Abstract This study examines the distribution of primary and secondary space holders integrated in morphological and feeder functional groups as well as the species richness over the seasons on northern Patagonian rocky shores. We also evaluated whether the temporal changes in species richness, assemblage structure and species turnover were related to seasonal changes. These patterns were studied by non-destructive samplings between December 2013 and March 2015. Thirty taxa were identified, including six algal morphological functional and three invertebrate feeder groups. The cover of seaweeds and invertebrates was positively correlated with changes in the environmental factors. The marked seasonality in this Patagonian zone changed between two contrasting periods. Species richness and assemblage structure were associated with seasonal changes and were influenced by the more abundant morphological and feeder functional groups. We suggest that habitat-formers, such as articulated calcareous and suspensor feeder groups, can expand and retract over time-scales of months to seasons, generating available space for the colonization and growth of other organisms. We conclude that seasonal changes and the dynamics of articulated calcareous and suspensor feeder groups drive changes in the algal and invertebrate abundances, in turn driving changes in species richness and assemblage structure.

Abstract The toxic effects of the insecticides chlorpyrifos and cypermethrin, and the herbicide glyphosate on the growth, biovolume and ultrastructure of the green microalgae Selenastrum capricornutum were evaluated. Concentrations between 9.37-150 mg L-1 of chlorpyrifos, 3.12-100 mg L-1 of cypermethrin and 4.7-60 mg L-1 of glyphosate were assayed along with a control culture. The assayed concentrations were prepared using commercial formulations. After 48 h all tested concentrations of the three pesticides reduced significantly the population growth. The 96 h effective concentration 50 (EC50) was 14.45 mg L-1 for chlorpyrifos, 12.37 mg L-1 for cypermethrin and 15.60 mg L-1 for glyphosate. Cells exposed to the three pesticides showed an increase in the cellular size related to the increase in pesticide concentration and exposure time. The most significant damages observed on the ultrastructure of cells exposed to the three pesticides included thylakoids and mitochondria disruption, formation of electrodense bodies, accumulation of lipids and increase in the size and number of starch granules. The present study demonstrates that the effects of pesticides also extend to non-target organisms having significant ecological implications.

ResumoCrustáceos da superordem Peracarida formam importantes aglomerados em habitats sedimentares. O anfípode Monocorophium insidiosum (CRAWFORD, 1937) e o tanaidáceo Tanais dulongii (AUDOUIN, 1926) são classificados como espécies invasoras. No presente estudo, investigamos a ecologia de M. insidiosum e de T. aff. dulongii na costa argentina. Cultivamos ambos os crustáceos para estudar sua fecundidade e crescimento, e investigamos seu comportamento e potenciais relações interespecíficas em quatro experimentos laboratoriais. Avaliamos a capacidade de construção de tubos (experimento 1) e testamos a reação de machos e fêmeas de M. insidiosum em construir tubos na presença de tubos vazios (experimentos 2 e 3) e ocupados (experimento 4) de T. aff. dulongii. Nossos resultados mostraram alta fecundidade (três gerações em quatro semanas) e taxa de crescimento (duplicação do comprimento corporal em duas semanas) de >M. insidiosum. Duas estratégias de construção de tubos foram identificadas: um comportamento de mudança de tubo para M. insidiosum, em que fêmeas mostraram maior atividade de construção; e um comportamento de manutenção de tubo para T. aff. dulongii. De maneira geral, tubos de tanaidáceos foram frequentemente reivindicados por M. insidiosum, demonstrando uma relação interespecífica próxima e resultando numa menor atividade de agregação sedimentar. Segundo nossas observações, é provável que essas espécies invasoras já sejam encontradas ao longo da costa atlântica patagônica, ou que venham a se propagar no futuro.

AbstractPeracarid crustaceans belong to the most important agglomerating macrofauna in sedimentary habitats. The amphipod Monocorophium insidiosumCRAWFORD, 1937 and the tanaid Tanais dulongii AUDOUIN, 1926 are listed as invasive species. In the present study, we investigated the ecology of M. insidiosum and T. aff. dulongii from the Argentinian coast. Both crustaceans were breeding under laboratory conditions to study their fecundity and growth. Additionally their behavior and potential interspecific relations have been investigated in four different laboratory experiments. We evaluated tube building capabilities (experiment 1), and tested gender specific responses of M. insdiosum to the presence of empty (experiments 2 and 3), and inhabited T. aff. dulongii tubes (experiment 4). Our results showed high fecundity (three generations within four weeks) and growth rates (duplication of body lengths in two weeks) for M. insidiosum. Two tube construction strategies were distinguished: a tube changing behavior for the amphipod M. insidiosum, showing greater construction activity for females, and tube keeping behavior for T. aff. dulongii. Overall, tanaid tubes were frequently claimed by M. insidiosum, demonstrating a close interspecific relationship and resulting in decreased sediment aggregating activity. In the light of our observations it may be affirmed that these invasive species are probably frequently distributed along the Patagonian Atlantic coast and will still spread in future.

The objective of the present study is to report for the first time the occurrence of Spermatozopsis similis H. R. Preisig et M. Melkonian in a marine environment, describing the morphology and its abundance in Ría del Jabalí; Bahía Anegada, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Samples were taken monthly between June and November 2006 and were observed under light and scanning electron microscope. Specimens of S. similis showed biflagellate, fusiform and slightly spiraled cells, with flagella of unequal length. S. similis was an important component of phytoplankton in Ría del Jabalí between June and August 2006, reaching its maximum abundance in August (6 770 cél.ml-1), during this period there were observed very high and fluctuating values of salinity. This paper is the first record of S. similis in a marine environment.

El objetivo del presente trabajo es registrar por primera vez la presencia de Spermatozopsis similis H. R. Preisig et M. Melkonian en un ambiente marino y describir su morfología y abundancia en la ría del Jabalí; bahía Anegada, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Se realizaron muestreos mensuales entre junio y noviembre de 2006, las muestras se observaron bajo microscopio óptico y electrónico de barrido. Los ejemplares de S. similis presentaron células biflageladas fusiformes y levemente espiraladas, con flagelos de largo desigual. Spermatozopsis similis fue un componente importante del fitoplancton en la ría del Jabalí entre junio y agosto de 2006, alcanzando su máxima abundancia en agosto (6 770 cél.ml-1), durante este periodo se observaron valores muy altos y fluctuantes en la salinidad. Este trabajo constituye el primer registro de S. similis en un ambiente marino.

The present paper deals with the ultrastructure of zoospores produced by the plasmodiophorid Maullinia ectocarpii, living in the marine algal host Ectocarpus siliculosus. The zoospores described here are very similar to secondary zoospores of Polymyxa graminis and Phagomyxa sp.(the latter an algal endoparasite, also). Our results indicate that M. ectocarpii produces two types of plasmodia, and suggest that is a species with a complete life cycle, as it is known for all the Plasmodiophormycota that have been studied. Sporogenic and sporangial plasmodia produce, respectively, primary zoospores with parallel flagella within thick walled resting sporangia, and secondary zoospores with opposite flagella within thin walled sporangia.

Batrachospermum atrum var. puiggarianum was collected for the first time in Buenos Aires province. The identification of samples was based on microscopic morphology and chromosomic number analyses of each generations of the life cycle under culture conditions. The thalli were studied with optical microscopy, and karyology according to carmine acetic technique. Life cycle showed three generations: an haploid gamethophyte, a diploid carposporophyte and the last Chantransia diploid phase. Gametophytes exhibited separate whorls of densely compressed primary branches, some of those branches bearing spermatangia or carpogonium. Internodes were constituted by globose axial cells and cortical cells. The ovoidal carposporophytes were formed by gonimoblastic filaments bearing terminal carposporangia. The Chantransia stage was characterized for short filaments of few cells. The studied material showed a chromosome haploid number n = 4, and diploid number 2n = 8.

Se coleccionó Batrachospermum atrum var. puiggarianum por primera vez en la provincia de Buenos Aires. La identificación de las muestras se basó en el análisis de la morfología microscópica y en el número cromosómico de cada una de las generaciones de su ciclo de vida bajo cultivo. Los talos se estudiaron con microscopio óptico, y la cariología, por medio de la técnica de carmín acético. El ciclo de vida presentó tres generaciones: una gametofítica haploide, una carposporófitica diploide que originó la última fase Chantransia diploide. Los talos gametófitos estuvieron formados por verticilos separados por zonas internodales, cada uno de ellos constituidos por ramas primarias densamente comprimidas. Entre éstas se observaron ramas portadoras de espermatangios y de carpogonios. Las zonas internodales estuvieron constituidas por células corticales y axiales. Los carposporófitos ovoideos estuvieron forma-dos por filamentos gonimoblásticos portadores de carposporangios terminales. El estado Chantransia se caracterizó por presentar filamentos cortos con pocas células. El material estudiado presentó un número haploide n = 4 y diploide 2n = 8.

In this paper, we record and illustrate 22 species of Chlorococcales (Chlorophyceae, Chlorophyta) found in Paso de las Piedras Reservoir, which are new records for this area. Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata, Tetraedron hemisphaericum and Scenedesmus semipulcher are new for Argentina.

En el presente trabajo se citan e ilustran 22 especies pertenecientes al orden Chlorococcales (Chlorophyceae, Chlorophyta) halladas en el embalse Paso de las Piedras que representan nuevas citas para este ambiente. Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata, Tetraedron hemisphaericum y Scenedesmus semipulcher constituyen nuevas citas para la República Argentina.

«El Cangrejal», an association of Sarcocornia perennis and Chasmagnathus granulata is situated in the salt marsh of slime-clay tide plains of the estuary of Bahía Blanca (Buenos Aires). In the sediment-water interface microbial mats are mainly constituted by cyanophytes and diatoms. This is a study of the epipelics Cyanophyceae presents in these mats, identifying twenty three taxa corresponding to the Orders Chroococcales (1) and Hormogonales (22). The species are new mention for the study area, an exception are Microcoleus chthonoplastes and Oscillatoria limosa. Symploca hydnoides f. minor is a new record for Argentina.

En la marisma de las planicies de marea limo-arcillosas del estuario de Bahía Blanca (Buenos Aires) se ubica "El cangrejal", una asociación de Sarcocornia perennis y Chasmagnathus granulata. En la interfase sedimento-agua se forman matas microbianas constituidas principalmente por cianofíceas y diatomeas. Se estudiaron las Cyanophyceae epipélicas presentes en dichas matas, identificándose veintitres taxa correspondientes a los Órdenes Chroococcales (1) y Hormogonales (22). Las especies halladas son nuevas citas para el área en estudio, a excepción de Microcoleus chthonoplastes y Oscillatoria limosa. Symploca hydnoides f. minor se cita por primera vez para Argentina.

The principal goal of the work was to make a statistical analysis of the morphology of individuals of Anabaena circinalis growing in a bloom in Embalse Paso de las Piedras (Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina), identified by a gene probe for this species. Our results suggest that 1) it is possible to characterise individuals of A. circinalis growing in eutrophic condition, by using statistical parameters of the vegetative cells dimensions, 2) the criterion based on akinete morphology should not be used for characterization given the no maturation of akinetes in eutrophic conditions and the trend to morphological uniformity between the vegetative cells and immature akinetes, and 3) spherical heterocyst and vegetative cells can be discriminated by size but not by shape, whereas both can be differentiated from ovoidal akinetes. The variance analysis of the length of vegetative cells indicates all trichomes belong to the same species.

El objetivo principal de este trabajo fue realizar un tratamiento estadístico de los caracteres morfológicos de los individuos de Anabaena circinalis presentes en una proliferación masiva del Embalse Paso de las Piedras (Buenos Aires, Argentina) cuya identidad se determinó mediante técnicas moleculares. Se plantearon como objetivos específicos de este trabajo: 1) analizar las dimensiones celulares y parámetros estadísticos de centralización y dispersión; 2) analizar la posición relativa de los heterocistos y las acinetas en el tricoma; 3) analizar la composición porcentual de los distintos tipos de células del tricoma; 4) analizar relación entre valores promedio del ancho y largo celular; y 5) analizar la variación del largo celular en células vegetativas de diferentes tricomas. Los resultados obtenidos sugieren que en condiciones eutróficas: 1) es posible caracterizar a los individuos de Anabaena circinalis mediante parámetros estadísticos referidos a las medidas de las células vegetativas de los tricomas, 2) el criterio basado en los caracteres morfológicos de las acinetas inmaduras no debe ser utilizado para ese fin, dadas la no-maduración de las acinetas en condiciones eutróficas y la tendencia a la uniformidad morfométrica entre las células vegetativas y las acinetas inmaduras, y 3) los heterocistos y las células vegetativas, uniformemente esféricos, sólo pueden diferenciarse entre sí por su tamaño y no por su forma, mientras que ambos a su vez pueden diferenciarse de las acinetas ovoidales por su forma. En cuanto al análisis de la varianza del largo de las células vegetativas, los resultados obtenidos confirman que todos los tricomas pertenecen a una misma especie.

The specific composition and abundance variation of the ciliate community from a wastewater discharge zone in the Bahía Blanca estuary, Argentina, were studied all throughout a year, from June 1995 to May 1996. The polluted area exhibited high values of particulate organic matter and nutrients, particularly phosphates. Aloricate ciliates were represented by 15 species belonging to the genera Strombidium Claparède & Lachmann, 1859; Strombidinopsis Kent, 1881; Cyrtostrombidium Lynn & Gilron, 1993; Strobilidium Schewiakoff, 1983; Lohmmanniella Leegaard, 1915 and Tontonia Fauré-Fremiet, 1914. Tintinnids were represented by nine species belonging to the genera Tintinnidium Kent, 1881, Tintinnopsis Stein, 1867 and Codonellopsis Jörgensen, 1924. The total abundance of aloricate ciliates reached a peak of 1,800 ind. 1-1 and the total abundance of tintinnids reached a peak of 9,400 ind. 1-1. Tintinnidium balechi Barría de Cao, 1981 was the most abundant ciliate in the community. Considerations on the presence and abundance of ciliates are made in relation to physicochemical and biochemical parameters.