985 research outputs found
Diplopodospongia teliformis Sim-Smith & Kelly, 2011, gen. nov.
No full text<i>Diplopodospongia teliformis</i> gen. nov. sp. nov. <p>(Fig. 1 F, 2D, 5E–K)</p> <p> <b>Material examined. Holotype</b> ― NIWA 35005, RV <i>Sonne</i> Stn SO191-2/87, Hikurangi Channel, Gisborne, 40.053° S, 177.735° E, 1106 m, 12 Feb 2007. <b>Paratypes</b> ― NIWA 32070, 32056, RV <i>Sonne</i> Stn SO191-2/87, Hikurangi Channel, Gisborne, 40.053° S, 177.735° E, 1106 m, 12 Feb 2007; NIWA 52976, NIWA Stn TAN0616/79, Wairarapa/Opouawe Bank, Cook Strait, 41.783° S, 175.400° E, 1040–1053 m, 13 Nov 2006.</p> <p> <b>Type location.</b> Hikurangi Channel, Gisborne.</p> <p> <b>Distribution.</b> SE North Island, from Gisborne to Cook Strait.</p> <p> <b>Description.</b> Thinly encrusting sponge growing on rock (Fig. 1 F). Surface smooth to the touch, texture leathery, ectosome wrinkled. No visible oscules. Colour in ethanol tan.</p> <p> <b>Skeleton.</b> The ectosome consists of a dense layer of diplospinorhabds. The choanosomal skeleton consists of thick tracts of oxeas that rise vertically from the base of the sponge and radiate into brushes of spicules near the ectosome. Spinorhabds are moderately densely scattered throughout the choanosome (Fig. 2 D).</p> <p> <i>Megascleres</i> (Fig. 5 E, Table 3)― <b>Anisoxeas</b>, straight, centrally thickened, polytylote; 357 (338–389) x 8 (6–9) µm.</p> <p> <i>Microscleres</i> (Fig. 5 F–K, Table 3)― <b>Diplospinorhabd I</b> (Fig. 5 F–H), generally symmetrical with a smooth forked spine at either end of the shaft. A whorl of four smooth, forked spines is located near each end of the shaft, separated by a very short shaft length. The immature spinorhabd is a straight, slender version of the mature spinorhabd (Fig. 5 H); 29 (26–36) µm long x 21 (19–26) µm wide. <b>Diplospinorhabd II</b> (Fig. 5 I–K, Table 3)―Asymmetrical, elongate, torpedo-shaped spicules that have several smooth spines at either end of the shaft, and are less abundant than diplospinorhabd I. A number of smooth, forked spicules may also protrude from the centre of the shaft; 42 (36–48) µm long with a shaft width of 9 (7–11) µm.</p> <p> <b>Substrate, depth range, and ecology.</b> Encrusting in small patches on boulders between 1040 and 1106 m.</p> <p> <b>Etymology.</b> Named for the shape of the diplospinorhabds, which take the shape of a missile in this species (<i>teliformis,</i> from <i>telum</i> = Latin for missile).</p> <p> <b>Remarks.</b> The key difference between <i>Diplopodospongia teliformis</i> <b>gen. nov. sp. nov.</b>, <i>D</i>. <i>rara</i> <b>gen. nov. sp. nov.</b>, and <i>D</i>. <i>macquariensis</i> <b>gen. nov. sp. nov.</b> is the presence of two categories of microscleres in <i>D</i>. <i>teliformis</i> <b>gen. nov. sp. nov.</b>, one of which is missile-shaped (Fig. 5 I–K). Both categories of diplospinorhabds have a characteristic single bifurcate apical and basal spine. The megascleres are centrally thickened, polytylote, and quite uniform, especially compared to <i>D</i>. <i>rara</i> <b>gen. nov. sp. nov.</b>, and they are shorter than those of <i>D</i>. <i>macquariensis</i> <b>gen. nov. sp. nov.</b>, and longer than those of <i>D</i>. <i>rara</i> <b>gen. nov. sp. nov.</b>. This is the deepest species, found deeper than 1100 m within the Hikurangi Channel.</p>Published as part of <i>Sim-Smith, Carina & Kelly, Michelle, 2011, Two new genera in the family Podospongiidae (Demospongiae: Poecilosclerida) with eight new Western Pacific species, pp. 32-54 in Zootaxa 2976</i> on pages 47-48, DOI: <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/200731">10.5281/zenodo.200731</a>
Stryphnus spelunca Kelly & Sim-Smith, 2012, sp. nov.
No full textStryphnus spelunca sp. nov. (Fig. 2 E, 7 F–K, 8) Material examined. Holotype ― NIWA 52582: Port Abercrombie, Great Barrier Island, 36.141 º S, 175.307 º E, RV Kaharoa, 5 m, 26 Apr 1999, additional vouchers of the holotype are in the CRRF reference collection (0 CDN 6808 - K) and at the USNM (USNM 1182997). Paratype ― NIWA 73802: NIWA Stn TAN 1105 / 133, North Taranaki Bight, 38.415 ° S, 173.341 ° E, 217–218 m, 4 Apr 2011. Type locality. Port Abercrombie, Great Barrier Island. Distribution. Known only from the type locality. Description. Thick encrusting sponge attached to rock substrate, 150 mm wide and 10–25 mm thick (Fig. 2 E). Clumps of tiny oscules are scattered over the surface of the live sponge, oscules are invisible on the preserved specimen. Ectosome 1–2 mm thick and easily detached from the sponge. Surface smooth, undulating, harsh to the touch. Texture firm, just compressible. Colour in life is dark brownish black throughout, colour in ethanol is dark brown. Skeleton. Ectosome is 1000–1300 µm deep and is clearly differentiated from the underlying choanosome, which is very densely pigmented in comparison. The ectosome appears to be moderately permeated with fibrillar collagen, which becomes more heavily pigmented towards the lower boundary. Large, well-defined aquiferous channels permeate both the ectosome and choanosome. Sanidasters and amphisanidasters form a very dense crust approximately 60 µm deep at the surface, and these microscleres are also scattered throughout the ectosome, and to a lesser extent, the choanosome. Plagiotrianes are mainly confined to ectosome, where they are very abundant and lie in all directions. Oxeas form occasional short tracts in the choanosome, but most are scattered with no particular orientation. These megascleres occasionally protrude from the sponge surface. Oxyasters are confined to the choanosome and are moderately densely scattered throughout the choanosome. Spicules. Megascleres (Fig. 7 F–G) are oxeas (Fig. 7 F), medium length, stout, usually slightly curved, fusiform with sharply pointed ends, 1497 (1135–1750) x 35 (23–41) μm; plagiotriaenes (Fig. 7 G) resembling calthrops, highly variable in size with a conical rhabdome, 256 (94–387) μm that is only slightly longer than clads, 201 (110– 294) μm. The clads point forward at a 45 ° angle and have sharply pointed tips. Cladome width 334 (194–530) μm. Microscleres (Fig. 7 H–K) are oxyasters (Fig. 7 H) with 3–7 very fine acanthose rays, 33 (19–49) μm wide; amphisanidasters ( Fig. 7 I) with short, conical rays clustered at either end of the shaft or along the shaft, rays sparsely acanthose and spined, 10 (8–12) μm long; sanidasters (Fig. 7 J, K) with a straight axis and numerous short, blunt spines that are irregularly spaced along the length of the axis, the entire spicule is sparsely to moderately acanthose, 13 (11–16) μm long. Substrate, depth range, and ecology. Holotype growing on the wall of a cave 20 m in from the cave opening, at 5 m depth; paratype much deeper in rock and boulder field at about 218 m. Etymology. Named for the cave habitat of this species (spelunca = cave in Latin). Remarks. Stryphnus spelunca sp. nov. is very similar to S. novaezealandiae sp. nov. in morphology; both are thickly encrusting with a harsh texture. The two species also have a similar ectosomal and choanosomal architecture, with plagiotriaenes packed in the ectosome. Perhaps the greatest point of similarity between the two species is the possession of plagiotriaenes that look like calthrops, and the brownish black colouration in life, characters not present in other New Zealand species of Stryphnus. Given the similarities of the two species and the fact that only two specimens of S. spelunca sp. nov. was found in quite disparate locations, one might reasonably consider S. spelunca sp. nov. to be conspecific with S. novaezealandiae sp. nov. However, the oxeas and plagiotriaenes are consistently shorter in S. spelunca sp. nov. than in S. novaezealandiae sp. nov. (oxeas 600 μm, plagiotriaene rhabdome 136 μm, cladome width 82 μm), and sanidasters and oxyasters are shorter in S. spelunca sp. nov. by some 10–15 μm. Furthermore, amphisanidasters are absent in S. novaezealandiae sp. nov. The ectosome of S. spelunca sp. nov. is also notably thinner than that of S. novaezealandiae sp. nov. These megasclere and microsclere differences are considered sufficient to distinguish S. spelunca sp. nov. from S. novaezealandiae sp. nov. at this time.Published as part of Kelly, Michelle & Sim-Smith, Carina, 2012, A review of Ancorina, Stryphnus, and Ecionemia (Demospongiae, Astrophorida, Ancorinidae), with descriptions of new species from New Zealand waters, pp. 1-47 in Zootaxa 3480 on page 27, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.28235
Stryphnus levis Kelly & Sim-Smith, 2012, sp. nov.
No full text<i>Stryphnus levis</i> sp. nov. <p>(Fig. 2 B, 6E–H, 8)</p> <p> <b>Material examined. Holotype</b> ― NIWA 54501: NIWA Stn TAN0906/3, Whananaki, East Coast of Northland, 35.500° S, 174.541° E, 64–66 m, 4 Jul 2009. <b>Paratypes</b> ― NIWA 57349: NIWA Stn TAN0906/235, north of the Cavalli Islands, 34.876° S, 173.916° E, 114–117 m, 18 Jul 2009; NIWA 62045: NIWA Stn KAH9615/089, North Cape, 38.460° S, 173.828° E, 122 m, 1 Oct 1989. <b>Other material</b>: NIWA 75571: TAN1108/250 Ranfurly Bank, northeast of East Cape, 37.319° S, 178.867° W, 110–113 m, 0 1 Jun 2011.</p> <p> <b>Type locality.</b> North Cape.</p> <p> <b>Distribution.</b> Northeast New Zealand, from North Cape to Whananaki.</p> <p> <b>Description.</b> Stout rounded conical lobes, 150 mm high x 60 mm thick, arising from a massive base, about 200 mm x 160 mm (Fig. 2 B). Ectosome is 1.5 mm thick and clearly visible in life on the cut surface, and sponge is invested with a 1.5–2 mm thick encrustation of <i>Desmacella dendyi</i>. Small perforations are visible through the surface encrustation housing polychaete worms and their tubes. Surface is smooth, featureless, and velvety to the touch. Texture is firm, compressible, interior tough and siliceous. Colour is bright orange in life owing to encrusting <i>D</i>. <i>dendyi</i>, colour in ethanol is beige throughout.</p> <p> <b>Skeleton.</b> Ectosome is 1250–1500 µm deep and clearly differentiated from the underlying choanosome, which is dense and heavily pigmented by comparison. The ectosome is translucent, diaphanous, and cavernous, with large aquiferous channels, and appears to be lightly permeated with fibrillar collagen, especially towards the lower boundary. Amphisanidasters form a thin dispersed crust on the outer surface of the sponge and are only very lightly scattered below this and throughout the choanosome. Large oxeas extend well beyond the surface of the sponge, sometimes grouped in untidy bundles, and are orientated paratangentially or obliquely to the surface. The oxeas hold an encrustation of <i>D</i>. <i>dendyi</i> about 125–250 µm above the surface. Dichotriaenes are rare, and scattered with no particular orientation in the ectosome, and are very rare in the choanosome. The choanosome is dominated by oxeas in broad oblique to paratangential swathes. Oxyasters are rare and confined to the choanosome.</p> <p> <b>Spicules.</b> Megascleres (Fig. 6 E–F) are <b>oxeas</b> (Fig. 6 E), large, stout, slightly curved, and centrally thickened, 1775 (1117–2336) x 50 (37–66) µm; <b>dichotriaenes</b> (Fig. 6 F); rare, with a stout, short conical rhabdome, 341 (283– 434) μm long, with a comparatively wide cladome, 193 (166–231) μm. Protoclad 52 (41–67) μm long, deutroclad 47 (35–60) μm long (n=10).</p> <p> Microscleres (Fig. 6 G–H) are <b>oxyasters</b> (Fig. 6 G), with a few long, slender rays that are faintly acanthose, 26 (19–37) µm wide; <b>amphisanidasters</b> (Fig. 6 H), smooth, 12 (10–15) µm long.</p> <p> <b>Substrate, depth range, and ecology.</b> Collected by dredge between 64– 122 m.</p> <p> <b>Etymology.</b> Named for the unusually smooth surface of the amphisanidasters in this species; the microscleres of <i>Stryphnus</i> are typically acanthose (<i>levis</i> = smooth in Latin).</p> <p> <b>Remarks.</b> <i>Stryphnus levis</i> <b>sp. nov.</b> differs from <i>S</i>. <i>poculum</i> <b>sp. nov.</b> by morphology (the former is massive lobate, the latter is cup-shaped), the scarcity of the dichotriaenes and choanosomal oxyasters, and the possession of smooth amphisanidasters in the former. <i>Stryphnus levis</i> <b>sp. nov.</b> can be compared with <i>S</i>. <i>niger</i> from Port Jackson, South Australia (Table 3), which is also a massive lobed/lamellate sponge, but the former is beige in life and in ethanol, and the latter is deep puce-black externally and grey internally. <i>Stryphnus levis</i> <b>sp. nov.</b> forms erect cylindrical digitate lobes and has considerably shorter oxeas and dichotriaenes than <i>S</i>. <i>niger</i>. The tropical West Atlantic species <i>S</i>. <i>raratriaenus</i> (Cárdenas <i>et al.</i> 2009) (Table 3) also has rare triaenes and a thin ectosome but this species is thickly encrusting with a dark brown exterior and whitish interior. There are also spicule differences between the two species; <i>S</i>. <i>raratriaenus</i> has a second, smaller size of oxea with stylote modifications, and acanthose amphisanidasters.</p>Published as part of <i>Kelly, Michelle & Sim-Smith, Carina, 2012, A review of Ancorina, Stryphnus, and Ecionemia (Demospongiae, Astrophorida, Ancorinidae), with descriptions of new species from New Zealand waters, pp. 1-47 in Zootaxa 3480</i> on pages 21-23, DOI: <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/282353">10.5281/zenodo.282353</a>
Neopodospongia pagei Sim-Smith & Kelly, 2011, gen. nov.
No full text<i>Neopodospongia pagei</i> gen. nov. sp. nov. <p>(Fig. 1 C, 2C, 4A–H)</p> <p> <b>Material examined. Holotype</b> ― NIWA 52580: Archway on the SE headland of Tasman Bay, Great Island, Three Kings Islands, 34.166° S, 172.146° E, 10 m, collected by Mike Page, NIWA, on SCUBA, 27 Nov 2002.</p> <p> <b>Type location.</b> Tasman Bay, Great Island, Three Kings Islands.</p> <p> <b>Distribution.</b> Known only from type location.</p> <p> <b>Description.</b> Thinly encrusting sponge, around 3 mm thick, up to 5 mm thick in places, spreading in large smooth patches measuring approximately 400 x 200 mm diameter, easily detached in leathery sheets. Surface is smooth, slightly granular with projecting microscleres, with a finely porous lacy pattern, and covered with numerous regularly spaced distinctive volcano-shaped oscules up to 2 mm high. Texture is leathery and tough in life. Colour in life is burnt orange to tan in places; colour in ethanol is cream (Fig. 1 C).</p> <p> <b>Skeleton.</b> The ectosome is 250–500 µm thick, densely collagenous, and packed with aciculospinorhabds arranged more or less vertically within the ectosome, with the apical spire pointing outwards, extending beyond the sponge surface. The ectosome dominates the sponge as it is leathery and easily removed from the underlying substrate. The choanosome remains attached in part to the ectosome or may remain on the substrate. The choanosomal skeleton consists of thick tracts of megascleres that arise vertically from the collagenous basal layer of the sponge, radiating to form a multitude of secondary fibres which emerge below the ectosome as delicate brushes. Aciculospinorhabds are abundant throughout the choanosome (Fig. 2 C).</p> <p> <i>Megascleres</i> (Fig. 4 A, Table 2)― <b>Strongyloxeas</b>, faintly polytylote; 389 (304–437) x 7 (6–9) μm.</p> <p> <i>Microscleres</i> (Fig. 4 B–H, Table 2)― <b>Aciculospinorhabds I</b> (Fig. 4 B–E), asymmetrical, with clearly differentiated ends. The basal whorl is composed of four stout directly opposed spines extending obliquely away from the shaft towards the base of the spicule; these spines may be bi- or trifurcate. The median whorl consists of eight smooth spines arranged in bifurcating pairs that encircle the shaft horizontally and are slightly off centre along the shaft. The apical whorl is a ring of spines that may be smooth or acanthose, and which are divided into three acanthose pairs on each side of the spicule (Fig. 4 H). The apex is a spire with a distal ring of small spines, from which arises a large blunt terminal spine. Protoaciculospinorhabds are sigmoidal in shape (Fig. 4 E). The spicules are strictly aciculospinorhabds: 44 (40–47) x 26 (22–31) μm. <b>Aciculospinorhabds II</b> (Fig. 4 F–H) are a smaller, more slender version of type I; 20 (13–32) x 12 (8–20) μm.</p> <p> <b>Substrate, depth range, and ecology</b>: The sponge was collected from vertical sides of the cave wall at the end of the archway entrance from about 10 m depth. The archway was highly exposed to swells, often exceeding 4 m in size.</p> <p> <b>Etymology.</b> Named after Michael Page, marine ecologist at NIWA, Nelson, in recognition for the contribution he has made to our knowledge of New Zealand sponge biodiversity and marine natural products chemistry, through his extensive SCUBA collections around the country, and his experimental research in the Marlborough Sounds. Mike has a passion for New Zealand ascidians.</p> <p> <b>Remarks.</b> No species even remotely similar to <i>Neopodospongia pagei</i> <b>gen. nov. sp. nov.</b> were known from New Zealand waters prior to the discovery of this species at the Three Kings Islands. Microfossil spicules from the Late Eocene–Early Oligocene illustrated by Hinde & Holmes (1892), and Wiedenmayer (1994), can only be construed as aciculospinorhabds but there is nothing illustrated that is quite like those of the new genus. Thin encrusting <i>N</i>. <i>pagei</i> <b>gen. nov. sp. nov.</b> is distinguished from other species of Podospongiidae by morphology; no genera are known to have such a consistently thinly encrusting form. The species is rare and appears to be endemic to the Three Kings Islands.</p> <p> <i>Neopodospongia pagei</i> <b>gen. nov. sp. nov.</b> can be compared to species in other Podospongiidae genera found in the South Pacific region, specifically to encrusting species of <i>Sigmosceptrella</i>, but is clearly differentiated from these by the presence of characteristic aciculospinorhabds. <i>Sigmosceptrella fibrosa</i>, from South Australia, has spinorhabds with irregular bifurcate to multifurcate spined apical and basal whorls, and these are frequently dumbbell-shaped. <i>Sigmosceptrella quadrilobata</i> Dendy, 1922, from the Western Indian Ocean, has spinorhabds with regular apical and basal whorls. The sponge itself is dense, fibrous and collagenous as in species of <i>Neopodospongia</i> <b>gen. nov.</b>, but is thick, almost massive, with well defined plumose umbelliform tracts. <i>Diacarnus spinipoculum</i>, also from southern Australia and Fiji is a massive barrel-shaped species with fine umbelliform secondary tracts emerging from large hollow primary fibres (Kelly-Borges & Vacelet 1995).</p>Published as part of <i>Sim-Smith, Carina & Kelly, Michelle, 2011, Two new genera in the family Podospongiidae (Demospongiae: Poecilosclerida) with eight new Western Pacific species, pp. 32-54 in Zootaxa 2976</i> on pages 41-43, DOI: <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/200731">10.5281/zenodo.200731</a>
Podospongia colini Sim-Smith & Kelly, 2011, sp. nov.
No full text<i>Podospongia colini</i> sp. nov. <p>(Fig. 1 B, 2B, 3E–I)</p> <p> <i>Podospongia</i> sp. Colin & Arneson (1995: 20).</p> <p> <b>Material examined. Holotype</b> ― USNM 1154618: Cape Tarabitan (Torowitan), northern tip of Sulawesi, Indonesia, 1.752° N, 124.981° E, 50 m, collected on SCUBA by Dr Patrick L. Colin, CRRF, 21 May 1993; schizotypes are held at NIC, NIWA, Wellington, as NIWA 62047. <b>Paratype</b> ― USNM 1154619: Cape Tarabitan (Torowitan), northern tip of Sulawesi, Indonesia, 1.752° N, 124.981° E, 50–67 m, collected on SCUBA by Dr Patrick L. Colin, CRRF, 21 May 1993.</p> <p> <b>Type location.</b> Cape Tarabitan, North Sulawesi, Indonesia.</p> <p> <b>Distribution.</b> Known only from type location.</p> <p> <b>Description.</b> Stipitate sponge, 90 mm high (holotype), with an elliptical body 15 mm wide, on a flexible stalk 4–5 mm diameter, attached to the substrate by a solid expanded base (Fig. 1 B). Paratype has a total length of 86 mm, body is 16 mm high and 9.5 mm wide. One or two raised oscules are present on the apex of the body in life, occasionally on one side of the sponge. Ostia are visible under magnification and scattered in the ectosomal membrane. Surface inflated and undulating in life, granular to the touch, texture compressible, stalk tough. Colour in life peach orange and in ethanol cream throughout.</p> <p> <b>Skeleton.</b> Ectosome a moderately dense layer of microscleres surrounding the body and stalk, through which emerge brushes of small slender strongyloxeas. The stalk consists of short thick anisostrongyles forming a dense spongin-encased reticulation, with long thin strongyloxeas forming irregular brushes that emerge in the ectosome through a crust of microscleres. The dense spongin reticulation of the stalk gives way to multiple dendritic tracts of strongyloxeas that spray in an umbelliform arrangement within the globular body, expanding to form brushes at the surface. Microscleres are scattered through the choanosome (Fig. 2 B).</p> <p> <i>Megascleres</i> (Fig. 3 E–F, Table 1)― <b>Anisostrongyles</b> (Fig. 3 E), thick, irregularly curved with strongylote ends, forming the spongin-encased reticulation within the stalk; 391 (350–500) x 16 (10–20) μm. <b>Strongyloxeas I</b> (Fig. 3 F), long, thin, faintly polytylote, with a very fine needle-like distal end, forming the secondary tracts that emerge through the globular body; 821 (700–930) x 8 (6–10) μm. <b>Strongyloxeas II</b>, shorter, thin, also faintly polytylote, forming the brushes of the ectosome in the stalk and body; 591 (530–710) x 8 (6–10) μm.</p> <p> <i>Microscleres</i> (Fig. 3 G–I, Table 1)― <b>Aciculospinorhabds</b>, regularly spined, asymmetrical. Basal whorl composed of a regular tight cluster of spines. Apical whorl and apex merge into a cluster of spines, more densely clustered than the basal whorl; 28 (25–30) μm long x 18 μm wide. Protospinorhabds sigmoid (Fig. 3 I), around 10 μm in length, older protospinorhabds (Fig. 3 H) have numerous projections.</p> <p> <b>Substrate, depth range, and ecology.</b> The sponge was collected from a fringing reef wall between 50–67 m where it was reasonably common.</p> <p> <b>Etymology.</b> Named after Dr Patrick L. Colin, Director of the Coral Reef Research Foundation, Palau, in recognition for the enormous contribution he has made to our knowledge of Indo-Pacific sponge biodiversity, through his extensive SCUBA and manned-submersible collections over the last 20 years. Dr Colin has a penchant for deep-diving, and the collection of obscure and unusual deep-water creatures.</p> <p> <b>Remarks.</b> <i>Podospongia colini</i> <b>sp. nov.</b> was first recorded as an undescribed species, and figured in Colin & Arneson (1995, p. 20). <i>P</i>. <i>colini</i> <b>sp. nov.</b> is the largest <i>Podospongia</i> species recorded at 90 mm total length, although New Caledonian <i>P</i>. <i>similis</i> ranges from 57–80 mm (Lévi 1993) and <i>P</i>. <i>virga</i> <b>sp. nov.</b>, from northern New Zealand, has a total length of 70 mm. Unlike <i>P</i>. <i>similis</i>, <i>P</i>. <i>colini</i> <b>sp. nov.</b> (and <i>P</i>. <i>virga</i> <b>sp. nov.</b>) has a simple aquiferous system where surface ostia lead to several single and multiple oscules on the lateral and apical faces of the sponge. <i>P</i>. <i>colini</i> <b>sp. nov.</b> is found in shallow tropical reef habitat (50–67 m), similar to the habitat of <i>P</i>. <i>natalensis</i> (Table 1). All other species of <i>Podospongia</i> are considered to be deep-water species.</p> <p> Like <i>P</i>. <i>virga</i> <b>sp. nov.</b>, <i>P</i>. <i>colini</i> <b>sp. nov.</b> has a category of smaller anisostrongyles in the stalk region, but unlike <i>P</i>. <i>virga</i> <b>sp. nov.</b> and <i>P</i>. <i>similis</i>, it has two further categories of strongyloxeas instead of anisoxeas. The smaller strongyloxeas project beyond the surface of the sponge giving it a slightly hispid texture. <i>P</i>. <i>colini</i> <b>sp. nov.</b> has the smallest aciculospinorhabds of the three species; they are less regular than those of <i>P</i>. <i>virga</i> <b>sp. nov.</b> and <i>P</i>. <i>similis</i>. With their irregular multifurcate projections they superficially resemble the spinorhabds of <i>Negombata magnifica</i>, figured in Kelly-Borges & Vacelet (1995, Fig. 3 k).</p> <p> <i>P</i>. <i>colini</i> <b>sp. nov.</b> has the same form of aciculospinorhabds as <i>P</i>. <i>similis</i> and <i>P</i>. <i>virga</i> <b>sp. nov.</b>, where the apex is a tuft of short bifurcate or trifurcate spines that may or may not project beyond the general apex. These differ markedly from species in the Atlantic Ocean which have aciculospinorhabds with elongate individual spines that project well beyond the apical whorl and basal whorl in some cases.</p>Published as part of <i>Sim-Smith, Carina & Kelly, Michelle, 2011, Two new genera in the family Podospongiidae (Demospongiae: Poecilosclerida) with eight new Western Pacific species, pp. 32-54 in Zootaxa 2976</i> on pages 39-40, DOI: <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/200731">10.5281/zenodo.200731</a>
Genetic influences on level and stability of self-esteem
No full textWe attempted to clarify the relation between self-esteem level (high vs. low) and perceived self-esteem stability (within-person variability) by using a behavioral genetics approach. We tested whether the same or independent genetic and environmental influences impact on level and stability. Adolescent twin siblings (n = 183 pairs) completed level and stability scales at two time points. Heritability for both was substantial. The remaining variance in each was attributable to non-shared environmental influences. Shared environmental influences were not significant. Level and stability of self-esteem shared common antecedents via genetic and non-shared environmental influences. Nonetheless, stability was influenced by substantial unique genetic and non-shared environmental influences. The results validate the notion that level and stability are partially autonomous components of self-esteem
Ancorina stalagmoides Dendy 1924
No full textAncorina stalagmoides (Dendy 1924) ( Fig. 1 B, 4 D–H, 8) Ancorina stalagmoides Dendy, 1924: 297, pl. III, Fig. 4, pl. VII, Fig. 12–15. Ancorina stalagmoides, Bergquist (1968: 40). Material examined. NIWA 49896: 3 nautical miles east of North Cape, 34.412 ° S, 173.150 ° E, 133 m, 19 Apr 1999, additional vouchers are in the CRRF reference collection (0 CDN 6697 -O) and at the USNM (USNM 1182985); NIWA 49897: TAN 9915 -AA, Stn 3 B, Ngunguru Bay, Tutukaka, 35.697 ° S, 174.648 ° E, 80 m, 13 Dec 1999; NIWA 62162: TAN0413/ 138, Mahia Knoll, Bay of Plenty, 37.316 ° S, 177.075 ° E, 466–495 m, 14 Nov 2004; NIWA 44455: Stn E 848, north of the Three Kings Islands, 33.983 ° S, 171.667 ° E, 17 Mar 1968, 250 m; NIWA 75683: TAN 1108 / 275, Ranfurly Bank, northeast of East Cape, 37.316 ° S, 178.943 ° W, 145–155 m, 0 3 Jun 2011. Other material. Ancorina stalagmoides: NHMUK 1923.10.1.24 (syntype), dry subsample from R. N. XXXIII. 1; NHMUK 1923.10.1.23 (syntype), dry subsample from R. N. XXXIII. 6; NHMUK 1923.10.1.220, NHMUK 1923.10.1.402, NHMUK 1923.10.1.115, microscope slides from R. N. XXXIII. 1, 6: unidentified Terra Nova Stn, off Three Kings Islands, British Antarctic (Terra Nova) Expedition, 1910, 16 Jul – 24 Sep 1911. Type locality. Three Kings Islands. Distribution. Three Kings Islands, North Cape, Tutukaka, Bay of Plenty. Description. Massive, sculpted sponge, 190 x 170 mm with an apical depression and deeply corrugated/ sculpted growths projecting outwards and downwards (Fig. 1 B). Small oscules are scattered in the apical and lateral depressions, about 2–3 mm diameter. Texture compressible, velvety to the touch and hispid in places, interior is very harsh and siliceous. Entire surface is encrusted with Desmacella dendyi de Laubenfels (Poecilosclerida: Desmacellidae), up to 3 mm thick. Colour in life is orange owing to the encrusting D. dendyi, interior is tan, which changes rapidly to pink upon exposure to air. Colour in ethanol is dark tan, interior is medium brown. Skeleton. Ectosome about 1200 µm thick, cavernous with aquiferous canals, with a thick band of dark granular ‘fibrous’ collagen, along the ectosome/choanosome boundary. Sanidasterhabds are moderately dense at the surface of the sponge and scattered below. Dense bundles of large oxeas and triaenes radiate out from the centre of the sponge towards the surface. Triaenes are abundant at the surface of the sponge, arranged in tight brushes, with their cladomes uppermost. The pitchfork-like cladomes of the protriaenes and dichotriaenes extend beyond the ectosome and encrustation of D. dendyi, rendering the surface particularly harsh and scratchy. The choanosome is more heavily pigmented than the ectosome and densely packed with oxyasters. Oxyasters and smaller microscleres are scattered throughout the ectosome. Spicules. Megascleres (Fig. 4 D–E) are oxeas, large, stout, fusiform, very slightly curved with sharply pointed ends, 3576 (2941–4114) x 86 (58–109) µm; protriaenes (Fig. 4 D), large, stout spicules with a pitch-fork shape, rhadome length 3043 (2421–3924) µm, clad length 315 (213–430) µm, cladome width 290 (241–361) µm; prodichotriaenes (Fig. 4 E), large, stout spicules with a long, gradually tapering rhabdome, 3015 (2486–3592) µm, and forward arching clads. Cladi are short and stout, protoclads are 141 (87–203) µm long and protrude at an approximately 45 ° angle from the shaft, deutroclads are 116 (67–139) µm long and protrude at 60–70 ° from the shaft, cladome is 433 (301–570) µm wide. Microscleres (Fig. 4 F–H) are oxyasters I (Fig. 4 F) with around 7–10 slender rays that are sharply pointed at the ends, and lightly spined, 15 (12–18) µm diameter; oxyasters II, smaller than oxyaster I and with more rays, 6 (4–9) µm diameter (Fig. 4 G); sanidasterhabds (Fig. 4 H), with acanthose irregular spines, frequently with a central restriction, producing a dumbbell-like shape, 5 (4–6) µm long. Substrate, depth range, and ecology. Coral rubble and rocky substrate; found between 80– 495 m. Remarks. Ancorina stalagmoides is distinctive in morphology, forming a sculpted mass, and in the form of the prodichotriaenes and dichotriaenes which resemble pitch-forks. The thick ectosome with fibrous granular collagen at the lower boundary is characteristic of Ancorina and similar to that of both A. diplococcus and A. bellae sp. nov. The sanidasterhabds are similar in form to those of A. diplococcus in that they are dumbbell-shaped, but the acanthose spines are less densely packed. Under light microscopy these are easily mistaken for the acanthomicrorhabds of Ecionemia, but careful observation reveals the inherent irregularity and spininess of these microscleres. The choanosomal oxyasters are common, but are much smaller and less abundant than those in A. diplococcus and A. bellae sp. nov.Published as part of Kelly, Michelle & Sim-Smith, Carina, 2012, A review of Ancorina, Stryphnus, and Ecionemia (Demospongiae, Astrophorida, Ancorinidae), with descriptions of new species from New Zealand waters, pp. 1-47 in Zootaxa 3480 on pages 9-11, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.28235
DNA fusion gene vaccination mobilizes effective anti-leukemic cytotoxic T lymphocytes from a tolerized repertoire
No full textThe majority of known human tumor-associated antigens derive from non-mutated self proteins. T cell tolerance, essential to prevent autoimmunity, must therefore be cautiously circumvented to generate cytotoxic T cell responses against these targets. Our strategy uses DNA fusion vaccines to activate high levels of peptide-specific CTL. Key foreign sequences from tetanus toxin activate tolerance-breaking CD4+ T cell help. Candidate MHC class Ibinding tumor peptide sequences are fused to the C terminus for optimal processing and presentation. To model performance against a leukemia-associated antigen in a tolerized setting, we constructed a fusion vaccine encoding an immunodominant CTL epitopederived from Friend murine leukemia virus gag protein (FMuLVgag) and vaccinated tolerant FMuLVgag-transgenic (gag-Tg) mice. Vaccination with the construct induced epitopespecificIFN-c-producing CD8+ T cells in normal and gag-Tg mice. The frequency and avidity of activated cells were reduced in gag-Tg mice, and no autoimmune injury resulted. However, these CD8+ T cells did exhibit gag-specific cytotoxicity in vitro and in vivo. Also, epitope-specific CTL killed FBL-3 leukemia cells expressing endogenous FMuLVgag antigen and protected against leukemia challenge in vivo. These results demonstrate a simple strategy to engage anti-microbial T cell help to activate epitope-specific polyclonal CD8+ T cell responses from a residual tolerized repertoire
Ecionemia alata Dendy 1924
No full textEcionemia alata (Dendy 1924) (Fig. 1 E–F, 3, 5A–E, 8) Ancorina alata Dendy, 1924: 298; Pl. V, Fig. 1, 2; Pl. VIII, Fig. 1–7. Ancorina alata, Bergquist (1968: 38; Pl. 5 d, 6 a, 13 f, g; Fig. 12). Ancorina osculifera Dendy, 1924: 300. Material examined. Three Kings Islands: NIWA 44477: NZOI Stn I 378, Great Island, 34.158 ° S, 172.145 ° E, intertidal, 23 Nov 1977; NIWA 51230: NIWA Stn KAH 9901 / 33 (Z 9681), 34.315 ° S, 172.818 ° E, 63 m, 26 Jan 1999; NIWA 62217: NE tip of Great Island, 34.146 ° S, 172.144 ° E, 16 m, 14 Apr 1999, additional vouchers are in the CRRF reference collection (0 CDN 6586 -S) and the USNM (USNM 1182988); NIWA 52981, NIWA 62155: Great Island, 34.153 ° S, 172.134 ° E, 11 m, 14 Apr 1999, additional vouchers are in the CRRF reference collection (0 CDN 6551 -G and 0 CDN 6564 -T, respectively), and at the USNM (USNM 1182989 and USNM 1182990) respectively; Cape Reinga, North Cape, Northland: NIWA 44246: NIWA Stn Z 9243, Cape Reinga, 34.368 ° S, 172.768 ° E, 44 m, 28 Feb 1997; NIWA 62218: 2 miles NW of North Cape, 34.381 ° S, 172.015 ° E, 80 m, 18 Apr 1999, additional vouchers are in the CRRF reference collection (0 CDN 6664 -C) and in the USNM (USNM 1182991); Spirits Bay, Northland: NIWA 52436: NIWA Stn KAH0606/D 2, 34.379 ° S, 172.887 ° E, depth unknown, 15 May 2005; NIWA 51033: NIWA Stn KAH 9901 / 3 (Z 9667), 34.405 ° S, 172.832 ° E, 29 m, 24 Jan 1999; NIWA 51124: NIWA Stn KAH 9901 / 24 (Z 9676), 34.364 ° S, 172.841 ° E, 57 m, 25 Jan 1999; NIWA 51262: NIWA Stn KAH 9901 / 41 (Z 9685), 34.376 ° S, 172.821 ° E, 49 m, 26 Jan 1999; NIWA 51383: NIWA Stn KAH 9901 / 59 (Z 9695), 34.367 ° S, 173.000 ° E, 89 m, 27 Jan 1999; NIWA 51595: NIWA Stn KAH 9901 / 89 (Z 9713), 34.375 ° S, 172.928 ° E, 65 m, 29 Jan 1999; NIWA 51618: NIWA Stn KAH 9901 / 91 (Z 9715), 34.390 ° S, 172.986 ° E, 30 m, 29 Jan 1999; NIWA 51623: NIWA Stn KAH 9901 / 92 (Z 9716), 34.361 ° S, 173.001 ° E, 100 m, 29 Jan 1999; NIWA 51694: NIWA Stn Z 8468, 34.000 ° S, 172.783 ° E, 40 m, 1 Jun 1996; NIWA 62259: 34.396 ° S, 172.999 ° E, 18 m, 25 Mar 2007; NIWA 62329: 34.438 ° S, 172.761 ° E, 19 m, 25 Mar 2007; Cavalli Islands: NIWA 44252: NIWA Stn BG 9701, 34.991 ° S, 173.970 ° E, 41 m, 3 Mar 1997; Cape Rodney-Okakari Pont Marine Reserve (Goat Island): NIWA 62451: NIWA Stn Z 15648, Sponge Garden, 36.260 ° S, 174.79 ° E, 18 m, 0 6 July 1997; Great Barrier Island: NIWA 62163: 36.179 ° S, 175.296 ° E, 10–17 m, 25 Apr 1999, additional vouchers are in the CRRF reference collection (0 CDN 6794 -T) and at the USNM (USNM 1182992); NIWA 62164: 36.349 ° S, 175.474 ° E, depth unknown, 7 Jun 2006; NIWA 62165, NIWA 62166: 36.333 ° S, 175.474 ° E, depth unknown, 7 Jun 2006; Hauraki Gulf: NIWA 62360: Rakino Island, 36.716 °S, 174.96 °E, 15 m, 8 Jun 1999; Coromandel Peninsula: NIWA 44563: Opito Bay, 36.721 °S, 175.798 °E, depth unknown, 23 Mar 1991; Bay of Plenty: NIWA 44398: NZOI Stn J 698, 37.830 ° S, 176.863 ° E, 6 m, 10 Oct 1974; East Cape, North Island: NIWA 44222: NIWA Stn Z 7092, Pania Reef, Hawkes Bay, 11 m, 6 Feb 1991, collected by Clinton Duffy, Department of Conservation; NIWA 44227: NZOI Stn N 901, East Cape, 37.567 ° S, 178.877 ° E, 20 m, 27 Feb 1977; Ranfurly Banks, northeast of East Cape: NIWA 75310: TAN 1108 / 213, 37.547 ° S, 178.893 ° W, 68–70 m, 30 May 2011; NIWA 75426: TAN 1108 / 233, 37.602 ° S, 178.896 ° W, 58–60 m, 31 May 2011; NIWA 75482: TAN 1108 / 239, 37.595 ° S, 178.866 ° W, 110–113 m, 0 1 Jun 2011; NIWA 75572: TAN 1108 / 250, 37.519 ° S, 178.867 ° W, 106–117 m, 0 1 Jun 2011; NIWA 75605: TAN 1108 / 253, 37.469 ° S, 178.926 ° W, 78–86 m, 0 1 Jun 2011; NIWA 75619: TAN 1108 / 268, 37.623 ° S, 178.893 ° W, 68–70 m, 0 2 Jun 2011; Gisborne: NIWA 75148: TAN 1108 / 197, Ariel Bank, 38.759 ° S, 178.355 ° E, 42–46 m, 29 May 2011; Wellington: NIWA 44462: NZOI Stn C 844, 41.638 ° S, 175.187 ° E, 88 m, 1 Mar 1962; Marlborough Sounds: NIWA 44479: NZOI Stn P 124, 41.043 ° S, 173.637 ° E, intertidal, 6 Jun 1977; NIWA 52219: Crail Bay, Pelorus Sound, 41.117 ° S, 173.950 ° E, depth unknown, 28 Jul 1999; NIWA 52220: Tawhitinui Reach, Pelorus Sound, 41.033 ° S, 173.883 ° E, depth unknown, 22 Jul 1999; NIWA 44223: NIWA Stn Z 7195, Port Ligar, Cape Horn, 40.932 ° S, 173.981 ° E, 18 April 1991, collected by Department of Conservation; Mernoo Bank and Chatham Rise: NIWA 44226: NIWA Stn W 438, 43.238 ° S, 175.441 ° E, 78–83 m, 21 Feb 1995; NIWA 44231: NIWA Stn W 450, 43.456 ° S, 175.257 ° E, 70 m, 22 Feb 1995; NIWA 44234: NIWA Stn W 448, 43.240 ° S, 175.458 ° E, 74 m, 22 Feb 1995; NIWA 44438: NIWA Stn W 436, 43.243 ° S, 175.439 ° E, 73–84 m, 20 Feb 1995; NIWA 44015: NIWA Stn W 454, 43.451 ° S, 175.109 ° E, 126 m, 22 Feb 1995; NIWA 44540: NIWA Stn W 437, 43.240 ° S, 175.434 ° E, 78 m, 20 Feb 1995. Other material. Ancorina alata: NHMUK 1923.10.1.25 (Holotype), wet subsample from R. N. XXXII. 6; NHMUK 1923.10.1.27, wet subsample of R. N. XXXII. 12; NHMUK 1923.10. 1.28, wet subsample from R. N. XXXII. 13; NHMUK 1923.10.1.222, NHMUK 1923.10.1.224, microscope slides from R. N. XXXII. 8: Terra Nova Stn 96, 7 miles east of North Cape, 128 m, British Antarctic (Terra Nova) Expedition, 1910, 16 Jul – 24 Sep 1911. Ancorina osculifera: NHMUK 1923.10.1.29, wet subsample from R. N. XXX. 10; NHMUK 1923.10.1.225, NHMUK 1923.10.1.226, Terra Nova Stn 96, 7 miles east of North Cape, 128 m, British Antarctic (Terra Nova) Expedition, 1910, 16 Jul – 24 Sep 1911, microscope slides from R. N. XXX. 10. Ancorina osculifera: NHMUK 1938.8.24.9a, Rangitoto Island, Hauraki Gulf, Auckland, collected by Miss L. B. Moore, microscope slide. Type locality. North Cape. Distribution. Three Kings Islands south to Chatham Rise. Description. Massive sponge, up to 1 m diameter. Two distinct forms: 1) a loaf-shaped to thickly encrusting meandering sponge with bands of small oscules restricted to the apex of lobes or spreading along the tops of broad ridges in shallow troughs (Fig. 1 E). Surface smooth to undulating, never strongly nodular, sometimes corrugated, smooth and granular to the touch, and 2) a bowl-shaped to meandering elongate sponge with a thin, undulating rim that separates two very distinct surfaces, an upper concave exhalent surface which is smooth and perforated by numerous tiny oscules, 2–3 mm diameter, and a lower convex inhalant surface that is bumpy and often shaggy with projecting spicules (Fig. 1 F). The latter form is less common than the former. Texture moderately compressible, slightly flexible. Granular to the touch, interior slightly fleshy but harsh. Colour in life typically shark grey to charcoal, internal colour is tan. Colour in ethanol dark tan, interior beige. Skeleton. Ectosome is approximately 100 µm deep, with a dense crust of acanthomicrorhabds at the surface, and a dense region of pigmented cells at the surface, as illustrated in Fig. 3. Fine, short, hair-like oxeas are sparsely distributed in the ectosome, and protrude from the surface. Large, stout oxeas are located in the deeper regions of the choanosome and just into the region containing plagiotriaenes. Long thin oxeas surround the plagiotriaenes and stout oxeas that radiate and diverge into brushes at the surface. Anatriaenes may or may not be present in the tracts of oxeas and plagiotriaenes, and vary greatly in abundance and in the size and shape of the cladome. Towards the centre of the sponge stout oxeas are packed in confusion. Acanthomicrorhabds and chiasters are moderately abundantly scattered throughout the choanosome. Spicules. Megascleres (Fig. 5 A–C) are oxeas I, large, stout, fusiform, with sharply pointed tips, usually slightly curved, occasionally with stylote or strongylote modifications, 2257 (1818–2713) x 55 (35–69) µm; oxeas II, very long and hair-like with finely tapered ends, 1756 (1362–2264) x 11 (6–14) µm (n= 10); oxeas III, short and hair-like, 168 (90–244) µm long and about 1–2 µm wide; plagiotriaenes (Fig. 5 A) with a conical rhabdome and sharply pointed clads that recurve towards the tips, rhadome length 2495 (1951–3086) µm, clad length 218 (150– 312) µm, cladome width 334 (244–423) µm; anatriaenes (Fig. 5 B, C), long and very slender, 2314 (1781–2755) µm long, size and shape of cladome variable, 38 (24–54) µm wide. Microscleres (Fig. 5 D–E) are chiasters (Fig. 5 D) with 4–8 smooth, slender rays that terminate in a cluster of multiple recurved spines, 9 (6–13) µm diameter; acanthomicrorhabds (Fig. 5 E), straight, slightly uneven, acanthose, often centrally or irregularly thickened, gradually tapering towards bluntly rounded ends, 8 (7–11) µm long. Substrate, depth range, and ecology. Very common in silty harbours and on coastal rocky reefs around northern New Zealand, from the intertidal zone down to 180 m. Remarks. Uriz’s (2002) diagnosis of the characters that separate Ancorina and Ecionemia, namely, the possession of ‘sanidasters’ in Ancorina and acanthomicrorhabds in Ecionemia, has led us to reassign A. alata to Ecionemia. Ecionemia alata, known in the taxonomic and popular New Zealand literature as A. alata, is one of the most common sponges in New Zealand coastal waters, and is distinctive in both shape and size. Dendy (1924) described another New Zealand species, A. osculifera, noting its similarity to E. alata, but differentiating it on the presence of long, hair-like oxeas (oxeas III in this work) that appeared to replace the anatriaenes in what he would otherwise consider to be E. alata. Dendy noted a difference in the positioning of the oscules, on the tops of flat ridges in A. osculifera (our form 1) as opposed to in the concave surface of bowl-shaped E. alata (our form 2). Bergquist (1968) found specimens that contained both anatriaenes and oxeas III, and synonymised A. osculifera with E. alata, concluding that the two forms of E. alata were the result of habitat differences, with intertidal sponges assuming a rounded massive to lobate form, and deeper water specimens taking a more variable, meandering shape. Examination of numerous specimens in this work supports Bergquist’s decision to synonymise the two species on the basis of spiculation, but we have found no evidence to support Bergquist’s conclusion that the very clear differences in morphology are a result of habitat differences.Published as part of Kelly, Michelle & Sim-Smith, Carina, 2012, A review of Ancorina, Stryphnus, and Ecionemia (Demospongiae, Astrophorida, Ancorinidae), with descriptions of new species from New Zealand waters, pp. 1-47 in Zootaxa 3480 on pages 14-16, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.28235
Yoga as a complementary treatment of depression: effects of traits and moods on treatment outcome
No full textPreliminary findings support the potential of yoga as a complementary treatment of depressed patients who are taking anti-depressant medications but who are only in partial remission. The purpose of this article is to present further data on the intervention, focusing on individual differences in psychological, emotional and biological processes affecting treatment outcome. Twenty-seven women and 10 men were enrolled in the study, of whom 17 completed the intervention and pre- and post-intervention assessment data. The intervention consisted of 20 classes led by senior Iyengar yoga teachers, in three courses of 20 yoga classes each. All participants were diagnosed with unipolar major depression in partial remission. Psychological and biological characteristics were assessed pre- and post-intervention, and participants rated their mood states before and after each class. Significant reductions were shown for depression, anger, anxiety, neurotic symptoms and low frequency heart rate variability in the 17 completers. Eleven out of these completers achieved remission levels post-intervention. Participants who remitted differed from the non-remitters at intake on several traits and on physiological measures indicative of a greater capacity for emotional regulation. Moods improved from before to after the yoga classes. Yoga appears to be a promising intervention for depression; it is cost-effective and easy to implement. It produces many beneficial emotional, psychological and biological effects, as supported by observations in this study. The physiological methods are especially useful as they provide objective markers of the processes and effectiveness of treatment. These observations may help guide further clinical application of yoga in depression and other mental health disorders, and future research on the processes and mechanisms. © 2007 The Author(s)
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