Filter feeding on filter feeders viewed by the integrative taxonomy perspective: Arcturidae Dana, 1849 on Paramuricea placomus Linnaeus, 1758

HARTMANN, VIVIEN LUKAS; LÖRZ, ANNE-NINA; PEREIRA, EMANUEL; MERCADO-SALAS, NANCY F.; BRIX, SASKIA

Reykjavik

Congreso; 56th European Marine Biology Symposium; 2023

Reykjavik University

We want to show the distribution of cold-water corals collected during the “Icelandic Animals: Genetics and Ecology” (IceAGE) project, as well as the taxa living in association with these corals. We found that assemblages differed between the examined coral genera, but few associated taxa were overall more abundant. On the coral Paramuricea placomus Linnaeus, 1758, the filter-feeding valviferan isopod Astacilla longicornis Sowerby, 1806 of the family Arcturidae Dana, 1849, was found, which is interesting as both host and the associated arcturid share the same feeding mode.By applying an integrative taxonomy approach, we discovered three arcturid species of the genus Astacilla Cordiner, 1763. Not all of these were found on cold-water corals but were also collected during previous IceAGE expeditions (MSM75 in 2018 and SO276 in 2020): A. longicornis, A. boreaphilis Stransky & Svavarsson, 2006, and A. granulata G.O. Sars, 1877. The most prominent morphological characters of each species were described and differences in sex and size illuminated. During this examination, we found that the morphology of most female specimens of A. boreaphilis differed from the original description of the female holotype. This led to the question if these may represent different species, diverging populations or a hint at morphological plasticity? Genetic analysis of the 16S gene of A. boreaphilis indicated intraspecific divergence in A. boreaphilis.