Polychaetes of the
New York Bight
by John Frey
Environmental Protection Agency - Newport, Oregon
UlBHJUI? >EPA
Hotional EnviiSfcmsflWRaaMlBUCasslar
200 3. W 35th Stie®t x '
Resources Development tnternsRip Program
Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education
Urban Studies Center,
Portland State University
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This report has been cataloged by the WICHE Library as follows:
Frey, John R
Polychaetes of the New York Bight: a key
and a discussion of the ecology of the dominant
species. Boulder, Colo., Western Interstate
Commission for Higher Education, 197^.
40p.
1. Marine ecology. I. Title. II. Northwest
Pacific Environmental Research Laboratory. III.
Western Interstate Commission for Higher Educa-
tion. Resources Development Internship Program.
The ideas and opinions expressed in this report are those of the author.
They do not necessarily reflect the views of the WICHE Commissioners or
WICHE staff.
The Resources Development Internship Program has been financed during
1974 by grants from the Economic Development Administration, Education
Division, HEW; Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation, National Endowment for
the Humanities, National Science Foundation and by more than one hundred
and fifty community agencies throughout the West.
WICHE is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Printed on recycled paper
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Polychaetes of the New York Bight:
A Key and a Discussion of the Ecology of the
Dominant Species
by
John R. Frey
Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education Intern
Coastal Pollution Branch
U. S. Environmental Protection Agency
Marine Science Center
Newport, Oregon
August, 1974
Committee Members:
R. C. Swartz
W. A. DeBen
D. T. Martin
D. J. Baumgartner
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ABSTRACT
The major portion of this report 1s an Identification key to the
polychaetes of the New York Bight. The key covers polychaetes collected
on six surveys at a site twelve miles south of Fire Island. An intro-
duction to the key defines terms which may be unfamiliar. A discussion
of the data and a summary of the life histories of the five most common
polychaetes in the samples follows the key. Possible relationships
between life histories and abundance are suggested.
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INTRODUCTION
The adverse biological effects of dumping sewage and dredge spoils
in the oceans have stimulated much Interest and research in recent
years. Most Investigations of this problem have included studies of
bottom-living or benthic animals, since it is generally agreed that
benthic organisms are the best biological indicators of this Kind of
pollution (Butcher, 1955). Dumping sewage sludge may create abnormal
benthic communities by greatly reducing species diversity and standing
crop (NOAA, 1972). Death of organisms may be caused by smothering,
intolerably low oxygen concentrations in the sediments due to highly
reducing organics in the wastes, or by the toxicity of heavy metals or
other substances in high concentrations 1n disposal areas.
The Niew York Bight 1s used extensively for waste disposal. However,
only a few studies of the species diversity and abundance of benthic
animals have been carried out in this area. The EPA's Coastal Pollution
Research Program has been conducting a long-term study of the benthic
fauna of a proposed experimental dump-site in the New York Bight since
1972. With information on the benthic communities in an area before,
during, and after sludge dumping a clearer understanding of the biologi-
cal effects of sludge dumping will be possible. I have been involved in
the identification and enumeration of one group in the. benthic community,
the polychaetes, or marine annelids. The animals come from samples
collected during cruises in 1972, 1973, and 1974 in the New York Bight
twelve miles south of Fire Island. Polychaetes are an appropriate
organism for the New York Bight baseline study since they are ubiquitous,
diverse, and abundant, and pollution-caused changes might be expected to
be readily detectable.
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In any faunal survey, correct identification of animals is funda-
mental. As an aid to future similar projects, an identification key for
polychaetes in the New York Bight is presented in this report. This key
draws heavily from Berkeley, 1948; Gosner, 1955; Pettibone, 1968; and
Smith, 1968. It is supplemented with my own observations which may make
some identifications easier. The key is restricted to the polychaetes
we have encountered in our samples. We feel justified in this since the
sampling program has been extensive and it is unlikely that any major
component of the polychaete community has been left put. It may be
necessary to use more complete keys to identify rarely-encountered
worms. Drawings are included to assist in identification. A series of
photomicrographs of the common polychaetes is available from the Coastal
Pollution Research Program. A. general discussion of some of the poly-
chaete data is included in the report. The abundance and diversity are
treated with respect to time. Some features of the life histories of
the most common forms are mentioned. Possible relationships between
their life histories and abundance are discussed.
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INTRODUCTION TO THE KEY
Polychaetes may be distinguished from other wortinllke animals by
the presence of usually distinct segmentation, trunk appendages, cephalic
(head) appendages, and bristles. On on]y a few genera 1s segmentation
indistinct. Polychaetes assume a wide diversity of morphological forms,
from thread-like to conical. Bodies may or may not be reqionated (divided
into distinct regions), and regionation may be correlated with sexual
activity. Usually the head and tail ("prostomium" and "pygidlum") are
recognizable.
Head appendages are helpful in making identifications. Unfortu-
nately, the terminology of these appendages has not been completely
standardized. "Antennae" or "tentacles" are usually dorsal appendages
on the prostomium. "Palpi" ranging from filamentous to globular, are
usually ventral and border the mouth. True gills may be found on the
head, but may not be easily recognizable as such. Many polychaetes have
an eversible proboscis, a modified part of the foregut.
The characteristic trunk appendages, "parapodia," are also useful
1n making identifications. Parapodia may be simple "uniramous" structures
with a single lobe or "blramous" with a dorsal lobe, the "notopodium",
and a ventral lobe, the "neuropodium". Structures which may be on the
parapodia include "branchiae" (gills), "elytra" (scales), or "setae"
(bristles). Parapodia are commonly well developed in active, swimming
polychaetes, and reduced 1n more sedentary species.
The most helpful structures on the parapodium for identification
are the setae. Setae, present 1n almost all polychaetes, usually occur
in bundles with a supporting structure called an "aciculum." Setae
assume a wide variety of forms, and provide very precise characters for
species identification. The initial distinction is between "simple" (a
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single piece) and "composite" (two or more pieces) setae. "Capillary"
setae are long and slender. The ends of setae may be "entire," "bifid,"
or "trifid," depending on whether there are one, two or three tips.
"Falcate" refers to setae bent like a sickle, "limbate" to setae flat-
tened like an oar blade. Stubby, bent tips are called "hooks" or
crochets." These setae grade into short, broadened "uncini." The tips
of both simple and compound setae may be embedded in a clear matrix
("hood"). These types of setae and the other morphological characters
discussed are illustrated in Figure 1.
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Figure 1:
A. Generalized polychaete, anterior end; pr - proboscis; an - antennae;
pro - prostomium; p - palp; para - parapodla. B. Generalized parapodium.
br - branchia; no - notopodlum; ne - neuropodium; s - setae. C. Setae.
1 - simple, capillary; 2 - composite; 3 - falcate; 4 limbate; 5 -
mooded crochet; 6 - unclni.
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para
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DICUSSION
The data will be discussed first, followed by a discussion of the
life histories of the dominant polychaetes 1n the New York Bight and
possible relationships between the abundance and life history of these
species.
The data was collected on six cruises between December, 1972, and
February 1974. From one to nine stations werie sampled on each cruise,
the numbers of the five most abundant polychaetes for each cruise are
listed in Table 1. The splonid Spiophanes bombyx was the most abundant
over the six cruises, the maldanlds (bamboo worms) Clymenella zonal is,
Leijochone dispar, and Nichomache lumbricalls, were second, third, and
fifth most abundant, respectively, whie the goniadid Gonladella gracilis
was fourth most abundant.
There were dramatic changes in the number of each species from
cruise to cruise. Spiophanes bombyx, present only in moderate numbers
1n the first three cruises, far outnumbered other species 1n cruises 4,
5, and 6. Spiophanes bombyx 1s so numerous in the latter three samples
that over the six cruises there were five times as many of these worms
as the nearest competition, Clymenella zonalis. On the average, Spio-
phanes bombyx accounted for 75$ (by number) and Clymenella zonalis 10%
of the total number of polychaetes from cruise 4. The respective per-
centages for Cruise 5 were 65% and 12%, and for cruise 6, were 22% and
5%. For all three cruise totals and for most of the station totals
within the cruise totals, these two worms were the most and second most
abundant species. The Increasing dominance of Spiophanes bombyx in
later cruises is also reflected 1n the diversity indices of the cruise
totals. The average indices (H1), calculated according to Lloyd, Zar,
and Karr (1968), ranged from about .9 in the first three cruises to
about .45 in the latter threee. Since the number of species for each
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cruise was relatively constant, the decrease in diversity index values
indicates that one or a few species dominated the samples in the last
three cruises, while the samples from the earlier cruises are made up of
a more even distribution of different species.
The polychaetes possess a diversity of habitats and feeding methods.
The group has been divided into Errantia (active forms) and Sedentaria
(sendentary forms) in the past, but this division is regarded as arti-
ficial by taxbnamists today; Crawling forms may live.on the substrate
surface beneath stones, and shells. Burrowing forms occupy fixed or
temporary burrows excavated in the substrate. The tube-dwelling habit
is common in polychaetes, and is most characteristic of the more sedent-
ary forms. There are a few pelagic forms.
Most marine annelids feed on plankton or detritus. The remainder
are predators, and eat other worms, crustaceans, etc. "Plankton feeders"
utilize mucus-covered gills to entrap microscopic organisms which are
then carried down channels to the mouth. "Direct-deposit feeders"
consume the substrate (with organic material that has settled to the
bottom) directly by means of the norimuscular proboscis which is everted
by a pressure increase in the coelomic fluid. Polychaetes that feed in
this way are burrowers or tube dwellers. "Indirect-deposit feeders"
have specialized head structures in place of a proboscis. These struc-
tures are covered with mucus to which deposit material adheres. Entrap-
ped material is transported to the mouth along ciliated tracts. "Rap-
torial feeders", or carnivores, capture their prey by means of an ever-
sible proboscis with two or more chitlnous jaws.
The spionids are sedentary, tubiculous (tube-dwelling) worms. They
live in membraneous, mud or sand covered tubes. Feeding habits for
these polychaetes are transitional between indirect-deposit feeding and
filter-feeding. Spionids feed on the bottom, sweeping the substrate for
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microscopic suspended material with a pair of elongate palps. Clymen-
ella zonal1s, Leiochone dlspar, Nichomache lumbricalis, and other "bamboo
worms" (so-called because of elongated segments resembling bamboo) are
tublculous, burrowing, sedentary, polychaetes. the tubes are soft and
encrusted with sand, mud, or shell. Bamboo worms are typical direct-
deposit feeders. They live upside-down and Ingest the substrate at the
bottom of their tubes. The organic portion 1s digested, and the mineral
portion egested as castings. The bamboo worms, unlike most other poly-
chaetes, which have gills, respire by the diffusion of gases through the
body surface.
Gonaidella gracilis and other gonladidae are active fast-moving
polychaetes. They are usually found on sand, fine gravel, or soft mud
substrates. Goniadel1a gracilis 1s a raptorial feeder. Botn glycerid
and gohladid polychaetes can tolerate extremes of environmental conditions.
The five species of polychaetes listed in Table 1 are very important
to the benthic community of the New York Bight. They represent a range
of habitats and feeding habits. This may be Indicative of a relatively
"clean" environment In which no one group of polychaetes 1s selected
for. Relsh (1955) tried to establish the relationship between benthic
polychaetes and zones of pollution 1n the Los Angeles Long Beach harbor.
He divided the harbor Into five zones ("healthy" through "very polluted")
on the basis of bottom conditions and the distribution of polychaetes.
Perhaps the "Spiopharies bombyx - Clymenella zonal is" aggregate represents
a "healthy" zone. Other distinctive polychaete aggregates may emerge as
sewage sludge dumping 1s initiated and continued in this area.
The numbers of polychaetes vary greatly spatially and temporally.
Spiophanes bombyx, for example, is scarce in some samples, and overwhelm-
ingly abundant in others. When the data from several cruises is combined,
however, a few dominant species emerge which may be used as a baseline
against which to compare future pollution-induced changes 1n the benthic
community.
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Table 1
Numbers of the Five Most Abundant Species of Polychaetes for
Six Cruises in the New York Bight
Cruise 1_
Spiophanes bombyx 2
Clymenella zonal is 65
Leiochone dispar 23
Goniadella gracilis 83
Nichomache
lumbricalls 14
Totals 187
2 3 4
27
27
1063
158
38
74
48
2
51
33
8
12
23 11 25
289 86 1225
5 6 Totals
2729
1213
5061
348
315
998
117
109
350
62
55
253
15 27 115
3271 1719 6777
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THE KEY
1. Dorsal surface covered with enlarged scales or elytra which may be
concealed by a dense coating of felt or furlike setae, or dorsum with
bristles in transverse ridges. GROUP!. Families: Sigal ionidae, Poly-
noidae.
NOTE: Scales may not be obvious, or many may be absent.
1. Without scales or elytra, Segmentation distinct, Anterior end with
antennae minute or absent or with a single median antenna; tentacular
cirri or palpi short or absent. 2. Anterior end with well-developed
appendages including antennae, tentacles, palpi, or tentacular cirri.
5.
2. Prostomium either conical with 4 miniite, terminal antennae or more
or less quadrangular with four small antennae. GROUP 2. Families:
Nephtyidae, Glyceridae, Goniadidae.
2. Not So - 3.
3. Body not regionated; body segments not conspicuously longer than
wide; postomium conical, without appendages or with a median antenna.
GROUP 3. Families: Lumbrineridae, Arabellidae, Paraonidae.
3. Body usually more or less regionated, or with some body segments
much longer than wide; prostomium varies 4.
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4. Some body segments much longer than wide; anterior end more or less
obliquely flattened or bluntly rounded and hoodlike, without appendages
or with a frilled membrane. GROUP 4. Families: Maldanidae, Oweniidae.
"Bamboo worms."
4. Segments shorter than or little longer than wide; anterior end
conical or with T-shaped or trilobed prostomium, without appendages or
with papillae. GROUP 5. Families: Arenicolidae, Capitel1idae, Scali-
bregmidae, Opheliidae, 0rb1ni1dae.
NOTE: Certain spionids, such as Spiophanes bombyx have a T-shaped
prostomium, and as the two long palpi are often absent, may be mistaken
for worms in this group.
5. Typically wormlike forms, elongate; with body segments more or less
alike throughout, not distinctly regionated; prostomium usually well
developed; parapodia well developed for active crawling or swimming. 6.
5. Body relatively "short, stout," often regionated; prostomium often
reduced or hidden by a concentration of numerous tentacular appendages
or setae; parapodia frequently reduced; chiefly burrowing, tubicolous
forms: 8.
6. Parapodia uniramous, with leaflike or globular dorsal and ventral
cirri; 4 or 5 antennae; no palpi; 2-4 tentacular cirri; usually two
eyes; proboscis jawles's but with papillae. GROUP 6. Family: PhyTlod-
ocidae.
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6. Parapodia uni or biramous, cirri when present not as above; antennae
1-7 but not 4 or 5; usually with two palpi with may be globular; with 1-
8 pairs of tentacular cirri or none. 7.
7. With two frontal antennae; a pair of two-jointed palpi; three or
four pairs of tentacular cirri; usually four eyes; proboscis with a
collarlike "oral ring" and a "maxillary ring" with a pair of sicklelike
jaws; GROUP 7. Family: Nereldae.
7. With 1-7 antennae; two globular palpi or none; one or two pairs of
tentacular cirri or none; proboscis with complex jaw pieces. GROUP 8.
Families: Dorvilleidae, Onuphidae.
8. Head with two long palpi and sometimes with one or a few pairs of
filamentous branchiae, but without numerous filamentous appendages; if
palpi short, then appendages at midbody modifies to form three large
circular pallets. GROUP 9. Family: Spionidae.
8. Head usually with numerous bristles or tentacular appendages. 9.
9. Anterior end with tentacular appendages which are pinnate and
concentrated in two semicircular or spiral lobes; GROUP 10. Family:
Sabellidae. Known as "fan-worms" because of appearance of the tentacular
appendages.
9. Anterior end with numerous tentacular appendages which may be
pinnate or not, but which are not concentrated in two distinct lobes.
10.
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9. Body covered with papillae; anterior end usually with setae directed
forward and frequently forming a sort of cage; head not conspicuously
truncated; GROUP 11. Family: Flabelligerldae.
10. Tentacular appendages usually originating back of the head; body
not regionated. GROUP 12. Family: Cirratulldae.
10. Tenacular appendages at head end, frequently with a ciump of gills
behind the tentacles; body regionated. 11.
11. Tentacular appendages not retractile. GROUP 13. Family: Terebelli-
dae.
11. Tentacular appendages retractile. GROUP 14. Family: Ampharetidae.
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GROUP ONE S1 galioriidae. Polynoidae. Dorsum covered by scales Which
are not concealed; Dorsum without transverse rows of setae.
1. With dorsal cirri on segments without elytra - Polynoidae. With
30-50 pairs of elytra; 100 mm by 9 nim; commensal with terebelHd poly-
chaetes. Lepidametria commensal 1 s.
1. Without such dorsal cirri, but most genera, except Pholoe, with
cirrlform branchiae on all segments except anterior few. S1gal1on1dae.
2.
2. With cirri form branchiae; burrowing species. 3.
2. Without cirri form branchiae; 25 mm by 4 mm; a creeping form.
Phdloe mlnuta.
3. Prostomium without median antenna; elytra with an external fringe
of pinnate papillae; 300 ran by 8 m. Sigallon arenjcola.
3. Prostomium with median antenna. Several types of neurosetae.
Anterior elytra fringed, posterior ones notched. 100 mm by 4 mm.
Sthenelais limicola.
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GROUP TWO: Nephtyldae, Glyceridae, Gonladidae.
1. Body cylindrical; parapodia small, without lamellae; prostomium
conical with four minute terminal antennae. 2.
1. Body flattened; parapodia well developed, with lamellae; prostomium
subquadrate with four small antennae. Tentacular segment with setae and
a pair of ventral tentacular cirri. Nephtyldae 5.
2. Body regionated, with a short anterior section with unlramous
parapodia and posterior parapodia distinctly blramous; individual segments
with one annulation; proboscis eversible, long cylindrical, covered with
papillae and armed with complex accessory structures usually in the form
of chevrons, circlets, or bands. Goniadidae. 4;
2. Body not regionated, the parapodia essentially similar throughout;
individual segments with 2 or 3 arinulatlons; proboscis eversible, with
four strong jaws. Glyceridae. 3.
3. Parapodia with 1 post setal and 2 presetal lobes. No branchiae.
150 mm by 8 mm. Glycera capitata.
3. Parapodia with 2 postsetal and 2 presetal lobes. Branchiae not
retractile. 370 mm by 11 nm. Glycera dibranchiata.
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4. Presetal lobes of neuropdia bilobed. Proboscis with minute papillae,
a terminal ring of larger papillae and 3-8 teeth. Proboscis with chevrons.
Lacks a transitional body region. Has 7-11 chevrons and reaches 160 mm.
Gorii ada brunnea.
4. Presetal lobes of neuropoda simple, not bilobed; proboscis with
patches of minute papillae. Proboscis with basal chevrons; neurosetae
include compound falcigers and spinigers; 50 mm x 1'mm. Goniadella
gracilis.
5. With branchiae curving inwardly. Aglaophamus.
a. With 2 minute eyes; neuropodia with an erect lobe or cirrus
above; 44 mm x 3 mm. A1qaophamus verrilli.
b. Without eyes, no neuropodial lobe. Aglaophamus circinata.
5. With branchiae curving outwardly. Nephtys 6.
6. With equal dorsal and ventral tentacular cirri. 7.
6. With a ventral tentacular cirrus only. 300 mm x 20 mm. Nephtys
pi etaj Nephtys bucera .
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7. Branchiae wide, foliaceous; 200 mm by 13 ran. Neptys paradoxa.
7. Branchiae cirri form; not Inflated basally. Posterior parapodial
long: both noto- and neuropodial lamellae foliaceous throughout body.
250 mm x 15 mm Nephtys caeca.
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GROUP THREE: Lumbrinefidae, Arabellldae, Paraonldae.
1. Parapodia with projecting setal lobes supported by Internal aclcula.
2.
1. Parapodia without projecting setal lobes and without internal
aclcula Paraonldae. 5.
2. Neurosetae include hooded crochets. Lumbrineridae. Parapodia
without branchiae. Lumbrineris 3.
2. Neurosetae do not include hooded crochets. Arabellldae. Parapodia
with heavy acicularvsetae; 4 eyes, prostomium conical; 110 mm x 4 mn.
Notocirrus sp1.n1 ferus.
3. Anterior parapodia with compound crochets. 300 mm x 5 mm; acicula
yellow. Lumbri neri s 1atrel111.
3. Parapodia without compound crochets. 4.
4. Acicula yellow.
a. Prostomium 2 or 3 times longer than wide; 40 mm by 1 mm.
Lumbrineris acuta.
b. Prostomium much shorter.
- Anterior hooded crochets with long "wings". Lumbrineris
impatiens. Reach 400 mm.
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Anterior hooded crochets short "wings", reach 150 nm.
Lumbrineris tenuis.
4. Acicula black. 380 mm by 12 mm; maxillae II with 4 or 5 teeth.
Lumbri neri s fraqi1 is.
5. With a dorsal.median antenna. Aricldea.
a. Antennae extending to about setigers 4-6; 6 mm by 0.6 nm.
Ariddea quadrilobata.
b. Antennae extending to about setiger two at most. Whitish.
20 mil by 1.5 mm. Aricidea suecica.
5. Without a median dorsal antenna. Paraonls.
- with capillary setae only on notopodia. Strap-like branchiae
beginning on setigers 6-7; 25 mm x 0.5 mm Paraonis gracilis.
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GROUP FOUR: Maldanldae* Owenlldae.
1. Anal segment with a funnel, flattened plate, or spOon-Uke; prosto-
m1um hood-Uke or with a flattened plate. Maldanldae. 2.
1. Anal segment simply rounded. 0wen11dae.
_ Prostomium lacks deeply lobed branchial membrane; Prostomium
rounded, mouth ventral and oblique; about 27 segments, first
abdominal ones very long, shorter posteriorly; 30 mm x 1.5 mm.
Myriochele heeri.
2. Prostomium with distinct fringe or rim, more or less tilted posteri-
orly. 4.
2. Prostomium without distinct fringe or rim. 3.
3. Some segments with collars; first setigers long. Rhodine attenuata.
3. Without collars; first setigers short; pygidium cup-or funnel-like:
a. Pygidium with 15-25 cirri and central anus; 160 mm x 5 mm;
with 22 or 23 setigers; Nichomache Lumbricalis.
b. Pygidium with 1 long ventral cirrus, 2 short lateral ones; and
additional papillae or tooth-like projections with anus at the
summit of a central cone; 50 ran x 2.5 mm with 18 setigers.
Leiochone dispar.
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c. Pygidium with a concave, lobed plate without cirri,
Petaloproctus tenuis.
4. Pygidium oblique, platelike, with anus dorsal; Asychis biceps,
Maldanopsis elongata.
4. Pygidium distinctly funnel-shaped with central anus.
a. Distinct bands in the midreglon and a ventral spot on the
pygidium. 20 mm. CTymenella zonal is.
b. Lacks soot and bands, Clymehella torquata. Has "collarette"
on 4th setlger.
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GROUP FIVE: Arenicolidae, CapitelUdae, Scallbregmidae, OpheHidae,
Orbiniidae. Parapodia with capillary setae or some with rows of crochets
on low mounds anteriorly.
1. Prostomium T-shaped with only 4 pairs of branchiafe, limited to a
few anterior segments. 75 iron. Sealibregma inflatum.
1. Prostomlum conical, rounded, or oval. 2.
2. Parapodia reduced to bundles of setae; body slender with ventral
groove which extends from segments 10 to 12 posteriorly. 18 pairs of
crenulated branchiae. Ophelia denticulata.
2. Parapodia with well developed and complex parapodia varying in
detail on detail on different parts of the body. 3.
3. First 1 or 2 segments behind prostomlum without appendages or
setae. Orbiniidae. 4.
3. First segment with appendages and setae; no branchiae; prostomium
with tentacular palpi which are contractile and easily broken off. 12
mm or more by 2 mm. Apistobranchidae.
4. Prostomium truncated, oval or rounded; 80 mm x 3 mm Nalneris
quadicuspida.
4. Prostomium conical. 5.
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5. Thoracic neuropodia with postsetal lobes fringed with papillae;
branchiae begin on setigers four through six. Orbinia 7.
5. Thoracic neuropodia without fringed postsetal lobes; branchiae
begin on setigers 9-32. Scoloplos 6.
6. Branchiae begin on setigers 5 or 6; thoracic neuropodia with thick
spine-Uke setae; 65 mm. Scoloplos rubra.
6. Branchiae begin on setigers 8-32. Without interramal cirri. One
or two subpodlal papillae. 120 mm x 2.5 mm. Scoloplos armiqer.
7. Thoracic segments without spear-like spines.
a. With ventral cirri on abdominal parapodia; 50 rrm x 3 rran.
Orbinia swani.
b. Without ventral cirri on abdominal parapodi a; 250 irm x 7 mm.
Orbinia ornata.
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GROUP SIX: Phyllodocidae
1. With two pairs of tentacular cirri; prostomium subtriangular.
Eteone. 3.
1. With 4 pairs of tentacular cirri; prostomium heart-shaped with
posterior notch. Prostomium with 4 frontal antennae; no median antenna.
Phyllodoce. 2.
2. Ventral cirri oval.
a. 100 m x 2 mm. Phyl1odoce maculata.
b. Ventral cirri oval; asymmetrical acuminate tip; 450 nm x 9 mm.
Phyllodoce groenlandica.
2. Ventral cirri tapered.
a. Has a more or less longitudinal dark band. 150 mi x 3 rim.
Phyllodoce mucosa.
b. Transverse dark bands; 100 mm x 2.5 mm Phyllodoce arenae.
c. Dorsum green with median dark stripe. Phyllodoce panamensls.
(Very close to Ph. arenae. May be a subspecies).
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3. Ventralpair of tentacular cirri two or three times longer than
dorsal pair; anal cirri tapering; 230 mm x 3 mm. Eteone lactea.
3. Dorsal pair of tentacular cirri twice as lonq as ventral pair; anal
cirri elongate-oval; 10 mm x 1 rnn. Eteone trillneata.
3. Dorsal and ventral pairs subequal or ventral slightly longer.
a. Anal cirri tapering; parapodla with asymmetrical dorsal cirri.
93 mm x 3 mm. Eteone heteropoda.
b. Anal cirri almost spherical. Eteone longa\
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GROUP SEVEN: Nereldae. Parapodla btramous, with four pairs tentacular
cirri; ventral cirri single, prostomium pear-shaped.
1. Proboscis with horny, conical paragnaths lacking on areas VII-VIII.
Notopodia of middle and posterior regions with splnigers and falcigers.
Commensal with Maidanopsis elongata. Nereis grayi.
1. Paragnaths more numerous, present on areas VII-VIII. Notopodla of
middle and posterior regions with splnigers and compound falcigers.
With thick, evenly rounded parapodial ligules; 155 ip; littoral and
shallow water. Nereis pelagica.
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GROUP EIGHT. Dorvilleldae, Onuphldae.
1. First apparent segment without parapodia or setae. First apodous
segment with tentacular cirri. Branchiae are simple tendrils. Branchiae
on first setiger; tube imbedded with thin, inner, parchment-Uke lining,
and coating of mud; 125 mm x 5 mm, no ey6s. Onuphis opalina.
1. First two segments without parapodia or isetae.. Prostomlum with
pair of articulated antennae and a pair of ventral palpi. Free-living
burrowers or in temporary tubes. Pale pinkish or white. Two pairs of
eyes. Stauronereis rudolphi.
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GROUP NINE: Spionidae. Body not sharply divided in regions with a
gradual transition In segment form. Fifth setiger not modified.
1. Without branchiae. Prostomlum with frontal horns, 60 mm x 15 ran.
Spiophanes bombyx.
1. With four pairs of smooth branchiae. First and fourth pair of
branchiae pinnate. Hooded hooks multldentate. Prostomlum rounded in
front. No dorsal crest across setiger 7 or 9. Prlonospio steenstrupi.
1. With seven or more pairs of branchiae. 2.
2. Branchiae, begin on setiger two; 60 rrm x 2 mm. Scolecolepis squamata.
2. Branchiae begin on setiger one. With 2 pairs of eyes forming a
square; visible dorsally; first few notopodial lobes not serrate.
Ventral lamellae greatly reduced; neuropodia with about 16 crochets; 50
mm. Spio setosa.
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GROUP TEN: SabelUdae. Tubes flexible, not calcareous, but mucoid,
leathery, parchment-like, or rarely undeveloped. With more than 12
setigers. Branchia filaments only united basally.
1. Branchial filaments without eyes; collar lobed; tube leathery,
covered with sand or mud. 60 mm x 2-3 mm. Potamilla neglecta.
1. Branchial filaments with eyes. Potamilla reniformis.
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GROUP ELEVEN: Flabelligeridae. Body covered with papillae; anterior
end usually with setae directed forward and frequently forming a sort of
cage; head not conspicuously truncated; not tubicolus. Papillae simple,
not pedunculate; neurosetae simple/Without nephridial papillae.
1. Branchiae of two kinds, one filiform* the other wider and flatter,
bordering anterior end; neuro-and notosetae capillary; 25 mm by 2 run.
Diplocirrus hirsutus.
1. Branchiae all alike, neurosetae simple. Hooked neurosetae begin-
ning on fourth segment. Pherusa pluiftosa.
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GROUP TWELVE: Cirratulldae.
1. Without large tentacles; with filamentous tentacles in 2 groups or
united on dorsal surface of one or two anterior setigers; with pair of
long branchiae on most segments. Without eyes. Filamentous tentacles
on first and second setigers. Cirratulus grandis.
1. With two elongate, lateral tentacles as well as tentacular append-
ages. With branchia along entire body. 2.
2. Lack setae on the first three segments bearing tentacular cirri.
Setae all of capillary type 15 mm x 7 mm. Tharyx acutus.
2. Setae present on the first 3 segments bearing tentacular cirri.
Tharyx setigera.
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GROUP THIRTEEN: TerebelUdae.
Setae present, including unclnl.
1. Two pairs of compound filamentous gills; not tree-like. Numerous
eye spots; 200 mm x 10 mm Thelepus cincinnatus.
1. GUIs present, at least one of them branching, tree-Hke. 2.
2. GUI filaments spirally branched, forming a compact tuft or "pom-
pom" at end of trunk. Plsta cristata.
2. G111 filament dendrltlcally branched. Second pair of lateral lobes
not divided. Unc1n1 of first row with long necks and tapered shafts.
Plsta quadrHobata.
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GROUP FOURTEEN: Ampharetidae.
Pygldium with well-developed cirri. Tentacles simple.
1. Nine abdominal segments with uncini; uncini with 5 or 6 teeth;
without golden-yellow thoracic setae. 19 imi x 4 mm. Amage auricula.
1. Fifteen abdominal segments with uncini; uncini with 5-7 teeth; with
8-20 pairs of welUdeveloped golden-yellow thoracic setae; 40 mm x 5 mm.
Amphicteis gunneri.
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LITERATURE CITED
1. Berkeley, Edith and Cyril. 1948. Canadian Pacific Fauna, No. 9,
pt. 9b (1-2).
2. Butcher, R. W. 1955. Relation between the biology and the polluted
condition of the Trent. Verhandl. Int. Ver. Limnol. 12:823-7.
3. Gosner, K. L. 1971. Guide to Identification of marine and estuar-
1ne invertebrates. W1ley-Interscieince, New York.
4. Lloyd, M. J. H. Zar, and J. R. Karr. 1968. On the calculation of
information theoretical measures of diversity. The American Midland
Naturalist. Vol. 79, No. 2, pp. 257-272.
5. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 1972. The effects
of waste disposal in the New York Bight, final report. Section 2:
Benthic Studies. Distributed by National Technical Information
Service, U. S. Dept. of Commerce.
6. Pettibone, M. H. 1968. Marine polychaete worms of the New England
Region. Parti: Aphroditidae through Trochochlaetidae. Smith-
sonian Institute. U. S. National Museum Bulletin, p. 227.
7. Reish, D. J. 1955. The relation of polychaetous annelids to
harbor pollution. Hancock Foundation Contribution 164. Vol. 70,
No. 12.
8. Smith, R. I., editor. 1968. Keys to marine invertebrates of the
Woods Hole region. Contribution No. 11. SystematlcsrEcology
Program, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, Massachusetts.
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This intern report was read and accepted by a staff member at:
Agiency: Environmental Protection Agency
Northwest Pacific Environmental Research Laboratory
Address: Newport Field Station
Newport, Oregon 97375
This report was completed by a WICHE intern. This intern's
project was part of the Resources Development Internship Program
administered by the Western Interstate Commission for Higher
Education (WICHE).
The purpose of the internship program is to bring organizations
involved in community and economic development, environmental problems
and the' humanities together with institutions of higher education
and their students in the West for the benefit of all.
For these organizations, the intern Droaram provides the problem-
sol ving. talents of student manpower while making the resources of
universities and,colleges more available. For institutions of higher
education, the program provides relevant field education for their
students while building their capacity for problem-solving.
WICHE is an organization in the West uniquely suited for sponsor^
ing sucn a program. It is an interstate agency formed by the thir-
teen western states for the specific purpose of relating the resources
of higher education to the needs of western citizens, WICHE has been
concerned with a broad range of community needs in the West for some
time, insofar as they bear directly on the well-being of western
peoples and the future of higher education in the West. WICHE feels
that the internship program is one method for meeting its obligations
within the thirteen western states. In its efforts to achieve these
objectives, WICHE appreciates having received the generous support
and assistance of the Economic Development Administration; the Jessie
••00
§£ Smith Noyes Foundation; the National Endowment for the Humanities;.
^ PC
S the National Science Foundation; the Division of Education of HEW;
O S ¦
oo and of innumerable local leaders and community organizations, in-
O H
£ » eluding the agency that sponsored this intern project.
•d* Q
rH O
CN • •
00 vf
^ S For rurtner information, write Bob Hullinghorst, Director,
Resources Development Internship Program, WICHE, Drawer 1PV, Boulder,
Colorado .80302, (303) 443-6144.
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