Person: Pardos Martínez, Fernando
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First Name
Fernando
Last Name
Pardos Martínez
Affiliation
Universidad Complutense de Madrid
Faculty / Institute
Ciencias Biológicas
Department
Biodiversidad, Ecología y Evolución
Area
Zoología
Identifiers
3 results
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Item Meiofauna is an important, yet often overlooked, component of biodiversity in the ecosystem formed by Posidonia oceanica(Invertebrate Biology, 2022) García Gómez, Guillermo; García Herrero, Álvaro; Sánchez Santos, Nuria; Pardos Martínez, Fernando; Izquierdo Muñoz, Andrés; Fontaneto, Diego; Martínez, AlejandroThe ecosystem formed by the marine flowering plant Posidonia oceanicais a biodiversity reservoir and provides many ecosystem services in coastal Mediterraneanregions. Marine meiofauna is also a major component of that biodiversity, and itsstudy can be useful in addressing both theoretical and applied questions in ecology, evolution, and conservation. We review the meiofaunal diversity in the meadow ecosystem of P. oceanica by combining a literature review and a case study. First, wegathered records of 672 species from 71 published studies, as well as unpublishedsources, highlighting 4 species exclusive to this ecosystem. Eighteen of those studiesquantified the spatial and temporal changes in species composition, highlightinghabitat-specific assemblages that fluctuate following the annual changes experiencedby these meadows. Hydrodynamics, habitat complexity, and food availability, all threeinherently linked to the seagrass phenology, are recognized in the literature as themain factors shaping the complex distribution patterns of meiofauna in the meadows.These drivers have been identified mainly in studies of Copepoda and Nematoda,and their effect may depend ultimately on species-specific preferences. Second, wetested the generality of these observations using marine mites as a model group,showing that similar ecological preferences might be found in other less abundant meiofaunal groups. Overall, our study highlights the high diversity of meiofauna inmeadows ofP. oceanicacompared with algae and sessile macrofauna associated withthis seagrass and shows the complexity of the interactions and habitat use bymeiofauna associated with the seagrass.Item Two new stygophilic tanaidomorphs (Peracarida, Tanaidacea) from Canary Islands and southeastern Iberian Peninsula(Marine Biodiversity, 2017) García Herrero, Álvaro; Sánchez Santos, Nuria; García Gómez, Guillermo; Pardos Martínez, Fernando; Martínez, AlejandroTwo new species of stygophilic tanaidomorphs are described from El Hierro (Canary Islands) and the Spanish Mediterranean coast from samples collected both at caves and open marine environments. Both species lack autapomorphies but are described based on their unique combination of characters. Pseudotanais isabelae sp. nov. is characterized by the presence of eyes and forcipate chelas, absence of outer seta in article 2 of maxilliped, absence of tubercles on the endite of the maxilliped, presence of 2–6 blade-like spines on the pereopods and presence of one segment on the endopod of the uropod. Zeuxo bimbache sp. nov. is diagnosed by the presence of three aesthetascs on the terminal article of the antennule, laccinia mobilisnot articulated on the right mandible, wide and crenulated on the left one; basis of the maxilliped with serrated margin, article 1 of the palp without outer seta, anterior process of the coxa naked, unique chaetotaxy of the pleopods, and endopod of the uropod with three articles. These two species represent the first stygophilic members of the genera Pseudotanais and Zeuxo. Araphura brevimanus (Lilljeborg 1864) and Chondrochelia savignyi (Krøyer 1842) are also reported from our cave samples. An updated checklist of all 24 tanaidaceans recorded in caves is provided, with data on their ecological characterization and degree of troglomorphism. The ecological preferences and affinities of all tanaidaceans present in caves is briefly discussed, and compared with those of other peracarids.Item Neuroanatomy of mud dragons: a comprehensive view of the nervous system in Echinoderes (Kinorhyncha) by confocal laser scanning microscopy(BMC Evolutionary Biology, 2019) Herranz, María; Leander, Brian S.; Pardos Martínez, Fernando; Boyle, Michael J.Background The Scalidophora (Kinorhyncha, Loricifera and Priapulida) have an important phylogenetic position as early branching ecdysozoans, yet the architecture of their nervous organ systems is notably underinvestigated. Without such information, and in the absence of a stable phylogenetic context, we are inhibited from producing adequate hypotheses about the evolution and diversification of ecdysozoan nervous systems. Here, we utilize confocal laser scanning microscopy to characterize serotonergic, tubulinergic and FMRFamidergic immunoreactivity patterns in a comparative neuroanatomical study with three species of Echinoderes, the most speciose, abundant and diverse genus within Kinorhyncha. Results Neuroanatomy in Echinoderes as revealed by acetylated α-tubulin immunoreactivity includes a circumpharyngeal brain and ten neurite bundles in the head region that converge into five longitudinal nerves within the trunk. The ventral nerve cord is ganglionated, emerging from the brain with two connectives that converge in trunk segments 2–3, and diverge again within segment 8. The longitudinal nerves and ventral nerve cord are connected by two transverse neurites in segments 2–9. Differences among species correlate with the number, position and innervation of cuticular structures along the body. Patterns of serotoninergic and FMRFamidergic immunoreactivity correlate with the position of the brain neuropil and the ventral nerve cord. Distinct serotonergic and FMRFamidergic somata are associated with the brain neuropil and specific trunk segments along the ventral nerve cord. Conclusions Neural architecture is highly conserved across all three species, suggesting that our results reveal a pattern that is common to more than 40% of the species within Kinorhyncha. The nervous system of Echinoderes is segmented along most of the trunk; however, posterior trunk segments exhibit modifications that are likely associated with sensorial, motor or reproductive functions. Although all kinorhynchs show some evidence of an externally segmented trunk, it is unclear whether external segmentation matches internal segmentation of nervous and muscular organ systems across Kinorhyncha, as we observed in Echinoderes. The neuroanatomical data provided in this study not only expand the limited knowledge on kinorhynch nervous systems but also establish a comparative morphological framework within Scalidophora that will support broader inferences about the evolution of neural architecture among the deepest branching lineages of the Ecdysozoa.