Maja Novosel

The genus Adeonella (Bryozoa, Ascophora) in the Mediterranean, with description of two new living species and rediscovery of a fossil one

The bryozoan genus Adeonella from the Mediterranean area has been investigated. Analysis includes the two species traditionally recorded as living in this basin: Adeonella calveti Canu and Bassler and Adeonella pallasii (Heller) and the description of two new living species Adeonella pozarae sp. nov. and Adeonella flabellata sp. nov., both from the Adriatic. The fossil distribution of the former two species, going back to the Middle–Late Pliocene and the Late Tortonian–Early Messinian, respectively, has been discussed. A further fossil species Adeonella adae (Neviani), seemingly restricted to the Pleistocene of the central Mediterranean, is reported after more than one hundred years. These records, together with that of Adeonella polystomella (Reuss), already known from this area, add new insights on the history of Adeonella in the Late Cenozoic.

Adriatic species of Schizomavella (Bryozoa: Cheilostomata)

ABSTRACT In this paper, material belonging to the genus Schizomavella, collected along the Croatian coast of the Adriatic Sea, is revised. Nine species were identified, including five species new to science: S. cornuta, S. halimedae, S. linearis, S. mamillata, S. adriatica sp. nov.,S. mystacea sp. nov., S. rosae sp. nov., S. stanislavi sp. nov. and S. tubulata sp. nov. Previous records of Schizomavella from the Adriatic are also discussed. The checklist of Adriatic Schizomavella species is updated to 11 species; a further two species are doubtful owing to wrong previous identifications. The presence of a calcified ‘hood’ covering the opesia of the suboral avicularium is described and its function is discussed. The morphological diversity of ovicells within the genus Schizomavella is compiled and discussed. http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:987D8AE0-1E02-430D-9AB5-50B77BEAF52E

Bryozoans are returning home: recolonization of freshwater ecosystems inferred from phylogenetic relationships

Bryozoans are aquatic invertebrates that inhabit all types of aquatic ecosystems. They are small animals that form large colonies by asexual budding. Colonies can reach the size of several tens of centimeters, while individual units within a colony are the size of a few millimeters. Each individual within a colony works as a separate zooid and is genetically identical to each other individual within the same colony. Most freshwater species of bryozoans belong to the Phylactolaemata class, while several species that tolerate brackish water belong to the Gymnolaemata class. Tissue samples for this study were collected in the rivers of Adriatic and Danube basin and in the wetland areas in the continental part of Croatia (Europe). Freshwater and brackish taxons of bryozoans were genetically analyzed for the purpose of creating phylogenetic relationships between freshwater and brackish taxons of the Phylactolaemata and Gymnolaemata classes and determining the role of brackish species in colonizing freshwater and marine ecosystems. Phylogenetic relationships inferred on the genes for 18S rRNA, 28S rRNA, COI, and ITS2 region confirmed Phylactolaemata bryozoans as radix bryozoan group. Phylogenetic analysis proved Phylactolaemata bryozoans close relations with taxons from Phoronida phylum as well as the separation of the Lophopodidae family from other families within the Plumatellida genus. Comparative analysis of existing knowledge about the phylogeny of bryozoans and the expansion of known evolutionary hypotheses is proposed with the model of settlement of marine and freshwater ecosystems by the bryozoans group during their evolutionary past. In this case study, brackish bryozoan taxons represent a link for this ecological phylogenetic hypothesis. Comparison of brackish bryozoan species Lophopus crystallinus and Conopeum seurati confirmed a dual colonization of freshwater ecosystems throughout evolution of this group of animals.

Non-indigenous bryozoan species from natural and artificial substrata of Mediterranean submarine caves

Numerous non-indigenous bryozoan species or NIBs (= non-indigenous bryozoans) have been recorded in the Mediterranean Sea, some in marine cave habitats. Recent surveys, mostly of submarine caves, led to the discovery of new NIBs and documented the spreading of NIBs already known from the basin. Cradoscrupocellaria hirsuta, Catenicella paradoxa, and Smittina nitidissima were recorded at several localities of central sectors of the Mediterranean. Only Ca. paradoxa was previously known from the area, while S. nitidissima had previously been recorded only from the Eastern Mediterranean, and Cr. hirsuta is new to the area. Within the examined area, Cr. hirsuta has a wide distribution, occurring on artificial panels and natural substrates. S. nitidissima and Ca. paradoxa were detected only on artificial panels, except for a few Ca. paradoxa colonies from a single locality, which had settled on algae. Artificial substrates offer additional surfaces available for colonisation, often more suitable than natural substrates. As such, they can be rapidly exploited by new settlers and particularly by opportunistic taxa as most alien species are. Although artificial substrates can be advantageous tools for the early detection of non-indigenous species (NISs), submerged anthropogenic substrates, such as artificial reefs and coastal protection structures, may selectively attract non-indigenous species favouring their spreading alongshore. Shipping appears to be one of the main pathways for species introduction and the main vector for dispersion.

Freshwater and brackish bryozoan species of Croatia (Bryozoa: Gymnolaemata, Phylactolaemata) and their genetic identification

Freshwater and brackish species of bryozoans belong to the Phylactolaemata and Gymnolaemata class. Twelve species of bryozoans were recorded and morphologically determined at eight locations in the Black Sea and the Adriatic basin in Croatia. Twelve species of Bryozoa have been listed in the taxonomic index for Croatia (Conopeum seurati, Lophopus crystallinus Paludicella articulata, Cristatella mucedo, Fredericella sultana, Hyalinella punctata, Plumatella casmiana, Plumatella emarginata, Plumatella fruticosa, Plumatella fungosa, Plumatella geimermassardi and Plumatella repens). For the purposes of gene identification of recorded species, molecular markers for nuclear 18S and 28S genes, ITS2 region and mitochondrial COI gene were amplified. Genetic identifications of morphologically determined bryozoan species were confirmed using highly similar sequences local alignment analysis. Proliferation of freshwater bryozoan species over long distances with the help of the vector animals was confirmed by defining haplotypes on the base of 18S, 28S and ITS2 sequences associated with the Black Sea-Mediterranean waterfowl flyway.