Tropical coastal areas are amongst the most diverse ecosystems in the world. However, there are quite a few coasts that have rarely been studied for their macro-benthic diversity. The Indian coastline presents one such gap area. Two sub-parallel coastlines of India have a wide latitudinal span (8–23°N) and strikingly different physiographic environments. While the east coast receives a high siliciclastic input from large river systems flowing to the Bay of Bengal with fluctuating salinity, the west coast has a large shelf area and high productivity of the Arabian Sea. Such difference enables us to evaluate the effect of regional environmental parameters on marine molluscan diversity and distribution in an intra-tropical setting. Because of the wide latitudinal range, it is also possible to assess if spatial difference in species richness in such a regional scale follows the large-scale biodiversity pattern such as Latitudinal Biodiversity Gradient (LBG) despite inherent environmental variation. We used species distribution of marine bivalves, compiled using bioSearch and the Ocean Productivity database, to address this question. Our results show that intra-tropical species richness of marine bivalves is guided primarily by regional environmental parameters. Even with identical latitudinal extent, higher nutrient availability and larger shelf area, the west coast has significantly lower richness than the east coast; among environmental variables, productivity, salinity and coastline length emerged as significant predictors of species diversity. Moreover, a positive influence of a South Asian biodiversity hotspot on east coast fauna and a negative impact of the oxygen-depleted condition of Arabian Sea on west coast fauna, may have a significant contribution in developing such coastal variation in species richness. The latitudinal variation in species richness did not follow LBG. In contrast to the coast-specific diversity difference, species composition is not found to be dictated by coastal affiliation. The composition corresponds primarily to physiographic conditions. We identified three distinct eco-regions (north-western, southern, north-eastern) with characteristic species composition corresponding to unique physiography and productivity mechanism. The NW region has low siliciclastic input and high productivity associated with upwelling during winter cooling. The NE region has a distinctly high riverine input and salinity fluctuation. The southern region, in contrast, has well developed reefal system with moderate variation in salinity. Such correspondence underscores the importance of the regional environment in dictating the species diversity and distribution in the shallow marine realm.

Understanding demographic processes over multiple spatial scales is vital for the optimization of conservation/management strategies, particularly for commercially harvested taxa such as the brown crab (Cancer pagurus L). Brown crab population genetic structure was investigated at (i) a local scale within the Irish Sea, which included comparisons with the Lundy No Take Zone (NTZ) and (ii) across the NE Atlantic. The results indicate that the brown crab does not exhibit strong spatial structure either within the Irish Sea or at the regional level, suggesting high gene flow within and among the Irish Sea, English Channel and North Sea. Comparisons between the Lundy NTZ and harvested areas revealed similarly high levels of genetic diversity. An intriguing result was that the Lundy NTZ sample exhibited a degree of genetic patchiness (ephemeral geographically unpatterned differentiation) which may indicate elevated recruitment skews within the NTZ. Overall, the results support the view that brown crabs within the sampled area belong to a single genetically panmictic stock and that if breeding stock sizes are maintained genetic drift will not be strong enough to reduce neutral genetic diversity. The highly connected nature of this species requires international cooperation for sustainable management, an important component of which will be the application of more powerful population genomic approaches to assess finer scale aspects of stock structure as well drivers of genetic patchiness reported for the species. This is a timely consideration in light of potential future misalignments between biological and geopolitical stock boundaries in the Irish Sea following Brexit.

In some metazoans, the body surface is entirely or partly covered with an array of nipples about 100 nm or less in height. This structure, a nipple array, is sometimes called the moth-eye structure because it serves as an anti-reflection property on the compound eyes of a night moth. The nipple array is supposed to be a multifunctional structure since this structure occurs in various species across different taxa. Here, we hypothesize that the nipple array may prevent the settlement of epibionts that are often a nuisance and potentially cause serious problems for the host. Using a synthetic film that imitates the nipple array, we tested the substrate selection within ascidian larval settlement. The results indicate that the nipple array has anti-fouling properties, since more larvae settled on the flat surface than the nipple array (P < 0.01, paired t-test). The present results demonstrated that the nipple array potentially serves an anti-fouling function on the body surface, which should be important especially for sessile organisms.

The brush-clawed shore crab Hemigrapsus takanoi is a native species from the Western Pacific and an invader of the European Atlantic coast from northern Spain to southern Denmark. Despite the increasing concern about its rapid expansion, little is known about the early stages in its life history. In the present study, the larval morphology of H. takanoi is described and illustrated from specimens obtained in the laboratory from its type locality, Tokyo Bay, Japan. Its larval development follows the pattern of Varunidae, that involves five zoeae and one megalopa. The morphological characters of the larvae of H. takanoi are compared with those of the other known Hemigrapsus species of the North Pacific. In addition, to facilitate an early detection of the invasive species of Varunidae inhabiting European Atlantic waters, a summary of the key characters to identify their larval stages is included.

Behavioural plasticity in animals is tested whenever competitive interactions for space and/or food resources occur between wildlife and human activities. This study uses the concepts of operational and non-operational interactions between bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) and artisanal fisheries in Alvarado, to search for differences in behaviour, age structure and group size. We conducted 20 surveys between 2015 and 2016, and recorded 64 groups by means of scan sampling from either a research boat or a fixed vantage point. Average dolphin group size was small (${\bar{\rm x}}$ = 3.2, SD = 2.2 individuals) and fewer individuals were commonly present when interaction with fisheries occurred. Operational interactions were defined within the first 30 m and occurred mainly with lone individuals (54% recorded from the lighthouse and 82% during surveys); this benchmark also accounted for higher frequencies in locomotion and feeding (χ2 = 83.10; df = 7; P < 0.001). We found a higher rate of new behavioural events for dolphin groups furthest from human activities, as well as a decrease in behaviours that imply greater body exposure as dolphins approach the fishing spots. Age structure and dolphin group size were not different during and in the absence of interaction with fisheries, but most interactions involved male dolphins. Behavioural variations in the dolphins' repertoire are likely a strategy to reduce the risk of injuries or death when interacting with human activities; these dolphins seem to have habituated to or at least tolerate fishing activities within the study area, possibly constituting a sex-biased pressure.

This study describes the structure, growth, mortality and stock status of Litopenaeus schmitti in north-eastern Brazil. A total of 1169 specimens were captured (491 males and 678 females) from August 2011 to July 2012. Specimens were weighed and the length of carapace (CL) and total length were measured. The biometric relationships were estimated through regression analysis and growth was described through the von Bertalanffy model. Additionally, total mortality (Z), natural mortality (M), fishing mortality (F), length at first capture (Lc), maximum yield per recruit (ERMY) and longevity were determined. Females were larger (3.07 ± 0.51 cm) than males (2.68 ± 0.25 cm) and dominant in the largest CL classes. The biometric relationships for males, females and both sexes grouped showed a negative allometric growth. Females showed larger L∞ (asymptotic length) and k (coefficient of growth) (L∞ of 5.00–5.16 cm and k of 1.20–1.26 year−1) when compared with males (L∞ of 4.25–4.30 cm and k of 1.00–1.02 year−1). In general, the mortality of males (Z = 1.93–5.48 year−1; M = 1.59–1.61 year−1 F = 0.32–0.3.89 year−1) and longevity (1.11–2.16 years) were higher than those estimated for females (Z = 1.84–3.76 year−1; M = 1.70–1.77 year−1; F = 0.07–1.99 year−1; 1.07–1.78 years). Results indicated that L. schmitti stock is relatively close to the state of full exploitation. Moreover, the CL of first capture of females (2.44–2.51 cm) is below the length of first sexual maturation of the species. The lack of legislation governing shrimp fishing in the area makes this stock even more vulnerable.

Natural mortality (M) is a key parameter for understanding population dynamics, especially in relation to harvested populations. Direct observations of M in crustaceans are scarce, due to the moulting process. Indirect methods to estimate M with easier-to-obtain life history attributes are therefore used routinely. Given their theoretical background, we reviewed the applicability of these methods for crustaceans. We applied the selected methods to two crustacean species harvested in Chilean waters: the yellow squat lobster (Cervimunida johni) and red squat lobster (Pleuroncodes monodon). Uncertainty of each M estimate was incorporated in the life history parameters that input into the indirect method (trait-error) and parameters defining the indirect method (coefficient-trait-error). Methods based on the relationship between total mortality and maximum age, or with different ages and based on life history theory were the most appropriate for crustaceans since they apply across taxa. M estimates showed high variability between species, sexes and areas. Estimations of M for C. johni varied from 0.13 to 0.28 (year−1) for males and 0.17 to 0.51 (year−1) for females. For P. monodon values for the north varied from 0.26 to 0.37 (year−1) for males and 0.24 to 0.45 (year−1) for females. In the south, values of M were higher for both males (0.43–0.68 year−1) and females (0.41–1.06 year−1). High variability in the M estimates was associated with the method and number of parameters, their uncertainty, theoretical background and probability distribution. M estimates are not comparable, raising the need to propagate the uncertainty of M into the stock assessment of Chilean squat lobsters.

The food composition of whiting, Merlangius merlangus, caught around the sea-cage fish farms off the coast of Perşembe, was analysed and compared with the diet of whiting from a control site off the coast of Fatsa (Ordu Province, south-eastern Black Sea). A total of 815 stomach samples were collected during the study, and of these, 195 (23.9%) were empty. According to the percentage of relative importance index (IRI%), pellet food (47.8%) and Annelida (25%) were the main prey groups of whiting in the sea-cage fish farms area, while unidentified teleost (85.3%) and Engraulis encrasicolus (8.2%) were dominant in the control site. The other prey groups in both areas were Crustaceans (Mysidae, Amphipoda, Upogebia sp.), Sprattus sprattus and Gobius spp. Seasonally, pellet food was the most consumed food in all seasons, but Mysidae was the first preference of whiting around the sea-cage fish farms in spring. In the control site, unidentified teleost was the first preference in all seasons, except winter, where E. encrasicolus was the first choice, followed by crustaceans and S. sprattus in winter. Bray–Curtis analysis shows that seasonally, there is no significant difference in the sea-cage fish farms, while there is significant difference in the control site, and two-dimensional nMDS of IRI% revealed a clear separation between both sites. SIMPER analysis revealed that the most contributing factors to the differences between seasons were pellet food in the sea-cage fish farms, and E. encrasicolus in the control site.

During the INDEMARES/CHICA 0610, 0211 and 0412 expeditions, carried out in the northern Spanish sector of the Gulf of Cádiz (Spain), samples were collected with a box-corer in 11 mud volcanoes and their adjacent bottoms. Chemoautotrophic communities were found in nine mud volcanoes. Among Decapoda, a rare eucalliacid, belonging to the genus Calliax and related to the Mediterranean infralittoral species C. lobata (de Gaillande and Lagardère 1966), was present in three of them. Data on its morphology, biogeographic distribution, vertical distribution within the burrows, sediment composition, pH and redox potential values (each in 5 cm intervals) are given; information on the chemoautotrophic communities associated with this species are also provided.

The food habits of the South Pacific hake (Merluccius gayi) from Ecuadorian waters were studied by analysing 232 stomachs of specimens ranging from 23.4–83.1 cm in total length (TL). Fish was the most important prey group (Alimentary Index, %AI = 94), Ctenosciaena peruviana being the most represented prey species (%AI = 62.17). PERMANOVA analysis showed dietary differences between the smallest individuals (class I < 30 cm TL) and the largest (class IV 40–45 cm TL; class V ≥ 45 cm TL). In addition, spatial differences in dietary composition were found between the three sampled regions (Manabí, Santa Elena and Guayas). The results of this study indicate that the South Pacific hake is an opportunistic predator feeding on a wide variety of vertebrate and invertebrate organisms.

Stomach contents analysis and stable isotope results indicate M. hubbsi is a generalist predator that feeds mainly on demersal fishes, followed by crustaceans and cephalopods. Ontogenetic changes in diet were identified, with fish importance increasing in the diet with hake size. Smaller hake (<250 mm) fed mostly on the sepiolid Semirossia tenera (89.45%IRI) and engraulid fish (89.96%IRI). Mid-sized hake (250–300 mm) fed mainly on benthic fish such as Bellator brachychir (95.63%IRI) and euphausiids (56.46%IRI), while larger hake (>300 mm) fed heavily on Dactylopterus volitans (94.80%IRI) and occasionally on a variety of teleosts. Significant correlations between δ13C (P < 0.05), THg (P < 0.001) and hake size occurred, whereas no relationship was observed between δ15N and hake size or δ15N and total mercury. Signatures were lowest in smaller hake with a tendency of increasing with size. Smaller and larger hake were significantly different in δ13C. Differences regarding isotopic niche width were quantified for each size group; trophic diversity and trophic redundancy among them were negligible, but hake >300 mm possibly have a larger feeding plasticity due to the combination of prey from a wide trophic level range.

The red-blooded limpet ‘Shinkailepas’ briandi (Neritimorpha: Phenacolepadidae) is one of the commonest gastropod species at deep-sea hydrothermal vents on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (MAR). We investigated its population connectivity along MAR as the first such study for gastropods and explored the importance of larval migration for the distribution of vent-endemic animals. Our analyses, based on 1.3-kbp DNA sequences from the mitochondrial COI gene, showed a panmictic population throughout its geographic and bathymetric ranges that span from the northernmost and shallowest Menez Gwen vent field (38°N; 814–831 m depth) to the southernmost and deepest Ashadze field (13°N; 4090 m). Early development of this species is presumed to have a long pelagic duration as a planktotrophic larva; the hatchling with a shell diameter of 170–180 μm attains a constant settlement size of 706 ± 8 μm (mean ± SD). Retention of eye pigmentation in newly settled juveniles, along with the genetic panmixia, suggests that the hatched larva of ‘S.’ briandi migrates vertically to the surface water, presumably to take advantage of richer food supplies and stronger currents for dispersal, as has been shown for confamilial species at hydrothermal vents and cold methane seeps.

We used a new, easy to use, highly selective, low impact and cheap method of sampling in the swash zone of a sandy beach to obtain catch per unit effort data (CPUE) for Pennant's swimming crab, Portumnus latipes (Pennant, 1777). Metal stakes baited with sardines were used to attract the crabs that were caught by hand. Crab density was estimated based on area of attraction and maximum CPUE and compared with estimates from bivalve dredges used at depths from 3 to 6.5 m. The baited stake method gave an estimate of 0.026 crabs m−2, which is comparable to bivalve dredge estimates (0.0059–0.045 crabs m−2). This approach can be used for crustaceans, gastropods and other mobile benthic organisms.

Hermit crabs use different senses to search for and find shells. In most cases, chemical cues have been proven to act as a very efficient way of finding new shells. However, in intertidal environments, the water transports chemical signals in different directions and velocities may make it harder to track the source of the cue, so visual stimuli may be a more precise source of information. The hermit crab Calcinus californiensis shows a preference for the biconical shells of Stramonita biserialis, although the crabs may also use the less preferred shell of Nerita scabricosta. We were interested in exploring if C. californiensis identify the preferred shell species through vision in the absence of chemical stimuli. We presented both shell species to hermit crabs in two different sets of experiments. In one experiment, we presented to the hermit crabs real shells of N. scabricosta and S. biserialis, and in another, we presented only the silhouettes of the same shells. The hermit crabs discriminated between the real shells and the silhouettes of N. scabricosta and S. biserialis. Females attended with higher frequency to real shells and silhouettes of S. biserialis; while males attended more to shells and silhouettes of N. scabricosta. Although, larger males biased their attendance toward shells of S. biserialis. Our results show that visual perception may be more important than we have thought in intertidal animals.

This paper provides data on diversity, zonation and seasonal fluctuations of decapod crustaceans at the northern Gulf of Oman coast, based on quantitative and qualitative samplings. A total of 75 species belonging to four infraorders, 27 families and 48 genera were identified. These species include 20 new records for the entire Gulf of Oman and 13 new records for its Iranian coast. The mid-intertidal zone showed a higher mean diversity and abundance than high- and low-intertidal zones. The mean diversity and abundance in the high-intertidal zone showed significant differences with the mid- and low-intertidal zones. The indices of species richness (Margalef), diversity (Shannon) and evenness (Pielou) showed significant differences among the intertidal zones. Most of the identified species (>60%) that had high values in their frequency of occurrence and relative abundance showed an overlapping vertical distribution, and were present in all three or just in two of the three defined zones. Other species were found only in one of the three zones (non-overlapping vertical distribution). The decapod community in the mid-intertidal zone showed a higher dissimilarity with the high-intertidal zone than with the low-intertidal. Both abundance and diversity were found to be lowest and highest during south-west and north-east monsoons, respectively. During south-west monsoon, the abundance of decapods declined dramatically, but species diversity and ecological indices did not show any statistically significant difference among the sampling periods.

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.

Information on the genetic population structure of economic species is important for understanding their evolutionary processes and for management programmes. In this study, the genetic structure of 12 P. trituberculatus populations along the China seas and Japan was analysed. A fragment of mitochondrial control region was sequenced as a genetic marker in swimming crabs sampled from the Bohai Sea, Yellow Sea, East China Sea, South China Sea and Japan, with dense sampling in the Bohai Sea. These populations showed an intermediate and significant genetic population structure, with an overall Φst value of 0.054 (P < 0.01). Based on a hierarchical AMOVA, they could be divided into two groups, the South China Sea population and all the other populations. The distribution of the haplotypes and the pairwise Φst values between populations indicated a high level of gene flow among most populations in the Bohai Sea, Yellow Sea, East China Sea and Japan. However, low but significant genetic differentiation (P < 0.05) was also detected among several populations in these areas. Many details of the genetic structure were revealed, especially for the populations in the semi-enclosed Bohai Sea, and the inconsistency with previous studies was discussed. The structure patterns indicate that sea-level changes during the glacial period of the Pleistocene and oceanographic factors are important in shaping the genetic population structure of swimming crabs. Finally, the implications for fishery are suggested.

Rhinoptera steindachneri is a commercially important, medium-sized, pelagic migratory batoid fish with benthic feeding habits. It has been considered a specialized predator that feeds on molluscs as well as benthic ophiurids and arthropods off the Mexican Pacific coast. Most biological aspects of this species in La Paz Bay are unknown, despite its being a commercially important species of conservation interest. Therefore, the aim of this study was to characterize the feeding habits of R. steindachneri based on specimens caught in artisanal fisheries. The stomach contents of 310 specimens (146 females and 164 males) were analysed, all captured from 2013 to 2015. The vacuity index was 97.1%, and the most important prey species were Mysidium spp. and Cylichna spp. Because of the high frequency of empty stomachs recorded, it was not possible to describe with precision the general diet of the species. Three hypotheses were developed to try to explain why this characteristic occurred in this species, ranging from eating habits to physiology and prey digestion and geographic location of the study. However, considering the mechanical process of prey handling of R. steindachneri, several hypotheses were formulated, with the hour of capture, chemical processes and physiology and prey digestion being the most probable to explain this high vacuity index reported in this study.