Stolonica socialis

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Stolonica socialis
Scientific classification
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S. socialis
Binomial name
Stolonica socialis
Hartmeyer, 1903 [1]

Stolonica socialis is a species of tunicate or sea squirt in the family Styelidae, commonly known as orange sea grapes. It is native to the northeastern Atlantic Ocean, where it lives on the rocky seabed in shallow water. [2]

Contents

Description

Stolonica socialis is a colonial tunicate forming small clusters of zooids, joined at the base by a mat of stolons. Each zooid is up to 2 cm (0.8 in) high, rectangular or ovoid. Both of the small siphons on each zooid are situated near the apex. The outer surface of each zooids is smooth and sand does not adhere to it, although sand does adhere to the mat of stolons. Although most colonies are orange, some are yellow and others pale brown. [3] [4] The colonies spread across the rocks and can form large sheets. In winter, orange-red buds develop on the stolons. Similar species with which it could be confused include Dendrodoa grossularia and Distomus variolosus , but both of these are red. [4]

Distribution

Stolonica socialis is found in the northeastern Atlantic Ocean, [5] the Irish Sea and the English Channel. Its range includes the coasts of northwestern Ireland and southeastern Ireland, Wales, southwestern England and northwestern France. It grows on rocks, including those swept by strong currents, at depths from 5 to 35 m (16 to 115 ft) [3] or more. It favours shaded rocks, boulders and overhangs, and can form large populations. At exceptionally low tides, it may be found under overhanging rocks on the foreshore. [4]

Biology

Like other tunicates, Stolonica socialis is a filter feeder, water being sucked into the hollow body of each zooid via an inhalent siphon, large particles being rejected by tentacles at the siphon entrance. Edible particles are sieved out of the water stream, and the water is then pumped out through the exhalent siphon. [4] The colony grows by the stolons extending across the rock surface and budding new zooids at intervals, with large patches of zooids often being formed. In winter these buds may remain dormant as small spherical outgrowths, and with the arrival of warmer weather in the spring, growth can restart and the spherules can develop into zooids. In adverse conditions, sexual reproduction takes place, with eggs and sperm being liberated into the water column. [4]

The tissues of this tunicate contain stolonoxides, secondary metabolites that have been found to have cytotoxic effects; this may be the reason that the tunics remain largely clear of epibionts whereas many other tunicates are heavily colonised by other organisms. [4] [6]

Related Research Articles

Tunicate Marine animals, subphylum of chordates

A tunicate is a marine invertebrate animal, a member of the subphylum Tunicata. It is part of the Chordata, a phylum which includes all animals with dorsal nerve cords and notochords. The subphylum was at one time called Urochordata, and the term urochordates is still sometimes used for these animals. They are the only chordates that have lost their myomeric segmentation, with the possible exception of the 'seriation of the gill slits'.

Ascidiacea Group of non-vertebrate marine filter feeders comprising sea squirts

Ascidiacea, commonly known as the ascidians, tunicates, and sea squirts, is a polyphyletic class in the subphylum Tunicata of sac-like marine invertebrate filter feeders. Ascidians are characterized by a tough outer "tunic" made of a polysaccharide.

Doliolida Order of marine filter feeders

The Doliolida are an order of small marine animals of the subphylum Tunicata. They are in the class Thaliacea, which also includes the salps and pyrosomes. The doliolid body is small, typically 1–2 mm long, and barrel-shaped; it features two wide siphons, one at the front and the other at the back end, and eight or nine circular muscle strands reminiscent of barrel bands.

<i>Botrylloides leachii</i> Species of sea squirt

Botrylloides leachii is a colonial tunicate of the family Styelidae. Its unique methods of propagation and regeneration make it an ideal model organism for use in biological study of development, immunology, stem cells, and regeneration.

<i>Pyrosoma atlanticum</i> Species of marine filter feeder

Pyrosoma atlanticum is a pelagic species of marine colonial tunicate in the class Thaliacea found in temperate waters worldwide. The name of the genus comes from the Greek words pyros meaning 'fire' and soma meaning 'body', referring to the bright bioluminescence sometimes emitted. The specific epithet atlanticum refers to the Atlantic Ocean, from where the first specimen of the species was collected for scientific description; it was described in 1804 by François Péron, a French naturalist.

Ecteinascidia turbinata, the mangrove tunicate, is a sea squirt species in the genus Ecteinascidia, which was described to science in 1880 by William Abbott Herdman. The cancer drug trabectedin is isolated from E. turbinata.

<i>Atriolum robustum</i> Species of sea squirt

Atriolum robustum is a colonial tunicate or sea squirt in the family Didemnidae. It is native to the western and central Indo-Pacific where it is usually found anchored to a hard surface in shallow water.

<i>Didemnum molle</i> Species of sea squirt

Didemnum molle is a species of colonial tunicate in the family Didemnidae. It is commonly known as the tall urn ascidian, the green barrel sea squirt or the green reef sea-squirt. It is native to the Red Sea and the tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific region.

<i>Didemnum vexillum</i> Species of sea squirt

Didemnum vexillum is a species of colonial tunicate in the family Didemnidae. It is commonly called sea vomit, marine vomit, pancake batter tunicate, or carpet sea squirt. It is thought to be native to Japan, but it has been reported as an invasive species in a number of places in Europe, North America and New Zealand. It is sometimes given the nickname "D. vex" because of the vexing way in which it dominates marine ecosystems when introduced into new locations, however the species epithet vexillum actually derives from the Latin word for flag, and the species was so named because of the way colonies' long tendrils appear to wave in the water like a flag.

Perophora viridis, the honeysuckle tunicate, is a species of colonial sea squirt in the genus Perophora found in the tropical western Atlantic Ocean.

Amathia vidovici is a species of colonial bryozoans with a tree-like structure. It is found in shallow waters over a wide geographical range, being found in both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and adjoining seas.

Amathia verticillata, commonly known as the spaghetti bryozoan, is a species of colonial bryozoans with a bush-like structure. It is found in shallow temperate and warm waters in the western Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea and has spread worldwide as a fouling organism. It is regarded as an invasive species in some countries.

Perophora regina is a species of colonial sea squirt in the genus Perophora. It is native to the tropical western Atlantic Ocean where it is found growing on mangrove roots on the Belize Barrier Reef.

Polycarpa fibrosa is a species of tunicate in the family Styelidae. It is brown and globular and its outer surface is covered with a mat of fibrils. It normally lies buried in soft sediment on the seabed with only its two siphons protruding. It occurs in the Arctic Ocean and northern Atlantic Ocean. P. fibrosa was first identified and described by the American malacologist William Stimpson in 1852.

<i>Morchellium argus</i> Species of sea squirt

Morchellium argus, the red-flake ascidian, is a species of colonial sea squirt, a tunicate in the family Polyclinidae. It is native to shallow water in the northeastern Atlantic Ocean, especially round the coasts of Britain.

<i>Polyclinum planum</i> Species of sea squirt

Polyclinum planum, is a compound ascidian commonly known as the Elephant Ear Tunicate. It is an ascidian tunicate in the family Polyclinidae. Ascidians are also known as sea squirts.

Stolonica is a genus of ascidian tunicates in the family Styelidae.

<i>Dendrodoa grossularia</i> Species of tunicates

Dendrodoa grossularia is a species of tunicate or sea squirt in the family Styelidae, commonly known as the baked bean ascidian. It is native to the northeastern Atlantic Ocean where it is common in shallow water and on the lower shore in exposed rocky sites.

<i>Aplidium elegans</i> Species of sea squirt

Aplidium elegans (sea-strawberry) is a species of colonial sea squirt, a tunicate that is a benthic invertebrate in the family Polyclinidae and class Ascidiacea. It is native to shallow waters in the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. It is also found in between France and the United Kingdom.

Walkeria uva is a species of colonial bryozoan in the order Ctenostomatida. It occurs on either side of the Atlantic Ocean, in the Baltic Sea, in the Mediterranean Sea and in the Indo-Pacific region.

References

  1. Hartmeyer, R. (1903) Die Ascidien der Arktis. In: Romer, F. & F. Schaudin eds., Fauna Arctica, 3(2): 93–412.
  2. Sanamyan, K. (2015). Stolonica socialis Hartmeyer, 1903. In: Shenkar, N.; Gittenberger, A.; Lambert, G.; Rius, M.; Moreira Da Rocha, R.; Swalla, B.J.; Turon, X. (2015) Ascidiacea World Database. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species on 2015-12-23
  3. 1 2 Ager, O.E.D. (2007). "Stolonica socialis". Marine Life Information Network: Biology and Sensitivity Key Information Reviews. MarLIN. Retrieved 2021-12-17.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Ziemski, Frédéric; André, Frédéric (30 January 2021). "Stolonica socialis Hartmeyer, 1903" (in French). DORIS. Retrieved 17 December 2021.
  5. Picton, B.E. & Morrow, C.C. (2015). Stolonica socialis Hartmeyer, 1903. [In] Encyclopedia of Marine Life of Britain and Ireland. Accessed on 2015-12-23
  6. Fontana, Angelo; González, M.Carmen; Gavagnin, Margherita; Templado, Jose; Cimino, Guido (2000). "Structure and absolute stereochemistry of stolonoxide A, a novel cyclic peroxide from the marine tunicate Stolonica socialis". Tetrahedron Letters. 41 (3): 429–432. doi:10.1016/S0040-4039(99)02077-8.