Nicole Smol

Composition, distribution and biomass of meiobenthos in the Oosterschelde estuary (SW Netherlands)

Meiofauna composition, abundance, biomass, distribution and diversity were investigated for 31 stations in summer. The sampling covered the whole Oosterschelde and comparisons between the subtidal — intertidal and between the western-central — eastern compartment were made.

Bernardius lineatus gen. n., sp. n. (Enoplida: Enchelidiidae), a remarkable nematode with ornamented cuticle from a Brazilian tropical sandy beach

Bernardius lineatus gen. n., sp. n. is described from a sandy beach at Tamandare Bay, Brazil. It possesses the main characteristics of the family Enchelidiidae (Nematoda: Enoplida), but is unique by the presence of a body cuticle ornamented with longitudinal ridges formed by small rods, an entirely different character to all other members of the order Enoplida. The new genus is also characterised by a long, subdivided, buccal cavity with two subventral teeth and numerous denticles and the arrangement of the anterior sensilla in two crowns, the anterior crown being papilliform and the posterior crown consisting of six external labial and four cephalic sensilla, setiform. The relationships of the genera within the Enchelidiidae are discussed and an emended family diagnosis provided.

On the Identity and Nomenclature of Paracanthonchus caecus (Bastian, 1865), with a Redefinition of the Genus Paracanthonchus Micoletzky (Nematoda, Cyatholaimidae)

A historical review of the systematics of Paracanthonchus caecus (Bastian, 1865) and a comparison of specimens from different localities show that this “species” in fact comprises four distinct species. Paracanthonchus caecus Micoletzky, 1924 nec P. caecus (Bastian, 1865) is designated as the valid type species of the genus Paracanthonchus. P. heterodontus (Schulz, 1932) and P. thaumasius (Schulz, 1932) are re‐established. P. caecm sensu Gerlach 1965 is considered as a distinct species: P. gerlachi sp.n. P. canadensis sp.n. is described and is very close to P. caecus Micoletzky, 1924. The subspecies P. caecus opthalmophorus (Steiner, 1921), different from the typical caecus by the presence of ocelli, is considered as a different species; we therefore propose P.ophthalmophorus (Steiner, 1921) stat.n. The genus Paracanthonchus is redefined.

A 4-years' analysis of the meiofauna community of a dumping site for TiO2-waste off the Dutch coast

Abstract Sublittoral meiofauna of 24 stations was monitored over 4 years (1984–1987) in and around a dumping site for TiO2-acid waste in the Southern Bight of the North Sea off the Dutch coast. The meiofauna was examined quantitatively and qualitatively with special reference to the nematode and the copepod community structure down to species level and to the trophic structure of the nematodes. Biological, sedimentological, geographical parameters and the concentration of several heavy metals were subject to univariate and multivariate statistical analysis and classification techniques to evaluate the impact of the TiO2-dumping activities. The meiofauna is dominated by nematodes, copepods, gastrotrichs and turbellarians. There is a difference of 4% between the nematodes and the copepods: the dumping area being characterised by 76% abundance of nematodes and 12% copepods in comparison with 72% nematodes and 16% copepods in the reference area. the meiofauna community, and the nematode and copepod communitie...

Paracomesoma paralongispiculum sp. n.: a New species of nematode from mangroves of Can Gio (Vietnam) and taxonomy of the genus Paracomesoma Hope et Murphy, 1972 (Nematoda: Araeolaimida)

A literature review reveals that 13 species are described belonging to the genus Paracomesoma Hope and Murphy, 1972. In Can Gio mangrove forest, Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam, one new species Paracomesoma paralongispiculum n. sp. was found, which brings the number of species up to 14. This species differs from all known species of this genus by its very long spicules (12 times a.b.d) and 11–12 papillae supplements all confined within the spicular region.

Two new and three redescribed species of Viscosia (Nematoda, Oncholaimidae)

Viscosia coomansi sp. nov. and Viscosia heterolaina sp. nov. are described from Lake Grevelingen and Eastern Scheldt (The Netherlands). Viscosia glabra (Bastian, 1865) de Man 1890, Viscosia franzii Boucher 1977, and Viscosia viscosa (Bastian 1865) de Man 1890 are redescribed, taking into account new important characters. Juvenile specimens are depicted for V. viscosa. Viscosia carnleyensis Ditlevsen, 1921 is synonymized with Viscosia glabra (Bastian, 1865). Mononcholaimus viscosus Allgén, 1930 and Mononcholaimus elegans sensu Schuurmans-Stekhoven, 1942, 1950 (nec. Kreis, 1924) are synonymized with Viscosia viscosa (Bastian, 1865).