Records of beaked whales stranded in the Falkland Islands and at South Georgia were collated for the period 1866 to 2008. Thirty-eight records, involving at least seven species in four genera, were documented. Strap-toothed whales (Mesoplodon layardii Gray, 1865) were the most common species with 11 records, including two neonates. Andrews' beaked whales (M. bowdoini Andrews, 1908), Arnoux's beaked whales (Berardius arnuxii Duvernoy, 1851), Cuvier's beaked whales (Ziphius cavirostris Gray, 1823), Gray's beaked whale (M. grayi van Haast, 1876), Hector's beaked whales (M. hectori Gray, 1871) and southern bottlenose whales (Hyperoodon planifrons Flower, 1882) were recorded on three to five occasions. In several cases, records suggested potential temporal changes in range. For example, Arnoux's beaked whale has not been recorded in the Falkland Islands since 1965, whilst Gray's beaked whale was not recorded prior to 1981, and Andrews' beaked whale was not recorded before 1987. Although the number of records for each species is low, this could reflect changes in water temperatures and/or prey availability. Overall, this study confirms that the Falkland Islands–Tierra del Fuego region is one of the world's key areas for beaked whales.

The first zoeal stages of the snapping shrimps Alpheus carlae and A. intrinsecus from Brazil were obtained from laboratory-hatched specimens and a detailed morphological description is provided. The morphological characteristics of both species are compared with available descriptions of other Alpheus species with a known first zoeal stage. Remarks from a semi-quantitative comparison of species belonging to A. armillatus species complex (A. carlae and A. brasileiro) and a comparison between larvae of A. intrinsecus from two localities in Brazil are presented. It was possible to distinguish first zoea of both species from the other congeners based on morphology. No intraspecific variability was detected between A. intrinsecus larvae obtained from two locations. Some structures showed differences between species of the A. armillatus complex. However, generalizations and conclusions based on larval morphology for taxonomic rearrangements at this point need to be made with caution and accuracy, since data of a sufficient number of species are not yet available for comparison.

Three new species of snapping shrimps of the genus Alpheus are described from the Persian Gulf. These belong to the Alpheus edwardsii species-group, which is mainly characterized by unarmed orbital hoods and the presence of dorsal and ventral notches on the palm of the major chela. Alphus ankeri sp. nov. shows a close affinity to A. pacificus Dana, 1852 and A. heronicus Banner & Banner, 1982 bearing no balaeniceps crests in both sexes on the dactylus of the minor chela, and the merus of the major chela of both sexes are unarmed. This species differs from the closely related species by the absence of an overhanging proximal shoulder in the major chela. The other rock crevice inhabiting species, A. mohammadpouri sp. nov. is diagnosed by exhibiting sexual dimorphism in its balaeniceps crests and the armed merus of the major chela. These two characters are similar to those recorded for three sandy/rubble dwelling species: A. inopinatus Holthuis & Gottlieb, 1958, A. lobidens De Haan, 1849 and A. australiensis Banner & Banner, 1982. This new species is distinguishable from these latter species by the shape of the minor chela and colour pattern. A coral inhabiting species A. abumusa sp. nov. appears to be closely related to A. maindroni Coutière, 1898, showing an armed merus of the major chela and the absence of spine-like seta on the ischia of the third legs. This last new species is easily discriminated from A. maindroni by longer antennular segments, a markedly concave frontal margin between the rostrum and orbital hood, and a different colour pattern.

Dynamics of Synechococcus (Syn), Prochlorococcus (Pro) and picoeukaryotes (Euk) was studied at 92 stations in the Pearl River Estuary and adjacent shelf waters in the winter of 2006 using flow cytometry. The average cell abundance of photosynthetic picoplankon (Pico) was 104 cells/ml. Picoeukaryotes was the dominant group in the inner estuary where Pro was absent. Synechococcus was dominant in the coastal and open waters. The proportion of Pro was higher in the open than in the coastal waters. The change of Pico community structure from the inner estuary to the open waters is related to the changes in hydrochemical dynamics. The vertical variations in the abundance and community composition of Pico were not significant. The abundances of Pro and Syn were positively correlated with temperature, salinity and pH, whereas they were negatively correlated with dissolved oxygen (DO), suspended sediment concentrations (SSC) and nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus and silicon) concentrations. But the correlations between %Euk (as of total pico) and these environmental factors were opposite to those between the abundance of prokaryotic cells (Pro and Syn) and the environmental factors. %Euk had significant negative correlations with temperature, salinity and pH, and positive correlations with DO, SSC and nutrients. There were differences in the niches between prokaryotic cells and picoeukaryotes. Prochlorococcus and Syn were dominant in the warm waters with high salinity, low SSC and low nutrient concentrations, while %Euk was higher in the cold waters with low salinity, high SSC and high nutrient concentrations. Results of principal component analysis and regression analysis indicated that the relationship between the abundances of Pico and the environmental factors was a compound function (y = b0(b1)x), and that between the abundances of Pro, Syn or %Euk and the environmental factors was a linear function.

The following records are based on notes taken on board the Oithona when engaged in fishing in the bays. Whilst the primary object of the work was the distribution of fish, it was thought that something would be gained if the distribution of the invertebrates in the same area were known. The time at our disposal, however, did not allow of hauls with the dredge and shrimp trawl, so that the records are based, in all but one case, on the invertebrates caught in an otter trawl, the exception being on the Limpet Rocks off Torcross, where one haul with the dredge was taken. This is accountable for the fact that many of the smaller invertebrates were not caught at all, whilst some are only recorded because they were found in fish stomachs. The almost total absence in the records of Tunicata, Polyzoa, and small species of the other groups is due to the fact that only those were recorded which could be identified on board. The records themselves, however, incomplete as they are, are fairly representative of the distribution of the species recorded.

A new species of the marine gastrotrich taxon Thaumastoderma is described. A single specimen of this species, Thaumastoderma antarctica sp. nov., was extracted from silty sediment sampled at one station of the Andeep-1 cruise, about 150 km to the north of the South Shetland Islands (Drake Passage, South Atlantic Ocean). This paper provides the first record of this genus from the deep sea and the second description of a macrodasyid gastrotrich living in an abyssal habitat. The new species is characterized by several apomorphic features, among them a caudal pair of strongly elongated dorsal cirrata tubes. A phylogenetic analysis of the genus Thaumastoderma reveals that Th. antarctica is closely related to Th. coronarium and Th. appendiculatum. Furthermore, the analysis offers an evolutionary scenario and a hypothesis for the internal phylogeny of this taxon while supporting its monophyly. It is the first time a cladistic analysis has been conducted for a delimited group of gastrotrichs, i.e. for all known members of a genus.

Measurements have been made of the hydrogen ion concentration of the muscles of various marine animals immediately after death and 20–24 hours after. The results obtained are of the same order as those previously found for the muscles of the frog and the cat.

This paper is concerned with the biology of the sandeel, Ammodytes tobianus L., in Langstone Harbour, Hampshire; this was the main area studied in a survey of sandeel populations which are exploited for bait along the south coast of England. Aspects considered are the relative occurrence of the spawning groups; spawning seasons; population structure in terms of length, sex, age and maturity; mortality; annual growth; seasonal growth; and condition. The seasonal pattern of otolith growth and its application to the back-calculation technique, has been described elsewhere (Reay, 1972).

A. tobianus forms over 95% of the total sandeel catch in Langstone Harbour. Hyperoplus lanceolatus (Le Sauvage) is the only other species to occur regularly, but individuals of the three other British species, A. marinus Raitt, H. immaculatus (Corbin), and Gymnammodytes semisquamatus (Jourdain), have also been recorded. This pattern of species composition is also found in the other inshore areas studied along the south coast.

Perkinsus marinus, a protozoan parasite of oysters, is an important cause of oyster mortality in the Gulf of Mexico and along the south-eastern coast of the United States (Hofstetter, 1977; Quick & Mackin, 1971). Infections are patchily distributed on many reefs, often with uninfected oysters adjacent to infected oysters. The primary mechanism of transmission from one oyster to another is through the water (Ray, 1954; Mackin, 1962; Andrews, 1965). Because dilution rapidly reduces the number of infective elements below the dosage required to initiate new infections (Andrews, 1979), transmission is most efficient over very short distances and declines rapidly within a few metres of the source.

The distributions of Asterina gibbosa and A. phylactica in the Lough Ine area are described and compared. The species are shown to have different horizontal distributions with respect to wave exposure. Clear ecological separation is demonstrated where their distributions overlap as a result of micro-habitat preferences.

The bryozoan Cigclisula sp., is a heavily calcified erect species which occurs abundantly in the shallow sublittoral coral reef at Quilaluia Island, Quirimba Archipelago, northern Mozambique. It grows in an arborescent bilaminate form termed adeoniform on the undersides of coral heads or other available bioconstructed hard substratum. The geography and bathymetry of the area results in periodic high and complex current regimes often carrying water borne debris. If this periodic force overcomes the structural integrity of Cigclisula sp. either the outermost branches break or the colony topples at the base. The local population was dominated by young individuals: nearly 40% of the sample population had ten branches or fewer and less than 10% had more than 50 branches (these could be ascertained as young due to the lower proportion of damaged colonies with ≤10 branches; Figure 1). The only size group with no damaged specimens (branch breakage) were those with ≤5 branches. The mean proportion of branches broken significantly increased with increasing colony size. After one year a population of Cigclisula sp., initially comprising 30 colonies (encompassing the entire size spectrum of colonies), consisted of just one small specimen.

In this study, we examine how the Guri catfish Genidens genidens uses estuarine and freshwater habitats along the largest South American coastal lagoon, through the chemical analysis of otoliths and microscopic analysis of gonads. Chemical composition (Sr:Ca) of otolith edges allowed distinguishing between individuals who used the estuarine or freshwater compartments of the lagoon. The analysis of core-to-edge chemical profiles of each individual otolith revealed that the population may present two different patterns of habitat use along the lagoon. The ‘type 1’ pattern (89.5%) includes fish who appear to have been born in estuarine waters, whereas ‘type 2’ (9.5%) includes those fish born in fresh water. Nevertheless, juveniles from both patterns appear to migrate to estuarine waters. The gonad analysis shows G. genidens may reproduce in fresh water, as nearly 57% of all sampled fish were found to spawn in the freshwater portion of the lagoon. Also, the otolith core of many adult fish presented freshwater signatures, thus suggesting consistent fresh water use during early life. Our findings based on otolith and gonadal analyses challenge the previous classification of G. genidens as an estuarine resident. Rather, our results allow the suggestion that this species should be placed in the ‘estuarine and fresh water’ guild, which includes both fish completing their life cycles within the estuary and fish who consistently use freshwater habitats.

This study demonstrates that the two species of lugworm, previously classified as Arenicola marina occupy distinct zones within sandy beaches around South Wales. Arenicola marina (sensu stricto) or blow lug, is found higher up the shore, tending to be concentrated at mid-tide level, whilst A. defodiens Cadman & Nelson-smith, 1993 or black lug is most numerous at or below mean low water of spring tides and, unlike A. marina in this area, also apparently extends subtidally. Arenicola marina is found in estuaries, unlike A. defodiens, and seems to inhabit slightly less exposed beaches. Degree of sorting, mean and median particle size do not appear to be a significant factor in determining lugworm distributions. Some possible explanations for these observed differences, including differences in burrow depth and salinity tolerance, are discussed.

In the foregoing work it was found that: Arenicola marina was repelled and could not burrow in sand containing 20% of ferric oxide in the amorphous state.

That 0·021% ferric oxide in suspension in sea-water was lethal owing to its forming with the mucus of the organism an envelope which prevented contact with the surrounding air-carrying water.

That calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, Stourbridge clay, kaolin, and kieselguhr had the same effect as the ferric oxide in suspension.

That although able to live for a short time in water of salinity 3·10%‰, Arenicola marina tended to become so turgid in water of 14·32%‰ as to be unable to burrow.

The Phylum Chaetognatha consists of morphologically and biologically similar species and its relationship with other invertebrate groups is obscure (Hyman, 1959; Ghirardelli, 1968). The possibility of regenerative power has been investigated as one of the clues to the affinity of the phylum. Kulmatycki (1918) made cross-sectional and diagonal cuts through the body and tail fin of Spadella cephaloptera Busch and reported that this species could regenerate the whole caudal section including the body proper. Further support for regenerative ability came from Pierce (1951) who caught 26 specimens of Sagitta enflata Grassi and Sagitta helenae Ritter Zahony which appeared to be in the process of regenerating their heads (presumably lost to a large predator). He noted that the loss of this section of the body did not kill the animal. Both Kulmatycki and Pierce are cited in Hyman's (1959) important review of the phylum and headless chaetognaths have been referred to as animals with regenerating heads (e.g. Almeida Prado, 1968).

The six drawings reproduced in Plates III and IV were made at sundry times from stages that I succeeded in obtaining in the years 1889 and 1890. The three stages of the common sole were procured after my quarto book on that fish was completed, and they enable me to supplement the account of the life-history of the species given there.

Magnesium/chlorine and sulphur/chlorine ratios have been measured in the body fluids of some planktonic organisms by x-ray emission analysis of frozen hydrated specimens in a scanning electron microscope. Homarus vulgaris (Anthropoda: Decapoda) larvae excluded Mg2+ and SO42-ions from the haemolymph, but to a lesser extent than does the adult lobster. Bipinnaria larvae of Asterias (Echinodermata) excluded Mg2+ and SO42-ions from the coelomic fluid. Obelia medusae excluded Mg2+ and SO42-ions from the mesogloea but concentrate them in the gastrovascular system. The high concentration of sulphate in the gastrovascular fluid of medusae has been confirmed by rhodizonate titration in Cyanea and Rhizostoma jellyfish. Some implications of magnesium and sulphate regulation are discussed.

Many techniques have been devised to overcome certain problems encountered when narcotising actiniarians. From these a few have been selected as being at least partly successful. Further modifications to these narcotising methods have been introduced in order to block more effectively the nervous pathways responsible for secondary contraction reactions. Until now, perfectly expanded specimens have been achieved largely by chance. This paper records experimental results and arising problems as a contribution to a better understanding of the process and a more consistent rate of success.

DNA barcoding based on the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene in mitochondrial DNA has been adopted as a global biological identification system for animals due to its accuracy compared with other classical taxonomic methods. The objective of this study was to establish a reference library with generated barcodes. A total of 84 fish specimens belonging to 37 commercially important marine fish species, representing five orders, 14 families and 30 genera, were sampled along the Tunisian coast and barcoded for the first time, obtaining 637 bp sequences. The average Kimura 2-parameter (K2P) distances within species, genera and families were 0.52, 6.86 and 14.60%, respectively. The Maximum likelihood (ML) tree revealed distinct clusters in concurrence with the taxonomic status of the species. Our results confirmed the authentication of the barcode approach for the identification of the species examined and provide valuable information that would help ichthyologists to achieve better monitoring, conservation and management of fisheries in Tunisia.