Marine Biology

Twinning has been reported to be much rarer in sea turtles than in freshwater turtles. However, data from sea turtles were inferred from unhatched eggs only. We hypothesized that the difference in twinning events among turtle taxa resulted primarily from the methods used for recording data. In this study, data have been recorded from 727 clutches of eggs of loggerhead sea turtles Caretta caretta laid between 2002 and 2009 at the Pelagie Islands, Italy (n = 36 clutches) and at Dalaman Beach, Turkey (n = 691 clutches). Twin embryos were found in seven out of 12160 unhatched eggs (twinning rate per unhatched egg: 0.058), but not a single case of hatched or emerged twins was recorded in 3571 eggs. The twinning rate recorded, based on post-hoc procedures, did not underestimate the occurrence of the phenomenon: the odds of obtaining a pair of twins in unhatched eggs were as large (0.92 times) as the odds of obtaining a pair of twins in the total eggs. Compared with other loggerhead nesting sites, and other sea turtle species, no statistical differences were found. However, twinning in C. caretta was found to be 6.9 times rarer than in freshwater turtle species.

1. The Mediterranean sperm whale sub-population is considered 'Endangered' by both ACCOBAMS and the IUCN. Conservation policies require protected species populations to be monitored, but the distribution and movements of sperm whales across the Mediterranean Sea are still poorly understood. 2. To provide insight into sperm whale movements, the photo-identification catalogue from the Strait of Gibraltar was compared with seven other collections: (a) the North Atlantic and Mediterranean Sperm Whale Catalogue (NAMSC), and with photo-identification catalogues from (b) the Alboran Sea, Spain, (c) the Balearic Islands, Spain, (d) the Corso-Provençal Basin, France, (e) the Western Ligurian Sea, Italy, (f) the Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy and (g) the Hellenic Trench, Greece. 3. Of 47 sperm whales identified in the Strait of Gibraltar between 1999 and 2011 a total of 15 animals (32%) were photographically recaptured in other sectors of the western Mediterranean Sea in different years. None of the Strait of Gibraltar sperm whales were resighted in Atlantic waters or in the eastern Mediterranean basin. 4. These results indicate long-range movements of the species throughout the whole western Mediterranean Sea, with a maximum straight-line distance of about 1600 km. The absence of any photographic recaptures between the Mediterranean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean supports the genetic evidence of an isolated sub-population within the Mediterranean Sea. 5. Long-term photo-identification efforts and data sharing between institutions should be further encouraged to provide basic information necessary for the implementation of effective sperm whale conservation measures in the whole basin.

Present short communication reports about beach stranding of Porpita porpita (Linnaeus 1758) from the Coast of Mandvi, Kutch during August 2021. Also, this is the first record of the blue button jellyfishes for the northern Gulf of Kutch region. A study was carried out by primary observation and measurements of common environmental parameters such as Sea Surface Temperature (SST), Wind Direction & Wind Speed. Aboral and oral parts were observed and described. It is assumed that the large biomass of blue button jellyfish on the beach is due to strong shoreward Monsoon winds.

Recruitment is essential for the maintenance of populations, but far more is typically known about the more easily-observed adult stages than their smaller, often microscopic early life-history counterparts. This discrepancy can be particularly problematic for populations of foundation species that create biogenic habitat for a multitude of other taxa, but are themselves prime candidates for exploitation, fragmentation, and loss, and therefore become the focus of restoration eVorts partly or fully dependent on recruitment. The purpose of this study was to improve ecological understanding for early life-history stages of the habitat-forming marine alga Cystoseira barbata (Stackhouse) C. Agardh (Fucales: Sargassaceae), member of a genus that has experienced considerable fragmentation and population decline on European coasts. Using experimental manipulations of water temperature, light intensity, and sediment accumulation, we observed that sediment virtually precluded recruitment of C. barbata, and greatly impacted the survival of recently settled germlings (up to »83% mortality). Stronger intensities of light facilitated the growth of germlings, including the capacity for »50% of them to outgrow detrimental sediment and survive. Temperature (10 vs. 16°C) had no eVect on early recruitment, survival, or growth. This information helps to identify likely causes and locations of recruitment failure, and by extension, the conditions needed (either naturally or through human intervention) to facilitate recruitment and possible habitat restoration. Ultimately, this knowledge can increase our capacity to predict population persistence and the likely success of restoration eVorts. Communicated by S. D. Connell.

Despite their perceived inaccessibility, the marine intertidal and benthic environments of Antarctica, southern Africa and South America have continued to provide marine natural products for chemists with unique opportunities to study the secondary metabolite constituents and chemical ecology of a diverse array of marine gastropod molluscs. This review covers the literature up to 31 January 2005 and describes the structures and, where applicable, biological activities of 100 secondary metabolites isolated from 21 species of marine gastropod molluscs. Not unexpectedly, the chemistry of chemically defended shell-less opisthobranchs dominates the natural product studies of molluscs collected from these regions of the southern hemisphere.

The antimicrobial peptide human α-defensin 5 (HD5) is expressed in Paneth cells, secretory epithelial cells in the small intestine. Unlike other characterized defensins, HD5 is stored in secretory vesicles as a propeptide. The storage quantities of HD5 are ∼90-450 µg per cm 2 of mucosal surface area, which is sufficient to generate microbicidal concentrations in the intestinal lumen. HD5 peptides isolated from the intestinal lumen are proteolytically processed forms-HD5(56-94) and HD5(63-94)-that are cleaved at the Arg 55 -Ala 56 and Arg 62 -Thr 63 sites, respectively.We show here that a specific pattern of trypsin isozymes is expressed in Paneth cells, that trypsin colocalizes with HD5 and that this protease can efficiently cleave HD5 propeptide to forms identical to those isolated in vivo. By acting as a prodefensin convertase in human Paneth cells, trypsin is involved in the regulation of innate immunity in the small intestine.

At-sea distributions of large scyphozoan jellyfish across the Irish Sea were studied using visual surface counts from ships of opportunity. Thirty-seven surveys were conducted along two[100 km long transects between Ireland and the UK from April to September in 2009 and 2010. Five species were recorded but only Aurelia aurita and Cyanea capillata were frequently observed. The first formal description of the seasonal changes in the abundances and distributions of these two species in the study area is provided. The highest densities of these species were more likely to be found *30 km offshore, but large aggregations were present both in coastal and offshore waters. Evidence for aggregations of medusae along physical discontinuities was provided by coupling jellyfish observations with simultaneous records of environmental parameters. The value of surveys from ships of opportunity as cost-effective semi-quantitative tools, to develop local knowledge on jellyfish abundance, distribution, and phenology is discussed.

Thermoregulation could represent a signicant fraction of the total energy budget of endotherms under unfavourable environmental conditions. This cost affects several traits of the ecology of an organism such as its behaviour, distribution, or life history. Heat produced by muscle contraction during activity can be used to pay for heat loss or thermoregulation in many species (known as “thermal substitution”). This study seeks to unite the effects of temperature, depth, and activity on the energetic costs of endotherm divers using the Magellanic penguin as model species and to evaluate whether penguins may benet from thermal substitution. This species operates under highly variable temperature and depth conditions along its breeding range and provides an ideal natural experiment. A developed thermodynamic model describing foraging activity predicted that the major element affecting heat loss was depth, exacerbated by temperature. Birds liv- ing in colder waters are predicted to be able to minimize costs by executing shallower dives and bene t from ther- mal substitution by swimming faster, particularly during deeper dives. The model was evaluated in two contrasting scenarios: (1) when birds swim near the surface commuting to the foraging areas and (2) when birds dive to depth to forage. Activity data from tags on free-living penguins indicated two of these predictions were apparent; penguins generally travelled faster while commuting at the surface in colder waters, while birds from warmer water colonies dived deeper while foraging. Contrary to predictions, how- ever, penguins swam slower at deeper depths during both descent and ascent phases of foraging dives. These results suggest that penguins may bene t from thermal substitu- tion by swimming faster when birds perform shallow dives commuting to and back from foraging areas, but they pro- vide no evidence of behavioural response (via swimming faster) for thermoregulation when diving to depth to forage. Reasons for this are discussed and include the relevance of prey abundance in 3-d space and maximizing dive duration by conserving oxygen reserves. The way the bird operates will have profound consequences for the energy needed and therefore necessary energy acquisition rates. Expansion of our ndings to other diving endotherms might help explain both global activity patterns and energy ow in ecosystems.

The activity of glutamine synthetase (GS) was measured in the marine diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum Bohlin (Strain SME) by a biosynthetic assay, based on 7-glutamyl hydroxamate synthesis, and referred to as the forwardreaction assay. The effects of pH, temperature and different homogenizing buffer preparations on enzyme activity, linearity of reactions, and substrate-saturation kinetics were investigated. The resultant data provide the basis for establishing optimum experimental conditions for a standard assay. Affinities of P. tricornutum GS for glutamate, ATP and Mg 2+ were similar to those recorded elsewhere for a variety of other phytoplankton species using "true" biosynthetic assays based on release of inorganic phosphate, whereas the affinity for hydroxylamine was two orders of magnitude lower than that for ammonium, with an apparent K m value in the millimolar range. This, together with negative results obtained during earlier attempts to detect GS activity in P. tricornutum using the "true" biosynthetic assay, indicates that the GS of this alga has a lower affinity for ammonium than that of other phytoplankton species. Dual substrate kinetics demonstrated that apparent K m and V m values for glutamate were directly proportional to the concentration of ATP, thus giving indirect evidence of a correlation between GS activity and the adenylate energy charge. Comparisons between synthetase activities obtained with the optimized tbrward-reaction assay and transferase activities reported from other studies on various phytoplankton species revealed discrepancies which, to a great extent, probably arise from differences in the growth conditions of the organisms.

Effects of heavy metals [copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), manganese (Mn), iron  (Fe), Aluminum (Al), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), stannum (Sn), and lead (Pb)] present in Tubruk harbor (polluted site) comparing to Umm Hufayan lagoon water (control) on liver and kidney performance of Mugil cephalus captured from both sites were investigated. For this purpose, surface water samples of both chosen sites were compared in terms of heavy metals concentrations, pH, and dissolved oxygen. Mullet fish were captured from both sites and blood samples were taken from the fish and sent to the lab for liver and kidney function tests. The results showed that heavy metals levels were significantly higher in Tubruk than those in Umm Hufayan lagoon. Additionally, significantly higher total protein and albumin levels were found in the blood serum of M. cephalus of Umm Hufayan, compared to Tubruk harbor fish samples; however, higher levels of bilirubin (BR), alanine transaminase (ALT), ...

Intraspecific variation in body pigmentation is an ecologically and evolutionary important trait; however, the pigmentation related trade-offs in marine zooplankton are poorly understood. We tested the effects of intrapopulation phenotypic variation in the pigmentation of the copepod Eurytemora affinis on predation risk, foraging, growth, metabolic activity and antioxidant capacity. Using pigmented and unpigmented specimens, we compared (1) predation and selectivity by the invertebrate predator Cercopagis pengoi, (2) feeding activity of the copepods measured as grazing rate in experiments and gut fluorescence in situ, (3) metabolic activity assayed as RNA:DNA ratio in both experimental and field-collected copepods, (4) reproductive output estimated as egg ratio in the population, and (5) total antioxidant capacity. Moreover, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) COI gene variation was analysed. The pigmented individuals were at higher predation risk as evidenced by significantly higher predation rate by C. pengoi on pigmented individuals and positive selection by the predator fed pigmented and unpigmented copepods in a mixture. However, the antioxidant capacity, RNA:DNA and egg ratio values were significantly higher in the pigmented copepods, whereas neither feeding rate nor gut fluorescence differed between the pigmented and unpigmented copepods. The phenotypic variation in pigmentation was not associated with any specific mtDNA genotype. Together, these results support the metabolic stimulation hypothesis to explain variation in E. affinis pigmentation, which translates into beneficial increase in growth via enhanced metabolism and antioxidant protective capacity, together with disadvantageous increase in predation risk. We also suggest an alternative mechanism for the metabolic stimulation via elevated antioxidant levels as a primary means of increasing metabolism without the increase in heat absorbance. The observed trade-offs are relevant to evolutionary mechanisms underlying plasticity and adaptation and have the capacity to modify strength of complex trophic interactions. Citation: Gorokhova E, Lehtiniemi M, Motwani NH (2013) Trade-Offs between Predation Risk and Growth Benefits in the Copepod Eurytemora affinis with Contrasting Pigmentation. PLoS ONE 8(8): e71385.

SYNOPSIS. Among diverse marine invertebrate taxa, the evolution of a non-planktotrophic larva is often associated with increased rates of cladogenesis, compared to related taxa that retain the ancestral planktotrophic larval form. Molecular phylogenetic analyses of non-planktotrophic (and, presumably species-rich) clades of marine invertebrates are rare. Here we analyze 1542 base pairs of mitochondrial DNA sequence comprising two gene regions, the cytochrome oxidase I gene and the putative control region and flanking sequences, for 23 molecular lineages in the obligately brood-protecting asteroid genus Leptasterias. Using maximum likelihood, minimum evolution, and maximum parsimony methods, five major clades were identified that corresponded to five taxa (species or species complexes) in the subgenus Hexasterias, section camtschatica (following the taxonomy of Walter K. Fisher). Two clades (L. aequalis complex and L. aleutica/L. camtschatica complex) were composed of numerous molecular lineages (7-8 lineages/clade), and several clades had multiple shallow nodes, suggestive of recent radiations. Two of the clades (L. aleutica/L. camtschatica complex and L. hexactis complex), with geographic ranges restricted to latitudes higher than 48؇N, were lacking deep phylogenetic nodes. This pattern is consistent with the hypothesis that high-latitude taxa have high rates of extinction due to repeated climatic crises. A log-likelihood ratio test performed on the camtschatica section, including a member (Leptasterias polaris) of the polaris section and using a representative (L. mü lleri) of Leptasterias subgenus Leptasterias as an outgroup, demonstrated that the camtschatica section is monophyletic.

Elevated temperature (ocean warming) and reduced oceanic pH (ocean acidification) are products of increased atmospheric pCO2, and have been shown in many marine taxa to alter morphology, impede development, and reduce fitness. Here, we investigated the effects of high pCO2 and elevated temperature on developmental rate, hatching success, and veliger morphology of embryos of the tropical sea hare, Stylocheilus striatus. Exposure to high pCO2 resulted in significant developmental delays, postponing hatching by nearly 24 h, whereas exposure to elevated temperature (in isolation or in combination with high pCO2) resulted in accelerated development, with larvae reaching several developmental stages approximately 48 h in advance of controls. Hatching success was reduced by ~20 and 55% under high pCO2 and warming, respectively, while simultaneous exposure to both conditions resulted in a nearly additive 70% reduction in hatching. In addition to these ontological and lethal effects, exposure of embryos to climate change stressors resulted in significant morphological effects. Larval shells were nearly 40% smaller under high pCO2 and warming in isolation and up to 53% smaller under multi-stressor conditions. In general, elevated temperature had the largest impact on development, with temperature-effects nearly 3.5-times the magnitude of high pCO2-effects. These results indicate that oceanic conditions congruent with climate change predictions for the end of the twenty-first century suppress successful development in S. striatus embryos, potentially reducing their viability as pelagic larvae.

This paper presents an overview of the significance of the use of molecular biomarkers as diagnostic and prognostic tools for marine pollution monitoring. In order to assess the impact of highly persistent pollutants such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), polychlorinated dibenzo-dioxins (PCDD), polychlorinated dibenzo-furans (PCDF), polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), tributyltin (TBT) and other toxic metals on the marine ecosystem a suite of biomarkers are being extensively used worldwide. Among the various types of biomarkers, the following have received special attention: cytochrome P4501A induction, DNA integrity, acetylcholinesterase activity and metallothionein induction. These biomarkers are being used to evaluate exposure of various species of sentinel marine organisms (e.g. mussels, clams, oysters, snails, fishes, etc.) to and the effect of various contaminants (organic xenobiotics and metals) using different molecular approaches [biochemical assays, enzyme linked immuno-sorbent assays (ELISA), spectrophotometric, fluorometric measurement, differential pulsed polarography, liquid chromatography, atomic absorption spectrometry]. The induction of the biotransformation enzyme, cytochrome P4501A in fishes (Callionymus lyra, Limanda limanda, Serranus sp., Mullus barbatus) and mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) by various xenobiotic contaminants such as PCBs, PAHs, PCDs is used as a biomarker of exposure to such organic pollutants. The induction of cytochrome P4501A is involved in chemical carcinogenesis through catalysis of the covalent bonding of organic contaminants to a DNA strand leading to formation of DNA adduct. Measurement of the induction of cytochrome P4501A in terms of EROD (7-ethoxy resorufin O-deethylase) activity is successfully used as a potential biomarker of exposure to xenobiotic contaminants in marine pollution monitoring. In order to assess the impact of neurotoxic compounds on marine environment the evaluation of acetylcholinesterase activity in marine organisms is used as a biomarker of exposure to neurotoxic agents such as organophosphorus, carbamate pesticides etc. Metallothioneins (MTs) are induced by toxic metals such as Cd, Hg, and Cu by chelation through cysteine residues and are used in both vertebrates and invertebrates as a biomarker of metal exposure. The measurement of the levels of DNA integrity in marine organisms such as Sea stars (Asterias rubens) from the North Sea and the marine snails (Planaxis sulcatus) from the Arabian Sea along the Goa coast exposed to environmental xenobiotic contaminants clearly indicated the extent and the nature of pollution at the sampling sites along coastal environment.

The trophic position and the predator–prey relationship between the sperm whale Physeter macrocephalus and the jumbo squid Dosidicus gigas were examined by measuring stable isotope ratios of carbon and nitrogen. Skin samples of sperm whales and muscle samples of small and large jumbo squid were collected between 1996 and 1999 in the Gulf of California. Gender determination through molecular analysis and field identification of size were used to identify adult male, female and immature male sperm whales. The stable isotope ratios of C and N of females and immature males were significantly different from those of adult male sperm whales; however, between females and immature males they did not differ significantly. The δ13C and δ15N values of females and immature males were higher than large jumbo squid by 1.1‰ and 2.7‰ respectively, suggesting a predator–prey relationship between them. A low isotopic interannual variation among the years 1997 to 1999 was observed in the isotopic sign...

Numerous studies have demonstrated population genetic structuring in marine species, yet few have investigated the effect of vertical zonation on gene flow and population structure. Here we use three sympatric, closely related clinid species, Clinus cottoides, C. superciliosus and Muraenoclinus dorsalis, to test whether zonation on South African intertidal rocky shores affects phylogeographic patterns. We show that the high-shore restricted species has reduced gene flow and considerably higher F ST values (F ST = 0.9) than the mid-and low-shore species (F ST < 0.14). Additionally, we provide evidence for remarkably different demographic and evolutionary histories, ranging from extreme population bottlenecks to population persistence, which are probably linked to effective population size and habitat specialisation. This study further highlights the need for a multispecies approach to unravel the biological and evolutionary processes that drive extant population genetic patterns in marine species, as even closely related species with similar life histories show highly variable results.

Submersible observations off Japan, Hawaii, and California, USA, at depths of 645–1497 m, have revealed a previously undescribed species of large semaeostome scyphomedusa. These observations were made from 1993 to 2002. The medusa, Tiburonia granrojo n. sp. is sufficiently different from other species in the family Ulmariidae to justify the creation of a new subfamily (Tiburoniinae). This subfamily and species are distinct in overall bell morphology and color, lacking any marginal tentacles, and having four to seven short, thick oral arms that extend beyond the bell margin. The entire medusa, including the mesoglea, is a deep red. A new key to the subfamilies of the Ulmaridae and large subunit rRNA sequence information for T. granrojo are provided. That new species of this size and mass are still being discovered in the deep waters of the world suggests that deep-water species remain undescribed. Additional information is available at http://www.mbari.org/midwater

Elucidating the signalling mechanisms by which obesity leads to impaired insulin action is critical in the development of therapeutic strategies for the treatment of diabetes 1 . Recently, mice deficient for S6 Kinase 1 (S6K1), an effector of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) that acts to integrate nutrient and insulin signals 2 , were shown to be hypoinsulinaemic, glucose intolerant and have reduced b-cell mass 3 . However, S6K1deficient mice maintain normal glucose levels during fasting, suggesting hypersensitivity to insulin 3 , raising the question of their metabolic fate as a function of age and diet. Here, we report that S6K1-deficient mice are protected against obesity owing to enhanced b-oxidation. However on a high fat diet, levels of glucose and free fatty acids still rise in S6K1-deficient mice, resulting in insulin receptor desensitization. Nevertheless, S6K1-deficient mice remain sensitive to insulin owing to the apparent loss of a negative feedback loop from S6K1 to insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS1), which blunts S307 and S636/S639 phosphorylation; sites involved in insulin resistance 4,5 . Moreover, wild-type mice on a high fat diet as well as K/K A y and ob/ob (also known as Lep/Lep) mice-two genetic models of obesity-have markedly elevated S6K1 activity and, unlike S6K1-deficient mice, increased phosphorylation of IRS1 S307 and S636/S639. Thus under conditions of nutrient satiation S6K1 negatively regulates insulin signalling.

Recently, a novel approach to a highly sensitive and quantitative detection of rare earth element (REE) ions including La3+, Eu3+ and Tb3+, by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique, has been reported. The detection of REE ions is based on the catalytic nature of REE ions targeting the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), thus monitoring of the ions can be achieved by reading the level of intact DNA by PCR. Despite of its high sensitivity (at ppb to ppt levels), the conventional PCR-based REE detection protocol requires certain length of time (1-2 hours). In the present study, we modified the PCR-based REE detection protocols by employing the high-speed PCR, and performed the automated and rapid detection of La3+ in small-sized aqueous samples within 5min.

Field studies were conducted in Johnson Key Basin, Florida Bay, USA from September 2002 through September 2004 to examine physiological, ecological, and behavioral characteristics of the gulf toadfish, Opsanus beta (Goode and Bean in Proc US Natl Mes 3:333-345, 1880), in relation to nitrogen metabolism, habitat usage, and spawning. Fish collected 5 cm above sediments in experimental shelters (epibenthic) were compared with those collected by throw traps which were found on or burrowing within sediments. The relationship between microhabitat ammonia and urea excretion, as determined by the enzymatic activity of glutamine synthetase (GS), was examined. The hypothesis tested was that O. beta occupying epibenthic nests were less ureotelic with lower GS activities than non-nesting individuals on/in sediments, due to a decreased environmental ammonia burden. Porewater total ammonia (T Amm ) concentrations at a sediment depth of 5 cm, i.e., the approximate depth of burrowing toadfish, ranged from 0 to 106.5 lmol N l -1 while the pH ranged from 7.48 to 9.14. There was a weak but significant correlation between environmental ammonia (NH 3 ) concentration and hepatic GS activity for epibenthic toadfish (P < 0.001, r 2 = 0.10), but not for burrowing toadfish. Mean urea-N and T Amm concentrations within shelters occupied by toadfish (n = 281) were 9.8 ± 0.83 lmol N l -1 and 13.0 ± 0.7 lmol N l -1 , respectively. As predicted, hepatic GS activity was significantly lower in epibenthic toadfish captured in shelters (4.40 ± 0.24 lmol min -1 g -1 ; n = 281) as compared to individuals on/in sediments (6.61 ± 0.47 lmol min -1 g -1 ; n = 128). Glutamine synthetase activity generally peaked in March (spawning season) and was lowest in July. Gender differences in hepatic and branchial GS activity were also found during the spawning season, which is attributable to the fact that males brood and guard offspring in their epibenthic nests while females often rest on or burrow into the sediments. Finally, hepatic and branchial GS appeared to have different patterns of enzymatic activity suggesting functional differences in gene expression.

The taxonomy and distribution of halocyprid ostracods from the Arabian Sea Region is reported, based upon samples collected in the Northwestern Indian Ocean within the framework of the Netherlands Indian Ocean Program (NIOP: 1992-1993), the U.S. Joint Global Ocean Flux Study (U.S. JGOFS: 1994–1996), and the U.S. Global Ocean Ecosystem Dynamics program (U.S. GLOBEC: 1995). Forty-one species from the following genera belonging to the family Halocyprididae are
described, illustrated, and representative photographs are presented: Archiconchoecia, Alacia, Conchoecetta, Conchoecia, Conchoecilla, Conchoecissa, Discoconchoecia, Loricoecia, Mikroconchoecia, Orthoconchoecia, Paraconchoecia, Paramollicia, Platyconchoecia, Porroecia, Proceroecia,
Pseudoconchoecia, Clausoecia, Kyrtoecia, Nasoecia and Euconchoecia. For fourteen species, members of the genera Macroconchoecia, Mollicia, Paraconchoecia, Metaconchoecia, Mülleroecia, Fellia, Halocypria and Halocypris, only carapace outlines are presented. Keys to the subfamilies, tribes, genera and species, and patterns of horizontal and vertical distribution of each described species in the Arabian Sea Region are also given. The data on occurrence of halocyprid species at each of the stations during the investigation period and the depth ranges of halocyprid species found in the analyzed material but not described in the present book are listed in appendices.

ABSTRACT. Based on bimonthly samples the changes in abundance and biomass of benthic invertebrates have been monitored during a three-year period on the west coast of Phuket Island, Andaman Sea. This study provides the first long-term study of marine benthos in Thailand. The results obtained at 10 to 30 m depths showed an overall density of 540 individuals m-2 and a biomass of 14 g m-2. Locally, however, density could reach 4,000 ind. m-2. The species-area relationship was studied. It is shown that animals predominantly were distributed according to a Poisson series, but aggregated distribution was observed in a few families of polychaetes. The density of species, biomass and relative occurrence of fauna groups is discussed at individual sampling stations. This study showed that significant fluctuations occurred in the abundance of benthos concordant with fluctuations in the silt-clay concentrations of the sediments. These changes are interpreted in a successional scheme characterized initially by small, abundant and opportunistic species. The colonization of sea beds took place as a relatively small increase of pioneer species dominated by polychaetes. Benthos recolonized areas mined by offshore dredges but more than one monsoon period is needed for complete recolonization. Finally, the finding of a rich fauna in an area influenced by severe sediment disturbance is discussed in relation to current theories in terms of causes and maintenance of high species density in tropical waters.
[1985. J. Hylleberg, A. Nateewathana & B. Chatananthawej].

Three underwater stereo-video techniques were used to sample the relative densities and species richness of temperate reef fish assemblages at three reef locations and two habitats (high-and low-relief reef) within Hamelin Bay, south-western Australia. The three techniques compared were diver-operated stereo-video strip transects, baited remote stereo-video and unbaited remote stereo-video. While unbaited remote stereo-video and diver-operated stereo-video transects recorded greater species richness at high compared to low-relief reefs, baited remote stereo-video recorded similar species richness at the two habitat types. The diver-operated stereo-video system was manoeuvred through caves and under overhangs recording small, cryptic, cave-dwelling species that were not recorded by either remote video techniques (Trachinops noarlungae, Trachinops brauni, Chromis klunzingeri, Trachichthys australis). Both remote video techniques recorded greater species richness and relative density of the most common species of Labridae, Ophthalmolepsis lineolatus. Baited remote video recorded the rarer, large predatory fish species (e.g. Seriola hippos, Glaucosoma hebraicum, Heterodontus portusjacksoni). None of the techniques sampled small cryptic fish families such as Gobiidae or Blenniidae. A combination of survey techniques is recommended for comprehensive fishery-independent studies that aim to sample broad components of fish assemblages.