BIOTIC

BIOTIC Species Information for Aphelochaeta marioni

Researched by

Will Rayment

Data supplied by

MarLIN

Refereed by

Dr Peter Gibbs

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Aphelochaeta marioni

Common name

A bristleworm

MCS Code

P824

Recent Synonyms

Tharyx marioni

Phylum

Annelida

Subphylum

Superclass

Class

Polychaeta

Subclass

Order

Spionida

Suborder

Cirratuloidea

Family

Cirratulidae

Genus

Aphelochaeta

Species

marioni

Subspecies

Additional Information

The name change from Tharyx marioni to Aphelochaeta marioni occurred recently and some authors still use the previous name. Therefore, care should be taken when searching the literature on this species. In this review, where the species was researched under the former name, the species name is given as Aphelochaeta marioni (studied as Tharyx marioni). Aphelochaeta marioni is very difficult to identify (Mike Kendall, pers. comm.) and some authors (e.g. Farke, 1979) have commented that specimens that have been the subject of published research may have been misidentified.

Taxonomy References

Howson & Picton, 1997, Hayward & Ryland, 1995b, Gibbs et al., 1983, Farke, 1979,

General Biology

Growth form

Vermiform segmented
Cylindrical

Feeding method

Surface deposit feeder

Mobility/Movement

Burrower

Environmental position

Infaunal

Typical food types

Organic debris, diatoms

Habit

Burrow dwelling

Bioturbator

Flexibility

High (>45 degrees)

Fragility

Fragile

Size

Small-medium(3-10cm)

Height

Growth Rate

1-1.5 mm/month

Adult dispersal potential

100-1000m

Dependency

Independent

Sociability

Solitary

Toxic/Poisonous?

General Biology Additional Information

Abundance
Gibbs (1969) studied the abundance of Aphelochaeta marioni (studied as Tharyx marioni) in Stonehouse Pool, Plymouth Sound. In silt/clay sediments at 5 m depth, the species occurred at a maximum density of 108,000 individuals/m². In silt/clay and fine sand at the low water mark, the maximum density was 61,150 individuals/m². Farke (1979) studied the abundance of Aphelochaeta marioni (studied as Tharyx marioni) in the Wadden Sea, Netherlands. In the intertidal, the maximum recorded abundance was 71,200 individuals/m² in muddy sand.

Feeding
Aphelochaeta marioni is a deposit feeder, feeding at the surface of the sediment at night. While feeding the animal remains in its burrow and the two palps roam at the surface transporting sand, debris and diatoms to the mouth along a tentacle canal crenulated with cilia. Farke (1979) is unsure whether Aphelochaeta marioni is a selective feeder, but it seems not, as sand grains have been found in the gut of the animal.

Biology References

Hayward & Ryland, 1995b, Gibbs et al., 1983, Farke, 1979, Gibbs, 1969,

Distribution and Habitat

Distribution in Britain & Ireland

Patchily distributed all around the British coast where suitable substrata exist. Occurs on the south west and south coasts of the Isle of Man and has also been recorded in north east Ireland.

Global distribution

Recorded from parts of the North Atlantic, North Sea, western Baltic, Mediterranean, South Pacific and the Indian Ocean.

Biogeographic range

Not researched

Depth range

Mid shore to 5000 m. Mid shore to 5000 m

Migratory

Non-migratory / Resident

Distribution Additional Information

Aphelochaeta marioni has been recorded from a variety of different sediment types. In the intertidal area of the Wadden Sea, it achieved highest abundance where the sediment fraction smaller than 0.04 mm diameter was greater than 10% of the total sediment (Farke, 1979). In the Severn Estuary, Aphelochaeta marioni (studied as Tharyx marioni) characterized the faunal assemblage of very poorly oxygenated, poorly sorted mud with relatively high interstitial salinity (Broom et al., 1991). In fact, Aphelochaeta marioni displays a remarkable tolerance for salinity range. Wolff (1973) recorded Aphelochaeta marioni (studied as Tharyx marioni) from brackish inland waters in the Netherlands with a salinity of 16 psu, but not in areas permanently exposed to lower salinities. Farke (1979) reported that the species also penetrated into areas exposed to salinities of 4 psu during short periods at low tide when the freshwater discharge from rivers was high.

Substratum preferences

Fine clean sand
Mud
Muddy sand
Sandy mud

Physiographic preferences

Open coast
Offshore seabed
Strait / sound
Estuary
Enclosed coast / Embayment

Biological zone

Mid Eulittoral
Lower Eulittoral
Sublittoral Fringe
Upper Infralittoral
Lower Infralittoral
Upper Circalittoral
Lower Circalittoral
Circalittoral Offshore
Bathybenthic (Bathyal)

Wave exposure

Sheltered
Very Sheltered
Extremely Sheltered

Tidal stream strength/Water flow

Moderately Strong (1-3 kn)
Weak (<1 kn)
Very Weak (negligible)

Salinity

Low (<18 psu)
Reduced (18-30 psu)
Variable (18-40 psu)
Full (30-40 psu)

Habitat Preferences Additional Information

Distribution References

Farke, 1979, Gibbs, 1969, Broom et al., 1991, Wolff, 1973, Bruce et al., 1963, JNCC, 1999, Connor et al., 1997(a),

Reproduction/Life History

Reproductive type

Gonochoristic

Developmental mechanism

Lecithotrophic

Reproductive Season

October and November in Plymouth

Reproductive Location

Water column

Reproductive frequency

Annual episodic

Regeneration potential

Life span

3-5 years

Age at reproductive maturity

1 year

Generation time

1-2 years

Fecundity

Up to approx 540 eggs

Egg/propagule size

Fertilization type

Larvae/Juveniles
Larval/Juvenile dispersal potential	See additional information	Larval settlement period
Duration of larval stage	Not relevant

Reproduction Preferences Additional Information

The lifecycle of Aphelochaeta marioni varies according to environmental conditions. In Stonehouse Pool, Plymouth Sound, Aphelochaeta marioni (studied as Tharyx marioni) spawned in October and November (Gibbs, 1971) whereas in the Wadden Sea, Netherlands, spawning occurred from May to July (Farke, 1979). Spawning, which occurs at night, was observed in a microsystem in the laboratory by Farke (1979). The female rose up into the water column with the tail end remaining in the burrow. The eggs were shed within a few seconds and sank to form puddles on the sediment. The female then returned to the burrow and resumed feeding within half an hour. Fertilization was not observed, probably because the male does not leave the burrow. The embryos developed lecithotrophically and hatched in about 10 days (Farke, 1979). The newly hatched juveniles were ca 0.25 mm in length with a flattened, oval body shape, and had no pigment, chaetae, cirri or palps. Immediately after hatching, the juveniles dug into the sediment. Where the sediment depth was not sufficient for digging, the juveniles swam or crawled in search of a suitable substratum (Farke, 1979). In the microsystem, juvenile mortality was high (ca 10% per month) and most animals survived for less than a year (Farke, 1979). In the Wadden Sea, the majority of the cohort reached maturity and spawned at the end of their first year, although some slower developers did not spawn until the end of their second year (Farke, 1979). However, the population of Aphelochaeta marioni in Stonehouse Pool spawned for the first time at the end of the second year of life (Gibbs, 1971). There was no evidence of a major post-spawning mortality and it was suggested that individuals may survive to spawn over several years. Gibbs (1971) found that the number of eggs laid varied from 24-539 (mean=197) and was correlated with the female's number of genital segments, and hence, female size and age.

Dispersal
Under stable conditions, adult and juvenile Aphelochaeta marioni disperse by burrowing (Farke, 1979). In the microsystem, a glass barrier in the sediment prevented the movement of animals to new areas over a period of some months, even though dispersal could have occurred by creeping on the surface or swimming. When the barrier was removed, the new areas were soon colonized (Farke, 1979). Farke (1979) reported that Aphelochaeta marioni (studied as Tharyx marioni) was capable of swimming but only did so under abnormal circumstances, e.g. when removed from the sediment. Farke (1979) suggested that as there was no pelagic stage, dispersal and immigration to new areas must mainly occur during periods of erosion when animals are carried away from their habitat by water currents.

Reproduction References

Farke, 1979, Gibbs, 1971, Beukema, 1995,