The diet of the goldblotch grouper Epinephelus costae of the eastern coast of Algeria was studied from March 2011 to February 2012. A total of 275 individuals, whose total length varied between 21.1 and 79.79 cm and weight between 103.13 and 5390.00 g, were examined. The index of relative importance (%IRI) combining the three main descriptors of the presence of different ingested prey (%F, %N, %W) was used to characterize the relative importance of different food taxa. Qualitative and quantitative variations in diet were studied according to sexual maturity (immature and mature), sex (male and female), size (small, medium and large) and seasons. The average annual digestive vacuity is 17.82%. It does not vary according to sex, size or maturity, but is different between summer and winter. Qualitative analysis of digestive contents reveals a fairly diverse range of predation with 319 prey counted for a total weight of 934.85 g, which corresponds to an average number (Nm) and weight (Wm) of 1.4 and 4.14 g respectively. This species feeds on benthopelagic prey composed mainly of bony fish (%IRI = 76.16), pancrustacea (%IRI = 16.14) and molluscs (%IRI = 6.24). All other prey were accessory (plants) or accidental (annelids). Significant differences in feeding habits occur according to seasons and fish size.

Studies on the quantitative distribution of cephalopods in the Arctic are limited, and almost completely absent for the Barents Sea. It is known that the most abundant cephalopods in the Arctic are Rossia palpebrosa and Gonatus fabricii. Their biomass and abundance have been assessed for the first time in the Barents Sea and adjacent waters. The maximum biomass of R. palpebrosa in the Barents Sea was 6.216–6.454 thousand tonnes with an abundance of 521.5 million specimens. Increased densities of biomass were annually registered in the north-eastern parts of the Barents Sea. The maximum biomass of G. fabricii in the Barents Sea was 24.797 thousand tonnes with an abundance of 1.705 billion specimens. The areas with increased density of biomass (higher than 100 kg km−2) and abundance (more than 10,000 specimens km−2) were concentrated in deep-water troughs in the marginal parts of the Barents Sea and in adjacent deep-water areas. The biomass and abundance of R. palpebrosa and G. fabricii in the Barents Sea were much lower than those of major taxa of invertebrates and fish and than those of cephalopods in other parts of the World Ocean. It has been suggested that the importance of cephalopods in the Arctic ecosystems, at least in terms of quantitative distribution, could be somewhat lower than in the Antarctic or the tropics. Despite the impact of ongoing warming of the Arctic on the distribution of cephalopods being described repeatedly already, no impact of the current year's climate on the studied species was found. The only exception was the abundance of R. palpebrosa, which correlated with the current year's climate conditions.

Spatial and temporal variability and bloom formation of the potentially toxic diatom Pseudo-nitzschia spp. was investigated weekly to monthly from October 2009 to October 2010 in a eutrophic estuary, the Golden Horn. Pseudo-nitzschia spp. were detected in 195 of 512 samples (38%) collected throughout the year. Two species, P. calliantha and P. pungens, were identified based on the SEM examination. Blooms of Pseudo-nitzschia occurred in the lower and middle estuary in January and May. The bloom in January mainly comprised P. calliantha. In the bloom in early May, P. calliantha made up 72% of the Pseudo-nitzschia cells and P. pungens 28%. However, the contribution of P. pungens increased to 83% in late May. The Pseudo-nitzschia blooms occurred at low temperature (9–15°C) and moderate salinity (17–18), and for P. calliantha a significant negative correlation was found with temperature and a significant positive correlation with salinity. The percentage of Pseudo-nitzschia cells decreased gradually from lower to upper estuary (59–14%), correlating with a decrease in Secchi depth (5.5–0.5 m). Principal components analyses (PCA) were used to explore the spatial and temporal variability of environmental factors in relation to Pseudo-nitzschia abundances, and showed that NH4, pH, Secchi depth and DO values were the most important factors reflecting spatial differences, while temperature, salinity, Chl-a and Si:N were more important factors showing temporal differences. High abundances of P. pungens correlated mainly with pH, Secchi depth and DO values, whereas P. calliantha also correlated with NO3 + NO2. Low light availability due to high concentrations of suspended material and very variable environmental conditions (e.g. pH, DO and NH4) may have limited growth of Pseudo-nitzschia in the upper estuary. Regular monitoring of Pseudo-nitzschia is important for improving the understanding of the influence of environmental parameters on bloom dynamics in the study area.

It has been proposed that the feeding habit of cyclopoids is different from that of calanoid copepods in that they feed mainly on microalgae during early development but become carnivorous later. However, a different view also exists, believing that microalgae are the prime food for some cyclopoid copepods. In the present study, microalgae from various taxonomic groups, including a dinoflagellate (Prorocentrum micans), three diatoms (Chaetoceros muelleri, Skeletonema costatum and Nitzschia closterium f. minutissima), and a prymnesiod (Isochrysis galbana), were offered at different concentrations to the cyclopoid copepod, Apocyclops borneoensis, with survival, development and reproduction of the copepod closely monitored. The results showed that A. borneoensis is capable of utilizing any of the microalgae species tested for development and reproduction, but significant differences in survival, development rates of both nauplii and copepodites, and fecundity were detected among species. The results also showed that within a same algal species, food concentration also significantly affected various biological parameters measured. Overall, C. muelleri and I. galbana were the better diets for A. borneoensis and their optimal food concentration ranged from 8.50 to 17.00 µg C ml−1. The optimal food concentration of P. micans was also found to be 8.50–17.00 µg C ml−1, however for the other two algae, S. costatum and N. closterium f. minutissima, it was lower at 1.70–8.50 µg C ml−1. The present study provides novel information on the feeding habit of A. borneoensis and the effects of both quality and quantity of microalgae diets on a range of biological parameters are described.

A theory that an ancient population of Isarachnanthus from the eastern Atlantic originated the current species is discussed. Based on analysis of DNA barcoding and cnidome it was possible to identify some specimens from Ascension Island. These specimens were identified as Isarachnanthus maderensis, since the divergence of DNA barcoding was very small and the cnidome data agreed with published data. This material permitted an enhanced discussion about the origin of this population.

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.

Cirrophorus nikebianchii sp. nov. is described from brackish-water and organically enriched marine environments of the Mediterranean Sea. The new species is characterized by a very small prostomial antenna and a high number of branchiae pairs. A phylogenetic analysis carried out through the use of three molecular markers (16S rRNA, 18S rRNA and COI) supports the distinction between C. nikebianchii and C. furcatus, a closely related species with which it has been misidentified. Preliminary results obtained show that the genera Cirrophorus and Paradoneis are not reciprocally monophyletic, with uncertain relationships with the remaining genera of Paraonidae. This outcome suggests that the evolutionary history of Paraonidae is less straightforward than previously supposed. Moreover, the uncertainty about the taxonomic status of Paraonides neapolitana, type species of the genus Paraonides, makes the revamping of the taxonomy of Paraonidae more challenging. Awaiting support from studies including more species, and based on morphological and genetic data as well, we suggest to provisionally maintain the current use of Cirrophorus and Paradoneis, and to assign to Paraonella the species traditionally assigned to Paraonides.

Changes in the planktonic cyanobacteria structure, composition and diversity were followed over three consecutive years (2005–2006–2007) in the Gulf of Gabes (Eastern Mediterranean Sea, Tunisia). Cyanobacteria abundances, biomasses and cell lengths were measured together with selected environmental variables (pH, salinity, temperature and nutrients). The space and time variations of the cyanobacteria in relation to the environmental factors showed a close relationship between these plankton communities and the hydrographic structure of the water column. Cyanobacteria developed over semi-mixed conditions (May–June 2006) and during the thermal stratification (July 2005). The cyanobacterial abundance and biomass was evident between 20 and 35 m in inshore stations and between 20 and 25 m in deeper stations during the semi-mixing conditions and stratification. This thermocline level coincided with the euphotic layer (21.85 ± 3.76 m) allowing access of light radiation. The cyanobacteria bloom occurred during May–June 2006 when the N/P ratio (<10) was clearly below the accepted standard molar ratio of N/P = 16/1. Commonalities among cyanobacterial genera include being highly competitive for low concentrations of inorganic P (DIP) and the ability to acquire organic P compounds. Our study showed that both diazotrophic (N2-fixing) cyanobacteria such as Anabaena sp., Chroococcus sp., Trichodesmium erythraeum, Spirulina sp. and Spirulina subsalsa and non-diazotrophic cyanobacteria such as Pseudoanabaena sp. and Microcystis display a great flexibility in the N sources which allow formation of blooms.

Specimens of Fissidentalium candidum collected at Campos Basin, south-eastern Brazil, had their diet investigated in order to assess its feeding habits. Benthic prey exceeded the planktonic ones as expected and Foraminifera constituted the most frequent prey taxa, comprising about 99.5% of the scaphopod diet; the remaining components included a few molluscs (gastropods, bivalves and scaphopods), a nematode, an ostracod crustacean, fish otoliths, unknown partial organisms and inorganic material (e.g. sediment grains and polymetallic nodules). Amongst the species previously studied, F. candidum stood out by presenting the highest dietary diversity (H = 3.35) and species richness (N = 118). Predator and prey dimensions were not correlated and no spatial variation was observed in the diet amongst the three collection sites in the mid-slope of Campos Basin. Generalism, high rate of rare or unimportant species and high contribution of within-phenotype component to the niche width were important features of the trophic ecology of F. candidum. Inhabiting the deep water of Campos Basin, this dentaliid obtained most of its energy from the benthic microfauna, being a specialized foram predator with moderate preference for, and moderate selection against, several species.

A new species of Tetranchyroderma, T. garraffonii, is described from sublittoral sediments off the coast of Florida, USA. The new species possesses mixed scale types in the form of feathered biancres – a novel discovery for the genus – as well as feathered triancres and ordinary triancres. Biancres consist of a round scale base, a pair of ancre shafts that arise individually from a v-shaped cuticular ridge on the scale, and feathered ancres. Triancres are similar in appearance but have a different ridge pattern. Ordinary triancres occurred in two forms on the lateral sides of the body: a bowl-shaped ancre and a ‘pitchfork’ shaped ancre. Other distinguishing characteristics of the new species include the presence of cephalic tentacles, a papillated fringe to the oral hood, and a single pair of lateral and dorsolateral adhesive tubes at the posterior end. Confocal microscopy verified the presence of a muscular caudal organ and partly muscular vas deferens.

Coastal ecosystems are highly complex and driven by multiple environmental factors. To date we lack scientific evidence for the relative contribution of natural and anthropogenic drivers for the majority of marine habitats in order to adequately assess the role of different stressors across the European seas. Such relationship can be investigated by analysing the correlation between environmental variables and biotic patterns in multivariate space and taking into account non-linearities. Within the framework of the EMBOS (European Marine Biodiversity Observatory System) programme, hard bottom intertidal communities were sampled in a standardized way across European seas. Links between key natural and anthropogenic drivers and hard bottom communities were analysed using Boosted Regression Trees modelling. The study identified strong interregional variability and showed that patterns of hard bottom macroalgal and invertebrate communities were primarily a function of tidal regime, nutrient loading and water temperature (anomalies). The strength and shape of functional form relationships varied widely however among types of organisms (understorey algae composing mostly filamentous species, canopy-forming algae or sessile invertebrates) and aggregated community variables (cover or richness). Tidal regime significantly modulated the effect of nutrient load on the cover and richness of understorey algae and sessile invertebrates. In contrast, hydroclimate was more important for canopy algae and temperature anomalies and hydroclimate separately or interactively contributed to the observed patterns. The analyses also suggested that climate-induced shifts in weather patterns may result in the loss of algal richness and thereby in the loss of functional diversity in European hard bottom intertidal areas.

Wedge clam, Donax scortum occurrence was studied from February 2009 to January 2010 in Padukere sandy beach, Karnataka (India). The following biological parameters were measured in 2367 individuals of the wedge clam, Donax scortum: length, breadth, width, total weight, shell weight, wet meat weight, dry meat weight and number of clams. The calculated linear equation of length-breadth and length-width relationships were B = 3.5968 + 0.5421L and W = 0.8191 + 0.4345L respectively. The length-total weight, length-wet meat weight, length-dry meat weight and length-shell weight relationships were 0.0001414L3.0224, W = 0.0000037L3.5204, W = 0.0000011L3.4513 and 0.0000852L2.9912 respectively. The values of correlation coefficient for different shell dimensional relationships were very close to unity. It was clear from the study that the most ideal period for clam harvest was April, June and December, especially when condition index was maximum. Length showed a strong correlation with silt and clay. Dry meat weight was negatively correlated with air temperature. Shell weight showed positive correlation with length, breadth, width and dry meat weight, and abiotic parameters, silt and clay. Condition index was positively correlated with electrical conductivity, whereas it was negatively correlated with dissolved oxygen. It showed a strong positive correlation with salinity. Seasonal fluctuation of condition index in D. scortum was probably related to reproductive activity. The harvesting of wedge clam could be carried out considering the maximum sustainable yield without over-exploitation

Two new species of Cossura Webster & Benedict, 1887 were found in material collected during sampling from the terminal lobes of the Congo deep-sea fan. They were described using light and scanning electron microscopy. Cossura platypus sp. nov. has 15–17 thoracic chaetigers, a prostomium longer than it is wide, with a widely rounded anterior margin, an abruptly expanded posterior prostomial ring the same length as the peristomium, without a mid-ventral notch, a branchial filament attached to the midlength of chaetiger 3, and a pygidium with three anal cirri. Cossura platypus sp. nov. is similar to C. brunnea Fauchald, 1972 but differs in the shape of the prostomium, which is widely rounded anteriorly in C. platypus sp. nov. and is broadly triangular in C. brunnea; furthermore, C. platypus sp. nov.is uniformly pale, whereas C. brunnea has dark pigmentation. Cossura candida Hartman, 1955 differs from C. platypus sp. nov. in the conical shape of the prostomium and 24–35 thoracic chaetigers. Cossura flabelligera sp. nov. has 16–19 thoracic chaetigers, a conical prostomium, and a branchial filament arising from the posterior part of chaetiger 2; the entire body, including the chaetae, is covered by a thick mucous sheath similar to the tunic of flabelligerids. Cossura flabelligera sp. nov. resembles C. longocirrata Webster & Benedict, 1887 in the position of the branchial filament, the shape of the prostomium, and the number of thoracic chaetigers; it differs in having a thick mucous sheath. This character seems to be unique for the Cossuridae.

Mussels are typical macrofouling organisms in the world. In this study, the interaction between the settlement of Mytilus coruscus plantigrades and bacterial community on coloured substrata was determined. Bacterial communities in biofilms developed on seven coloured substrata were analysed by Illumina Miseq sequencing. The mussel settlement response to coloured substrata with no biofilms was also examined. Flavobacteria, Alphaproteobacteria and Gammaproteobacteria were the first, second and third most dominant groups in seven biofilm samples. The results suggest that the inducing activities of these biofilms on plantigrade settlement varied with coloured substrata and the lowest percentage of settlement was observed on biofilms on the green substratum. High-throughput sequencing showed that bacterial community in biofilms also changed with the substratum colour. No significant difference in the inducing activity on plantigrade settlement was observed between the coloured substrata with no biofilms. Thus, difference in plantigrade settlement response may be correlated to the changes in bacterial community on coloured substrata. This finding extends current knowledge of interaction among mussel settlement and bacterial community variability.

This is the first report on the Zoantharia fauna (Cnidaria: Hexacorallia) of the isolated oceanic island of Ascension, southern Atlantic, where zoantharians are a dominant component of the shallow-water benthos. Specimens from two expeditions (1983, 2012) were examined regarding external morphology and molecular phylogeny using three DNA markers, which confirmed the presence of four zoantharian species: Palythoa caribaeorum; Palythoa aff. clavata; Parazoanthus swiftii; and Zoanthus sp. Two of these, Palythoa aff. clavata and Parazoanthus swiftii, were previously only known from the western Atlantic and Caribbean. Molecular examination of the zooxanthellae (=Symbiodinium spp.) of Palythoa specimens showed that they were in association with only one type, subclade C1.

The imposition of male sexual characteristics onto the female (imposex) is present in wild populations of the non-native veined rapa whelk (Rapana venosa) in Chesapeake Bay, USA but does not appear to compromise reproductive function. Cultured whelks were used to test two hypotheses: (1) Observed imposex metrics will be similar to tributyltin (TBT) water concentrations at each of three sites; (2) Male and imposex/female whelks from the same site will have similar TBT body burdens. Cultured 2-year-old whelks were transplanted to three field sites in the York River, USA at the onset of their second reproductive season. Transplant site mean TBT water concentrations ranged from 1.4 ± 0.77 to 64.2 ± 57.8 ng l−1. Imposex incidence was 100% after 28 weeks with an observed M:F:IF ratio of 81:0:92 across all sites. Imposex stages (median vas deferens scale index = 4) and reproductive output were similar across sites. The imposex severity (IS = penis length/shell length) increased with increasing TBT concentrations. The relative penis length (RPLI) and relative penis size (RPSI) indices were positively related to site-specific TBT levels. Male whelks accumulated significantly higher TBT concentrations than female whelks at the site with the highest TBT concentration. Mean TBT concentrations in whelk egg capsules were significantly higher than concentrations in male or female whelk tissue. Egg capsule deposition provides a depuration mechanism for female whelks to reduce body burden of lipophilic TBT. Sex, season and reproductive status should be considered when using gastropod bioaccumulation to monitor TBT effects.

Seven osteological characters of the axial skeleton are studied in the eight species of the genus Pampus. The characters include: pattern of interdigitation of the dorsal- and anal-fin pterygiophores with the neural and haemal spines of the vertebrae, structure of the vertebral column, distribution of the dorsal- and ventral- procurrent caudal-fin rays, distribution of the principal caudal-fin rays and the morphology of the caudal-fin skeleton. All these features appear to be useful in the characterization of the eight species of the genus Pampus. Formulae for the structure of the vertebral column, the dorsal- and anal-fin pterygiophores’ interdigitation with the neural and haemal spines of the vertebrae, distribution of the dorsal and ventral procurrent caudal-fin rays, and distribution of the principal caudal-fin rays were developed. Pampus nozawae was recently considered a synonym of P. argenteus. However, according to the characters used in the present study, this species is notably distinct from P. argenteus.

Seven species of antipatharian corals (Cnidaria: Anthozoa: Antipatharia) are recorded from Ascension Island; five of these for the first time. Tanacetipathes spinescens and Stichopathes occidentalis were the two most commonly collected species.

For the management of mollusc resources, knowledge of various population parameters and exploitation level of the population of wedge clams are needed. Population dynamics on wedge clam, Donax scortum is still unknown in Asia. FAO-ICLARM Stock Assessment Tools (commonly known as FiSAT) was used for calculating population parameters of this species. The specimens of D. scortum were collected from Padukere sandy beach at monthly intervals from February 2009 to January 2010. Asymptotic length (Lα) was 70.88 mm and growth coefficient (K) was estimated at 0.64 year−1. The sizes attained by D. scortum were 33.51, 51.17, 60.49, 65.40, 67.99 and 69.36 mm at the end of first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth years of age, respectively. Density of clams ranged from 2 ind. m−2 (June, July and August) to 8 ind. m−2 (December). Biomass (total weight) of clams ranged between 10.084 g m−2 (August) to 185.100 g m−2 (December). Total mortality (Z) for D. scortum was 3.20 year−1. Natural mortality (M) and fishing mortality (F) were 0.64 year−1 and 2.56 year−1 respectively. Exploitation level (E) was computed as 0.80, indicating that the fishery of D. scortum in the coastal waters of Karnataka is overexploited.

Stomach content analysis was used to assess the feeding habits of Acanthocybium solandri based on samples obtained on purse seine fishing trips off the Pacific coasts of Central and South America. A total of 226 samples were obtained; 160 stomachs contained food and 33 prey taxa were identified. Based on the Prey Specific Index of Relative Importance (%PSIRI), cephalopods and fishes were the main prey groups (50.4 and 49.5% PSIRI). Dosidicus gigas (23.4% PSIRI), Stenoteuthis oualaniensis (9.9% PSIRI) and Argonauta spp. (9.4% PSIRI) were the most representative prey. Acanthocybium solandri is a generalist predator based on the results of the Amundsen analysis and niche breadth (Ba = 1).