For over 120 years, the shell middens of western Scotland and the series of open-air sites on Oronsay have been the focus of debate in European Mesolithic studies. This paper challenges the significance of Oronsay in light of results from the geophysical survey and test-excavation of a new limpet and periwinkle shell midden dated to the late 5th or start of the 4th millennium cal bc at Port Lobh, Colonsay that offers fresh evidence to re-evaluate critically the role of Oronsay and coastal resources in island settlement models ahead of the Mesolithic–Neolithic transition. Test excavations recovered a marine molluscan assemblage dominated by limpet and periwinkle shells together with crab, sea urchin, a fishbone assemblage composed mainly of Gadidae, some identifiable bird and mammal bone, carbonised macroplant remains, and pumice as well as a bipolar lithic assemblage and coarse stone implements. Novel seasonality studies of saithe otolith thin-sections suggest wintertime tidal fishing practices. At least two activity events may be discerned, dating from the late 5th millennium cal bc. The midden could represent a small number of rapidly deposited assemblages or maybe the result of stocastic events within a more extended timeframe. We argue that alternative research questions are needed to advance long-standing debates about seasonal inter-island mobility versus island sedentism that look beyond Oronsay to better understand later Mesolithic occupation patterns and the formation and date of Oronsay middens. We propose alternative methodological strategies to aid identification of contemporaneous sites using geophysical techniques and lithic technological signatures.

A taxonomic revision of the Nystiellidae from Brazil, including samples from the Rio Grande Rise, South Atlantic, was performed based on shell morphology. Five genera and 17 species were recognized. For the richest genus, Eccliseogyra, the three species previously recorded from Brazil were revised: E. brasiliensis and E. maracatu, previously known only from their respective type series, were re-examined. Newly available material of E. maracatu expanded the known geographic range of this species to off south-east Brazil. Eccliseogyra nitida is now recorded from north-eastern to south-eastern Brazil, as well as from the Rio Grande Rise. Three species of Eccliseogyra are newly recorded from the South Atlantic: E. monnioti, previously known from the north-eastern Atlantic, occurs off eastern Brazil and on the Rio Grande Rise; its protoconch is described for the first time, confirming its family allocation. Eccliseogyra pyrrhias occurs off eastern Brazil and on the Rio Grande Rise, and E. folini off eastern Brazil. The genus Iphitus is newly recorded from the South Atlantic. Iphitus robertsi was found off northern Brazil, although the shells show some differences from the type material, with less-pronounced spiral keels. Additional new finds showed that Iphitus cancellatus ranges from eastern Brazil to the Rio Grande Rise, and Iphitus notios sp. nov. is restricted to the Rio Grande Rise. Narrimania, previously recorded from Brazil based on dubious records, is confirmed, including the only two living species described for the genus: N. azelotes, previously only known from the type locality in Florida, and N. concinna, previously known from the Mediterranean. A third species, Narrimania raquelae sp. nov. is described from eastern Brazil, diagnosed by its numerous and thinner cancellate sculpture. To the three species of Opaliopsis previously known from Brazil, a fourth species, O. arnaldoi sp. nov., is added from eastern Brazil, and diagnosed by its very thin spiral sculpture, absence of a varix, and thinner microscopic parallel axial striae. Papuliscala nordestina, originally described from north-east Brazil, is recorded off eastern Brazil and synonymized with P. elongata, a species previously known only from the North Atlantic.

The range of water temperatures in which Perkinsus species can survive and proliferate remains ill-defined, particularly at lower temperatures. The in vitro viability, metabolic activity, and proliferation of 3 isolates each of P. marinus and P. olseni trophozoites at 28°C, and at 15 and 4°C, after transfer from 28°C, were compared. Both species showed declines in metabolic activity and proliferation from 28°C to 15°C. At 4°C, both species had viability after 30 days incubation time (P. marinus 49%, P. olseni 58%), but limited metabolic activity and no proliferation. Perkinsus marinus viability was further compared when transferred directly from 28°C, 18°C and progressively from 18°C (0·5°C/day) to 2, 4 and 6°C and maintained for up to 4 months. Viability was highest under progressive transfer (77% and 54% after 30 and 60 days exposure to test temperatures). The decrease in P. marinus viability at the lower temperatures in vitro only partially explains decreasing parasite infection intensities in eastern oysters in the colder months of the year. Moreover, the significant decrease in parasite infection intensities in late winter and early spring, as temperatures increase, is likely due to an active process of elimination by oyster host defences.

An investigation was carried out into the PAH chemical contamination resulting from the “Erika” tanker fuel spillage of December 1999 along the French coast of the Bay of Biscay. A qualitative and quantitative assessment was conducted of this contamination in water, suspended particulate matter, sediments, and in intertidal molluscs. The chemical composition of PAHs in pre-spill and post-spill samples was determined and used to distinguish the “Erika's” fuel as the source of PAHs in the coastal environment of the Bay of Biscay. Changes in concentrations of PAHs were also assessed. The GC-MS analysis made it possible to identify and quantify parent unsubstituted PAHs, alkyl-substituted PAHs (C-PAH) and sulfur heterocycle unsubstituted and alkyl substituted compounds (SPAH and C-SPAH). The results of this study demonstrated that heavily oil-contaminated shorelines, including beaches, rocky coasts as well as sandy sediments apparently became reservoirs of spilled fuel and these continued to contaminate seawater, suspended particulate matter and mussels with PAHs. These conclusions were borne out by the following observations: (1) the pattern changes in PAH composition after the “Erika” oil spill were consistent in all contaminated compartments (water, suspended particulate matter SPM, intertidal sediments and molluscs), (2) the compositional patterns of PAHs after the “Erika” oil spill in contaminated water, SPM, intertidal sediments and molluscs constantly included alkyl-substituted phenanthrenes, pyrenes, chrysenes and sulfur heterocycle compounds in higher relative abundances than those in the pre-spill samples of these compartments, (3) the relative abundances of different suites of PAHs at contaminated sites were similar to those of weathered “Erika” fuel, (4) consistent and visible temporal decline in concentrations for water, SPM and molluscs, (5) the geographical contiguity of the stations with high concentrations of PAHs in molluscs matched the extent of the shoreline contamination by the spilled fuel.The increase in the contamination levels before and after the spill, together with the significant change in the pattern of PAH composition provide evidence of the intense and long-term chemical contamination of the “Erika's” fuel and of the damage to natural marine resources resulting from such contamination by toxic oil components.

Finds of perforated Homalopoma sanguineum from Tito Bustillo add to the evidence of long-distance contact between Magdalenian groups. The new finds are placed in their European context.

This study considers exploitation of marine molluscs at Riparo Mochi (Italy) in cultural and ecological context. Five shell assemblages from this site represent the early Upper Palaeolithic (c. 36,000 BP) through Late Epigravettian (c. 9000 BP) periods. Taphonomic analysis reveals four kinds of shell debris: ornaments, food refuse, marine sponge inclusions, and land snails. While human foraging agendas at Riparo Mochi shifted over the five Palaeolithic phases, the kinds of marine shells favoured as ornaments remained nearly constant.

Several virulence factors involved in the potential pathogenic capacity of Vibrio P1, the causative agent of brown ring disease (BRD) affecting cultured Manila clam adults (Ruditapes philippinarum), have been evaluated in comparison with other strains of several Vibrio species isolated from diseased clams. The importance of bacterial cell surface associated properties as virulence factors has been studied considering both non-specific and specific bacterial adhesion to clams. Vibrio P1 showed moderate hydrophobicity, but high affinity to bind to Congo Red dye and the presence of appendages, characterized as fimbriaeor pili. All the strains of Vibrio P1 secreted haemolysis and cytotoxins, and were also strong exotoxin producers. The presence of a large 49.2-MDa plasmid in all the strains of Vibrio P1 may be used as an epidemiological marker, but its involvement in pathogenic mechanisms has not yet been established. Although in some Vibrio strains, iron-acquisition systems play an essential role in their pathogenicity, they do not seem to be an important factor in Vibrio P1, since this pathogen lacks siderophore-mediated iron transport mechanisms.