The pattern of habitat utilization by Elaphognathia discolor, a gnathiid isopod inhabiting terebellid polychaete tubes, was examined in bimonthly samples taken between June 2003 and April 2004 from Shizugawa Bay, north-eastern Japan. Nine species of terebellid polychaetes were obtained, and gnathiids were found in tubes of four terebellid species. Of the terebellids, Nicolea gracilibranchis was collected in each sample, while the other species were obtained only intermittently. Both larval and adult E. discolor inhabited the tubes of N. gracilibranchis throughout the year, with their prevalence in samples ranging from 57.1 to 80.0%. A large range of larval stages was found within N. gracilibranchis tubes, including the first larval stage and premature females, suggesting that this gnathiid species may use N. gracilibranchis tubes for resting and moulting throughout the larval period. The distribution of adult gnathiids within tubes significantly differed from random. Adult males rarely coexisted with other males in tubes, while several larvae and females often lived together. Groups of female gnathiids in polychaete tubes were usually attended by a single male, resembling the ‘harems’ observed in other gnathiids and suggesting that the mating system of E. discolor can be classified as semelparous harem polygynandry.

A total of 327 yeast strains from seawater, sediments, mud of salterns, guts of the marine fish and marine algae were obtained. After crude protein of the yeasts was estimated by the method of Kjehldahl, we found that eight strains of the marine yeasts grown in the medium with 20 g l−1 glucose contained more than 30.4 g protein per 100 g of cell dry weight. The results of routine identification and molecular methods show that they belong to Metschnikowa reukaui, Cryptococcus aureus, Aureobasidium pullulan, Yarrowia lipolytica and Hanseniaspora uvarum, respectively. With the exception of Aureobasidium pullulans 4#2 with nucleic acid of 7.7% (w/w), all other yeast strains contained less than 5.0% (w/w) of nucleic acid. Analysis of fatty acids shows that all the yeast strains tested had a large amount of C18:0 and C18:1 fatty acids while analysis of amino acids indicates that the yeast strains tested had a large amount of essential amino acids, especially lysine and leucine which are very important nutritive components for marine animals.

A new location for Protohydra leuckarti is reported near Plymouth at Millbrook Lake (Tamar Estuary). To place this finding in context, notes follow on a familiar habitat of this species in the White Sea, and on the general ecology and distribution of Protohydra and its enigmatic phylogeny.

Live specimens of benthic foraminiferal species Rosalina leei were subjected to a combination of temperature (25°C, 30°C and 35°C) and salinity (25‰, 30‰ and 35‰) to assess its differential response to the annual range of seawater temperature and salinity reported at the sampling site. A total of 216 specimens were used for the experiment. Within the range of temperature and salinity, to which R. leei specimens were subjected as part of the present experiment, growth increased with increasing salinity, whereas increase in seawater temperature resulted in retarded growth. Maximum growth was reported in the specimens kept at 25°C temperature and 35‰ salinity while the rest of the specimens maintained in 30‰ and 25‰ saline water, showed comparatively less growth. The specimens kept at 30°C and 35°C temperature and different salinities showed much less growth as compared to the specimens maintained at 25°C temperature. However, none of the R. leei specimens subjected to the present experiment reproduced during the course of the experiment. The absence of reproduction under the present set of temperature and salinity conditions, probably indicates that R. leei reproduces at a very narrow range of temperature and salinity which is different from the temperature and salinity conditions in the present experiment. It is further inferred that under the present set of temperature–salinity conditions, 25°C temperature and 35‰ saline water is most suitable for the growth of R. leei. Results are significant as the responses of benthic foraminifera to different temperatures and salinity are being used for palaeoclimatic reconstruction.

Vestimentiferan tubeworms are significant members of deep-sea chemosynthetically-driven communities, including hydrothermal vents and cold seeps. The reproductive condition in this taxon is rarely studied because of sampling constraints inherent to these environments, and the lack of a simple methodology to quantify gonad development in vestimentiferans.

We demonstrate that the amount of gonad found in the first 10 mm of trunk can be used as representative of the reproductive condition of the individual, and we establish a linear relationship between the amount of gonad and the proportion of wax ester in the trunk of female vestimentiferans. This relationship represents a new method for the determination of the reproductive condition in this group.

Fatty acid profiles of blubber have been shown previously to provide information on stock structure and sex differences. Generally the predominant blubber lipid of marine mammal species is triacylglycerol (fatty acids linked to glycerol) and previous studies have focused on this lipid class. But in some species such as the sperm whales the predominant lipid is wax esters (fatty acids linked to fatty alcohols) although triacylglycerols are also present. In this study the fatty acids and fatty alcohols of these lipid classes were characterized and the fatty acid profiles compared in order to assess their potential to provide qualitative ecological data.

Biopsy samples were obtained from 40 whales found in seas around the Azores achipelago during the period 2002–2003. The samples contained about 10% lipid of which 70% was wax ester and 11% triacylglycerol. The fatty acids of the triacylglycerols and wax esters were respectively approximately 19% and 16% saturated, 74% and 80% monounsaturated and 5% and 3% polyunsaturated with the main contributors being 18:1n-9, 16:1n-7 and 16:0. The alcohols of the wax esters were mainly either saturated or monounsaturated with the main contributors being 18:1n-9 (40%) and 16:0 (22%). No statistically significant differences in profiles were found between different island groups, between sexes or between years of sampling. In future studies there would not appear to be any apparent benefits over total lipid in examining each of the fatty acid classes of sperm whale blubber separately.

In 2002, a jellyfish bloom occurred throughout the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf causing decreased catch in artisanal and industrial fisheries, damage to fishing gear, interrupted operation of desalination plants, and damage to the seawater cooling systems of coastal power plants. The cause and source of the bloom and the species of medusa were unknown. Here, the temporal and spatial distribution of the medusa are described using data from incidental catches in Iranian fisheries surveys, and morphological and molecular evidence are used to identify the medusa as Crambionella orsini (Vanhöffen). This species is endemic to the western Indian Ocean and adjacent basins which dismisses species introduction as the cause of this bloom. Furthermore, because the bloom was geographically widespread, it probably was not caused by local coastal degradation. Although human activities with large-scale effects cannot be ruled out, large-scale oceanographic or ecosystem conditions, perhaps part of natural climate cycles, that yielded moderate sea surface temperatures (in terms of the annual mean monthly anomaly for each year since 1982) were the most likely causes of the bloom of this endemic jellyfish.

Morphological abnormalities were observed in a population of the stauromedusa Haliclystus auricula in southern Chile. A total of 144 abnormal specimens was observed out of 3790 Stauromedusae sampled. The following abnormalities are described: individuals lacking arms (73%), with more than eight anchors (11%), more than eight arms (8%), lacking anchors (4%) and one individual with tentacles in abnormal locations. An individual with two peduncles, one with two mouths and one twin-like individual are recorded for the first time in this species. Their possible causes are discussed.

Mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd) and zinc (Zn) concentration were analysed in muscular and liver tissues of two cetacean species, franciscana Pontoporia blainvillei and boto-cinza Sotalia guianensis, in order to compare their contamination levels in northern Rio de Janeiro State, south-eastern Brazil. The cutlassfish, Trichiurus lepturus, which is the preferential prey of the boto-cinza, have also been analysed. Liver tissue always presented higher concentrations when compared with muscle samples for all the studied metals. The boto-cinza showed higher concentrations for all metals in both tissues than in the franciscana, and the only exception was Cd. This result is probably related to the difference in size prey preference of each cetacean. Mercury was the only element that presented significant positive correlations with body length and age in both cetacean species. The cutlassfish showed rising Hg concentrations with weight and total length, suggesting a possible mercury pathway for marine mammals' contamination.

Four species of foraminifers Rosalina globularis, Lobatula lobatula, Acervulina inhaerens and Miniacina miniacea were observed as epibionts on some species of the athecate hydroids of the genus Eudendrium—E. armatum, E. glomeratum, E. moulouyensis and E. racemosum—from the Mediterranean Sea. The abundance and the distribution of the protozoans were determined for each hydroid and considered in relation to the shape and size of the Eudendrium branches. Results revealed differences in the composition of the epibiontic assemblage among different species of Eudendrium which were dependent on several factors, but were mainly related to the habitat and to the morphology of the host.

The interactions between Eudendrium and its epibionts were considered to emphasize the role of the Eudendrium colonies as a hotspot not only of poorly known species but also of co-evolutionary relationships and life histories.

Gut residence time (GRT) is often reported to be extremely variable among crustaceans. In this study, GRT was measured in tethered mysids that were fed continuously, and appearance of the first faecal pellet was found to be quite consistent averaging 1.6 h. There was no significant difference between GRT in those mysids held singly and those accompanied by free-swimming conspecifics, even though previous studies have shown metabolic benefits in social behaviour. Gut residence time data from a range of pelagic crustaceans feeding continuously showed a clear linear relationship with size. It appears that, when feeding ceases and crustaceans are allowed to clear their guts in filtered water, GRT can be very long and variable. However, when feeding is continuous, GRT can be relatively short and consistent.

Marine fouling is a commercially important problem affecting abiotic and biotic surfaces. In this study we investigated the surface fouling on a colonial reef-building invertebrate, the bryozoan Pentapora fascialis, from the Welsh coast. We captured 300 scanning electron microscope (SEM) images of 5 colonies of the bryozoan P. fascialis in order to quantify the level of fouling on the exterior surfaces. Evidence for differential fouling was found to occur at several spatial scales, including between older and newer zooids, between proximal and distal regions of the same zooids and between colonies. The current year's growing zooids were found to have a higher level of fouling than older zooids. The difference in the mean level of fouling of proximal regions of zooids compared to distal regions was found to be significant in P. fascialis. In agreement with the differential fouling previously observed by other authors in the laminar bryozoan Flustra foliacea where the proximal region of a zooid was observed to have a higher level of fouling, the fouling coverage in P. fascialis was higher in the proximal region of zooids. A reduction of fouling on some bryozoan surfaces may be caused by production of antimicrobial compounds. Further studies of microbial fouling of a similar quantitative scale in other bryozoans could aid in the identification of novel antimicrobial agents useful for preventing microbial fouling on abiotic surfaces in the marine environment.

In order to evaluate the environmental status within a mariculture pond, temporal variations of physico-chemical factors, protist community structure and interactions between biota and environmental conditions were investigated during a complete cycle in semi-enclosed shrimp-farming waters near Qingdao, north China. Results revealed that: (1) a total of 54 protist taxa with ten dominant species was present, comprising 4 chlorophyceans, 2 chrysophyceans, 5 cryptophyceans, 10 dinoflagellates, 3 euglenophyceans, 10 diatoms, 18 ciliates and 2 sarcodines; (2) a single peak of protist abundance occurred in October, mainly due to the chlorophyceans, diatoms and chrysophyceans, while the bimodal peaks of biomass in July and October were mainly due to the ciliates, dinoflagellates and diatoms; (3) the succession of protist communities significantly correlated with the changes of nutrients, salinity and temperature, especially phosphate, either alone or in combination with NO3; (4) species diversity and evenness indices were found to be relatively independent of physico-chemical factors, whereas species richness and the ratio of biomass to abundance were strongly correlated with water temperature and abundances of bacteria. It was concluded that planktonic protists are potentially useful bioindicators of water quality in a semi-enclosed mariculture system.

In the White Sea the colonial hydroid Laomedea flexuosa inhabits a narrow belt of the lower littoral zone. How is so limited a habitat determined? We studied the time of planula release and the behaviour of larvae during the free-swimming stage and settlement in natural and laboratory conditions. Three methods were used to record the tidal-dependent dynamic of planula release: (1) plankton collecting bags around Fucus distichus macrophytes with mature hydroid colonies; (2) active stirring of Fucus with hydroids in a container with water, which is an old way to stimulate planula release; and (3) direct counts of the mature planulae in gonangia. The dynamic intensity of L. flexuosa planula release was investigated according to 3–4 phases of the tidal cycle. A moment of general release of larvae was shown to be correlated with a period of low water. Following the incoming tide keeps planulae in the littoral area. The planulae of L. flexuosa have a short period of swimming (less than 30 minutes), unlike those of Gonothyrae loveni and Dynamena pumila whose swimming period is about 36 hours. Quick settlement and tidal planula release could explain the strong spatial limitation in the distribution of L. flexuosa within the lower level of the intertidal zone. It is hypothesized that distribution over large areas is most likely by drift of colonies attached to detached seaweeds. Our outlook about the biological ways of ecological niche differentiation among marine organisms is broadened by the results of this study.

A new species of Trypanosyllis was found in a collection of polychaetes living on algae, sponges, ascidians and sabelariid reefs at the intertidal zone of a rocky shore, at Praia do Guaraú, south-eastern Brazil. Trypanosyllis aurantiacus sp. nov., is characterized by having an orange body in life, with dark red antennae and cirri throughout, falcigers with short, sub-bidentate blades, and parapodia with thick, distally sharp, protruding aciculae, two to three aciculae on each anterior parapodium, two aciculae on midbody segments, single acicula per parapodium on posteriormost chaetigers. Trypanosyllis aurantiacus sp. nov., is compared with the most similar congeners and a redescription of Trypanosyllis zebra, based on Brazilian specimens collected from similar environments at nearby beaches, is given.

The composition and spatial distribution of the polychaete fauna on the subtidal soft sediments of the Ría de Aldán (Galicia, north-western Spain) were studied by means of quantitative sampling and multivariate analysis. The faunal distribution was mainly conditioned by a sediment gradient defined by decreasing grain size, from the mouth towards the inner margins of the ría. The coarse and medium sand fauna was mainly dominated by pisionids, spionids and syllids. Finer sediments (fine sand to mud) showed a greater abundance of paraonids, spionids and cirratulids and deposit feeding species. The greatest number of species and diversity were found in coarse sediments.

Eight species of polydorid polychaetes were found to inhabit mollusc shells from south-western Australian waters. Numerous individuals of Polydora uncinata were extracted for the first time from the shells of both land-based cultured abalone Haliotis laevigata and H. roei, as well as from natural subtidal H. roei and Chlamys australis. Shells of the oyster Saccostrea commercialis cultured in sea-based systems were infested by Boccardia knoxi which was first recorded in these waters. Polydora aura, Dipolydora giardi, D. armata, D. aciculata and Boccardia proboscidea were common among shells of various natural intertidal and subtidal molluscs. A small number of P. haswelli were extracted from their self-excavated burrows in shells of cultured oysters. Boccardia knoxi and D. aciculata were redescribed based on the newly collected materials. Polydora uncinata and B. knoxi exhibited similar larval development patterns (exolecithotrophy and adelphophagy), iteroparity and longer life span, suggesting a high reproductive potential. This study suggests that further monitoring of polydorid species is needed not only from the viewpoint of marine biology but also to survey the risk invasive species pose to commercially important molluscs in this region and worldwide.

The eunicid polychaete Marphysa sanguinea was until recently believed to be a cosmopolitan species, with a distribution ranging from the south-west coast of England to the Pacific coast of America, and New Zealand and Australia in the western Pacific. However, there are many morphological and ecological inter-population differences that render the definitive identification of these numerous populations difficult. The recent designation of a neotype, together with a more detailed morphological description of specimens from the type locality in south-west England, has allowed the concept that M. sanguinea represents a series of cryptic species, to be investigated by examining populations of species previously referred to as Marphysa sanguinea. A new species Marphysa mullawa was described from Moreton Bay Queensland, Australia. In this paper we describe a new species from the western Cape of South Africa which has previously been referred to as ‘Marphysa sanguinea’, using an integrative approach combining morphological data, RAPD-PCR analysis and a study of the sperm ultra-structure. The South African species is a popular bait animal for local sea anglers and is heavily exploited throughout the western Cape. The RAPD-PCR analysis also demonstrates that populations referred to as ‘Marphysa sanguinea’ from other geographical locations studied have distinct genetic pools, providing further evidence that Marphysa sanguinea is not a cosmopolitan species and consists of a suite of cryptic species.

A new species of calanoid copepod, Centropages aegypticus sp. nov. collected from the Egyptian coasts of the northern Red Sea is described. This species is unique in having two pointed conical processes on the dorsal surface of cephalosome in both sexes, female genital compound somite with irregular-surface outline of the right swelling part and transverse dorsolateral row of spinules on the left side, 2-segmented exopod of the female leg 5, asymmetrical medial processes of the female leg 5, of which the left one is longer and medially-curved and the right one with oblique row of thick spinules, and a club-shaped medial seta on the third exopodal segment of the male leg 5. The new species is similar to C. tenuiremis, but is not assigned to the same species group as the latter species or to any other groups.

Bathymetric range, substrate, colony density, colony size, and some zoarial features (form of the colony and branches) of the carbonate reef building cheilostome bryozoan Pentapora fascialis (Pallas) were recorded from 15 localities along the western coast of Italy. A wide range in the depth distribution of colonies was observed (11 to 60 m). Colonies occurred on several different types of substrate including gorgonians, sponges, bedrock and rock boulders, in current swept areas. Density was approximately 1 colony/m2. The most frequent colony size-class was 10 to 20 cm in diameter and was typically found growing epizoically on gorgonians. Ellipsoidal colony forms with expanded, foliaceous laminae were characteristic of larger colonies; these frequently grew on rock substrates. Subspherical colonies with a diameter less than 20 cm grew as epizoans and had a narrow branches structure. This information will help to inform decisions on taxonomic discrepancies within the Pentaporidae. In addition the data provide a useful baseline for the future estimation of a carbonate budget in the region.