The oceans have shown a recent rapid and accelerating rise in temperature with, given the close link between temperature and marine organisms, pronounced effects on ecosystems. Here we describe for the first time a globally synchronous pattern of pulsed short period (~1 year long) emanations of warm sea surface temperature anomalies from tropical seas towards the poles on the shelf/slope with an intensification of the warming after the 1976/1977, 1986/1987 and 1997/1998 El Niños. On the eastern margins of continents the anomalies propagate towards the poles in part by largely baroclinic boundary currents, reinforced by regional atmospheric warming. The processes contributing to the less continuous warm anomalies on western margins are linked to the transfer of warmth from adjacent western boundary currents. These climate induced events show a close parallelism with the timing of ecosystem changes in shelf seas, important for fisheries and ecosystem services, and melting of sea-ice.

Abundance and structure of phytoplankton and zooplankton, along with their relationship to hydrographic conditions were determined in the highly stratified estuary of the karstic Ombla River, south-eastern Adriatic. Sampling was carried out during 17 cruises within a one year period. River discharge lowered surface salinity and enriched the estuary with NO3 and SiO4. Nutrient ratios suggested that PO4 was the most likely limiting nutrient for phytoplankton growth in the estuary. Diatoms were present in low numbers and dominated the winter–early spring period. Dinoflagellates dominated from the end of May to August. Phytoplankton and zooplankton were composed mostly of marine species and their abundance decreased in seaward direction. Planktonic populations are controlled by the river runoff, temperature, salinity, nutrient concentrations and grazing. The results were consistent with the hypothesis that no algal blooms have been recorded due to short renewal time.

The sea surface temperature (SST) variability of the Bay of Biscay and adjacent regions (1854–2010) has been examined in relation to the evolution of the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO), a major climate mode. The AMO index explains ~25% of the interannual variability of the annual SST during the last 150 years, while different indices of the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) explain ≤1% of the long-term record. NAO is a high frequency climate mode while AMO can modulate low frequency changes. Sixty per cent of the AMO variability is contained in periods longer than a decade. The basin-scale influence of NAO on SST over specific years (1995 to 1998) is presented and the SST anomalies explained. The period analysed represents an abrupt change in NAO and the North Atlantic circulation state as shown with altimetry and SST data. Additional atmospheric climate data over a shorter ~60 year period (1950–2008) show the influence on the Bay of Biscay SST of the East Atlantic (EA) pattern and the Scandinavia (SCA) pattern. These atmospheric teleconnections explain respectively ~25% and ~20% of the SST variability. The winter SST in the shelf-break/slope or poleward current region is analysed in relation to AMO. The poleward current shows a trend towards increasing SSTs during the last three decades as a result of the combined positive phase of AMO and global warming. The seasonality of this winter warm flow in the Iberian region is related to the autumn/winter seasonality of south-westerly (SW) winds. The SW winds are strengthened along the European shelf-break by the development of low pressure conditions in the region to the north of the Azores and therefore a negative NAO. AMO overall modulates multidecadal changes (~60% of the AMO variance). The long-term time-series of SST and SST anomalies in the Bay of Biscay show AMO-like cycles with maxima near 1870 and 1950 and minima near 1900 and 1980 indicating a period of 60–80 years during the last century and a half. Similar AMO-like variability is found in the Russell cycle of the Western English Channel (1924–1972). AMO relates at least to four mesozooplankton components of the Russell cycle: the abundance of the chaetognaths Parasagitta elegans and Parasagitta setosa (AMO −), the amount of the species Calanus helgolandicus (AMO −), the amount of the larvae of decapod crustaceans (AMO −) and the number of pilchard eggs (Sardine pilchardus; AMO +). In addition to AMO, the decadal to multidecadal (D2M) variability in the number of sunspots is analysed for the last 300 years. Several periodicities and a multi-secular linear increase are presented. There are secular minima near 1710, 1810, 1910 and 2010. The long term variability (>11 years) of the solar sunspot activity explains ~50% of the variance of the SST of the Bay of Biscay with periods longer than 11 years. AMO is finally compared with the Pacific Decadal Oscillation, the leading principal component of North Pacific SST anomalies.

Three new species of Strongylacidon from north-east Brazil are described: Strongylacidon oxychaetum sp. nov. and Strongylacidon solangeae sp. nov. from Bahia State, and Strongylacidon chelospinata sp. nov. from Fernando de Noronha Archipelago, Pernambuco State. Strongylacidon oxychaetum sp. nov. has thinly encrusting shape with lobate projections, strongyles, oxychaetes and arcuate chelae; S. solangeae sp. nov. is characterized by having massive shape with hispid surface, strongyles and unguiferate chelae; and S. chelospinata sp. nov. present thinly encrusting shape, strongyles, and arcuate isochelae with large spines on the outer edge of the axis. An identification key for the nine valid species of Strongylacidon from the Tropical Western Atlantic is provided. New morphological characters, viz., oxychaetes and spined arcuate isochelae (here termed acanthochelae), are added to the definition of the genus Strongylacidon and of the family Chondropsidae.

This paper describes the species composition, vertical distribution, and the seasonal changes in the biomass of subtidal macrophytes in Sobol Bay (Peter the Great Bay, Sea of Japan). The samples were collected in the depth-range from 0.5 to 4 m. A total of 65 macrophyte species were identified, among which were 10 species of Chlorophyta, 17 of Phaeophyceae, 37 of Rhodophyta and 1 of Magnoliophyta. Multivariate analyses were performed to detect spatial and temporal variations. Maximum species richness was registered in June, with a particularly dramatic biomass increase of brown algae. Both the number of species and the biomass of macrophytes decreased with increasing depth. Depth clearly affected the patterns of seasonal fluctuations of the species composition and biomass. In the study area, the species composition of the shallow-water algal assemblages was more stable throughout the year compared to that of the algal assemblages found in deeper waters. In total, four macrophyte assemblages were identified in the bay. A Phyllospadix iwatensis and Coccophora langsdorfii dominated assemblage occupied muddy-gravel bottoms in depths from 0.5 to 2 m throughout the year. An assemblage, co-dominated by annual brown algae Desmarestia viridis and Costaria costata, occurred at depths more than 3 m at late spring. Two other assemblages occurred on the rock and boulder bottom at 0.5–2 m depths, but they were temporally separated. An assemblage co-dominated by annual laminarian algae (Undaria pinnatifida and Costaria costata) developed at late spring and was succeeded in the autumn and winter by a Tichocarpus crinitus, Ulva lactuca, Sargassum pallidum and Codium fragile co-dominated assemblage. A comparison between the data obtained in the present study and the results of a previous study conducted in 1927 shows that the macrophytes assemblages in Sobol Bay underwent little change.

Abundance and production of the pelagic heterotrophic bacteria community were studied at northern Chile during winter and summer periods of 2006–2007 in relation to seasonal changes in physical and chemical variables, including the influence of a weak El Niño event. Bacterial abundance was estimated by flow cytometry and secondary bacterial production by protein synthesis after bacterial uptake of 14C-isoleucine. Bacterial biomass showed high values in the range of 2.84 at 96.6 µ g C l−1d−1 with a bacterial growth efficiency (BGE) of 37.4% in the summer of 2007, and 2.7% in the winter of 2006. High amounts of C (~1.2 to 1.8 g C m−2 d−1) were used for bacterial respiration in the upper 20 m. Environmental impact on bacterial abundance and BGE was reflected in a positive correlation with phytoplankton biomass (r2 > 0.40 P < 0.05), and a lack of correlation with temperature (P > 0.05). Seasonal differences in abundance and BGE were mainly attributed to an ‘abnormally’ warm winter of 2006, which caused a greater stratification of the water column—a weaker and much deeper oxycline. The oxycline is normally shallower (<20 m) in the zone because of the ascent of the oxygen minimum zone (OMZ) upon upwelling. Winter 2006 conditions indicated presence of a weak El Niño event. Bacteria abundance increased during this warming event, but their metabolic activity was drastically reduced, resulting in a very low BGE. Our study suggests that changes from a prevailing sub-oxic to a highly oxygenated water column could have impacted the bacterial community, thus reducing its productive capacity. Therefore, variation in vertical distribution of the OMZ forced by upwelling variability and the El Niño impact might play an important role in the dynamics of the microbial component in this highly productive upwelling system.

The evolution of symbiotic relationships involving reef corals has had much impact on tropical marine biodiversity. Because of their endosymbiotic algae (zooxanthellae) corals can grow fast in tropical shallow seas where they form reefs that supply food, substrate and shelter for other organisms. Many coral symbionts are host-specific, depending on particular coral species for their existence. Some of these animals have become popular objects for underwater photographers and aquarists, whereas others are hardly noticed or considered pests. Loss of a single coral host species also leads to the disappearance of some of its associated fauna. In the present study we show which mushroom corals (Scleractinia: Fungiidae) are known to act as hosts for other organisms, such as acoel flatworms, copepods, barnacles, gall crabs, pontoniine shrimps, mytilid bivalves, epitoniid snails, coralliophilid snails, fish and certain types of zooxanthellae. Several of these associated organisms appear to be host-specific whereas other species are generalists and not even necessarily restricted to fungiid hosts. Heliofungia actiniformis is one of the most hospitable coral species known with a recorded associated fauna consisting of at least 23 species. The availability of a phylogeny reconstruction of the Fungiidae enables comparisons of closely related species of mushroom corals regarding their associated fauna. Application of a phylogenetic ecological analysis indicates that the presence or absence of associated organisms is evolutionarily derived or habitat-induced. Some associations appear to be restricted to certain evolutionary lineages within the Fungiidae, whereas the absence of associated species may be determined by ecomorphological traits of the host corals, such as coral dimensions (coral diameter and thickness) and polyp shape (tentacle size).

This study focuses on spatial and temporal distribution and species composition of phytoplankton in the south-western Caspian Sea between July 2009 and March 2010. Samples were collected from 11 stations along three transects: Lisar, Anzali and Sefidrood. Among 44 identified phytoplankton species, diatoms (70.2%) and cyanophytes (25.0%) were dominant. The average phytoplankton abundance was calculated as 1.085E + 05 cells l−1. Among the phytoplankton groups, diatom density was higher (70.2%) than two out of three of total abundance in density of 1.085E + 05 cells l−1. Cyanophytes were the second important group (25.0%) contributing to total phytoplankton. Dinoflagellates, chlorophytes and euglenoids were other contributors to total phytoplankton. Diatoms Dactyliosolen fragilissimus and Skeletonema costatum and cyanophyte Oscillatoria sp. numerically dominated in the system. There were major changes in phytoplankton composition and average phytoplankton density was higher than those documented in 1996–1997 and 2005. The average concentrations of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN), dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP) and dissolved inorganic silicate were 14.5 ± 6.32, 1.14 ± 0.44 and 5.10 ± 3.98 μM, respectively, and these concentrations were strikingly high. Increases in DIN and DIP concentrations were more than twofold compared to recorded values during the last 2 decades due to the eutrophication. Fluctuations in nutrients played an important role in the variation of phytoplankton composition and abundance. Chlorophyll-a concentrations varied between 3.22 and 16.1 μg l−1 and there was a significant increase in chlorophyll-a (8.13 ± 5.72 μg l−1) compared to the values in 1996–1997 (1.44 ± 1.48 μg l−1), 2001 (2.62 ± 1.48 μg l−1) and 2005 (2.14 ±1.94 μg l−1).

The hypothesis tested in this study is that changes in benthic ecosystem components interrelationships may mirror the degree of environmental stress in the Mediterranean coastal lagoons. Multivariate matrices deriving from four benthic components (macrophytes, zoobenthos, epibenthic decapods and demersal fish) from four lagoonal stations along a well-defined disturbance gradient were compared by means of second-stage non-metric multidimensional scaling (MDS). The resulting inter-matrix distances were used as a proxy for the identification of the degree of disturbance. The approach followed is novel in that it uses information from higher levels of the biological organization by taking into account more than a single benthic component, thus representing broad categories of functional groups. The second-stage MDS plots depict differences between inter-component distances in the sampling stations according to the degree of disturbance they experience and the BIOENV analysis demonstrates that certain components are correlated with the environmental variables at a higher degree in the most disturbed stations.

Four distinct Franciscana Management Areas (FMAs) have been proposed based on several lines of evidence including genotype, phenotype, population response and distribution. To determine if differences in external morphology fit this division, a canonical variate analysis was carried out for males and/or females from FMAs I to IV using up to 14 characters. A total of 78 adult specimens were analysed. More than 90% of the differences between groups were summarized by three canonical variates. Females were larger than males in all areas. Females from FMA IV were of intermediate length between those from FMA I and FMA III and individuals from FMA II were smaller than those from all other areas. Position of dorsal fin and morphology of the anterior body region, differentiate individuals from FMA I and FMA III. Morphological differences found in this study give additional support for the proposed FMAs. Since habitat characteristics and franciscana feeding ecology vary regionally, it is possible that observed morphological differences are due to ecological divergence for niche occupation. The indication of a discontinuous distribution, consistency between genetic and morphological evidence, and a short time genetic divergence, might indicate that franciscanas inhabiting FMA I represent a distinct subspecies.

The pink shrimp (Farfantepenaeus paulensis) is a very important fishery resource in southern/south Brazil. A great part of the total capture at these regions results from the artisanal fishery activity in Patos Lagoon estuary. The study of this species has importance because it is the main source of income for the communities of artisanal fisheries. This paper relates the climatic effects and the size of the species' adult stock with the harvest of pink shrimp in the estuary, in order to determine the influence of these variables on annual landings (t).

We describe the phytoplankton community and biomass during a summer coccolithophorid bloom sampled over the Patagonian shelf (48.5°S–50.5°S). Those phytoplankton species can contribute to the flux of calcium carbonate out of surface waters. Results from both microscope and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis are shown to complement information on the phytoplankton community. From CHEMTAX analysis of HPLC data, the most important organisms and groups identified were the coccolithophorid Emiliania huxleyi, the haptophyte Phaeocystis antarctica, dinoflagellates, diatoms, cryptophytes, prasinophytes and cyanobacteria. Phytoplankton microscope counts were converted into phytoplankton group-specific biovolume estimates. Although some microscope-identified taxa could not be determined by CHEMTAX, e.g. the autotrophic ciliate Myrionecta rubra, cluster analyses from both techniques showed similar results for the main groups. Both Emiliania huxleyi cell concentration and biomass, and the pigment 19′-hexanoyloxyfucoxanthin were the most important biological features during the sampling period. At surface, nitrate was moderately high (0.2–4.2 µM) in coccolithophorid-dominated samples, whereas phosphate (<0.33 µM) and silicate (<1.35 µM) concentrations were low. Among the environmental factors low Si:N ratios were mainly associated with the dominance of E. huxleyi. Competition and probably differential grazing could also promote a coccolithophorid outgrowth over other photoautotrophs during the summer season in the Patagonian shelf.

The present study aimed at evaluating the influence of different gradients of disturbance on the structure of soft-bottom macroinvertebrate assemblages. The following hypotheses were tested: (i) the structure of benthic assemblages does not differ along a gradient of distance from a point-source of pollution; and (ii) this pattern was not influenced by the level of anthropogenic pressure that characterized the area. A combination of multivariate and univariate techniques was used to detect differences in the structure of assemblages among three areas characterized by different environmental conditions, among three distances from point sources of pollution within each area and in two different periods within one year. Differences among conditions in the structure of macroinvertebrate assemblages were evident independently from temporal changes. However, patterns of variability along gradients of disturbance were influenced by the environmental conditions of the studied areas. The total richness was similar in the three studied areas, while beta diversity showed patterns related to both area and distance from point sources of pollution. The results also underlined the suitability of multivariate analysis of the whole community to detect environmental changes.

A new Brazilian endemic Monanchora is described, M. brasiliensis sp. nov. It is clearly distinct from any other species in the genus by the monodentate shape of its anchorate isochelae, and its smooth, centrotylote and strongyloid microrhabds. Monodentate anchorate isochelae are relatively common, normally abundant, and represent the main diagnostic character for recognizing the new species, but microrhabds are usually rare and may be even absent. Monanchora brasiliensis sp. nov. can be further differentiated from other Atlantic species of the genus in eventually showing tetralobate branches and a skeleton formed by well-defined honey-coloured spongin fibres. The affinities of the new species with other crambeids and the nature of anchorate isochelae, microrhabds as well as the megascleres in defining Monanchora are discussed. An amended diagnosis for the genus is proposed.

Two nematode species living in association with chemoautotrophic prokaryotes were found in two deep-sea canyon/channel systems, the Whittard Canyon and Gollum Channels, north-east Atlantic. Parabostrichus bathyalis gen. nov. sp. nov. (Desmodorida: Desmodoridae: Stilbonematinae) relates to Eubostrichus Greeff 1869 but differs in having well-developed paired dorso-caudal apophyses of the gubernaculum, small pre- and postcloacal latero-ventral papillae with short apical setae, elongate tail with slender posterior portion, and the absence of thorn-like setae (porids) in males. Body of P. bathyalis is loosely covered with elongate cells of prokaryote ectosymbionts. Astomonema southwardorum Austen et al. 1993, originally found at a methane seep pockmark in the North Sea, constitutes a significant portion of nematode communities in certain areas of the deep-sea canyon/channel systems. Taxonomic difficulties within Astomonematinae are discussed in light of the character state of paired male gonads discovered in A. southwardorum. Canyon populations of A. southwardorum are characterized by frequent loss of part of the hind body and wound healing posterior to the vulva in females. Both species tend to occur in deeper subsurface layers of the bottom sediment. Abundance of the nematode species associated with aggregations of ectosymbiotic (Parabostrichus) and endosymbiotic (Astomonema) chemoautotrophic bacteria may indicate reduced conditions at sites in these deep-sea canyons/channels and suggests a potentially substantial ecological role for chemolitotrophic fauna there.

The response of a deep-water megafaunal assemblage to sedimentation disturbance from hydrocarbon drilling was investigated using remotely operated vehicle video off the Atlantic coast of Venezuela. This was the first assessment of megafauna in bathyal waters in this region. A two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) design was used to assess patterns in density and assemblage structure both temporally, before and after the drilling event, and spatially, at different distances from the disturbance. High levels of sedimentation occurred within a radius of 20 to 50 m from the drilling site. Megafaunal densities were reduced with high levels of disturbance (from 0.60 m−2 to 0.17 m−2 <20 m from the drilling site). The responses of motile and sessile fauna were different. Sessile fauna were most common (77% total) and reflected trends for total density. Motile megafaunal density was generally higher after drilling (up to double the pre-drill density). Species richness was reduced by disturbance and proximity to the disturbance. Multivariate ANOVA revealed significant differences in assemblage composition with distance and before and after drilling but no interaction. This was most likely a result of variable species-specific responses to disturbance. Megafaunal densities were generally much higher than reported densities from comparable depths in the Gulf of Mexico or from deeper locations in the Caribbean Sea. The responses to sedimentation disturbance were generally less obvious than observed elsewhere and may result from the fauna being adapted to the naturally high levels of sedimentation deriving from the Orinoco River.

Parasitism is increasingly recognized as an important determinant of population dynamics, productivity and community structure in intertidal ecosystems, and yet there is very little known about the effect of parasites on polychaetes, which represent a major component of the benthic fauna. We surveyed 11 polychaete species from a mudflat in Otago Harbour, New Zealand, and found that seven of these were infected by five parasite species: four trematodes and one apicomplexan gregarine. The gregarine found in Spirobranchus cariniferus and a strigeid trematode using Streblosoma toddae as its first intermediate host are both likely to have negative fitness impacts on their hosts. Other trematodes found were at the metacercarial stage and thus use polychaetes as second intermediate hosts. The most common, an opecoelid, infected the polychaetes Heteromastus filiformis and Abarenicola affinis at relatively high abundance. There was no indication of parasite-induced mortality in these two hosts based on the relationship between host size and infection intensity. However, a comparison of intact H. filiformis individuals with those that fragmented during collection revealed a significantly higher number of opecoelid metacercariae per segment in the fragments than in the complete individuals, suggesting that infection may compromise the structural integrity of the polychaetes. These results suggest that there exists a great diversity of both trematodes and host–trematode associations within the polychaete fauna, whose ecological impact remains to be quantified.

The composition and structure of a molluscan assemblage inhabiting an outcrop with a coralligenous community was studied in southern Spain. A total of 117 molluscan species were identified, with gastropods as the dominant group. Calyptraea chinensis was the dominant species and the family Conidae presented the highest number of species. The Shannon–Wiener diversity index and the Evenness showed non-significant changes between cold and warm months, displaying high values (~4 bits and ~0.8 bits respectively). Some of the dominant and/or frequent species are strictly associated with coralligenous-building organisms, such as Neosimnia spelta with gorgonians. Regarding trophic guilds, carnivores are the dominant group, followed by filter feeders due to the high abundance of C. chinensis. Regarding biogeographical distributions, most of these species (<95%) are widely distributed in European waters, the number of strictly Mediterranean species being very low. The Alboran Sea represents the distributional limit towards the Mediterranean for some species found in this bottom, such as the Atlantic Bela powisiana. Rocky–coralligenous bottoms are scarce in the western Alboran Sea but support a high species richness molluscan assemblage, displaying higher diversity values than the surrounding soft bottoms and increasing the biodiversity at local scale. This high biodiversity is partly explained by the coexistence of different taxa with contrasting biogeographical affinities promoted by the geographical location of the area. Due to this, conservation efforts should be required to protect this stretch of coastline where one of the most biodiverse invertebrate assemblages along the European coasts can be found.