Abstract Cereopsis studeri was described by G. von Koch in 1891 with material from Naples. Howeve... more Abstract Cereopsis studeri was described by G. von Koch in 1891 with material from Naples. However, it was subsequently synonymized, erroneously identified, and overlooked in subsequent soft coral literature of the twentieth century. After the original description, this species was not recorded or correctly described for 120 years. The study of newly collected material from the North Western Mediterranean permits the re-description of this forgotten species and its assignation to the genus Nidalia in the family Nidaliidae. The main features of Nidalia studeri com. nov. are: colony torch-like, a capitulum light orange in colour, not laterally flattened, dome-shaped and not distinctly projecting beyond the stalk, introvert with sclerites transversally placed in two longitudinal rows per interseptal space, anthocodial crown with 28–38 sclerite rows, points separated from polyps distally, formed by 6–9 pairs of sclerites, and the presence of intermediate points (secondary points) between principal (interseptal) ones. Nidalia studeri is here compared with its closest congeners, especially with the Indonesian species N. simpsoni, species from the West Indian Region N. dissidens, N.occidentalis, N. deichmannae, and the recently described Nidalia aurantia from the Mid-Atlantic Ocean. This is the first time that the genus Nidalia and the family Nidaliidae have been reported with certainty for the Mediterranean Sea.
1 page, 2 figuresThis study was funded by projects HERMES (EU, contract 511234) and DEEP CORAL (M... more 1 page, 2 figuresThis study was funded by projects HERMES (EU, contract 511234) and DEEP CORAL (MEC, CTM 2005-07756-CO2-00)Peer reviewe
Mediterranean Cold-Water Corals: Past, Present and Future, 2019
Coral gardens are increasingly being reported at 40–200 m depth in the Mediterranean Sea. These c... more Coral gardens are increasingly being reported at 40–200 m depth in the Mediterranean Sea. These coral assemblages are composed of gorgonians from shallow coastal rocky bottoms extending their distribution to deeper areas, as well as by gorgonians and black corals with distribution restricted to the continental shelf and upper slope. Gorgonians and black corals are among the main structural species in deep benthic ecosystems, providing shelter and reproductive grounds for a highly diverse associated fauna. Due to their branching morphology and erect position, these deep coral gardens are extremely vulnerable to several fishing activities (bottom trawling, long-lines and trammel net fishing) and should consequently be protected through an ecosystem-based fishery management.
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 1994
The species composition, abundance and spatial distribution of macroplanktonic cnidarians in the ... more The species composition, abundance and spatial distribution of macroplanktonic cnidarians in the eastern part of the Weddell Gyre are described from a series of nekton samples collected over three depth ranges between 0 and 2000 m. On average, cnidarians contributed 52·6% to the biovolume of these samples, although the range was high (5·0–93·1%). In total 23 species of siphonophores and 20 species of medusae were identified; a number that is very high in comparison with previous studies. There was a high diversity at bathypelagic depths, with 38 species being collected below 1000 m. The most abundant siphonophores were Dimophyes arctica (up to 45 nectophores per 104 m3) and Heteropyramis crystallina (up to 22 nectophores per 104 m3). The most abundant medusa was Pantachogon haeckeli (up to 30 specimens per 104 m3). Medusae were most abundant at mesopelagic depths, reaching 46 specimens per 104 m3 in the 500–1000 m depth range. Smaller calycophoran siphonophores were concentrated in ...
Page 1. On some veretillid pennatulaceans from the eastern Atlantic and western Pacific Oceans (A... more Page 1. On some veretillid pennatulaceans from the eastern Atlantic and western Pacific Oceans (Anthozoa: Octocorallia), with a review of the genus Cavernularia, and descriptions of new taxa Pablo J. LoÂpez-GonzaÂlez1, Josep ...
Abstract Cereopsis studeri was described by G. von Koch in 1891 with material from Naples. Howeve... more Abstract Cereopsis studeri was described by G. von Koch in 1891 with material from Naples. However, it was subsequently synonymized, erroneously identified, and overlooked in subsequent soft coral literature of the twentieth century. After the original description, this species was not recorded or correctly described for 120 years. The study of newly collected material from the North Western Mediterranean permits the re-description of this forgotten species and its assignation to the genus Nidalia in the family Nidaliidae. The main features of Nidalia studeri com. nov. are: colony torch-like, a capitulum light orange in colour, not laterally flattened, dome-shaped and not distinctly projecting beyond the stalk, introvert with sclerites transversally placed in two longitudinal rows per interseptal space, anthocodial crown with 28–38 sclerite rows, points separated from polyps distally, formed by 6–9 pairs of sclerites, and the presence of intermediate points (secondary points) between principal (interseptal) ones. Nidalia studeri is here compared with its closest congeners, especially with the Indonesian species N. simpsoni, species from the West Indian Region N. dissidens, N.occidentalis, N. deichmannae, and the recently described Nidalia aurantia from the Mid-Atlantic Ocean. This is the first time that the genus Nidalia and the family Nidaliidae have been reported with certainty for the Mediterranean Sea.
1 page, 2 figuresThis study was funded by projects HERMES (EU, contract 511234) and DEEP CORAL (M... more 1 page, 2 figuresThis study was funded by projects HERMES (EU, contract 511234) and DEEP CORAL (MEC, CTM 2005-07756-CO2-00)Peer reviewe
Mediterranean Cold-Water Corals: Past, Present and Future, 2019
Coral gardens are increasingly being reported at 40–200 m depth in the Mediterranean Sea. These c... more Coral gardens are increasingly being reported at 40–200 m depth in the Mediterranean Sea. These coral assemblages are composed of gorgonians from shallow coastal rocky bottoms extending their distribution to deeper areas, as well as by gorgonians and black corals with distribution restricted to the continental shelf and upper slope. Gorgonians and black corals are among the main structural species in deep benthic ecosystems, providing shelter and reproductive grounds for a highly diverse associated fauna. Due to their branching morphology and erect position, these deep coral gardens are extremely vulnerable to several fishing activities (bottom trawling, long-lines and trammel net fishing) and should consequently be protected through an ecosystem-based fishery management.
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 1994
The species composition, abundance and spatial distribution of macroplanktonic cnidarians in the ... more The species composition, abundance and spatial distribution of macroplanktonic cnidarians in the eastern part of the Weddell Gyre are described from a series of nekton samples collected over three depth ranges between 0 and 2000 m. On average, cnidarians contributed 52·6% to the biovolume of these samples, although the range was high (5·0–93·1%). In total 23 species of siphonophores and 20 species of medusae were identified; a number that is very high in comparison with previous studies. There was a high diversity at bathypelagic depths, with 38 species being collected below 1000 m. The most abundant siphonophores were Dimophyes arctica (up to 45 nectophores per 104 m3) and Heteropyramis crystallina (up to 22 nectophores per 104 m3). The most abundant medusa was Pantachogon haeckeli (up to 30 specimens per 104 m3). Medusae were most abundant at mesopelagic depths, reaching 46 specimens per 104 m3 in the 500–1000 m depth range. Smaller calycophoran siphonophores were concentrated in ...
Page 1. On some veretillid pennatulaceans from the eastern Atlantic and western Pacific Oceans (A... more Page 1. On some veretillid pennatulaceans from the eastern Atlantic and western Pacific Oceans (Anthozoa: Octocorallia), with a review of the genus Cavernularia, and descriptions of new taxa Pablo J. LoÂpez-GonzaÂlez1, Josep ...
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