On 11 August 1976 an observant yachtsman noted an unfamiliar alga between Misery Point and Warren Point at the mouth of the River Yealm. Suspecting that it might be ‘Japweed’ he collected a piece and took it to Mr B. W. P. Sparrow of the International Marine Coatings Laboratory who contacted the Marine Biological Association, where Dr Boalch confirmed that it was a part of a fertile plant of Sargassum muticum, the first to be recorded from the Plymouth area (see Fig. 1).

Underwater image-based sampling procedures, using SCUBA, are compared using imagery collected from a temperate hard-substratum community. The effectiveness of a low-budget, high-resolution image mosaicing technique is assessed by comparing the relative efficiency of data collection, extraction and analysis among sampling procedures. In addition, a manipulative experiment tested whether the sampling procedures could detect the physical removal of 10% of the reef community. Overall, four factors were explored within the data: data collection media (stills and video), cover and community composition estimation techniques (visual cover estimation, frequency of occurrence and point extraction), change detection (pre- and post-impact) and depth (8, 14, 18 and 22 m). Stills imagery sampled the reef community at a higher image resolution than the video imagery, which enabled identification of more species and less-conspicuous benthic categories. Using the visual cover estimation technique, the stills imagery also had the greatest benefit in terms of efficiency and species identification. However, the experimental impact was detected using only the point extraction technique. The recommendations are that: (1) the image mosaicing technique is applied to fixed-station monitoring; (2) the point extraction technique be used for efficient and cost-effective monitoring at coarse taxonomic resolutions; and (3) survey depths remain constant over the duration of hard-substratum community monitoring.

During the summer of 1990 the sublittoral communities on hard substrata were investigated at 32 localities off Orkney and St Abbs (Scotland). The environment in both places has an open coast character, with small seasonal fluctuations in temperature and salinity and a high transparency of the water. The major governing environmental factors are the available amount of daylight and the degree of exposure to water movement. For the photic zone two different communities, dominated by foliose algae, are described. Under exposed conditions a widespread community is found, dominated by red algae in the middle structural layer and characterized by a dense canopy of Laminaria hyperborea. Under more sheltered conditions a community occurs in which brown and green algae become more abundant in the middle structural layer, while the top layer is formed by Laminaria saccharina and Saccorhiza polyschides. In the aphotic zone, under exposed conditions, a community is found which consists of a number of variants, with a dominance of the suspension feeders Pomatoceros triqueter and Alcyonium digitatum or bryozoans and hydrozoans. These variants are found in different regions, depths and angles of inclination of the substrata. Comparable variants have also been found off Helgoland (German Bight). Under sheltered conditions the suspension feeders become of minor importance and the community is dominated by encrusting red algae. In a surge tunnel in the photic zone off St Abbs Head, a community dominated by Dendrodoa grossularia and Clathrina coriacea is present.

Previous scientific studies have listed chemical compounds from sea cucumber species. The ability to produce bioactive metabolites derives from their response to various ecological stresses and avoidance of predation. In view of this, the present work aimed to evaluate the antibacterial activity and quantitatively assess the active components of different organs of the sea cucumber Holothuria foskali collected from the north-east of Tunisia. The antibacterial activity of ethyl acetate extracts was tested against Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. It was revealed that Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis were inhibited by the sea cucumber extracts. To identify the composition of these extracts, Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy (GC-MS) and Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy (LC-MS) methods were used. The GC-MS revealed the presence of 25 major components, the most concentrated ones were characterized as C26H27N5O6 Morphinan-4,5-epoxy-3,6-diol, 6 amino;C17H31F3O2 3-trifluoroacetoxypentadecane; C31H50O2 Stigmasta-5,22-dien-3-ol,acetate; C11H14O2 1-Phthalanol,1,3,3-trimethyl 1-phenyl; C30H48O2 Ergosta-5,22-dien-3-ol,acetate and C25H40O2 (9E)-8-Phenyl-9-octadecenoic acid methyl ester; while the LC-MS revealed the presence of eight molecules, identified as phenolic acid, phytosterol and fat-soluble vitamins. Some molecules are interesting and deserve to be explored for their potential uses as ingredients in functional foods or as raw materials for new drug forms.

Within the COST action EMBOS (European Marine Biodiversity Observatory System) the degree and variation of the diversity and densities of soft-bottom communities from the lower intertidal or the shallow subtidal was measured at 28 marine sites along the European coastline (Baltic, Atlantic, Mediterranean) using jointly agreed and harmonized protocols, tools and indicators. The hypothesis tested was that the diversity for all taxonomic groups would decrease with increasing latitude. The EMBOS system delivered accurate and comparable data on the diversity and densities of the soft sediment macrozoobenthic community over a large-scale gradient along the European coastline. In contrast to general biogeographic theory, species diversity showed no linear relationship with latitude, yet a bell-shaped relation was found. The diversity and densities of benthos were mostly positively correlated with environmental factors such as temperature, salinity, mud and organic matter content in sediment, or wave height, and related with location characteristics such as system type (lagoons, estuaries, open coast) or stratum (intertidal, subtidal). For some relationships, a maximum (e.g. temperature from 15–20°C; mud content of sediment around 40%) or bimodal curve (e.g. salinity) was found. In lagoons the densities were twice higher than in other locations, and at open coasts the diversity was much lower than in other locations. We conclude that latitudinal trends and regional differences in diversity and densities are strongly influenced by, i.e. merely the result of, particular sets and ranges of environmental factors and location characteristics specific to certain areas, such as the Baltic, with typical salinity clines (favouring insects) and the Mediterranean, with higher temperatures (favouring crustaceans). Therefore, eventual trends with latitude are primarily indirect and so can be overcome by local variation of environmental factors.

Seven species of the ctenostome bryozoan genus Alcyonidium from Magellanic, Patagonian and Antarctic shelf coastal waters are described using molecular genetic and morphological characteristics. One species is limited to cold temperate South America. A second species is reported from five stations in the Magellan Strait and a single station in the Palmer Archipelago, Antarctic Peninsula. The remaining five species appear to be endemic to Antarctica; Alcyonidium epispiculum, A. scolecoideum and A. simulatum are species new to science, A. australe, A. eightsi and A. flabelliforme are substantially revised and A. pelagosphaerum is upgraded to species level. Genetic diversity is least in the circumpolar Antarctic species Alcyonidium flabelliforme and greatest in the epibiotic A. eightsi, recorded only from the Palmer Archipelago. The latter is shown to brood lecithotrophic larvae with predicted minimum dispersal capability, five of the remaining species are inferred to shed planktonic larvae with potentially wide dispersal abilities. Reproductive mode of one species is unknown. A phylogenetic analysis of five haplotypes recognized shows the ancestral haplotype to belong to the broadcast spawner A. epispiculum. The two most recently diverged haplotypes were found in the brooding species A. eightsi.

Fourteen rare or poorly known sponge species have been found in the Aegean Sea. The species Pachastrissa pathologica, Calthropella stelligera, Weberella verrucosa, Aaptos papillatus, Timea geministellata, Spiroxya heteroclita, Clathria translata, Hymedesmia simillima, Mycale serrulata, Myrmekioderma spelaea, Callyspongia septimaniensis and Ircinia pipetta are new records for the eastern Mediterranean while the species Geodia barretti and Petrosia vansoesti are reported for the first time from the Mediterranean Sea. Information on their morphology, geographical and bathymetrical distribution is given and discussed.

The salmon shark, Lamna ditropis Hubbs and Follett, is a streamlined, pelagic predator capable of rapid swimming locomotion, very similar to its close relative, the Atlantic porbeagle, Lamna nasus (Bonnaterre). The porbeagle is warm-bodied, maintaining deep body temperatures 7–11 °C above those of the surface water from which they are captured (Carey & Teal, 1969a). Presumably, Lamna ditropis is also warm-bodied. Opportunities to measure temperatures of salmon sharks occurred on 2, 4 and 5 September 1979, when one of us (D.R.) hooked and landed three salmon sharks while hand-trolling for salmon. The sharks were all caught near Cape Edgecumbe, about 60 km from Sitka, Alaska (57° 6´N, 135° 55´ W) at a depth of 12–40 m.

A new genus and species of sabellid polychaete from an organically enriched beach in São Sebastião, State of São Paulo, is described. Kirkia heterobranchiata is unique among sabellids for brooding the embryos on the dorsalmost pair of radioles, which exhibits several modifications for this purpose, rather than on ventral radioles. Morphologically, K. heterobranchiata is most closely related to Perkinsiana riwo, here referred to as the new genus, as suggested by phylogenetic analysis. The new genus is characterized by the shape of the lips (dorsal lips roughly triangular, broader than long; ventral lips lower, ventrally fused and distally rounded), by the absence of both radiolar and pinnular appendages, by having uncini with very short handles in both the thorax and abdomen, and by the ability to brood embryos in cocoons attached to the branchial crown.

During 1992–2003, 52 striped dolphin strandings were recorded in Scotland (UK). Although strandings were recorded in every month of the year, highest numbers were found in January–March and August. Striped dolphins were stranded all around the Scottish coast, but the majority were recovered from the west coast. Necropsies were carried out on 33 of these animals: 29 had live-stranded and cause of death was not established for four animals. Stomach contents were analysed for 20 animals: whiting and Trisopterus were the main prey species in the diet (both by number and by reconstructed biomass). Females had a higher average number of Trisopterus in their stomachs than did males. Trisopterus eaten in winter were larger than Trisopterus eaten in summer and both Trisopterus and whiting eaten on the east coast were bigger than those eaten on the west coast. The reproductive status was determined for six females and six males during 2001–2003, with the majority being immature but the sample included one pregnant female and one sexually active mature male. We calculated the length–weight relationship for this species in Scottish waters. In addition, age data were collected from samples obtained during necropsies on six striped dolphins: the oldest dolphin sampled was around 14 y old but the majority were 2–7 y old. Although the numbers are low, the regular occurrence of stranded striped dolphins in recent years around Scotland, suggests that this warm water species may now be considered resident in Scottish waters.

Buccinidae—like other canivorous and predatory molluscs—are generally considered to be occasional visitors or rare colonizers in deep-sea biogenic habitats. However, casual observations during tropical deep-sea cruises suggest that associations between buccinids and sunken wood, in particular, are not fortuitous. Enigmatocolus monnieri has been found to co-occur in Madagascar with bathymodiolines, vesicomyids and solemyids, indicating the presence of seeps, and species of Thermosipho gen. nov. have been sampled by submersibles and remotely operated vehicles, exclusively from hydrothermal vents. A molecular phylogeny (based on CO1, 12S and 28S genes) reveals that buccinid genera potentially associated with sunken wood (Eosipho, Gaillea gen. nov., Calagrassor gen. nov., and Manaria) are closely related to taxa from vents (Thermosipho gen. nov.) and seeps (Enigmaticolus). The anatomy of several dissected species did not reveal any special trait that could be interpreted as a special adaptation to biogenic substrates. Buccinids from sunken wood are most diverse in the Indo-Pacific centre of marine biodiversity, the ‘Coral Triangle’, at depths between 100 and 1000 m, with numerous species still undescribed.

We monitored the long-term residency of reef-associated ballan wrasse and sand-dwelling rays captured at the site of a potential future Marine Protected Area (MPA: Portelet Bay, Jersey) by implanting them with small transmitters and deploying underwater receivers inside the bay. Individual fish were detected at Portelet Bay for up to 618 days, but there were species-specific differences in residency and detection patterns. Ballan wrasse were year-round residents at the study site where they exhibited distinct, rhythmic, diel, tidal and seasonal patterns of behaviour, whereas rays were occasional visitors to Portelet Bay with no discernible pattern to their visits. Results indicate relatively small MPAs (<0.5 km2) that with suitable habitat could provide effective, long-term protection for ballan wrasse, but would likely be of little conservation benefit for rays. Our findings emphasize the importance of quantifying fish movements when planning MPAs which intend to protect multi-species assemblages of coastal fishes.

Synthetic analogues of natural metabolites (antimetabolites) have been used to assess the sensitivity to inhibition of marine unicellular algae in laboratory cultures and also of more open-sea species grown in mixed culture in nutrient enriched sea waters. Different species show a different pattern of response to a range of antimetabolites. The presence of vitamins and metabolites in the medium influences inhibition of a species by an antimetabolite. The extent by which various sea waters influence inhibition is perhaps capable of development as a measure of the natural metabolites present. Species which are related or which occur together in the sea at the same time of year tend to show similar patterns of response. It is suggested that there may be a connexion between the susceptibility of species to antimetabolites and phytoplankton ‘succession’ in the sea.

The effect of two putative tripeptide analogues (isoleucine-isoleucine-arginine [IIR] and valine-leucine-arginine [VLR]) and a reported analogue, glycyl-glycyl-arginine (GGR), of the waterborne cue to settlement of Balanus amphitrite amphitrite Darwin cypris larvae has been investigated. Settlement in the presence of these tripeptides was not significantly different from that in filtered seawater. Because crude waterborne cue and settlement-inducing protein complex both significantly evoked settlement, the cyprids used in this study were competent to respond. The overall results, therefore, demonstrate that IIR, VLR and GGR are not analogues of barnacle waterborne settlement pheromone.

To investigate the palatability of abundant sub-Arctic sessile or sluggish invertebrates and their value as a food source, in situ experiments with natural consumer assemblages were performed in the Kongsfjord (Spitsbergen). These experiments were complemented with quantitative laboratory assays, using a generalist predatory starfish. Feeding preference and avoidance reactions were similar in both assays. Natural assemblages of predators in situ rejected nine out of ten species tested, and 12 out of 16 species were rejected in laboratory assays, indicating a high percentage of unpalatable invertebrates. Results were compared to the biochemical composition of the investigated species to see whether palatability and feeding preferences coincide with nutritional quality of the prey. Although nutritional quality, expressed as protein, lipid, nitrogen, carbon and water content, may account for some of the feeding preferences found, no overall relationship between nutritional value and palatability or feeding preferences was detected.

A rare physonect siphonophore, Lychnagalma utricularia (Claus, 1879), is redescribed from 24 specimens collected in the region of the Bahamas by the submersible D.S.R.V. ‘Johnson-Sea-Link II’. It was the most common siphonophore collected by the submersible, using its sophisticated sampling techniques. The paucity of previous records for the species, and thus its apparent rarity, is probably due to the extreme fragility of the animals which causes them to disintegrate on contact with nets. The status of the second species, L. vesicularia Haeckel, 1888, is reviewed and it is concluded that it should be reduced to a junior synonym of L. utricularia.

Marine sessile invertebrates with outer skeleton constitute additional substrate for a diverse group of epibiotic organisms. Colonial hydroids are no exception. Large numbers of motile and sessile organisms use hydroid colonies covered with chitinous perisarc for permanent or temporal attachment. Such epibiotic associations between colonial hydroids and microorganisms are poorly studied and mostly known for subtropical regions. There are no data about the development of such epibiotic association and type of its specificity yet. The present paper for the first time describes the epibiotic association of the colonial thecate hydroid Dynamena pumila from the high latitude sea. We reconstruct the spatial and temporal development of such epibiotic community and analyse the organization of the multicomponent biofilm covering the hydroid colony. Comparison of the epibiotic community in different seasons indicates for holding out of the basal features and components of the community during the whole year. Ultrastructural investigations revealed that components of the biofilm affect the outer skeleton of the hydroid colony that results in penetration of the microorganisms into the skeleton and even soft tissues. Our data allow supposing that association of hydroid D. pumila with a microorganism community has features of a symbiotic system.

Proprioceptive endings associated with the locomotor musculature are apparently extremely uncommon in fishes. Muscle spindles are absent, and only in elasmobranchs have sensory endings of two types been recognized as proprioceptive. One of these, found in sharks, is the coiled corpuscular ending first observed by Wunderer (1908) at the bases of the fins in various species. This type of ending also occurs sub-cutaneously along the body, superficial to the myocommata (Bone, 1964). Lowenstein (1956) examined the responses of the endings associated with the fin bases, and showed that they were slowly adapting mechanoreceptors, functioning as second order proprioceptors since as the fin was bent, so the connective tissue amongst which the endings lie was stretched or compressed, and the receptor discharged.

Detailed catch and life history data for Perioculodes longimanus and Pontocrates arcticus, together with more limited comparable information on Synchelidium maculatum, are reported. Samples were taken year-round using a 0–5 mm mesh D-net towed over sand in the immediate sublittoral zone (-2 to -6 m Chart Datum) in Kames Bay, Great Cumbrae Island, Scotland. Estimated population densities of Perioculodes longimanus were highest in summer. The occurrence of Pontocrates arcticus was more erratic and S. maculatum occurred only in midsummer in very low numbers. The mean sizes of all population categories of Perioculodes longimanus were bigger in summer than in late autumn and winter. Female Perioculodes longimanus parasitized with the copepod Sphaeronella minuta were significantly smaller than the whole category ‘sexable females’. Adult female S. minuta (one per amphipod brood pouch infected) carried — 70–200 eggs per sac. In both Perioculodes longimanus and Pontocrates arcticus females were larger than males. In Synchelidium maculatum, by contrast, males and females were not different in size. Gravid females were present virtually year-round in Perioculodes longimanus and Pontocrates arcticus, with particularly high proportions of ovigerous females in midsummer and low proportions in midwinter. Both of these species had an annual life cycle with only one generation per year. Longevity was estimated at 15 months. The sex ratio nearly always showed substantial female dominance in all three species. Fecundity appeared to be related to body size but, due to egg losses during sample processing, data were too few for detailed analysis. The eggs of Perioculodes longimanus and Pontocrates arcticus were elliptical in shape, with winter eggs being smaller than summer eggs in Perioculodes longimanus, but larger in Pontocrates arcticus. The percentage of ovigerous females in the population was significantly correlated with a range of environmental factors tested, the highest correlation being with maximum weekly air temperature (for Perioculodes longimanus) and daylength (Pontocrates arcticus), although causative effects cannot be established since temperature/daylength factors were not independent variables

A stereocamera system is described, built-up mostly from commercially obtainable items. Special features include use of standard 55 mm focal length lenses down to 0.5 m focus, adjustable flash duration to improve image resolution, and a visual and audible pinger control for noisy ship conditions. Resolution in tank tests is better than 70 lines/mm, allowing photographs taken in the field to be enlarged to 3 times the natural size of the animals.