Habitat dimensionality and feeding strategies but not temperature as determinants of body size-trophic structure relationship in a marine food web.

Disentangling the determinants of trophic structure is central to ecology. The capacity to capture subjugate and consume a prey (i.e. gape limitation) is a relevant limitation to acquire energy for most organisms, especially those in smaller size ranges. This generates a size hierarchy of trophic positions in which large organisms consume small ones. Body size is tightly correlated to gape limitation and explains a large fraction of variance in the body size-trophic position relationship. However, a considerable fraction of variance still remains to be explained. Consumer search space dimensionality (2D or 3D) and feeding strategies, temperature and the size structure of primary producers can alter the trophic structure, but tests based on information from natural food webs are scarce. We generated specific predictions about the body size trophic position relationship and evaluated them using information from a subtropical South Atlantic coastal marine ecosystem: benthic realm (2D, rocky shore and sandy beach) and the pelagic realm (3D). We characterized this marine coastal food web based on stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen from 256 samples from primary producers (macroalgae and phytoplankton) to large predators (sand shark) in summer and winter. Consumer body size encompassed six orders of magnitude in weight from 10-2 to 6 × 104 g. Isotopic signal corresponded to an integration of carbon sources from basal consumers to top predators. The body size-trophic position relationship showed a linear positive association with different slopes for the benthic and pelagic environments. This implies a smaller predator prey size ratio for pelagic (3D) with respect to benthic consumers (2D) as theoretically expected. No seasonal differences were found in slopes and most of the overall variance in benthic environments was largely explained by feeding strategies of the different taxonomic groups. We provide an integrated evaluation on the role of body size, consumer search space and feeding strategy to understand the determinants of trophic position. Results demonstrate that integrating gape limitation hypothesis, the dimensionality of consumer search space and feeding strategies into a formal robust framework to understand trophic structure is feasible even in complex natural ecosystems.

Identificar los determinantes de la estructura trófica es central en ecología. El presente trabajo brinda evidencia empírica sobre el rol del tamaño corporal, la dimensión del espacio de búsqueda de los depredadores y la estrategia de alimentación como determinantes de la posición trófica y su relación con el tamaño. La capacidad de capturar y consumir presas limitado por la apertura de boca es una restricción para la obtención de energía, especialmente en aquellos de pequeño tamaño. Este mecanismo genera una jerarquía de tamaños en la posición trófica de los organismos, donde los grandes consumen a los más pequeños, explicando así gran parte de la variación en la relación tamaño corporal­posición trófica. Sin embargo, la dimensión espacial en la búsqueda de presas (2D, 3D), la temperatura, las estrategias alimentarias y la productividad primaria del sistema pueden modificar la relación esperada. Esto ha sido escasamente explorado in situ en tramas tróficas naturales. El presente trabajo estableció predicciones específicas en la relación tamaño corporal posición trófica y lo evaluó en diferentes módulos de un ecosistema subtropical marino­costero de Sudamérica: el ambiente bentónico (2D, costa rocosa y playa arenosa) y pelágico (3D). La estructura trófica se caracterizó mediante isótopos estables de carbono y nitrógeno en 256 organismos, desde productores primarios (macroalgas y fitoplancton) hasta grandes depredadores (tiburón sarda) en verano e invierno. El rango de tamaños corporales abarcó 6 órdenes de magnitud en peso, desde 10−2 a 6 × 104 g. La señal isotópica indicó una integración de fuentes de carbono desde los consumidores primarios hasta los depredadores superiores. Se observó una relación lineal positiva entre el tamaño corporal y la posición trófica, con una pendiente menor para el ambiente pelágico (3D) con respecto al bentónico (2D), coincidente con las predicciones teóricas. No se observaron diferencias estacionales. La relación tamaño corporal y la posición trófica del ambiente bentónico presentó una gran variabilidad, con restricciones diferenciales entre grupos taxonómicos según sus hábitos alimentarios. Esta evaluación basada en el tamaño corporal, el espacio de búsqueda y la estrategia de alimentación permiten comprender los determinantes de la posición trófica. Los resultados demuestran que la integración de la hipótesis de limitación al consumo, el espacio de búsqueda de presas y la estrategia de alimentación es posible, incluso en ecosistemas naturales complejos.

Description and life cycle of a new species of the genus Arachnanthus (Cnidaria: Anthozoa: Ceriantharia) from the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean.

Background: Ceriantharia is a subclass of the phylum Cnidaria, which comprises tube-dwelling marine invertebrates. This subclass is composed of three families, including Arachnactidae, with two known genera. Currently, the genus Arachnanthus has five valid species recorded from Australia, the Mediterranean Sea and both the Southern and Northern Pacific Ocean. However, at the moment, there is no record of organisms of this family from the South Atlantic Ocean. Besides that, the life cycle of any species of the genus Arachnanthus is known. The present study describes a new species of the genus Arachnanthus and its life cycle, based on specimens from Uruguay and South of Brazil. Methods: Larvae were collected by plankton net in Rio Grande-Brazil and the development and external morphology of these specimens were observed in the laboratory during two years, and subsequently described. Additionally, nine adult ceriantharians correspondent to the larvae from Rio Grande were collected in Uruguay and their external and internal anatomies, and cnidome were described. Results: Arachnanthus errans sp. nov. exhibited a free-swimming, short-lived cerinula larvae that spent short-time on the plankton. The larva developed into small and translucent polyps with a short actinopharynx, one pair of mesenteries attached to a siphonoglyph, and a medium first pair of metamesenteries. Further, the adult polyp displayed an unprecedented locomotion behavior in Ceriantharia that is first reported here, it can crawl under and in between the sediment.

Pycnogonida (Arthropoda) from Uruguayan waters (Southwest Atlantic): annotated checklist and biogeographic considerations.

Records of pycnogonids from Uruguayan waters (south-western Atlantic) include 26 species cited from precise locations, and at least five other species based on unconfirmed records. Nearly half of the species in that fauna belong to the genus Nymphon (12 spp.). Most species (22) come from deep-water and were recorded and described by C. A. Child. Of these, at least twelve species have an extended Antarctic and Subantarctic distribution, showing the influence of these cold waters in the area; three others have a wide deep-sea distribution pattern. Five species are known only from the lower slope and abyssal basin off La plata river: Mimipallene Atlantis and four species of Nymphon. Records from coastal and shelf areas (four species) are poorly documented and should be the focus of future research. Of these, Colossendeis geoffroyi is considered endemic in the Southwest Atlantic between 34ºS and 40ºS, but presents clear Antarctic affinities. A small-sized species living in shallow waters, Pycnogonum cessaci, is here considered as cryptogenic.

Census of Cnidaria (Medusozoa) and Ctenophora from South American marine waters.

We have compiled available records in the literature for medusozoan cnidarians and ctenophores of South America. New records of species are also included. Each entry (i.e., identified species or still as yet not determined species referred to as "sp." in the literature) includes a synonymy list for South America, taxonomical remarks, notes on habit, and information on geographical occurrence. We have listed 800 unique determined species, in 958 morphotype entries: 5 cubozoans, 905 hydrozoans, 25 scyphozoans, 3 staurozoans, and 20 ctenophores. Concerning nomenclatural and taxonomical decisions, two authors of this census (Miranda, T.P. & Marques, A.C.) propose Podocoryna quitus as a nomen novum for the junior homonym Hydractinia reticulata (Fraser, 1938a); Euphysa monotentaculata Zamponi, 1983b as a new junior synonym of Euphysa aurata Forbes, 1848; and Plumularia spiralis Milstein, 1976 as a new junior synonym of Plumularia setacea (Linnaeus, 1758). Finally, we also reassign Plumularia oligopyxis Kirchenpauer, 1876 as Kirchenpaueria oligopyxis (Kirchenpauer, 1876) and Sertularella margaritacea Allman, 1885 as Symplectoscyphus margaritaceus (Allman, 1885).

Global environmental changes: setting priorities for Latin American coastal habitats.

As the effects of the Global Climate Changes on the costal regions of Central and South Americas advance, there is proportionally little research being made to understand such impacts. This commentary puts forward a series of propositions of strategies to improve performance of Central and South American science and policy making in order to cope with the future impacts of the Global Climate Changes in their coastal habitats.

Golden mussel Limnoperna fortunei (Bivalvia: Mytilidae) distribution in the main hydrographical basins of Uruguay: update and predictions.

Limnoperna fortunei, an Asiatic rivers bivalve has become a worldwide problematic invasive species causing several water quality and macrofouling problems. In the Neotropical region it was first recorded in 1991 in the Rio de la Plata coast, Buenos Aires province. Since this, it showed a quick upstream invasion into the principals aquatic systems of the Plata Basin. Nevertheless, there is not a study about its invasion and distribution process in aquatic systems of Uruguay. We describe the new records of Limnoperna fortunei in Uruguayan coast of Rio de la Plata, Santa Lucia, Negro and Uruguay Rivers. With these results we aim to estimate its distributional limits for Uruguay main hydrographical basins. We also deal with the role of salinity as the main abiotic factor in limiting the east distribution of this mussel in Uruguayan coast of Rio de la Plata and as a potential determinant of the "new" colonization on the Atlantic and the Merin Lagoon Basins. Its presence in the ecosystems not only can cause changes at the ecosystem level but also endanger the associated community, favoring the displacement and the disappearance of endemic species.

Golden mussel Limnoperna fortunei (Bivalvia: Mytilidae) distribution in the main hydrographical basins of Uruguay: update and predictions

Limnoperna fortunei, é um bivalve invasor de origem asiática que ocasiona problemas na qualidade d'água e poluição em diversas parte do mundo. Na região Neotropical foi registrado pela primeira vez na costa do Rio de la Plata, província de Buenos Aires. Desde então mostrou uma rápida invasão águas acima nos principais sistemas aquáticos da Bacia del Plata. Porém, ainda não existem estudos acerca do processo de invasão e distribuição nos ecossistemas aquáticos do Uruguai. O presente trabalho descreve os novos registros de Limnoperna fortunei na costa uruguaia do Rio de la Plata e dos Rios Santa Lucia e Uruguai. Os presentes resultados permitem avaliar seus limites de distribuição nas principais bacias hidrográficas do Uruguai. Discute-se o papel da salinidade como o principal fator abiótico limitante da distribuição deste mexilhão dourado na costa Uruguaia do Rio de la Plata e como potencial determinante na nova colonização nas bacias hidrográficas das Lagoas Merin e Atlântica. Sua presença nos ecossistemas aquáticos pode ocasionar não apenas mudanças a nível do ecossistema, mas também pôr em perigo as comunidades associadas favorecendo o desaparecimento das espécies endêmicas.