John S. Buckeridge

Vulcanolepas scotiaensis sp. nov., a new deep-sea scalpelliform barnacle (Eolepadidae: Neolepadinae) from hydrothermal vents in the Scotia Sea, Antarctica.

A new deep-sea stalked barnacle, Vulcanolepas scotiaensis sp. nov. is described from hydrothermal vents at depths of 2400-2600 metres along segments of the East Scotia Ridge and from 1400 metres in the Kemp Caldera. Both locations are areas of volcanic activity that lie on the Antarctic-South American Ocean Ridge complex near the South Sandwich Islands. This discovery confirms a wide distribution in southern seas for Vulcanolepas, complementing the previous records from deep-sea vents in the Lau Basin and Kermadec Ridge in the southwest Pacific, and the Pacific Antarctic Ridge in the southeast Pacific. V. scotiaensis sp. nov., the third described species of Vulcanolepas shows an extraordinary range in morphology, requiring a reassessment of the original diagnosis for Vulcanolepas. Although the morphological envelope of V. scotiaensis sp. nov. includes representatives with a peduncle to capitulum ratio similar to that observed in most neolepadines, the peduncle generally shows greater proportional length than in species in any neolepadine genus except Leucolepas; it is distinguished from other species of Vulcanolepas by a broader capitulum, much smaller imbricating scales on the peduncle and more ornamented capitulum plates. The morphological diversity of V. scotiaensis sp. nov. is interpreted as having arisen due to abrupt changes in water temperature.LSID: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:AA2AFDA5-0B08-466A-A584-D3FDBDE9DA61.

Opportunism and the resilience of barnacles (Cirripedia: Thoracica) to environmental change

Cirripede-like organisms have their origins in the Palaeozoic, but until the Cainozoic, were represented primarily by pedunculated forms, such as the Scalpelliformes. Acorn barnacles (Balanomorpha) are first recorded after the Cretaceous-Tertiary extinction event. During the late Palaeogene, rapid radiation of cirripedes resulted in sufficient diversification for them to occupy most marine environments. That they survived both the Palaeocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum and the Pleistocene glaciation is testament to their ability to rapidly adapt to opportunities. The wide habitat distribution of balanomorphs in particular is unparalleled; they are known from the upper littoral (Chthamalus) to depths of 3600 m (Tetrachaelasma) and within this attached to rock, wood and miscellaneous flotsam, plus in symbiosis or commensalism with larger marine organisms. Darwins (1854) view of the Tertiary as the age of barnacles is reflected in this diversity, distribution and biomass. All cirripedes are, nonetheless, at risk, from rapid habitat change, competition, pollution and, especially in light of their sessile habit, from predation. This paper assesses the viability of a number of cirripedes and concludes that the Lepadiformes, Scalpelliformes and Balanomorpha are the most resilient, and will most quickly adapt to occupy new niches when opportunities arise.

A diverse shallow-water barnacle assemblage (Cirripedia: Sessilia) from the Oligocene of Southland, New Zealand

An extraordinarily diverse assemblage of cirripedes is described from a shallow-water deposit of late Oligocene age from Cosy Dell farm, near Waimumu, Southland, New Zealand. It is unusual not only because it represents a rarely preserved intertidal to shallow subtidal fauna, but also because it contains at least nine species, five of which are new to science. The deposit contains the earliest known representatives of the genera Chamaesipho and Notobalanus and these are associated with abundant Verruca, an association that no longer occurs in present-day New Zealand waters. Although the remains are intimately associated with each other, the deposit is interpreted as a condensed heterogeneous taphocoenosis, with intertidal zone taxa (Verruca, Chamaesipho, Tetraclitella, Austrobalanus, Protelminius) mixing with upper subtidal species (Eolasma, Notobalanus, Tasmanobalanus) and pelagic cirripedes (Lepas). urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:74EECF88-AF4A-4EA7-BF7B-7487D0E35D5D urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:8D81F5AD-3861-48A5-A54B-CD99621D2525 urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:D0636517-BEE5-4D10-92A7-1EAD0F54C11A urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:79A2668E-2CAA-4CE6-AD4E-9035050DBD33 urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:66B5BDFF-A3F4-4D7C-88E8-6ADB09A25471 urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:7B508D69-6705-43CA-8C1E-0A98676B604A

Some biological consequences of environmental change: A study using barnacles (Cirripedia: Balanomorpha) and gum trees (Angiospermae: Myrtaceae)

Uniformitarianism permits understanding of the past on the basis of the present, and modeling the future through consideration of the fossil record. The present paper addresses the impact environmental (climatic) change has had on acorn barnacles and eucalyptus trees. Acorn barnacles (Balanomorpha) are first recorded after the K/T mass-extinction event. In the Paleogene, rapid radiation resulted in their occupying most marine environments. That balanomorphs survived both the Paleocene-Eocene thermal maximum and the Pleistocene glaciation is testament to their ability to adapt to opportunities; they are known from the littoral (Chamaesipho) to depths of 3600 m (Tetrachaelasma) and within this from diverse substrates: rock, wood and miscellaneous flotsam, plus in symbiosis or commensalism with most larger marine organisms. Darwins (1854) view of the late Tertiary as the age of barnacles is reflected in their diversity, distribution and biomass. Barnacles are contrasted with the Australian Myrtaceae: plants ranging from woody shrubs to tall trees. The most significant is Eucalyptus sensu lato, which typifies Australias flora, and is characterized by aromatic leaves that produce eucalyptol. Eucalyptus has evolved strategies that result in its domination of Australian open woodlands: these include production of highly flammable eucalyptol oil (with a flashpoint of 49 °C) and an unprecedented ability to regenerate following forest fires. Gum trees and barnacles first appear in the Paleogene, their earliest records are Australasian, and they both demonstrate extraordinary resilience when environmental conditions are optimal.

Some insights into how barnacles survive as sessile organisms

During routine chemical analyses of the stalked ibliform barnacle Chaetolepas calcitergum Buckeridge & Newman 2006, peaks of more than 7% (by dry mass) of bromine were detected. Although bromine ions occur in seawater (up to 66 ppm), this level of accumulation, in the soft tissue of the barnacle, is extraordinary. Organic concentration of bromine compounds occurs in a number of invertebrates, such as algae and sponges, but this is the first record of elevated bromine in goose barnacles. The high accumulation of bromine compound(s) is most likely a defense mechanism. The present paper includes a review of the mechanisms deployed by barnacles to repel predators.

DEEP-WATER SCALPELLOMORPH/CORAL SYMBIOSIS (CIRRIPEDIA, PEDUNCULATA/HEXACORALLIA, SCLERACTINIA) IN THE NORTH ATLANTIC

The heavily armored peduncles of four species of deep-water calanticid scalpellomorphs, from three distant localities across the North Atlantic, are partially overgrown by the branching scleractinian corals on which they had settled. We infer the association and overgrowths benefit the barnacles in isolating them from competitors and predators. These barnacles and their hosts represent relatively old groups (early Mesozoic and Paleogene, respectively) and therefore the relationship could have been established during their early radiation. Because the corals are capable of at least partially if not completely entombing the scaly remains of the peduncles when the barnacles die, recognizable traces of this symbiotic relationship are probably present in the fossil record.

A new species of Elminius from Pomahaka River, Southland, New Zealand

Abstract Elminius (Elminius) pomahakensis n. sp. is described from the Upper Oligocene estuarine beds of the Pomahaka Formation, Southland. This is the earliest record of Elminius, and it is most closely related to living Elminius kingii from South America and Hexaminius popianus from New South Wales. A 2-phase westward migration from Australia is proposed for early Elminius, with Elminius sensu stricto migrating during the Oligocene, and Austrominius much later in the Cenozoic.

Environmental ethics: an overview, assessing the place of bioscientists in society, supplemented with selected Australian perspectives.

Ethics deals with moral behavior in a professional context; ideally, it leads to a set of governing principles through which the appropriateness of any activity may be determined or assessed. Environmental ethics specifically deals with how humans interact with the biosphere. It is clear, however, that, as a species, we are failing in our duty of environmental stewardship. The encroachment of human activity into the natural environment is inexorable, and almost always deleterious. Any response to mitigate loss of taxa or ecosystems will have economic implications, and these are often considerable. In finding effective solutions, a process soon becomes political. In light of this we must reflect upon the leadership role that biologists have, especially our impact on policy development that pertains to natural resource management. Although our track record is no worse than any other professional group, biologists by way of training usually have a greater understanding of natural processes and must be prepared to articulate these publically. We have an ethical mandate to question decisions, policies and legislation that impact negatively upon biological systems: a mandate guided through logic, grounded in empirical science, and hopefully coupled with a deep understanding of the true value of both the living world and the physical world which sustains it. This paper uses Australian examples to demonstrate the frequent clashes between economics and biology, in anticipation that we should strive to achieve the underlying principles of sustainability, environmental stewardship and resource management in both daily decision-making and in long-term planning.

Unravelling the nature of Waiparaconus, a pennatulacean (Cnidaria: Octocorallia) from the Late Mesozoic-Early Cainozoic of the Southern Hemisphere.

Enigmatic calcareous conical fossils have been known from marine Paleocene-Eocene sequences of New Zealand since the early 1870s. More recently, similar fossils have been recorded from both Late Cretaceous marine sequences of Western Australia, New Caledonia and Antarctica, and possibly from the Eocene of South America. The present paper extends the record to the late Cretaceous of New Caledonia. These remains are unlike any living taxa, and have been variously interpreted as molluscs (rudistid bivalves), cirripedes (stalked barnacles), annelids and inorganic structures. Assignation to the Cirripedia has been refuted by Buckeridge (1983, 1993), who proposed that the material would be better placed within the Cnidaria. We investigate this hypothesis in light of the New Caledonian material and by comparison with living gorgonians and pennatulaceans, and demonstrate that Waiparaconus is best placed within the Pennatulacea. Waiparaconus zelandicus varies in form somewhat, with 3 morphotypes defined and reinforced by geography. Comment is provided on the imperative to fit organic remains into known groups, with reflection on what may happen if taxa are left in insertae sedis.

New Palaeogene sponges from the Red Bluff Tuff, Chatham Island, New Zealand

Abstract A horizon with well-preserved sponge body fossils occurs in the late Palaeocene–early Eocene Red Bluff Tuff of Chatham Island, located some 850 km east of mainland New Zealand. The body fossils are ‘glass’ and ‘lithistid’ sponges in which most of the original silica has been replaced by calcite during diagenesis, strewn in approximate growth position around the same horizon. We describe two new species, a lyssacinosidan (non-rigid) glass sponge Rossella cylindrica sp. nov. (Class Hexactinellida, Order Lyssacinosida, Family Rossellidae), significant as it provides only the second species in the fossil record of the genus Rossella, and a very large, foliose, tretodictyid (rigid) glass sponge, Anomochone chathamensis sp. nov. (Class Hexactinellida, Order Hexactinosida, Family Tretodictyidae). A large, nodulose lithistid sponge attributed to the Family Corallistidae, but not identifiable to genus, is also described. This material provides a window into the early Tertiary palaeoenvironment of what is now the southern Pacific Ocean. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:C8CEF5C8-FD21-4515-9A7C-3C6FCE6F3ACE for Anomochone chathamensis urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:4C2F6456-2B55-40EF-9B06-26753CE85354 for Rossella cylindrical