Nomograms are presented for solving the equations relating the concentrations of chlorophylls a, b and c to sample volume and the extinctions of acetone extracts at three wave-lengths.

Studies of the distribution of china clay waste and its effects on the bottom communities off the south coast of Cornwall, initiated by Portmann (1970) and Howell & Shelton (1970), have been supplemented by further surveys, the results of which will appear in future papers by Shelton & Rolfe (in preparation) and Probert (in preparation). This paper describes two polychaete species which have been discovered in this area, namely the hesionid Gyptis capensis (Day) and the ampharetid Sosane sulcata Malmgren. From the zoogeographical viewpoint, the records of both species are of great interest: hitherto, G. capensis was known only from southern Africa and the tropical West Pacific region, and S. sulcata from Scandinavia, West Scotland and the Mediterranean.

In the present study 23 species of paraonids from western Mexico collected from the intertidal zone to the continental shelf of Baja California Sur, Guaymas, Sonora, and Petacalco, Guerrero are reported. Eight of these species are first recorded from the Mexican coast: Aricidea (Acmira) assimilis, Aricidea (Acmira) catherinae, Aricidea (Allia) ramosa, Aricidea (Aricidea) longicirrata, Aricidea (Aricidea) minima, and Levinseniaoligobranchiata; Aricidea (Aricidea) minuta and Cirrophorusarmatus are cited for first time from the Pacific. Two new species are described. Aricidea (Aricidea) petacalcoensis sp. nov. has bifurcate antenna on prostomium without nuchal grooves, tapering branchiae in chaetigers 4–13, modified neuropodial chaetae from chaetiger 21. Cirrophorus magdalenaensis sp. nov. has prostomium without antennae, eyes or nuchal grooves, banchiae from chaetiger 5, having ten pairs, notopodial modified chaetae bayonet-shaped.

An investigation on inheritance in hybrids between the three English species of Echinus was carried out in the Marine Biological Laboratory, Plymouth, during 1909–1912 by C. Shearer, W. de Morgan, and H. M. Fuchs. In a paper published in the Phil. Trans. Royal Soo., Ser. B, Vol. CCIV., p. 255, the results of this work were described in detail. At the time of publication, E. miliaris had been raised from the egg to maturity in the laboratory, in the course of one year, and a second generation had been obtained from these individuals, but none of the hybrid urchins had as yet reached maturity. This year, however, some of the hybrids have become sexually mature, and from them a second hybrid generation has been raised.

The urchins which have formed ripe genital products are four individuals of the cross E. esculentus X E. acutus (referred to below as EA) derived from fertilizations made in 1912. The largest of these urchins now measures 6 cm. in diameter, exclusive of the spines. On May 11th, 1914, two of these hybrids laid eggs in the tank in which they were kept. Naturally these eggs could not be used for experimental purposes, since they were deposited in the sea water of the aquarium circulation, and therefore not under sterile conditions. On June 6th I induced three of the four to deposit genital products without cutting them open, under conditions which excluded the possible presence of foreign eggs or spermatozoa. It is hardly necessary to mention here that, as in all the previous work on Echinus hybrids, the fact of the complete absence of such sperm was made certain by controls of unfertilized eggs, none of which segmented.

Ergenstrema mugilis Paperna, 1964, the only member of the genus, has been collected in the Mediterranean from the gill rakers of the thin-lipped grey mullet Liza ramada (Risso, 1810) by Paperna (1964) and Lambert & Sanfilippo (1977); this parasite, under the name of ‘Dactylogyridea sp.’, was collected also from the same microhabitat of the same host from the coast of Albania by Ergens (1960). At Plymouth, parasites clearly belonging to the genus Ergenstrema have been collected from both the gill rakers and lamellae of a different host, the thick-lipped grey mullet Chelon labrosus (Risso, 1826).

Durant mon séjour au Laboratoire de Biologie maritime de Plymouth, j'ai eu l'occasion d'examiner un lot très important de Pycnogonum littorale, Ström, qui se trouvait dans les collections de l'établissement depuis le 8 juillet 1908. Ce lot ne comprenait pas moins de 3268 individus. Il avait été recueilli au Barbican Pool, vieux port de Plymouth, dans les filets de pêcheurs qui avaient fait leur capture, disaient-ils, à 200 milles O.N.O. des Iles Scilly. Les exemplaires étaient beaucoup plus nombreux, mais le Laboratoire n'avait pas cru devoir en conserver davantage.

The distribution of 18 common epizoic species between clumps of Nemertesia antennina is examined with reference to their dispersal behaviour and, for selected epizoites, to the occurrence of other epizoic species. Dispersal of the tubicolous amphipods Ericthonius brasiliensis, Jassa falcata and Corophium sextoni and the caprellids Pseudoprotella phasma and Caprella linearis by a proportion of the adult animals, and by some animals after mating, was suggested. This behaviour may establish and perpetuate aggregations of these amphipods since brood-mates, and some of their descendants, remain on their natal hydroid clump. Five of the nine species considered that disperse as planktonic larvae have aggregated dispersions and for two of these species, Rissoa parva and Cingula semistriata, gregariousness of their larvae at settlement was considered an important influence on their distribution. Comparisons between the distributions of selected epizoic species suggest that in only a few cases, notably where branching bryozoans may give protection to potential prey species, is the distribution of one species influenced by the occurrence of another.

A new species of Boholina, B. ganghwaensis sp. nov. is described, based on specimens collected from burrows of the manicure crab, Cleistostoma dilatatum, in the tidal flat of Ganghwa Island in western Korea. The new species is closely similar to B. purgata and B. parapurgata by having a pointed process on the posterior angles of the second and third pedigerous somites and a similar rostrum in the female, but can be distinguished from its congeners by the following characters: in females by the genital double-somite with small hook-like process on each gonoporal plate, the setation of the distal endopodal segment of mandible, the basis and first endopodal segment of the maxillule incompletely separated, the inner distal spine/outer terminal spine length ratio on P5; and in males by the distal spine present on the posterior surface of the basis of both P5 and the length/width ratio of the endopod of the right P5. This is the first Bololina species recorded from the north-west Pacific.

The reproductive biology and diet of the longtail butterfly ray Gymnura poecilura is described based on 630 specimens (N = 377 females and 253 males). The mean disc width (WD) of females and males was 576.7 mm (range = 190–920 mm) and 416.3 mm (230–550 mm), respectively. Sexual dimorphism in size was seen, with the maximum size of males being only 60% of the maximum female size. The disc widths at 50% maturity (WD50) were estimated to be 506.5 mm (females) and 435.9 mm (males). The mean uterine fecundity was 3.3 (range = 1–8). The size at birth was between 190 and 220 mm WD. Year-round reproduction was indicated, due to the presence of mature males and gravid females throughout the year, neonates in multiple months and large variations in embryo size within months. Feeding intensity increased with body size. Fish accounted for 80.9% of the diet (Index of Relative Importance, IRI), followed by crustaceans (18.9%) and molluscs. The species was found to be a specialized feeder.

In this research age composition, sex-ratio, growth, survival, mortality and exploitation rates were determined in the south-eastern Black Sea region of Turkey during the 2010–2011 fishing season. Anchovy in the age group 2 was the most abundant (64.06%), followed by age groups 1 (33.12%), 3 (1.80%) and 0 (1.02%). Mean length and weight of the total sample, males and females, were 11.63 ± 0.02 cm, 9.98 ± 0.04 g; 11.39 ± 0.03 cm, 9.40 ± 0.07 g; and 11.98 ± 0.02 cm, 10.73 ± 0.05 g, respectively. The mean condition factor was CF = 0.63 and the sex composition was 61.27% female, 34.40% male and 4.33% unidentified. Equations describing the relationship between length and weight, age and length, and age and weight were derived as W = 0.011 × L2.742, L(t) = 16.368*(1–e−0.425*(t +1.35)) and W(t) = 23.516*(1 –e–0.425*(t+1.35))2,747, respectively. The survival (S), instantaneous total mortality (Z), annual mortality (A), natural mortality (M) and fishing mortality (F) rates were found to be S = 5.8%, Z = 2.84 yr–1,, A = 94.2%, M = 0.66 yr−1, and F = 2.18 yr–1, respectively. The exploitation rate was calculated as 0.77, which is higher than the optimum exploitation level.

Multiple tagging devices have been developed for long-term studies and estimating demographic parameters in sea urchins. In this study, we evaluated the use of passive integrated transponders (PIT-tag), and two types of nylon tags (T-bar and S-tag) in the sea urchin Diadema antillarum by measuring retention rate and apparent survival. The PIT-tags exhibited the highest retention, followed by T-bars, and lastly the S-tags. Differences in recapture were detected among the three types of tags (H = 6.99, P = 0.030). An a posteriori pairwise comparison test found significant differences between PIT-tags and each of the other two types (P < 0.05), whereas T-bar and S-tag did not exhibit significant differences between them (P > 0.05). The semi-captivity experiment exhibited similar results to the field experiment in terms of retention. This experiment also found higher mortality with T-bars. Differences between previous studies conducted under controlled conditions and experiments carried out in the field reflect high variability and the necessity of testing tagging procedures under both settings. The S-tag induced high spine autotomy and low retention; whereas the T-bar demonstrated low retention and low survival. Although the retention rate of PIT-tags was significantly higher than the other two, retention rates were still too low for practical utility in long-term field experiments. In conclusion, the present study does not support the use of any of these tags for long-term studies in D. antillarum.

In 1913 a successful attempt was made to introduce the European Turbot to New Zealand waters. On 12 January of that year 298 young fish, caught in the neighbourhood of Plymouth, and kept for some time at the Marine Biological Station, were put aboard the Waimana. Of these fish 195 were safely transported across the tropics, and were put into the tanks at the Portobello Marine Hatchery. The operation was a very successful one, thanks to the care of the late T. Anderton, who was then Curator of the hatchery.

The turbot were originally from one to two inches in length. It was intended to liberate most of them in the sea, but, on consideration, it was decided to keep them in captivity. Three years later (May, 1916) there were still 182 fish, 5 having died and 8 having been liberated in the sea. They grew very rapidly in the tanks, so much so that in May of 1916 many were about 18 inches in length. To keep these large fish healthy was difficult, and so, in 1916, 128 of them were liberated in Taukutu Bay.

Sagartiogeton laceratus Carlgren. was observed in 1979 in large numbers (11–20 m) in shallow water (5 m below chart datum Sullom Voe) at Whaal Firth, Yell, Shetland, at a site named Stany Pund. It was recorded at a nearby site, Poita, at a lower density (1–2 m) in deeper water (6–8 m below CD.), and was also recorded as ‘common’ at the shallow head of the firth.

Very large numbers of Aurelia aurita (L.) were observed within the sheltered, shallow arm of the firth, within the upper few metres of water.

Each year since 1979 the same occurrence has been noted, and in the summer of 1980 the predation of Sagartiogeton upon Aurelia was observed and photographed on several occasions. These observations were repeated in 1982.

Sagartiogeton laceratus is found attached to shell fragments in silt, the column inclined towards the current. During ingestion the tentacles shorten, and the mouth, disc, and column, distend many times their normal dimensions. (Estimated to be 400% for the column, disc.)

It seems likely that the occurrence of both species in sufficiently large numbers to make predation noteworthy is due to the position and depth of Whaal Firth. It forms a north facing ‘trap’ on the eastern side of Yell sound through which ebb and flood tides move rapidly. The total length of Whaal Firth is approximately 7 km of which 4 km are relatively exposed, and 3 km sheltered.

Laboratory experiments were carried out upon Elphidium crispum to determine the mechanism by which this species remains epifaunal, by investigating geotaxism, phototaxism, temporal influence and responses through ontogeny. Different size-classes of specimens were tested for phototaxism and geotaxism, over four and five months respectively. Specimens of the smallest size-class tested (250–355 μm) were significantly phototaxic and geotaxic. Significant positive phototaxism was demonstrated in all tests except one, with specimens in the size-class 500–1000 μm giving particularly significant results for the months of June and July 1994. Specimens were significantly geotactic for three of thirteen tests: both negative and positive geotaxism were demonstrated.

Despite the increasing number of reports on the deep-sea molluscs from the south-western Atlantic, we know very little about the protobranchs. The lack of information on the protobranch Pelecypoda off southern Brazil is reflected in the genus Yoldiella. This contribution is part of an effort to increase the knowledge about this group off the Brazilian coast. Eight species of Yoldiella are recognized here. For Yoldiella biguttata, previously reported from Brazil, the known distribution is extended southwards to the Campos Basin. For Yoldiella similis this is the first record in the western Atlantic Ocean. For Yoldiella extensa and Yoldiella aff. jeffreysi this is the first record for Brazil. Four previously unknown species are described, Yoldiella lapernoi sp. nov., Yoldiella paranapuaensis sp. nov., Yoldiella arariboia sp. nov. and Yoldiella curupira sp. nov. Considering only conchological features for the Atlantic species we could propose some clusters of species of Yoldiella.

Taxonomic diversity and temporal patterns in abundance of periphytic ciliate communities across taxonomic levels were studied to monitor water quality in Korean coastal waters during April 2007. Specifically we compared two methods based on an artificial substrate (glass slide): the polyurethane foam enveloped slide (PFES) and the conventional slide (CS) systems. The results demonstrated that: (1) the colonization patterns of the ciliate communities at all taxonomic levels showed a lower variability in the PFES system than those of the CS system; (2) The taxonomic diversity (Δ) and taxonomic distinctness (Δ*) were significantly higher in the PFES system than those in the CS system; and (3) all four taxonomic diversity/distinctness indices represented lower variability in the PFES system than those of the CS samples. These findings suggest that the PFES system is more effective than the CS system for measuring the colonization patterns and taxonomic distinctness parameters that are increasingly used as potential indicators of water quality. This conclusion supports our previous suggestion that the PFES system is a better tool than the CS system for monitoring water quality in the marine ecosystem, using periphytic ciliates.

Dirivultid copepods (Siphonostomatoida), one of the most successful meiobenthic organisms found at deep-sea hydrothermal vents, have been the focus of most previous ecological studies among meiofauna in these habitats. The ecology of Harpacticoida, a major benthic copepod group in typical deep-sea floor, however, is not well understood in terms of variations in community structure and controlling factors at venting sites. The spatial heterogeneities in benthic harpacticoid composition and their association with environmental parameters were investigated at hydrothermal vent chimney structures in the calderas of three neighbouring sea knolls (Bayonnaise Knoll, Myojin Knoll and Myojin-sho Caldera) in the western North Pacific. While a previous study had reported the distribution of dirivultids was strongly associated with spatial differences in stable carbon isotopic signatures (δ13C) of organic matter in the detritus on active chimneys in the field, multivariate analyses detected no significant corelation between the parameter and harpacticoid composition in this study. Instead, high associations of the harpacticoid composition with differences in water depth and total organic carbon (TOC) concentration were detected. Ectinosomatidae dominated at vent sites with lower TOC values in the shallowest Bayonnaise Knoll, while they were less prevalent at deeper vent fields in the other knolls, where Miraciidae was the most abundant family. This study indicated the availability of vent chemoautotrophic carbon is not a primary factor controlling the composition of harpacticoids even in the habitats on the hydrothermal vents, but instead by the food amount, regardless of its resources (including marine snow from the sea surface), in the study area.

A new species of the hermit crab genus Pagurus (Crustacea: Anomura: Paguridae) is described from Brazil. This is the first new species described in 30 years, with morphological characteristics of the exilis group.

Since 1921 hydrographic data have been collected by the S.S. Salpa and several merchant vessels, the records being published in the Rapport Atlantique and the Bulletin Hydrographique each year. A description of the conditions in the mouth of the Channel—the varying temperature, salinity, and movements of the water masses—during the years 1925–1928 was published in this Journal, Vol. XVI., pp. 791–820, and included a review of the objects of these investigations and the methods used in working up the collected data. This present publication forms a continuation of this. The same methods of dealing with the data have been used.

The genus Acantholaimus (Chromadoridae: Nematoda) is one of the most species-rich deep-sea nematode genera. The descriptions of two new species and supplemental descriptions of five known species from the Angola Basin (south-east Atlantic Ocean) and a depth of about 5500 m are given. Acantholaimus formosus sp. nov. is characterized by a spindle-shaped body with narrow elongated anterior end, the position of amphideal fovea on the apical tip of the body and by robust rugae and onchia. Acantholaimus skukinae sp. nov. is characterized by its cylindrical body shape; short outer labial, cephalic, cervical, and somatic setae; large amphideal fovea; the position of its amphideal fovea (situated relatively far from the head end); and relatively small onchia. Acantholaimus angustus was previously found in the Peru Basin (central-eastern Pacific) and the Clarion–Clipperton Nodule Province (Equatorial Pacific), about 13,000 km apart from the nearest previous location of finding. The type location of A. verscheldi is the Kenyan coast of the Indian Ocean. New specimens of this species were found about 8000 km apart from the type location. Acantholaimus akvavitus, A. iubilus and A. quintus were previously found in different parts of the Atlantic and the Pacific.