Sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) typically produce sharp onset, broadband pulse sounds at varying repetition rates. Acoustic recordings of different social units of sperm whales in the Mediterranean Sea included apparent non-click sounds of tonal quality, termed ‘squeals’. Quantitative analysis of the spectral signal and waveform indicate that although squeals are perceived as tonal and appear spectrally as narrowband frequency-modulated structures with harmonics, they actually consist of pulses at high repetition rates exceeding 1600 clicks/s. Squeals contained energy at between 400 Hz and 22 kHz, with mean peak energy at the relatively low frequency of 700 Hz. Five spectral forms of squeal could be recognized, with the dominant form (45%) of squeals showing a decrease in frequency along the squeal contour. Mean click repetition rate ranged between 713 and 1385 clicks/s for individual squeals, and also varied within squeals at rates of between 64 and 444 clicks/s. Variation in click repetition rate was reflected in the frequency spacing of the spectral sidebands, in a statistically significant inverse relationship. Squeals were recorded only during bouts of sperm whale social behaviour, consistent with their having a communicative social function. Sperm whale squeals are structurally and audibly similar to the burst-pulse sounds produced by many smaller odontocete species, and might fall on the continuum between distinct click trains and pure-tone whistles.

A new sponge genus and species, Astrotylus astrotylus, is described from the Antarctic abyssal zone. Its peculiar microscleres, herein referred to as astrotylostyles, combine the features of asterose spicules and tylostyles. Similar spicules are observed in Hymeraphia and Discorhabdella (order Poecilosclerida). But this similarity is convergent as far as a radial choanosomal skeleton composed by principal tylostyles and a cortical palisade of small tylostyles in Astrotylus undoubtedly confirm its allocation to the order Hadromerida and most likely to the family Polymastiidae. Atergia, Acanthopolymastia and Tylexocladus have the closest affinities with Astrotylus that calls for the phylogenetic analysis of their relations. Meanwhile astrotylostyles of Astrotylus, cladotylostyles of Tylexocladus and grapnel-like exotyles of Proteleia may be the remnants of non-monaxonic ancestral spicule type in Polymastiidae that calls for reconsideration of the relations between hadromerid families.

The distributions of the pennatulid anthozoans (sea pens) Virgularia mirabilis, Pennatula phosphorea and Funiculina quadrangularis in Scottish waters have previously only been extensively documented in sea lochs, by the Marine Nature Conservation Review (MNCR) surveys. Funiculina quadrangularis in particular was thought to be restricted to the deep basins of sea lochs and is classified as a nationally uncommon species. Sea pens are characterizing species in seven biotopes found in Scottish waters and are protected under the ‘Mud in Deep Water Habitat Action Plan’ of the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UKBAP) and are also recorded in several Special Areas of Conservation. The present study has extended the existing information available on sea pens in Scottish waters. The distribution and abundance of the three sea pen species were mapped using GIS (Geographical Information System) by utilizing data from Nephrops norvegicus stock assessment video surveys carried out by Fisheries Research Services (FRS) Marine Laboratory. Distribution was shown to be aggregated for all species. Funiculina quadrangularis was present in areas outside the sea lochs, such as the South Minch and the outer mouths of most sea lochs. This study demonstrates that analysis of video footage derived from Nephrops stock assessment surveys can significantly extend our knowledge of sea pen distribution and population density. Future management of Nephrops stocks can be expected to consider impacts of fishing on non-commercial species such as sea pens as a part of the ‘ecosystem approach’ to management.

The predatory action of the pink shrimp (Farfantepenaeus brasiliensis and Farfantepenaeus paulensis) trawling fishery in south-western Brazil affects populations of some benthic species and Hepatus pudibundus is an abundant by-catch in this fishery. Individual growth and mortality of H. pudibundus were studied by taking monthly samples for a year from the by-catch of the pink shrimp fishery in the Ubatuba region. The von Bertalanffy growth model described growth of H. pudibundus (K=2.73 y-1, CW∞=82.97 mm; K=2.62 y-1, CW∞=66.72 mm, for males and females respectively). Modal progression of the monthly average sizes was related to increasing values of relative condition index. The instantaneous coefficients of total, natural, and fishing mortality were: males, Z=7.62 y-1; M=1.80 y-1; F=5.83 y-1; females, Z=7.36 y-1; M=1.80 y-1; F=5.56 y-1. Length composition and mortality analysis suggest that H. pudibundus in the Ubatuba region might be overfished.

The phylogenetic relationships of Euthelepus (Polychaeta: Terebellidae: Thelepodinae) were studied by means of a parsimony analysis of 40 external characters. The ingroup terminals included four species of Euthelepus, and the outgroup included 14 species of eight Thelepodinae genera, three belonging to the subfamily Terebellinae, one species of Trichobranchinae, and one species of Polycirrinae. Only two most parsimonious cladograms were found. However, the analysis revealed a large number of homoplastic characters supporting the thelepodin branches. The monophyly of the genus Euthelepus was not supported, and the monophyly of the other thelepodin genera, as well as the entire subfamily, is questioned. The large number of homoplasies indicated by the analysis emphasizes the need to further evaluate these hypotheses by using additional characters. A re-classification based on phylogenetic results must be considered.

The genus Asconema, widely distributed in the North Atlantic and Arctic, was for some time considered to be monospecific. Its revision shows that it contains five species including the previously known A. setubalense, reinstated A. foliata and three new species (two of which are subdivided into three and four subspecies). The generic diagnosis is changed to encompass the specific characters of the new species.

A commensal relationship is described between the polyclad flatworm Paraprostatum echinolittorinae Faubel & Sluys gen. et sp. nov. and gastropod molluscs living on the Pacific coast of central America. Although the worms are relatively large in comparison with their hosts, the latter sustained no apparent damage. Considering the fact that the molluscs live in the upper eulittoral zone and littoral fringe of the shore, it is unlikely that the polyclads could survive for long outside the hosts. Diagnostic characters for the new genus and species are a long penial stylet joined to the proximal vesicle and absence of Lang's vesicle. It is pointed out that Aprostatum clippertoni Bock, 1913 and A. longipenis (Kato, 1943) have been incorrectly transferred to the genus Euplana Girard, 1893 and that Discoplana malagensis Doignon, Artois & Deheyn, 2003 should be transferred to the genus Ilyella Faubel, 1983.

Cetaceans are prone to collisions with fast vessels, and in areas of high cetacean and vessel density such as in the Canary Islands, the sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) is of great concern. Sperm whales are highly vocal and can be localized with passive sonar, but, when at or near the surface, they tend to stop vocalizing, i.e. when they are most at risk. Regrettably, ship-borne active solutions have proven inefficient due to the short detection range and the ships' high-speeds. Our objective in this paper is to evaluate the efficiency of an original passive sonar solution that would use vocalizing whale clicks at depth as acoustic sources to detect silent whales. This solution could be a non-invasive complementary component of a more complex passive localization whale anti-collision system. To meet this aim, a simulation tool for 3D acoustic propagation was designed in which a wideband Nx2D ray solution of the wave equation simulates a passive solution consisting of an arbitrary number of active acoustic sources, an illuminated object, and a receiver, all positioned in a three-dimensional space with arbitrary bathymetry. Both curved and straight ray solutions were implemented, the latter providing greater computational speeds at the expense of temporal and angular precision. The software recreates the resulting sound mixture of direct, reverberated and target back-scattered signals arriving at the array sensors for any array configuration, any number of sources and one target. Simulations show the application of the concept for the Canary Islands, with a detection range upper bound of the order of one kilometre.

Two new species of rotifers belonging to the Dicranophoridae are described from marine psammon collected at a depth of 30–40 m in the Mediterranean near the island of Elba, Italy. Myersinella uncodonta sp. nov. is characterized by two colourless eyespots; single, incurved acute apical rami teeth; two needle-shaped, slightly incurved elongate unci; manubria with forked head and crutched cauda; outer margin of rami angular postero-laterally. Myersinella longiforceps sp. nov. is characterized by two large red eyespots; a pair of extremely elongated, gouge-shaped apical rami teeth; two short, needle-shaped unci; manubria with forked head and double-crutched cauda; outer margin of rami rounded laterally, tapering towards fulcrum. This is the first report of the genus Myersinella from marine environments.

Based on specimens collected in the Mediterranean and Red Sea coasts of Israel, the first lessepsian flatworm (Boninia neotethydis sp. nov.) is described. The genus Boninia includes cotylean polyclads characterized by the presence of multiple accessory (prostatoid) organs. The three species described are distributed in the western Pacific (B. mirabilis) and in the Caribbean (B. antillarum and B. divae). The new species differ from congenerics in the number and arrangement of the prostatoid organs, and in the number of marginal eyes. Specimens of the new species feed on mussels, and their possible effects on Mediterranean mussel cultures should be monitored.

The Solent European Marine Sites contain many tiers of habitat and species conservation, but also high levels of bait collection. Effective management strategies must be founded on up-to-date and locally based information from relevant studies of the impacts; these have been lacking for the collection of Nereis virens, a key bait species. The impacts on macrofauna were assessed through two approaches; (a) undug and dug sites in the Solent were compared over two years of repeat sampling; and (b) monitoring the long-term effects of simulated bait collection at an undug site through five years of yearly sampling. Dug sites had significantly higher densities of N. virens, but the mean weight was found to be significantly lower than those collected from the undug sites, but percentage maturity was not different. Organic content and sediment particle sizes differed between sites, and only the presence of gravel had a significant positive correlation with density. No clear patterns of other macrofauna species present were evident, although there was a significantly lower density of the terebellid polychaete Neoamphitrite figulus at the dug sites. Simulated bait collection did not alter overall macrofauna diversity, but certain species were affected. Abundance of N. figulus and the commensal Harmothoë glabra remained consistently lower in the dug area, whilst Cerastoderma edule numbers were reduced initially, but recovered. Numbers of Nephtys hombergii declined in both areas, but at a significantly greater rate in the dug area. A general decline in the abundance of many species, irrespective of digging, occurred over the period. The importance of these changes in Nereis virens populations and in the macrofauna community needs to be investigated prior to any management decisions on collection.

Chasmagnathus granulatus is a semiterrestrial intertidal burrowing crab that inhabits both the unvegetated mudflats and the cordgrass (Spartina densiflora) salt marshes in Mar Chiquita Lagoon (Argentina), where it is considered the ecologically key species. The mass of C. granulatus eggs incubated by females is colonized by epibiotic micro-organisms and accumulates detritus. The type of epibionts that use eggs as a substrate, the infestation degree, the maternal care behaviour and the protection of the incubation chamber were compared between females living on mudflats and on Spartina-dominated areas. In both places, the epibiosis by bacteria and filamentous fungi and peritrichid colonial ciliate was significantly higher in the periphery than in the centre of the brood mass. The accumulation of detritus was higher in the periphery in mudflat females but not in salt marsh females. Moreover, the level of detritus was significantly higher in mudflat than in salt marsh females only in the periphery of the brood. The infestation level of bacteria and fungi, and peritrichids, increased throughout the embryonic development only in mudflat females. The periphery of the brood mass was significantly more contaminated in mudflat than in marsh females, while the central region of the brood mass did not differ between habitats. The pleopods were significantly more contaminated by bacteria and filamentous fungi and peritrichid colonial ciliates in premoult females than in postmoult females, independently from the collection site. The percentage of females with abnormal embryos was significantly higher in mudflats (26.7%) than in marshes (12.3%). Females with late embryos spent more time flapping the abdomen and probing the embryos with the chela. Non-ovigerous females did not perform specific maternal care activities. The volume of brood mass both in early or late stage of development is greater than that of the incubation chamber and, consequently, peripheral embryos are more exposed.

A new species of the clionaid genus Pione is described from the south-western Atlantic in Argentine waters. Pione angelae sp. nov. is the first record of the genus from southern South America. It occurs on shells of Olivancillaria urceus and Buccinanops monilifer, two common gastropods living off Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina (38°01′41″S 57°31′07″W) that are inhabited by the hermit crab Loxopagurus loxochelis. Pione angelae sp. nov. is visible on the shell surfaces as circular papillar perforations of 312 μm on average with regular diameters. They lead directly into interconnected chambers from both sides of the shell. The chambers form well-defined galleries in dense substratum. Straight tylostyles in two size-classes (defined by their length: width ratio) occur: 158.6 μm length×2.1 μm width and 185.0×4.5 μm, with spherical heads. Microscleres are more common than tylostyles, with microspined acanthoxeas of 91 μm length, slightly bent in the centre, as well as spirasters of 12 μm length with spines more concentrated on the crests of the spirals; rarely they are straight (microrhabd like). The present samples are compared to similar valid species of the same genus and it is concluded that they represent a new species.

The sonar capabilities of the sperm whale, Physeter macrocephalus, have been the subject of speculation for a long time. While the usual clicks of this species are considered to support mid-range echolocation, no physical characteristics of the signal have clearly confirmed this assumption nor have they explained how sperm whales forage on squid. The recent data on sperm whale on-axis recordings have allowed us to simulate the propagation of a 15 kHz pulse as well as its received echoes from different targets, taking into account the reflections from the bottom and the sea surface. The analysis was performed in a controlled environment where the oceanographic parameters and the acoustic background could be modified. We also conducted experimental measurements of cephalopod target strength (TS) (Loligo vulgaris and Sepia officinalis) to further investigate and confirm the TS predictions from the geometric scattering equations. Based on the results of the computer simulations and the TS experimental measurements (TS squid=−36.3±2.5 dB), we were able to determine the minimum requirements for sperm whale sonar, i.e. range and directional hearing, to locate a single 24.5 cm long squid, considered to be (from stomach contents) the major size component of the sperm whale diet. Here, we present the development of the analysis which confirms that sperm whale usual clicks are appropriate to serve a mid-range sonar function, allowing this species to forage on individual organisms with low sound-reflectivity at ranges of several hundreds of metres.

A new genus and one new species of free-living marine nematodes Paramarylynnia gen. nov., Paramarylynnia subventrosetata sp. nov. from the Yellow Sea, China are described and illustrated. Paramarylynnia gen. nov. is characterized by a cuticle with transverse rows of even dots; absence of lateral differentiation; gubernaculum large and dilated at the distal end, no distal dentation; precloacal supplements absent; tail conico-cylindrical.The type species of Paramarylynnia gen. nov. is Paramarylynnia subventrosetata sp. nov.

Geographical information system analysis was applied to assist in the re-identification of records of Chaetozone setosa from the north-east Atlantic. Previously this species was considered to have a world-wide distribution. The aim of this study is to clarify and illustrate the distribution patterns associated with sediment and water characteristics of C. setosa and other Chaetozone species.

Sponges from Rathlin Island, Northern Ireland were sampled during a six week SCUBA diving expedition. One hundred and twenty-eight species were recorded, 29 of which were previously undescribed. With previous records a total of 134 species are now known from Rathlin, the richness of its sponge community makes it a key site for sponges in Europe. Eight new species are described: Axinella parva, Spongosorites calcicola, Crella plana, Phorbas punctata, Lissodendoryx (Ectyodoryx) jenjonesae, Antho (Antho) granditoxa, Hymeraphia breeni and Hymeraphia elongata and information is given on the poorly known species Axinella pyramidata, Myxilla (Styloptilon) ancoratum, Antho (Antho) brattegardi, Clathria (Microciona) laevis and Plocamionida tylotata. Extension of the range of Hexadella racovitzai is discussed. A small bay of particularly high nature conservation importance for sponges was identified, many of the rarer species were limited to this area. Sponge populations on the east coast of Rathlin seem to have been damaged by dredging.

Platynereis dumerilii is an emerging model system for both comparative developmental biology and ecotoxicology. As such it would be extremely valuable to be able to map the location of genes and markers in its genome, in order to understand how the genome changes or has changed, either due to chemical and environmental insults or during evolution. Here we report the adaptation of the technique of chromosomal fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) to P. dumerilii for the localization of single-copy genes. Also the duplicated ribosomal gene cluster of this annelid is more reliably revealed with FISH than with the previous technique of silver staining. This duplicated ribosomal cluster correlates with polymorphisms in the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions, which has implications for the use of these regions in phylogenetic or population biology work.

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.

Ucides cordatus is the most commercially important mangrove crab in Brazil. In spite of its economic importance, there are few studies of its reproduction, in particular the female reproductive system. The present study describes the histology and histochemistry of the spermathecae of U. cordatus. Adult females were caught monthly from July 2004 through June 2005, at Iguape, State of São Paulo. The crabs were anaesthetized, and their spermathecae removed and fixed in Davidson's fluid, following the histological routine for paraffin. The slides were stained with HE, xylidine Ponceau, PAS, alcian blue (pH 1.0 and 2.5), Sudan black B and picrosirius-haematoxylin. Histologically, the spermathecae possesses a capsule of conjunctive tissue, rich in collagen fibres, which surrounds the secretory columnar epithelium. In the lumen, individual sperm packets are not observed; the spermatophores are intermixed with the seminal fluid and secretions of the spermathecae itself. A large proportion of the free spermatozoids and spermatophores are arranged in homogeneous masses in the proximal part of the spermathecae. The secretion produced by the columnar epithelium appears to promote the movement of the gametes to the fertilization chamber, in a ventral position, allowing fertilization of the oocytes. Histochemically, the secretion produced by the columnar epithelium was strongly positive for neutral polysaccharides, positive for acid polysaccharides, and weakly positive for proteins and lipids. This secretion forms a glycoprotein matrix which is associated with maintenance of the spermatophores, which can remain stored for long periods.