The reproductive cycle of the Australasian barnacle Elminius modestus (Crustacea: Cirripedia) was studied at three sites within Whitegate Bay, Cork, Ireland over 15 months. At all three sites, there were seasonal trends in development of the male and female reproductive organs with, for example, the ovaries regenerating whilst eggs were being brooded. Throughout the year, significantly lower percentages of animals were brooding embryos at the site of a warm-water outfall than at another site nearby. The factors which may affect the reproductive cycle of E. modestus are discussed.

Morphometric characteristics and spatial distribution of Tontonia grandis sp. nov. were investigated in the northern East China Sea and the adjacent sea areas. Tontonia grandis has a large conical body shape, 113 μm (70–155 μm) in length by 55 μm (40–113 μm) in width, a caudal appendix, multiple macronuclei and 14 (13–16) anterior and 28 (24–33) ventral polykinetids. Some cells have numerous cortical platelets on the surface and others do not. These two forms showed different horizontal distribution, and hence the presence of cortical platelets might be influenced by the environment inhabited. However, various forms of caudal appendix were observed, which constitute a continuous series of their developmental stages. This result might suggest that the caudal appendix is replaced by new growth and repeats its developing and sloughing spontaneously.

In work performed during the period February–October 1996, about 47 species of ciliates were detected in the communities of Aufwuchs, or periphyton, colonizing glass substrates submerged in three sites in the Lagoon of Venice, two in the urban area of Chioggia and one at a mussel-farming site. The ciliate communities were composed of sessile forms of Peritrichia and Suctoria and of motile ciliates, belonging especially to Hypotrichia and Karyorelictea. Four species of the peritrich Zoothamnium and the suctorians Acineta tuberosa and Ephelota gemmipara are reported here for the first time in the Lagoon of Venice. The richest ciliate communities were recovered at 60 cm from the bottom. Processed by multivariate analysis, data of samplings performed up to day ten from the positioning of glass slides indicated significant differences in biotic and physico-chemical parameters, according to season. The first data did not give definite indications on the possibility of using ciliates colonizing solid surfaces to assess the quality of this peculiar environment.

The community structure of decapod crustacean assemblages was established and analysed from two experimental trawl samplings. The data were taken in the south-west Balearic Islands (Algerian Basin, western Mediterranean Sea) at depths ranging from ∼200 to 1800 m. The results of multivariate analysis indicate that the community structure remained constant between samplings. The analysis also revealed that there exist differences between bathyal decapod communities at a regional level (<1000 km) when compared with well-studied nearby areas. The differences relate mainly to the relative contribution of different species and feeding guilds, not to the taxonomic composition of the assemblages studied. It is proposed that these differences result from contrasting surface production regimes (coastal vs open sea) and food web organization (relative dependence on mesopelagic or infaunal prey).

Substratum heterogeneity on rocky shores can affect the distribution pattern of sessile epibenthic organisms. The rocky shore at Usujiri, southern Hokkaido, Japan, is composed of well-developed, columnar jointed dolerites. In this area, landscape is characterized by a mosaic of barnacle and mussels, where species composition in patches differs among typical topographic-classes, i.e. barnacles dominate on horizontal planes and vertical planes while mussels only inhabit in grooves. To determine the factors maintaining those distribution patterns, the recruitment of dominant sessile species in the typical topographic-classes with and without adults of barnacles and mussels were examined by field experiment. The results showed that the distribution pattern was determined by recruitment, and the recruitment pattern was strongly affected by rock-surface topography. Moreover, the presence of conspecific adults contributed to the maintenance of this topography-related mosaic by facilitating recruitment. These results show: (1) the presence of resource division for rocky topography among barnacles and mussels; and (2) that intraspecific positive interaction rather than interspecific competition may play important role in maintaining the topography-related mosaic of barnacle and mussels at Usujiri.

Investigations were made on spatial and temporal variation, population structure, growth, recruitment and mortality in the intertidal flats of Kunsan (Korea, Yellow Sea) of an inarticulate brachiopod Lingula unguis. Statistical analysis indicates significant spatial differences and a significant relationship between density and ratio of sands to silts, suggesting that the distribution and density of this species were related to particle size. The population consisted of three year-classes, with a similar size composition each year, of which the second year-class was a major component. From estimation of parameters of growth monthly length–frequency was analysed by ELEFAN. Parameters of growth were estimated, using the modified von Bertalanffy growth function (VBGF) model incorporating seasonal variation in growth. The growth parameters are: L∞=44.00 mm SL, K=0.88 y−1, C=0.90, WP=0.48. The recruitment pattern shows two major recruitments per year. The maximum life span is estimated as 3.45 y. Total mortality (Z) by length-converted catch curve was estimated at 3.65 y−1. The population mainly occurred in fine sands and exhibited patchy distribution.

The polychaete family Polynoidae (scale-worms) is well-represented at deep sea hydrothermal vents. Most species are free-living in a wide range of habitats: from high-temperature hydrothermal `chimney' walls to diffuse venting areas. Conversely, species of the genus Branchipolynoe live inside the mantle cavity of vent and seep mytilids. Specimens, morphologically close to Branchipolynoe seepensis, have been reported from all the known vent areas on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (MAR), with varying infestation rates (0–6 individuals per host). Reproductive tract, gametogenesis and population structures were examined for specimens from the Lucky Strike vent field (MAR) in order to test whether this species displays dwarf males, protandric hermaphroditism or differential mortality between males and females. Observations of histological sections reveal the presence of fully developed ovaries in females which originate ventrally in segments 7–9 and of an unusual genital tract in which both sperm and mature oocytes are stored. Oogenesis is intraovarian and quasi-continuous. The vitellogenic oocytes are only free in the coelom at their terminal growing stage and are then transferred into an ovisac through spermathecae. The species displays an external sexual dimorphism in the number of genital papillae and the shape of the pygidial appendages. Sex ratios showed significant deviations from a 1:1 expected ratio, in favour of females. The modal decompositions of size–frequency histograms show the occurrence of three modes in females and only two modes in males, indicating discrete breeding periods. The two first modes were not significantly different between males and females. These results indicate that B. seepensis forms heterosexual pairs and uses internal fertilization to reproduce during discrete spawning periods. Differential mortality between males and females is likely to shape size-histograms as observed by preventing males from reaching the female proportions. Such an observation could be a result of either cannibalism on larger males, small sizes facilitating the male escape, or natural predation when males move from one bivalve to another to breed.

A new species of terebellid polychaete, Lanice arakani sp. nov., is described from two specimens collected in deep water at seamounts of the west Pacific by the submersible `JAGO', and comparisons are made with the established species of the genus. Special reference is given to the morphology of the worm's sediment tube and in situ observations.

Ptychodactiaria, currently recognized as an order equivalent to Actiniaria (sea anemones sensu stricto) and Scleractinia (‘true’ or hard corals) of cnidarian class Anthozoa, contains three monotypic genera, Dactylanthus, Ptychodactis, and Preactis, in two families, Ptychodactiidae and Preactiidae. Features that had been considered distinctive to the order among hexacorallian anthozoans were that gametes mature in protrusions from the mesenteries, as in octocorallian anthozoans, and that gametes do not mature embedded in mesogloea. However, we found that ptychodactiarian gametes develop in the mesenteries, surrounded by mesogloea, as in other sea anemones. We conclude that the three species constitute a clade, the most distinctive feature of which is medially fused mesenteries at the proximal end of the body. This clade merits subordinal status within order Actiniaria. We redefine Ptychodactiaria and its component taxa, moving Dactylanthus from family Ptychodactiidae to family Preactiidae.

The manner in which mussels, Mytilus edulis, are presented to Carcinus maenas significantly influences crab prey-selection, resulting in different foraging behaviour. Handling techniques, breaking and handling times, percentage flesh eaten and prey value curves were compared when mussels of the following size-classes, 5–10, 10–15, 15–20, 20–25, 25–30 mm shell length, were presented singly and when they were presented as part of a group to crabs of 30–55 mm carapace width. When prey were presented singly, crabs used four size-specific opening techniques; outright crushing and directed crushing were used on smaller prey whilst boring and edge-chipping were used on larger, more resistant mussels. However, when mussels were presented as part of a group, boring and edge-chipping were never observed since larger mussels were not consumed. Handling time increased exponentially with mussel size irrespective of how mussels were presented, but, when crabs fed on mussels presented as part of a group, handling times tended to be shorter than when they fed on similar-sized mussels presented singly. The median percentage of flesh left uneaten in discarded shells ranged between 9.58 and 25.25% and was significantly greater than the median percentage of flesh left in the shells of mussels presented singly, which ranged between 4.66 and 14.70%. All resultant prey value curves were convex in shape, but the predicted optimal prey size altered with modifications in prey presentation. Similarly, when crabs of 30–65 mm carapace width were presented with groups of mussels comprised of different proportions of different sizes of mussels, size-class vulnerability was not fixed but altered significantly with the relative proportions in which these were presented. Thus, when the relative number of mussels in the smaller size groups were increased so was their vulnerability, indicating that prey size preference is flexible and not fixed.

Populations of Caryophyllia smithii were studied at three sites of differing sedimentation regime in Lough Hyne, Ireland. The height, length, width and density of individuals were measured along with the depth of accumulated sediment on the rock substratum at each site. Calyx size was largest at the site of least sedimentation and smallest at the site of most sedimentation. In contrast, height of individuals was greatest at the site of most sedimentation and smallest at the site of least sedimentation. The height of individuals was correlated with the level of surrounding sediment (Pearson's correlation 0.836 P<0.05). The uppermost limit of C. smithii corresponded with the downward limit of the infralittoral zone at each site; 15, 13, and 12 m at the low, mid and highly sedimented site respectively. Density averaged over depth was greatest (70 ind m−2) at the site of moderate sedimentation and lowest (13 ind m−2) at the site of least sedimentation. Density was also found to increase with depth at the sites of moderate and high sedimentation.

Monthly collections were made for one year (August 1995 to July 1996) in the intertidal zone of two beaches (Engenho d'Água and São Francisco) located in the São Sebastião Channel, State of São Paulo, Brazil, in order to establish the seasonal fluctuations of the species and the factors determining these fluctuations. On each beach, a 10 m wide sector of varying width was established, from which 15 samples/month were collected with a cylindrical corer (0·01 m2). The salinity of the interstitial water and the temperature of the sediment were measured monthly, while the granulometric parameters and calcium carbonate and organic matter concentrations were recorded seasonally. The temporal distribution of the species was more homogeneous at Engenho d'Água, where the highest diversity and evenness values were also found, although the number of individuals was lower. At São Francisco, the monthly abundance was higher, but the richness, diversity, and evenness values were lower, showing some heterogeneity in the temporal distribution patterns of the species. Most species at Engenho d'Água reached their peak of abundance in summer and autumn. The most abundant and frequent species at Engenho d'Água were Nematonereis hebes, Cirriformia filigera (summer), Scyphoproctus djiboutiensis (spring), Owenia fusiformis and Isolda pulchella (winter). At São Francisco, the capitellids Capitella capitata, Heteromastus filiformis, and Capitomastus minimus, and the tubificid oligochaetes dominated in the summer, and Laeonereis acuta and Scolelepis squamata in the winter. The log-normal distribution of the species was used to group those species that are sensitive to and those that are tolerant of organic enrichment, over the four seasons of the year.

Samples of four species of algae were collected from three mid-shore pools on each of three shores on the north-east coast of England in order to describe colour polymorphism in the common intertidal ostracod Paradoxostoma variabile. Eight different colour morphs were found within the populations. On all shores, male P. variabile occurred in significantly higher densities than did the females, and males exhibited a significantly higher colour morph diversity and colour morph richness than females. On two out of three shores, males showed a significant association in colour morph frequency with algal species (but the pattern was not consistent between shores), but no such association was found in the female populations. In either sex, colour morph diversity did not vary between algal species but samples of male ostracods from the shore at Holbeck contained a significantly higher diversity of colour morphs than samples from the other two shores. In the laboratory, neither sex demonstrated a specific association with algal species suggesting that habitat selection is not an important factor in maintaining colour morph frequencies in this species.

Serpuloidea were collected by diving within 45 m depth, by indirect sampling in deeper waters (50 and 81 m), and among the fouling settled on oceanographic instruments at various depths (10, 50, 80 and 83 m depth). A total of 33 species or subspecific taxa was found: 25 Serpulidae and eight Spirorbidae. All the species collected are already known for the western Mediterranean and have Atlantic–Mediterranean or worldwide distribution. Several of these, however, may be species-complexes hiding species with restricted geographic ranges. No Lessepsian migrants were found. The number of species found at vent sites was significantly higher than that found at non-vent sites, although no vent-obligate species were recognized. Hydrothermal vents might influence serpuloidean richness through four main mechanisms: (i) increasing food sources to these filter-feeders, due to the chemiosynthetic production by vent microbiota; (ii) enhancing the development of biogenic carbonate mounds, which provide habitats for encrusting and cryptic species; (iii) inducing advective mechanisms that concentrate larval stages in the vicinity of vents and thus favouring recruitment; (iv) creating, through the periodic emission of toxic fluids, a regime of `intermediate disturbance' that allows a larger number of species to coexist.

Ilyanassa obsoleta is mainly an eastern North American estuarine gastropod. Previous work on growth rate revealed a longevity of 30–40 y for this snail. Trematode infections retard growth, appear to be long-lived ([ges ]10 y) and can be frequent in this host. In 1995 a population made up of unusually large, trematode-parasitized individuals was located in Rehoboth Bay, Delaware. It was interesting to discover whether the oversized snails were the result of locally faster growth or greater age. Therefore in 1996 individually marked snails, uninfected and infected, were deployed to assess growth rates. Uninfected snails were tracked mostly in summer and autumn 1996; infected snails could be tracked longer, some through autumn 1999. Estimated growth rates of uninfected (1.5 mm y−1) and infected (0.2 mm y−1) snails in this habitat were similar to previous results and the large size of individuals in this population must be explained by greater age. Habitat history and growth rate evidence indicate the population includes snails as old as about 70 y. If correct, this becomes the greatest documented snail longevity. Trematodes gain long-term reproduction by their association with this host. By virtue of the enduring effects of long-lived individuals, and the wider potential effects of their long-lived infections (on the snails themselves and on other hosts in their life cycles), I. obsoleta stands to contribute more to the stability of coastal ecosystems than heretofore recognized.

Postmarsupial development and growth of Natatolana borealis were studied from Skogsvåg and Raknesvåg on the western coast of Norway. Growth was determined from size and instar stage distributions. Growth was also examined in laboratory kept isopods that were collected from Skogsvåg. The postmarsupial instar stages were identified using the number of articles and the position of setae on the flagellum of the first antenna and other morphological features. The mean size of isopods in instar stages 1—3 did not show any significant seasonal variation in Raknesvåg. The estimated growth and mortality rates of males and females were not significantly different. Nine and 11 postmarsupial instar stages were found in material from Skogsvåg and Raknesvåg, respectively. The life span from instar stage 1 to 9 of male and female N. borealis from western Norway was estimated to be 3—4 y. Mortality rate increased significantly from instar stage 9 to 10 of both sexes. Isopods that attained instar stage 10 and instar stage 11 in Raknesvåg, may have lived 4—5 y. The mean size of instar stages 8 and 9 and the size-to-weight relationships were significantly higher in material from Raknesvåg relative to that from Skogsvåg and may have been caused by differences in food access and predation pressure at the two study sites. Specimens sampled from the Bay of Monaco attained smaller adult size than the isopods from the Norwegian population.

A subtidal population of the anomuran crab, Pisidia longicornis was sampled quantitatively throughout 1997. Divers, using SCUBA equipment, conducted suction sampling each month, with concentrated effort directed towards the settlement season. Pisidia occurred in very high densities, constituting the major component of decapod community abundance. Gravid females were detected between March and September. Newly settled megalopae were present in benthic samples from June until late September. Six distinct settlement events were detected during this period, with pulses coinciding with low spring tides. Body size at settlement decreased as temperature during larval development increased. The rapid growth of each distinct settlement group was followed over time through each subsequent crab stage up to maximum adult size. Growth was suspended between December and April. Survival within each distinct settlement group was density-independent during the first summer's growth. Mortality increased between June and July settlement events, with the rate of decline remaining a linear function.

The reproductive activity of a population of barnacle-dwelling littorinids at Peak Steel, on the north-east coast of England, was investigated. Variation in the number of mature males and females, expressed as a percentage of the whole population, showed a marked difference among the barnacle-dwelling littorinids. Littorina neglecta displayed a distinct seasonal component to its reproductive activity, with a peak in early summer. Littorina arcana B also displayed a distinct seasonal component, with a lull in the summer months. However, L. saxatilis B maintained its reproductive activity all year, but with an increase in output in the summer. The reproductive activity of both L. arcana B and L. saxatilis B follow similar patterns of reproductive activity as their typical non barnacle-dwelling forms, suggesting that these are true barnacle-dwelling ecotypes. The controversy surrounding the specific status of L. neglecta is also discussed.

A study of the polychaetes living on isolated seamounts was undertaken to give data on marine biogeography and the dispersal of marine invertebrates. The data from the Meteor and Josephine seamounts came from Hartmann-Schröder and Rosenfeldt's work in the 1980s. Data from Hyeres came from Bellan's work in the 1960s, and data from the Atlantis and Hyeres seamounts were obtained during the Seamount 2 French expedition on board the ‘Suroît’ in 1993. Thirty-five sites from 280 to 2205 m were sampled: 16 on Atlantis (13 with polychaetes), and 19 on Hyeres (16 with polychaetes). In all 84 polychaete taxa from four seamounts were studied: Atlantis, 36; Hyeres, 33; Josephine, 34; and Meteor 50, but data analysis was based on the following number of taxa: Atlantis, 31; Hyeres, 29; Josephine, 34, and Meteor 48. Two groups of sites were identified by cluster analysis: I, Atlantis and Hyeres; and II, Josephine and Meteor. Only seven species were present at all sites. Nine families were present only in group I and six other families only in group II. Hesionidae (three species) occurred in group I, conversely Syllidae (16 species) were sampled only in group II. Some of the species were cosmopolitan (31%), 49% had a large distribution in the Atlantic, 11% were lusitano–mauretanian species, and only 6% were endemic; 51% of the species have direct development against 46% of the species which had a planktotrophic development and 3% a lecithotrophic development. Results of the biogeographical distribution and reproductive patterns of the polychaetes collected on these four sites were compared.

This study examined the use of replica limpets made from modelling wax to provide an index of encounter frequency between crabs and their limpet prey. Video observations at Port Erin Marine Laboratory, showed that the intertidal crabs, Carcinus maenas (L.), Necora puber (L.) and to a lesser extent Cancer pagarus L., regularly examined and tried to remove both real and replica limpets with their chelae. Replica limpets became scratched or gouged as a result of these encounters. The frequency of attack was similar for both real and replica limpets. Hence marks on the limpet models provided a reliable index of attacks on real limpets. The frequency, timing and spatial distribution of encounters between limpets and crabs were recorded by scoring the marks made on model limpets deployed amongst real limpets on the shore. During a 28-day period at Port St Mary on the Isle of Man, limpet models were marked more frequently and with longer scratches on the lower shore than on the upper shore, suggesting that larger crabs were present on the lower shore. Models, deployed at Prawle Point, Devon, showed that encounters between crabs and limpets occurred during both day and night-time high tides. The models were durable and provided an inexpensive method for recording encounters between crabs and limpets. Some replicas were also marked by the teeth of small fish and rodents. Model prey such as these could also be used to study other predator–prey encounters, particularly in conditions which preclude direct observation or video recording, or for use with animals that might be disturbed by observers or cameras.