The status of the prayine siphonophore genus Prayoides, monotypic for the species Prayoides intermedia Leloup, 1934, is reviewed in the light of recent collections made by the submersibles ‘Johnson-Sea-Link’ I and II. It is concluded that the genus is not valid, and that the species name should be reduced to that of a junior synonym of a Praya species. The bracts of the two Praya species, P. dubia (Quoy & Gaimard (1833) 1834) and P. reticulata (Bigelow, 1911) are re-described, as in the past there has been much confusion as to their true identity.

Serological methods for prey identification have been applied to detection of residues of sandeel (Ammodytidae) protein in faeces of common seals (Phoca vitulina) and grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) from the Moray Firth, north-east Scotland. Antisera raised to muscle protein from Ammodytes marinus were evaluated by testing their reactions with protein extracts made from a range of North Sea fish species and protein residues in in vitro digestates, seal digestive tracts and seal faeces. It was concluded that, using fused rocket immuno-electrophoresis, linkage of precipitin peaks from unknown samples with peaks from standard sandeel extract was a reliable indicator of the presence of sandeel in the unknown sample. Seasonal variation in the incidence of sandeels in common seal diet in the Moray Firth was examined by identifying otoliths, bones, and proteins, and all three methods indicated that sandeels occurred in the majority of samples tested in the summer, but were less important during the winter. Proteins were detected in fewer samples than otoliths, particularly in February and March. Possible reasons for this difference are discussed. Serological identification of sandeel proteins is potentially applicable to dietary studies on all marine predators.

Allozyme electrophoresis was used to estimate the genetic divergence between three species of South African Helcion and the north-east Atlantic H. pellucidum (Patellidae). At a finer level the genetic relationships among South African Helcion were explored. Twenty-one loci were resolved for all the species. High values of expected heterozygosities (0·202–0·341) were found for the genus. Phenetic analysis (UPGMA (unweighted pair-group method with artihmetic averaging) and Distance Wagner Procedure) and cladistic parsimony methods (alleles as binary characters and loci as multistate unordered characters) agreed in showing the same topology for the tree which represents the genetic relationships among Helcion species. The north-east Atlantic H. pellucidum was the most divergent species showing high values of Nei's genetic distances (1·423–1·654) with its South African congeners. In the literature such values of genetic divergence have been associated with non-congeneric species. The degree of genetic divergence (0·351–0·615) found within the South African branch was characteristic for congeneric species. The results of this study supported the monophyletic condition of this branch, and showed H. pectunculus and H. pruinosus to be more closely related to each other than to H. dunkeri. Nevertheless, the monophyly of the genus Helcion is uncertain and therefore its taxonomic status was questioned. A possible independent origin for northern and southern hemisphere species of Helcion is considered.

This study was conducted in February, April and June 2009 at three stations in the southern Adriatic. Occurrence of the dinoflagellate Noctiluca scintillans and tunicates Salpa fusiformis and Salpa maxima in high abundances for the oligotrophic open sea, indicates the importance of physical forcing (vertical mixing) and inflow of nutrient-enriched Atlantic water, due to the Bimodal Oscillating System (BiOS) mechanism, into the Adriatic Sea thus creating an environment favourable for their rapid increase. This is the first time a bloom of N. scintillans has been recorded in the open southern Adriatic (OSA). High abundance of Noctiluca and salp populations in the OSA was characterized by low abundance of phytoplankton and other zooplankton, with obvious trophic implications (reduction of food availability to crustacean primary consumers). Moreover, during the S. maxima bloom in June 2009, calanoid copepods and appendicularians were almost completely absent (<1 ind. m−3).

Feeding regime is an important concern for sea urchin aquaculture. However, optimal feed regimes have not been established for land-based sea urchin ventures using a formulated feed. In this study, we investigated the effects of short-term continuous and intermittent feeding regimes on food consumption, growth, gonad production and quality of the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus intermedius (54.90 ± 2.28 mm of test diameter) fed a formulated feed. The results showed that (1) compared with initial conditions, all involved traits except a* (test diameter, test height, body weight, gonad weight, gonad index, gonad moisture, L* and b*) showed significant increase at the end of the experiments; (2) only the longest term feed regime tested in this trial (S2) significantly negatively affected growth and gonad production of S. intermedius fed a formulated feed; (3) there was a trend but this was not significant for inhibiting gonad development of S. intermedius in intermittent feeding regimes and there was no change in the gonad colour and sweetness; (4) S0.5 (fasting half day and then feeding half day) is the optimal intermittent feeding regime for S. intermedius fed a formulated feed. To our knowledge, the present study is the first report of finding an effective intermittent feeding regime for land-based cultured sea urchins of relatively large size, and thus has direct application potential in the field of aquaculture.

In my paper on the Reproduction of Fishes occurring at Plymouth, published in this Journal, vol. i, p. 10, 1889, I identified as the egg of the pilchard, a pelagic egg commonly found in the tow-net in summer, and distinguished by three obvious characters, namely: (1) an unusually large perivitelline space; (2) a single large oil-globule in the vitellus; (3) a completely subdivided yolk. I also stated that ripe spawning pilchards occurred off Plymouth between June and October, but always at some distance from land, being usually taken in mackerel nets worked to the south of the Eddystone. My identification of the egg, taken in the sea, was founded upon a comparison between it and the eggs pressed from the ripe but dead female pilchards obtained from mackerel fishermen. The latter eggs were already dead, and did not float, but sank in sea water, but they possessed a single oil-globule, and the yolk in them consisted of a number of yolk-spheres. The large perivitelline space was absent, because it is only formed when living eggs are extruded into sea water.

Raffaele had previously described two kinds of pelagic eggs found at Naples, which he recognised, from their divided yolk and the characters of the larvæ hatched from them, as belonging to some species of Clupeoid. The larger of these eggs he attributed to Clupea pilchardus, but did not give his reasons. This egg is in all respects similar to that identified as belonging to the pilchard by myself at Plymouth. It is well known that the sardine of the French coast and of the Mediterranean is the same species of fish as the pilchard of Devon and Cornwall.

1. Historical Review.

The history of our knowledge of this subject is complicated and curious, and is not quite correctly narrated in any English publication, not even by Balfour in his account of the development of Crustacea (Comparative Embryology, vol. i). The story begins with the establishment and definition of the genus Phyllosoma by Leach in 1818. Various succeeding zoologists included descriptions of species of Phyllosoma in their works, but the result of all previous investigations are included by Milne Edwards in the comprehensive account of the genus given in his Hist. Nat. des Crustacés, vol. ii, 1837. The state of knowledge at that time may be briefly summarised as follows:—The Crustaceans known by the name Phyllosoma had been found near the surface of the ocean in various parts of the world. They varied in size from less than half an inch to two inches. They were, when alive, of glassy transparency; the body was remarkably flat, and expanded horizontally, while the limbs were long, slender, and biramous. The body consisted of three parts; firstly, a head having the form of an oval leaf, bearing at its anterior extremity a pair of eyes on long stalks and two pairs of simple antennæ. The mouth was situated beneath the middle or posterior third of the head, and surrounded by an upper and lower lip, a pair of maxillæ, and the first pair of maxillæ. The second pair of maxillæ and the first pair of maxillipeds were rudimentary and situated behind the mouth. The second part of the body was the thorax, quite as flat but not so large as the head; it was usually broader than long.

The relationship between body size and population growth rate λ has been studied in two species of opportunistic polychaetes, Dinophilus gyrociliatus and Ophryotrocha labronica, which colonize harbour environments. These species exhibit a semi-continuous iteroparous reproductive strategy, are phylogenetically closely-related but differ in body size and in some aspects of their sexuality. Ophryotrocha labronica is about 4 mm in body length, displays only slight sexual dimorphism and its sex ratio is biased towards the female sex in the ratio 2:1. Dinophilus gyrociliatus is about 1 mm in length, the males are extremely small and the sex ratio is strongly biased (3:1) in favour of the females. In spite of the considerable differences in all traits of their life histories and in many demographic parameters, the growth rates of the two populations are very similar. The analyses carried out have shown that the rapid attainment of sexual maturity of D. gyrociliatus gives it an advantage that offsets the greater fecundity of O. labronica. It is very likely that the reproductive peculiarities of D. gyrociliatus help to raise the population growth rates. The ‘saving’ on the male sex achieved both by the shift of the sex ratio in favour of the females and by the reduction in the males' body size would appear to enable D. gyrociliatus to grow at the same rate as O. labronica, a larger and more fecund species.

It has been argued by Johannesson & Johannesson (1990b) that the pattern of common genetic variation in Littorina saxatilis (Olivi) and Littorina neglecta Bean indicates gene flow in sympatric populations of these ‘species’. They suggest that L. neglecta is not a good species. We report that a gene diversity analysis of polymorphism in Aat-1 suggests that L. saxatilis and Littorina arcana Hannaford Ellis also show common features in allele frequency distribution. This casts doubt on the argument of Johannesson & Johannesson (1990b) from enzyme polymorphism data on Aat-1 that L. neglecta may simply be an ecotype of L. saxatilis. It seems likely that the similarities are due to operation of the same selection factors on all these species.

The effect of two 70 W underwater electric lamps on the catch rate of a commercial bottom otter trawl was determined by comparative trials both at night and in daylight. It was found that, although the overall numbers and weights of fish caught did not differ, most of the species which were caught in large enough numbers for a judgement to be made showed a reaction to light. Three species, Trachurus trachurus, Merlangius merlangus and Trisopterus minutus were attracted and four species, Eutriglagurnardus, Micromesistius poutassou, Merluccius merluccius and Limanda limanda were scared off by light.

The possible use of lights to further the development of selective commercial bottom trawling by attracting or scaring particular species is discussed.

Metabolism and growth rate of the hard clam, Mercenaria mercenaria, were investigated in a population invasive to Southampton Water, southern England. An individual metabolic model expressed as a function of soft tissue dry mass was fitted to data of 18 individuals (log (VO2) = −1.952 + 0.543 • log (DM); F1,16 = 201.18, P < 0.001, r2 = 0.926). A von Bertalanffy growth function was fitted to 227 size-at-age data pairs of 18 individuals (Ht = 80.13 • (1 − e−0.149 • (t−0.542)); r2 = 0.927). Individual age-specific somatic production was calculated, demonstrating increase with age to a maximum of 3.88 kJ y−1 at ten years old followed by decrease, and individual age-specific annual respiration was calculated, demonstrating asymptotic increase with age to 231.37 kJ y−1 at 30 years old. Results found here lie within the physiological tolerances reported across the biogeographical range, suggesting that the species' biogeographical limitation in the UK to Southampton Water results from ecological rather than physiological factors.

Historical science may play an important role in helping understanding and shaping the future of the world's oceans and to comprehend present day effects and conditions. Regarding cetaceans, historical accounts may be extremely useful to add new data to their occurrence and distribution in poorly studied regions. In Portugal, historical sources indicate that toninhas (possibly common dolphins Delphinus delphis) were observed since the 13th Century and were captured in large numbers during the late 19th and 20th Centuries. Historical occurrences given by naturalists and scientific surveys conducted by biologists indicate their regular presence with particular preference for certain areas. Also, recent observations of opportunity resulted in the same kind of accounts. Between 1976 and 1978, a study on captured cetaceans along the Portuguese shore found at fish markets was conducted and resulted in a total count of 45 cetaceans. Most captures were of small cetaceans (87% common dolphins), even though four baleen whales were registered. These cetacean captures were part of a local non-industrial fishery, as they were not the main target, but rather opportunistic catches or even by-catches of other fisheries. Delphinids were not protected by law at the time and were caught with hand harpoons or accidentally drowned in fish nets, sometimes sold at major fish markets such as Sesimbra, Peniche and Póvoa de Varzim. In geographical areas where recent cetacean sightings are rare and information is sparse, such as Portugal, it becomes important to take advantage of alternative sources of data. Our contribution towards the compilation of relevant historical and ‘forgotten’ science such as old natural observations, whaling data and observations of opportunity stresses the relevance of using historical data to access past occurrence and distribution of cetaceans.

1. Sixty specimens of B. haineri, of five successive year groups, were obtained in December, 1933, and a further 33 preserved specimens taken in the winter of 1925 were examined.

2. The mean ages contained for successive year groups from the size distribution and from individuals settled on those of the preceding year, yielded results in good agreement with one another.

3. First-year individuals do not spawn. All older individuals had ripe genital products in the 1933 material, and early embryos in the 1925 material.

A Heavy percentage of the mussels obtained from various parts of the Fal Estuary, during October and November, 1927, had the gills in an exceedingly abnormal condition (31.8% among 1488 recorded). Occasional mussels from other localities (Padstow, Teignmouth, Yealm, Saltash) have been observed to have slightly abnormal gills, though perhaps in the majority of these the condition was due to the presence of a large female pea-crab, Pinnotheres pisum. In the Fal Estuary mussels the abnormal conditions were doubtless correlated with some factor in the environment, the percentage of pea-crabs in these being so low (4–8%) that their presence could have no relation to the abnormal condition of the gills.

The definitions of terebellid genera have caused considerable confusion. Some genera, such as Pista Malmgren, 1866, are clearly not monophyletic and the need to revise them is widely accepted. A phylogenetic analysis of genus level morphological characters within the Axionice/Pista complex and other Terebellidae with large lateral lobes revealed two well defined groups; these differed in the arrangement of different forms of lateral lobes on segments 1–3, the shape of the branchiae, structure of the ventral pads and, if present, the origin of the manubrium on the uncini. One of the groups includes the type species of Pista; the other includes the type species of Axionice and almost all the other genera whose taxonomic status is discussed in this paper (Betapista, Eupistella, Lanice, Loimia, Paraxionice) which we propose to treat as its junior synonyms. Three other genera – Lanicides, Lanicola and Scionella – did not fall within these two groups; they are accepted as distinct. A complete list of species of Axionice and Pista is provided; 39 species currently included in Pista should be moved to Axionice, thus Axionice includes at least 94 species. Many authors’ descriptions of the type species of Pista (Amphitrite cristata Müller, 1776) conflict with the original description. Amphitrite cristata s. str. has been described as a new species: Scionella lornensis Pearson, 1969 and the type species of a new genus: Pistella Hartmann-Schröder, 1996. Scionella lornensis is here considered a junior synonym of Amphitrite cristata. Redescriptions of the type species of Axionice and Pista are provided.

The facts gathered up to the present time with regard to the occurrence of anchovies in the English Channel are briefly as follows:

In November, 1889, large numbers of anchovies were reported to have been taken at Dover in the drift-nets used for sprat fishing. During the same month also numbers were taken by the sprat fishermen in Torbay, in seines.

1. It is not always feasible to determine pH on board ship, owing to bad light and other conditions, although it may be possible to collect water samples.

2. By preserving the water samples on collection with mercuric chloride solution (four drops per 100 c.c. of water) and by taking care to leave only a small air-space in the bottles it is possible to keep the water practically unchanged for many days.

3. Test tubes containing such water (10 c.c.) plus 0·02% cresol red (0·5 c.c.) have been-kept unchanged for three weeks at 12–14° C. and for two days at 33° C, whereas unpreserved water showed a drop in pH of 0·05 unit in one day at 12° C.

4. McClendon buffer solutions may also be preserved by mercuric chloride, but in this case a small correction must be applied since complex formation leads to a removal of effective buffer salts from the solution and a small decrease in pH.

Three hundred and thirty-one turbot and 350 brill of varying ages were examined for infection with the tapeworm Bothriocephalus scorpii (Müller, 1776).

This survey showed that: (i) turbot and brill acquired infections of B. scorpii before they were 1 year old; (ii) all the adult turbot were infected with B. scorpii, often heavily, whereas only half the adult brill were infected and then only slightly; (iii) differences in the structure of the gut mucosa could account for the strong attachment of the scoleces in turbot compared with the loose attachment in brill.

The presence of suctorian ciliates attached to the cuticle of heavily ornamented free-living marine nematodes, especially the family Desmodoridae, has been reported. Observations of nematode hosts and their attached ciliates were made from samples extracted from very fine muddy sands of tropical Australian sea grass meadows. Measurements of the point of attachment of the ciliates revealed that they tend to position themselves near the anus/cloaca of the nematode host.