REPRODUCTIVE CYCLE OF THE CUTTLEFISH, SEPIA OFFICINALIS (L.) IN THE NORTHERN PART OF THE BAY OF BISCAY

The sexual cycle of the cuttlefish, Sepia officinalis, fromthe northern part of the Bay of Biscay was followed over severalyears (1988 to 1990 and 1992 to 1993). Successive maturity stagesare reached at the same time regardless of site in the northernpart of the Bay. In this area, the majority of cuttlefish reproduceduring their second year of life (group II) whereas the remainderreproduce in their first year (group I). The first visible signsof sexual development concern the testis in males and the genitaltract in females. Males mature earlier than females: the firstspermatophores appear in July (group II) and October (groupI) while mature eggs appear from December (group II) and March(group I). The breeding season lasts from about mid-March tolate June (3.5 months). (Received 2 February 1996; accepted 30 May 1996)     

Macrozooplankton studies in Kuwait Bay (Arabian Gulf). II. Distribution and composition of planktonic penaeidea

Six penaeideans were identified during a 12-month investigationof macrozooplankton in Kuwait Bay. The numerically dominantspecies included two sergestids, Lucifer hanseni and Acetesjaponicus. Of the two, L.hanseni appears to spawn in the bayduring summer months while, A.japonicus may concentrate itsspawning in coastal waters during late spring through fall.The most abundant penaeids were Parapenaeopsis stylifera andMetapenaeus spp., although Kuwait Bay may not be a major spawningarea for these species. However, the Khor al Sabiya, a river-likechannel northeast of Kuwait Bay, may serve as a nursery forat least two of the penaeids (Metapenaeus spp. and Penaeus semisulcatus)as well as for A.japonicus. Both P.stylifera and Metapenaeusspp. larvae were most abundant during late spring. Penaeus semisulcatuslarvae exhibited fall and spring-summer maxima but were neverlocally abundant.     

Distribution and abundance of European hake Merluccius merluccius (L.), eggs and larvae in the North East Atlantic waters in 1995 and 1998 in relation to hydrographic conditions

Plankton samples from surveys in 1995 and 1998 were analysedin order to study the spatial distribution of hake (Merlucciusmerluccius) eggs and larvae. The cruises covered an extensivearea from the south of the Bay of Biscay to the north-west ofIreland. This spatial distribution has been interpreted in relationto the direction and intensity of the dominant winds. An importantdecrease of eggs (69%) and larvae (27%) was observed from 1995to 1998. Hake showed continuous spawning from February to Julyin the area. The centroids of hake egg distribution indicateda northward displacement of the peak of spawning as the seasonprogresses. Spawning of hake was located close to the 200 mdepth isobath in the southern area (Bay of Biscay) and it spreadover the shelf in the area of the Celtic Sea. Eggs were mostabundant at 20 m depth temperatures between 12 and 12.5°C.The centroids of hake larvae distribution also showed a northwarddisplacement although not as strong as that of hake eggs. Thespatial distribution of hake larvae by size ranges showed importantdifferences between years: in 1995 it suggested inshore transportof larvae, from the spawning areas (close to the 200 m depthisobath) to nursery areas (closer to the coast) while in 1998it suggested offshore transport. This transport does not correspondwith the general wind regimes during those years. Thereforeit is concluded that the transport of the hake larvae to nurseryareas must be controlled by different hydrographic mechanismssuch as geostrophic currents in the Bay of Biscay and tidalcurrents in the northern areas.     

Composition, spatial and temporal variations of Chaetognatha in Guanabara Bay, Brazil

This paper presents the specific composition and distributionof adult chaetognaths in Guanabara Bay, Brazil. A comparisonhas been made between chaetognath and copepod distribution patterns.Three areas were distinguished within Guanabara Bay: an externalarea, influenced by oceanic waters; an internal area, influencedby fluvial waters; and a transitional area between the two.Monthly samples were collected by horizontal surface hauls usinga conical net with 200µm mesh. Three species were identified:Sagitta friderici, S.enflata and S.hispida. Sagitta fridericiwas the dominant species and occurred throughout the year atthe three areas. Sagitta enflata and S.hispida were limitedto the more saline waters. Generally, greater densities of chaetognathswere observed following copepod peakden sities. Temperatureand salinity associated with copepod abundance were the mostimportant factors affecting the distribution pattern and theabundance of chaetognath species in Guanabara Bay.     

Zooplankton grazing impact in the plume of dilution of the Gironde estuary (France) prior to the spring bloom

The Bay of Biscay is a coastal area intensively exploited forfishing and is submitted to important human actions (proximityof important industrial and agricultural areas). Thus, the understandingof the materials and energy transfers in such ecosystems isof great interest. However, investigations on zooplankton (animportant component of the marine food web) are very scarcein this area. Our study concerns the grazing impact of the zooplanktonin shelf waters in the plume of dilution of the Gironde estuaryprior to the spring bloom. Samples were taken through the photiclayer in April 1993. Our results have shown that Temora longicornisand Paracalanus parvus dominated the ‘herbivorous’planktonic community. The grazing impact of the zooplanktoncommunity on the total phytoplankton stock and on the totalprimary production was low (9–14 and 17–21% day^–1,respectively) during this period, which is in accordance withmost results in coastal areas. However, due to the small sizeof the algae (     

Distribution and abundance of hyperiid amphipods in relation to summer mesoscale features in the southern Gulf of Mexico

Seventy-one hyperiid species were identified from 97 zooplanktonsamples collected in the southern Gulf of Mexico during July1988. About 91% of the adult individuals belonged to five species:Lestrigonus bengalensis (86.56% of total hyperiid numbers),Anchylomera blossevillei (1.20%), Phronimopsis spinifera (1.05%),Hyperioides longipes (1.00%) and Hyperietta vosseleri (0.99%).Overall, up to 74% of the hyperiids were collected at night,although a reverse migration was observed in the anticyclones.The mean abundance was 5-fold higher at the neritic stationsthan in the oceanic areas. This tendency was even more markedat night. Night samples yielded about the same number of speciesas during the daytime (56 taxa versus 61). Four mesoscale features(two anticyclones, one cyclone and one upwelling) characterizedthe oceanic mesoscale circulation in the surveyed area. Theabundance of the oceanic hyperiid community showed significantdifferences related to some of the mesoscale features activein the area, i.e. the abundance in the Lazy Eddy anticyclonewas lower than that in the cyclone (day and night). Overall,the upwelling areas showed a tendency to have higher abundancesthan the downwelling features (anticyclones). Cluster analysisindicated neritic–oceanic differences rather than mesoscalefeature-related differences in the local hyperiid community.The neritic community showed differences that were attributedto the effect of upwelling. The summer and spring hyperiid communitieshad important differences in the same area, thus suggestinga seasonal succession of the gulf hyperiid community.     

Armoured dinoflagellates in the NE Atlantic during the BOFS cruises, 1988-90

The armoured dinoulagellates present in 90 plankton samplescollected by the use of an Apatein closing net were enumerated.The samples were collected from various stations around the20W meridian and between 44 and 60N during the 1988, 1989and 1990 Biogeochemical Ocean Flux Study (BOFS) cruises. Atmost stations, samples were obtained from various depths, althoughin 1990 only the surface zone was sampled. A total of 126 specieswere identified, of which 49 have chloroplasts and are thoughtto be autotrophic, 47 are assumed to be heterotrophic and thenutritional type of the remainder is unknown. The samples collectedduring July 1988 were dominated by large numbers of the twophotosynthetic species Gonyaulax polygramma and Protoceratiunreticulatum (=Gonyaulax grindleyi). The much more intensivesampling of 1989 revealed several Ceratiun species, C.fusus,C.furca and C.lineazum, together with Gonyaulax polygramma,as the most common dinoflagellates. In 1990 the samples, whichwere taken during a Lagrangian survey in May-June, were alsodominated by Ceratium species. This time C.azoricwn was a majorcomponent and Protoceratium reticulatum was again present inhigh numbers as in 1988. A number of analyses were carried outon the data collected. It was found that the majority of themore frequent species were autotrophs and most were membersof the genus Ceraziwn. The effects of depth were shown to resultin reduced numbers of cells and species, but no clear associationwas found between species and depth. After the application ofDetrended Correspondence Analysis (DECORANA) to all surfacesamples, there was found to be a clear association between thespecies composition and both time of year and latitude. Watercolumn stability is also probably an important factor in speciescomposition and cell numbers. Seasonal changes in the frequencyof the main species were also noted with some, such as C.lineatum,being more important early in the summer and others, such asProtoceratium reticulatum and particularly G.polygramma, becomingdominant later. The use of Two-way Indicator Analysis (TWINSPAN)revealed some potential species associations.     

Zooplankton assemblages and influence of environmental parameters on them in a Mediterranean coastal area

Temporal dynamics of zooplankton communities and assemblages,as well as the influence of environmental factors on them, werestudied in Saronikos Gulf (Aegean Sea, Greece). Different multivariatetechniques (hierarchical clustering, multidimensional scalingand correspondence analysis) were applied on a 2 year data setof zooplankton species composition, based on samples collectedat five stations of the study area. A clear discrimination oftwo communities was revealed, the first one in the semi-enclosedpolluted northern part (Elefsis Bay) andthe second in SaronikosGulf proper. Within the latter community, five assemblages weredistinguished: (i) the coastal winter assemblage characterizedby Ctenocalanus vanus, Oithona similis, Clausocalanus pergensand Fritillaria pellucida; (ii) the psychrophilic assemblageinfluenced by the open sea and characterized by Oithona plumiferaand Clausocalanus jobei; (iii) the spring assemblage characterizedby Evadne nordmanni and Centropages typicus; (iv) the coastalthermophilic assemblage characterized by Penilia avirostis,Evadne ergesrina and Temora stylifera; (v) the thermophilicassemblage influenced by the open sea and characterized by Clausocalanusfurcatus. Both zooplankton and environmental data were treatedby multiple correspondence analysis which revealed the importanceof some environmental factors on zooplankton community composition(eutrophication-pollution, temperature, water mass circulation,hydrology and topography).     

Motion behavior of nauplii and early copepodid stages of marine planktonic copepods

The goal of this study was to quantify periods of activity andvelocities of late naupliar and early copepodid stages of planktoniccopepods occurring regularly on the southeastern continentalshelf of the USA. We obtained quantitative information on eightspecies, including adult females of Oithona plumifera. All studieswere conducted at food concentrations near or above satiationlevels. Activities ranged from 0.85% (adult females of O.plumifera)to 100% of time (nauplii and copepodids of various calanoidspecies). Motion velocities (excluding escape motion) coveredmore than one order of magnitude: from 0.39 mm s^–1 fornauplii of Temora stylifera to 5.24 mm s^–1 for naupliiof Oncaea mediterranea. Ranges of activities of species rangefrom occasional for early juveniles to adult females of O.plumiferato 100% for the same range of T.stylifera, the latter creatinga feeding current from N III onwards, the former not at all.Of notable interest is Centropages velificatus which moves intermittentlyas a late nauplius, continuously as an early copepodid and intermittentlyas an adult. All observed calanoid late nauplii and copepodidsmove in three dimensions, excluding copepodids of the shelfbreak/oceanicParacalanus aculeatus. The results indicate not only significantdifferences in motion behavior between cyclopoids and calanoids,but also between calanoid species. Yet, some calanoid speciesshow little ontogenetic changes at all.     

An immunofluorescent survey of the brown tide chrysophyte Aureococcus anophagefferens along the northeast coast of the United States

Surveys were conducted along the northeast coast of the USA.between Portsmouth, NH, and the Chesapeake Bay in 1988 and 1990,to determine the population distribution of Aureococcus anophagefferens,the chrysophyte responsible for massive and destructive ‘browntides’ in Long Island and Narragansett Bay beginning in1985. A species-specific immunofluorescent technique was usedto screen water samples, with positive identification possibleat cell concentrations as low as 10–20 cells ml^–1.Both years.A.anophagefferens was detected at numerous stationsin and around Long Island and Barnegat Bay, NJ, typically athigh cell concentrations. To the north and south of thus ‘center’,nearly half of the remaining stations were positive for A.anophagefferens,but the cells were always at very low cell concentrations. Manyof the positive identifications in areas distant from Long Islandwere in waters with no known history of harmful brown tides.The species was present in both open coastal and estuanne locations,in salinities between 18 and 32 practical salinity units (PSU).The observed population distributions apparently still reflectthe massive 1985 outbreak when this species first bloomed, giventhe number of positive locations and high abundance of A.anophagefferensin the immediate vicinity of Long Island. However, the frequentoccurrence of this species in waters far from this population‘center’ is disturbing. Aureococcus anophagefferensis more widely distributed than was previously thought. Numerousareas thus have the potential for destructive brown tides suchas those associated with the sudden appearance of the speciesin 1985.     

Influence of the Agulhas Current on the distribution of lanternfish larvae off the southeast coast of Africa

Spatial and temporal distribution patterns of lanternfish larvaealong the southeast coast of Africa were analysed in relationto oceanographic conditions. Investigations werebased on theplankton collections made during winter, spring and summer monthsof 1990–1991. The warm southward-flowing Agulhas Currentis the dominant large-scale oceanographic feature in the area.The number of species of myctophid larvae collected per cruiseranged from 35 to 38. The most abundant species differed fromone season to the other.Afew species showed marked seasonalityin their occurrence, e.g. Scopelopsis multipunclatiis only appearedin winter and Hygophum hygomii showed the highest abundancesin winter. The majority of species occurred in relatively lowconcentrations during all three periods. Relatively large concentrationsof lanternfish larvae of most species sometimes occurred veryclose inshore (especially in the north of thestudy area) inwater depths of 50–100 m. This was related to shorewardintrusions ofAgulhas Current surface water. Low numbers of larvaeof few species appeared on the inshore shelf of the southernsector of the study area, where cold central Indian Ocean wateris forced onto the shelf by kinematic upwelling.     

Annual cycle of zooplankton community in the Abra Harbour (Bay of Biscay): abundance, composition and size spectra

The annual cycle of the zooplankton community in a coastal embaymentof the Bay of Biscay was studied from data on zooplankton fractionslarger than 45 and 250 µm Smaller zooplankton and chlorophyllmaxima coincided in summer, while larger zooplankton reachedthe maximum in spring. Copepods dominated in both fractionsmost of the year, being copepod nauplii and postnaupliar stagesof Oithona nana and Paracalanus parvus the main constituentsof the microzooplankton maxima, and older copepodites and adultsof Acartw clausi of the meso-macrozooplankton maxima. Secondarypeaks of abundance due to protozoan blooms of Steno-semellanivalu, in early spring, and Noctiluca santillans, in summer,were also observed in smaller and larger fractions respectively.The collapse of phytoplankton biomass in early autumn was followedby a strong decrease of zooplankton in mid autumn. From thisperiod to winter, chlorophyll and zooplankton abundance showedsmall variations, but noticeable changes in the compositionand size spectra of zooplankton were observed. In winter, valuesof chlorophyll and zooplankton abundance reached minima, A.clausidominated the copepod assemblage and carnivorous zooplankterswere absent or negligible The annual development of the mainpredator populations (Sagitta frideria, Luiopc tetraphylla andanchovies) were found to be synchronized with the variationsin abundance and size spectra of zooplankton in the study area.     

Phytoplankton and zooplankton as indicators of water quality in Discovery Bay,Jamaica

Several investigations exist which use planktonic communities as indicators of water quality in Jamaican and Caribbean Bays, however, few are conducted before there are obvious effects of eutrophication. Therefore, most of our ‘baseline’ data are for bays already severely affected by pollution. This study was conducted to assess water quality in Discovery Bay, Jamaica, before there were severe signs of eutrophication. The bay was monitored over a 12-month period (October 1995–September 1996) using 10 stations. Physicochemical data indicated a well mixed upper 5 m of water column, below which discontinuities in temperature/salinity profiles indicated the influence of colder, more saline waters associated with deep offshore currents. Physicochemical variables were within the range for oligotrophic systems with a tendency towards mesotrophic in localized areas close to the shoreline. Signs of anthropogenic stress were associated with the eastern, southwestern and western sections of the bay. Of the over 120 species of phytoplankton found in the waters of Discovery Bay, most were neritic/oceanic and diatoms dominated while 11 were found to be potentially harmful species. While these harmful species occurred at all stations they occurred most frequently at stations on the eastern side of the bay. About 107 zooplankton species were identified, 52 of which were copepods. The species also represented a mix of neritic and oceanic taxa and mean abundances for the area ranged from 1077 m⁻³ at the mouth of the bay to 3794 m⁻³ close to the south shore (station 6). Generally stations closest to shore had greater zooplankton abundances than centrally located bay stations and stations close to oceanic influence. Acartia tonsa and Lucifer faxoni showed greatest densities at shoreline areas of the bay while Oithona plumifera, Undinula vulgaris and Temora stylifera were important at stations closest to oceanic influences. These species were thus considered as indicators of these different areas within the bay. From physicochemical data and the planktonic assemblage, Discovery Bay cannot be considered polluted, it is still more accurately classified as generally pristine with mesotrophic zones in the eastern and southeastern sections of the bay. These data therefore provide a real baseline of conditions for similar tropical coastal embayments.     

Scleractinia (Cnidaria: Anthozoa) from INDEMARES 2010–2012 expeditions to the Avilés Canyon System (Bay of Biscay,Spain, northeast Atlantic)

Twenty-eight species of scleractinian corals were collected between 55 and 2,291 m depth during INDEMARES 2010–2012 expeditions to the Avilés Canyon System and the near continental shelf (Bay of Biscay). Most interesting species are described and all depicted. All species were already known from the northeast Atlantic, although some are seldom reported. Deltocyathus eccentricus and Flabellum chunii are northernmost records in the eastern Atlantic, and species first collected from the Bay of Biscay. From a literature review and new records given herein, 31 species of Scleractinia are known from the Avilés Canyon System. Live specimens of six species were recorded outside their previously known bathymetric ranges in the Bay of Biscay and nearby areas, either at shallower depths (Caryophyllia sarsiae, Monomyces pygmaea, Stephanocyathus nobilis), or deeper depths (C. atlantica, C. sarsiae, Enallopsammia rostrata, Solenosmilia variabilis). Desmophyllum cristagalli has the widest bathymetric range (551–2,291 m), and Lophelia pertusa is the most widely distributed species (24 stations). Tabulating the number of live species occurring in each 100-m depth interval of the canyon system, highest species richness occurs in the 700–800-, 800–900-, and 1,400–1,500-m depth intervals (11 species). The habitat-forming species L. pertusa and Madrepora oculata were abundant in some stations building well-developed coral banks. Live colonies of the big-sized species S. variabilis and E. rostrata co-occurred at the deepest station sampled that yielded scleractinia (2,291 m).     

Plankton distribution across a slope current-induced front in the southern Bay of Biscay

Relatively warm (12.50–12.75°C) and high-salinity[<35.640 practical salinity units (PSU)] water flowing eastwardwas detected at the shelf-break during a cruise carried Outin the southern Bay of Biscay in Spring 1987. The slope currentinduced the formation of a convergent front separating well-mixedoceanic waters from haline-stratified coastal waters. Very highconcentrations of dissolved oxygen (295 µmol kg^–1)and chlorophyll a(>4.5 mg m^–3) were found at the outeredge of the frontal boundary. Small autotrophic flagellatesdominated the phytoplankton community. Primary production peakedat the boundary region. Estimated phytoplankton growth ratesindicated that active growth was taking place, with lower turnovertimes integrated over the water column at the frontal station(2.5–5 days) than at coastal (1.5–2.8 days) or oceanic(1.5–3.5 days) stations. The lowest doubling times (1–2days) were calculated for surface frontal populations. Accumulationof zooplankton was also observed associated with the convergentphysical structure, although this relationship was less markedthan for phytoplankton. Copepods, mainly Paracalanus parvus,Acartia clausi and Oithona helgolandica, formed the bulk ofthe mesozooplankton biomass. Compatibility between the sizeof phytoplankton cells and copepod size spectra indicate highfood availability for these animals, particularly in the vicinityof the front. The distribution of fish eggs and fish larvaewas also coupled with the slope current-induced front. Sardinelarvae were more abundant at the coastal side of the front,whereas larval stages of blue whiting reached the highest densitiesat off-shelf stations. Larvae of lamellibranch molluscs andbryozoa were restricted to nearshore waters, as the frontalboundary prevented larval dispersion to the open ocean. Theresults presented in this paper suggest that the Iberian slopecurrent and its associated shelf-break frontal structure werecrucial in controlling phytoplankton primary production, activityof grazers, distribution of larvae of fishes and benthic invertebrates,and ultimately in determining the structure of the pelagic foodweb in the southern Bay of Biscay during the seasonal periodof vertical mixing.     

Warming and exponential abundance increase of the subtropical fish Capros aper in the Bay of Biscay (1973-2002)

The exponential abundance increase of a sub-tropical species, boarfish (Capros aper), as well as the sea bottom temperature increase in the continental shelf of the Bay of Biscay (France) over the three last decades are reported. This species was rare in the seventies and is now a dominant one. This is a small bathy-demersal, probably short-lived species with few predators (probably because of the presence of strong spines) and not exploited by fisheries. In the same time, a significant temperature increase in the bottom waters is observed during the breeding season of this population. The boarfish abundance increase is related to the warming, its ability to invade and the absence of predators as well as the absence of fishing.     

Omnivorousness in marine planktonic copepods

Adult females of Centropages furcatus and Temora stylifera hadsignificantly different feeding behaviours. At equal averagefood concentrations, C. furcatus ingested more nauplii of thecalanoid copepod Pseudodiaptomus coronatus and fewer diatomsthan T. stylifera. At 20°C and 2.0 µg of nitrogen.1.1.^–1of each food source, C. furcatus ingested 17.2% and 4.4% ofits body nitrogen daily as nauplii and diatoms, respectively.Ingestion rates of the same food sources by T. stylifera were5.1% and 14.5%, respectively. At the environmental concentrationssimulated in these experiments, the presence of diatoms didnot affect the ingestion of nauplii nor did the presence ofnauplii affect diatom ingestion. The behaviour of predator andanimal prey largely dictates the types and quantities of preyingested.     

Egg production of individual copepods of Acartia grani Sars from coastal waters: seasonal and diel variability

Seasonal and diel fecundity patterns of adult Acartia granifemales from a coastal area of Malaga Bay (south of Spain) werestudied between spring and autumn 1990. Copepod egg productionwas measured in situ by short-term (     

Annual cycle of tintinnids in Admiralty Bay with an emphasis on seasonal variability in Cymatocylis affinis/convallaria lorica morphology

In water samples collected from the middle of Admiralty Bay(King George Island 62°08'S 58°25'W) between February1990 and January 1991, 17 Tintinnina species were noted. TotalTintinnina numbers in summer were very high (up to 5000 cellsm^–3), but species diversity was low, consisting mainlyof Cymatocylis affnislconvallaria, forma convallaria. Duringaustral winter, cell numbers were very low, but species compositionwas diverse. Cymatocylis affnislconvallaria, forma affinis,and C.affmis/convallaria, forma convallaria, the polymorphicforms of one species C.affinis/convallaria, appear to be interchangeableduring the year. The transition from one form to the other occursin the spring and autumn. The typical Tintinnina polymorphismcan be attributed to the prevailing environmental conditions.