Morphological observation and rbcL gene sequences studies of two new species, Grateloupia dalianensis H.W.Wang et D.Zhao, sp. nov. and G. yinggehaiensis H.W.Wang et R.X.Luan, sp. nov. (Halymeniaceae, Rhodophyta) from China

A few species in the genus Grateloupia (Halymeniaceae,Rhodophyta) have been investigated in detail with respect to morphological observations and molecular analyses.In this study,the authors document the vegetative and reproductive structures of two new species of Grateloupia,G.dalianensis H.W.Wang et D.Zhao,sp.nov.and G.yinggehaiensis H.W.Wang et R.X.Luan,sp.nov.They both have the morphological character that carpogonial ampullae and auxiliary cell ampullae are the simple Grateloupia-type.The two species can be distinguished from other species of the genus by their distinctive morphological features respectively.Based on ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (rbcL) gene sequences,the phylogenetic tree obtained in the study indicated that they are both embedded within the Grateloupia clade.G.dalianensis clusters a subclade with G.asiatica,and G.yinggehaiensis forms a single monophyletic subclade with G.hawaiiana.     

海南新纪录种台湾蜈蚣藻(红藻门)的形态学观察和rbcL与COI基因序列分析

通过形态结构观察结合rbcL和COI基因序列分析的方法,发现分布于海南省博鳌的台湾蜈蚣藻(Grateloupia taiwanensis S.M.Lin et H.Y.Liang)为海南新纪录种。结果表明:藻体直立,红色或紫红色,质地柔软黏滑,高6—18cm,宽2—3cm,叶片呈披针形,边缘长出的小育枝亦呈披针形,长5—25mm,宽1—5mm,固着器呈圆盘状;皮层由8—11层细胞构成,髓部非中空,髓丝纵走或相互交错;雌雄异体,精子囊由外皮层细胞形成,球形。果胞枝生殖枝丛主枝由6个细胞构成,辅助细胞生殖枝丛主枝由5个细胞构成(6cpb-5auxb型),均为典型的Grateloupia型。囊果散布于除固着器外的整个雌配子体的表面;四分孢子囊由四分孢子体的内皮层细胞产生,呈十字形分裂。rbcL基因序列分析结果显示4个采自海南的样本与产自台湾南部的台湾蜈蚣藻之间无碱基序列差异;COI基因序列分析结果显示4个样本间无碱基差异,在蜈蚣藻属这一大的进化支中聚集成独立的小分支,区别于其他种。     

海南新纪录种东方蜈蚣藻(红藻门)的形态学观察和rbcL 基因序列分析

通过形态结构观察、生殖器官的发育和rbcL序列分析相结合的方法,发现了分布于海南省陵水新村的东方蜈蚣藻(Grateloupia orientalis S.-M.Lin et H.-Y.Liang)为海南新纪录种,该物种具有以下特征:藻体质地凝胶状或软骨质;皮层外部由5～6层念珠状的细胞构成,内部由1～2层星形细胞构成;生殖枝丛由两个分枝组成;果孢子囊分布在除藻体基部外的皮层内.     

北部湾海域球形棕囊藻遗传多样性分析

南海北部湾海域近年来连年暴发球形棕囊藻赤潮，严重威胁近海生态安全，亟待探明赤潮成因。球形棕囊藻是一种广泛分布于温带至热带海域的有害藻华微藻，具有明显的种下遗传分化。为了解北部湾海域球形棕囊藻的遗传多样性及其对赤潮藻种来源的指示意义，本研究针对分离于北部湾海域赤潮发生期间的4株棕囊藻，以核糖体28S大亚基rRNA基因（28S rDNA）D1-D2区和转录间隔区（ITS区）为靶区构建克隆文库，通过测序分析了北部湾海域球形棕囊藻的遗传多样性。结果表明，从北部湾分离的4株棕囊藻均为球形棕囊藻，但不同年份分离的球形棕囊藻藻株之间存在明显的遗传差异。部分球形棕囊藻藻株（PG2015和PG2017）的不同克隆间也存在遗传差异，这种遗传差异在由单一藻细胞建立的克隆培养系中仍存在，表明遗传差异是来自细胞内多拷贝的基因序列，可能源自不同地理种群球形棕囊藻之间的基因交流。与ITS区相比，28S rDNA D1-D2区能更好地反映球形棕囊藻遗传多样性状况，具有作为分子标记指示球形棕囊藻地理种群的潜力，但仍需深入研究。研究结果深化了对北部湾球形棕囊藻遗传多样性的认识，有望为进一步解析北部湾海域球形棕囊藻赤潮原因种来源提供判据。     

不同养殖区红藻表面假交替单胞菌多样性分析

利用2216E培养基从我国沿海6种养殖红藻的20个样品表面分离了327 株假交替单胞菌。经过16S rDNA序列鉴定, 分别隶属于Pseudoalteromonas carrageenovora、P. haloplanktis、P. marina、P. agarivorans、P. elyakovii和P. lipolytica 6个种。其中P. carrageenovora数量最多, 总共211株, 在14个样品上均有发现。     

外来入侵海洋红藻具孔斯帕林藻Sparlingia pertusa的形态观察及分子系统分析

2015年5月至2016年7月在辽宁省大连市黑石礁海域发现红皮藻科入侵种具孔斯帕林藻Sparlingia pertusa(Postels et Ruprecht)G.W.Saunders,I.M.Strachan et G.T.Kraft,对其进行了详细的形态结构观察和分子系统分析。结果表明:(1)藻体直立;成熟藻体高0.2—0.8m;呈红色或暗红褐色;藻体表面分布着密集的孔洞;皮层由2—3层圆形细胞组成;髓部由3—5层椭圆形薄壁细胞组成。(2)rbc L基因序列分析结果显示本研究的6个具孔斯帕林藻样本之间无碱基差异,与产自日本的样本无碱基差异,与美国和加拿大产的样本之间的碱基序列差异为1bp(0.98%);COI基因序列分析结果显示本研究的6个具孔斯帕林藻样本之间无碱基差异,与产自加拿大的样本之间无碱基差异。具孔斯帕林藻在我国海域首次发现为中国新纪录种,同时发现斯帕林藻属Sparlingia G.W.Saunders,I.W.Strachan et G.T.Kraft为中国新纪录属,认为海洋经济物种太平洋牡蛎和虾夷扇贝的引进、船舶压舱水以及海水的流动等是该种入侵的主要原因。     

光色对豹纹鳃棘鲈幼鱼摄食、生长和存活的影响

为探究光色对鱼类摄食、生长和存活的影响,作者在模块化小型循环水养殖系统中,以豹纹鳃棘鲈(Plectropomus leopardus)幼鱼(体长21.2 cm±1.22 cm,体质量112.46 g±2.632 g)为对象,设置5种光色环境(红、黄、绿、白和黑暗),进行了4个月的循环水养殖实验。结果表明:绿光下豹纹鳃棘鲈幼鱼摄食率高、饵料转化率高、饵料系数低,但不同光色下豹纹鳃棘鲈幼鱼的摄食不存在显著性差异(P0.05);幼鱼的体长增长,绿光组和红光组大,且与其余3组间差异显著(P0.05);幼鱼的体质量增长,绿光组最大,红光组和黑暗组次之,白光组和黄光组最小,且三者间差异显著(P0.05);各组幼鱼的肥满度并没有显著性差异(P0.05);除白光组幼鱼存活率(只有50%)最低外,其余各组幼鱼存活率均在80%以上,其中绿光组最高,为88.33%。可见,在循环水养殖生产中,绿光环境有利于豹纹鳃棘鲈幼鱼的摄食、生长和存活。     

海萝抗氧化酶系与失水响应因子表达模式分析

潮间带红藻海萝(Gloiopeltis furcata)对失水胁迫具有很强的耐受能力。为探索海萝周期性失水过程中的响应机制,本研究在24 h内设计了两次连续的失水-复水循环处理,测定了海萝抗氧化酶活力的变化情况。同时,利用转录组测序技术,结合荧光定量PCR方法(qRT-RCR),对海萝失水响应基因的转录表达进行了验证。结果表明:海萝转录组共组装到32681条基因。与对照组相比,处理组共表达了7161条差异表达基因(differentially expressed genes, DEGs)。KEGG分析显示, DEGs分布在代谢、环境信息加工、有机体系统、遗传信息加工、细胞进程等方面。海萝抗氧化酶活力测定发现,抗氧化能力对海萝响应失水胁迫十分重要。过氧化氢酶(CAT)、硫氧还蛋白还原酶(TrxR)、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)参与抗氧化过程,其中CAT酶活力对海萝抵抗失水胁迫尤为重要。此外,qRT-PCR结果显示,海萝中渗透调节物质红藻糖苷合成的相关基因(GfUGPase、GfGK、GfGPDH)只对初次失水处理有正响应。而热激蛋白70基因(GfHSP70)、碳酸酐酶基因(GfCA)、MYB蛋白编码基因(GfMYB)以及谷胱甘肽S转移酶基因(GfGST)在两次失水过程中其转录水平均有上调表达,它们也参与了海萝失水响应机制。     

三种常见经济虾蟹类眼柄微结构分析

本研究分别检测了三疣梭子蟹(Portunus trituberculatus)、中华绒螯蟹(Eriocheir sinensis)和中国对虾(Penaeus orientalis)三种虾蟹类的眼柄微结构特征,根据眼柄微结构,三种虾蟹类眼柄都分为4层:表层、色素层、钙化层和膜层。表层质地均匀,色素层含有色素,钙化层内有明显的生长纹(宽带和细纹),膜层透明度最高。但是三者眼柄微结构也有差异,中国对虾眼柄色素层较薄,膜层较厚,中华绒螯蟹钙化层含有色素颗粒。研究发现,中华绒螯蟹眼柄生长纹平均间距最大。钙化层的宽带是否与年龄或脱壳次数有关,细纹是否与日龄有关需要进一步实验验证,通过眼柄微结构特征的分析,可为虾蟹类的年龄鉴定及其生长研究提供新的方法。     

东海几种鳗鲡目鱼类DNA条形码研究

本研究采集了分布于中国东海的前肛鳗(Dysomma anguillaris)、短尾蛇鳗(Ophichthus brevicaudatus)、艾氏蛇鳗(Ophichthus evermanni)、海鳗(Muraenesox cinereus)、黑尾吻鳗(Rhynchoconger ectenurus)、微鳍新鳗(Neenchelys parvipectoralis)、大头蚓鳗(Moringua macrocephalus)、梅氏美体鳗(Ariosoma meeki)和星康吉鳗(Conger myriaster)9种鳗鲡目(Anguilliformes)鱼类,采用PCR技术扩增了线粒体COI基因片段序列, 结合GenBank数据库中下载的5种鳗鲡目鱼类同源序列, 分析比较了序列组成和差异, 并以光海鳝(Muraena argus)和细点海鳝(Muraena augusti)为外群, 基于最大似然法构建了鳗鲡目中6科11属14种鱼类的系统发育树, 探讨了该类群鱼类的系统进化关系。结果显示:72条序列共检测到43种单倍型, 4种碱基含量分别为27.4%(T)、28.2%(C)、25.8%(A)、18.6%(G), 平均A+T含量(53.2%)高于G+C含量(46.8%), 表现出明显的碱基组成偏好性。基于K2P(Kimura 2-parameter)模型计算得出不同种间的平均遗传距离为0.218 8, 不同属间的平均遗传距离为0.225 0, 不同科间的平均遗传距离为0.232 7, 分类阶元越高, 遗传距离越大。系统进化树显示蛇鳗科物种都能够形成独立的分支, 并得到有效的区分, 而其他类群存在混杂现象。以上结果表明, 由于鳗鲡目鱼类种类多且分布广,线粒体COI基因只适用于较低分类阶元(如科内属间、属内种间)间的物种鉴定, 该类群鱼类系统发育关系还有待于结合多种DNA条形码进行深入探讨。     

基于低压静电场及高通量测序技术对中华管鞭虾(Solenocera crassicornis)保鲜过程中微生物群落影响分析

中华管鞭虾(Solenocera crassicornis)隶属于十足目、管鞭虾科、管鞭虾属, 主要分布于我国东南沿海。其富含多种必需氨基酸和矿物质, 高蛋白低脂肪, 但易受微生物污染而发生腐败变质, 需引用基于16S rRNA的高通量测序技术准确测定其微生物群落组成成分变化。以中华管鞭虾为试验材料, 采用高通量测序技术对虾肉的微生物群落碱基进行基因测序, 将产生的碱基序列通过OTU聚类、多样性及相关性分析手段研究了贮藏过程中电场处理后影响中华管鞭虾品质的微生物发育信息和群落组成变化规律。分组为新鲜样本(G0), 2 kV、3 kV及对照组贮藏中期(G1、G2、G3), 2 kV、3 kV、对照组贮藏末期(G4、G5、G6), 通过物种韦恩图、Alpha和Beta多样性以及物种组成分析, 研究不同强度电场环境对中华管鞭虾微生物群落组成的影响。结果表明, OTU聚类分析中优势菌群从属水平看为假交替单胞菌属(Pseudoalteromonas)、假单胞菌属(Pseudomonas)、嗜冷杆菌属(Psychrobacter)和热杀索丝菌属(Brochothrix)等, 其中假交替单胞菌属能够适应高盐浓度环境, 是中华管鞭虾微生物腐败主要致腐菌。贮藏中期微生物物种多样性顺序为3 kV组>2 kV组>对照组(0 kV), 电场能够有效抑制优势菌的生长; 贮藏末期3组物种结构相近, 此时电场对虾肉菌群结构无明显影响。PCoA主成分分析图中发现, 在坐标系中贮藏中期的G1、G2、G3组距离较为接近, 贮藏末期的G4、G5、G6组距离较为接近, 说明在同一贮藏期间的各组微生物种群结构类似。综上, 贮藏前中期低压静电场能够抑制优势菌的生长, 维持微生物物种间平衡并使其物种多样性较高, 且3kV更佳, 贮藏末期时由于优势菌更适应环境, 热杀索丝菌属和肉食杆菌属占比增加, 电场对物种多样性的影响不大。研究结果可为深入探讨影响中华管鞭虾贮藏保鲜效果的微生物群落组成和基础发育信息提供有效依据。     

基于COI基因和D-loop区部分序列比较雷州半岛东、西岸湖栖鳍虾虎鱼群体的遗传多样性

为比较分析雷州半岛东、西两岸湖栖鳍虾虎鱼(Gobiopterus lacustris)遗传差异,以COI基因和D-loop区部分序列为分子标记,获取雷州半岛湖栖鳍虾虎鱼群体COI序列44条(九龙山群体21条,高桥群体23条)、D-loop序列53条(九龙山群体25条,高桥群体28条)。基于COI基因部分序列分析结果显示:619 bp的44条序列中,统计的变异位点29个;T、C、A、G碱基组成分别为:27.8%、31.0%、23.7%、17.5%,且A+T(51.5%)高于C+G(48.5%);单倍型多样性比较,九龙山群体(0.695)高桥群体(0.324);遗传分化分析表明东、西群体分化显著(Snn=0.0.591,0.01P0.05),基因流(Nm)为5.37,遗传分化系数(Gst)为0.147,固定指数(Fst)为0.042(0.001P0.01),核苷酸差异数(Kxy)为2.547,核苷酸歧义度(Dxy)为0.004。而基于D-loop区部分序列分析结果表明:563 bp的53条序列中,变异位点133个;T、C、A、G碱基组成分别为:32.3%、14.8%、35.5%、17.4%,A+T(67.8%)明显高于C+G(32.2%);单倍型多样性与COI分析结果类似,九龙山群体(0.797)高桥群体(0.661);遗传分化分析表明东、西群体分化极显著(Snn=0.970,P0.001),Fst为0.315(P0.001),Nm值为0.55,Gst、Kxy、Dxy分别为:0.157、3.506、0.006;AMOVA分析揭示群体内变异程度高于群体间;聚类分析表明,基于COI基因与D-loop区部分序列构建的邻位链接法聚类树(NJ树)均存在按照采样点聚类的现象,但D-loop更为明显。综上,雷州半岛东、西两岸湖栖鳍虾虎鱼群体出现较为明显的分化现象。     

中国海洋仙菜科(Ceramiaceae)新记录属——盖氏藻属Gayliella(红藻门)的分类研究

利用生物压片技术,通过形态学和解剖学方法,对采自我国沿岸海洋的仙菜科红藻(Ceramiaceae,Rhodophyta)进行了分类学研究,发现了我国仙菜科新记录属——盖氏藻属(新拟名)Gayliella T.O.Cho,L.McIvor et S.M.Boo。该属目前在我国共有5个种,即短毛盖氏藻(新拟名)Gayliella pmbriatum (Setchell et N. L. Gardner). T. O. Cho et S. M. Boo、优美盖氏藻(新拟名) Gayliella βaccidum (Kützing) T. O. Cho et L. McIvor、泰式盖氏藻(新拟名) Gayliella taylorii (E. Y. Dawson) T. O.Cho et S. M. Boo、马沙盖氏藻(新拟名) Gayliella mazoyerae T. O. Cho, Fredericq et Hommersand和横轴盖氏藻(新拟名) Gayliella transversalis (Collins et Hervey) T. O. Cho et Fredericq,其中前3个种为由仙菜属Ceramium归并的物种,后2个为我国的新记录种。本文对此2个新记录种进行了详细的形态学描述,并讨论了它们与中国已报道的横列仙菜Ceramium gracillimum间的关系。该研究结果丰富了我国海洋仙菜科的物种多样性。     

Acute toxicity of heavy metals, tributyltin, ammonia and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons to benthic amphipodgrandidierella japonica

Benthic amphipod,Grandidierella japonica widely inhabits the Korean coastal waters and is developed as a standard test species for sediment toxicity tests. We exposedG . japonica to various pollutants including 4 kinds of inorganic metals (Ag, Cd, Cu and Hg), tributyltin [TBT], ammonia and 7 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) compounds (acenaphthene, chrysene, fluoranthene, fluorene, naphthalene, phenanthrene and pyrene) to estimate the no observed effect concentration (NOEC) and the median lethal concentration (LC50) of each pollutant during the 96-hour acute exposure. Among all tested pollutants, TBT was most toxic toG. japonica, and Hg was most toxic among inorganic metals. The toxicity of pyrene toG. japonica was greatest among PAH compounds, followed by fluoranthene, phenanathrene, acenaphthene, fluorene and naphthalene. The toxicity of PAH compounds was closely related to their physico-chemical characteristics such as K_ow and water solubility.G. japonica responded adequately to pollutant concentrations and exposure durations, and the sensitivity ofG. japonica to various inorganic and organic pollutants was generally comparable to other amphipods used as standard test species in ecotoxicological studies, indicating this species can be applied in the assessment of environments polluted by various harmful substances.     

环境光色对白条双锯鱼(Amphiprion frenatus)幼鱼生长和体色的影响

本试验研究了循环水养殖条件下白条双锯鱼(Amphiprion frenatus)幼鱼在不同光照环境中的生长状况和体色变化特点。设置白色、红色、黄色、蓝色、绿色五个光照试验组,每组三个重复,试验周期120d。结果表明,各试验组幼鱼存活率和特定生长率均无显著性差异(P0.05),增重率在红光组和绿光组间差异显著(P0.05)。试验鱼红光组红色皮肤胡萝卜素含量显著高于蓝光、黄光和绿光组(P0.05);白光组红皮中胡萝卜素含量显著高于蓝光组(P0.05);在眼、肝、肌肉和白色皮肤组织中胡萝卜素含量在各试验组间无显著性差异(P0.05)。白光组肝组织中酪氨酸酶活性活性显著高于红光组(P0.05);在眼、皮肤、肌肉组织中各试验组酪氨酸酶活性无显著性差异(P0.05)。研究表明,在循环水养殖条件下,白条双锯鱼在红光环境下体表类胡萝卜素含量增加,而酪氨酸酶活性减弱,有提高鱼体色泽鲜艳度的作用,此研究结果可为人工养殖海水观赏鱼的体色改善提供理论依据。     

Growth characteristics,pigmentation, and the identificaton of whitebait (galaxias spp., Salmonoidea)

Definitions are given for stages in the development of five species of Galaxias, family Galaxiidae, which have marine larvae.

Larvae of Galaxias maculates attenuates and G. brevipinnis are large, and those of G. fasciatus relatively small as they enter fresh water from the sea. Development as whitebait involves shrinkage by about 25% in total length; the head length, considered separately, shrinks by about 15%. The ratio of standard length to head length alters from the larval to the adult value before positive growth recommences. These features are probably similar for G. postvectis and G. argenteus

Minimum observed pigmentation is described for the late larvae of G m. attenuates, G. brevipinnis, and G. fasciatus and for early whitebait of these and of G. postvectis and G. argenteus Subsequent development of melanophores and of colour pattern is described and figured. Large melano‐phores along the lateral line distinguish early whitebait of G. m. attenuates, but no distinguishing feature of pigmentation has been found in other species until the juvenile pattern is apparent. This pattern is characteristic for each species, and it persists in adult G. m. attenuates. G. argenteus has distinct juvenile and adult patterns, the latter being developed in a second, superficial, layer of pigment cells. Adult G. postvectis develop a distinctive fin colour pattern unlike other New ‐Zealand Galaxias; the superficial pigment layer is without definite pattern. In adult G. brevipinnis this layer resembles the persistent juvenile pattern and the two layers combined give a reticulate appearance. In G. fasciatus the juvenile pattern persists and develops as the fish grow; the superficial pigment layer is present in adults but is not usually apparent.

Until now positive identification of whitebait has depended on colour pattern. Recently recorded identifications of unpigmented whitebait are shown to be misleading. A key is given for the identification of early and late whitebait using absolute measurements as an important character.     

Movement patterns of surf-zone fish species in a subtropical marine protected area on the east coast of South Africa

A long-term mark-recapture study was used to assess the movement patterns of surf-zone fishes in the St Lucia Marine Reserve, a marine protected area within the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, a World Heritage Site on the east coast of South Africa. Between 2001 and 2013, 6 613 fish from 71 species, caught by hook and line, were tagged at four sites within and adjacent to a no-take marine sanctuary area. A total of 1 004 (15.2%) recaptures were made from 17 species. The majority (82.4%) of these species displayed station-keeping behaviour, whereas only three were classified as wider-ranging species, and no species with discernible migratory behaviour was observed. Findings for five species with the highest recapture rates, namely Pomadasys furcatus, Epinephelus andersoni, E. marginatus, Dinoperca petersi and Lutjanus rivulatus, are presented in greater detail. Recapture rates ranged from 7% to 50% and time at liberty from 0 to 3 163 days. Individuals of all five species displayed station-keeping behaviour, with the 95th percentile of intra-study-site movements varying between 200 and 1 025 m (linear distance). However, four of the five species also displayed some ranging behaviour and made exploratory excursions ranging from 3.5 to 125 km, in both northerly and southerly directions. The dominance of station-keeping behaviour suggests that the St Lucia Marine Reserve sanctuary zone provides an important refuge for these species, with some export to adjacent areas.     

线粒体COI、COII和CYTB基因在鲍属物种鉴定中的适用性分析

为寻找最适于进行鲍属物种鉴定的线粒体基因, 测定了中国及日本沿海5 个皱纹盘鲍（Haliotisdiscus hannai）群体共16 个个体的线粒体基因COI、COII 以及CYTB 的完整序列, 并结合杂色鲍（H.diversicolor）、疣鲍（H. tuberculata）和黑唇鲍（H. rubra）的线粒体基...     

Use of submerged aquatic vegetation as habitat by young-of-the-year epibenthic fishes in shallow Maine nearshore waters

Epibenthic fishes were collected with daytime beam trawl tows (n = 1713) in three shallow (<10 m) habitats of submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV), Zostera marina (eelgrass), Laminaria longicruris (kelp), Phyllophora sp. (algae), and unvegetated sandy/mud areas. We divided the Maine coast into three broad zones based upon geological features and sampled over five consecutive years; during April–November 2000 in the mid coast, in 2001 and 2002 along the south coast and in 2003 and 2004 along the eastern Maine coast. We quantified habitat use by eight economically important fish species (Gadus morhua, Microgadus tomcod, Pollachius virens, Urophycis chuss, Urophycis tenuis, Osmerus mordax, Tautogolabrus adspersus, and Pseudopleuronectes americanus) and 10 other common epibenthic species (n = 18 571). We identified the physical and biological variables most important in discriminating between habitats with and without individual fish species. Logistic regression models based on nearshore habitat characteristics were developed to predict the distribution of these species along the three zones representing broad geological regions of the Maine coast. Logistic regression models correctly classified individual fish species 58.7–97.1% of the time based on the temporal and physical habitat variables (month, temperature, salinity, and depth) and the presence–absence of submerged aquatic vegetation (Zostera, Laminaria, or Phyllophora). Overall fish presence and economically important fish presence were correctly classified 61.1–79.8% and 66.0–73.6% of the time, respectively. The Maine shallow water fish community was composed primarily of young-of-the-year and juvenile fishes with all habitats functioning as facultative nursery areas. Presence of most fish species was positively associated with Zostera, Laminaria, and to a lesser extent, Phyllophora. This study provides direct evidence of shallow waters of the Gulf of Maine as critical facultative nursery habitat for juvenile G. morhua, M. tomcod, P. virens, U. tenuis, U. chuss, T. adspersus, O. mordax and P. americanus, and many ecologically important species.