Incidence of epibiosis has been studied in the deep-water portunid crab Bathynectes piperitus in the Benguela upwelling region. The serpulid polychaete Spirorbis cf. patagonicus, the hydroid Stegopoma plicatile and the stalked cirripede Poecilasma kaempferi were the commonest epizoitic species. Analysis revealed some biological and ecological features of the host population: the species does not have a terminal moult; both sexes show different moulting patterns; sexual maturity occurs at around 35 mm carapace length; there is asynchronous moulting among different sub-populations in different geographical areas; burying behaviour appears to be not very widespread.

Dense populations of Prorocentrum micans are reported from the Galway Bay area in 1980 and 1981. At one location a density of llx106 cells dm-3 was found co-incident with a bright red colour in the water. High concentrations of chlorophyll a and high levels of dissolved oxygen were also associated with the blooms.

A further 69 recaptures are reported from a tagging study of pelagic sharks initiated in 1970 in the north-east Atlantic. Galeorhinus galeus tagged in England were recaptured in the eastern Atlantic from southern Spain to north-west of Iceland. Among the 42 G. galeus recaptured the longest time at liberty was about 12 years and the greatest distance travelled was 2461 km. Among the 21 Prionace glauca recaptured the l ongest time at liberty was 10.7 years, and seven sharks moved distances between 4362 and 7176 km. One shark tagged in south-west England was recaptured in the South Atlantic off South America. An Isurus oxyrinchus was at liberty for 4–6 years and a Lamna nasus for up to about 13 years. Lamna nasus were recaptured from northern Norway to northern Spain. The growth rates of the tagged sharks were close to the predicted values for G. galeus, were slower for P. glauca and faster for L. nasus.

Samples of Balanus improvisus were collected from 15 sites in the Baltic, the west coast of Sweden, the British Isles and North America. They were analysed with horizontal starch gel electrophoresis for 11 loci and with opercular plate morphometry for 10 metrical characters. Analyses of isozyme patterns revealed a high degree of genetic similarity amongst populations. The Baltic sites, however, showed less heterozygote deficiency than the British and American sites indicating higher stability and outcrossing in the Baltic. Morphometric characters showed somewhat more heterogeneity than isozymes. The Baltic was relatively more homogeneous by morphometrical characters than by isozymes compared with the other areas. Both analyses separated to some extent the three geographical regions from each other and clustered sites by salinity. Individuals at low salinity had relatively small opercular openings compared to individuals from high salinity.

An attempt was made to determine whether bistramide A (=bistratene A), a polycycloether with biological activity isolated from Lissodinum bistratum Sluiter, originates from the ascidian itself or from its symbiont Prochlorophyta. A high-pressure liquid chromatography assay carried out on the whole ascidian, the ascidian without a portion of its Prochloron and the Prochloron themselves gave concentrations respectively of 0.182,0.166 and 0.850%. In view of these results, as well as of the capacity of Prochloron to synthesize complex nitrogenous products and the cytotoxicity of these products, it is hypothesized that bistramide A originates exclusively in Prochloron.

Mycteronastes undulatae gen. nov., sp. nov. (Monogenea: Monocotylidae) is described from the nasal cavities of Raja undulata caught off Arcachon in France and off Lisbon (Tagus estuary) and Sines in Portugal. Merizocotyle icopae Beverley-Burton & Williams, 1989, be-comes Mycteronastes icopae n. comb., the type species of Mycteronastes gen. nov. Similarities between M. icopae and M. undulatae include the arrangement of the haptor loculi and hooks, the general disposition of the reproductive system, the presence of eyespots and the habitat (the nasal cavities of the host). However, a distinctive feature is the absence of a copulatory sclerite and bulb in M. undulatae. The diagnoses of the following taxa are amended: Monocotylidae, Merizocotylinae and Merizocotyle.

An appendicularian belonging to the family Oikopleuridae, subfamily Bathochordaeinae, Mesochordaeus bahamasi gen. nov., sp. nov., is described from a single specimen collected at mesopelagic depth in Bahamian waters. As the subfamily was founded with only one genus (Bathochordaeus), new descriptions are given for the subfamily and the two genera.

The leatherback turtle, Dermochelys coriacea (L.) studied was a male, weighing 916 kg, with a total dorsal length of 291 cm. It was beached on the Welsh coast, UK in September 1988 and is currently the largest leatherback ever recorded.

Total lipid formed between 87.5 and 95.4% of the dry weight of representative samples of the blubber and 43.0% and 4.9% of the liver and pectoral muscle respectively. High levels of neutral lipid in the liver (79.0% of the total lipid) as well as the blubber (87.6–99.9% of the total lipid) suggest an important energy storage function for these tissues.

Overall, with the notable exception of 22:lwll, fatty acids which are found in a putative jellyfish diet of Rhizostoma, Amelia, Cyanea and Chrysaora are also present in the leatherback liver and muscle, blubber and other fatty tissues. Fatty acid 22:lwll is present in the jellyfish samples, but is absent or at trace levels only in the leatherback tissues (0.1–0.3% of the total fatty acids).

The polyunsaturated fatty acids of the w3 series 20:5w3, 22:5w3 and 22:6w3 are well represented in leatherback adipose tissues, muscle and liver as well as in the jellyfish examined. The leatherback and jellyfish lipids are therefore marine in character, but are also similar to terrestrial animal lipid in having a high proportion of fatty acids of the w6 series, principally arachidonic acid, 20:4w6. The significant levels of 20:4w6 in jellyfish total lipid (9.7–20.0% of the total fatty acids) and in the leatherback neutral lipid (1.0–10.9% of the total fatty acids) and phospholipid (0.6–15.5% of total fatty acids) fractions of all tissues sampled suggests that arachidonic acid assumes more importance in food chain relationships involving leatherbacks than in other marine food webs such as those involving fish.

Changes in dietary lipids (fatty acids, sterols and fatty alcohols) during herbivory and coprophagy by the annelid worm Hediste (Nereis) diversicolor (O.F. Müller) were modelled in laboratory feeding experiments. The dinoflagellate Scrippsiella trochoidea (Stein) was used as the food in herbivory; faeces from the crustacean Neomysis integer (Leach) after feeding on this same alga, were used as the food in coprophagy.

Nereis is extremely efficient in its assimilation of dietary lipids and produces faeces with very low fatty acid:sterol (FAST) ratios in both herbivory and coprophagy. The net decrease in total lipid in both modes of feeding with this species suggests that annelids, where present, are as important as other invertebrate groups in affecting the flux of lipids through marine food chains.

Field and experimental observations on sea anemones (Actinaria) Ammonia viridis (Forskål) and Actinia equina (L.) indicated that in both species body zinc concentrations usually ranged between 100 and 200 ug (g dry wt)1 in waters containing up to 200 μg I1 of the metal. At higher dissolved concentrations, as observed in Restronguet Creek, A. equina exhibited only slightly enhanced tissue levels. However, in the laboratory, zinc levels in Anemonia viridis increased markedly at sea-water concentrations exceeding 200 μg I”1. Studies on the uptake of 65Zn-labelled zinc showed that, when the sea-water concentration was increased from 2 to 52 μg 11, both species absorbed the metal and new equilibria appeared to be reached in about a week. At equilibrium, the concentration of zinc in Actinia equina had risen by up to 11%, and in Anemon ia viridis, by up to 28%. About one third of the difference between the amounts absorbed by the two species may be accounted for by zinc accumulated in the symbiotic algae (zooxanthellae) of A. viridis. Short-term (12 h) experiments showed that, although A. viridis absorbed a significant amount of labelled zinc when the concentration increased from 2 to 52 μg I1, uptake was not much greater when the concentration increased from 2 to 202 μg I1. It is postulated that, up to a sea-water concentration of 202 μg I1, the absorption of zinc is dependent on the amount adsorbed at the body surface: saturation of the surface at higher concentrations leads to more direct dependence on the level of dissolved zinc.

Ovaries of the common sole (Solea solea (Linnaeus)) were collected prior to, or at the beginning of, spawning from the spawning grounds in the Bristol Channel. Size frequency distributions of oocytes over 100 μm are presented. They clearly show a break in the size frequency distributions, at about 170 μm, indicating that the production of new oocytes to be spawned that season had ceased. It indicates that the sole is a determinate spawner and that, at least for this population, an annual potential fecundity can be measured. Estimated annual fecundity at length of Bristol Channel sole is calculated, and values are compared with those found for sole from the North Sea, eastern English Channel and the Bay of Biscay.

In constant conditions, freshly-collected Lipophrys pholis show an endogenous circatidal activity rhythm, the initial activity peaks of which are phased to the expected time of high tide. The rhythm usually damps out over a few days but it may re-appear spontaneously or as a result of disturbance caused by handling and transfer to the experimental apparatus. The free-running period is more variable in fish kept in non-tidal conditions for prolonged periods than in those recorded shortly after capture. The non-circatidal periodicity shown by some fish may be the result of stable coupling in antiphase of desynchronised oscillators. There is no semilunar variation of the circatidal rhythm and no influence of the slight diurnal inequality in tidal period upon the rhythm's periodicity, at least at the site studied. The activity rhythm of Lipophrys varies seasonally.

Serological methods for prey identification have been applied to detection of residues of sandeel (Ammodytidae) protein in faeces of common seals (Phoca vitulina) and grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) from the Moray Firth, north-east Scotland. Antisera raised to muscle protein from Ammodytes marinus were evaluated by testing their reactions with protein extracts made from a range of North Sea fish species and protein residues in in vitro digestates, seal digestive tracts and seal faeces. It was concluded that, using fused rocket immuno-electrophoresis, linkage of precipitin peaks from unknown samples with peaks from standard sandeel extract was a reliable indicator of the presence of sandeel in the unknown sample. Seasonal variation in the incidence of sandeels in common seal diet in the Moray Firth was examined by identifying otoliths, bones, and proteins, and all three methods indicated that sandeels occurred in the majority of samples tested in the summer, but were less important during the winter. Proteins were detected in fewer samples than otoliths, particularly in February and March. Possible reasons for this difference are discussed. Serological identification of sandeel proteins is potentially applicable to dietary studies on all marine predators.

Lissarca notorcadensis, a small pallial-brooding mollusc with a circum-Antarctic distribution, is frequently found attached by stout byssal threads to the spines of sea urchins. Here, complete ontogenetic series can be found. Using standard, structural definitions, the prodissoconch I of L. notorcadensis is small compared to the large prodissoconch II, a feature atypical of brooded young and possibly reflective of a planktotrophic past. Fine commarginal striae are found on prodissoconch II of this subtidal clam, which also possesses more pronounced commarginal striae on the dissoconch prior to brood release. The provinculum is retained and remains functional well into adulthood. A small central ligament pit is present through the postlarval stages. This develops into a large, triangular pit in adulthood that shows obvious growth lines. Calcareous, presumably aragonitic fibres develop in the ligament of specimens still retained in the adult brood. Five to six adult hinge teeth are formed on either side of the ligament. Alignment of shell valves by these well-developed teeth is augmented by retention of larval denticles. The functional and structural demise of the provinculum occurs between 4 and 7 mm shell height and results from denticle erosion and subumbonal shell overgrowth. Many canals permeate larval and adult valves, but external pores in the adult shell differ from those of the larval shell and could indicate mode of formation. Prodissoconch form, provinculum retention, and shell canals are considered primitive traits.

Slope currents in the Bay of Biscay show a consistent poleward transport but seasonal trends and vertical current structure appear more variable. Indeed more long term records are required to establish seasonal trends firmly.

In the south of the region (Spanish slopes, mooring 118), the upper-slope (water depth 1005 m) flow exhibited a strong vertical structure with the maximum surface inflow occurring in the winter period, and this effect may be wind induced. Satellite imagery shows that this flow originates from the Iberian slope and that a decreasing along-slope surface transport occurs along the north Spanish slopes at this time of year.

In the north of the region (Porcupine Seabight slopes) vertical structure was again evident in the upper slope (~1000–m depth) flow. At mooring 114 the flow at mid–depth showed a weakening along-slope flow and an on-slope tendency in the March/April period; a complete reversal in the slope current occurred at mid–depths at the position of mooring 112 during March.

In the central region (Celtic and -Armorican slopes) seasonal variations in the upper layers on the slopes were also present. In this region, the upper–slope transport (2500m depth) reached maximum values of 3–5 Sv in late summer. Upper flows at the rise (mooring 8002) were directed on-slope during the period of maximum upper–slope transport but changed direction in the March/April period.

In this region on the Celtic shelf (DB1), the surface flow is in a counter–current sense and wind-induced and so the seasonal variations here reflect seasonality in the wind stress.

Available data concerning the taxonomy, biology, ecology and biogeography of the genus Haploops is presented. The genus, represented by 15 valid species, is typically associated with deep and cold waters. Haploops is confined to the Arctic, north Atlantic and north Pacific Oceans with the exception of two Tasmanian species. Phyletic relationships show four principal groups of species, but there is no clear correlation between these groups and their biogeographical distribution. The biology of Haploops is typical of the biology of a cold-water amphipod. The distribution and the biology of Haploops is contrasted with that of Ampelisca, another genus of the family Ampeliscidae.

It has been observed previously that the digestive gland of the carnivorous gastropod mollusc, Murex trunculus, does not accumulate metals which occur in high concentration in the digestive gland of its prey, the detritus-feeding gastropod, Cerithium vulgatum. It is proposed that mechanisms of metal detoxification which operate in C. vulgatum render metals biologically unavailable to M. trunculus. In the present work, this scheme is tested by feeding tissues containing detoxified metals from a gastropod, bivalve and barnacle to carnivorous gastropods. Metals in the prey are accumulated in insoluble granules in the digestive gland of the gastropod, kidney of the bivalve and gut connective tissue of the barnacle. These tissues are fed to the carnivores and the granules pass through the entire length of the gut. They are egested as clean preparations within the faecal pellets and they still contain the metals introduced by the tissues of the prey. This transfer of detoxification between species indicates that the food chain progression of material can result in the reduction of the bioavailability of metals. The observations are recorded by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray microanalysis.

Direct observations of egg masses on the shore indicates that Lipophrys pholis is a winter and spring spawner in Portuguese waters. The results are compared with those published for the British Isles.

Lipophrys pholis, Linnaeus, 1758, is a very common intertidal fish in the north-eastern Atlantic and in the North Sea. Considerable work has been published concerning its breeding season in British waters (Lebour, 1927; Qasim, 1957; Shackley & King, 1977). The breeding season of the species at the southern limit of its range is almost unknown, and Zander (1986) mentions the period from April to August for the whole species. Based on dates of first appearance of larvae in plankton collected in the Bay of Biscay, Villegas (1981) concluded that breeding should have begun as early as the end of December.

In this report we present data on the spawning season of this blenny based on direct observation of the presence of eggs and/or parental guarding males on the shore.

Data were collected at a site located at Arrábida (38°28′N, 8°59′W), near Senibal, 50 km south of Lisbon, Portugal. In the course of behavioural observations on the breeding males of L. pholis, the area was visited at various intervals during the period 1986 to 1989. The nests were located intertidally in holes in vertical walls. On each visit, the presence of eggs and/or black males inside the nests was registered. Each nest was mapped for inspection in subsequent visits. The results are summarized in Figure 1.

It is clear that in our study area breeding begins as early as December, and has virtually ended in June.

One species of the cheilostome family Membraniporidae Busk is recorded for the first time in the Bay of Biscay. Observations were made on a dead fragment of Membranipora arborescens (Canu & Bassler), previously known in the Atlantic littoral of America (from the Cape Hatteras to Brazil), in the eastern Pacific (from Mexico to Equador) and in the coasts of western Africa.