New species of the xenophyophore genus Aschemonella (Rhizaria: Foraminifera) from areas of the abyssal eastern Pacific licensed for polymetallic nodule exploration

Gooday, Andrew J ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5661-7371; Holzmann, Maria; Caulle, Clemence; Goineau, Aurélie; Jones, Daniel O.B. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5218-1649; Kamenskaya, Olga; Simon Lledo, Erik ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9667-2917; Weber, Alexandra A -T; Pawlowski, Jan. 2017 New species of the xenophyophore genus Aschemonella (Rhizaria: Foraminifera) from areas of the abyssal eastern Pacific licensed for polymetallic nodule exploration. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 182 (3). 479-499. 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlx052

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlx052

Abstract/Summary

We describe Aschemonella monile Gooday and Holzmann sp. nov. from the Clarion–Clipperton Zone (CCZ, abyssal eastern equatorial Pacific), a region characterized by commercially significant concentrations of polymetallic nodules. The new species is the most abundant xenophyophore (giant agglutinated foraminifera) in our main sampling area (12–14°N; 116°30′–117°26′W). Additional specimens originate from the central CCZ, and from a third area, ~900 km NW of the main area, where A. monile numerically dominates the megabenthos in photographic surveys of the seafloor (average densities 1.54 individuals/m2; peak densities > 3 individuals/m2). Aschemonella monile is much larger (≥ 7 cm in length) than previously described species of the genus, with a test comprising an irregular sequence of self-contained, partly overlapping ‘segments’, creating a multichambered structure. A similar, much rarer species from the main study area, described here as Aschemonella aspera Gooday and Holzmann sp. nov., has an unsegmented test with a very rough, coarsely agglutinated wall. Genetic data suggest that A. monile is distinct from A. aspera and most closely related to a group comprising Rhizammina algaeformis and Aschemonella ramuliformis. Both new species have delicate tests that are often attached to nodule surfaces, making them particularly vulnerable to seafloor disturbances.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1093/zoolinnean/zlx052
ISSN:	0024-4082
Date made live:	25 Apr 2018 15:18 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/519899

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

10.1093/zoolinnean/zlx052

ISSN:

0024-4082

Date made live:

25 Apr 2018 15:18 +0 (UTC)

URI:

https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/519899