The Arctic abyssal anemone Bathyphellia margaritacea, type species of the genus and of the family Bathyphelliidae is redescribed. Acontia in this species are highly variable both in quantity and in cnidome characteristics, implying that this genus is one of the links between acontiate and nonacontiate mesomyarian actiniarians, and has to be considered a ‘late’ mesomyarian according to the scheme proposed by Schmidt (1972b, 1974). By contrast, the new abyssal species Daontesia porcupina has normally developed acontia, a cuticle consisting of multistratified sheets and a more archaic and diverse cnidome, suggesting its systematic allocation within the ‘early’ mesomyarians. The allocation of the genus Daontesia to the family Bathyphelliidae is questionable.

Investigations concerning the main events in the transformation of the transparent eel-shaped larval herring into the silvery and scaled adolescent fish may proceed along two lines. In the first place, information may be sought as to the biological processes which bring about each event. For example, attention may be directed to the study of the differential growth of the body by which the form of the adult is attained; or, to the manner in which the scales are developed. But, secondly, it is of vital importance to learn how much the events of metamorphosis are affected by circumstances of time and place. Thus, at Plymouth, as elsewhere, we need to know the extent of possible differences in form and size between young fishes which have metamorphosed from larvæ born at different times.

Aerial surveys of harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) are usually carried out to provide an index of population size. This can be normalized, either by design or by post-hoc analysis to reduce the effects that date, time of day, tide and weather might have on the number of seals counted. In order for long-term trends to be determined from these counts it is assumed that the mean number of seals at a particular site does not vary during the survey period, and that the start and duration of the survey window does not vary with location or between years. This study used a combination of repeat land-based and aerial surveys to test the assumption for constancy of counts during the survey period. The study focused on harbour seal abundance at haul-out sites around the Isle of Skye in north-west Scotland. The coefficient of variation in these counts was estimated to be 15%, based on repeat aerial surveys using thermal imaging. Land-based counts were used to examine the effect of covariates on seal numbers using generalized additive modelling. This site-specific model predicted that the current aerial survey window for harbour seals in the UK, which is a three-week period during the moult, is about a week too early and that count variation could be reduced by surveying 1 1/2 hours earlier in the tidal cycle. Furthermore, the pupping period showed even higher (though more variable) abundance of hauled out seals than during the moult.

The larva of Nephthys was originally described by Claparède and Mecznikow (2) in 1868, from specimens obtained from the Plankton at Naples. Since then it has been figured by Fewkes (3), Häcker (5), and Gravely (4). The larva of Glycera is, as far as I am aware, hitherto undescribed.

Isolated embryonic membranes (i.e. the outer cuticular membrane, the fibrous layer, the inner cuticular membrane and the hatching membrane) and homogenates of incubated, decapsulated cysts of 16 populations from five Artemia species (Crustacea, Anostraca) were examined by sodium dodecyl-sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Characteristic differences in major polypeptides between 45 and 205 kD were seen. These differences might be used as markers for identification of different Artemia species. The validity of this approach in characterizing Artemia populations is discussed.

The extracellular matrix of the sea urchin involves a protein with a molecular weight of 180 kDa (sea urchin fibronectin), which corresponds to mammalian fibronectin, and a nectin specific to Echinoidea with a molecular weight of 105–115 kDa (sea urchin nectin). Sea urchin fibronectin and sea urchin nectin have cell adhesion protein properties. They are, however, different from each other in biochemical properties, biological functions and intraembryonic distribution. Sea urchin fibronectin isolated from the sea urchin ovary accelerates scattering of micromere-derived cells and promotes spicule formation of micromeres in vitro. Sea urchin nectins identified so far in Paracentrotus lividus (Lamarck), Temnopleurus hardwicki (Gray) and Pseudocentrotus depressus (A. Agassiz) are presumably homologous molecules displayed in different species. They seem to be secreted into the hyaline layer as its constituents, and to play some role in morphogenesis of the embryo.

The presence of a diverse range of epibionts was found on Pagurus bernhardus from the west coast of Scotland. The invertebrate species found on the shell inhabited by the crab were the hydrozoans Hydractinia echinata and Dycorine conferta, the cirripeds Balanus balanus and Balanus crenatus, the polychaetes Hydroides norvegica, Pomatoceros triqueter and Circeis armoricana, and the molluscs Hiatella arctica and Anomia ephippium. On the crab were observed the polychaete Circeis armoricana and the amphipod Podoceropsis nitida. In addition, on the gastropod shells occupied by P. bernhardus, ciliate protozoan species were found attached to the hydrozoan Dycorine conferta, this being hyperepibiosis. These ciliates were 6 suctorian (Conchacineta constricta, Corynophrya anisostyla, Actinocyathula homari, Actinocyathula crenata, Acineta sulcata and Acineta corophii), and one peritrich species (Zoothamnium sp.). This is the first time that this hyperepibiosis was observed. In contrast to the epibiont communities observed in previous surveys in the same sampling area, basibiont specimens without D. conferta did not show ciliate epibionts. The ciliate epibionts also were not present on the surface of the shell and crab in specimens with D. conferta; they only appeared in hyperepibiosis on the surface of the hydrozoan. The spatial distribution and abundance of the invertebrate epibiont species were analysed, as well as the morphology, taxonomy and distribution of the ciliate hyperepibionts.

The diets and trophic ecology of the dominant fish species from the marine coastal region of Aveiro (north-western Portugal) caught during a summer survey were studied. Mysids were the most important prey group for the fish assemblage analysed. As a consequence, there was a high dietary overlap between species and a low incidence of piscivory. Nevertheless, a clear segregation of trophic niches was observed, with one group (comprising the species Chelidonichthys cuculus, Callionymus lyra, Dicologlossa cuneata and Pomatoschistus lozanoi) showing a stronger preference for infaunal epibenthic prey, such as polychaetes and amphipods, another group (including Arnoglossus imperialis, Arnoglossus laterna, Chelidonichthys obscurus, Chelidonichthys lucernus, Echiichthys vipera, Pagellus acarne and Trisopterus luscus) preying mostly upon suprabenthic prey, mainly mysids, and a third group (Engraulis encrasicolus and Trachurus trachurus) feeding largely on planktonic prey like copepods. Some species, including A. imperialis, C. lyra, E. vipera, T. trachurus and T. luscus, showed ontogenic diet shifts that may be related to the habitat occupied by different size-classes and/or to their ability to capture prey of different size.

Apseudopsis latreillii is a common tanaidacean species widely-distributed in the north-east Atlantic, but its diagnostic characters remain unspecified. Furthermore, intraspecific variation in relation to its developmental stages has not been described. Knowledge about this variation is needed owing to the difficulty of identification of the significant number of juvenile specimens within samples, particularly when sympatric with other apseudid species. Specimens from three different localities of the north-east Atlantic have been examined, and the size of 766 individuals has been measured. Study of postmarsupial development shows that the manca II is followed by two juvenile stages before reaching maturity. Males present two possible morphologies. After a preparatory stage, females pass through a sequence of copulatory instars followed by intermediate stages in which the female loses the ovisac after manca release. Characters allowing the distinction of A. latreillii specimens regardless of developmental stage are the combination of a pointed and downturned rostrum, pereonites without apophyses, three ventral spines on the pereopod 1 propodus, and one dorsodistal spine on the merus.

Including a multi-year collection of samples (2004–2011) the present research fills 20 years of an information gap regarding the PCB burden in south-west Atlantic franciscana dolphins (Pontoporia blainvillei) while aiming to test the null hypothesis that PCBs congeners are increasingly bioaccumulating in south-west Atlantic specimens in relation to northern hemisphere records. In addition, the present survey analyses indicators of potential biological impairment associated to PCBs tissue burden. The results could associate each sampling area group of dolphins to one or two Aroclor® patterns and point to dominant regional diffuse sources entering PCBs mixtures to the marine environment with a possible regional/long-range atmospheric contribution. In addition, total PCB levels were from four to seven times lower than the closer precedents for the area (18–26 years ago) indicating a progress in the environmental release and biota exposure of PCBs and posing an objective indicator of success of the present international elimination programme. Further, when compared with regional and global bioaccumulation patterns, PCBs congeners in Argentinean specimens appeared to occur in a decreasing tendency. Finally, calculated TEQs TCDD levels raised a concern in regards to environmental safety, showing guideline values to be widely exceeded and the occasional occurrence of positive correlations between PCBs bioaccumulation vs. sexual immaturity.

Human health and wellbeing are intrinsically connected to our seas and oceans through a complex relationship comprising both positive and negative influences. Although significant public health impacts result from this relationship, the economic implications are rarely analysed. We reviewed the literature to assess current knowledge on the economic valuation and impacts of ocean and human health interactions in a European context. Quantitative analyses on the economic impacts of varying ocean-health interactions were limited. Common challenges to economic assessment included the difficulty in obtaining estimates for indirect healthcare costs, under-reporting of illness and the lack of standardization of surveillance data on illnesses, when available. It was also evident that non-market values, such as health promotion and psychological benefits are underrepresented in economic assessments, most likely because of the lack of standardized valuation methods for such non-market values. We provide recommendations to improve knowledge of ocean and human health linkages and progress future assessment of its economic implications in Europe.

This paper describes the random amplification of polymorphic DNA markers (RAPDs) in Lasaea rubra (Erycinidae: Bivalvia). Present evidence suggests that L. rubra is an asexual species; however, the exact mode of clonal reproduction in this species is still a matter of debate. In this preliminary study, four of the primers used generated polymorphic RAPDs. One primer was able to distinguish between individuals from the same or different crevice population. This same primer also resolved a single band difference between otherwise identical RAPD patterns of a parent and its offspring. No familial differences have been detected in several previous studies using allozyme electrophoresis. This paper suggests that many polymorphic markers could be obtained with this species using the RAPD technique. Population genetic analysis of L. rubra has long been hampered by a dearth of polymorphic markers due to its small size. These findings suggest that this technique has the potential to further the study of population genetics in this asexual species.

Describing the auditory periphery of odontocetes is a key conservation issue to further assess the effect of acoustic pollution. Because all odontocetes produce species-specific frequency ranges, differences in echolocation signals should reflect anatomical differences in the auditory pathways. Here, we studied the ears of 15 odontocete species through 3D reconstructions from computerized tomography scans to extract standard measurements (bullae lengths/volumes and cochlear volume) and investigate the discriminatory weight of each of these variables as well as their relation to the species' hearing specificity. Any of the measurements appeared to be a good indicator of the species and could therefore be used to classify them. All the ear lengths and most volumes were strongly linearly correlated (r >0.9) in all species and the proportion between the tympanic and periotic bones appeared to remain constant. This constant ratio could be an indication of a functional relationship between both structures, and might suggest an active role of the odontocete middle ear during target acoustic detection, providing new information on the odontocete sound reception mechanism. Our results are generally consistent with previous studies, although here the coefficients of correlation between animal lengths and the total volume and lengths of the bullae were lower (0.77< r <0.86), indicating that the length of the animals may not be a primary parameter to take into account when defining ear measurements. These results suggest that the measurements described characterize standard ears which could be used as a morphological basis for further species-specific acoustic comparison.

This note reports the main morphometric and meristic parameters of a male Bermuda sea chub (Khyphosus sectator) caught off the Algarve coast (southern Portugal). This is the first occurrence of this tropical fish species in Portuguese continental waters, and the second and northernmost capture ever reported for the north-eastern Atlantic.

A new species of the genus Tambja is described from the western Atlantic on the coast of Brazil. To date, the genus Tambja was represented in the Atlantic Ocean by nine species but only three of them have been recorded from the western Atlantic: T. gratiosa from the Gulf of Mexico, T. divae from Brazil and T. oliva from the Caribbean coast of the Isthmus of Panama. Tambja stegosauriformis sp. nov. is easily distinguished from all its congeneric Atlantic species of the genus by having very well developed light blue tubercles scattered on the yellowish-orange ground with an elongate crest behind the gill until the end of the tail. The anterior margin of the notum is very wide and elevated and it extends into a kind of lapel around the rhinophores. This peculiar external morphology and its conspicuous coloration characterize this species.

Pycnoclavella aurilucens was recorded and briefly described by Garstang in 1891 from a limited locality in the Plymouth area, and has not been found with certainty of identification from any other region. There has been a tendency to subordinate it as a species of Clavelina, but the dissimilarities are greater even than the original description implies and this procedure is not justified. The genus is accordingly retained, and a more detailed account of the colony, with the first description of the tadpole larva and process of budding, is presented.

The amphipod fauna from habitats in hydrothermal vents on the Juan de Fuca Ridge, Escabana Trough, and Gorda Ridge and from experimental wood deployments is examined. The material revealed one new species of Melitidae, Bathyceradocus wuzzae, and one of Eusiridae, Leptamphopus fragilis.

Temporal variation of hyperiid amphipod structure assemblages was studied on Isla Gorgona, eastern tropical Pacific (ETP) off Colombia between September 2005 and August 2006. Forty-six species were found during the entire sampling period: Hyperioides sibaginis, Lestrigonus bengalensis, Phronimopsis spinifera, Tetrathyrus forcipatus and Paralycaea gracilis dominated the assemblage, representing 92%. The dendogram based on the Bray–Curtis similarity index showed that the hyperiid assemblages were separated into two groups, which did not coincide with the seasonality described for the ETP (wet versus dry season). Rather, groups comprised wet (May to November) and dry season months (December to April). The first group included November, December, February and March. During these months, significantly higher hyperiid richness, diversity and abundance were found, although colder subsurface water temperatures in Gorgona were registered only during February and March. The other group included May to October and January, and was characterized by lower hyperiid diversity and abundance values. Significant correlations were found between hyperiid abundance and the possible gelatinous zooplankton hosts (medusae, siphonophores and salps). This study contributes to increasing knowledge of the zooplankton community in the Panama Bight, as well as of a poorly studied group in the ETP.

A new species Spiochaetopterus nonatoi is described from the south-eastern coast of Brazil, the type locality being Flamengo Bight, 6-m depth (23°30′S 45°06′W). This species is distinguishable from already erected species of the same genus by the following characteristics: oculate specimens of large size; maximum segments, 197 (N=15); maximum tube length, 45 cm; maximum body length, 20 cm; orange coloration of the fore part (peristomium and segment 1) and of the ventral shield on segments 6–7; shape of the specialized enlarged cutting seta on A4 with an obliquely truncated distal end; this slightly concave section is heart-shaped and clearly asymmetrical; segments B1 and B2 with one lobe on the neuropodia. This additional description in the genus Spiochaetopterus confirms the limited geographical area of each species in this genus. In spite of the probable ability of planktonic larvae of Spiochaetopterus to disseminate throughout the Atlantic Ocean, the benthic adults of each species cover only a limited geographical area. In particular, the stem species S. costarum loses its cosmopolitan character.

A new species of sponge, belonging to the genus Delectona, has been observed in the scleraxis of Corallium rubrum from three Mediterranean banks (Alboran, Elba Island and Bosa Marina). The species, described here as Delecfons ciconiae, shows a spicular complement composed of spiny rhabds, very irregular in shape and size, whose derivation from amphiasters has been suggested; toxiform centrotylote oxeas; slender, irregular amphiasters and subcircular or ovoid rough discs. The taxonomic position of this species, within the Clionidae, has been discussed.