Polychaetes and oligochaetes associated with intertidal rocky shores in a semi-enclosed industrial and urban embayment, with the description of two new species

Julio Parapar (1) , Enrique Martínez-Ansemil (1) , Carlos Caramelo (1) , Rut Collado (1) , Rüdiger Schmelz (1)

1 Departamento de Bioloxía Animal, Bioloxía Vexetal e Ecoloxía, Facultade de Ciencias

The species composition and relative abundance of the annelid benthic macrofauna (Polychaeta and Oligochaeta) inhabiting the rocky intertidal zone of the ria of Ferrol (Galicia, NW Spain) were studied during field collections, from 2000 to 2002. A total of 14,619 specimens (11,585 polychaetes belonging to 76 species and 24 families and 3,034 oligochaetes belonging to 18 species and two families) were collected from 98 quantitative samples taken from 13 sampling sites. The general spatial distribution of the annelid fauna reflects an increase of the diversity from the inner to the outer part of the ria. The general patterns found in the annelid composition suggest that the assemblages were dominated by oligochaetes in the inner sheltered sampling sites and polychaetes in the outer more exposed sites. Several faunistical and taxonomical remarks on selected species are presented. Two new species of oligochaetes are described: sp. n. and sp. n. (Naididae, Phallodrilinae). A new biological index, based on the oligochaete/polychaete ratio (O/P), is proposed as tool to evaluate environmental quality and to monitor future changes in the environment.

Mots clés: Annelida; Polychaeta; Oligochaeta; Intertidal zone; Faunal composition; New species; Spain

Julio Parapar, Enrique Martínez-Ansemil, Carlos Caramelo, Rut Collado, Rüdiger Schmelz. Polychaetes and oligochaetes associated with intertidal rocky shores in a semi-enclosed industrial and urban embayment, with the description of two new species. Helgoland Marine Research, 2009, 63 (4), pp.293-308. ⟨10.1007/s10152-009-0158-7⟩. ⟨hal-00535195⟩