@article {129, title = {Cienfuegia gen. nov (Xyalidae) and Pseudoterschellingia gen. nov (Linhomoeidae), two new genera of free-living marine nematodes from the Caribbean Sea}, journal = {Journal of Natural HistoryJournal of Natural History}, volume = {43}, number = {17-18}, year = {2009}, note = {Armenteros, Maickel Vincx, Magda Decraemer, Wilfrida}, pages = {1067-1081}, abstract = {Two new genera of nematodes are described from the Caribbean Sea. Cienfuegia gen. nov. belongs to the Xyalidae based on the position of the anterior gonad constantly left of the intestine, cuticle clearly striated, second and third circle of anterior sensilla inserted at the same level and buccal cavity surrounded by pharynx. The new genus is differentiated from other genera by the buccal cavity divided in two chambers and by the four cephalic setae being longer than the six outer labial setae. Within the Xyalidae, Cienfuegia shows most affinities with the genera Daptonema and Theristus. Pseudoterschellingia gen. nov. is placed within the Linhomoeidae on the basis of the presence of anterior rounded amphidial fovea, unarmed narrow buccal cavity, distinctive cardia and presence of apophysis of gubernaculum. Pseudoterschellingia is closely related to the genera Terschellingia and Terschellingioides, but is differentiated by the crypto-spiral amphidial fovea, and conical buccal cavity surrounded by pharyngeal tissue.}, isbn = {0022-2933}, author = {Armenteros, M. and Vincx, M. and Decraemer, W.} } @article {130, title = {A morphometric analysis of the genus Terschellingia (Nematoda: Linhomoeidae) with redefinition of the genus and key to the species}, journal = {Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United KingdomJournal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom}, volume = {89}, number = {6}, year = {2009}, note = {Armenteros, M. Ruiz-Abierno, A. Vincx, M. Decraemer, W.}, month = {Sep}, pages = {1257-1267}, abstract = {The cosmopolitan and often ecologically dominant genus Terschellingia (Nematoda: Linhomoeidae), with 38 nominal species, is taxonomically a problematic taxon. Its species show high morphological plasticity, possess few diagnostic characters and identification keys are lacking. A revision of the genus was carried out based on morphological and morphometric data from the literature and from observations of specimens collected in Cienfuegos Bay, Caribbean Sea, Cuba. The diagnosis of the genus Terschellingia is emended. Of the current 38 nominal species, 15 are considered as valid species based on morphological characters related to size and position Of amphidial fovea, presence/position of cephalic and cervical setae, presence/size/shape of pharyngeal bulb, shape of spicular apparatus and shape of tail. Tabular and pictorial keys were provided based on these characters. Three sympatric species: T. communis, T. gourbaultae and T. longicaudata were redescribed based on recently collected Cuban specimens. Each of them showed relatively large differences in body size in comparison with the respective type specimens, suggesting possible variation due to local environmental differences. The highest intraspecific variation pertains for the most widely spread cosmopolitan species T. longicaudata, suggesting that morphological plasticity enhanced adaptation to different environmental conditions. The notable taxonomic inflation within the genus (14 species inquirendae, 9 junior synonyms), probably also present in other highly specious genera of marine nematodes, can lead to an overestimation of the alpha-diversity.}, isbn = {0025-3154}, author = {Armenteros, M. and Ruiz-Abierno, A. and Vincx, M. and Decraemer, W.} } @article {131, title = {Biodiversity patterns of free-living marine nematodes in a tropical bay: Cienfuegos, Caribbean Sea}, journal = {Estuarine Coastal and Shelf ScienceEstuarine Coastal and Shelf Science}, volume = {85}, number = {2}, year = {2009}, note = {Armenteros, M. Ruiz-Abierno, A. Fernandez-Garces, R. Perez-Garcia, J. A. Diaz-Asencio, L. Vincx, M. Decraemer, W.}, month = {Nov}, pages = {179-189}, abstract = {Spatial and temporal biodiversity patterns of free-living marine nematodes were studied in Cienfuegos Bay, a tropical semi-enclosed basin in the Caribbean Sea. Taxonomic (to species level) and functional (biological trait) approaches were applied for describing the assemblage structure and relating it to abiotic environment based on a sampling scheme in six subtidal stations and three months. Biological trait approach added relevant information to species pattern regarding relationships between diversity patterns and the abiotic environment. The most common morphotypes were deposit feeding nematodes, with colonising abilities of 2-3 (in a scale from 1 to 5), tail conical cylindrical or filiforme and body slender; and their abundance were correlated with depth, organic matter and silt/clay fraction. In spite of a high turnover of species, functional diversity of assemblages did not change notably in space and time. A result probably due to sampling of the habitat pool of species and to low heterogeneity of the studied muddy bottoms. Chemical pollution (organic enrichment and heavy metals) and hydrodynamic regime possibly drove the biodiversity patterns. Spatial distribution of assemblages support the existence of two well differentiated basins inside the bay, the northern basin more polluted than the southern one. The low hydrodynamic regime would determine a poor dispersion of nematodes resulting in high spatial variance in the assemblage structure; and also the associated hypoxic conditions and pollutants in sediments can explain the dominance of tolerant nematode species such as Daptonema oxycerca, Sabatieria pulchra, Terschellingia gourbaultae, and Terschellingia longicaudata. A comparison of spatial-temporal patterns of biodiversity between Cienfuegos Bay and other semi-enclosed bays in temperate regions suggests several similarities: nematode assemblages are strongly influenced by anthropogenic disturbance, temporal trends are weak or overridden by spatial ones, and few cosmopolitan genera/species tolerant to pollution and hypoxic conditions are dominant. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.}, isbn = {0272-7714}, author = {Armenteros, M. and Ruiz-Abierno, A. and Fernandez-Garces, R. and Perez-Garcia, J. A. and Diaz-Asencio, L. and Vincx, M. and Decraemer, W.} }