The polychaete Gallardoneris iberica was described in soft-bottom benthic habitats from the Atlantic Iberian Peninsula coasts in 2012. Since then, successive studies have found this species in Spain, Italy and Croatia. The present study is the first to report G. iberica for Greece and Cyprus (42 new records) confirming its wide geographic distribution on southern European coasts. Taxonomic accounts and ecological preferences based on a large survey and review of available literature are being presented. The species was frequently found in habitats characterized by infralittoral muddy sands with variable organic matter and ‘Moderate’ ecological quality status; nevertheless it was also recorded in coarser and finer sediments, circalittoral mixed sediments, phytal substrates and undisturbed sites. Its relative abundance per sample was always lower than 2%. A review of the available ecological and geographic data of the other Gallardoneris species and a worldwide taxonomic key to Gallardoneris species are provided.

The bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus M.) local population off west Istria in the North-eastern Adriatic has received no prior study of abundance and distribution despite the habitat's relevance for the preservation of this key species in the marine ecosystem. The research area comprises part of the NATURA 2000 network which was predominantly established here for these dolphins. Official data regarding the local population's status in the region are currently marked as deficient. Thus, the aim of the present study was to provide the first population data for the area. Boat-based survey work was carried out from April to September 2012–2015 using a mark–recapture photo-identification method. Prior to this period a random data collection was used to study distribution, since 2001, to cover the area of 927 km2 lying between Umag to lighthouse Albanež in the south. 143 bottlenose dolphins were photo-identified to date with the average group size of 9.27 ± 6.53 animals. Several abundance models were used, from which the Markovian robust model proved the best fit and predicted between 47–142 dolphins along the west Istria coast. A few individuals were also identified in Slovenia, indicating a bigger home range along the 98 km length of the studied area. There is an indication of a regular year round presence of dolphins. The west Istria coast constitutes an important feeding and breeding ground. The region should develop a sustainable plan to manage those human activities negatively impacting the dolphins. Therefore the present study is of relevance for the implementation of management directives for their conservation.

Statoliths of Loligo gahi were sampled in the fishery region 45–47°S on the Patagonian shelf during September 1989. Peculiarities of the growth zones in the ground statoliths of adults are described. Maximum age of large maturing and mature females (130–160 mm of mantle length, ML) was estimated to be 325–345 d, that of large mature males (250–290 mm ML) ranged from 360 to 396 d.

The squid Loligo gahi d'Orbigny, 1835, occurs in temperate shelf and upper slope waters of the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of South America and is caught commercially by the international fleet in the southern part of the Patagonian shelf within the Falkland Islands Interim Conservation Zone (FICZ) (Roper et al., 1984; Csirke, 1987). Occasionally, dense shoals of L. gahi appear in the fishery region 45–47°S off the Exclusive Economic Zone of Argentina (EEZA) and have been caught in significant numbers by trawlers at depths of 120–150 m in September-October (Chesheva, 1990). Loligo gahi is a medium sized loliginid; in Falkland waters males attain 350 mm ML, females 210 mm ML (Hatfield, 1991), while in the fishery region 45–47°S maximum size is 260 mm and 160 mm, respectively (Chesheva, 1990). Patterson (1988) revealed two Falkland spawning stocks of L. gahi of unclear status, spring-spawners and autumn-spawners (austral seasons) and pointed out that the life span of squid of each stock lasted ~1 y. Recently Hatfield (1991) used statoliths to elucidate Patterson's (1988) estimations of age and growth of Falkland stocks of L. gahi and confirmed the 1-y duration of L. gahi's life span.

The present study provides a comprehensive survey of the planktonic hydrozoan fauna from the Paranaguá Estuarine System (PES; southern Brazil, 25°S 48°W), a subtropical estuary considered a Natural World Heritage site by UNESCO. Extensive collections were performed throughout the estuary in five sampling campaigns during the summer and winter periods of 2012 and 2013 and summer of 2014, totalling 185 samples. About 49,000 organisms were analysed which together with the few previous records resulted in a total of 36 hydromedusae and three siphonophore species. We highlight the presence of Cnidostoma fallax in high abundance (>19,000 individuals captured; ~40% of all planktonic hydrozoans). The high abundance of this species throughout three consecutive summers suggests a change in the local assemblage structure, since previous reports in the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s had shown Liriope tetraphylla recurrently as the dominant species which now ranks fourth. It is difficult to ascertain the causes of such changes due to the paucity of previous studies on Brazilian estuaries, but one possibility is that C. fallax has been recently introduced. In any case, the high dominance of this hydromedusa was not expected and this scenario would potentially cause changes in the local food web since C. fallax and L. tetraphylla are quite different morphologically and ecologically and thus probably play different trophic roles. Future studies are necessary to check the long-term permanency of C. fallax and to assess its biology and ecology and the impact of this assemblage change on the ecosystem.

In March 1997 one male and one female brown wrasse Labrus merula spawned spontaneously in aquaria conditions. Eggs were incubated at ambient temperature, salinity, oxygen and pH. The development of the eggs, yolk-sac larvae and larvae is described and illustrated with particular emphasis on features of practical value for identification of specimens from plankton. The ripe egg of brown wrasse is a typical labrid egg with a mean diameter of 0.93±0.05 mm. The incubation period was 106 h 45 min at a mean temperature of 14.3°C. Newly hatched yolk-sac larvae were 3.8±0.02 mm, while the yolk-sac was resorbed when larvae reached 4.68±0.15 mm in total length. Some characteristics which may be useful for identification are described and compared with some other labrid yolk-sac larvae and larvae. The length of newly hatched yolk-sac larvae of brown wrasse was significantly larger (t-test, P<0.05) than those of the other labrid species, but it is similar to that of Labrus bergylta. During the first 16 d (after resorption of yolk-sac) brown wrasse larvae does not possess a double crescent of melanophores on top of the head, but has a few melanophores on the anal fin which is very similar to the pigmentation of Symphodus (Crenilabrus) melops larvae, although there is a difference in length between them. Larvae older than 16 d have a double crescent of melanophores on the top of the head with melanophores on the anal fin-fold identical to L. bergylta larvae, but the difference in larvae length also exists.

Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) are known to utilize Massachusetts Bay as a feeding ground in the spring and summer, during the annual migration of the Gulf of Maine sub-population. However, there is a limited understanding of the pattern of humpback whale occurrence in this region outside of the feeding period. Passive acoustic monitoring of Massachusetts Bay over a two-year period, revealed an extended presence of acoustically active humpback whales throughout a majority of the study period (87%; 633 days of presence out of 725 days of acoustic monitoring). Humpback whale presence oscillated between lengthy periods of consistent presence (April to December) and relatively shorter periods of variable presence (December to March). Seasonal variation in presence was evident during three distinct phases: (1) maximum-presence from spring to early winter; (2) variable-presence in early winter and early spring; and (3) minimum-presence mid-winter. The variation in seasonal presence was concurrent with coarse migratory patterns of humpback whales, and yearly variations in presence presumably reflect a shift in the influx and efflux of whales between years. The extended presence of humpbacks in this area suggests that Massachusetts Bay is an important, year-round habitat for the Gulf of Maine sub-population, and may warrant revision of management and regulatory practices to reflect this presence.

An extensive review of cephalopod fauna in the Central and North Atlantic coast of Africa was performed based on material collected during 10 research cruises in these waters. In the Canary Current Large Marine Ecosystem (CCLME) area, a total of 378,377 cephalopod specimens was collected from 1247 bottom trawl stations. Of those specimens, 300 were sampled for subsequent identification in the laboratory and found to belong to 65 different species and 23 families. After an exhaustive review of the existing literature on the cephalopods and new data obtained from the surveys, an updated checklist of 138 species was generated for the CCLME area. Our knowledge of the known geographic distribution ranges of several species has been expanded: Muusoctopus januarii has been sighted from Guinea–Bissau waters, passing through Western Sahara, to Morocco waters for the first time; Lepidoteuthis grimaldii and Octopus salutii have been sighted off Morocco waters for the first time; Austrorossia mastigophora, Abralia (Heterabralia) siedleckyi, Abralia (Pygmabralia) redfieldi and Sepiola atlantica have been cited off Western Sahara waters for the first time; Magnoteuthis magna, Abralia (Asteroteuthis) veranyi and Octopoteuthis megaptera have been sighted off Moroccan and Western Sahara waters for the first time; Ancistroteuthis lichtensteinii, Opisthoteuthis grimaldii, Onykia robsoni, Muusoctopus levis and Bathypolypus valdiviae have been cited in the Guinea–Bissau coast for the first time; the northern geographic limit of Bathypolypus ergasticus has been expanded to Morocco, Western Sahara and Mauritania and southward to Guinea–Bissau waters. The presence of Muusoctopus johnsonianus in Senegalese waters has been reported for the first time. A Chtenopteryx sicula specimen was reported in Western Sahara waters. A specimen belonging to the poorly known Cirrothauma murrayi species was found in South Moroccan waters. Amphitretus pelagicus, a probably cosmopolitan species, has been reported in the Western Sahara and Guinea–Bissau waters. Some species that were previously recorded in the area, Sepia angulata, Sepia hieronis, Heteroteuthis dagamensis, Helicocranchia joubini and Tremoctopus gelatus, were removed from the final checklist and considered to be not present in the CCLME area. Cycloteuthis akimushkini was substituted with Cycloteuthis sirventi, its senior synonym, in the final checklist. Similarly, Mastigoteuthis flammea and Mastigoteuthis grimaldii were substituted with Mastigoteuthis agassizii.

Where two species occupy the same habitat and similar niches, competition is likely to drive small-scale spatial niche separation or resource partitioning that may not be immediately apparent. A stable isotope approach was used to investigate potential trophic niche separation between co-existing rocky shore crabs in the North-West (NW) Arabian Gulf. Leptodius exaratus and Pilumnopeus convexus which occupy similar shore height on the same rocky intertidal habitats. We also investigated conspecific differences between males vs females and adults vs juveniles. δ15N results indicated that adults of both species occupy a high trophic level in the rocky shore community, suggesting similar functional roles and potential for competition for food resources, while significant differences in δ13C values indicated differences in dietary sources between the two species, and also changes in diet between juveniles and adults in both species. MixSIAR analysis of δ15N and δ13C data confirmed field observations that both species are generalist omnivores, with potential for direct competition including adult predation on juveniles, including conspecifics. Differentiation in isotopic niches (SIBER analysis) was mainly driven by the significant differences in δ13C values, suggesting that co-existence of the two crab species is at least in part mediated by trophic niche separation or dietary resource partitioning, with some (unquantified) potential for spatial resource partitioning at the microhabitat level.

Some ecological data concerning the Plymouth species of Leucosolenia are given, together with a discussion of the speciation of the British Leucosolenia.

Oscular tubes of L. variabilis have been photomicrographed at intervals, usually of 1 or more days. It was found that the choanoderm boundary at the proximal end of the oscular rim may advance, remain stationary, or recede in relation to the distal edge of the tube, according to the conditions. It may also move in either direction in relation to the spicules in its vicinity, regardless of how it is moving with respect to the oscular edge. The evidence indicates that the choanoderm is mobile on the inner surface of the tube and that the level of the choanoderm boundary is influenced by the surface area available and by the rate of multiplication of the choanocytes. The former depends upon the degree of contraction or expansion of the tube and the size and number of pores.

The arrangement of the choanocytes can alter within a few minutes. The cells, however, tend to cohere; their outlines near the base are polygonal and there is a thin hyaline layer separating the surfaces of adjacent choanocytes.

The beating of the flagella is uniplanar, the plane being perpendicular to the wall. The frequency of the beat varies from one choanocyte to another, as does also the orientation of the plane of beating. The latter does not alter when a current of water is drawn across the choanoderm. Excision of an oscular tube results in water flowing out at both ends as soon as the cut has been opened.

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 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.

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.

Rough-toothed dolphins (Steno bredanensis) are regularly present in continental shelf areas of the South-western Atlantic. However, there is little information on the natural history and ecology of these delphinids. This study evaluated the occurrence, habitat use and individual movements of the species in coastal waters off Rio de Janeiro, south-eastern Brazil. Data were obtained from boat surveys between August 2011 and May 2018, during which rough-toothed dolphins were sighted in 21 distinct events, predominantly in autumn and winter. The mean group size was 29 individuals. Rough-toothed dolphins were usually recorded 130 to 2300 m from the coast, between 7.6 and 28 m depths. In total, 115 individuals were catalogued through dorsal fin marks and 61 (53%) were resighted between one (47.5%) and four (9.8%) occasions. The interval between resightings ranged from seven to 2087 days (mean = 268). Agglomerative hierarchical clustering indicated 30 individuals (49.2%) in low degree, 12 (19.7%) in medium degree and 19 (31.1%) in high degree of site fidelity. Dolphins showed a higher frequency of low degree of habitat use, despite the presence of multiyear recaptures, which may be related to the prevalence of dolphin occurrence in autumn and winter, a large home range and/or the abundance and distribution of food resources. Dedicated surveys and regional collaboration are needed to evaluate the home range and population status of this species for their effective conservation. Our findings enhanced knowledge of this little studied species facing increasing anthropogenic threats in coastal waters off Rio de Janeiro.

The anatomy and behaviour of the oncomiracidia of Kuhnia scombri, K. sprostonae and Grubea cochlear, related mazocraeid monogeneans from the gill chamber of the mackerel, Scomber scombrus, caught off Plymouth are compared. K. sprostonae and G. cochlear are new records at Plymouth. The most important anatomical difference between these larvae is that those of Kuhnia spp. possess a pair of pigment-shielded eyes which are lacking in G. cochlear. The freshly hatched larvae of Kuhnia spp. are strongly photopositive but this response wanes after about 1 h in K. scombri and 1–5 h in K. sprostonae. No response to light was detected in larvae of G. cochlear. Most older larvae of Kuhnia spp. and of G. cochlear swim continuously upwards and downwards, even in ‘darkness’, indicating an alternation between positive and negative geotropism. The larvae of Kuhnia spp. possess angular cells (?) of unknown function close to the pharynx. The larvae of all three species contain prominent anterior glands and lipid droplets; the latter are depleted during their long free-swimming lives (up to 36 h in Kuhnia spp. at 13–14°C).

Sand was soaked for 90 min in sea water containing the ‘detergent’ BP 1002 in concentrations of 1000 and 100 ppm (= mg/1.) and then thoroughly washed. Larvae crawling on it soon afterwards were damaged, but the toxic effect disappeared after some days.

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.

This paper is the fifth in a series dealing with the fecundity of flatfish (Bagenal, 1957a, b; 1958, i960), and is concerned with the numbers of eggs in, the roes of ripening female plaice Pleuronectes platessa L. caught off the south and west coasts of Ireland during November and December 1958. The fish were obtained from Wexford, Ballycotton, Schull, Dingle, Galway and Killybegs (Fig. 1).

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.

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.

INTRODUCTION

During the last 25 years I have collected opisthobranchs from more than 1200 stations (dredgings, collecting by divers, visits on the tides etc.) all around the Northern Atlantic, and among them close to 200 from the British Isles, viz. during two short visits to Plymouth, two somewhat longer ones to Menai Straits, one to Millport in Scotland, and three to Carna in W. Eire. In all those places, the respective marine stations, leaders and personnel, have been of the utmost help and assistance, and I hereby express my warmest appreciation for the kind way in which I have been received. Without that strong support I should never have been able to accomplish the task of comparing live specimens of opisthobranchs from all around the Northern Atlantic in order to tackle all the taxonomic problems involved. The present paper on the genus Doto is my first separate contribution to a revision of the British nudibranchs. The material obtained is kept in the Zoological Museum of the University of Copenhagen.