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A unique marine productive ecosystem of the seagrass beds on Thailand's Libong has been identified, which may raise environmental concerns. However, limited data on the health status of marine animals, especially gastropods, as a good sentinel species, has been found. Therefore, the present study provides a detailed observation of the male reproductive health and spermatogenesis of three gastropod species, including Polinices mammilla, Cerithidea cingulata, and Nerita balteata as sentinel species, which are investigated using morphology and histological methods. All samples were collected randomly from seagrass areas with healthy and unhealthy conditions in April 2021. The samples' male gonads were then investigated using histological methods. The results indicate that the species shared testicular structure and spermatogenesis in different stages (spermatogonium to spermatozoa). Additionally, their spermatogenic stages were not significantly different in size and diameter. Consequently, the structure of brown cells was common and distributed among the spermatogenic stages. Brown cells have been reported in animals that are under stress or unhealthy, such as in seagrass areas with unhealthy conditions. These results suggest that environmental and seagrass loss and the threatened seagrass habitats on Libong Island may impact aquatic animal health, necessitating long-term monitoring in further studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accumulation of heavy metals in aquatic meat can have a destructive role in food safety and is also closely related to the water and feed consumed by animals. Thus, the aim of this study is to evaluate the heavy metals in three aquatic species and their relationship with water and food. Fresh samples included 65 trout, 40 carp, and 45 shrimp, and their water and food were collected from Kermanshah aquaculture. After the preparation phase, the concentration of heavy metals was determined by using inductively-coupled plasma-mass-spectrometry. Lead in carp, arsenic in shrimp, cadmium, and mercury in trout had the highest concentrations of toxic metals. The lead, arsenic, and mercury concentrations in all three farmed aquatic species were higher than the maximum permissible limits. A significant correlation coefficient was observed between the concentration of these metals in the meat and their consumed water and food (p≤0.001). Of the essential metals, except for selenium in trout, and zinc in all three aquatic species, the concentration of other metals was higher than that of the permissible consumption limit. There was also a significant correlation between the concentration of essential metals and their consumed feed (p<0.001). The target hazard quotient of toxic metals was less than 1, but the target cancer risk for arsenic and mercury was in the range of carcinogenicity. Thereby, it is vital to monitor the quality of aquatic meat and pay special attention to their water and feed sources in this region of Iran, which will consequently guarantee human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acoustic telemetry is a popular approach used to track many different aquatic animal taxa in marine and freshwater systems. However, information derived from focal studies is typically resource‐ and geography‐limited by the extent and placement of acoustic receivers. Even so, animals tagged and tracked in one region or study may be detected unexpectedly at distant locations by other researchers using compatible equipment, who ideally share that information. Synergies through national and global acoustic tracking networks are facilitating significant discoveries and unexpected observations that yield novel insight into the movement ecology and habitat use of wild animals. Here, we present a selection of case studies that highlight unexpected tracking observations or absence of observations where we expected to find animals in aquatic systems around the globe. These examples span freshwater and marine systems across spatiotemporal scales ranging from adjacent watersheds to distant ocean regions. These unexpected movements showcase the power of collaborative telemetry networks and serendipitous observations. Unique and unexpected observations such as those presented here can capture the imagination of both researchers and members of the public, and improve understanding of movement and connectivity within aquatic ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The faunatic world represents an untapped potential reservoir for both food and medicine. A plethora of uses that humans have exploited since time immemorial to counter sufferings and deficiency diseases. This study aims to systematically review the scientific literature for the last 10 years and highlight the therapeutic uses of marine animal and animal products used globally. A total of 159 marine animals were documented comprising of 305 traditional uses. Marine animals of the Actinopterygii class were the most used against ailments. From the study, it was observed that a single aquatic animal could be used for treating and/or managing multiple ailments and at the same an ailment could be addressed by several marine animals and animal-derived products. The latter were mostly consumed cooked and the mode of administration varies depending on their origin. Although a panoply of traditional uses of marine animal and animal products exists, a dearth of validated pharmacological studies was observed to support the functional and medical uses of such products. This calls out researchers to address this gap as the exploration of marine faunatic resources, which could provide sustainable solution to many current health and wellness challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vibrio harveyi is one of the most serious bacterial pathogens to aquatic animals worldwide. Evidence is mounting that coinfections caused by multiple pathogens are common in nature and can alter the severity of diseases in marine animals. However, bacterial coinfections involving V. harveyi have received little attention in mariculture. In this study, the results of pathogen isolation indicated that bacterial coinfection was a common and overlooked risk for hybrid groupers (♀ Epinephelus polyphekadion × ♂ E. fuscoguttatus) reared in an industrialized flow-through pattern in Hainan Province. The artificial infection in hybrid groupers revealed that coinfections with V. harveyi strain GDH11385 (a serious lethal causative agent to groupers) and other isolated pathogens resulted in higher mortality (46.67%) than infection with strain GDH11385 alone (33.33%), whereas no mortality was observed in single infection with other pathogens. Furthermore, the intestine, liver and spleen of hybrid groupers are target organs for bacterial coinfections involving V. harveyi. Based on the infection patterns found in this study, we propose that V. harveyi may have a specific spatiotemporal expression pattern of virulence genes when infecting the host. Taken together, bacterial coinfection with V. harveyi is a neglected high-risk lethal causative agent to hybrid groupers in the industrialized flow-through aquaculture systems in Hainan Province. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stem cells (SCs) in vertebrates typically reside in "stem cell niches" (SCNs), morphologically restricted tissue microenvironments that are important for SC survival and proliferation. SCNs are broadly defined by properties including physical location, but in contrast to vertebrates and other "model" organisms, aquatic invertebrate SCs do not have clearly documented niche outlines or properties. Life strategies such as regeneration or asexual reproduction may have conditioned the niche architectural variability in aquatic or marine animal groups. By both establishing the invertebrates SCNs as independent types, yet allowing inclusiveness among them, the comparative analysis will allow the future functional characterization of SCNs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on the sinking of the Portuguese fishing boat Alcyon in the Gando Bank in 1946. The boat, with a displacement of 125 tons, sank at a depth of 18 meters without causing any casualties. The wreck, known as El Portugués, is located in the waters of the Gando Air Base and requires a special permit to access it. The Alcyon was a trawler used by the British Admiralty during World War I and later sold and renamed Alcyon. The article also mentions the Companhia Portuguesa de Pesca, a fishing company founded in 1920. [Extracted from the article]

The article presents William Tan, a violinist from the Singapore Symphony Orchestra who has become an underwater photographer specializing in marine life. William has obtained diving certifications and travels around the Pacific region to photograph marine life for scientific institutions, camera manufacturers, and tourist organizations. He works closely with Canon Singapore and is sponsored by several underwater photography equipment companies. The article also includes a list of photographs of different marine species taken by William in different places such as the Philippines, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, among others. [Extracted from the article]

Science classes in public schools are usually strictly linked to several subjects and taught by reference to the reading-listening model. Non-formal educational institutions and events such as 'children universities' and science fairs (and to some degree also some private schools) implement elements of interdisciplinary teaching of science and learning through experiments and the use of scientific methods. Workshops conducted within non-formal educational structures prove that only is this method engaging and understandable to primary school pupils, it also is possibly much more effective than the traditional learning style for coding information and explaining common misconceptions in teaching evolution, palaeontology and biodiversity. The example of a scenario for science classes presented here (the so-called 'aquatic problem', i.e., adaptations of primarily terrestrial animals – amniotes – to the aquatic environment) uses simple props, such as everyday items, to address the problems that teachers in public school face. Thus, it can be implemented independently of school budgets and availability of school equipment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Gulf of Mannar (GoM), located between India and Sri Lanka, has astonishing faunal richness and diversity. Two oceanographic data sets supplemented with satellite remote sensing observations are discussed here to show the unique ecological setting in the GoM sustaining a rich and diverse fauna. We tested the hypothesis that a specific stretch of a large marine environment behaves differently from the rest of the region due to its peculiar geographical position. Primarily, unlike the adjacent Indian southwestern shelf in the Southeastern Arabian Sea, oxygen deficiency associated with coastal upwelling imparting physiological stress to marine fauna does not occur in the GoM. Secondly, the GoM along the Indian coastline receives an adequate amount of primary (plankton) food from the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal through the advected water associated with the seasonally reversing surface currents. Thirdly, the GoM water has high transparency, aerated sandy seafloor conducive for the growth of diverse corals and much sensitive fauna. All these indicate that an astonishingly rich and diverse aquatic fauna in the GoM is a biological manifestation of a conducive geographical setting and propose that similar other environments worldwide, protected from oxygen deficiency, might also be functioning as a refuge for marine life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Jombodin, T.; Songkai, P.; Wichachucherd, B., and Rodcharoen, E., 2021. The relationship between salinity and benthic fauna diversity and abundance at Songkhla Port, Thailand. Journal of Coastal Research, 37(6), 1173–1180. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. Benthic fauna plays an important role in marine ecosystems as the primary food for other aquatic animals, and this animal group helps reduce sediment nutrients by filter feeding. The aim of this study was to evaluate and explain the diversity and abundance of the benthic fauna community at the Songkhla port, where both human activities and environmental fluctuations affect this community. Benthic fauna and water samples were collected at 2-month intervals from January to November 2017. The results show that most physical parameters had wide ranges and varied by month. The benthic fauna in the Songkhla lagoon was observed in this study. The results showed a higher number of taxa compared with a previous study. Three phyla, namely, Annelida, Arthropoda, and Mollusca, had 25 taxa recorded in this study. Crustaceans were the most diverse (nine taxa) and abundant (2981 ± 313 ind/m2) group, followed by polychaetes (eight families, 2350 ± 288 ind/m2) and mollusks (eight taxa, 633 ± 200 ind/m2). Barnacles were the dominant group of crustaceans (2153 ± 758 ind/m2), whereas Serpulidae (1864 ± 647 ind/m2) and Mytilidae (447 ± 367 ind/m2) were the dominant families of polychaetes and mollusks, respectively. Cluster analysis showed that the distribution of benthic fauna and physicochemical water quality varied with similar patterns. Clustering gave two groups: for rainy season from November to January and for dry season from May to November. According to canonical correspondence analysis, salinity and transparency were the main environmental factors associated with the distribution pattern of benthic fauna in the area. In conclusion, the activities at the Songkhla port have not yet created problems for marine benthic fauna; instead, seasonal changes appear to drive changes in benthic fauna. However, future construction developments can affect the geographical area, complementing stresses from parameter changes at local scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Globally, there is growing concern over the impacts of pharmaceuticals and drug manufacturing on aquatic animals, and pharmaceuticals are now recognized as contaminants of emerging environmental concern. In recent years, scientists, environmental managers, and policymakers have been interested in using behavioural endpoints for chemical regulation, given their importance for fitness and survival. The body of research on whether and how pharmaceutical exposure alters the behaviour of aquatic animals has grown exponentially, making it difficult to get an overview of the results. With an international spotlight on the management of these environmental threats, synthesizing the currently available data is vital to inform managers and policymakers, as well as highlighting areas where more research is needed. This is a protocol for a systematic evidence map (SEM) and serves as an a priori record of our objectives and methodological decisions. Our objectives are to identify, catalogue, and present primary research articles on the effects of human and veterinary pharmaceuticals on aquatic animal behaviour. Methods: The literature search will be conducted using two electronic databases: Web of Science and Scopus, and we will supplement these searches with additional sources. The search string has been developed using a Population–Exposure–Comparison–Outcome (PECO) framework, to capture articles that used an aquatic organism (P, population) to test the effects of a pharmaceutical (E, exposure) on behaviour (O, outcome). Eligible articles must also have a control group (C, comparison). Articles will be screened in two stages, title and abstract, followed by full-text screening before data extraction. Decision trees have been designed a priori to appraise articles for eligibility at both stages of screening. At both stages, screening each article will be completed by two independent reviewers. Study validity will be appraised but not used as a basis for article inclusion. The information extracted from the eligible articles, along with bibliometric data, will be mapped and displayed. All data associated with this SEM will be publicly available through the Open Science Framework (OSF) and a future project webpage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Aims: Extreme mortality events affecting Pinna nobilis, some associated to Vibrio mediterranei, have depleted many populations of this bivalve. The objective of this study was to demonstrate pathogenicity of V. mediterranei in the host P. nobilis by performing a bacterial challenge in P. nobilis to understand if V. mediterranei has specific virulence in this host. To assist this objective, a secondary objective was to develop a species‐specific DNA diagnostic test. Methods and Results: Pinna nobilis collected from local bays were used in a challenge experiment with V. mediterranei (strain IRTA18‐108). The virulence in the host background of P. nobilis was demonstrated at doses of 103 CFUs per animal. An alignment of published Vibrio sp. atpA sequences was used to design V. mediterranei‐specific primers. Furthermore, data mining of published literature and V. mediterranei genomes identified multiple virulence‐related genes (vir genes) from which specific primers were designed for PCR detection of selected genes. Conclusion: Vibrio mediterranei strain IRTA18‐108 is pathogenic in the host P. nobilis. The virulence genes sod, rtx and mshA were identified in this strain. Temperatures of 24°C or higher appear to trigger onset of virulence. Sensitivity and specificity of the Vm atpA PCR is useful for diagnosis of Vibriosis in shellfish. Significance and Impact of the Study: The presence of previously described virulence genes have been confirmed in this strain. The specific Vm atpA PCR assay will aid management of future epizootics of this emerging pathogen of aquatic fauna, and improve surveillance capabilities for mortality events where Vibrios are suspect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glyphosate (GLY)-based herbicides (GBHs) are the most commonly applied pesticide worldwide, and non-target organisms (e.g., animals) are now regularly exposed to GLY and GBHs due to the accumulation of these chemicals in many environments. Although GLY/GBH was previously considered to be non-toxic, growing evidence indicates that GLY/GBH negatively affects some animal taxa. However, there has been no systematic analysis quantifying its toxicity to animals. Therefore, we used a meta-analytical approach to determine whether there is a demonstrable effect of GLY/GBH toxicity across animals. We further addressed whether the effects of GLY/GBH vary due to (1) taxon (invertebrate vs. vertebrate), (2) habitat (aquatic vs. terrestrial), (3) type of biological response (behavior vs. physiology vs. survival), and (4) dosage or concentration of GLY/GBH. Using this approach, we also determined whether adjuvants (e.g., surfactants) in commercial formulations of GBHs increased toxicity for animals relative to exposure to GLY alone. We analyzed 1282 observations from 121 articles. We conclude that GLY is generally sub-lethally toxic for animals, particularly for animals in aquatic or marine habitats, and that toxicity did not exhibit dose-dependency. Yet, our analyses detected evidence for widespread publication bias so we encourage continued experimental investigations to better understand factors influencing GLY/GBH toxicity to animals. Effects of glyphosate (GLY) and GLY-based herbicide (GBH) exposure to animals. Negative effect sizes indicate costs of GLY/GBH. Sample sizes for each data are shown parenthetically. Asterisks indicate significant effect sizes (*P < 0.05; **P < 0.01), and daggers (†) indicate data sets with significant Egger's Test results (P < 0.05), which suggest publication bias. [Display omitted] • Glyphosate is the most commonly applied herbicide worldwide, and it may be toxic to animals. • Meta-analyses of 1282 observations across 121 articles indicate toxicity to animals, in general. • Most effects were sublethal, and toxicity was greatest in aquatic and marine animals. • Widespread publication bias limits our understanding of this pesticide's ecological impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present investigation was aimed to study various changes occurring in physico-chemical parameters and freshwater rotifers of Ekruk tank, Solapur. Pattern of periodic changes in populations of rotifers as well as physico-chemical parameters were studied during defined period 2011 - 2012. Present study was focused on how environment variations influence biological as well as physico- chemical aspects of this freshwater tank. Our investigation revealed that environmental and anthropological factors are affecting growth patterns and population in zooplanktons and also responsible for variations in abiotic parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Fisheries for Pacific halibut (Hippoglossus stenolepis) in the US Pacific Northwest support a variety of harvest sectors including some that are restricted to coastal offshore waters and others confined to the inland waters of the Salish Sea. Such restrictions have generated interest in the degree to which the Salish Sea represents an extension of the offshore population versus its potential to support an isolated stock. Here, twelve female Pacific halibut were tagged during boreal summer with pop-up archival transmitting (PAT) tags that were programmed to report during either the subsequent winter spawning period or late-spring feeding period. High-resolution depth data failed to produce evidence of spawning within the Salish Sea, while depth-temperature profiles were consistent with the departure of migrants between October and January. Final positions and at-liberty longitude estimates suggest that ~60% of the tagged fish departed the Salish Sea, with confirmed migrations to Canada and Alaska. The recapture in the southern Salish Sea of one fish whose tag had reported earlier from offshore Canadian waters demonstrated the occurrence of cyclic migrations. Evaluation of likely maturity status suggests that local demographics reflect either the cumulative effects of spawning migrations in which some emigrants remain offshore after departing the system, or some combination of enhanced growth or delayed maturity. These findings confirm that the Salish Sea does not represent a functionally-independent stock, but suggest that inshore waters may play a unique role by receiving recruits, rearing individuals to maturity, and exporting spawners to the offshore stock components, while retaining a proportion of site-faithful individuals with cyclic seasonal connectivity with offshore spawning groups. Highlights • Connectivity in Pacific halibut was examined between the Salish Sea and offshore waters. • Maturity-at-length appears to be lower in the Salish than offshore. • Female halibut moved from the Salish Sea to deep offshore waters during the spawning season. • Emigrants were found to both remain offshore and return to the Salish the following spring. • Partial migration was apparent: some individuals failed to depart and others did so only transiently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shark-diving tourism provides important economic benefits to the Maldives. We examine the link between shark conservation actions and economic returns from diving tourism. A combined travel cost and contingent behaviour approach is used to estimate the dive trip demand under different management scenarios. Our results show that increasing shark populations could increase dive-trip demand by 15%, raising dive tourists’ welfare by US$58 million annually. This could result in annual economic benefits for the dive-tourism industry of >US$6 million. Conversely, in scenarios where shark populations decline, where dive tourists observe illegal fishing, or if dive operators lack engagement in shark conservation, dive trip demand could decrease by up to 56%. This decline causes economic losses of more than US$24 million annually to the dive tourism industry. These results highlight the dependence of the shark-diving industry on the creation and enforcement of appropriate management regimes for shark conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The aim of the present study was to determine the influence of salinity and organism age on the chronic toxicity of waterborne lead (Pb) to Atherinops affinis and to compare the relative Pb sensitivity of A. affinis with other marine species. Chronic Pb exposure experiments were conducted in a water flow‐through testing system. Survival, standard length, dry weight, and tissue Pb concentration were measured and lethal concentrations (LCs), effect concentrations (ECs), and bioconcentration factors (BCFs) were calculated. In general, increasing salinity and organism age decreased Pb toxicity. The LC50s for larval fish at 14 and 28 ppt salinity were 15.1 and 79.8 μg/L dissolved Pb, respectively; whereas, the LC50 for juvenile fish was 167.6 μg/L dissolved Pb at 28 ppt salinity. Using standard length data, the EC10 values for larval fish were 16.4 and 82.4 μg/L dissolved Pb at 14 and 28 ppt salinity, respectively. The dry weight EC25s for low and high salinity were 15.6 and 61.84 μg/L dissolved Pb, respectively. The BCFs were higher with the lower salinity study (1703) in comparison to the higher salinity study (654). Results of Pb speciation calculation showed higher fraction of Pb2+ in water with lower salinity, explaining the higher observed toxicity of Pb in lower salinity water than higher salinity water. Atherinops affinis is more sensitive to Pb than several other marine species. Evidence of abnormal swimming and skeletal deformities were observed in Pb exposure treatments. Results of the present study are useful for marine biotic ligand modeling and support ecological risk assessment and deriving Pb environmental quality criteria for marine environments. Environ Toxicol Chem 2018;37:2705–2713. © 2018 SETAC [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When placed in marine laboratory microcosm tanks, Syringoderma floridana (Syringodermataceae, Syringodermatales) described from Atlantic Florida, grew from the surface of bare rhodoliths collected from 55 to 85 m depth in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico following the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. A partial nuclear 28S large subunit rDNA sequence of S. floridana epitype specimens from Jupiter, Palm Beach County, Florida, confirmed the molecular identity of this species, which had been reported from Atlantic Florida waters. Among the five species currently recognized in the genus Syringoderma, S. floridana is the only known subtropical species. The range of the species is here extended from Atlantic Florida to the northwestern, southeastern, and northeastern Gulf of Mexico. The taxonomic validity of the monospecific Microzonia, the only other genus in the Syringodermatales, was reassessed on the basis of publicly available sequence data (chloroplast-encoded rbcL and psaA, and nuclear 28S) and described morphological features. In all molecular analyses, Microzonia velutina is nested within specimens of Syringoderma. Microzonia has nomenclatural priority over Syringoderma; thus, the latter is reduced to synonymy under Microzonia. New nomenclatural combinations are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sea otters represent an interesting model for studies of mammalian feeding evolution. Although they are marine mammals, sea otters returned to the sea relatively recently and feed at the surface. Therefore, they represent a transitional stage of aquatic adaptation. Currently no feeding performance studies of sea otters have been conducted. The main objective of this study was to characterize the feeding kinematic profile in sea otters. It was hypothesized that sea otters would exhibit a terrestrial feeding behavior and that they forcefully crush hard prey at large gapes. As a result, biting kinematics would be congruent with biting behavior reported for their terrestrial ancestors, thus providing additional evidence that raptorial biting is a conserved behavior even in recently aquatic mammals. Sea otters consistently used a durophagous raptorial biting mode characterized by large gapes, large gape angles and lack of lateral gape occlusion. The shorter skulls and mandibles of sea otters, along with increased mechanical advantages of the masseter and increased bite force, form a repertoire of functional traits for durophagy. Here we consider durophagy to be a specialized raptorial biting feeding mode. A comparison of feeding kinematics of wild versus captive sea otters showed no significant differences in lateral kinematic profiles, and only minor differences in three frontal kinematic profiles, which included a slower maximum opening gape velocity, a slower maximum gape opening velocity, and a slower maximum closing gape velocity in captive sea otters. Data indicate functional innovations for producing large bite forces at wide gape and gape angles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This assessment of the article by Aria-Nasab et al. (2016), on the palynostratigraphy of the upper part of the Shishtu Formation (Shishtu 2) in central Iran, reveals many shortcomings. The majority of the defects are judged to reflect unwarranted or erroneous taxonomic identifications of the adversely preserved miospores. This, in turn, casts considerable doubt on the compositional integrity of Aria-Nasab et al.'s three proposed stratigraphically successive miospore assemblages, which they dated as encompassing the mid Tournaisian through late Viséan; i.e. within the generalised Mississippian age for Shishtu 2 that had previously been established from marine faunal evidence. We confirm, through examination of their illustrations, the presence of recycled Late Devonian palynomorphs, includingRetispora lepidophyta. A late Tournaisian through late Viséan or early Serpukhovian age for the sampled Shishtu 2 section is suggested here. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Underwater vocalization in anurans is restricted to a few, distantly related species. In some of them, sound is transmitted through tympanic and extra-tympanic pathways. Members of the Andean genus Telmatobius Wiegmann, 1834 lack a tympanic membrane, and earlier reports assumed the absence of vocalizations in the genus. We recorded underwater vocalizations and examined the middle-ear morphology in three species of Telmatobius with different lifestyles: Telmatobius oxycephalus Vellard, 1946 (semiaquatic, riverine); Telmatobius hintoni Parker, 1940 (markedly aquatic, riverine); Telmatobius culeus (Garman 1876) (fully aquatic, lacustrine). Males emit underwater calls, which in the three species are simple and stereotyped; they consist of a repeated train of notes, with a low fundamental frequency (309-941 Hz). In each of the three species, the tympanic membrane is absent and the tympanic cavity is extremely reduced or absent, whereas the opercular system is well developed. Our data, along with prior knowledge in other species of anurans, suggest that the species examined here probably perceived sound through extra-tympanic pathways. Given the limited knowledge about underwater calling in anurans, Telmatobius seems a logical candidate to study the functional and evolutionary bases of underwater hearing and tympanic middle-ear reduction in anurans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study sought to quantify the infauna and environmental characteristics of the deep SE Levantine Basin, Mediterranean Sea (33.4-31.7 N, 31.3-34.9E; 100-1900 m water depth). Box corer samples were collected at 50 sites in June-July 2013. The infauna (>250 μm) were enumerated and identified to the lowest possible taxonomic level (~37 % to the species level). Three faunal assemblages were identified, inhabiting three biotopes, the shelf margin (SM), the continental slope (CS) and the bathyal plain (BP). The within-biotope heterogeneity was evaluated by the average Chao-Sørensen similarity index and the beta diversity (exp(gamma diversity)-exp(alpha diversity)), revealing values of 0.64-0.7 and 1.73-2.77, respectively, upon applying the pooled bathyal plain samples. The corresponding non-pooled samples revealed higher heterogeneity, with values of 0.26 and 6.27, respectively, likely due to insufficient sampling. The infaunal density in the various biotopes (geometric mean 59-2220 ind m) exhibited a logarithmic decline with water depth. The estimated number of taxa per biotope was calculated by rarefaction analysis in relation to the sampled area and the number of sampled individuals, resulting in 203 (sampled area)−206 (number of individuals) (SM), 170-163 (CS) and 144-130 (BP) taxa. The rarified alpha diversity in relation to the sampled area revealed decreasing values toward the deeper biotopes. However, similar rarified alpha diversities were found in all the biotopes in relation to the number of sampled individuals. Water depth, sediment grain size mode, CaCO%, and clay% were jointly correlated with faunal composition; water depth provided the single strongest correlate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Arresø area in north-east Sjælland, Denmark, was deglaciated about 18,000 to 16,000 years ago. In the Holocene it was probably a land area until it was transgressed by the sea c. 8500 years BP. During a first marine phase the area housed a species-rich marine fauna that included the oyster Ostrea edulis, the salinity and water temperatures were higher than at present, and there was a wide connection to the Kattegat sea. At about 6500 years BP there was a short-lived lake or brackish-water phase, but marine conditions were soon re-established with a fauna less diverse than before, and both salinity and water temperatures decreased. The present lake Arresø became isolated from the sea about 2500 years BP. The transition from brackish water to fresh water was rapid; the lake developed from shallow alkaline waters to deeper more acidic waters and finally to eutrophic waters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In fish populations with multiple age‐classes of similar size and close proximity, interactions between age‐classes may be an important source of density‐dependent population structuring if there is a disparity in competitive ability, creating a competitive bottleneck. However, intercohort competitive interactions within a single year‐class have rarely been investigated and may have implications for recruitment success. Bluefish Pomatomus saltatrix produce at least two cohorts (spring‐ and summer‐spawned) of offspring each year, and juveniles of this species are abundant in the lower Hudson River estuary, New York, during summer and early autumn. Our objectives were to evaluate the potential for a competitive bottleneck between these spring and summer cohorts by assessing the cohort‐specific growth, condition, and patterns of resource use prior to the autumn migration in 2008 and 2009. The size advantage gained by the spring cohort resulting from earlier hatching dates was maintained throughout both summers. However, the summer juveniles achieved higher lipid content by the end of each summer. When the two cohorts inhabited the estuary at the same time, they exhibited high diet overlap and low spatial overlap. Although Bay Anchovy Anchoa mitchilli predominated the prey base, the two Bluefish cohorts exhibited cohort‐specific size‐selective feeding, such that the spring cohort preyed upon larger Bay Anchovy than the summer cohort, probably corresponding to different Bay Anchovy year‐classes. In this large estuary, the two juvenile Bluefish cohorts exhibited unique strategies with respect to growth and condition, which widened the competitive bottleneck by separating their niches spatially and by foraging on different age‐classes of Bay Anchovy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2011, an intensive, multiple‐gear, fishery‐independent survey was carried out in the northern Gulf of Mexico (GOM) to collect comprehensive age and length information on Red Snapper Lutjanus campechanus. Based on this synoptic survey, we produced a spatial map of Red Snapper relative abundance that integrates both gear selectivity effects and ontogenetically varying habitat usage. Our methodology generated a spatial map of Red Snapper at a 10‐km2 grid resolution that is consistent with existing knowledge of the species: Red Snapper occurred in relatively high abundances at depths of 50–90 m along the coasts of Texas and Louisiana and in smaller, patchy “hot spots” at a variety of depths along the Alabama coast and the west Florida shelf. Red Snapper biomass and fecundity estimates were higher for the northwestern GOM than for the northeastern GOM, as the latter area contained mostly smaller, younger individuals. The existence of similar surveys on petroleum platforms and artificial reefs also enabled us to calculate their relative contribution to Red Snapper distribution compared with that of natural habitats. We estimated that for the youngest age‐classes, catch rates were approximately 20 times higher on artificial structures than on natural reefs. Despite the high catch rates observed on artificial structures, they represent only a small fraction of the total area in the northern GOM; thus, we estimated that they held less than 14% of Red Snapper abundance. Because artificial structures—particularly petroleum platforms—attract mostly the youngest individuals, their contribution was even lower in terms of total population biomass (7.8%) or spawning potential (6.4%). Our estimates of Red Snapper relative abundance, biomass, and spawning potential can be used to design spatial management strategies or as inputs to spatial modeling techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The distribution pattern and the age and growth of Blue Sharks Prionace glauca were described based on 44,092 and 785 specimens, respectively, that were collected by scientific observers onboard Taiwanese longline fleets in the South Atlantic Ocean between December 2004 and December 2013. Size segregation was found, and the mean length of Blue Sharks was significantly larger in the equatorial–tropical area (0–15°S) than in the subtropical–temperate area (south of 15°S) during all seasons. Males predominated in both areas and during all seasons; the exceptions were seasons 2 (April–June) and 3 (July–September) in the equatorial–tropical area and season 2 in the subtropical–temperate area. The sex ratio increased with shark size in the equatorial–tropical area but decreased with size in the subtropical–temperate area. Growth band pairs (including translucent and opaque bands) were counted on images photographed from X‐ray films of vertebrae from the caudal peduncle region. The centrum edge analysis indicated that a growth band pair was formed on the vertebral centrum once per year. Corrected Akaike's information criterion values indicated that the von Bertalanffy growth function (VBGF) provided the best fit to the observed TL‐at‐age data. The likelihood ratio test indicated that the VBGF equations were not significantly different between the sexes. For both sexes combined, VBGF parameters were estimated as follows: asymptotic length was 352.1 cm TL, the Brody growth coefficient was 0.13/year, and the theoretical age at zero length was –1.31 years. Age at first maturity was estimated as 6.5 years for males and 6.7 years for females; theoretical longevity was estimated to be at least 21.4 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

164 species of gobioid fishes are presently recorded from Singapore, an increase of 15 species since the last compilation in 2008. Seven of these are recent records from literature, while the present list provides eight new records. Seven of them are based on specimens preserved in museum collections: Trypauchen pelaeos, Trypauchenichthys sumatrensis, Trypauchenichthys typus, Bryaninops loki, Gobiodon quinquestrigatus, Oplopomus caninoides, Parachaeturichthys polynema, and one, Valenciennea puellaris, is based on a sighting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article "Hidden fauna in underwater forests" talks about the diversity of organisms that inhabit the marine environment, specifically in intertidal macroalgae. It is mentioned that the epifauna community is made up of echinoderms, annelids, mollusks, and crustaceans, such as amphipods. These crustaceans are considered "marine insects" due to the functions they perform and have similar characteristics to the aforementioned crustaceans, such as lobsters and crabs. Amphipods are important ecologically due to their biodiversity and can be used as substitutes for conventional food in aquaculture. They are also used in ecotoxicology studies as indicators of contamination. [Extracted from the article]

Detection of aquatic species is imperfect, especially if the species is rare and exhibits spatial and temporal variability. Many fish species require a number of sampling trips before detection is positive. And yet, information on species persistence is critical for effective conservation efforts. New forensic genetic techniques, such as environmental DNA (eDNA), have been developed and successfully used to validate the presence of exotic aquatic species in new areas. We compared detection of a federally listed, threatened, migratory fish species the Slackwater darter ( Etheostoma boschungi); using eDNA to concomitantly collected field collections. Detection probabilities for this species are variable, but consistently low in recent collections. Our results indicated that detection using eDNA was vastly more effective than traditional sampling at confirming the presence of the Slackwater darter. Positive detection at non-breeding sites was half of the detection rate at breeding sites, most likely to the greater area available in non-breeding streams. These data suggest that eDNA is an effective tool for quickly evaluating a relatively large number of sites for the presence of rare aquatic species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Satellite-linked time-depth recorders were deployed on 17 ringed seals in early summer in 1999, 2000, and 2010, near the Inuvialuit community of Ulukhaktok, Northwest Territories, Canada. The main objective was to investigate movements and diving behaviour of ringed seals in the Prince Albert Sound (PAS) and eastern Amundsen Gulf (EAG) regions in relation to season, sex, and age-class. Tags performed well on 16 of 17 tagged seals, with average tracking periods of 256 d (SD 69, range: 134 - 352). Adult and subadult ringed seals traveled considerable distances throughout the open water period (mean = 5844 km, range = 1232 - 9473 km), using vast home ranges during this season, shown with 90 Percent Volume Contours (90 PVC) averaging 122 854 km2 for subadults, 76 658 km2 for adult females, and 21 649 km2 for adult males. Overall, adults spent 69.5% of the observed open water days in foraging/resident mode and 22.8% in traveling mode. The majority (75%) of total observed foraging/resident time was spent in PAS and EAG. Eleven of 12 adults made forays outside EAG and PAS to distant areas, including Prince of Wales Strait (7 seals), Viscount Melville Sound (6), Minto Inlet (4), western Amundsen Gulf (4), and six other zones. During open water season, subadults spent 36.8% traveling and 51.4% foraging/ resident, also mainly in EAG and PAS (61%), but they all traveled to distant zones, eight in total. During winter, all tagged adult females, five of seven adult males, and three of four subadults returned to PAS and EAG to occupy winter home ranges that were on average 15% of the size of the open water home range (mean winter ranges = 1299 km2 for adult males, 3599 km2 for adult females, and 30 499 km2 for subadults). The mean size of the winter home ranges varied by as much as a factor of 10 among the three winters examined. Seal movements were most restricted during the winters with extensive fast ice (1999 - 2000 and 2010 - 11) and least restricted during the winter (2000 - 01) when fast ice did not form in EAG. In winter, adult females made more long, deep dives than either adult males or subadults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine and aquatic animals are extraordinarily useful as models for identifying mechanisms of development and evolution, regeneration, resistance to cancer, longevity and symbiosis, among many other areas of research. This is due to the great diversity of these organisms and their wide-ranging capabilities. Genomics tools are essential for taking advantage of these “free lessons” of nature. However, genomics and transcriptomics are challenging in emerging model systems. Here, we present SeaBase, a tool for helping to meet these needs. Specifically, SeaBase provides a platform for sharing and searching transcriptome data. More importantly, SeaBase will support a growing number of tools for inferring gene network mechanisms. The first dataset available on SeaBase is a developmental transcriptomic profile of the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis (Anthozoa, Cnidaria). Additional datasets are currently being prepared and we are aiming to expand SeaBase to include user-supplied data for any number of marine and aquatic organisms, thereby supporting many potentially new models for gene network studies. SeaBase can be accessed online at: http://seabase.core.cli.mbl.edu. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diving animals are available for detection from above the water when environmental conditions are favorable and the animals are near the surface. The number of animals that are unavailable for detection needs to be estimated to obtain unbiased population estimates. The current availability correction factors used in aerial surveys for the dugong ( Dugong dugon) allow for variation in environmental conditions but use the average time dugongs spend near the surface ( i.e., constant availability corrections). To improve availability estimates, we examined location and dive data from nine dugongs fitted with satellite telemetry units and time-depth recorders ( TDRs) in eastern Australia. The effects of water depth, tidal conditions, and habitat types on dugong surfacing time were examined using generalized linear mixed models ( GLMMs). We found that availability for detection differed with water depth, and depth-specific availability estimates were often lower than the constant estimates. The habitat effect was less influential, and there was no tidal effect. The number of dugongs estimated using depth-specific availabilities were higher than those obtained using constant availabilities across water depth. Hence, information on water depth can refine availability estimates and subsequent abundance estimates from dugong aerial surveys. The methodology may be applicable to other aquatic wildlife. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tropical shrimp genus Synalpheus includes the only eusocial marine animals. In much of the Caribbean, eusocial species have dominated the diverse fauna of sponge-dwelling shrimp in coral rubble for at least the past two decades. Here we document a recent, dramatic decline and apparent local extinction of eusocial shrimp species on the Belize Barrier Reef. Our collections from shallow reefs in central Belize in 2012 failed to locate three of the four eusocial species formerly abundant in the area, and showed steep declines in colony size and increases in frequency of queenless colonies prior to their disappearance. Concordant with these declines, several nonsocial, pair-forming Synalpheus species increased in frequency. The decline in eusocial shrimp is explained in part by disappearance of two sponge species on which they specialize. Eusocial shrimp collections from Jamaica in 2012 showed similar patterns of decline in colony size and increased queenlessness compared with prior Jamaican collections. The decline and local extinction of eusocial shrimp happened against a backdrop of changes in coral assemblages during recent decades, and may reflect changes in abundance and quality of dead coral substratum and succession of the diverse cryptic organisms living within it. These changes document potentially worrisome declines in a unique taxon of eusocial marine animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new crustacean, Nebalia pseudotroncosoi n. sp. (Malacostraca: Leptostraca), occurs along the southern coasts of Korea. The specimens were collected by light traps in harbors where the bottom consisted of fine sand with some algal mats. The new taxon is distinguished from all other known species of Nebalia by the following characteristics: a rectangular compound eye with two to three small distal lobes; an antennular flagellum that is clearly shorter than the peduncle, with up to 10 articles; the fourth article of the antennular peduncle has only two distal thick setae; the antennular scale is nearly oval with a length that is 1.8 times the width; the second article of the mandibular palp has three distally plumose setae; pleonites 3 to 7 have rounded denticles along their posterior dorsal margins; and the protopod of pleopod 4 lacks serration along the posterior margin. We discuss sexual dimorphism in the genus Nebalia and propose the necessity of describing male traits when reporting new species. We also provide partial sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (CO1) gene from the new species that can be used as a molecular diagnostic characteristic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A phylogenetic analysis including representatives from 44 extinct and 27 extant families of lobsters (Polychelida, Achelata, Glypheidea, and Astacidea), resulted in the recognition of one new superfamily, Glaessnericarioidea, and three new families, Glaessnericariidae, Neoglypheidae, and Litogastroidae. Two families, Protastacidae and Stenochiridae, are elevated to superfamily status. A new classification of Glypheidea is proposed and currently known genera are rearranged based upon the phylogenetic analysis. Palaeopalaemonida is given a separate infraordinal status. Diagnoses for all infraorders, superfamilies, and families are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The squid Loligo forbesii is the only cephalopod species currently targeted by fisheries in the northern NE Atlantic. An active predator, it feeds primarily on fish, crustaceans and cephalopods. During 15 years since the only previous large-scale study of the diet of this species in Scottish waters, there have been substantial changes in marine fish abundances. The present study evaluates sources of variation (temporal, ontogenetic) in diet composition and prey size preferences of L. forbesii, including a comparison of contemporary (July 2006-June 2007) and historical (1990-1992) dietary datasets. Results revealed significant size-related and seasonal variation in diet composition and prey size. Teleost fish of the families Ammodytidae and Gobiidae were eaten by squid of all sampled sizes, although occurrence of gobies was generally more frequent in smaller squids, while Gadidae were eaten more frequently by larger squids. Cannibalism was also more frequent in larger squids. Compared to the 1990-1992 dataset, clupeid fish were less important in the diet of squid in 2006-2007, while the importance of gobies increased, and the size of gobies eaten also increased. The trend in gadoids differed according to the index used: their frequency of occurrence was considerably higher in 2006-2007 than in 1990-1992, but their numerical importance was slightly lower. In general, results provided little evidence that changes in the diet of L. forbesii correspond with changes in fish abundance, at least at the scales at which these are measured. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]