Asari clam (or Manila clam) Ruditapes philippinarum is an important bivalve for local fisheries. This species exhibits a large variation in shell morphology, and the shell roundness tends to be greater in more unsuitable habitats. To test whether the increments in shell size parameters (length, height and width) were affected solely by environmental conditions or by internal factors such as initial

The amathillopsid subfamily Cleonardopsinae Lowry, 2006 is reviewed. The only species of the subfamily, Cleonardopsis carinata K.H. Barnard, 1916, should be regarded as a species-complex. A new genus and species of the subfamily, Carinocleonardopsis seisuiae gen. et sp. nov., is described from the Sea of Kumano, Japan as the second species of the subfamily Cleonardopsinae as well as the first record

Age and growth of the yellowmouth barracuda Sphyraena viridensis (Cuvier, 1829) was examined in 698 individuals (184 < TL (mm) < 1210; 25 < TW (g) < 7125), sampled monthly from commercial catches in eastern coasts of Algeria between January 2007 and January 2008. Marginal increment analysis of 159 sectioned sagittal otoliths combined with information derived from length–frequency distribution showed

Petroleum hydrocarbons (PH) toxicity and bioaccumulation in aquatic organisms have been investigated for almost 50 years. Continuous oil spillages necessitate a further understanding of the toxicological effects of PH on brachyuran crabs. Crabs can be exposed to PH through various routes such as the water column, sediment and diet. Numerous investigations have been dedicated to evaluating PH toxicity

Estuaries and saltmarshes play a fundamental role in the life cycle of many crab species. Diverse studies show that temperature and salinity modulate abundance, size frequency distribution (SFD), sex ratio and growth in crustaceans. These population parameters are usually challenging to estimate due to the high environmental variability of estuaries. Monthly samples of the estuarine crab Hemigrapsus

Two new species of free-living marine nematode discovered from an intertidal sandy beach in the Bohai Sea and from a sublittoral region in the East China Sea are described. Deontolaimus holovachovi sp. nov. is characterized by short cephalic setae (2.5–3 μm long); ventrally-unispiral amphidial fovea; excretory pore located at the level with nerve ring; lateral alae present; two pairs of lateral cervical

There is an important small-scale fishery using mechanized dredges and targeting clams (mainly wedge clam Donax trunculus and striped venus clam Chamelea gallina) along the Catalan coast (NW Mediterranean Sea). This study evaluated for the first time the discards and impact of mechanized clam dredging on the Catalan coast. To this end, three surveys were performed on board standard clam vessels (September

The aim of this work was to describe and compare the main fatty acids and biodiesel indices of some green and brown macroalgae (seaweeds) collected from the Persian Gulf, as an alternative raw material for renewable biodiesel production. The macroalgae showed low lipid content (< 10% DW) but marine macroalgae with total lipid content > 5% DW are a good source for biodiesel production. The total lipid

The Pacific sleeper shark Somniosus pacificus is one of the largest predators in deep Suruga Bay, Japan. A single individual of the sleeper shark (female, ~300 cm in total length) was observed with two baited camera systems deployed simultaneously on the deep seafloor in the bay. The first arrival was recorded 43 min after the deployment of camera #1 on 21 July 2016 at a depth of 609 m. The shark had

The present study reports polychaetes that bore into limestone rocks along the east coast of the Aegean Sea (eastern Mediterranean). Rock materials were collected at two depth intervals (0–5 and 5–10 m) at 15 stations in four localities of Ildırı Bay. A total of 276 specimens belonging to 12 species and four families (Eunicidae, Spionidae, Cirratulidae and Sabellidae) were recorded. Specimens belonging

Dendrobranchiata shrimp taxonomic composition and spatial and temporal distribution on the Amazon continental shelf (ACS) were investigated along a transect between the sources of the Amazon and Pará Rivers, encompassing an extension of ~250 km towards the continental slope. Plankton was collected with oblique trawls (200 μm mesh size), and nine taxa were found; 59.4% were larvae (mysis or decapodid

The availability of colonizable substrate is an important driver of the temporal dynamics of sessile invertebrates on coral reefs. Increased dominance of algae and, in some cases, sponges has been documented on many coral reefs around the world, but how these organisms benefit from non-colonized substrate on the reef is unclear. In this study, we described the temporal dynamics of benthic organisms

Tributyltin (TBT) and triphenyltin (TPT) concentrations in water samples from Tanabe Bay were found to range from 4–28 ng l−1 and 3–7 ng l−1, respectively. In fishing ports, the concentrations of TBT in surface water were similar to those in bottom water. However, in aquafarming areas with poor flushing, the concentrations of TBT in bottom water were higher than those in surface water. This suggested

Fluorescent proteins (FPs) are reported to play an important role as photoprotectants and antioxidants in corals subjected to stressful conditions. Identifying the various FP genes expressed and FP gene expression patterns under stress in diverse coral species can provide insight into FP function. In this study, we identified 16 putative FP homologues from the transcriptomes of corals with varying

We establish a new genus of planocerid polyclad, Heteroplanocera gen. nov., based on a new species, H. katoi sp. nov., collected at a depth of 245 m off the coast of the Izu Peninsula, West Pacific, Japan. Heteroplanocera gen. nov. is distinguished from other planocerid genera by the following characteristics: (i) a pair of nuchal tentacles, (ii) a muscular bulb, (iii) a pair of spermiducal bulbs (instead

Evolution and population genetic structure of marine species across the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman are shaped by two complex factors: the geological history and the present pattern of marine currents. Characterizing and comparing the genetic structures of co-existing species, such as host–parasite associations, allow the discrimination of the relative importance of environmental factors and life

The study characterized the structure of juveniles and sub-adults of Farfantepenaeus brasiliensis and F. paulensis in the Cananéia-Iguape estuarine lagoon system and its adjacent coastal area by evaluating the period of juvenile recruitment, sex ratio, growth, longevity, natural mortality, and development time until the late juvenile phase. Samples were collected from July 2012 to June 2014. Shrimps

Invasive species can disrupt food webs by altering the abundance of prey species or integrating into the food web themselves. In the Gulf of Maine, there have been a suite of invasions that have altered the composition of the benthic ecosystem. These novel prey species can potentially benefit native predators depending on their nutritional value and relative abundance. We measured feeding instances

The changes in abundance and biodiversity of deep-sea fish fauna are described based on an annual deep-water longline survey with data collected during the period 2015–2019 in the Basque Country continental Slope (ICES Division 8c). The sampling scheme included hauls in four 400 m strata, from 650–2250 m deep. The DST sensors installed in the main line have allowed us to set an accurate soak time for

The introduction of non-native predator fish is thought to have important negative effects on native prey populations. Opsanus beta is a non-native toadfish that was originally described in the Gulf of Mexico, between the west coast of Florida and Belize. In the present study, we describe, for the first time, the occurrence of O. beta in Sepetiba Bay (22°55′S), south-eastern Brazil, probably brought

In this study, we investigated ontogenetic and sexual changes of the brain scaling as well as the scaling and the relative size of six major brain areas in the small-spotted catshark Scyliorhinus canicula from the Mediterranean Sea. The brain somatic index (0.31–1.25%) did not differ significantly between sexes but was significantly affected by size with smaller specimens exhibiting higher values.

Thirteen new genera and three new families of cheilostome Bryozoa are described from the New Zealand biogeographic region, centred on Zealandia, between 26.42° (northern Norfolk Ridge) and 54.02°S latitude (south-east Campbell Plateau) from coastal waters to bathyal depths (46‒1676 m). The new genera, comprising 15 new and one previously described Zealandian species, are: Elementella (Elementellidae

Of the five nominal species in the genus Caranx Lacepède 1801 distributed throughout the Eastern Central Pacific, Caranx caballus and Caranx sexfasciatus are the only two that have formal fish larval descriptions based on diagnostic characteristics (morphology, meristics and pigmentation). In this study, the diagnostic characteristics of three Caranx species larvae were validated using DNA barcoding

We investigated the habitat use and feeding ecology of 10 cetacean species encountered along the south-eastern coast of Brazil (24–26°S) using carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) stable isotopes. Hierarchical cluster analysis distinguished two main groups based on their isotopic patterns. One group included migratory baleen whales (Megaptera novaeangliae and Eubalaena australis) with the lowest δ13C

The demographic histories, genetic relationships and population structure of sedentary fish Pomatoschistus marmoratus (Risso, 1810), which was sampled from the north-eastern basin of the Mediterranean Sea (including the Turkish coasts of the Black Sea, Aegean Sea, Levantine Sea and Sea of Marmara), were investigated by mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (652 bp) and cytochrome b (526 bp)

Hypleurochilus fissicornis is a resident species of the intertidal and subtidal zones of Mar del Plata, Argentina. The specific reproductive biology was studied by means of both microscopic and macroscopic analyses. A total of 212 males and 223 females were analysed. Specimens were dissected and their gonads and livers were removed. The gonadosomatic and hepatosomatic indexes and the condition factor

Food partitioning among coexisting species is often considered advantageous to minimize niche overlap and avoid inter-specific competition. Congeneric fish species such as the mullets Mugil curema and Mugil liza, which co-occur across marine and estuarine habitats, are good models to evaluate resource use and niche overlap or partitioning. We used stomach contents (SCA) and stable isotope analysis

Elasmobranchs in the Gulf of California have been found with malformations, probably originated during embryonic development or caused by environmental anomalies and pollution associated with intense mining activity in the region. Clasper malformations are reported for the first time in two specimens of Pseudobatos buthi, a species recently described from the Gulf of California. The function of the

The dynamics of phytoplankton biomass in the vertically mixed south-eastern part of the Bisan Strait, in the Seto Inland Sea of Japan, may be considered to be strongly dependent not only on nutrients but also on light status. This was investigated by examining variations in chlorophyll-a (Chl-a), nutrients, and Secchi-disc depth through high-frequency sampling (a mean of once every 1.7 days) at the

Anguillid leptocephali of three Congridae species (Conger conger, Ariosoma balearicum and Gnathophis mistax) were caught as bycatch of pelagic trawls during acoustic surveys targeting small pelagic fish species in the southern Adriatic Sea, carried out under the framework of the Italian MEDIAS project (western side) and its extension in the ambit of the FAO AdriaMed project (eastern side). Results

The Lakshadweep archipelago constitutes a major coral region of India but still lacks sufficient biodiversity data owing to its remoteness and a low number of faunal studies in the past. The present paper describes two new Pseudoceros species collected from Agatti Island, Lakshadweep, India. Pseudoceros bipurpurea sp. nov. and Pseudoceros galaxea sp. nov. are described based on external and internal

In this study we report a new record of a cryptogenic polychaete from southern Africa. The species was found inhabiting sand tubes in intertidal sand flats in the Knysna Estuary on the southern coast of South Africa. Morphological comparisons using light and scanning electron microscopy showed extensive taxonomic similarities with Dipolydora socialis described from other localities and from museum

Ecological and biogeographic information for marine gastropods has lagged behind taxonomic, molecular and phylogenetic information, limiting understanding of evolutionary processes. We investigated niche separation and speciation in rapinine whelks that represent a rare deep estuarine penetration by muricid gastropods. We studied the genetic and ecological differentiation of four Indothais morphotypes

We record for the first time a nominal species of the genus Microscleroderma in the Western Atlantic, and the first record of the genus Amphibleptula in Mexico. Two new species of ‘lithistid’ Tetractinellida are described: Microscleroderma mexica sp. nov. from crevices of two reefs in Veracruz, Mexico, and Amphibleptula aaktun sp. nov. from the anchialine cave El Aerolito, Cozumel Island, Mexico. Microscleroderma

There are limited data regarding the reproductive biology of the scalloped hammerhead (Sphyrna lewini) in Ecuadorian waters, which limits the development of appropriate management measures of its populations. A total of 1664 S. lewini specimens were recorded in Manta, Ecuador in 2003–2009. Specimens were caught by local commercial fisheries and measured between 50–310 cm total length (TL). Females

The present study reviews Perinereis Group 2 species from the Eastern and South-eastern Asian seas based on morphological analysis of the types, non-types and original descriptions, and the use of molecular evidence (COI and 16S rDNA) from newly collected material. These species are characterized by having two bar-shaped paragnaths on pharyngeal area VI, which are often deemed conical when small and

Ports have long been considered ‘high-risk’ areas for the introduction of non-native species (NNS) and should therefore be a focus of NNS monitoring. The industrial nature of active ports can, however, provide various problems when attempting to carry out monitoring programmes. Current methodologies designed to identify NNS and to describe fouling communities have not been developed specifically for

The intertidal coastline of Ceredigion, Wales, comprises a patchwork of unstable sand and cobble beaches, and stable bedrock areas and boulder-fields. The last two shoreline types support rock-pools with growths of the red alga Corallina officinalis, the thalli of which are a popular substrate for calcareous epiphytes. Replicate samples of C. officinalis (four per site) were taken from (a) three bedrock

Ostracods and foraminifera are excellent indicators of environmental change and can act as proxies for the presence of seagrass meadows. These proxies have been under-utilized in vulnerable coastal ecosystems in South-east Asia, and the fundamental habitat and environmental parameters required for such application in environmental monitoring have not yet been established. We investigated the habitat

The poorly known sponge species Axinella vellerea (Topsent, 1904), Acarnus levii (Vacelet, 1960) and Haliclona poecillastroides (Vacelet, 1969) are reported from bottom-trawl samples off the Balearic Islands, Western Mediterranean. A re-description is provided for all three species and the Folmer fragment of cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) obtained for A. levii and H. poecillastroides. This is the

Abundant species are typically also viewed as ecologically dominant, and are frequently used to characterize the communities in which they live. Such characteristic assemblages may also be used as indicators of environmental conditions, such as relative stability. Fossil and modern turritelline gastropods are often the most abundant species in the marine assemblages and communities in which they occur

The alpha taxonomy of scaphopods is based mainly on the shell morphology, as it is for most molluscs. In the last three decades, the employment of morphometric variables of the shell in combination with statistics has considerably increased to aid species discrimination, but this has not been used above species level. In this study, a traditional morphometric approach was used to distinguish congeners

Sea turtles are partners in commensal relationships with a variety of epibionts, including barnacles. The acorn barnacle Chelonibia testudinaria is one species commonly found associated with sea turtles and other marine fauna throughout temperate to tropical waters including the Indo-Pacific. We conducted a study to assess the occurrence of this barnacle, relative to host life stage and species in

We investigated the population dynamics of the spider crab Libinia ferreirae, focusing on the frequency distribution of individuals in size classes, sex ratio and the action of environmental variables (temperature, salinity, texture and organic matter content in the sediment) on reproduction and recruitment. Monthly collections were made in the Ubatuba region from January 1998 to December 2000. A total

In response to perceived, but unknown variation among the size selection of narrow-barred Spanish mackerel (Scomberomorus commerson) by artisanal gillnetters off Iran, and the need for such data to control exploitation as a precursor to balanced harvesting, the effects of two common mesh sizes (130 and 140 mm stretched mesh opening made from multifilament twine) on catches were investigated over one

A total of 5478 fishes were sampled between 2009 and 2020 to assess length–weight, length–length and weight–weight relationships in 39 marine species from 10 families caught in the Seychelles waters by the artisanal fishery. Two types of length (total length TL, fork length FL) and three types of weight (whole weight WT, gutted weight GW and gilled-gutted weight GGW) were measured. The parameters of

The reproductive biology and embryonic development of Mustelus higmani were examined between January 2015 and December 2016 in the south-eastern Caribbean. Captures comprised 813 females (23.2–72.5 cm TL), and 960 males (22.6–62.5 cm TL). The total length at 50% maturity was estimated as 47.8 and 47.5 cm for females and males, respectively. Uterine fecundity ranged from 1 to 8 embryos and ovarian fecundity

Habitat structure increases richness and abundance of species in many environments by providing easy access to resources and refuge from predators. In coral reefs, corals are habitat for many organisms and differences in their morphologies may act as variation in habitat structure for associated fauna. In the present study, we investigate whether there are differences in the richness and abundance

The peacock-tail shrimp Ancylocaris brevicarpalis Schenkel, 1902, is an obligate symbiont of sea anemones and well known for its remarkable colouration. Yet, very little information is available about its population structure and life-history traits, including reproductive parameters (fecundity, embryo volume and reproductive output). A total of 574 individuals were collected from the Gulf of Mannar

The slipper lobster Scyllarus arctus is an important fishery resource in Galicia (NW Iberian Peninsula), with a large reduction of its populations in recent decades in the North-east Atlantic and Mediterranean, but only limited information on its reproduction. This study provides an analysis of the reproductive potential of this scyllarid during two breeding cycles (2008 and 2009) in the NE Atlantic

Increased numbers of great cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo) in the Baltic Sea may have local impacts on fisheries and salmonid hatcheries. We studied spatial and temporal variability in cormorant diet, and potential consumption of hatchery salmonids, by analysing knee subcutaneous adipose tissue fatty acids (FA) of specimens (N = 77) collected along Swedish and Finnish coasts in different seasons during

An extensive review of cephalopod fauna in the Central and North Atlantic coast of Africa was performed based on material collected during 10 research cruises in these waters. In the Canary Current Large Marine Ecosystem (CCLME) area, a total of 378,377 cephalopod specimens was collected from 1247 bottom trawl stations. Of those specimens, 300 were sampled for subsequent identification in the laboratory

Twelve hyper-β carotene-producing strains of algae assigned to the genus Dunaliella salina have been isolated from various hypersaline environments in Israel, South Africa, Namibia and Spain. Intron-sizing of the SSU rDNA and phylogenetic analysis of these isolates were undertaken using four commonly employed markers for genotyping, LSU rDNA, ITS, rbcL and tufA and their application to the study of

The Western Kangaroo Island Marine Park (WKIMP) was declared as part of South Australia's representative system of Marine Protected Areas in 2009. Sanctuary Zone 3 (SZ-3) of the WKIMP is a no-take area protected from fishing since 1 October 2014 and is located within the Northern Zone Rock Lobster Fishery (NZRLF). In February 2017, a dedicated survey was undertaken to estimate the relative abundance

Despite the high commercial value of the striped seabream Lithognathus mormyrus (Linnaeus, 1758) in the Gulf of Tunis, biological data on its age, growth and exploitation rate are lacking. With the aim of estimating growth parameters, 516 individuals, ranging from 6–27.5 cm total length and from 3.5–293.5 g total weight, were collected from the artisanal fishing fleet between February 2014 and July

Oceanic islands and seamounts are considered biodiversity hotspots. Here, we present a taxonomy and community analyses of hyperiid amphipods collected near oceanic islands and over seamounts of the Juan Fernández Archipelago and Desventuradas Archipelago in the South-east Pacific. Both archipelagos are separated by about 800 km over the meridional gradient, suggesting the existence of different hyperiid

In Saroma-ko Lagoon, where scallop aquaculture is a thriving commercial activity, monitoring primary production is essential for determining the amount of scallops that can be farmed. Using the primary production data obtained so far, we calculated Ψ, an index of water-column light utilization efficiency, and clarified its seasonal variation. Ψ tended to be lower in the spring bloom season (February–April)

Rocky shore ecology has been studied for a long time, starting with qualitative descriptions and becoming more quantitative and experimental over time. Some of the earliest manipulative experimental ecological studies were undertaken on rocky shores. Many, over time, have made considerable contributions to ecological theory, especially highlighting the importance of biological interactions at the community

Drought stress was evaluated with polyethylene glycol 6000 (PEG 6000) treatment in Dunaliella salina, a microalga known for its great ability to withstand salinities of more than 30%. The aim was to explore the acclimation mechanisms used by the microalga to regulate its growth and physiology during coping with drought stress. The microalga was subjected to culture mediums containing 2 and 5% PEG for

Changes in phytoplankton composition of the Golden Horn Estuary were investigated following remediation, through seawater transfer from the Strait of Istanbul to the estuary. Average values of Secchi depth, salinity and dissolved oxygen increased during this study when compared with a previous study. The average number of species (S) and species diversity (H′) increased and they correlated positively