Young estuarine bass of the 1976 and 1977 year classes were examined for gill parasites between February 1978 and June 1979. 344 specimens of the copepod Lernanthropus kroyeri were recovered from 177 of 289 fish. The distribution of the copepods on the gills showed clear preferences for site of attachment. With 48 such sites delineated per fish, 143 of 183 female copepods favoured a single site – the internal face of the medial sector of the posterior hemibranch of the second gill arch. 57 of 161 male copepods chose attachment to the external face of the medial sector of the anterior hemibranch of the second gill arch. Only seven copepods in all were found attached at any of the twelve possible sites on the first gill arch, and none at all at the six possible sites on the posterior hemibranch of the fourth gill arch. Explanations for the observed distribution are discussed in terms of the strength of the branchial ventilation currents over the different gills coupled with observations on the special respiratory adaptations of these parasites.

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 Pogonophora are tube-worms of predominantly deep sea distribution. They lack a functioning alimentary canal in the adult stage and are then dependent for nutrition on internal symbiotic chemosynthetic bacteria that occupy tissue derived from the larval endoderm (Southward, 1982, 1987, 1988; Southward & Southward, 1987; Southward et al. 1981). Of the two main subgroups, the small perviate Pogonophora are widely distributed in reducing sediments in the oceans, while the large vestimentiferan or obturate Pogonophora are restricted to hydrothermal vents or cold seeps. The small Pogonophora are often most abundant on steep slopes and in the Bay of Biscay Siboglinum atlanticum (Southward & Southward, 1958) can be a dominant element of the infauna of the sediments on the sides of canyons. This animal, like other small Pogonophora, lies buried in the sediment, in contrast to the vestimentifera which are attached to hard substrates. Until now there has been no fully quantitative information on the distribution of S. atlanticum and associated pogonophores of the Bay of Biscay. Dredges or trawls have been used for most previous sampling of pogonophores along the continental slope (Southward, 1979, 1985). Even the Plymouth-pattern deep-sea anchor dredge (Southward & Southward, 1963), which is designed to dig into the sediment immediately it is towed on the bottom, may drag for some distance through soft sediments before digging in, and then samples the upper few centimetres over a wider area than its mouth opening. During the last season of operation of R.R.S. ‘Frederick Russell’, before this vessel was disposed of by N.E.R.C., opportunity was taken to make a combined quantitative biological and chemical survey, using box-corers. The samples from the corers were large enough to allow the sample to be used for assessment of the population density of the pogonophores and analysis of sediment chemistry. Some inferences can now be drawn about the factors controlling pogonophore abundance.

Sea turtles are partners in commensal relationships with a variety of epibionts, including barnacles. The acorn barnacle Chelonibia testudinaria is one species commonly found associated with sea turtles and other marine fauna throughout temperate to tropical waters including the Indo-Pacific. We conducted a study to assess the occurrence of this barnacle, relative to host life stage and species in a mixed foraging population of green (Chelonia mydas) and hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) turtles (juvenile, sub-adult, adults (female and male)) in Mabul Island, Sabah, Malaysia (Celebes Sea). Expecting similar relative abundance by life stage, we found instead a significant effect between the combined dependent variables (abundance and size of barnacles) and the life stages of sea turtles in Mabul after controlling for the covariates of size and species of sea turtles (F(8, 428) = 5.77, P < 0.001, Pillai = 0.19). Among green turtles with barnacles, though adult males had larger barnacles compared with the female turtles, the mean barnacle abundance on adult females (43.4 individuals ± 5.19 SD) was higher than all other life stages. Most of the barnacles (85.6%; N = 1931) were found on the plastron of the sea turtles. The highest number of barnacle reacquisition was found among the juvenile turtles. In assessing the complemental males of the barnacles, we found they were consistently attached to the shells of the larger of the hermaphrodites from each region of the host's body despite average shell-size differences with each region.

Measurements of current at the Seven Stones Light Vessel, 50° 03·5' N. lat., 6° 05·1' W. long. (for position, see Cooper, 1960b, fig. 1) were first made with the Carruthers Drift Indicator between 17 August and 15 September 1933 (Carruthers, 1934). The much longer series with the Vertical Log between July 1939 and April 1941 showed average travel of the residual cur-rent at a rate of 2·5 miles per day towards east-south-east (110° true) (Carruthers, Lawford & Veley, 1951). It was shown clearly that there was a strong causal connexion between the direction and strength of the wind and direction and strength of current, but that there were evidently other factors concerned as well. These current measurements were not easy to reconcile with deductions from the observed distributions of temperature and salinity in the area (Matthews, 1914; Harvey, 1925, 1929; Cooper, 19606). A rational explanation could be achieved if it is assumed that the passage of water from the English Channel to the Bristol Channel occurs intermittently and is confined to a narrow current close into Lands End. This ‘corner current’ rarely extends as far west as the Seven Stones Light Vessel.

The Zoea of Eurynome aspera has already been twice described—namely, by Kinahan (1857) and Cano (1893), but there is some discrepancy between the two accounts which an observation made at Plymouth in April, 1922, fully explains.

Kinahan observed the larva immediately on hatching and described it as having neither rostrum nor dorsal spine; whereas Cano describes it as having both.

Although the anthropogenic impact on Posidonia oceanica meadows in the Mediterranean Sea has been studied over the last few decades, the data about the status of this endemic magnoliophyte are scarcer from the Adriatic Sea. Samples of P. oceanica meadows were collected in June and July 2004 using SCUBA diving at 8 sites in the area of the Dugi Otok Island, all at depths of 10 m. The meadow's shoot density was measured, and shoots were collected to be examined and compared through number of leaves per shoot, leaf surface per shoot, leaf area index, number and biomass of taxa of epiphytic flora. Significant differences in P. oceanica meadow structure were found among investigated sites, especially between sites in the vicinity of the fish farm and the other sites. Meadow density decreased at sites in the Dugi Otok channel and the main impact factors seem to be the input of organic matter, originating from the fish cages and sewage input. These human activities are a source of nutrient pollution and stimulate blooms of phytoplankton and higher algae. The sea grass meadow vitality seems to be more negatively affected in the channel. The highest values of shoot density were recorded at investigated sites VR and ME at the outer part of the Dugi Otok Island. The shoot density was very low at site FU, situated in the channel. Biomass of the epiphytic algae exhibited the highest values at the site FU, while at the other investigated sites the values were significantly lower. Concerning the epiphytic macroflora, a total of 55 taxa of epiphytic macroalgae were identified and the class Rhodophyta dominated in all samples. The present study shows the high differences in morphological and structural characteristics of Posidonia oceanica meadows among various sites with and without anthropogenic influence.

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.

After the publication in this Journal in 1899 of the paper “On the Fauna and Bottom-Deposits near the Thirty-Fathom Line from the Eddystone Grounds to Start Point” (Journ. Mar. Biol. Assoc., vol. v. pp. 365–542), observations were undertaken for the purpose of preparing a similar account of the fauna of the inshore grounds in the neighbourhood of Plymouth. As the work proceeded, however, it was realised that, owing to the great damage which has been caused to the grounds within easy reach of the harbour by the constant discharge of mud and refuse from barges working in connection with the new dockyard extension at Devonport and other harbour works, any attempt to prepare a consecutive account of the fauna and bottom-deposits over the whole area, such as was given for the grounds from Eddystone to Start, would be a matter of extreme difficulty and of little use.

In view of the serious mortality reported among Cardium edule in the summer of 1933 (Orton) the following account of British parasites of this species may be of interest.

Whilt working at the life histories of the euphausiids occurring in the English Channel, and also having had opportunities of examining the larvae of several other species belonging to different genera from various localities, the writer noted certain features in the larvae which usually enabled the genus to be distinguished easily. The chief specimens were obtained from plankton collected by Mr. F. S. Russell within a radius of twelve miles from Alexandria, Egypt, whilst working for the Egyptian Fisheries Department. The larval euphausiid material from this collection is rich, and an account of it will soon be published. In the meantime the following general notes are offered, as at present little is known of the systematics of euphausiid larvæ. As several workers are occupied with this group, so important from the point of view of the Fisheries, it seemed advisable to bring all that is known together. In so doing it has been found possible to form a working scheme, from which, being given a series of larvæ of any species, one is enabled to determine the genus. For this scheme the order of development of the pleopods has been taken as the main factor, as it is found that the pleopods develop differently in several of the most important genera.

A sample of 3393 garfish, Belone belone (Linnaeus, 1761) was captured using a seine net between January 2003 and December 2008, along the eastern Adriatic Sea. The range in total length was 20.8–75.4 cm and in weight was 12.21–639.25 g. Length–length equations for converting size measurements (standard length and fork length to total length (TL)) were linear. In the length–weight relationship, positive allometry was established (b = 3.4818). Age, determined from sagittal otoliths, ranged from 1+ to 8+ years. The estimated von Bertalanffy model growth parameters for garfish were L∞ = 90.3 cm, K = 0.158 year−1, t0 = −0.109. Otolith weight was endorsed as a possible age predictor, as it showed highly exponential correlation with total garfish length and age (Wo = 0.0012 TL2.189; Wo = 0.568t1.486). These findings were used to examine mortality rates and exploitation in order to improve conservation and management of this pelagic species.

A spectral emission curve for the light of Pholas dactylus has been determined by means of spectral niters and photomultiplier cell. Emission extends from about 440 to 670 mμ, with a maximum at about 490 mμ. The emission curve is compared with the action spectrum determined by Hecht.

In local reef fish communities, species richness increases with increasing reef area. At Ishigaki Island, Japan, species richness is much lower on large reefs in the shallow back reef than that expected from random placement model simulations (RPMS). As three aggressive territorial herbivorous damselfish, Stegastes nigricans, Stegastes lividus and Hemiglyphidodon plagiometopon, coexist only on such large reefs, we focused on these species and examined patterns of their distribution and abundance on 84 patch reefs of various sizes (area and height). We also examined their aggressive intra- and interspecific behavioural interactions and habitat use on the two large reefs (the largest complex patch reef and the large flat patch reef) among the 84 patch reefs. While the abundance of both S. lividus and H. plagiometopon was highly correlated with patch reef area, that of S. nigricans was closely correlated with patch reef height. For S. nigricans and S. lividus, interspecific interactions occurred significantly more frequently than intraspecific interactions on the large flat patch reef. However, there was no significant difference in frequencies of the two interaction types on the largest complex patch reef, where they three-dimensionally segregated conspecific territories. This study suggested that reef height as well as reef area influence the distribution and abundance of these territorial herbivorous damselfish in the shallow back reef. As large patch reefs cannot be tall allometrically in shallow back reefs, relatively flat patch reefs may not have the high species richness expected from RPMS based on reef area.

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.

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.

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.

The trophic composition of macrobenthic communities in intertidal and subtidal soft-bottoms of the Ensenada de San Simón (north-western Spain) was found to be related to a number of environmental variables. Distribution and abundance of trophic groups have been studied, to provide essential baseline information for monitoring the area, after its designation as a Natura 2000 Special Conservation Zone. Analyses of trophic data showed a numerical predominance of the herbivores in the inner part of the inlet, while sites at the oceanic-influenced area were numerically dominated by surface-deposit feeders. These dominances were mainly due to Hydrobia ulvae in the intertidal area and to polychaetes at the subtidal one. Both univariate and multivariate statistical analyses showed that the sediment composition (organic matter and silt–clay contents) and temperature of the bottom water influenced the benthic macrofauna and were correlated with their trophic composition, abundance and distribution.

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.

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.