<Emphasis Type="Italic">Stephanthus antarcticus,</Emphasis> a new genus and species of sea anemone (Actiniaria,Haloclavidae) from the South Shetland Islands,Antarctica

Stephanthus antarcticus gen. nov. et sp. nov. is described and illustrated from six specimens collected in the Antarctic Peninsula on the Polarstern cruises ANT XV/3 and ANT XIX/3. The new genus is characterised by the absence of sphincter and basilar musculature, the presence of a single strong siphonoglyph with a basal enlargement, distinct parietobasilar musculature, tentacles without acrospheres, two cycles of six pairs of mesenteries (only one of them perfect), and a deep fosse with parapet; another remarkable feature is the absence of microbasic p-mastigophores. The new genus shows characteristics of three families of soft-bottom-dwelling sea anemones, namely Haloclavidae Verrill, 1899, Halcampoididae Appellöf, 1896, and Andresiidae Stephenson, 1922. The generic characters of Stephanthus gen. nov. are discussed and it is tentatively placed in the family Haloclavidae.     

Amphipod crustaceans as an important component of zoobenthos of the shallow Antarctic sublittoral

Benthic quantitative samples were taken in 1988 in the soft bottom sublittoral of Admiralty Bay (King George Island, South Shetlands) using a Tvärminne-type bottom sampler and SCUBA-diving technique at 7 successive stations situated at depths from 4 to 30 m.Dominant animal groups in terms of abundance were Amphipoda, Polychaeta and Bivalvia, whereas in terms of biomass Echinoidea were also dominant. Amphipod crustaceans clearly dominated the zoobenthos at depths from 10 to 25 m (the numerical share surpaising 60%) with maximal abundance of abt. 17 000 ind m^–2; in terms of biomass at specific depths amphipods occupied the 1st, 2nd or 3rd place with maximal biomass of abt. 100 g m^–2 where the maximal total biomass of zoobenthos reached 260 g m^–2 (10 m).Amphipoda were the most diversified group with some 35 taxa belonging to 14 families. Most species belonged to Eusiridae s.l. and Lysianassidae s.l. Dominant forms were Pontogeneiella brevicornis, Prostebbingia gracilis, Schraderia gracilis, Hippomedon kergueleni, Orchomenella cf. ultima, Cardenio paurodactylus and Paraphoxus rotundifrons.     

2018年夏秋季南设得兰群岛周边水域南极磷虾集群类型及其影响因素

南极磷虾是一种典型的集群性海洋生物,其集群特征为行为生态学研究领域的重要内容之一.南极磷虾在南设得兰群岛周围高度密集分布,然而磷虾集群形状和大小的机制解释仍存在较大的争议.基于南设得兰群岛周边水域收集的Simrad EK80声学数据,本研究利用Echoview V6.16软件,对声学数据进行了分析,并对磷虾集群特征进行...     

禄丰古猿牙齿釉质发育不全的观察研究

对出自禄丰石灰坝的26个禄丰古猿下颌齿列的246枚恒齿进行了观察研究,发现禄丰古猿具有普遍的带状釉质发育不全（LEH）现象,个体LEH比例为100%,恒齿LEH比例为85%。乳齿几乎没有LEH现象,第一恒臼齿的LEH比例也很低仅57%。根据牙齿萌出顺序及现代大猿的牙齿发育年龄特征,作者推断2—3岁之前的幼儿古猿很少出现釉质发育不全现象,这可能与母体的营养关照有关。禄丰古猿的LEH的发生频率具有明显的季节性,结合中新世晚期气候变化特征、古猿的生态环境、生活习性及食性特征分析,作者推测：季节性营养不良可能是造成禄丰古猿釉质发育不全的主要原因。     

RNase MRP RNA and human genetic diseases

RNase MRP RNA is the RNA subunit of the RNase mitochondrial RNA processing （MRP） enzyme complex that is involved in multiple cellular RNA processing events. Mutations on RNase MRP RNA gene （RMRP） cause a recessively inherited developmental disorder, cartilage-hair hypoplasia （CHH）. The relationship of the genotype （RMRP mutation）, RNA processing deficiency of the RNase MRP complex, and the phenotype of CHH and other skeletal dysplasias is yet to be explored.     

Age and growth of ocellated icefish, Chionodraco rastrospinosus DeWitt and Hureau, 1979, from the South Shetland Islands

Age and growth of ocellated icefish, Chionodraco rastrospinosus, were investigated using counts of annual growth increments from sagittal otoliths. Samples were collected during research surveys by benthic trawl carried out around Elephant and South Shetland Islands in January–February 2002 and December 2006–January 2007. A total of 290 specimens were selected for the study, consisting of 120 females and 170 males. The age of fish was estimated by counting annuli on transverse sections obtained by grinding and polishing whole otoliths embedded in epoxy resin. The precision-of-age estimates within and between readers were tested applying both the average percent error (APE) and the coefficient of variation (CV). The estimated age-range was 1–12 for both sexes of C. rastrospinosus. Applying the von Bertalanffy growth function to the age–length data, a growth curve was obtained for each sex. The estimated values of VB growth parameters L _∞ and k were, respectively, 47.9 cm and 0.28 for females and 42.9 cm and 0.36 for males. Compared to other congeneric species, the growth performance of C. rastrospinosus was relatively high, being 2.82 and 2.81 in males and females, respectively. Age at sexual maturity was estimated to be about 4 years in both sexes. C. rastrospinosus captured in the studied area consisted mainly of adult specimens between 3 and 8 years, with few older fish.     

The mollusc fauna along a depth transect in the Faroe Shetland Channel: Is there a relationship with internal waves?

From boxcore and dredge samples taken along a depth transect across the Faroe Shetland Channel (FSC) in 1997 and 1999, molluscs were sorted and identified. On the basis of their numerical abundance, the stations could be clustered into three groups, reflecting the depth extension of the main water masses in the FSC. Between 400 and 500 m depth, both the number of taxa per sample and the number of specimens, were highest. Bivalves were mainly caught by the boxcorer and the dredge was best suited to collect the epifaunal gastropods. According to the literature, at mid-slope depths, resuspension is increased by the action of internal waves, which leads to the development of intermediate nepheloid layers. This increased concentration of suspended matter may serve as a food source of low quality. Likewise the low amounts of suspended matter with a relatively high quality of particulate organic matter, such as from ∼400 and ∼700 m may act similarly and explain the relative high abundance of filter feeders at these depths. However, in the various multivariate analyses we could not distinguish the fauna from these depths from that collected from other sites. We observed, however, a pattern in the depth distribution of feeding guilds across the slope of the FSC. Deposit feeders demonstrated a trend of decreasing numbers with depth. Filter-feeding taxa were found to have peaks at depths of approximately 350 m, between 500 and 600 m and between 700 and 800 m. This observation supports the idea that the fauna at the deep sites reflects the locally high cross-slope currents and the subsequent increased amounts or availability of food with a better quality, which seems to be related to resuspension events.     

The fresh waters of Shetland: Chemical characteristics of running waters

The water chemistry of 48 streams on Shetland was determined as part of a synoptic survey of the islands during 1974. Principal component analysis identified three main contributors to stream chemistry: solid geology, drift geology (in the form of peat) and marine influence. The sites could be clustered by their chemistry according to these factors. The likely chemical characteristics of sites could be predicted from map analysis of altitude, solid and drift geology and oceanicity. There was little evidence of acidification of Shetland streams, but the peatiness of the water made acidification difficult to detect using the usual criteria. Most sites did show a reduction in alkalinity compared to a calculated value for non-aidified sites.     

Changing wind patterns linked to unusually high Dinophysis blooms around the Shetland Islands,Scotland

During the summer of 2013, 70 people received Diarrhetic Shellfish Poisoning following consumption of mussels harvested in the Shetland Islands, Scotland. At this time, large numbers of the biotoxin-producing phytoplankton genus Dinophysis was observed around the Shetland Islands. Analysis indicated this increase was not due to in situ growth but coincided with a change in the prevalent wind direction. A previous large bloom of Dinophysis during 2006 also coincided with a similar change in the prevalent wind patterns. Wind direction and speed in the North East Atlantic and the North Sea is strongly influenced by the North Atlantic oscillation (NAO) with a positive relationship between it and wind direction. It has been noted that a positive trend in the NAO is linked to climate change and predictions suggest there will be an increasingly westward component to prevalent wind directions in the North Sea which could lead to an increase in the occurrence of these harmful algal blooms. Analysis of wind patterns therefore offers a potential method of early warning of future bio-toxicity events.     

“What you don't know can't hurt you”: The right to know and the Shetland Island oil spill

This paper, an account of the Shetland Islands oil spill (1993), examines the public health controversies surrounding the spill and the clean- up response. It critically examines the risk management policies of both the United Kingdom and the Shetland Islands Public Health Office, and suggests that the withholding of critical information contributed to increased anxiety and suspicion among the disaster victims. In an attempt to reassure the victims, the policies contributed to an increased air of uncertainty. It is further argued that the withholding of information prevents those who are at greatest risk from participating in critical decisions that may affect their health and livelihoods and asserts that a right- to- know policy is a critical first step in risk management practices.     

步氏巨猿的牙齿釉质发育不全

在步氏巨猿后部齿的绝大部分类别中检出有釉质发育不全的标本,患釉质发育不全的个体数高达14.3—17.9％。类似的情况可见之于南非的南方古猿类。步氏巨猿的釉质发育不全很大可能是由于营养上的原因。     

The association between Harris lines and enamel hypoplasia in prehistoric California Indians

Hypoplastic defects of tooth enamel and Harris lines in the long bones have been heralded as potentially useful indicators of health conditions in prehistoric populations. Both result from temporary cessation of growth processes due to similar types of disease, malnutrition, or other metabolic insult. An association test for the first six years of life was conducted on a large series of prehistoric California Indians, using femora and canines from young adults. No significant association was found. This is ascribable to differences in etiology and stability.