Functional morphology and ecology of the Arctic pogonophore Nereilinum murmanicum Ivanov, 1961 (Siboglinidae, Annelida)

Abstract

This article deals with the external and internal morphology in the adult stages of Nereilinum murmanicum Ivanov, 1961, a widespread species of Siboglinidae in the Barents Sea. Since Siboglinidae is currently a taxon within the phylum Annelida, we revised the commonly held view of the body segmentation pattern typical of the species and provided the first des­cription of its opisthosoma. Furthermore, the postannular region and trophosome were structurally analyzed using histology and electron microscopy. The endodermal origin of the trophosome was suggested from its structure and position. The juvenile and larval stages of the species were described. The early larvae were found to resemble the trochophores in Annelida. The late larvae look like the late metatrochophora in Annelida and lack parapodia. The juvenile specimens retain no larval traits and are morphologically comparable to the adult stages. New data on the ecology of the species were obtained: it appears to also inhabit deeper water layers. The boundaries of its range in the Barents Sea were expanded and specified. The abundance distribution of the species in the Barents Sea (30–40 ind/m2 for the major part of the sea, up to 72–113 ind/ m2 for certain areas of the sea in particular years) was considered.

Keywords

• barents sea
• annelida
• siboglinidae
• frenulata
• nereilinum murmanicum
• morphology
• trophosome
• symbiotic bacteria
• ontogenesis