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Direct nematode predation in the marine nematode Synonchiella spiculora (Selachinematidae: Nematoda)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 May 2009

Tiago J. Pereira ,
Arely Martínez-Arce ,
Ruth Gingold  and
Axayácatl Rocha-Olivares
Arely Martínez-Arce
Affiliation:
Molecular Ecology Laboratory, Deparment of Biological Oceanography, Centro de Investigación Científica y Educación Superior de Ensenada, Carretera Tijuana-Ensenada, Km. 107, Baja California 22860, México
Ruth Gingold
Affiliation:
Molecular Ecology Laboratory, Deparment of Biological Oceanography, Centro de Investigación Científica y Educación Superior de Ensenada, Carretera Tijuana-Ensenada, Km. 107, Baja California 22860, México
Axayácatl Rocha-Olivares
Affiliation:
Molecular Ecology Laboratory, Deparment of Biological Oceanography, Centro de Investigación Científica y Educación Superior de Ensenada, Carretera Tijuana-Ensenada, Km. 107, Baja California 22860, México
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Abstract

This study documents direct evidence of nematode predation in the free living marine nematode Synonchiella spiculora recorded in the intertidal of Santa Clara beach in the Upper Gulf of California, Mexico. The heavily armoured buccal cavity that allows S. spiculora to break larger particles and ingest other organisms is characteristic of nematodes categorized as predators and omnivores. The inferred feeding behaviour of S. spiculora and other Selachinematidae suggests that engulfing whole and relatively large prey items may be common in this group. Synonchiella spiculora could be classified in the guild of ‘predators’ sensu Jensen (1987) and Moens & Vincx (1997). Nevertheless, more direct observations are required to ‘ground truth’ inferences based on their morphological variation and to better understand their feeding ecology.

Keywords

carnivoryfree living marine nematodeUpper Gulf of CaliforniaMexico
Type
Research Article
Information
Marine Biodiversity Records , Volume 2 , January 2009 , e111
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2009

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Footnotes

1

Current address: Department of Nematology, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, USA

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