Environment and life cycles influence distribution patterns of hydromedusae in austral South America

Author(s)

Rodriguez, Carolina S. ^[1] ; Marques, Antonio C. ^{[2, 3]} ; Mianzan, Hermes W. ^[4] ; Tronolone, Valquiria B. ^{[2, 3]} ; Migotto, Alvaro E. ^[2] ; Genzano, Gabriel N. ^{[1, 5]}

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Nacl Mar Del Plata, Dept Ciencias Marinas, Funes 3350, RA-7600 Mar Del Plata, Buenos Aires - Argentina

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Ctr Biol Marinha, Sao Sebastiao - Brazil

^[3] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Biociencias, Dept Zool, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[4] INIDEP, Mar Del Plata, Buenos Aires - Argentina

^[5] Consejo Nacl Invest Cient & Tecn, UNMdP, Inst Invest Marinas & Costeras IIMyC, Mar Del Plata, Buenos Aires - Argentina

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: MARINE BIOLOGY RESEARCH; v. 13, n. 6, p. 659-670, 2017.
• Web of Science Citations: 1

Abstract

We analysed hydromedusa assemblages of South America (from 22 degrees S to 56 degrees S and from 040 degrees W to 080 degrees W), their association with water masses and the influence of the life cycle on medusa distributions. The geographic distribution of 130 species of hydromedusae was compiled from literature reports (62 publications between 1913 and 2012). Seven areas were defined: Atlantic Magellanic, Argentinean, Pacific intermediate zone, Pacific Magellanic, Peruvian-Chilean, South Brazilian and Oceanic. The variance of the species-environment relationship was explained by depth and temperature. Distribution patterns of Atlantic hydromedusae are associated with neritic water masses, supporting previously proposed biogeographical provinces. Assemblages on the Pacific side of South America are under the influence of the Humboldt Current system, with a break in species distribution around Chiloe Island. Only the oceanic assemblage contained the same species in both the Pacific and Atlantic zones. We found that meroplanktonic medusae contributed more to define the neritic assemblages, while the oceanic assemblage was better defined by holoplanktonic medusae. Therefore, our data suggest that meroplanktonic hydromedusae appeared to be more restricted in distribution than holoplanktonic ones. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 12/21583-1 - Systematics and evolutionary history of Scleractinia (Cnidaria, Anthozoa)
• Grantee: Alvaro Esteves Migotto
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 13/50484-4 - Biodiversity and distribution patterns of the Medusozoa form the South-Western Atlantic
• Grantee: Antonio Carlos Marques
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 11/50242-5 - Dimensions of marine life: patterns and process of diversifications in planktonic and benthic cnidarians
• Grantee: Antonio Carlos Marques
• Support Opportunities: BIOTA-FAPESP Program - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 04/09961-4 - Biodiversity, evolution, endemism and conservation of the Medusozoa from the Southwestern Atlantic
• Grantee: Antonio Carlos Marques
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants