INTRODUCTIONTop

The genus Sabellaria (Annelida, Sabellariidae) includes at least 39 species worldwide (Kirtley 1994Kirtley D.W. 1994. A review and taxonomic revision of the family Sabellariidae Johnston, 1865 (Annelida; Polychaeta). Sabecon Press, Science Series Number 1, pp 223., Nishi et al. 2010Nishi E., Bailey-Brock J.H., Dos Santos A.S., et al. 2010. Sabellaria isumiensis n. sp. (Annelida: Polychaeta: Sabellariidae) from shallow waters off Onjuku, Boso Peninsula, Japan, and re-descriptions of three Indo-West Pacific sabellariid species. Zootaxa, 2680: 1-25., Hutchings et al. 2012Hutchings P., Capa M., Peart R. 2012. Revision of the Australian Sabellariidae (Polychaeta) and description of eight new species. Zootaxa, 3306: 1-60.). As in all the sabellariid genera, the anterior part of the body shows a truncated surface forming an operculum used to seal the tube entrance to avoid desiccation and predation, and as a tool in shaping and arranging sand grains during tube construction (Eckelbarger 1975Eckelbarger K. J. 1975. Developmental studies of the post-settling stages of Sabellaria vulgaris (Polychaeta: Sabellariidae). Mar. Biol. 30: 137-149.). Opercular features are of paramount taxonomic importance in Sabellariidae, but their taxonomy and phylogeny are not yet solved (Capa et al. 2012Capa M., Hutchings P., Peart R. 2012. Systematic revision of Sabellariidae (Polychaeta) and their relationships with other polychaetes using morphological and DNA sequence data. Zool. J. Lin. Soc., 164: 245-284.).

In Sabellaria, the operculum consists of three rows of chaetae called paleae. An outer row formed during ontogenesis by the pair of outer chaetigerous sacs, and middle and inner rows formed by inner chaetigerous sacs (Eckelbarger 1975Eckelbarger K. J. 1975. Developmental studies of the post-settling stages of Sabellaria vulgaris (Polychaeta: Sabellariidae). Mar. Biol. 30: 137-149.). Opercular paleae can be highly variable in form and size, and their morphology is of particular interest in systematics because of the relative uniformity of other structures. However, the opercular paleae may show ontogenetic changes, with the “intermediate” forms of paleae differing from those of adult worms (Kirtley 1994Kirtley D.W. 1994. A review and taxonomic revision of the family Sabellariidae Johnston, 1865 (Annelida; Polychaeta). Sabecon Press, Science Series Number 1, pp 223.). Moreover, the paleae can break and be altered by epifaunal growths and abrasion, increasing their morphological variability.

Three species of Sabellaria are currently known for the Mediterranean Sea: S. alveolata (Linnaeus, 1767), S. spinulosa (Leuckart, 1849), and S. alcocki Gravier, 1906 (Castelli et al. 2008Castelli A., Bianchi C.N., Cantone G., et al. 2008. Annelida Polychaeta. Checklist della flora e della fauna dei mari italiani. Biol. Mar. Medierr. 15(supp.): 323-373.). Sabellaria alveolata forms extensive long-lasting (4 to 9 years) intertidal biogenic reefs along most Atlantic European coasts (Wilson 1971Wilson D.P. 1971. Sabellaria colonies at Duckpool, North Cornwall, 1961-1970. J. Mar. Biol. Ass. U. K. 51: 509-580., Achary 1974Achary G.P.K. 1974. Polychaetes of the family Sabellariidae with special reference to their intertidal habitat. Proc. Indian Natl. Sci. Acad. 38: 442-455., Gruet 1982Gruet Y. 1982. Recherches sur l’écologie des récifs d’Hermelles édicés par l’anneélide polychète Sabellaria alveolata (Linné). PhD thesis, Université des Sciences et Techniques, Nantes, France., 1986Gruet Y. 1986. Spatio-temporal changes of sabellarian reefs built by the sedentary polychaete Sabellaria alveolata (Linné). Mar. Ecol. PSZNI 7: 303-319.). Along the Italian coast, S. alveolata reefs occur in the Ligurian and the Tyrrhenian Sea (Dubois et al. 2002Dubois S., Christian R., Frédéric O. 2002. Biodiversity associated with Sabellaria alveolata (Polychaeta: Sabellariidae) reefs: effects of human disturbances. J. Mar. Biol. Ass. U. K. 82: 817-826, La Porta and Nicoletti 2009La Porta B., Nicoletti L. 2009. Sabellaria alveolata (Linnaeus) reefs in the central Tyrrhenian Sea (Italy) and associated polychaete fauna. Zoosymposia 2: 527-536).

Sabellaria spinulosa and S. alcocki are smaller than S. alveolata and inhabit the subtidal and lower intertidal/sublittoral fringes. Sabellaria spinulosa has been described from the North Sea (Leuckart 1849Leuckart R. 1849. Zur Kenntnis der Fauna von Island. Arch. Natur. 15(1): 149-208.) and S. alcocki from the Indian Ocean (Gravier 1906Gravier C. 1906. Un Sabellarien vivant sur un Brachiopode (Kingenia alcocki Joubin). Bull. Mus. Natl. Hist. Nat. Paris 12: 540-543.). In Mediterranean areas, S. spinulosa occurs solitary or forming small clumps (Wilson 1970Wilson D.P. 1970. The larvae of Sabellaria spinulosa and their settlement behaviour. J. Mar. Biol. Ass. U. K. 50: 33-52.). By contrast, dense aggregations forming reefs up to 60 cm high and extending over several hectares can be found in areas with very high levels of suspended sediment in the North Sea (Wilson 1970Wilson D.P. 1970. The larvae of Sabellaria spinulosa and their settlement behaviour. J. Mar. Biol. Ass. U. K. 50: 33-52., 1971Wilson D.P. 1971. Sabellaria colonies at Duckpool, North Cornwall, 1961-1970. J. Mar. Biol. Ass. U. K. 51: 509-580.) and around the British Isles (Pearce et al. 2011Pearce B., Hill J.M., Grubb L., et al. 2011. Impacts of marine aggregate dredging on adjacent Sabellaria spinulosa aggregations and other benthic fauna. Marine Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund MEPF 08/P39 and The Crown Estate. Marine Ecological Surveys Limited, 3 Palace Yard Mews, BATH, BA1 2NH. 35 pp. ). Reefs may persist for many years, although individual clumps may be regularly formed and disintegrated (Jones et al. 2000Jones L.A., Hiscock K., Connor D.W. 2000. Marine habitat reviews. A summary of ecological requirements and sensitivity characteristics for the conservation and management of marine SACs. Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Peterborough. (UK Marine SACs Project report).). In fact, sabellarian reef structure and morphology are mainly influenced by currents, among other environmental conditions, with cyclical phases of construction and destruction (Gruet 1982Gruet Y. 1982. Recherches sur l’écologie des récifs d’Hermelles édicés par l’anneélide polychète Sabellaria alveolata (Linné). PhD thesis, Université des Sciences et Techniques, Nantes, France., 1986Gruet Y. 1986. Spatio-temporal changes of sabellarian reefs built by the sedentary polychaete Sabellaria alveolata (Linné). Mar. Ecol. PSZNI 7: 303-319., Porras et al. 1996Porras R., Bataller J.V., Murgui E., et al. 1996. Trophic structure and community composition of polychaetes inhabiting some Sabellaria alveolata (L.) reefs along the Valentia Gulf coast, western Mediterranean. Mar. Ecol. 17(4): 583-602., Dauvin 1997Dauvin J.C. 1997. Les biocenoses marines et littorales francaises des cotes atlantique, Manche et Mer du Nord. Syntesi, menance et prospective, 376 pp. Service du Patrimoine Naturel/IEGM/MNHN, Paris., Dubois et al. 2002Dubois S., Christian R., Frédéric O. 2002. Biodiversity associated with Sabellaria alveolata (Polychaeta: Sabellariidae) reefs: effects of human disturbances. J. Mar. Biol. Ass. U. K. 82: 817-826).

Sabellaria spinulosa seems to be a fast growing annual form, which is able to quickly recolonize areas lost due to winter storms. Many thin crust-like structures formed by S. spinulosa probably correspond to these annual or transient constructions, but more stable communities have also been reported (Linke 1951Linke O. 1951. Neue Beobachtungen uber Sandkorallen-Riffe in der Nordsee. Natur und Volk 81: 77-84.). Sabellaria spinulosa shows a great deal of variability in the opercular features. There may be a single kind of middle paleae, alternate long and short, or several different lengths. The outer paleae are reported to have 2-3 teeth on the distal margin, with a plume bearing 5 to 12 denticles on each side. By contrast, the middle paleae in S. alcocki are all geniculate and have a long distally erect blade, while the outer paleae have three distal teeth and a long plume with up to 18-20 denticles on each side. Sabellaria spinulosa and S. alcocki are also distinguished by the absence of nuchal spines in the latter (Kirtley 1994Kirtley D.W. 1994. A review and taxonomic revision of the family Sabellariidae Johnston, 1865 (Annelida; Polychaeta). Sabecon Press, Science Series Number 1, pp 223.).

Although S. alcocki has been considered as exclusive of the Indian Ocean (Nishi et al. 2010Nishi E., Bailey-Brock J.H., Dos Santos A.S., et al. 2010. Sabellaria isumiensis n. sp. (Annelida: Polychaeta: Sabellariidae) from shallow waters off Onjuku, Boso Peninsula, Japan, and re-descriptions of three Indo-West Pacific sabellariid species. Zootaxa, 2680: 1-25., Hutchings et al. 2012Hutchings P., Capa M., Peart R. 2012. Revision of the Australian Sabellariidae (Polychaeta) and description of eight new species. Zootaxa, 3306: 1-60.) and has not been reported in the Mediterranean Sea (Coll et al. 2010Coll M, Piroddi C, Kaschner K, et al. 2010. The biodiversity of the Mediterranean Sea: Estimates, patterns, and threats. PLoS ONE 5(8): e11842.), the species was included in the checklist of the Italian coast (Castelli et al. 2008Castelli A., Bianchi C.N., Cantone G., et al. 2008. Annelida Polychaeta. Checklist della flora e della fauna dei mari italiani. Biol. Mar. Medierr. 15(supp.): 323-373.) and continues to be reported in Mediterranean faunistic papers (Parapar et al. 1992Parapar J., Besteiro C., Urgorri V. 1992. Nuevas aportaciones al conocimiento de los anélidos poliquetos en el litoral gallego (N.O. Península Ibérica). NACC Bioloxía, 3: 109-123., Çinar et al. 2006Çinar M. E., Katagan T., Öztürk B., et al. 2006. Temporal changes of soft-bottom zoobenthic communities in and around Alsancak Harbor (Izmir Bay, Aegean Sea), with special attention to the autecology of exotic species. Mar. Ecol. 27(3): 229-246., 2008Çinar M. E., Katağan, T., Koçak, F., et al. 2008. Faunal assemblages of the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis in and around Alsancak Harbour (Izmir Bay, eastern Mediterranean) with special emphasis on alien species. J. Marine Syst. 71(1): 1-17.). As a consequence, the geographical distribution of S. spinulosa and S. alcocki remains unclear (Read 2014Read G. 2014. Sabellaria spinulosa (Leuckart, 1849). In: Read G., Fauchald K. (eds), World Polychaeta database. Accessed on 2014-07-09, through: World Register of Marine Species ). This is probably due to the above-mentioned high morphological variability of S. spinulosa. Fauvel (1914)Fauvel P. 1914. Annélides Polychètes de San Thomé (Golfe de Guinée) receuillies par M. Ch. Gravier. Arch. Zool. Expér. Génér. 54(5): 105-155 considered S. alcocki as one of the varieties of S. spinulosa summarized in Fauvel (1927)Fauvel P. 1927. Polychètes sédentaires. Addenda aux errantes, arachiannélides, myzostomaires. Faune de France 16. Paul Lechevalier, Paris, 494 pp.. Accordingly, S. spinulosa var. alcocki differs from S. spinulosa in having the middle opercular paleae with alternating long and short falciform blades. However, no mention of nuchal spines (“soies aciculaires” sensu Fauvel 1927Fauvel P. 1927. Polychètes sédentaires. Addenda aux errantes, arachiannélides, myzostomaires. Faune de France 16. Paul Lechevalier, Paris, 494 pp.) is present in Fauvel’s description of S. spinulosa var. alcocki. Following Fauvel (1927)Fauvel P. 1927. Polychètes sédentaires. Addenda aux errantes, arachiannélides, myzostomaires. Faune de France 16. Paul Lechevalier, Paris, 494 pp., “S. spinulosa alcocki” has been reported worldwide (e.g. Kirtley 1994Kirtley D.W. 1994. A review and taxonomic revision of the family Sabellariidae Johnston, 1865 (Annelida; Polychaeta). Sabecon Press, Science Series Number 1, pp 223., Fauchald and Bellan 2013Fauchald K., Bellan G. 2013. Sabellaria alcocki Gravier, 1906. In: Read G., Fauchald K. (eds) World Polychaeta database. Accessed on 2014-02-11 through: World Register of Marine Species ). More recently, however, S. alcocki started again to be reported as a separate species, leading to several erroneous reports around the world (e.g. Hartman 1944Hartman O. 1944. Polychaetous Annelids. PartVI. Paraonidae, Magelonidae, Longosomidae, Ctenodrillidae, and Sabellariidae. Alan Hancock Pacif. Exped. 10: 311-389., Achary 1974Achary G.P.K. 1974. Polychaetes of the family Sabellariidae with special reference to their intertidal habitat. Proc. Indian Natl. Sci. Acad. 38: 442-455., Fauchald 1977Fauchald K. 1977. Polychaetes from intertidal areas in Panama, with a review of previous shallow-water records. Smithsonian Contrib. Zool. 221: 1-81.), including the Mediterranean coast (Parapar et al. 1992Parapar J., Besteiro C., Urgorri V. 1992. Nuevas aportaciones al conocimiento de los anélidos poliquetos en el litoral gallego (N.O. Península Ibérica). NACC Bioloxía, 3: 109-123., Castelli et al. 2008Castelli A., Bianchi C.N., Cantone G., et al. 2008. Annelida Polychaeta. Checklist della flora e della fauna dei mari italiani. Biol. Mar. Medierr. 15(supp.): 323-373., Çinar et al. 2006Çinar M. E., Katagan T., Öztürk B., et al. 2006. Temporal changes of soft-bottom zoobenthic communities in and around Alsancak Harbor (Izmir Bay, Aegean Sea), with special attention to the autecology of exotic species. Mar. Ecol. 27(3): 229-246., 2008Çinar M. E., Katağan, T., Koçak, F., et al. 2008. Faunal assemblages of the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis in and around Alsancak Harbour (Izmir Bay, eastern Mediterranean) with special emphasis on alien species. J. Marine Syst. 71(1): 1-17.).

Within the framework of a multidisciplinary project on the functional and ecological role of marine bioconstructions, large biogenic formations of S. spinulosa were found along the Adriatic coast, offering an opportunity to examine the opercular variability of this species. In the present paper, we report the analyses of this variability in adults, coupled with a laboratory study on larval development to describe changes during the opercular formation. As mentioned above, the opercular paleae undergo ontogenetic changes in shape (Eckelbarger 1975Eckelbarger K. J. 1975. Developmental studies of the post-settling stages of Sabellaria vulgaris (Polychaeta: Sabellariidae). Mar. Biol. 30: 137-149.). Also, during the development of S. spinulosa, the “primary paleae” are lost and replaced by “secondary paleae” progressively resembling the outer opercular paleae of the adult (Wilson 1929Wilson D.P. 1929. The larvae of the British sabellarians. J. Mar. Biol. Ass. U. K. 16: 221-269., 1970Wilson D.P. 1970. The larvae of Sabellaria spinulosa and their settlement behaviour. J. Mar. Biol. Ass. U. K. 50: 33-52.). Such a loss and progressive formation of the opercular paleae in post-settlement stages has only been reported for S. vulgaris Verril, 1873, although the size required to reach the stage having the adult paleae was not defined.

Taking into account that the development of S. spinulosa refers to populations from northern latitudes (Wilson 1929Wilson D.P. 1929. The larvae of the British sabellarians. J. Mar. Biol. Ass. U. K. 16: 221-269., 1970Wilson D.P. 1970. The larvae of Sabellaria spinulosa and their settlement behaviour. J. Mar. Biol. Ass. U. K. 50: 33-52.), we present herein the first ones for a Mediterranean population.

MATERIALS AND METHODSTop

Sampling site

Sabellaria spinulosa forms reef-like structures along the Adriatic coast, from Ancona to Gargano (Italy, southern Adriatic Sea) (Unpublished data). Within this area, samples were collected at Torre Mileto, Gargano (Fig. 1A, B), where subtidal bioconstructions are highly developed from 1 to 2 m depth.

Sampling procedures, population study and morphometry

The sampled reef was located at 2 m depth and represented the largest biogenic formation in the area, with a maximum development in spring. Specimens were collected by scuba divers in 20×20 clusters of tubes in April 2012, October 2012, April 2013 and October 2013. The tubes were fixed in 4% formaldehyde and transported to the laboratory, where the worms were extracted and fixed in 70% alcohol.

Size (length in mm) and reproductive status were estimated on 50 worms for each sampling time, while the opercular features (i.e. maximum width of the outer paleae; number of denticles of the plume of the outer paleae; length of the blades in the middle paleae on at least 10 paleae for each specimen) were estimated for 20 specimens in April and October 2012 and in April and October 2013. The relationship between blade and shaft lengths (Fig. 2G) and the relationship between opercular features and worm size was estimated. The coefficient of variation was used to describe the variation in blade length of the middle paleae for each specimen: high coefficients indicate dissimilar blades, with a maximum when long and short alternate.

Larval culture

In April, June and October 2013 additional living specimens were collected and used to investigate reproduction and larval development. Sex in this species becomes distinguishable only at maturity: the abdominal segments in males were opaque white, while those of females were light pink. Sexually mature males and females were removed from their tubes and placed isolated in small petri dishes containing 0.45-μm Millipore-filtered seawater at room temperature, where they quickly spawned. After one hour, fertilized eggs were transferred to clean petri dishes containing freshly filtered seawater and maintained at 14°C for 24 hours.

All free-swimming larvae were transferred to 1-L glass jars with filtered seawater. The jars were gently aerated with an aquarium air stone, which secondarily produced currents that helped to circulate food and larvae inside the jar. Cultures were covered with Parafilm to reduce salinity changes. Seawater was totally replaced twice a week. Larvae were fed with a culture of Isochrysis sp. at each water change. Twelve days after fertilization, a small quantity of sand from the adult tubes was added to the bottom of the jar culture for tube construction. At each water change, a few larvae and juvenile worms were removed from the culture for measurements and photographs. The development from fertilized eggs to trochophores was tracked on about one hundred eggs and larvae. Descriptions of later larval and juvenile stages are based on approximately 10 to 15 specimens at each observational time.

Two different cultures based on specimens collected in April 2013 were also set up and kept at 14°C and 21°C, respectively.

Drawings were made with a camera lucida. Photographs were taken by an Axiocam ERC5S. All the materials are preserved in the author’s collection at the Laboratory of Zoology of Salento University (PCZL).

RESULTSTop

The specimens were identified as S. spinulosa according to the shape of the middle paleae, the dentition pattern of the outer adult paleae, and the presence of nuchal spines, which allow them to be distinguished from S. alveolata and S. alcocki (Table 1).

A typical individual collected in October 2013 (Fig. 2) measured 10 mm in body length and had up to 25 abdominal segments (Fig. 2A, B). It has a medial organ with eyespots and 3-4 nuchal spines. Its posterior segments lack branchiae and the operculum is formed by 25-29 pairs of outer paleae (having a distal margin with 2-4 teeth and a central denticulate plume with about 6 denticles on each side, Fig. 2D), 10-12 inner paleae (geniculate, with shallow excavate base on upper surface, Fig. 2E), and 10-12 middle paleae (slightly geniculate, with a variable distal blade and an excavate base, Fig. 2F, G).

Observation on field population and morphometry

October was characterized by smaller size individuals, especially in 2012 (Fig. 3, Table 2). In these months, about 30% of the individuals contained eggs at different stages of maturity, while in April 65% of the specimens contained large eggs. This pattern was also present in the live sample from June 2013, in which a 3:2 sex ratio was estimated. In preserved samples it was not possible to identify males, so sex ratios could not be estimated.

The specimens from the field population measured 4 to 12 mm in body length. The number of denticles in the plume of the external paleae ranged from 6 to 12. The pattern of blade length in the middle paleae was very variable: some specimens had all blades long (Fig. 2C, G) or all short (Fig. 2H), while others had alternating long and short blades (Fig. 2H, I). The coefficient of variation ranged from 0.015 to 0.38, and was higher in April 2012 (Table 2).

Only the width of the outer paleae was positively correlated to worm size (r² =0.68; p<0.01).

As for the middle paleae, about half the individuals had low coefficients of variation at each sampling time, except in April 2012 (90%). The coefficient of variation was not correlated with worm size (either for the whole data set or for each individual sampling time), although there was a negative general trend (meaning that all blades tended to be long, not alternating long and short (Fig. 4A).

Larval development and opercular ontogenetic changes

Ripe specimens were found in each sampling period. Artificial fertilization was obtained in April, June and October 2013. However, the larvae from October 2013 did not complete their development.

The number of eggs per female in April and October 2013 was 34800±1300 and 5500±1700, respectively. In April 2013, the eggs measured about 90±3.3 μm in diameter.

About 100% of eggs were fertilized immediately after being exposed to sperm and trochophores were already observed two days later. Figure 5 shows eggs inside the coelom, a fertilized egg, and an early trochophore.

Pelagic larval development lasted for about two weeks (Fig. 6A-D). Larvae appeared identical to that described by Wilson (1929, 1970) for British waters, with long provisional chaetae and larval eyes located within the metatroch-prototroch area. During this period, larvae tended to swim fast, freely and random. Afterwards, larvae started to swim in aggregates, becoming almost benthic at about 20 days after fertilization (Fig. 6E). The last pre-metamorphosing larva measured about 300 μm in length (Figs 6F, 7A) and had five distinct body regions: the episphere (with two pairs of dorsal reddish-black eyespots), two achaetigerous thoracic segments, three chaetigerous parathoracic segments, four abdominal segments with uncinigerous lobes, and the pygidium (Fig. 7A). At this stage, the metatroch-prototroch extended around the perimeter of the episphere, two tentacles were positioned towards the posterior end, and laterally there were two chaetal bundles containing several shorter settling chaetae obscured by the longer provisional chaetae (Fig. 7D). The notopodial bundles of each parathoracic segment bear two winged capillary chaetae and two curved capillary chaetae (Fig. 7E). Small neuropodial lobes appear ventrally on parathoracic and abdominal segments, each bearing two short hair-like capillary chaetae.

The most obvious change in the morphology of the metamorphosing larva is the anterior rotation of the dorsal tentacles (Fig. 7B). These structures are directed forward, parallel to the substrate. The episphere, now the prostomium, is restricted to the lateral area bounded by the base of the tentacles. The prototroch has been lost and the provisional chaetae are shed, exposing the shorter settling paleae (Fig. 7C).

The growth rate was faster at 21°C than at 14°C (Fig. 8). Differences are observed from 4 to 22 days after fertilization. Fifteen-day larvae reared at 14°C measured 220 μm in length and were still pelagic, while they reached 300 μm and started to become benthic when reared at 21°C. However, in the treatments, growth seemed to stop from the 22nd to 34th day and settlement was observed after 34 days. At 14°C, larvae metamorphosed after about 10 days from the start of the benthic stage, while at 20°C larvae delayed metamorphosis for a few more days.

At about the 22nd day the larvae at 14°C became benthic and started to crawl and explore the bottom, searching for sand to build their tube. Although not measured during the pelagic phase, mortality seemed to be very low; by contrast, mortality reached about 90% after settlement.

Recruits constructed primary mucous tubes, spatially separated from one another. Most larvae settled and started to construct tubes within about 10 days after settling. At 15 days (45 days from fertilization), all larvae had already settled.

Fifteen days after metamorphosis, the juveniles measured about 700 μm in length and had two corrugated and ciliated tentacles (palps) (Fig. 9A, D). Settling paleae, which had rotated anteriorly and would form the outer paleae of the operculum, now became the primary paleae and initially appeared elongated (Fig. 9C). The juvenile has two rows of operculate paleae and two feeding tentacles. Three inner paleae, which become more similar to the inner paleae of the adult, and three middle paleae, appear on each side of the operculum (Fig. 9B, C, E, F). Anterior tentacles (palps) are used to collect sediment grains, while the paleae are used in manipulating them during the tube construction, so the area in front of the tube opening always appeared clean. At the same time, several additional small and thin feeding tentacles develop anteriorly. Two thoracic segments and three abdominal segments are differentiated, abdominal ones having prominent dorsal uncinigerous lobes (Fig. 9A).

The 40-day stage recruit (about two months of life) measured 3 mm and had 13 abdominal chaetigers and several pairs of feeding tentacles (Fig. 10A, E). The operculum was complete with outer, middle and inner paleae (Fig. 10B, C, D). The outer paleae had a long denticulate distal plume with about 16-20 denticles on each side, a higher number of denticles compared with the adult morphology (Fig. 10B). The middle paleae were geniculate, deeply excavate at the base of the blade, and with a distally erect blade with an inward curving tip. This row included a series of long paleae alternating with a series of short paleae (Fig. 10C, 11A, B). Finally, the inner paleae were geniculate, with blades curving upward from the horizontal plane (Fig. 10D). This pattern was present in all the examined juveniles and observed until the worms reached 3.5 mm in length, corresponding to about 3 months of life, after which none of the worms survived. At this last stage it was not possible to detect the presence of nuchal spines, though they were always present in the field populations.

Comparing the 3.5 mm long laboratory recruits with the smallest worms from the field population (4 mm in length), the latter had the long denticulate distal plume of the outer paleae shorter, with less denticles, similarly to what was observed in adults (fewer than 12 denticles each side) (Fig. 12). Moreover, the middle paleae were less geniculate, as in all adult specimens examined (Fig. 12).

By combining the three-month laboratory worms with the field population, we obtained a more significant correlation between coefficient of variation and size (Fig. 4B). Indeed, the laboratory worms had a higher average coefficient of variation (0.45±0.06) than any size of field worms.

DISCUSSIONTop

The present work represents the first formal report of S. spinulosa reefs in the Mediterranean Sea, where, until now, the species was reported as solitary or as forming small clumps (Wilson 1970Wilson D.P. 1970. The larvae of Sabellaria spinulosa and their settlement behaviour. J. Mar. Biol. Ass. U. K. 50: 33-52.). These three-dimensional biogenic structures are hotspots of biodiversity and are listed as threatened habitats according to the OSPAR Convention (the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic) (Benson et al. 2013Benson A., Foster-Smith B., Gubbay S., et al. 2013. Background Document for Sabellaria spinulosa reefs. OSPAR’s vision of a clean, healthy and biological diverse North-east Atlantic used sustainably. OSPAR Commission Report. Publication Number: 614/2013: 1-24) due to their fragility and vulnerability, and we strongly encourage this status to be extended to the Mediterranean reefs.

The reef-building Mediterranean S. spinulosa were ripe in all sampled periods, with a maximum of ripe females in April in all years and in June 2013. Reproduction may therefore extend during the spring-summer period, with females making up 65% of the population. Considering the state of maturity and the size of individuals within the population, we also agree with Linke (1951)Linke O. 1951. Neue Beobachtungen uber Sandkorallen-Riffe in der Nordsee. Natur und Volk 81: 77-84. that the species is an annual form reproducing once in its life. Specimens from April 2013 belong to the 2012 generation, which mainly reproduces in spring. This generation possibly continues to grow and reproduce, but with a low survival of their larvae because, according to our experiments, complete development was only attained by the April and June 2013 individuals. Most individuals from October 2013 belonged to a new generation, which was still growing. Though some of them appeared ripe, the eggs were unable to complete development after fertilization and their reproduction could probably be expected in the following April.

The number of eggs for each specimen appears low if compared with S. alveolata (Ayata et al. 2009Ayata S. D., Ellienc C., Dumas F., et al. 2009. Modelling larval dispersal and settlement of the reef-building polychaete Sabellaria alveolata: Role of hydroclimatic processes on the sustainability of biogenic reefs. Cont. Shelf Res. 29: 1605-1623.), in line with its low recruitment (Rees and Dare 1993Rees H.L., Dare P.T. 1993. Sources of mortality and associated life-cycle traits of selected benthic species: a review. Fisheries Research Data Report Number 33.); this, coupled with the influence of currents for larval retention, could explain the absence of reefs in most of its distributional range, as previously demonstrated for the S. alveolata population from the Mont Saint Michel Bay (Ayata et al. 2009Ayata S. D., Ellienc C., Dumas F., et al. 2009. Modelling larval dispersal and settlement of the reef-building polychaete Sabellaria alveolata: Role of hydroclimatic processes on the sustainability of biogenic reefs. Cont. Shelf Res. 29: 1605-1623.).

The analysis of the opercular structures in the field population showed a great deal of variability, especially in the middle paleae, with alternating and equal-size patterns each present in half of the specimens and lacking correlation with body size. This intrapopulation variability largely covers the differences between S. spinulosa and S. spinulosa alcocki, thus preventing the erection of several varieties within S. spinulosa. We therefore hypothesize that the varieties were erected in the past based on a few specimens.

Larval development of S. spinulosa is here described for the first time for a Mediterranean population, allowing a comparison with the non-Mediterranean studies. Regarding the egg diameter, we found 100 μm against 50 μm by Pearce et al. (2011)Pearce B., Hill J.M., Grubb L., et al. 2011. Impacts of marine aggregate dredging on adjacent Sabellaria spinulosa aggregations and other benthic fauna. Marine Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund MEPF 08/P39 and The Crown Estate. Marine Ecological Surveys Limited, 3 Palace Yard Mews, BATH, BA1 2NH. 35 pp. and 150 μm by Wilson (1929)Wilson D.P. 1929. The larvae of the British sabellarians. J. Mar. Biol. Ass. U. K. 16: 221-269.. Developmental time was also different: we found only 2 weeks of pelagic development against 4 weeks found by Pearce et al. (2011)Pearce B., Hill J.M., Grubb L., et al. 2011. Impacts of marine aggregate dredging on adjacent Sabellaria spinulosa aggregations and other benthic fauna. Marine Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund MEPF 08/P39 and The Crown Estate. Marine Ecological Surveys Limited, 3 Palace Yard Mews, BATH, BA1 2NH. 35 pp. and 6-8 weeks by Wilson (1929)Wilson D.P. 1929. The larvae of the British sabellarians. J. Mar. Biol. Ass. U. K. 16: 221-269.. By contrast, our data on developmental time are similar to those observed experimentally for other species: S. alveolata and Phragmatopoma californica (Fewkes, 1889) (Cazaux 1964Cazaux C. 1964. Developpement larvaire de Sabellaria alveolata (Linné). Bull. Inst. Oceanogr. (Monaco), 62: l-15., Pawlik 1988Pawlik J.R., 1988. Larval settlement and metamorphosis of two gregarious sabellariid polychaetes: Sabellaria alveolata compared with Pragmatopoma californica. J. Mar. Biol. Ass. U. K. 68: 101-124.). However, egg size estimates could be influenced by operational procedures, while growth rate and settlement time of sabellariid larvae under laboratory conditions can be greatly influenced by the culture technique (Eckelbarger 1977Eckelbarger K. J. 1977. Larval development of Sabellaria floridensis from Florida and Phragmatopoma californica from southern California (Polychaeta: Sabellariidae), with a key to the sabellariid larvae of Florida and a review of development in the family. Bull. Mar. Sci. 27(2): 241-255.). For example, the long developments recorded for S. alveolata and S. spinulosa (up to 32 weeks in the former) are probably not representative of the species in nature (Wilson 1970Wilson D.P. 1970. The larvae of Sabellaria spinulosa and their settlement behaviour. J. Mar. Biol. Ass. U. K. 50: 33-52.), while the early settlement at 6 weeks experimentally recorded by Wilson (1929)Wilson D.P. 1929. The larvae of the British sabellarians. J. Mar. Biol. Ass. U. K. 16: 221-269. most likely represents the real field time. Thus, caution must be taken when comparing laboratory and field larval development times.

In our study, the development of S. spinulosa seems to be influenced by the temperature only during the pelagic stages, with a faster growth at 21°C. However, after settlement, specimens from this treatment delayed metamorphosis by about 8 days compared with those reared at 14°C, so no difference in the total developmental time could be identified. By contrast, a delay in metamorphosis of about 10 days has been experimentally demonstrated for S. vulgaris (Eckelbarger 1975Eckelbarger K. J. 1975. Developmental studies of the post-settling stages of Sabellaria vulgaris (Polychaeta: Sabellariidae). Mar. Biol. 30: 137-149.) and P. californica (Eckelbarger 1977Eckelbarger K. J. 1977. Larval development of Sabellaria floridensis from Florida and Phragmatopoma californica from southern California (Polychaeta: Sabellariidae), with a key to the sabellariid larvae of Florida and a review of development in the family. Bull. Mar. Sci. 27(2): 241-255.).

Mortality during the pelagic life in laboratory conditions was not specifically measured, but it seems to be higher during settlement, as previously observed in experimental conditions (Wilson 1929Wilson D.P. 1929. The larvae of the British sabellarians. J. Mar. Biol. Ass. U. K. 16: 221-269., Cazaux 1964Cazaux C. 1964. Developpement larvaire de Sabellaria alveolata (Linné). Bull. Inst. Oceanogr. (Monaco), 62: 1-15., Eckelbarger 1975Eckelbarger K. J. 1975. Developmental studies of the post-settling stages of Sabellaria vulgaris (Polychaeta: Sabellariidae). Mar. Biol. 30: 137-149.), where it seems to depend on the presence of stirring and available sand. During settlement, only some degree of gregariousness characterizing other sabellarian species (Pawlik 1988Pawlik J.R., 1988. Larval settlement and metamorphosis of two gregarious sabellariid polychaetes: Sabellaria alveolata compared with Pragmatopoma californica. J. Mar. Biol. Ass. U. K. 68: 101-124.) was observed. However, the lack of gregarious behaviour could also be due to the particular rearing conditions in our experiments.

Morphological changes in larval development of S. spinulosa specimens from the Mediterranean are largely indistinguishable not only from non-Mediterranean S. spinulosa populations, but also from those described in other sabellariids (Wilson 1929Wilson D.P. 1929. The larvae of the British sabellarians. J. Mar. Biol. Ass. U. K. 16: 221-269., 1968 aWilson D. P. 1968a. The settlement behaviour of the larvae of Sabellaria alveolata (L.). J. Mar. Biol. Ass. U.K. 48: 387-435., bWilson D. P. 1968b. Some aspects of the development of eggs and larvae of Sabellaria alveolata (L.). J. Mar. Biol. Ass. U. K. 48: 367-386., Hartman 1944Hartman O. 1944. Polychaetous Annelids. PartVI. Paraonidae, Magelonidae, Longosomidae, Ctenodrillidae, and Sabellariidae. Alan Hancock Pacif. Exped. 10: 311-389., Dales 1952Dales R. P. 1952. The development and structure of the anterior region of the body in the Sabellariidae, with special reference to Phragmatopoma californica. Q. J. Microsc. Sci. 93: 435-452., Cazaux 1964Cazaux C. 1964. Developpement larvaire de Sabellaria alveolata (Linné). Bull. Inst. Oceanogr. (Monaco), 62: 1-15., Eckelbarger 1975Eckelbarger K. J. 1975. Developmental studies of the post-settling stages of Sabellaria vulgaris (Polychaeta: Sabellariidae). Mar. Biol. 30: 137-149.), confirming a noteworthy similarity overall. As observed by Wilson (1929)Wilson D.P. 1929. The larvae of the British sabellarians. J. Mar. Biol. Ass. U. K. 16: 221-269., the early developmental stages of S. spinulosa and S. alveolata are indistinguishable. These two species become easily distinguishable only when the adult primary opercular paleae appear among the long provisional bristles of the first parapodia. As already pointed out, however, during opercular formation settling chaetae or “primary paleae” are lost and replaced by “secondary paleae” showing the final adult shape (Wilson 1929Wilson D.P. 1929. The larvae of the British sabellarians. J. Mar. Biol. Ass. U. K. 16: 221-269., Eckelbarger 1975Eckelbarger K. J. 1975. Developmental studies of the post-settling stages of Sabellaria vulgaris (Polychaeta: Sabellariidae). Mar. Biol. 30: 137-149.). We also observed marked ontogenetic changes during the post-settlement period, with several different forms of each palea type present within the juvenile operculum, which become progressively more adult-like as paleae are lost and replaced. Consequently, in juvenile S. spinulosa the length of the denticulate distal plume in outer paleae and the shape and length of the middle paleae are similar to those in S. alcocki. As in the case of S. alveolata, S. alcocki becomes easily distinguishable from S. spinulosa only when the operculum achieves the adult features.

Data obtained from laboratory rearing combined with observations from a field population led us to hypothesize that the final opercular configuration was achieved when the worm is about 4 mm long. Thus, the records of S. alcocki in the Mediterranean area could be partially attributed to the examination of S. spinulosa specimens at different stages of development. Therefore, we strongly support the hypothesis that Sabellaria alcocki is not present in the Mediterranean and that special care must be taken in identifying small or young individuals of S. spinulosa. Particular attention must be addressed to the presence of nuchal spines, as the young specimens lacking these spines closely resemble S. alcocki both in the outer denticulate distal plume of the outer paleae and in the shape of the middle paleae.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSTop

Financial support was provided by the MIUR (PRIN project). The authors acknowledge the support by the MARBEF network of excellence "Marine Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functioning" funded in the EU Sixth Framework Programme (contract no. GOCE-CT-2003-505446).

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