Sub-lethal exposure of the marine amphipod Gammarus locusta to a range of copper concentrations (Cu) in water and spiked sediments were performed, and the resulting bioaccumulation of Cu into intracellular granules investigated. The presence of Cu-granules was demonstrated histochemically by the rubeanic acid method. The granules were quantified by automated image analyses (expressed as volume fraction, VV). The metal composition of the granules was characterized by X-ray microprobe analysis. The results showed that granules, rich in copper and sulphur, were formed in response to Cu exposure in water and sediment. These granules appeared in the B-cells of the hepatopancreas. VV values increased over the dose-range of Cu compared with control in water (P<0·001) and sediment (P<0·01) exposures. The abundance of the granules also increased with increasing whole-body Cu content, suggesting that at least part of the increasing Cu level was incorporated into the granules, as a strategy for Cu detoxification along with normal storage of Cu during the moult cycle. The presence of sulphur within the granules is thought to represent an organic detoxification mechanism for Cu. The formation of Cu-granules as a cellular response is a useful biomarker of Cu-exposure in ecotoxicological studies with amphipods. The rubeanic acid method is a useful screening tool for this copper.

Population density and the presence of fission products of Holothuria (Halodeima) atra were investigated in surveys taken over 5 years (2006–2010) in the Capricorn Bunker Group, Southern Great Barrier Reef. These surveys were undertaken to document population density over time and assess the potential that asexual reproduction contributes to population maintenance. Over the 5 years a low incidence of fission was evident year-round, with an increase in July and August (13 and 27% of the population, respectively). There was a positive correlation between population density and the presence of fission products across all surveys. Although density fluctuated, there was no significant difference between months or sites. Despite the potential increase that might be expected from fission followed by regeneration, density fluctuated around a mean of 0.77 ind. m−2. Examination of gonads of the small (asexual and sexual reproduction) and large (sexual only) morphs of H. atra indicated a difference in reproductive pattern. Many small morphs lacked gonads during winter and, when they developed gonads, the gonad index (GI) was low. The GI pattern of the small morph indicated that they spawned in summer. In comparison the large morph had conspicuous gonads through the year. The GI of the large morph was high in winter and summer indicating greater, more prolonged spawning activity in these individuals.

A study has been made of the food, population, and some aspects of the ecology of the common seal (Phoca vitulina L.) along the East Anglian coast.

Examination of stomach contents of 194 seals killed in the Wash in 1947 confirms earlier evidence that the species here feeds largely on whelks (Buccinum undatum). The food is estimated by weight as 92 % molluscs, 4 % fish and 4 % Crustacea. Young seals for 2–3 months after weaning feed almost exclusively on shrimps (Crangon vulgaris).

Data derived from six stomachs, together with verbal reports, suggest that seals on the open coast feed more exclusively on fish, chiefly pleuronectids. This agrees with the findings of other workers in Holland and Washington State, U.S.A., that fish are the primary food animals. It is therefore suggested that in the Wash, where suitable breeding sands are common, the seals have become adapted to feeding on a ‘second-class’ food in the absence of dense stocks of fish.

Sanya Bay lies at the southern part of Hainan Island, 18°15′N 109°28′E. The seawater in the bay has been catastrophically polluted during the past two decades with urban sewage from the rapidly developing Sanya City. The marine flora research in Sanya Bay was started at the beginning of the 1930s and the most detailed studies were performed by two German-Chinese expeditions in 1990 (October–December) and in 1992 (March–April). In April, October, November and December 2008–2010 the marine flora of Sanya Bay was studied by the authors at three localities: Luhuitou Peninsula, Xiaodong Hai and Dadong Hai. Marine algae were sampled in the intertidal and upper subtidal zones (to 4–5 m depth). The list of species (including varieties and forms) of the marine algae for Sanya Bay sampled during the period from 2008 to 2010 is compared with those collected at the same localities in 1990/1992. Comparative analysis of the floristic composition of the marine red, brown and green algae (found during different time periods) revealed that considerable changes have taken place between 1990/1992 and 2008–2010 at Sanya Bay. There was an increase in filamentous, tubular and fine blade-like green and red algae (mainly epiphytes with a high surface to volume ratio) and a displacement of upright-growing fleshy, foliose and other large green, brown and red algae with a low surface to volume ratio. It is assumed that the changes reflect mainly increased pollution by urban sewage and mariculture pond wastes and probably by coral bleaching events of 1998.

Loripes lucinalis, a littoral bivalve harbouring endocellular sulphur-oxidizing bacteria within its gills, was studied between September 1991 and September 1992 at the Moulin Blanc beach (Brittany, France). The general macro-anatomy of the gill consists of bacteriocyte channels and cylinders made up of two cell types, namely bacteriocytes and intermediate cells. In addition to the usual assortment of cell organelles, the bacteriocytes contain bacterial cells, electron-dense inclusions and large granular bodies. The bacteria are numerous within the bacteriocyte zone, representing 55±8% of the gill cross-sectional surface area. Acid phosphatase activity is detectable within the gill tissue both in proximity to and within the bacterial cells. The electron-dense inclusions and large granular bodies also stain positively for acid phosphatase suggesting that these bodies represent different phases of endosymbiont digestion. Bacterial lysis may be an important means of providing L. lucinalis with its nutritional requirements. The granular bodies stain positively for acid polysaccharides and the percentage of the gill cross-sectional area occupied by lysed granular zones varied as a function of sampling period. The percentage of total body weight represented by the gill was significantly lower in March compared to September, October and January, all other months being intermediate. The decrease in gill percentages and the levels of gill lysis correspond remarkably well to gamete development.

INTRODUCTION

Paramysis arenosa (G. O. Sars) occurs quite commonly in sandy bays on the west coast of Scotland. It is common in Kames Bay, Millport, Brodick Bay on Arran and on Fairlie Sands in the Firth of Clyde. It has been taken in Loch Crinan, Argyll and at Ganavan Sands and Loch Nell Bay, both north of Oban, Argyll. It is common in Firemore Bay, Loch Ewe and in Gairloch and Gruinard Bay in Wester Ross.

Macroalgal and seagrass communities are widely distributed in marine and brackish shallow water and have high productivity. The primary production in marine costal areas is often transported to intertidal flats by waves and currents and beached on the flats. Thus, we hypothesized that the macroalgae and seagrasses are food sources for benthic communities on intertidal flats where some gastropod species often dominate. We performed comparisons of food sources among different gastropod species on sub-tropical and temperate tidal flats (26° and 38°N, respectively), and used isotope mixing models using carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes. A mixing model for stable isotopes, IsoSource, revealed that main food sources for three snails were macroalgae (50–56%) and seagrass (39–45%) at the temperate site. The contributions of terrestrial plants, sediment organic matter and benthic microalgae were weaker than those of macroalgae and seagrasses. At the sub-tropical site, snails fed mainly on macroalgae. The differences in food sources between snail species were not remarkable, although the nitrogen values were slightly different. It would thus appear that macroalgae and seagrass play an important role in the food webs not only in their own habitats but also on the adjacent tidal flats.

The mass mortality suffered by the sea urchin Diadema antillarum between 1983–1984 is considered one of the major causes of coral reef degradation in the Caribbean. Its near disappearance resulted in a disproportionate growth of macroalgae that has led to a ‘phase shift’ from coral-to-algal dominated reefs. The close relationship between this echinoid and the functioning of coral reef ecosystems makes it imperative to better understand the potential for recovery of its populations. From 2009 to 2011, we assessed the density and size structure of D. antillarum in various reefs where previous population data were available. Results indicate a modest increase in density in all localities with respect to the last time they were surveyed in 2003/2004. Nevertheless, density values are still lower than values reported for the island prior to the die-off. Overall density did not surpass 1.49 ind. per m−2, and did not change considerably during the studied period. Lack of population growth coincided with a lack of juveniles; suggesting that population growth at the studied sites may be limited by the number of individuals recruiting into the juvenile stage.

Leptogorgia christiae is a rarely collected new species found at 15–30 m depth at Roca Hacha, a rocky outcrop near Coiba Island characterized by its high diversity of octocorals. The branching pattern and combination of asymmetric blunt spindles, abundance of capstans, and a low occurrence of acute spindles are distinct characteristics of the new taxon. The new species is described, illustrated and compared to the other species of the genus reported from Pacific Panama; thus increasing the total of Leptogorgia species to 17, which encompasses over 70% of the shallow water species for the eastern Pacific.

During the past eight years records have been kept of the contents of the stomachs of all dogfish dissected in the Zoology Department of Reading University. The specimens, numbering about 450 altogether, came from Swansea Docks, and were caught off the west coasts of the British Isles. Students were asked to spread out the contents of the stomach of the fish they were dissecting in a dish, and to make notes of those animals they could identify. I then, as far as was possible, checked the identifications, and removed for more detailed investigation any specimens of particular interest. In the circumstances it was impossible to make accurate numerical records of each species, or to work out fragments from partially digested material, but the rare specimens were recorded by numbers. Sometimes a record of one means one perfect specimen.

Based on analysis of videotape records, species of the genus Argyropelecus are capable of swimming diagonally downwards at considerable speeds without altering their body postures. Morphological evidence strongly suggests that they are able to swim diagonally upwards in a similar way. Their distinctive hatchetlike profile presents a streamlined airfoil in both diagonal and horizontal movements, even though the body is not tilted. Modifications of the caudal musculature probably enable all hatchetfishes (including members of the other two genera, Polyipnus and Sternoptyx) to use the tail for propulsion for both diagonal and horizontal movements. The dorsal fin probably aids in diagonally downward movements and the pelvic and anal fins in diagonally upward movements, whilst the pectoral fins serve as stabilizers for these movements, and as an axis of rotation for striking at prey. The seemingly ungainly shape of the hatchetfish is the result of achieving a streamlined, fish-like shape for horizontal and diagonal movements without tilting of the body, presumably in order to maintain an effective camouflage in midwater.

The amount of phosphoric acid in sea-water off Plymouth was at a maximum of 0.06 mg. per litre of P2O5 at the end of December, 1915, after which it fell irregularly to a minimum of less than 0.01 mg., which extended from the last week of April to the latter part of May; it then increased again and in January, 1917, reached the same value as the average for the first part of the month in the previous year.

This seasonal variation is probably to be attributed to the removal of the phosphates from solution, at first by the fixed algæ, and later in the spring by the diatoms and for a short time by Phcœcyslis. There is also present in sea-water taken near Plymouth another soluble compound of phosphorus which can be converted into phosphoric acid by oxidising agents.

A new partially calcified hydroid species of the family Hydractiniidae, was found in offshore waters of the Aleutian Islands (Alaska), dredged from the bottom at 139–145 m depth. This is the third known species of extant calcified Hydractiniidae, and it shows a unique colony structure. The base is heavily calcified and the distal parts are ramified and have a solid chitinous structure. Branches are all in one plane and the colony reaches up to 18 cm in height.

To assess the phylogenetic interrelationships of Trichobranchinae (Polychaeta: Terebellidae), we present the results of a cladistic analysis based on morphological characters coded as contingent. We also present an alternate way to number anterior segments, based on a reinterpretation of prostomial and peristomial morphologies in different genera. The ingroup terminals included 28 species, and the outgroup included one species of Ampharetidae and four species belonging to other subfamilies of Terebellidae. The monophyly of Trichobranchinae is clearly supported by the presence of long shafted uncini in thoracic neuropodia and by the absence of ventral shields. Species of Terebellides share lamellate branchiae, uncini with a long and narrow manubrium without denticles and uncini with a long and sharp main fang in the eighth segment. Species of Octobranchus share subquadrate branchiae on segments 3, 4 and 5, notopodia first present from segment 4, and uncini with a long shafted manubrium first present from segment 6. The autapormophy for Unobranchus is the presence of a single filiform branchia on segment 3. Artacamella falls into one of the Trichobranchus clades and is treated as a junior synonym of the latter.

The full developmental sequence from egg to juvenile of Gobius paganellus under controlled conditions is described. Embryonic development lasted 9–10 days at 18.5–20.0°C and 10–11 days at 15.0–16.5°C. Newly hatched larvae measured 3.90 mm, had the mouth and anus opened, pigmented eyes and almost no yolk. They first settled 25 days after hatching (10.0–10.5 mm total length [TL]) and showed juvenile behaviour and body form 36 days after hatching (14.0 mm TL). However, they only showed full juvenile pigmentation patterns 15 days later (17.0 mm TL) (16.0–16.5°C). In addition, a preliminary differentiation between the newly hatched larvae of the most common Gobius species of south-western European shores is presented.

While preparing a report on Echinodermata from the Stilly Isles, based on collections made by the University of London Sub-Aqua Club but including also earlier records by various authors (F. W. E. Rowe, J. nat. Hist., in the Press), it became apparent that the species generally known as Cucumaria saxicola Brady & Robertson and C. normani Pace, from Mortensen's classic handbook (1927), have not been satisfactorily reassigned generically since the break-up of Cucumaria sensu extenso and need new generic names in conformity with current views on generic distinctions in the Dendrochirotida.

Mortensen (1927), in his survey of the Echinoderms of the British Isles, includes seven species in the genus Cucumaria: C. frondosa (Gunnerus); C. elongata Düben & Koren; C. hyndmanni Thompson; C. saxicola Brady & Robertson; C. normani Pace;C. lactea (Forbes) and C. planci (Brandt), this last species being wrongly credited to von Marenzeller.

C. frondosa is a plump to barrel-shaped animal with ten large, bushy tentacles, podia, at least in the older specimens, not restricted to the ambulacral areas, a calcareous ring with no posterior bifurcations on the radial plates or any fusion of the ventralmost radial and adjacent interradial plates and spicules of the body wall comprising thin, multilocular, smooth or slightly thorny plates, these being more or less restricted to the posterior region and to the podia in older animals. It has been designated type-species of the genus by Panning (1949), thus delimiting Cucumaria sensu stricto. The other species included by Mortensen cannot be treated as being congeneric with frondosa by virtue of their elongate body, ten relatively small tentacles of which the ventralmost two are smaller than the remaining eight, podia restricted to the ambulacral areas, calcareous ring showing a tendency, in some forms, to develop posterior bifurcations on the radial plates and fusion of the ventral-most radial and adjacent interradial plates and the differing form and combinations of spicules of the body wall.

Among invertebrates, cephalopods have one of the most well-organized nervous systems. However, with respect to the ontogeny of the nervous system, the post-embryonic development of the cephalopod brain has only been documented for a few species. Here, we investigated the development of the brain of captive oval squid Sepioteuthis lessoniana during the post-hatching phase. The central part of the brain of the oval squid is divided into four main regions, namely, the supraoesophageal, anterior suboesophageal, middle suboesophageal, and posterior suboesophageal masses, each consisting of several lobes. At various ages in juvenile squid, the total volume of the central part of the brain (except the optic lobe) is significantly correlated with its body size, indicated by mantle length and wet body weight. The vertical lobe, superior frontal lobe, and anterior subesophageal mass drastically increase in relative volume as the squid grows. In contrast, the middle suboesophageal mass and posterior suboesophageal mass do not increase in volume with increasing squid age and body size. The effects of these results have been discussed in relation to the onset of squid behaviours during post-hatching.

The reproductive cycle of Cardisoma guanhumi was described from the analysis of seasonal variation of the gonadal maturation stages. The first maturity for both sexes was determined based on three different tests: inflexion point on the curve; relevant character (morphometry); and histological analysis (physiology). In addition, some aspects of sexual dimorphism for the population were studied. A total of 353 individuals caught in north-eastern Brazil between December 2006 and November 2007 were analysed. The sex-ratio was statistically equal (P ≥ 0.05) and the carapace width (CW) of the females ranged from 4.34 to 8.56 cm and of the males from 2.84 to 9.22 cm. Mature females with fully developed gonads begin to appear in the dry season (August) and ovigerous females occurred from November to February, suggesting that spawning occurs mainly during the rainy season. The CW of first sexual maturity for females ranged from 5.87 cm to 6.70 cm and males from 6.22 cm to 7.20 cm. The highest percentage of individuals caught were juveniles, indicating the need for a targeted effort to preserve the species.

Fecundity, hatching rhythm, and the planktotrophic larval development of the hermit crab Pagurus comptus from sub-Antarctic waters of the Beagle Channel (Tierra del Fuego) were studied under controlled laboratory conditions of temperature, light cycle, food supply, and salinity. Fecundity was low, ranging from 134 to 848 eggs per female (cephalotoraxic shield length, SL, 2.3–5.0 mm). Hatching observed in the laboratory ranged from 6 to 30 d. The larval development was studied in laboratory cultures fed with Artemia sp. nauplii and kept at constant 7.0±0.5°C. Larvae invariably passed through four zoeal instars and one megalopa stage. Mean durations of the zoeal stages I to IV were 14.3±1.8, 16.7±4.6, 23.2±6.5, 33.4±9.2 d, respectively. Combined with the 43.8±5.6 d recorded for the survived megalopae, we suggest that the complete larval development lasts about four months. Starved larvae, on average, survived for 22±8.1 d (maximum 38 d) by far exceeding the zoea I duration in fed larvae, but did not reach the moult to the zoea II stage. Unlike other sub-Antarctic decapods, which show a tendency towards abbreviated or endotrophic larval developments at high latitudes, hermit crabs, at their southernmost distributional limit on Earth, show an extended and fully planktotrophic larval development and thus need to synchronize larval release with short periods of high primary production.

Population outbreaks of the coral-eating predator crown of thorns starfish (COTS), Acanthaster planci are responsible for large-scale disturbance of coral reefs throughout the Indo-Pacific. In response, attempts are often made to control COTS outbreaks in protected areas. For instance, volunteers remove thousands of sea stars every year in Malaysia. This study reports the status of the COTS population in the Pulau Tioman Marine Park and examines the effectiveness of the seasonal sea star removal programme. After the 2009 removal season, we monitored COTS densities and coral assemblages before and after a 6-month no-removal season at sites with and without COTS removal efforts. We recorded high COTS densities up to 330 ind. ha−1 at a few sites independent of removal effort. In fact, removal only temporarily reduced large individuals from local populations. Moreover, after the no-removal season, sites with COTS removal had increased live coral cover, but sites without COTS removal had a drastic decrease in live coral cover, with Acropora spp. being most affected. Therefore, this study suggests that the current seasonal removals could promote coral health, despite the high density of COTS.