Horst Kurt Schminke

The metazoan meiobenthos along a depth gradient in the Arctic Laptev Sea with special attention to nematode communities

Abstract The meiobenthos along a depth transect of oligotrophic sediments in the Arctic Laptev Sea was studied. The meiobenthos followed the general trends reported from other studies: densities decreased with depth in relation to the more limited supply of degradable organic matter at greater depths. Although the sediments along the transect were poor in organic matter in comparison with the NE Atlantic, the densities fitted well with the meiobenthic densities reported from the latter area. It is suggested that the meiobenthos in the cold polar waters is adapted to this extreme environment by a rapid response to short food pulses to the sediments. Nematodes were identified up to genus level and assigned to trophic groups. A total of 32 families comprising 95 genera were found along the transect. The communities were dominated by deposit feeders whose importance increased with depth. Both TWINSPAN and CCA analyses revealed a community shift along the depth transect: a shelf community dominated by Microlaimus and Chromadora could be distinguished from a slope community dominated by Monhystera and Leptolaimus. Generic diversity decreased with depth.

Phylogenetic relationships at the base of Oligoarthra (Copepoda, Harpacticoida) with a new species as the cornerstone**

Romete bulbiseta gen. et sp. nov. (Aegisthoidea Giesbrecht, 1892: Rometidae fam. nov.) is described from the Great Meteor Seamount, northeast Atlantic. An analysis of the phylogeny and evolution of the basal Harpacticoida Sars, 1903 is presented. Cerviniidae Sars, 1903 and Cervinioidea Sars, 1903 are respective junior synonyms of Aegisthidae Giesbrecht, 1892 and Aegisthoidea Giesbrecht, 1892. Rometidae fam. nov. is identified as sistertaxon of Aegisthidae. Rotundiclipeidae Huys, 1988 and Styracothoracidae Huys, 1993 are removed from Aegisthoidea and placed in Syngnatharthra tax. nov., sistergroup of Aegisthoidea. “Maxillipedasphalea” Lang, 1944 is polyphyletic and therefore not maintained here. A morphological analysis of taxa of Harpacticoida reveals the autapomorphies of Rometidae, Aegisthidae, Aegisthoidea, Syngnatharthra, and Oligoarthra Lang, 1944. Diagnoses for these taxa are given.

High-Level Phylogenetic Relationships within Parastenocarididae (Copepoda, Harpacticoida)

[There are two sub-groups (“subfamilies”) within Parastenocarididae called Parastenocaridinae nov. and Fontinalicaridinae nov. as revealed by an analysis of the descriptions of all 258 species known at present. Of these species, 170 (=67%) belong to Parastenocaridinae nov., 82 (=33%) to Fontinalicaridinae nov. Six species could not be grouped because of incomplete descriptions. Currently there are 27 valid genera of which 17 (=63%) belong to Parastenocaridinae nov., and 10 (=37%) to Fontinalicaridinae nov. The two new taxa can be distinguished mainly by the male antennules, the endopod of female leg 3, spinules on the basis of male leg 4, the female genital field, and the setation of the caudal rami. Other distinguishing characters are legs 5, as well as male leg 1 and leg 3. Fontinalicaridinae nov. can be shown to be monophyletic by the endopod of female leg 3 lacking a terminal seta and by the form of the female genital field; possible autapomorphies of Parastenocaridinae nov. are a spinule row on the basis of male leg 4, either medially or at the base of the endopod, and the arrangement of the furcal setae. A list of genera and species of the new taxa is added. Wie eine Analyse der Beschreibungen aller 258 gegenwartig bekannten Arten ergeben hat, gibt es innerhalb der Parastenocarididae zwei Untergruppen (“Unterfamilien”), die hier Parastenocaridinae nov. und Fontinalicaridinae nov. genannt werden. Zu den Parastenocaridinae nov. gehoren 170 (=67%), zu den Fontinalicaridinae nov. 82 (=33%) der bekannten Arten. Sechs Arten konnten wegen unvollstandiger Beschreibungen nicht zugeordnet werden. Momentan gibt es 27 valide Gattungen, von denen 17 (=63%) zu den Parastenocaridinae nov. und 10 (=37%) den Fontinalicaridinae nov. gehoren. Die zwei neuen Taxa konnen hauptsachlich an der 1. Antenne der Mannchen, am Endopoditen des dritten Beins der Weibchen, an Stachelreihen auf dem Basipoditen des vierten Beins der Mannchen, am weiblichen Genitalfeld und an der Beborstung der Furkalaste unterschieden werden. Weitere Unterscheidungsmerkmale gibt es am funften Beinpaar sowie am ersten und dritten Bein der Mannchen. Das Fehlen der Terminalborste auf dem Endopoditen des dritten Beins der Weibchen und die Form ihres Genitalfeldes belegen die Monophylie der Fontinalicaridinae nov. Mogliche Autapomorphien der Parastenocaridinae nov. sind Stachelreihen auf dem Basipoditen des vierten Beins der Mannchen innen neben oder an der Basis des Endopoditen und die Anordnung der Furkalborsten. Eine Liste der den neuen Taxa zugehorigen Gattungen und Arten ist beigegeben. , There are two sub-groups (“subfamilies”) within Parastenocarididae called Parastenocaridinae nov. and Fontinalicaridinae nov. as revealed by an analysis of the descriptions of all 258 species known at present. Of these species, 170 (=67%) belong to Parastenocaridinae nov., 82 (=33%) to Fontinalicaridinae nov. Six species could not be grouped because of incomplete descriptions. Currently there are 27 valid genera of which 17 (=63%) belong to Parastenocaridinae nov., and 10 (=37%) to Fontinalicaridinae nov. The two new taxa can be distinguished mainly by the male antennules, the endopod of female leg 3, spinules on the basis of male leg 4, the female genital field, and the setation of the caudal rami. Other distinguishing characters are legs 5, as well as male leg 1 and leg 3. Fontinalicaridinae nov. can be shown to be monophyletic by the endopod of female leg 3 lacking a terminal seta and by the form of the female genital field; possible autapomorphies of Parastenocaridinae nov. are a spinule row on the basis of male leg 4, either medially or at the base of the endopod, and the arrangement of the furcal setae. A list of genera and species of the new taxa is added. Wie eine Analyse der Beschreibungen aller 258 gegenwartig bekannten Arten ergeben hat, gibt es innerhalb der Parastenocarididae zwei Untergruppen (“Unterfamilien”), die hier Parastenocaridinae nov. und Fontinalicaridinae nov. genannt werden. Zu den Parastenocaridinae nov. gehoren 170 (=67%), zu den Fontinalicaridinae nov. 82 (=33%) der bekannten Arten. Sechs Arten konnten wegen unvollstandiger Beschreibungen nicht zugeordnet werden. Momentan gibt es 27 valide Gattungen, von denen 17 (=63%) zu den Parastenocaridinae nov. und 10 (=37%) den Fontinalicaridinae nov. gehoren. Die zwei neuen Taxa konnen hauptsachlich an der 1. Antenne der Mannchen, am Endopoditen des dritten Beins der Weibchen, an Stachelreihen auf dem Basipoditen des vierten Beins der Mannchen, am weiblichen Genitalfeld und an der Beborstung der Furkalaste unterschieden werden. Weitere Unterscheidungsmerkmale gibt es am funften Beinpaar sowie am ersten und dritten Bein der Mannchen. Das Fehlen der Terminalborste auf dem Endopoditen des dritten Beins der Weibchen und die Form ihres Genitalfeldes belegen die Monophylie der Fontinalicaridinae nov. Mogliche Autapomorphien der Parastenocaridinae nov. sind Stachelreihen auf dem Basipoditen des vierten Beins der Mannchen innen neben oder an der Basis des Endopoditen und die Anordnung der Furkalborsten. Eine Liste der den neuen Taxa zugehorigen Gattungen und Arten ist beigegeben. ]

First report of groundwater fauna from Papua New Guinea: Kinnecaris Jakobi, 1972 redefined (Copepoda, Harpacticoida, Parastenocarididae), and description of a new species

The groundwater fauna of Papua New Guinea is completely unknown. The first member of this fauna is reported here. It is a new species of Parastenocarididae that agrees in eleven characters with 16 known species. Of these characters at least one (the powerful, prehensile antennule of the male) can be regarded as an autapomorphy of this group of species. Likewise, the arrangement of setae on the furcal rami and the conspicuous triangular and plate-like fifth leg may qualify as such. Two of Jakobis (1972) genera have type species that fall into this particular group of species, viz., Kinnecaris and Cafferocaris.Cafferocaris is synonymized here with Kinnecaris, which is a monophylum including not only the type species K. forficulata but also 15 additional species, together with the new one from Papua New Guinea, Kinnecaris giselae sp. n. The genus Kinnecaris Jakobi, 1972 is redefined. Its species occur all along the eastern side of Africa from Ethiopia down to South Africa, but also in West Africa. Others are known from Madagascar, India, Western Australia, and Papua New Guinea. Die Grundwasserfauna Papua Neuguineas ist vollig unerforscht. Ein erster Vertreter dieser Fauna wird hier vorgestellt. Es handelt sich um eine neue Art der Parastenocarididae, die in elf Merkmalen mit 16 bekannten Arten ubereinstimmt. Zumindest eines dieser Merkmale (die kraftig prahensile Antennula des Mannchens) kann als mogliche Autapomorphie der Artengruppe betrachtet werden. Auch die Anordnung der Borsten auf den Furkalasten und die auffalligen, dreieckigen und plattenahnlichen 5. Beine konnten als solche in Frage kommen. Zwei von Jakobis (1972) Gattungen haben Typusarten, die zu dieser Artengruppe gehoren, namlich Kinnecaris und Cafferocaris. Cafferocaris wird hier mit Kinnecaris synonymisiert, die als ein Monophylum neben der Typusart K. forficulata 15 weitere Arten und die neue aus Papua Neuguinea, Kinnecaris giselae sp. n., umfasst. Die Gattung Kinnecaris Jakobi, 1972 wird neu definiert. Ihre Arten kommen entlang der gesamten Ostseite Afrikas von Athiopien bis hinunter nach Sudafrika, aber auch in Westafrika vor. Weitere Arten sind von Madagaskar, aus Indien, Westaustralien und Papua Neuguinea bekannt.

Monodicaris Gen. N. (Copepoda, Harpacticoida, Parastenocarididae) from West Africa

[A new genus of Parastenocarididae, Monodicaris gen. n., is described from West Africa. It has many characters in common with the genus Kinnecaris Jakobi, 1972 but lacks the most distinctive feature of this genus, the grossly prehensile male antennule. Its own main distinctive features are the endopod of leg 2 male being short and stub-like, with a short terminal seta, and the spinules on the basis of leg 4 male above the insertion of the endopod being different in size, becoming smaller from internal to external. The new genus contains a new species from the Ivory Coast, Monodicaris larsi gen. n., sp. n. and 3 known species, viz. M. cataractae (Cottarelli, 1982) comb. n. from Sierra Leone, M. christiani (Dumont, 1981) comb. n. from Guinea, and M. monodi (Chappuis, 1959) comb. n. from Mali. Eine neue Gattung der Parastenocarididae, Monodicaris gen. n., wird aus Westafrika beschrieben. Sie stimmt in vielen Merkmalen mit der Gattung Kinnecaris Jakobi, 1972 uberein, lasst aber deren kennzeichnendes Merkmal, die stark prahensile Antennula der Mannchen, vermissen. Eigene kennzeichnende Merkmale sind der kleine stumpfartige Endopodit des zweiten Beinpaares der Mannchen mit kurzer Terminalborste und die unterschiedliche Grose der Stacheln auf der Basis des vierten Beinpaares der Mannchen oberhalb des Endopoditen, die von innen nach ausen kleiner werden. Die neue Gattung umfasst eine neue Art von der Elfenbeinkuste, Monodicaris larsi gen. n., sp. n. und 3 schon bekannte Arten: M. cataractae (Cottarelli, 1982) comb. n. aus Sierra Leone, M. christiani (Dumont, 1981) comb. n. aus Guinea und M. monodi (Chappuis, 1959) comb. n. aus Mali., A new genus of Parastenocarididae, Monodicaris gen. n., is described from West Africa. It has many characters in common with the genus Kinnecaris Jakobi, 1972 but lacks the most distinctive feature of this genus, the grossly prehensile male antennule. Its own main distinctive features are the endopod of leg 2 male being short and stub-like, with a short terminal seta, and the spinules on the basis of leg 4 male above the insertion of the endopod being different in size, becoming smaller from internal to external. The new genus contains a new species from the Ivory Coast, Monodicaris larsi gen. n., sp. n. and 3 known species, viz. M. cataractae (Cottarelli, 1982) comb. n. from Sierra Leone, M. christiani (Dumont, 1981) comb. n. from Guinea, and M. monodi (Chappuis, 1959) comb. n. from Mali. Eine neue Gattung der Parastenocarididae, Monodicaris gen. n., wird aus Westafrika beschrieben. Sie stimmt in vielen Merkmalen mit der Gattung Kinnecaris Jakobi, 1972 uberein, lasst aber deren kennzeichnendes Merkmal, die stark prahensile Antennula der Mannchen, vermissen. Eigene kennzeichnende Merkmale sind der kleine stumpfartige Endopodit des zweiten Beinpaares der Mannchen mit kurzer Terminalborste und die unterschiedliche Grose der Stacheln auf der Basis des vierten Beinpaares der Mannchen oberhalb des Endopoditen, die von innen nach ausen kleiner werden. Die neue Gattung umfasst eine neue Art von der Elfenbeinkuste, Monodicaris larsi gen. n., sp. n. und 3 schon bekannte Arten: M. cataractae (Cottarelli, 1982) comb. n. aus Sierra Leone, M. christiani (Dumont, 1981) comb. n. aus Guinea und M. monodi (Chappuis, 1959) comb. n. aus Mali.]

A REVISION OF THE GENUS PARVULOBATHYNELLA SCHMINKE, 1973 (BATHYNELLACEA, PARABATHYNELLIDAE): WITH THE DESCRIPTION OF TWO NEW SPECIES FROM SOUTH AFRICA

Two new species of the genus Parvulobathynella Schminke, 1973 (P.duodecima sp. n. and P.octacantha sp. n.) are described from South Africa, and two species (P.ypacaraiensis (Noodt, 1963) and P.riegelorum (Noodt, 1965)) are redescribed. The chaetotaxy of the labrum is identified as a new distinctive character of the genus and is also a distinguishing character between the four species. The genus Lamtobathynella Serban & Coineau, 1982 is synonymized with Parvulobathynella. A new aspect of the zoogeography of the genus is discussed. Zwei neue Arten der Gattung Parvulobathynella Schminke, 1973 (P. duodecima sp. n. und P.octacantha sp. n.) werden aus Sudafrika beschrieben und zwei schon bekannte (P.ypacaraiensis (Noodt, 1963) und P. riegelorum (Noodt, 1965)) werden nachbeschrieben. Die Beborstung des Labrums wird als neues konstitutives Merkmal der Gattung herausgestellt und kann auch als Merkmal fur die Artunterscheidung herangezogen werden. Die Gattung Lamtobathynella Serban & Coineau, 1982 wird mit Parvulobathynella synonymisiert. Es wird kurz auf die zoogeographische Bedeutung der neuen Funde eingegangen.

First Records of the Genus Ceratonotus G. O. Sars, 1909 (Copepoda, Ancorabolidae) From the Southern Hemisphere, With the Description of Two New Species

Two new ancorabolid species, Ceratonotus magellanicus sp. n. and Ceratonotus antarcticus sp. n., are described from the Straits of Magellan (Chile) and from Halley Bay (Weddell Sea, Antarctica), respectively. This is the first record of the genus from the Southern Hemisphere extending its range to the extreme south of the globe. Both new species are clearly distinct, each characterized by several unique features. They share a few characters which are absent in the two known species from the Northern Hemisphere. It is, however, not clear yet whether this indicates that they represent a subgroup distinct from the northern species within the genus.

Co-Occurrence of Two Species of the Genus Habrobathynella Schminke, 1973 (Malacostraca, Bathynellacea) in Sandy Sediments of the River Godavari, Southeastern India, with the Description of a New Species

A new species of the genus Habrobathynella Schminke, 1973 is described from India as Habrobathynella plenituda sp. n. Including this new species, six species are now known in the genus, two from Madagascar and four from India. There appear to be only slight morphological differences between the Indian and the Madagascan species, despite the long isolation of both landmasses since their separation on their drift north. The new species occurs together in the sample with Habrobathynella schminkei Ranga Reddy, 2004. The possibility for the co-occurrence of two congeneric species in this case may be their difference in body size, H. schminkei reaching only 55% of the size of H. plenituda sp. n. This difference in size is supposed to facilitate coexistence in mixed substrata, with different sizes of the interstitial spaces. Eine neue Art der Gattung Habrobathynella, H. plenituda sp. n., wird aus Indien beschrieben. Zusammen mit ihr sind jetzt 6 Arten der Gattung bekannt, zwei von Madagaskar und vier aus Indien. Trotz der langen Isolation beider Landmassen seit ihrer Trennung auf dem Weg nach Norden sind die morphologischen Unterschiede zwischen den indischen und madegassischen Arten nur geringfugig. Die neue Art kommt zusammen mit Habrobathynella schminkei Ranga Reddy, 2004 vor. Die Koexistenz zweier Arten derselben Gattung durfte in diesem Fall mit der Korpergrose zusammenhangen, da H. schminkei nur 55% der Korpergrose von H. plenituda sp. n. erreicht. Diese Unterschiede konnten die Koexistenz in Mischsubstraten mit unterschiedlich grosen Interstitialraumen erlauben.

Stammericaris Jakobi, 1972 redefined and a new genus of Parastenocarididae (Copepoda, Harpacticoida)

This study deals with two genera proposed by Jakobi (1972a), i.e., Stammericaris and Phreaticaris. Their species are characterised by the same kind of complex endopod P4 male which is unique within Parastenocarididae and, therefore, regarded as a synapomorphy of these species. In the meantime many more species with this particular endopod P4 male have been described. They fall into two morphologically distinct subgroups. In all species of subgroup A the distal outgrowth on the outer border of the endopod P4 male is an elongate lamella with undulating margins, the P3 male has a short apophysis and the female P3 has a long endopod. In all species of subgroup B the distal outgrowth on the outer border of the endopod P4 male is a plain or feathered seta, the P3 male has a long apophysis and the P3 female has a short endopod. Subgroup B coincides with the definition of both Stammericaris and Phreaticaris. It is, therefore, suggested to synonymise Phreaticaris with Stammericaris. As none of Jakobi‘s genera fits the definition of subgroup A, it is regarded as a new taxon on the generic level, for which the name Cottarellicaris gen. n. is proposed. Stammericaris stammeri gallicus has nothing to do with Stammericaris stammeri, but is a separate species of the genus Cottarellicaris gen. n. Arguments are presented that Parastenocaris palmerae may belong in the vicinity of the two higher taxa dealt with here.

Number of Families within Bathynellacea (Malacostraca) and Year of Publication of their Names, with Redescription of Baicalobathynella Magna (Bazikalova, 1954) from Lake Baikal

There is a debate about the systematic status of Leptobathynellidae Noodt, 1965. Are they a highly specialized offshoot of Parabathynellidae or do they deserve separate familial status? The arguments for the latter point of view are critically evaluated and as a result it is suggested to merge Leptobathynellidae with Parabathynellidae as had already been done earlier. Separate familial status for Leptobathynellidae would leave Parabathynellidae as a paraphyletic rest. The probably most plesiomorphic species within Bathynellidae is Baicalobathynella magna (Bazikalova, 1954), which belongs to the first Bathynellacea ever described. Its redescription presented here adds important new details. The morphological differences between Bathynellidae and Parabathynellidae are listed. There is some confusion about the year of publication of their names. The correct citations are: Bathynellidae Grobben, 1905 and Parabathynellidae Noodt, 1965.