Shipworms are predominantly wood-eating bivalves that play fundamental roles in biodegradation, n... more Shipworms are predominantly wood-eating bivalves that play fundamental roles in biodegradation, niche creation and nutrient cycling across a range of marine ecosystems. Shipworms remain confined to the wood they colonize as larvae; however, continual feeding and rapid growth to large sizes degrade both food source and habitat. This unique lifestyle has led to the evolution of a stunning diversity of reproductive strategies, from broadcast spawning to spermcasting, larval brooding and extreme sexual size dimorphism with male dwarfism. Some species also engage in pseudocopulation, a form of direct fertilization where groups of neighbouring individuals simultaneously inseminate one another via their siphons-the only part of the animal extending beyond the burrow. Among the Bivalvia, this exceptionally rare behaviour is unique to shipworms and remains infrequently observed and poorly understood. Herein, we document pseudocopulation with video footage in the giant feathery shipworm (Bankia setacea) and novel competitive behaviours, including siphon wrestling, mate guarding and the removal of a rival's spermatozoa from the siphons of a recipient. As successful sperm transfer is likely greater for larger individuals with longer siphons, we suggest that these competitive behaviours are a factor selecting for rapid growth and large size in species that engage in pseudocopulation.
Legume root nodules use the ascorbate-glutathione pathway to remove harmful H,O,. In the present ... more Legume root nodules use the ascorbate-glutathione pathway to remove harmful H,O,. In the present study, effective and ineffective nodules from soybean and alfalfa were compared with regard to this pathway. Effective nodules had higher activity of all 4 enzymes (ascorbate peroxidase, EC 1.11.1.11: monodehydroascorbate reductase, EC 1.6.5.4: dehydroaseorbate reductase, EC 1.8.5.1: and glutathione reductase, EC 1.6.4,2). The concentration of thiol tripeptides (primarily homoglutathione) was about 1 mM in effective nodules-a level ,3-4-fold higher than in ineffective nodules. Effective nodules contained higher levelsof NAD , NADP" and NADPH. but not of NADH or ascorbate. The increased capacity for peroxide scavenging in effective nodules as compared to ineffective nodules emphasizes the important protective role that this pathway may play in processes related to nitrogen fixation.
Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, Dec 3, 2022
The systematics of the marine mollusc family Velutinidae has long been neglected by taxonomists, ... more The systematics of the marine mollusc family Velutinidae has long been neglected by taxonomists, mainly because their often internal and fragile shells offer no morphological characters. Velutinids are usually undersampled owing to their cryptic mantle coloration on the solitary, social or colonial ascidians on which they feed and lay eggs. In this study, we address the worldwide diversity and phylogeny of Velutinidae based on the largest molecular dataset (313 specimens) to date, accounting for > 50% of the currently accepted genera, coupled with morphological and ecological data. Velutinids emerge as a diverse group, encompassing four independent subfamily-level lineages, two of which are newly described herein: Marseniopsinae subfam. nov. and Hainotinae subfam. nov. High diversity was found at genus and species levels, with two newly described genera (Variolipallium gen. nov. and Pacifica gen. nov.) and ≥ 86 species in the assayed dataset, 58 of which are new to science (67%). Velutinidae show a remarkable morphological plasticity in shell morphology, mantle extension and chromatic patterns. This variability is likely to be the result of different selective forces, including habitat, depth and trophic interactions.
The Tohoku tsunami of March 2011 ejected a vast amount of debris into the Pacific Ocean. Wood bor... more The Tohoku tsunami of March 2011 ejected a vast amount of debris into the Pacific Ocean. Wood boring shipworms (Bivalvia: Teredinidae) were either already present in, or settled on, the wooden fraction of this debris, offering a unique opportunity to study shipworm diversity in rafted wood of a known origin and time of ocean entry. Lumber and other wood began appearing on Central Pacific (Hawaiian Islands) and Eastern Pacific beaches in 2013. Eighty pieces of wood Japanese Tsunami Marine Debris (JTMD) consisting of construction beams, trees, milled logs, and wood from vessels or maritime structures were analyzed. Six shipworm species resident in the coastal waters of Japan were found:
The Tohoku tsunami of March 2011 ejected a vast amount of debris into the Pacific Ocean. Wood bor... more The Tohoku tsunami of March 2011 ejected a vast amount of debris into the Pacific Ocean. Wood boring shipworms (Bivalvia: Teredinidae) were either already present in, or settled on, the wooden fraction of this debris, offering a unique opportunity to study shipworm diversity in rafted wood of a known origin and time of ocean entry. Lumber and other wood began appearing on Central Pacific (Hawaiian Islands) and Eastern Pacific beaches in 2013. Eighty pieces of wood Japanese Tsunami Marine Debris (JTMD) consisting of construction beams, trees, milled logs, and wood from vessels or maritime structures were analyzed. Six shipworm species resident in the coastal waters of Japan were found:
The systematics of the marine mollusc family Velutinidae has long been neglected by taxonomists, ... more The systematics of the marine mollusc family Velutinidae has long been neglected by taxonomists, mainly because their often internal and fragile shells offer no morphological characters. Velutinids are usually undersampled owing to their cryptic mantle coloration on the solitary, social or colonial ascidians on which they feed and lay eggs. In this study, we address the worldwide diversity and phylogeny of Velutinidae based on the largest molecular dataset (313 specimens) to date, accounting for > 50% of the currently accepted genera, coupled with morphological and ecological data. Velutinids emerge as a diverse group, encompassing four independent subfamily-level lineages, two of which are newly described herein: Marseniopsinae subfam. nov. and Hainotinae subfam. nov. High diversity was found at genus and species levels, with two newly described genera (Variolipallium gen. nov. and Pacifica gen. nov.) and ≥ 86 species in the assayed dataset, 58 of which are new to science (67%)....
The 2011 East Japan earthquake generated a massive tsunami that launched an extraordinary transoc... more The 2011 East Japan earthquake generated a massive tsunami that launched an extraordinary transoceanic biological rafting event with no known historical precedent. We document 289 living Japanese coastal marine species from 16 phyla transported over 6 years on objects that traveled thousands of kilometers across the Pacific Ocean to the shores of North America and Hawai‘i. Most of this dispersal occurred on nonbiodegradable objects, resulting in the longest documented transoceanic survival and dispersal of coastal species by rafting. Expanding shoreline infrastructure has increased global sources of plastic materials available for biotic colonization and also interacts with climate change–induced storms of increasing severity to eject debris into the oceans. In turn, increased ocean rafting may intensify species invasions
Shipworms (Teredinidae) are marine borers that utilize wood for both housing and food, and are pr... more Shipworms (Teredinidae) are marine borers that utilize wood for both housing and food, and are present in coastal, shelf, and pelagic habitats. Our current research includes distribution, dispersal, ocean circulation, wood degradation, phylogeny, ecology, reproductive biology, and other aspects of this bivalve group. These ‘termites of the sea’ are known for their historical destruction of wooden ships and their modern destruction of piers, with significant economic costs. These costs overshadow the important ecological role shipworms play in marine ecosystems. Shipworms convert wood into molluscan biomass, larvae, and feces, all of which are a nutritional resource for other organisms. Shipworms are accompanied by a variety of specialized symbionts and commensals whose roles are largely unknown. Abandoned shipworm tunnels provide space for crevicolous fish and invertebrates. The significant shipworm biomass hidden inside woody debris often goes unnoticed, resulting in underestimates...
Shipworms are predominantly wood-eating bivalves that play fundamental roles in biodegradation, n... more Shipworms are predominantly wood-eating bivalves that play fundamental roles in biodegradation, niche creation and nutrient cycling across a range of marine ecosystems. Shipworms remain confined to the wood they colonize as larvae; however, continual feeding and rapid growth to large sizes degrade both food source and habitat. This unique lifestyle has led to the evolution of a stunning diversity of reproductive strategies, from broadcast spawning to spermcasting, larval brooding and extreme sexual size dimorphism with male dwarfism. Some species also engage in pseudocopulation, a form of direct fertilization where groups of neighbouring individuals simultaneously inseminate one another via their siphons—the only part of the animal extending beyond the burrow. Among the Bivalvia, this exceptionally rare behaviour is unique to shipworms and remains infrequently observed and poorly understood. Herein, we document pseudocopulation with video footage in the giant feathery shipworm (<i>Bankia setacea</i>) and novel competitive behaviours, including siphon wrestling, mate guarding and the removal of a rival's spermatozoa from the siphons of a recipient. As successful sperm transfer is likely greater for larger individuals with longer siphons, we suggest that these competitive behaviours are a factor selecting for rapid growth and large size in species that engage in pseudocopulation.
A single CSV file containing descriptions of Japanese tsunami debris objects (object type, date i... more A single CSV file containing descriptions of Japanese tsunami debris objects (object type, date intercepted, location found, size) and the unique taxa found on each. Please see the README.txt for detailed descriptions of each column.
Shipworms are predominantly wood-eating bivalves that play fundamental roles in biodegradation, n... more Shipworms are predominantly wood-eating bivalves that play fundamental roles in biodegradation, niche creation and nutrient cycling across a range of marine ecosystems. Shipworms remain confined to the wood they colonize as larvae; however, continual feeding and rapid growth to large sizes degrade both food source and habitat. This unique lifestyle has led to the evolution of a stunning diversity of reproductive strategies, from broadcast spawning to spermcasting, larval brooding and extreme sexual size dimorphism with male dwarfism. Some species also engage in pseudocopulation, a form of direct fertilization where groups of neighbouring individuals simultaneously inseminate one another via their siphons-the only part of the animal extending beyond the burrow. Among the Bivalvia, this exceptionally rare behaviour is unique to shipworms and remains infrequently observed and poorly understood. Herein, we document pseudocopulation with video footage in the giant feathery shipworm (Bankia setacea) and novel competitive behaviours, including siphon wrestling, mate guarding and the removal of a rival's spermatozoa from the siphons of a recipient. As successful sperm transfer is likely greater for larger individuals with longer siphons, we suggest that these competitive behaviours are a factor selecting for rapid growth and large size in species that engage in pseudocopulation.
Legume root nodules use the ascorbate-glutathione pathway to remove harmful H,O,. In the present ... more Legume root nodules use the ascorbate-glutathione pathway to remove harmful H,O,. In the present study, effective and ineffective nodules from soybean and alfalfa were compared with regard to this pathway. Effective nodules had higher activity of all 4 enzymes (ascorbate peroxidase, EC 1.11.1.11: monodehydroascorbate reductase, EC 1.6.5.4: dehydroaseorbate reductase, EC 1.8.5.1: and glutathione reductase, EC 1.6.4,2). The concentration of thiol tripeptides (primarily homoglutathione) was about 1 mM in effective nodules-a level ,3-4-fold higher than in ineffective nodules. Effective nodules contained higher levelsof NAD , NADP" and NADPH. but not of NADH or ascorbate. The increased capacity for peroxide scavenging in effective nodules as compared to ineffective nodules emphasizes the important protective role that this pathway may play in processes related to nitrogen fixation.
Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, Dec 3, 2022
The systematics of the marine mollusc family Velutinidae has long been neglected by taxonomists, ... more The systematics of the marine mollusc family Velutinidae has long been neglected by taxonomists, mainly because their often internal and fragile shells offer no morphological characters. Velutinids are usually undersampled owing to their cryptic mantle coloration on the solitary, social or colonial ascidians on which they feed and lay eggs. In this study, we address the worldwide diversity and phylogeny of Velutinidae based on the largest molecular dataset (313 specimens) to date, accounting for > 50% of the currently accepted genera, coupled with morphological and ecological data. Velutinids emerge as a diverse group, encompassing four independent subfamily-level lineages, two of which are newly described herein: Marseniopsinae subfam. nov. and Hainotinae subfam. nov. High diversity was found at genus and species levels, with two newly described genera (Variolipallium gen. nov. and Pacifica gen. nov.) and ≥ 86 species in the assayed dataset, 58 of which are new to science (67%). Velutinidae show a remarkable morphological plasticity in shell morphology, mantle extension and chromatic patterns. This variability is likely to be the result of different selective forces, including habitat, depth and trophic interactions.
The Tohoku tsunami of March 2011 ejected a vast amount of debris into the Pacific Ocean. Wood bor... more The Tohoku tsunami of March 2011 ejected a vast amount of debris into the Pacific Ocean. Wood boring shipworms (Bivalvia: Teredinidae) were either already present in, or settled on, the wooden fraction of this debris, offering a unique opportunity to study shipworm diversity in rafted wood of a known origin and time of ocean entry. Lumber and other wood began appearing on Central Pacific (Hawaiian Islands) and Eastern Pacific beaches in 2013. Eighty pieces of wood Japanese Tsunami Marine Debris (JTMD) consisting of construction beams, trees, milled logs, and wood from vessels or maritime structures were analyzed. Six shipworm species resident in the coastal waters of Japan were found:
The Tohoku tsunami of March 2011 ejected a vast amount of debris into the Pacific Ocean. Wood bor... more The Tohoku tsunami of March 2011 ejected a vast amount of debris into the Pacific Ocean. Wood boring shipworms (Bivalvia: Teredinidae) were either already present in, or settled on, the wooden fraction of this debris, offering a unique opportunity to study shipworm diversity in rafted wood of a known origin and time of ocean entry. Lumber and other wood began appearing on Central Pacific (Hawaiian Islands) and Eastern Pacific beaches in 2013. Eighty pieces of wood Japanese Tsunami Marine Debris (JTMD) consisting of construction beams, trees, milled logs, and wood from vessels or maritime structures were analyzed. Six shipworm species resident in the coastal waters of Japan were found:
The systematics of the marine mollusc family Velutinidae has long been neglected by taxonomists, ... more The systematics of the marine mollusc family Velutinidae has long been neglected by taxonomists, mainly because their often internal and fragile shells offer no morphological characters. Velutinids are usually undersampled owing to their cryptic mantle coloration on the solitary, social or colonial ascidians on which they feed and lay eggs. In this study, we address the worldwide diversity and phylogeny of Velutinidae based on the largest molecular dataset (313 specimens) to date, accounting for > 50% of the currently accepted genera, coupled with morphological and ecological data. Velutinids emerge as a diverse group, encompassing four independent subfamily-level lineages, two of which are newly described herein: Marseniopsinae subfam. nov. and Hainotinae subfam. nov. High diversity was found at genus and species levels, with two newly described genera (Variolipallium gen. nov. and Pacifica gen. nov.) and ≥ 86 species in the assayed dataset, 58 of which are new to science (67%)....
The 2011 East Japan earthquake generated a massive tsunami that launched an extraordinary transoc... more The 2011 East Japan earthquake generated a massive tsunami that launched an extraordinary transoceanic biological rafting event with no known historical precedent. We document 289 living Japanese coastal marine species from 16 phyla transported over 6 years on objects that traveled thousands of kilometers across the Pacific Ocean to the shores of North America and Hawai‘i. Most of this dispersal occurred on nonbiodegradable objects, resulting in the longest documented transoceanic survival and dispersal of coastal species by rafting. Expanding shoreline infrastructure has increased global sources of plastic materials available for biotic colonization and also interacts with climate change–induced storms of increasing severity to eject debris into the oceans. In turn, increased ocean rafting may intensify species invasions
Shipworms (Teredinidae) are marine borers that utilize wood for both housing and food, and are pr... more Shipworms (Teredinidae) are marine borers that utilize wood for both housing and food, and are present in coastal, shelf, and pelagic habitats. Our current research includes distribution, dispersal, ocean circulation, wood degradation, phylogeny, ecology, reproductive biology, and other aspects of this bivalve group. These ‘termites of the sea’ are known for their historical destruction of wooden ships and their modern destruction of piers, with significant economic costs. These costs overshadow the important ecological role shipworms play in marine ecosystems. Shipworms convert wood into molluscan biomass, larvae, and feces, all of which are a nutritional resource for other organisms. Shipworms are accompanied by a variety of specialized symbionts and commensals whose roles are largely unknown. Abandoned shipworm tunnels provide space for crevicolous fish and invertebrates. The significant shipworm biomass hidden inside woody debris often goes unnoticed, resulting in underestimates...
Shipworms are predominantly wood-eating bivalves that play fundamental roles in biodegradation, n... more Shipworms are predominantly wood-eating bivalves that play fundamental roles in biodegradation, niche creation and nutrient cycling across a range of marine ecosystems. Shipworms remain confined to the wood they colonize as larvae; however, continual feeding and rapid growth to large sizes degrade both food source and habitat. This unique lifestyle has led to the evolution of a stunning diversity of reproductive strategies, from broadcast spawning to spermcasting, larval brooding and extreme sexual size dimorphism with male dwarfism. Some species also engage in pseudocopulation, a form of direct fertilization where groups of neighbouring individuals simultaneously inseminate one another via their siphons—the only part of the animal extending beyond the burrow. Among the Bivalvia, this exceptionally rare behaviour is unique to shipworms and remains infrequently observed and poorly understood. Herein, we document pseudocopulation with video footage in the giant feathery shipworm (<i>Bankia setacea</i>) and novel competitive behaviours, including siphon wrestling, mate guarding and the removal of a rival's spermatozoa from the siphons of a recipient. As successful sperm transfer is likely greater for larger individuals with longer siphons, we suggest that these competitive behaviours are a factor selecting for rapid growth and large size in species that engage in pseudocopulation.
A single CSV file containing descriptions of Japanese tsunami debris objects (object type, date i... more A single CSV file containing descriptions of Japanese tsunami debris objects (object type, date intercepted, location found, size) and the unique taxa found on each. Please see the README.txt for detailed descriptions of each column.
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Papers by Nancy Treneman