Morphological and ecological parallels between sublittoral and abyssal foraminiferal species in the NE Atlantic: a comparison of Stainforthia fusiformis and Stainforthia sp.

Dead specimens of a minute fusiform rotaliid foraminifer are common in the 28–63 μm fraction of multiple corer samples from a 4850 m-deep site on the Porcupine Abyssal Plain (PAP). Their test morphology is remarkably similar to small specimens of Stainforthia fusiformis (Williamson, 1858), a species which is well known from coastal settings (intertidal to outer shelf) around NW Europe and North America. A detailed comparison of the PAP form with typical individuals of S. fusiformis from Norwegian waters (55–203 m depth), however, reveals slight but consistent morphological differences. The PAP specimens are smaller (test length 40–140 μm) than those from Norway (test length 80–380 μm), the chambers tend to be rather less elongate, the density of pores in the test wall is much lower, and there are differences in apertural features. We therefore conclude that the diminutive abyssal form is a distinct species, here referred to as Stainforthia sp. This interpretation is consistent with increasing evidence for genetic differentiation in deep-sea organisms, particularly along bathymetric gradients. Stainforthia sp. was previously illustrated by Pawlowski as Fursenkoina sp. and appears to be widespread and abundant in the abyssal North Atlantic (>4000 m depth). Stainforthia fusiformis, on the other hand, is most abundant in continental shelf and coastal settings. It extends onto the continental slope in the North Atlantic but has not been reported reliably from depths greater than about 2500 m.We suggest that the striking morphological convergence between these two species reflects the adoption of similar ecological strategies in widely separated habitats. Both are enrichment opportunists, a life-style which may explain the rather broad bathymetric range of Stainforthia fusiformis. This is a dominant species in organically-enriched and sometimes extremely oxygen-depleted environments on the continental shelf, and is a rapid coloniser of formerly azoic habitats. Live specimens of the abyssal form are typically found embedded within phytodetrital aggregates (organic material derived from primary production in the euphotic zone). It is presumably the availability of these organic-rich microhabitats, which enables this species to survive in the otherwise oligotrophic deep sea.     

中国海欧努菲虫复合种(Polychaeta,Onuphidae)的分类修订

通过对中国科学院海洋生物标本馆历年收藏的欧努菲虫属Onuphis标本的系统研究,发现我国被广泛报道的多毛类物种欧努菲虫O. eremita AudouinMilne Edwards, 1833为错误记录,该种在在中国海并无分布,绝大部分标本应鉴定为入江欧努菲虫O. iriei MaekawaHayashi, 1999,少数为中华欧努菲虫O.chinensisUschakovWu,1962、福建欧努菲虫O.fujianensisUschakovWu,1962、乌氏欧努菲虫O. uschakovi WuXu, 2017及色斑欧努菲虫O. variolata Shen, 1987。本文回顾了O. eremita和O. iriei的分类研究历史,对我国入江欧努菲虫的头部、疣足、刚毛等形态结构及地理分布进行全面研究,同时对上述欧努菲虫复合种做了形态比较,澄清了欧努菲虫长达30年的分类学误识。     

鳞侧石鳖属(Leptochiton)一物种在西太平洋雅普海沟分布的新记录

蛟龙号载人潜水器在位于雅普海沟北部6 745 m深处的底栖沉积环境中采集到两只石鳖样本,这是石鳖物种分布于此的新记录。形态学和DNA分子标记均支持两只石鳖为鳞侧石鳖属（Leptochiton）同一物种。该种在形态上与L.vanbellei和L.deforgesi接近;在系统发生方面,与L.vanbellei,L.deforgesi和L.boucheti的亲缘关系密切。这是截至目前世界石鳖分布报道的第三深度记录。     

Understanding the association between the non-geniculate coralline red alga Spongites discoidea and the mollusc Oxystele sinensis

Nearly all adult winkles Oxystele sinensis encountered in the Kalk Bay (Western Cape province, South Africa) shallow subtidal zone were observed to bear a thick, convoluted form of the non-geniculate coralline red alga Spongites discoidea. To understand this association, various data were collected. The results show that O. sinensis is for the most part restricted to the shallow subtidal zone and rockpools, whereas the morphologically similar O. tigrina is largely restricted to the intertidal zone. Fleshy macroalgae were absent from all habitats sampled, with much of the primary substratum being occupied by encrusting algae. Spongites discoidea was restricted to intertidal rockpools and the shallow subtidal zone where O. sinensis was the most abundant winkle. Subtidal specimens of S. discoidea were generally thicker (7.24?mm [SE 0.55] on shells, 6.02?mm [SE 0.67] on boulders) than intertidal specimens (2.39?mm [SE 0.21] on boulders, 1.02?mm [SE 0.09] on bedrock), were more heavily burrowed into (44% [SE 3.32] for subtidal shells, 36% [SE 3.94] for subtidal boulders), and were more weakly attached (2.2?kg [SE 0.58] for subtidal shells, 8.4?kg [SE 0.77] for subtidal boulders). Experimental evidence showed that the coralline has no preference for shells of O. sinensis and that, contrary to our assumption, there is no apparent advantage to the winkle bearing the coralline, other than perhaps for camouflage to avoid predation. The high frequency of the association is more likely due to the substantial overlap in the niches of the coralline and the winkle.     

Studies on the larva of Oniscigaster wakefieldi (Ephemeroptera: Siphlonuridae) in Waitakere stream,Auckland

The larva of the primitive mayfly Oniscigaster wakefieldi, McLachlan 1873 (Ephemeroptera: Siphlonuridae) was studied in the Waitakere Stream, near Auckland, New Zealand, over a 17‐month period extending from July 1965— November 1966. A wide‐mouthed dragnet enabled monthly samples (average 46 specimens) to be collected for detailed studies of the larval growth pattern; this collecting method revealed that the species, previously thought to be rare, is numerous both in the study area and elsewhere in North Island, New Zealand.

O. wakefieldi has a univoltine life cycle with 20–25 larval instars. The larvae prefer different habitats according to their age and can be divided into three distinct groups: larvae 1–10 mm in length are found on finer sediments in quiet shallow water; 11–18 mm in length inhabit waters up to 50 cm deep where the substratum is mainly of pebbles (0.4–4.0 cm diameter) set in a silt matrix; and mature larvae 19–26 mm in length are found adjacent to dry emergent boulders, often at the base of riffles.

Three larval characters are described for the first time to separate the larvae of O. wakefieldi and O. distans. Sexual dimorphism is evident in O. wakefieldi populations by size difference; in the last larval instar, females average 4 mm longer than males. The known distribution of the species in North Island is illustrated.     

Comparative descriptions of some oyster larvae from New Zealand and Chile,and a description of a new genus of oyster,Tiostrea

Detailed comparisons of the larvae of four species of New Zealand oyster (Saccostrea glomer‐ata, Crassostrea gigas, Ostrea lutaria, and a new species of Ostrea) and one Chilean oyster (Ostrea chilensis) showed that larvae of species other than O. lutaria and O. chilensis share certain features. One conspicuous feature is a distinct tract, termed here the posterior dorsal sulcus, which runs from the posterior margin of prodissoconch I to the valve margin of prodissoconch II; other characteristic features are an umbonate, inequivalve shell and a provinculum bearing distinct teeth. The larvae of O. lutaria and O. chilensis, in contrast, lack the posterior dorsal sulcus, are nonumbonate, and have nearly equal valves with an edentulous provinculum. These distinctive features, together with other adult features, suggest that the two species are more appropriately included in a separate genus. The name Tiostrea is proposed for the new genus. Certain supraspecific groupings within the Ostreinae need to be re‐examined in the light of breeding experiments.     

Nitrogen and oxygen isotopic composition of N2O from suboxic waters of the eastern tropical North Pacific and the Arabian Sea—measurement by continuous-flow isotope-ratio monitoring

Nitrous oxide (N₂O) is a trace gas that is increasing in the atmosphere. It contributes to the greenhouse effect and influences the global ozone distribution. Recent reports suggest that regions such as the Arabian Sea may be significant sources of atmospheric N₂O.In the ocean, N₂O is formed as a by-product of nitrification and as an intermediary of denitrification. In the latter process, N₂O can be further reduced to N₂. These processes, which operate on different source pools and have different magnitudes of isotopic fractionation, make separate contributions to the ¹⁵N and¹⁸O isotopic composition of N₂O. In the case of nitrification in oxic waters, the isotopic composition of N₂O appears to depend mainly on the ¹⁵N/¹⁴N ratio of NH⁺₄ and the ¹⁸O/¹⁶O ratio of O₂ and H₂O. In suboxic waters, denitrification causes progressive ¹⁵N and ¹⁸O enrichment of N₂O as a function of degree of depletion of nitrate and dissolved oxygen. Thus the isotopic signature of N₂O should be a useful tool for studying the sources and sinks for N₂O in the ocean and its impact on the atmosphere.We have made observations of N₂O concentrations and of the dual stable isotopic composition of N₂O in the eastern tropical North Pacific (ETNP) and the Arabian Sea. The stable isotopic composition of N₂O was determined by a new method that required only 80–100 nmol of N₂O per sample analysis. Our observations include determinations across the oxic/suboxic boundaries that occur in the water columns of the ETNP and Arabian Sea. In these suboxic waters, the values of δ¹⁵N and δ¹⁸O increased linearly with one another and with decreasing N₂O concentrations, presumably reflecting the effects of denitrification. Our results suggest that the ocean could be an important source of isotopically enriched N₂O to the atmosphere.     

Feeding intensity and molecular prey identification of the mantis shrimp,Oratosquilla oratoria (De Haan, 1844), in the Tianjin coastal zone of Bohai Bay

Bohai Bay, a representative semi-enclosed bay of China, has been severely impacted in recent decades by rapid human development. Although the mantis shrimp Oratosquilla oratoria plays an important role in the Bohai Bay ecosystem and fishery, its feeding ecology and the impact of habitat changes on its feeding habits are poorly known. In this study, we sought to identify its feeding strategy through the separation of stomach contents, and to describe its trophic ecology during maturation in the Tianjin coastal zone of Bohai Bay by the DNA barcoding method using a fragment (about 690 bp) of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (CO I) gene. A total of 594 specimens were collected from March to July 2018, and 347 (58.42%) stomachs were found to have food remains. More than half of the O. oratoria individuals had poor feeding activity, and the degree of feeding of females was higher than that of males, but there was no significant difference in the visual fullness index and the fullness weight index (FWI) between sexes for each month. In addition, the feeding activity of O. oratoria was consistent across the months, suggesting in artificial breeding programs it is not worried too much about the accessional diet supplied to the female bloodstocks except maintaining their normal food. A total of 167 retrieved prey items yielded 187 readable sequences; 86.63% of these sequences could be assigned to the species level. Consequently, 25 different prey taxa covering all readable sequences were identified, showing O. oratoria is a generalist predator. In terms of percent composition by frequency of occurrences (%N), crustaceans and fishes accounted for the same and highest percentage (35.83%) in the mantis shrimp diet, followed by mollusks (24.59%) and the remaining marine organisms (3.73%) including Polychaeta (2.67%), Sagittoidea (0.53%), and Chromadorea (0.53%). The result shows the benthic fish Oxudercidae (family) appears to be an especially important food supply for O. oratoria during maturation. The degree of cannibalism decreased with an increase in diet species and the frequencies of cannibalism in this study was noticeably higher than that in previous studies, suggesting that cannibalism may be a significant feeding strategy in the mantis shrimp O. oratoria in the Tianjin coastal zone of Bohai Bay, and because of the frequently cannibalistic behavior, the high stocking density of broodstocks should be avoided.     

Population dynamics and potential yield of three species of giant winkles in the Western Cape,South Africa

Of the southern African intertidal and shallow subtidal trochid and turbinid gastropods, Turbo sarmaticus, T. cidaris and Oxystele sinensis, are the most abundant large species, and therefore obvious targets for a winkle fishery. T. sarmaticus is harvested by recreational snorkel divers, and an application has been made for a permit to experimentally harvest the other two species commercially. This study involves four major aspects, namely morphometrics and flesh yield, shore-based abundance estimates, subtidal abundance estimates, and an estimate of the potential yield for each of the three species off the South-Western Cape, South Africa. Abundance and biomass of the winkles increased from west to east, highest densities being recorded in the low intertidal regions to 2 m depth. Low biomasses of the three species were recorded west of Cape Hangklip and are unlikely to support a fishery there. East of Cape Hangklip, invasion of rock lobsters Jasus lalandii has had a considerable impact on T. cidaris and O. sinensis populations. Consequently, a boat-based fishery with an estimated annual total allowable catch of 75.5 tons for T. cidaris, with a bycatch of 9.9 tons for O. sinensis, can only be considered in the easternmost fisheries-management area between Kleinbaai and Quoin Point. Because previous studies on the harvesting potential of T. sarmaticus off the Western Cape concluded that it was not commercially sustainable, a total allowable catch for that species was not considered. Management options deserving considerations before the commencement of a giant winkle fishery are discussed.     

Estimating of gas transfer velocity using triple isotopes of dissolved oxygen

The atmosphere-ocean exchange of climatically important gases is determined by the transfer velocity (k) and concentration gradient across the interface. Based on observations in the northwestern subarctic Pacific and Sagami Bay, we report here the results of the first ever application of the natural abundance of triple isotopes of dissolved oxygen (¹⁶O, ¹⁷O and ¹⁸O) for direct estimation of k and propose a new relationship with wind speed. The k values estimated from nighttime variations in oxygen isotopes are found to be higher than the direct estimations at low wind speed (<5 m s⁻¹) and lower at high wind speeds (>13 m s⁻¹) and showed significant spatial variability. The method presented here can be used to derive seasonal and spatial variations in k and the influence of surface conditions on the value, leading to improved estimates of biogenic/anthropogenic gas exchange at the air-sea interface.     

丹麦钢头鳟染色体核型分析

为了了解引进品种的种质遗传特征,作者采用PHA体内直接注射法制备了丹麦钢头鳟(Oncorhynchus mykiss)的染色体,并进行其核型分析。结果表明,与虹鳟(O.mykiss)略有不同,钢头鳟的染色体数目为58条,核型公式为2n=44m+14t,臂数NF=102。丹麦钢头鳟染色体核型结果为其养殖、良种选育或者杂交育种等的研究和应用提供了种质资源基础数据。     

Electrophoretic identification of larval and O‐group flounders iRhombosolea spp.) from Wellington Harbour

Four enzymes and one protein were tested in starch and cellulose acetate gels as biochemical tags for the separation of flounder (Rhombosolea spp.) larvae and O‐groups. Lactate dehydrogenase phenotypes separated O‐groups and larvae (longer than about 5 mm) of R. plebeia from R. leporina and R. retiaria. General protein phenotypes separated similar specimens of R. leporina from R. plebeia and R. retiaria. Most Rhombosolea larvae and O‐groups caught in Wellington Harbour were R. plebeia.     

Comparison of the ectosymbionts and parasites of an introduced crab,Charybdis japonica,with sympatric and allopatric populations of a native New Zealand crab,Ovalipes catharus (Brachyura: Portunidae)

The success of biological invaders is often attributed to escape from specialist enemies in their natural range, such as predators and parasites. For enemy escape to have direct consequences in competitive interactions, invaders need to be less vulnerable to enemies than native competitors in the region they invade, but first the presence of these enemies must be established. We investigated the macroparasite and ectosymbiont fauna of the recently introduced portunid crab Charybdis japonica, and compared it with sympatric and allopatric populations of the native New Zealand portunid, Ovalipes catharus. A total of 468 crabs (350 O. catharus and 118 C. japonica) were collected from six harbours throughout New Zealand (Whangarei, Waitemata, Nelson, Lyttelton, Dunedin, and Bluff) and the identity, incidence and prevalence of ectosymbionts and parasites were compared among the different populations. Charybdis japonica and O. catharus harboured different ectosymbionts. Serpulid polychaete tubes occurred on the exoskeleton of 85.4% of C. japonica examined, but were absent from O. catharus. The bryozoan, Triticella capsularis occurred on 97.4% of O. catharus but was not found on C. japonica. Few endoparasites were present in either species. An unidentified juvenile ascaridoid nematode occurred in the hindgut of 5.9% of C. japonica, but was not found in sympatric populations of O. catharus. A second, unidentified species of ascaridoid nematode occurred in 7.1% of O. catharus from Nelson, but was not present in specimens from the five other harbours sampled. Melanised lesions were observed in the muscle tissue of almost half (46.6%) of the C. japonica examined. Histological examination showed these to be of two types: (1) spherical bodies resembling melanised trematode metacercariae; and (2) lesions consistent with wound repair. Lesions were not observed in O. catharus. Although the identity of parasites and epibionts carried by each species differed, both C. japonica and O. catharus had relatively low parasite species richness. We could not test whether the introduced portunid, C. japonica, is any less vulnerable to parasite enemies than the New Zealand portunid, O. catharus.     

西太平洋马里亚纳海沟附近海山的金相柳珊瑚属(珊瑚虫纲:软珊瑚目:金柳珊瑚科)二新记录种

为探究热带西太平洋海山生物多样性,2016年利用"发现"号遥控无人潜水器(ROV)对西太平洋马里亚纳海沟附近的M2海山进行了采样调查,其中获得了3个深水金相柳珊瑚样本。通过光学显微镜和扫描电镜观察,鉴定其为黑发金相柳珊瑚Metallogorgia melanotrichos(WrightStuder,1889)和长刺金相柳珊瑚Metallogorgia macrospina Kükenthal,1919。这两种金相柳珊瑚均为该区域的新记录种,对其作了详细的形态描述,并依据特征性状对该属所有物种作了分类检索。     

Aspects of the distribution, population structure and reproduction of the gastropod Tibia delicatula (Nevill, 1881) inhabiting the oxygen minimum zone of the Oman and Pakistan continental margins

The present study describes some aspects of the distribution and biology of Tibia delicatula (Nevill), a gastropod belonging to the family Strombidae. This species has been found in large numbers in the upper oxygen minimum zone (OMZ) of the Oman margin, and has also been collected from the OMZ of the Pakistan margin. The highest abundance of adult specimens in the Oman OMZ was found between 300 and 450 m. Numbers dropped rapidly below 450 m, to zero below 500 m depth. Similarly dense populations were not observed in the Pakistan OMZ. Multiple regression with oxygen concentration and depth indicates that depth (and its related variables) is the main factor explaining the variation in abundance of T. delicatula. The populations from the Oman and Pakistan OMZs were dominated by juveniles. This suggests a unimodal size structure with evidence of a marked recruitment event. Basic reproductive aspects were analysed. All specimens had a penis and sperm groove. The gonad wall consisted of reticular tissue that might be used for nutrient storage or as an irrigation system. Only vitellogenic oocytes were present. The large oocyte sizes observed (200–300 μm) suggest a lecithotrophic larval development.     

DNA identification of Pacific bluefin tuna (Thunnus orientalis) in the New Zealand fishery

Muscle samples were collected from 69 specimens identified as Pacific bluefin tuna (Thunnus orientalis) (Temminck and Schlegel, 1844) in the New Zealand Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) between 1990 and 2000. Identifications before 1996 were based on body size and colour of the caudal keel; later identifications were mostly based on the shape of abdominal cavity. The tissue samples were tested with a diagnostic mitochondrial DNA marker that distinguishes southern bluefin Thunnus maccoyii (Castelnau, 1872) and Pacific bluefin tuna T. orientalis; 59 specimens were confirmed as T. orientalis and 10 as T. maccoyii. Specimens recorded as Pacific bluefin tuna by the shape of the abdominal cavity were correctly identified as T. orientalis, and this character can be used to identify large specimens landed on tuna vessels. Some specimens recorded as Pacific bluefin tuna on the basis of colour and size were T. maccoyii; and early records of T. orientalis in New Zealand waters, based on these characters, are unreliable. Unusual colour patterns were reported in some specimens of T. orientalis but not T. maccoyii. The Pacific bluefin tuna T. orientalis accounted for less than 0.3% of the bluefin tuna catch in the New Zealand EEZ during the 1990s.     

Similar reproductive cycles and life-history traits in congeneric limid bivalves with different modes of nutrition

We have studied two congeneric limid bivalves, Acesta species novum and Acesta excavata (Bivalvia: Limidae), that live in similar physical conditions but use different food sources. Acesta sp. nov. live on the giant siboglinid tubeworm Lamellibrachia luymesi at cold seeps and feed on their eggs, a continuous food source that ultimately is derived from chemosynthesis, whereas A. excavata relies on planktonic food of photosynthetic origin, which varies seasonally. We hypothesized that these two species might show differences in the periodicity of reproduction; specifically, we predicted that A. sp. nov. would breed continuously and that A. excavata would demonstrate an annual reproductive cycle. Our hypothesis was refuted, as both species have a semi‐continuous reproductive cycle. Food quality, quantity or seasonality had no clear effect. Reproductive adults are functionally gonochoristic. Females broadcast buoyant eggs with an average size of 179 μm in A. sp. nov. and 160 μm in A. excavata. Both the size of the larval shell and the size of the spawned eggs are suggestive of pelagic lecithotrophic development. Both species also appear to be protandric hermaphrodites, changing from male to female at approximately 77 and 90 mm shell height, respectively, although not all individuals change sex. In the material investigated in this study there was a biased sex ratio favouring males.     

Keratose-dominated sponge grounds from temperate mesophotic ecosystems (NW Mediterranean Sea)

Differently from the North Atlantic Ocean, only few examples of sponge grounds are known from the Mediterranean Sea, mainly thriving in the deep sea. In this study, a novel temperate mesophotic ecosystem dominated by massive keratose sponges is reported from the Ligurian deep continental shelf. An extensive Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) survey allowed to study the structure and large-scale distribution of this biocoenosis. The sponge grounds here described are highly fragmented, being formed by a large number of dense, discrete aggregations of Sarcotragus foetidus (up to 7.7 specimens/m²) and other sponges, including Spongia lamella and Axinella polypoides. They mainly occur on flat, patchy and highly silted hardgrounds between 40 and 70 m depth. These sponge-dominated ecosystems have an exceptionally wide spatial distribution, estimated to cover up to nearly 200 hectares, with the largest sponge grounds occurring along the westernmost part of the Ligurian coast, probably in relation to more suitable oceanographic conditions. The dominant sponge species reach considerable heights (up to 65 cm), greatly increasing the habitat three-dimensionality and acting as poles of attraction for a diverse sessile and vagile fauna. In addition, the high abundance of the keratose sponge grounds at mesophotic depths might represent a larval source for shallow-water populations that in the last decades have been stricken by several mass mortality events.     

Phylogeographical patterns of the gastropod Siphonaria pectinata (Linnaeus, 1758)

Siphonaria pectinata is a marine gastropod distributed across the shores of the Western and Eastern Atlantic. Although previous studies have indicated that the species could be a recent introduction to Central and North America from Western Africa and Europe, other authors have questioned this statement. In fact, a recent study has shown that individuals from both sides of the Atlantic are genetically disconnected, rejecting the idea of a recent invasion. However, genetic information on this species is very scarce and based only on a single study using a limited number of specimens and sites. The data reported in the present study represent one step forward, collecting information from 119 specimens from 22 sites that cover the entire distributional range of the species. Populations from the Western Atlantic separated from eastern ones around 1.4?1.9 Mya, whereas the centre of dispersion is located on the eastern side of the Atlantic. Siphonaria pectinata should be considered native to the Western Atlantic and cannot be considered as a species with an amphi‐atlantic distribution owing to the lack of genetic connection between both sides of the Atlantic, as previous authors have pointed out. The presence of a star‐shaped phylogeny is discussed in the context of Plio‐Pleistocene glaciations.     

First records of Scorpaena onaria (Scorpaeniformes: Scorpaenidae) from the southwestern Pacific Ocean,and comparisons with the Northern Hemisphere population

Scorpaena onaria Jordan & Snyder (Scorpaeniformes: Scorpaenidae), previously known only from the northwestern Pacific Ocean, is reported from the southwestern Pacific Ocean for the first time on the basis of 19 specimens. The southwestern Pacific specimens are regarded as a southern population of S. onaria, characterised by a shorter supraocular tentacle and larger body size compared with the northwestern Pacific specimens. The southern population is described in detail including comparisons with all known Indo‐Pacific species of the genus Scorpaena. Analyses of 37 measurements of the southern population of S. onaria found that relative orbit diameter and second anal‐fin spine length became significantly smaller with growth. Initially cycloid, the scales enclosed by the posterior tips of the upper and lower opercular spines and opercular margin change to ctenoid with growth at c. 160–170 mm standard length. A mature female differed from an immature female and males in having a longer upper jaw, steeper dorsal profile of the snout, and shorter nasal spine. As a consequence, the species previously reported as S. neglecta from the Andaman Sea and northwestern Australia was re‐identified as S. onaria.