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Patterns of shell utilization and preference in two sipunculan genera, Phascolion and Aspidosiphon

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 July 2022

Kohei Oshiro*
Affiliation:
Seto Marine Biological Laboratory, Field Science Education and Research Center, Kyoto University, 459 Shirahama, Nishimuro, Wakayama 649-2211, Japan
Akihiro Yoshikawa
Affiliation:
Coastal Marine and Social Science Section, Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, The University of Tokyo, 1-19-8 Akahama, Otsuchi, Iwate 028-1102, Japan
Akira Asakura
Affiliation:
Seto Marine Biological Laboratory, Field Science Education and Research Center, Kyoto University, 459 Shirahama, Nishimuro, Wakayama 649-2211, Japan
Ryutaro Goto
Affiliation:
Seto Marine Biological Laboratory, Field Science Education and Research Center, Kyoto University, 459 Shirahama, Nishimuro, Wakayama 649-2211, Japan
*
Author for correspondence: Kohei Oshiro, E-mail: oshiro.k.pdbk@gmail.com
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Abstract

Sipunculans are non-segmented marine worms with an anterior retractable introvert, which are commonly included in Annelida based on molecular phylogenetic and phylogenomic analyses. They generally burrow in the soft sediments or live inside the crevices of hard substrata (e.g. calcareous/coralline rocks). However, members of some sipunculan genera (mainly Phascolion and Aspidosiphon) are known to have a peculiar habit of dwelling in vacant shells of gastropods or scaphopods. In this study, we investigated the shell utilization and preference pattern of the species of Phascolion and Aspidosiphon in Japan. We collected 302 sipunculans, comprising 273 and 29 individuals in Phascolion and Aspidosiphon, respectively, from 57–800 m depth of three study sites in the Pacific coast of Honshu Island, Japan. The species of Phascolion were found in vacant shells of 38 genera of 27 families of gastropods and six genera of four families of scaphopods, whereas the species of Aspidosiphon were found in 11 genera of 11 families of gastropods and one genus of scaphopod. These results suggest that members of each genus use a wide range of gastropod and scaphopod shells. The body size of the sipunculans was positively correlated with the shell size, suggesting that they change the shells as they grow. Furthermore, we investigated the shell preference of Phascolion species by comparing morphological characteristics of shells occupied and unoccupied by sipunculans. Generalized linear mixed model (GLMM) analyses suggest that the species of Phascolion tend to use long and narrow shells. Such shells likely fit well the elongated trunk of sipunculans.

Information

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom
Figure 0

Fig. 1. Sampling localities. Circles indicate sampling stations: (A) Japanese Archipelago; (B) Kii Peninsula, Japan. Shimoda (Station 1), Kumanonada (Stations 2, 6–11), Tanabe (Stations 3–5, 12–14).

Figure 1

Table 1. Sampling information

Figure 2

Fig. 2. Size measurements of shell/tube-dwelling sipunculans and their snail shells: (A) Sipuncula, (B) Gastropoda, (C) Scaphopoda.

Figure 3

Fig. 3. Shell-dwelling sipunculans. Sipunculans belonging to Phascolion (A, B) and Aspidosiphon (C, D). (A, C) Individuals inhabiting shells. (B, D) Individuals removed from their dwelling shells. Each panel shows a different individual. Scale bars = 4 mm.

Figure 4

Fig. 4. The ratios of Phascolion to Aspidosiphon in each sampling site and depth. Black = Phascolion; Stripe = Aspidosiphon: (A) Each sampling locality, (B) Each sampling depth.

Figure 5

Fig. 5. Total number of individuals of shell families used by Phascolion and Aspidosiphon species. (A) Phascolion, (B) Aspidosiphon.

Figure 6

Fig. 6. Vacant shells most frequently used by species of Phascolion (A–F) and Aspidosiphon (G–J): (A) Turridae, (B) Cerithiidae, (C) Orectospiridae, (D) Entalinidae, (E) Gadilinidae, (F) Gadilidae, (G) Turridae, (H) Pseudomelatomidae, (I) Nassariidae, (J) Gadilinidae. Scale bars = 4 mm.

Figure 7

Fig. 7. Number of individuals of shell families used by Phascolion and Aspidosiphon species at each sampling locality. Black bars = Phascolion, Stripe bars = Aspidosiphon. (A) Shimoda, Shizuoka, Japan, (B) Kumanonada, Mie, Japan, (C) Tanabe, Wakayama, Japan.

Figure 8

Fig. 8. Correlation equations between the body size of Phascolion species and their gastropod shell size: (A) trunk length and shell length, (B) trunk length and shell width, (C) trunk length and shell aperture length, (D) trunk width and shell length, (E) trunk width and shell width, (F) trunk width and shell aperture length.

Figure 9

Fig. 9. Correlation equations between the body size of Phascolion species and their scaphopod shell size: (A) trunk length and shell length, (B) trunk length and shell width, (C) trunk length and shell aperture length, (D) trunk width and shell length, (E) trunk width and shell width, (F) trunk width and shell aperture length.

Figure 10

Fig. 10. Correlation coefficient and regression line between the body size of Aspidosiphon species and gastropod shell size: (A) Trunk length and shell length, (B) Trunk length and shell width, (C) Trunk length and shell aperture length, (D) Trunk width and shell length, (E) Trunk width and shell width, (F) Trunk width and shell aperture length.

Figure 11

Fig. 11. Logistic regression for each factor. Scatter diagram and correlation matrix diagram of each factorial explanatory variable: (A) Shell length, (B) Shell width, (C) Shell aperture length.

Figure 12

Table 2. Results of each model of the generalized linear mixed model analysis with AIC value ordered by decreasing AIC

Figure 13

Table 3. Results of a generalized linear mixed model for the shell-shape preference of Phascolion species

Supplementary material: File

Oshiro et al. supplementary material

Tables S1-S6 and Figure S1

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