Bryozoans were collected from nine stations between 569 and 1278 m depth on the Hebridean continental slope north-west of Lewis. The 21 species recorded from 1544 colonies included three species new to the British fauna. The bryozoan fauna, growing on pebbles, cobbles and small boulders, was dominated by species with encrusting, spot or ribbon-like colony morphologies. The few erect species were rare. Colony density on available rock substrata declined from 569 to 855 m, but was high at 1278 m, where the nodular species Turbicellepora boreale occurred on pebbles as small as 1 cm diameter. Cyclostomates made up >90% of the colonies in the shallowest sample and were present in lower numbers to 855 m. None were recorded at 1278 m. In the 569–855 m depth range, diversity and evenness were lowest at 569 m but relatively constant at the other stations. A species accumulation curve suggests that the 20 species recorded is a good estimate of the total fauna in this depth range.

The adults ofNereis fucata (Savigny) are commensal with hermit crabs and live within the upper whorls of the shells of their hosts. The mechanism of host adoption has been examined in juveniles reared in the laboratory. There are two distinct phases in their response to their host. The first is a searching phase during which the anterior two-thirds of the worm is extended from the tube and makes wide sweeping movements in its immediate vicinity. This phase can be initiated in the laboratory solely by vibrations in the substrate; the presence of a hermit crab is not required. The second phase begins as soon as a suitable gastropod shell is touched, when the worm immediately leaves its tube and enters the shell. In the laboratory this phase can be achieved without the presence of a hermit crab, so that it is presumably primarily dependent upon the tactile stimuli received from the surface of the shell. It is argued that in nature only hermit-crab shells would commonly give this combination of stimuli to the worm and that the association betweenNereis fucata and hermit crabs is not accidental but commensal.

It is a curious fact that the majority of the British anemones had been discovered by 1860, and that half of them, as listed at that date, had been established during a burst of energy on the part of Gosse and his collecting friends. Gosse added 28 species to the British Fauna himself. It is still more surprising that since Gosse ceased work, no authentic new ones have been added, other than more or less offshore forms, with the exception of Sagartia lucice; and this species appears to have been imported from abroad. There is, however, an anemone which occurs on the Breakwater and Pier at Plymouth, which has not yet been described. Dr. Allen tells me it has been on the Breakwater as long as he can remember, and to him I am indebted for the details of its habitat given further on. Whether it occurs elsewhere than in the Plymouth district and has been seen but mistaken for the young of Metridium dianthus, is as yet unknown.

(1) The effect of temperature on the viscosity of the protoplasm has been determined in the unripe eggs of Nereis diversicolor by the centrifuge method.

The viscosity rises as the temperature falls, the rise becoming rapid near 0°C.

(2) These changes of viscosity with temperature are similar to those described by Weber (21) in the protoplasm of certain plant cells.

(3) Attention is drawn to the fact that the temperature coefficients of biological processes should be corrected for the viscosity of the protoplasm in which they occur.

(4) It is shown that the relative changes of protoplasmic viscosity with temperature are probably of the order required to make the temperature coefficients of biological processes constant when corrected for the viscosity factor.

(5) The magnitude of the temperature coefficients of biological processes when corrected for viscosity changes is probably of the same order as that of the temperature coefficients of a chemical process when corrected for changes in the viscosity of its medium.

Sponge-related research in Taiwan has primarily focused on natural product exploration. This research has, however, been hampered by a lack of fundamental work on sponge taxonomy and ecology. In the present study, subtidal sponges were photo-recorded in situ and collected by scuba diving at a depth range of 2–20 m from 2009 to 2012 in 16 different sites surrounding the Penghu Archipelago, Taiwan. Sponge samples were identified to the lowest taxonomic level based on skeletal morphology and spicules. A total of 53 species belonging to 24 families and 10 orders were identified in this study. The number of sponge species per site ranged from 0 to 24. The most widely distributed sponge species was Callyspongia (Euplacella) cf. communis (Carter, 1881) followed by Haliclona (Gellius) cymaeformis (Esper, 1794), and Aaptos suberitoides (Brøndsted, 1934). At one location, Chipeiyu, no sponges were observed. Non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) ordination revealed relatively low similarity among most sampling sites. Large- and small-scale hydrological and habitat features are probably responsible for compositional variation of sponge assemblages among groups of sampling sites. Our richness analyses suggest that many more sponge species remain to be discovered in the Penghu Archipelago.

Calcareous sponges (Calcarea: Calcinea) are being described, for the first time, from São Paulo State, Brazil. A total of five species are described, two of which are new to science (Clathrina alcatraziensis sp. nov. and Leucascus roseus sp. nov.). The remaining three species have their distribution widened (Clathrina aurea, C. conifera and C. tetractina).

On May 30th, 1916, a number of large Buccinum undatum were brought in from the trawling grounds ; 40 of these were examined and 34 were found to contain larval Trematodes. Another lot in the spring of 1917 contained about the same percentage of infected Mollusks. Two species of Trematodes were present, both contained in the digestive gland, which was absolutely riddled with them.

During the daily maintenance work of a large aquarium many casual observations are made on the habits of the inmates. These are sometimes worthy of record, though too slight in themselves to justify separate papers each under its own distinctive title. It has, however, been thought fit to bring together in the form of a series of notes some of the more interesting of these observations. It is not intended to discuss each with full reference to the comparable literature; rather are they presented as raw material for the use of other investigators in their own specialized fields. Most of these observations have been made since the re-establishment of the Plymouth aquarium in 1946 (after its war damage), and up to the date of writing, November 1948.

It will be within the recollection not only of the comparatively small section of the community which is consciously interested in fishery matters, but of all those whom a sense of public duty or a lack of other occupation compels to some acquaintance with the current topics of the day, that the question of the deterioration of our sea fisheries commenced some few years back to assume something approaching to prominence. One of the earlier indications of the importance with which the question was invested, in the minds of those principally concerned, was the formation, in 1882, by a number of fish merchants, smack-owners, and others, of the National Sea Fisheries Protection Association,—a title which may well be forgiven for its length, in consideration of the happy augury it holds out of the enduring nature of the Association's services to one of our most deserving industries.

The genus Tethya represents a large cosmopolitan group of 81 recognized and a significant number of additional, still undescribed sponge species. The phylogenetic relationships within this old taxon are almost unknown. This is represented by the fact that several species are regarded as cosmopolitan. However, some of them might represent groups of closely related but distinct species. Using molecular and morphological characters, we aimed at a fundamental phylogenetic study for the genus Tethya, evaluating an existing morphological matrix and the cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) as a molecular marker. Intending to create a basic phylogenetic framework for the genus we selected a number of species from main biogeographic regions covered by Tethya species: from the Mediterranean Sea (T. citrina and T. aurantium), the northern European seas (T. citrina, T. norvegica and T. hibernica), the western Atlantic (T. actinia), the eastern Pacific (T. californiana), the Indo-Pacific (T. seychellensis) as well as three species of unknown biogeographical origin, originally described from aquarium habitats (T. wilhelma, T. gracilis and T. minuta). Both the morphological matrix, consisting of 29 characters and 131 character states, as well as the molecular matrices (COI nucleotide sequences of 658 bp as well as deduced amino acid sequence of 219 aa), resolved major biogeographical subgroups within the genus. However, the nucleotide based matrices revealed a higher resolution. Two major branches seem to have diverged early: an Indo-Pacific (T. seychellensis, T. wilhelma, T. minuta) and a Pan-European clade (T. citrina, T. norvegica, T. hibernica). For T. aurantium as well as a North-American group (T. californiana, T. actinia and T. minuta) our results are not conclusive. The morphological character set will have to be re-evaluated to gain a higher phylogenetic resolution. The addition of more species to our basal phylogenetic framework will allow analysing the evolution of the various biogeographical subgroups in the genus Tethya.

Epibiotic interactions between macroalgae and crustaceans have rarely been described. We examined the interaction between the mole crab, Emerita analoga and the opportunistic algae Enteromopha spp. in a sandy beach of the central coast of Peru. Enteromorpha spp. was found fouling the carapace of the mole crab that provides the only stable substrate to spore settlement in the beach environment. Epibiosis prevalence was up to 2.1%, and affected mainly larger, ovigerous females. Prevalence presented a seasonal pattern, with peaks during summer. Mole crab body condition was higher when fouled, whereas fecundity was not affected. Fouled mole crabs burrowed at lower speed, which was reversible by the removal of epibiotic algae. The burrowing depth was not affected by epibiosis. Contrary to the expected, the effects of algal epibiosis on demographic and life history parameters of mole crabs, with the exception of body condition, were mainly neutral but important on behavioural traits.

Zooplankton and hydrography of the upper 200 m was studied in coastal and pelagic waters off central Greece (eastern Mediterranean) during July 1998. The spatial distribution of the main environmental (temperature, salinity, fluorescence) and zooplankton (abundance, dry-weight, dominant groups) features of the area was delimited over an intense grid of 124 stations. The complex topography of the surveyed area comprised an interesting field for the study of pelagic–coastal interaction and its influence on the taxonomic composition of zooplankton.

A typical summer thermal stratification was observed over the entire study area. Marked differences were found in surface-salinity between the eastern (Aegean Sea) and the western (Ionian Sea) part of the study area, which was attributed to the presence of less saline waters originating from the Black Sea. A deep fluorescence maximum was present in both coastal and pelagic stations. Zooplankton abundance and biomass showed an inshore–offshore gradient with coastal areas being significantly richer than pelagic areas. The taxonomic composition of zooplankton varied greatly both along the inshore–offshore gradient and among the different semi-enclosed Gulfs. Copepods were the dominant group in the pelagic waters comprising 67–78% in terms of mean relative abundance. In coastal areas, copepods were less important with cladocerans (especially the species Penilia avirostris) being the dominant group (44–51%). Appendicularians and chaetognaths comprised an important component of the zooplankton community over the entire surveyed area with mean relative abundance ranging from 2·5 to 14% and 0·6 to 5·8%, respectively.

A comparative study of some tagging methods for the great scallop (Pecten maximus) is reported and intended to increase reliability and reduce costs associated with tagging. Tags were tested for ease of application, legibility, visibility and retention prior to a 17-month study of Pecten maximus in suspended (pearl net) culture. Of the six adhesives tested (standard epoxy resin, rapid epoxy resin, underwater epoxy resin, dental cement, cyanoacrylate fluid and cyanoacrylate gel), rapid epoxy resin and both cyanoacrylates were successful, bonding strongly and quickly to scallop shells. Of the three tag types used, Shellfish Tags (Hallprint) were favoured because they were simpler to apply, more visible, easier to read, and held more data than both Micromarkers (Brady) and engraved codes. In long-term trials 550 scallops were double tagged with Shellfish Tags using cyanoacrylate gel. Loss rates were 16% for tags on the umbo and 0·4% for tags positioned in grooves near to the shell margin. Loss rates did not increase over the 17-month period.

Mytilus edulis (Mollusca: Bivalvia) collected as spat from the wild in 1990 and held in the laboratory for 18 months were divided into four groups: fed (control); starved; fed with 100 ppb added copper; and starved with 100 ppb added copper. Following >60% mortalities in the starved and copper stressed groups (but negligible mortalities in the control) surviving mussels from all four groups were genotyped at seven allozyme loci (Gpi, Lap, Pgtn, Idh, Odh, Gsr and Est). Allele frequencies did not vary significantly between any of the four groups at any loci, except Gsr where fed and starved groups differed. Mortalities were not genotype dependent at the Pgm locus but, in contrast, genotype frequencies at most other loci varied significantly between groups. At the Gpi, Lap, Gsr and Odh loci there were significant changes in proportions of heterozygotes following copper induced mortalities such that, in general, heterozygotes survived longer and homozygotes succumbed sooner. No similar pattern was evident in relation to mortalities caused by starvation; at only one locus (Idh) was there evidence of a significant effect but this was not apparently independent of the effect of copper.

Responses of the Antarctic limpet Nacella concinna (Mollusca: Gastropoda) to meltwater exposure were studied at Adelaide Island (67°34′S 68°08′W). Limpets in crevices could be bathed in pure meltwater, though animals in large pools often avoided significant exposure to lowered salinity because of marked halocline formation. Small pools containing limpets showed extremely demanding osmotic environments with fluctuations between salinities of 3 and 30 psu being recorded within 1–2 min because of alternating meltwater and wave action. Analysis of haemolymph osmolarities in animals taken from the field demonstrated significant falls in osmolality (to 600–800 mOsm kg−1) compared with control animals living in seawater (1000 mOsm kg−1). A few moribund animals had osmolarities <600 mOsm kg−1. Nacella concinna are stenohaline osmoconformers with a median lower lethal salinity (96 h) of 20·9 psu and a median lethal time for freshwater exposure of 2 h 18 min. A 1 h exposure to freshwater caused a 14% increase in body volume and a 27% loss of body fluid ions. Nacella concinna responds behaviourally to meltwater by short-term, ineffective, clamp down of the shell, retraction of the head, cephalic tentacles and mantle margin tentacles. On vertical surfaces limpets respond actively to freshwater exposure by rapid detachment; 50% of animals lose adhesion within 5 min. Consideration of tidal regimes at Adelaide Island suggests that an individual intertidal limpet has a risk of being exposed to severe meltwater exposure about once per year.

An automated photographic technique was used to collect quantitative information on the activity patterns of Fissurella crassa under heavy-exposed sea conditions.The activity of this key-hole limpet was confined to nocturnal low tides. Total length of excursions was significantly greater during spring tides than neap tides, as was the maximum distance reached from the refuge. Total duration of excursions and their average speed did not vary significantly according to the spring/neap cycle. While the direction angle of excursions relative to the refuge was not influenced significantly by the spring/neap cycle, the lowest zone within the intertidal was reached by F. crassa during spring low tides only.

Fissurella crassa showed a spatial activity pattern fluctuating intra/inter-individually between a central place foraging and a ranging strategy, with a marked propensity for the former. Looped excursions were characterized by higher speed for the movements away and toward the limpet's refuge, than the movements at maximum distance from the refuge. As the outward and inward branches of looped excursions often overlapped extensively, trail-following is suggested as the main mechanism of orientation used by F. crassa to relocate the refuge.

Ophelia bicornis sensu lato is a polychaete living in intertidal sandy habitats of Mediterranean and European Atlantic coasts, whose systematics have been strongly debated in the past few decades. In the present work the count of nephridiopores was coupled with genetic analysis carried out with DNA markers (inter simple sequence repeats) for a total of 30 individuals collected at six Italian beaches. Exact test, analysis of molecular variance, non-metric multidimensional scaling and assignment tests clearly separated individuals with five nephridiopore pairs from those with six pairs. This finding validated results of a recent allozyme study in which O. bicornis sensu lato was split into O. bicornis sensu stricto (six nephridiopore pairs) and O. barquii (five nephridiopore pairs). This paper represents a further contribution to the estimation of biodiversity within marine invertebrates.

The taxonomic identity of the common subtidal ctenostomate bryozoan Alcyonidium diaphanum is resolved using comparative morphological and molecular genetic techniques. The newly recognized lectotype series and topotype specimens are described and illustrated. The incorporation of spicules and foreign particles during colony growth is described. Colony morphology and genetic characters of the three commonly occurring morphotypes are examined, showing that just a single genetic species may be recognized, based on the 12s rRNA and CO1 mtDNA genes. Mitochondrial haplotypes show no general correlation with either colony morphotype or geographical location.

The mining of china clay in Cornwall is an industry dating from the middle of the eighteenth century, and one which has grown to major prominence in the south-western peninsula, as illustrated by the historical accounts of Barton (1966) and Hudson (1969).

Present-day mining processes give rise to two main types of particulate waste. The coarser waste, or tip-sand, is deposited on land to form the massive white tips which characterize the scenery of the Cornish china clay mining areas, although small amounts may be used locally as a building aggregate. The finer-grained waste, known as micaceous residue, is produced in lesser quantities and is disposed of in a different manner.

In recent years there has been an increase in community-based monitoring programmes developed and implemented worldwide. This paper describes how the data collected from such a programme could be integrated into a Geographic Information System (GIS) to create temperate subtidal marine habitat maps. A differential Global Positioning System was utilized to accurately record the location of the trained community-based SCUBA diver data. These georeferenced data sets were then used to classify benthic habitats using an aerial photograph and digitizing techniques. This study demonstrated that trained community-based volunteers can collect data that can be utilized within a GIS to create reliable and cost-effective maps of shallow temperate subtidal rocky reef systems.