: visualization of two species of Diadumene (Cnidaria, Actiniaria) using micro–CT. Am Mus Novit 2018(3907): 1-47.. Vouchers were deposited in the Museu de Zoologia de São Paulo (MZUSP) and in the cnidarian collection of the Laboratório de Ecologia e Conservação de Ecossistemas Marinhos (LECEM-UFRPE).

RESULTS

Taxonomic identification

Superfamily Metridioidea Carlgren, 1893

Family Diadumenidae Stephenson, 1920

Diagnosis (modified from Gusmão, Grajales & Rodríguez, 2018; changes in bold):

Metridioidean with acontia with basitrichs and p-mastigophores B2a or basitrichs, p-mastigophores B1, and p-mastigophores B2a. No distinct marginal sphincter. Tentacles of any cycle may form fighting tentacles with holotrichs; these tentacles are ephemeral and may be totally absent in some species or population of species that possess them.

Genus Diadumene Stephenson, 1920

Diagnosis (modified from Gusmão, Grajales & Rodríguez, 2018; changes in bold):

Diadumenidae with well-developed pedal disc. Column smooth, divisible into scapus and capitulum separated by a collar. Scapus with cinclides scattered or arranged in longitudinal rows; sometimes on top of raised projections. No distinct marginal sphincter. Margin of capitulum tentaculate. Tentacles long, smooth, numerous, retractile, regularly arranged except if asexual reproduction is present. Tentacles of any cycle may form fighting tentacles, typically thicker than feeding tentacles and containing holotrichs among other nematocysts; these may be absent in some species or individuals of species that possess them. Outer tentacles may have p-mastigophores B2b. Six pairs of perfect mesenteries, two siphonoglyphs, and two pairs of directives usually present; their number may vary due to asexual reproduction. Mesenteries more numerous distally than proximally. Retractors diffuse, more or less restricted. Parietobasilar and basilar musculatures weak. Perfect mesenteries and stronger imperfect ones fertile. Acontia with basitrichs and p-mastigophores B2a or basitrichs, p-mastigophores B1, and p-mastigophores B2a. Cnidom: spirocysts, basitrichs, p-mastigophores A, p-mastigophores B1, p-mastigophores B2a, p-mastigophores B2b, and holotrichs.

Diadumene paranaensis Beneti, Stampar, Maronna, Morandini & Da Silveira, 2015

Material examined

Ceará, Brazil. Arpoeiras Beach, mangrove roots in estuary, Acaraú River, 2°48’55’’S, 40°12’14’’W, collected by Mayane R. de Araújo and Rafaela C. Maia, july, 2017 (0 m), salinity 34-37, water temperature 27.4 - 27.8°C, 127 specimens. MZUSP 8732 (100 specimens). LC 141 (27 specimens). Material for comparison: MZUSP 1530. MZUSP 1531, MZUSP 1534 (from original publishment).

Diagnosis. (modified from Beneti et al. 2015BENETI JS, STAMPAR SN, MARONNA MM, MORANDINI AC & DA SILVEIRA FL. 2015. A new species of Diadumene (Actiniaria: Diadumenidae) from the subtropical coast of Brazil. Zootaxa 4021 (1): 56-168.; changes in bold, additions in italics):

Clonal species of Diadumene; Tentacles of any cycle may form fighting tentacles; Polyp with cinclides arranged in longitudinal rows, outer tentacles may have p-mastigophores B2b; acontia with basitrichs and p-mastigophores B2a.

Description

External morphology

Body cylindrical, globose, sometimes elongated or rather flattened (Fig. 2a-f). Column 2 to 9 mm in height, 2 to 11 mm in diameter, quite inflated, translucent in some individuals (Fig. 2a). Clear division between scapus and scapulus, delicate fosse (Fig. 2c). Capitulum thin, short. Scapus of a rough appearance in preserved specimens with contracted column (Fig. 2b-d). Inconspicuous cinclides, more easily noticed when the column is inflated. Cinclides not on top of elevations or projections, forming longitudinal rows of up to 5 or 6 cinclides in each row (Fig. 2a). Oral disc slightly contracted or fully exposed with broad mouth and thick lips, sometimes elevated in a conical projection. Lips with twelve folds, some of them with smaller wrinkles. Number and tentacular organization quite variable. Between 28 and 70 short, conical tentacles, some of which swollen at base, lacking an apical pore. Tentacles irregularly arranged in 4 to 6 cycles, those of the innermost cycles larger and more developed. Fighting tentacles observed in any cycle, larger and thicker than the feeding ones, may have autotomized tips (Fig. 2b). Wide distended base, sometimes with folds, but never exceeding the diameter of the column.

Figure 2
Diadumene paranaensis collected from Ceará state, Brazil. Aspects of the column and asexual reproduction strategies: a, inflated column evidencing rows of cinclides (arrows); b, upper lateral view of column showing fighting tentacles from the third and fourth cycles, lacking its tips (arrows); c, small specimen with distended column. Clear division of scapulus and scapus, separated by a delicate fosse (dashed line); d, regeneration process of the pedal disc. Note the small rock fragments on each side of the damaged column (dashed line), with tentacles withdrawn from the oral disc (arrow), escaping from the base aperture; e,f, pedal laceration process, forming new individuals through small fragments (arrows); Mesenterial arrangement: g, Cross section through midcolumn, showing a directive pair (asterisk), with well-developed retractor muscle processes (arrows), and a regular pair of mesenteries from the second cycle; h, Scheme of the general mesenterial organization in D. paranaensis, illustrating directive mesenteries (asterisks), as well as all three cycles of mesenteries. Legend: ci, cinclides; ft, fighting tentacles; f, fragment; rm, retractor muscle; ac, actinopharynx. Scale bar: a - f, 10 mm; g, 0.5 mm.

Internal anatomy

Cinclides endocoelic, associated with the first two cycles of mesenteries. Wide and deep actinopharynx, with many folds, reaches approximately 1/3 of the length of the column. Two siphonoglyphs, each attached to a pair of directive mesenteries (Fig. 2h). Longitudinal musculature of the tentacles ectodermal. Marginal sphincter absent. Mesenteries arranged in 3-4 irregular cycles (6+6+12+n), more mesenteries distally than proximally. Number of mesenteries varies due to asexual reproduction. First cycle of mesenteries, including directives, perfect, second and third cycles imperfect. Some pairs from the last two cycles with unevenly developed mesenteries. First and second cycles with filaments and acontia, third cycle without these structures. Gametogenic tissue absent. Retractor muscle strong, diffuse to restricted, weakly developed in the third cycle (Fig. 2g). Weak parietobasilar musculature in all mesenteries. Acontia up to 10 mm long, abundant.

Cnidom

Spirocysts, holotrichs, basitrichs, microbasic p-mastigophores B1, microbasic p-mastigophores B2a and microbasic p-mastigophores B2b (Table I).

Table I
Comparison of size and distribution of cnidae of D. paranaensis from this study and from original description (Beneti et al. 2015BENETI JS, STAMPAR SN, MARONNA MM, MORANDINI AC & DA SILVEIRA FL. 2015. A new species of Diadumene (Actiniaria: Diadumenidae) from the subtropical coast of Brazil. Zootaxa 4021 (1): 56-168.). M, mean; SD, standard deviation; N, number of capsules measured; F, frequency: +++ very common, ++ common, + not common/rare. * The smaller category of p-mastigophore found in the scapus of the original description was not observed, which we do not consider problematic due to the rarity of this cnidae. **We present the larger p-mastigophores and the p-amastigophores of the acontia in the original description as a single category, due to recent taxonomic argumentation (see Discussion).

Geographic distribution

Diadumene paranaensis was originally described from the portuary zone of Paranaguá Bay, Paraná, Brazil (Beneti et al. 2015BENETI JS, STAMPAR SN, MARONNA MM, MORANDINI AC & DA SILVEIRA FL. 2015. A new species of Diadumene (Actiniaria: Diadumenidae) from the subtropical coast of Brazil. Zootaxa 4021 (1): 56-168.) and, mentioned to occur at Santa Barbara Channel and San Francisco Bay, California, USA (Glon et al. 2020GLON H, DALY M, CARLTON JT, FLENNIKEN MM & CURRIMJEE Z. 2020. Mediators of invasions in the sea: life history strategies and dispersal vectors facilitating global sea anemone introductions. Biol Invasions 2(11): 3195-3222.). This last study briefly mentions its occurrence based on the identification of a Diadumene sp. collected earlier (Carlton, unpublished data) and used in some phylogenetic studies (Rodríguez et al. 2012RODRÍGUEZ E, BARBEITOS M, DALY M, GUSMÃO LC & HÄUSSERMANN V. 2012. Toward a natural classification: phylogeny of acontiate sea anemones (Cnidaria, Anthozoa, Actiniaria). Cladistics 28(4): 375-392., 2014). Although not providing further details over the variation and morphology differences between Atlantic and Pacific populations, the authors recognize the californian individuals of D. paranaensis as being recent established and, as in Paraná, probably not native to that location. Even though we decided not to include the californian populations in our distribution map (Fig. 1), we recognize this Pacific distribution of the species and emphasize the importance of better describing new populations of D. paranaensis for comparison and species statement purposes.

Biological information

Individuals associated with oysters and mussels, in mangrove prop roots. Several individuals had inflated column, giving buoyancy to the polyp (Fig. 2a, f). The inflation is present at any height of the column (along the entire length, just at the pedal disc, or the distal portion). Some individuals show asexual reproduction by pedal laceration (Fig. 2e, f).

Taxonomic remarks

In order to update the taxonomic status of the group, we propose brief modifications in the diagnoses of both family Diadumenidae, genus Diadumene and D. paranaensis, to include the morphological variation of the individuals analyzed in our study. The description of D. paranaensis, for the Bay of Paranaguá (Beneti et al. 2015BENETI JS, STAMPAR SN, MARONNA MM, MORANDINI AC & DA SILVEIRA FL. 2015. A new species of Diadumene (Actiniaria: Diadumenidae) from the subtropical coast of Brazil. Zootaxa 4021 (1): 56-168.) is quite complete, taking into consideration coloration, external morphology, histology and cnidom. However, these authors adopted the study of Östman et al. (2010)ÖSTMAN C, KULTIMA JR & ROAT C. 2010. Tentacle cnidae of the sea anemone Metridium senile (Linnaeus, 1761) (Cnidaria: Anthozoa). Scientia Marina 74(3): 511-521. to present the set of cnidae displayed in their specimens. A more suitable nomenclature that, in our opinion, more adequately contemplates the diversity of nematocysts found in Diadumene, is the one proposed by Gusmão et al. (2018)GUSMÃO LC, GRAJALES A & RODRÍGUEZ E. 2018. Sea anemones through X-rays: visualization of two species of Diadumene (Cnidaria, Actiniaria) using micro–CT. Am Mus Novit 2018(3907): 1-47., adapted from Sanamyan et al. (2012)SANAMYAN NP, SANAMYAN KE & TABACHNICK KR. 2012. The first species of Actiniaria, Spongiactis japonica gen. n., sp. n. (Cnidaria: Anthozoa) an obligate symbiont of a glass sponge. Invertebr Zool 9(2): 127-141.. In our study, we use this nomenclature aiming to standardize and facilitate the comparison of other diadumenid species described so far, as well as of future new records. The diagnosis proposed herein contemplates the development of fighting tentacles in pratically any of the tentacle cycles, and a different nomenclature for the microbasic p-amastigophores, revised as p-mastigophores B2a. Indeed, some of our specimens showed fighting tentacles in the last tentacle cycles, a feature not covered by the diagnosis of the Diadumene genus and family Diadumenidae. The ephemeral and enigmatic nature of these structures (Hand 1956HAND C. 1956. The sea anemones of central California Part III. The acontiarian anemones. Wasmann J Biol 13: 189-251., Williams 1975WILLIAMS RBA. 1975. Redescription of the brackish-water sea anemone Nematostella vectensis Stephenson, with an appraisal of congeneric species. J Nat Hist 9(1): 1-64., Purcell 1977PURCELL JE. 1977. Aggressive function and induced development of catch tentacles in the sea anemone Metridium senile (Coelenterata, Actiniaria). Biol Bull 153(2): 355-368., Purcell & Kitting 1982PURCELL JE & KITTING CL. 1982. Intraspecific aggression and population distributions of the sea anemone Metridium senile. Biol Bull 162(3): 45-359., Watson & Mariscal 1983WATSON GM & MARISCAL RN. 1983. The development of a sea anemone tentacle specialized for aggression: morphogenesis and regression of the catch tentacle of Haliplanella luciae (Cnidaria, Anthozoa). Biol Bull 164(3): 506-517.) supports our observations and evidences a morphological plasticity displayed in D. paranaensis populations that may result from distinct environmental conditions and the unique dynamics of each population settlement processes.

DISCUSSION

Diadumene paranaensis is believed to be a non-native species in both Brazilian and Californian locations due to the clonal structure of those populations (Beneti et al. 2015BENETI JS, STAMPAR SN, MARONNA MM, MORANDINI AC & DA SILVEIRA FL. 2015. A new species of Diadumene (Actiniaria: Diadumenidae) from the subtropical coast of Brazil. Zootaxa 4021 (1): 56-168., Glon et al. 2020GLON H, DALY M, CARLTON JT, FLENNIKEN MM & CURRIMJEE Z. 2020. Mediators of invasions in the sea: life history strategies and dispersal vectors facilitating global sea anemone introductions. Biol Invasions 2(11): 3195-3222.). Although not directly stated from a maritime traffic area, our observations of D. paranaensis in Arpoeiras Beach evidences a more extreme tolerance to high salinity ranges for the species than what was described from Paranaguá Bay. Significant salinity levels were indicated for species such as D. cincta (34.29%º), D. lineata (34-35%º) and D. franciscana (39%º) (Scatolini & Zedler 1996SCATOLINI SR & ZEDLER JB. 1996. Epibenthic invertebrates of natural and constructed marshes of San Diego Bay. Wetlands 16(1): 24-37., Podbielski et al. 2016PODBIELSKI I, BOCK C, LENZ M & MELZNER F. 2016. Using the critical salinity (S crit) concept to predict invasion potential of the anemone Diadumene lineata in the Baltic Sea. Mar Biol 163(11): 1-15., Escribano-Álvarez & López-González 2018ESCRIBANO-ÁLVAREZ P & LÓPEZ-GONZÁLEZ PJ. 2018. Facing the arrival of newcomers: an intertidal sea anemone approach (Hexacorallia, Actiniaria). Biol Invasions 20(10): 2945-2962., Schutter et al. 2019SCHUTTER M, DORENBOSCH M, DRIESSEN FMF, LENGKEEK W, BOS OG & COOLEN JWP. 2019. Oil and gas platforms as artificial substrates for epibenthic North Sea fauna: Effects of location and depth. J Sea Res 153: 101782.). Likewise, as for associations with estuarine plants, Molina et al. (2009)MOLINA L, VALIÑAS MS, PRATOLONGO PD, ELIAS R & PERILLO GME. 2009. First record of the sea anemone Diadumene lineata (Verrill 1871) associated to Spartina alterniflora roots and stems, in marshes at the Bahia Blanca estuary, Argentina. Biol Invasions 11(2): 409-416. registered the presence of D. lineata in association with Spartina alterniflora roots on salt marshes of Bahía Blanca, Argentina, where salinity values reach up to 38%º. Considering the documented salinity regimes of Paranaguá Bay, (12-34%°) and Arpoeiras Beach (5.73 – 41.55%°) (Lana et al. 2001LANA PC, MARONE E, LOPES RM & MACHADO EC. 2001. The Subtropical Estuarine Complex of Paranaguá Bay, Brazil. In: SEELIGER U & KJERFVEB (Eds) Coastal Marine Ecosystems of Latin America. Ecol Stud 144: 131-145., Santos & Maia 2021SANTOS MRD & MAIA RC. 2021. Obras de Urbanização e os Impactos Ambientais sobre a Macrofauna Bentônica: Estudo de Caso em uma Praia do Litoral Cearense. J Integr Coast Zone Manag 21(3): 135-145.), is presumable that D. paranaensis follows the examples of other Diadumene species, and should be stated as a noticeable osmoconformer.

Further analysis of our specimens revealed that fighting tentacles can be found in any cycle, rather than being restricted to the first cycle, as previously believed. Interestingly, fighting tentacles are observed in the inner cycles of metridiodean anemones, rarely the third one (Gusmão et al. 2018GUSMÃO LC, GRAJALES A & RODRÍGUEZ E. 2018. Sea anemones through X-rays: visualization of two species of Diadumene (Cnidaria, Actiniaria) using micro–CT. Am Mus Novit 2018(3907): 1-47.), but only in the outer cycles of actinoidean anemones that possess them (Sanamyan et al. 2013SANAMYAN NP, SANAMYAN KE & MCDANIEL N. 2013. Two new shallow water sea anemones of the family Actiniidae (Cnidaria: Anthozoa: Actiniaria) from British Columbia (NE Pacific). Invertebr Zool 10: 199-216.). Therefore, D. paranaensis is the first registered acontiate sea anemone displaying this tentacle configuration The missing tips, which suggest agonistic autotomization (Williams 1975WILLIAMS RBA. 1975. Redescription of the brackish-water sea anemone Nematostella vectensis Stephenson, with an appraisal of congeneric species. J Nat Hist 9(1): 1-64., Purcell 1977PURCELL JE. 1977. Aggressive function and induced development of catch tentacles in the sea anemone Metridium senile (Coelenterata, Actiniaria). Biol Bull 153(2): 355-368.), and the presence of holotrichs in some tentacles from the first to the last cycles in the specimens from Arpoeiras Beach, suggest that this is a more plastic biological attribute, which may play a crucial role in intra and interspecific interactions in the aggregation of individuals and population dynamics.

The updated diagnoses presented in this study (see Taxonomic remarks) relies on the matter of standardizing Diadumene species descriptions. The interpretation of nematocysts, in particular, is quite variable, with different systems of nomenclature from being adopted from work to work, making comparison at the population/species level quite difficult. Some of the most discussed nematocysts are, undoubtedly, the holotrichs and microbasic p-mastigophores. As discussed by Gusmão et al. (2018)GUSMÃO LC, GRAJALES A & RODRÍGUEZ E. 2018. Sea anemones through X-rays: visualization of two species of Diadumene (Cnidaria, Actiniaria) using micro–CT. Am Mus Novit 2018(3907): 1-47., microbasic p-amastigophores are now recognized as microbasic p-mastigophores B2a, macrobasic p-mastigophores, stated as p-mastigophores B2b, and atrichs also possess small spines and are considered to be holotrichs. In our analysis, relying on new observations, we modify the nomenclature of the cnidae used in the original description of D. paranaensis, since it adopts the terms amastigophores and atrichs. Our findings that, in fact, just one type of p-mastigophore is found in the acontia, but in two distinct size classes, uniting the p-amastigophores (35.9–57.5 μm long x 5.1–7.4 μm wide) and the larger p-mastigophores (41.1–57.0 μm long by 5.4–8.4 μm wide) from the original description of D. paranaensis, was confirmed by the analysis of the type material. We also reinforce the convenience of a comprehensive review in the study of nematocysts in order to standardize and clarify the real taxonomic and systematic values of this character in Diadumene.

Brazil represents the largest coast among South American countries, includes the second largest mangrove area of the planet, and Paranaguá is considered as a main port in South America, with its coast also surrounded by mangroves (Neves et al. 2007NEVES CS, ROCHA RM, PITOMBO FB & ROPER JJ. 2007. Use of artificial substrata by introduced and cryptogenic marine species in Paranaguá Bay, southern Brazil. Biofouling 23(5): 319-330., Mauro & Serejo 2015MAURO FDM & SEREJO CS. 2015. The family Caprellidae (Amphipoda: Caprelloidea: Caprellidae) from Campos Basin, Southwestern Atlantic, with a key of species occurring in Brazil. Zootaxa 4006(1): 103-127., Moschetto et al. 2021MOSCHETTO FA, RIBEIRO RB & DE FREITAS DM. 2021. Urban expansion, regeneration and socioenvironmental vulnerability in a mangrove ecosystem at the southeast coastal of São Paulo, Brazil. Ocean Coast Manage 200: 105418.). Such traits denote a significance in proportioning suitable environmental conditions for Diadumene populations to settle down. Two new species and one new record were described for the 2010’s (Beneti et al. 2015BENETI JS, STAMPAR SN, MARONNA MM, MORANDINI AC & DA SILVEIRA FL. 2015. A new species of Diadumene (Actiniaria: Diadumenidae) from the subtropical coast of Brazil. Zootaxa 4021 (1): 56-168., Gusmão et al. 2018GUSMÃO LC, GRAJALES A & RODRÍGUEZ E. 2018. Sea anemones through X-rays: visualization of two species of Diadumene (Cnidaria, Actiniaria) using micro–CT. Am Mus Novit 2018(3907): 1-47.), consequently, the genus appears to be subsampled and must occupy a broader geographic range in the country, with presumable new registers in the future. Based in our findings, we add that the more than 4000 km distance between Paranaguá Bay and Arpoeiras Beach populations of D. paranaensis may reveal a high dispersal potential, following other diadumenid species examples, whose drivers are yet to be properly inferred in forthcoming studies.

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Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    26 July 2024
  • Date of issue
    2024

History

  • Received
    04 Feb 2024
  • Accepted
    07 Apr 2024
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