The exact form of the taxonomic relationship between the common or blue mussel, Mytilus edulis L., and Mytilus galloprovincialis Lmk, the Mediterranean mussel, has been the subject of considerable scientific interest in recent years (for a review see Gosling, 1984). While the origins of this separation into two species rests with the original descriptions by Linnaeus and Lamarck (e.g. Soot-Ryen, 1955), interest was stimulated in recent times through the discovery by Hepper (1957) of an ‘unusual’ type of mussel at Padstow in Cornwall which, on the basis of morphological criteria, he identified as M. galloprovincialis (see also Lewis & Seed, 1969). This discovery was followed by a series of electrophoretic investigations providing evidence that the so-called ‘Padstow mussel’ exhibits genetic affinities with M. galloprovincialis from the Mediterranean (Ahmad & Beardmore, 1976; Skibinski, Ahmad & Beardmore, 1978; Skibinski, Cross & Ahmad, 1980). In her recent review paper on the systematic status of M. galloprovincialis in western Europe, Gosling (1984) considers information from morphological, cytological, immunological, electrophoretic and hybridization studies and concludes that M. galloprovincialis is a ‘form’ or ecotype of M. edulis.

The ecological significance of heterotrophic micro-flagellates in marine plankton has recently drawn considerable interest among biological oceanographers (Anderson & Fenchel, 1985; Haas & Webb, 1979; Fenchel, 1985 and references therein). Such organisms have been shown to be numerous, occurring in densities of 5 x 102 to 2 x 103 per ml in surface coastal and oceanic waters. Their grazing activities are believed to account for virtually all of the turnover of populations of suspended bacteria.

Recently the influence of an electric light on the capture of the main groups of deep sea animals by a midwater trawl was described and discussed (Clarke & Pascoe, 1985). With regard to fish it was shown that at depths close to 800 m the total number, the total volume, the volume of the ten largest and the volume of the single largest fish all increased significantly when an electric light was used on the headline of the trawl when compared with controls with the light off. These experiments were carried out both in the Bay of Biscay and off Madeira.

Estuaries perform a crucial role in the life-cycle of many fish (Cronin & Mansueti, 1971; Day, Blaber & Wallace, 1981; Dando, 1984). They provide a migratory route for anadromous and catadromous species and an environment in which the limited number of true estuarine teleosts spend the whole of their life cycle. The upper reaches are colonized by certain freshwater species while the lower regions are penetrated by some marine fish during high tide. However, many marine teleosts enter and remain within estuaries for a period of time, often in very large numbers and particularly during the early part of life (see e.g. Gunter, 1938, 1961, 1967; Huddart & Arthur, 1971; van den Broek, 1980; Blaber & Blaber, 1980; Potter et al. 1983; Whitfield, 1983). The recognition that estuaries act as important nursery areas for certain teleosts by providing such features as a rich food source and protection from predation (see e.g. Pearcy & Richards, 1962] Jacquaz, Able & Leggett, 1977; Blaber & Blaber, 1980) has led to such species being referred to as estuarine-dependent (see e.g. McHugh, 1976; Beal, 1980; Fortier & Leggett, 1982).

The common goby, Pomatoschistus microps (Krøyer), is a small, euryhaline gobiid fish which ranges along the coasts of continental Europe from the Mediterranean to Trondheim, Norway, and also penetrates into the Baltic Sea (Miller, 1973). This species, which can be very abundant, is generally distributed in estuaries, salt marsh and shore pools (Wheeler, 1969; Miller, 1971) and experiences a higher degree of environmental heterogeneity than most of the other European gobiids (Wallis & Beardmore, 1984a).

The ormer (Haliotis tuberculata L.) occurs in some abundance off the north coast of Brittany and the Channel Islands. On the French coast, exploitation of this species is not legally authorised except in the intertidal zone and the sublittoral stocks have for some years aroused the interest of local fishermen. Studies have therefore been initiated to investigate the exploitation potential of this new resource, and different aspects of the biology and ecology of the ormer have been examined so as to make use of models of population dynamics. Thus, a study of growth merits particular attention.

Growth laminations were first noted in squid statoliths by Clarke (1966), who suggested they might be useful for age determination. Spratt (1978) presented a detailed age analysis of Loligo opalescens Berry, 1911, arguing that some rings in the cephalopod statolith were deposited daily, as are fish otoliths (Panella, 1971). Growth rings in Illex illecebrosus (Lesueur, 1921) statoliths were illustrated by Lipinski (1978) with similar interpretation to that of Spratt (op. cit.). Several further attempts have been made to validate and/or to discuss age determination from statoliths (Hurley, Drew & Radtke, 1979; Hurley et al. 1983; Wiborg, 1979; Hurley & Beck, 1980; Kristensen, 1980; Lipinski, 1980, 1981; Rosenberg, Wiborg & Bech, 1981; Martins, 1982; Radtke, 1983; Dawe et al. 1984), and several other attempts are in preparation (R. J. Hanlon, G. V. Hurley, M. R. Clarke & R. L. Radtke, personal communications).