Molecular typing of Vibrio parahaemolyticus isolated from seafood harvested along the south-west coast of India

Aims: Evaluation of protein profiling for typing Vibrio parahaemolyticus using 71 strains isolated from different seafood and comparison with other molecular typing techniques such as random amplified polymorphic DNA analysis (RAPD) and enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus sequence (ERIC)‐PCR. Methods and Results: Three molecular typing methods were used for the typing of 71 V. parahaemolyticus isolates from seafood. RAPD had a discriminatory index (DI) of 0·95, while ERIC‐PCR showed a DI of 0·94. Though protein profiling had less discriminatory power, use of this method can be helpful in identifying new proteins which might have a role in establishment in the host or virulence of the organism. Conclusions: The use of protein profiling in combination with other established typing methods such as RAPD and ERIC‐PCR generates useful information in the case of V. parahaemolyticus associated with seafood. Significance and Impact of the Study: The study demonstrates the usefulness of nucleic acid and protein‐based studies in understanding the relationship between various isolates from seafood.     

Harpacticoid copepods associated with the seagrass Halophila ovalis in the Ashtamudi Estuary,south-west coast of India

A temporal study of harpacticoid copepod populations associated with the seagrass Halophila ovalis was undertaken in the Ashtamudi Estuary, south-west coast of India. A total of 19 species representing 8 families was recorded in this assemblage. Harpacticoids formed 7.52% of the total phytal meiofauna. At the species level, harpacticoids exhibit parallel assemblages with phytal zones, found in other localities.     

A new goby, Glossogobius minutus (Teleostei: Gobiidae) from the south-west coast of India

A new species of gobiid fish Glossogobius minutus collected from the south-west coast of India is described. The morphological, morphometric and meristic characters were studied with special emphasis on osteology. The various characters are compared with those of G. giuris (Harn.) and G. biocellatus (Val.), the only other species of the genus reported from this region. Glossogobius minutus is a benthic omnivore and shows distinct sexual dimorphism.     

Preliminary observations on the near-surface fish fauna of the northern North Sea in late autumn

In the course of cruises by FRV Scotia to study the ecology of O-group gadoids in the northern North Sea in October 1977 and November 1978, the fish fauna of the upper 1 m of the water column were sampled with an improvised gear. The most abundant species were O-group rocklings and clupeids and three spined sticklebacks. The frequency of occurrence of the last named and their relatively high abundance (up to 99 individuals in a 30 min haul) suggests that sticklebacks are more widely distributed throughout the open North Sea than is presently supposed. Young rocklings may amount to a considerable biomass in the near-surface waters.     

Preliminary observations on Gibbula umbilicalis (da Costa, 1778) on the Portuguese coast

Physiological indicators of nitrogen and phosphorus deficiency were used to determine the role of these nutrients in the development and proliferation of Cladophora in the Manawatu River, New Zealand. Nitrogen indicator tests showed that surplus nitrogen was available at all times. During a sustained low flow period when the dissolved reactive phosphorus was between 4–5 mg m^–3, phosphorus indicator tests revealed that the Cladophora proliferations were phosphorus deficient. A downstream trend of reduced nitrogen and phosphorus availability was also observed during this period. Sudden high river flows were frequent and had a major influence on the Cladophora biomass.     

The genus Eurydice on the west coast of India

An ecological survey of the sandy beaches of the west coast of India revealed an important population of eurydicid isopods ( Eurydice peraticis Jones; E. indicis sp. nov.) of which one species is new to science. The systematics of these isopods are described, and their distribution on the Arabian Sea coast and the Indian beaches is discussed. Differences in their horizontal and vertical distribution on the beaches are explained in relation to the prevailing environmental conditions, of which exposure is the most important.     

A Eucheuma (Solieriaceae,rhodophyta) cultivation test on the south-west coast of Madagascar

Well established populations of Eucheuma denticulatum and E. striatum exist on the coral reef of the south west coast of Madagascar but natural beds are not dense enough to support high harvest pressure. A cultivation test was conducted on a 250 m² module using the monoline method with 1560 seedlings of both species for over one year (weighings at 15 day intervals). E. denticulatum and E. striatum showed similar maximum growth rates (2.8 % d^–1) occurring respectively in fall and in summer. For both species, minimum growth was observed during the warmest months (February–March). Mean growth rates, although relatively low, showed a high standard deviation, suggesting wide possibilities of strain selection. The preliminary selection experiment led to strains more resistant to breakage and having a growth rate up to 3.3 % d^–1. The ice-ice disease is also present in this area and affects the algae mainly from January to March. Mean carrageenan yield for E. denticulatum was 42.5% ± 2.3 and rheological properties were above industrial standards, with a highly elastic gel and were thus suitable for commercial applications.     

Maturation and spawning of a gobiid fish, Oligolepis acutipennis (Cuv. & Val.), from the south-west coast of India

The breeding biology of Oligolepis acutipennis (C. & V.), a gobiid fish abundant in the estuaries and brackish water tracts of the south-west coast of India was studied. Data on the intra-ovarian development of ova, the breeding season, spawning frequency, size at first maturity and sex-ratio were based on observations for 1 year. The size distribution of ova showed no significant variation between different regions of the ovary. The gonads were classified into five maturity stages. The sequence of development of ova to maturity indicated two batches of ova developed in a single ovary in a year. The minimum size at first maturity of females was less than that of males. Seasonal variation in gonad weight and the percentage occurrence of various maturity stages of gonads showed that the fish has a protracted breeding period in which two seasons can be recognized. The females dominate over males in numbers except in the non-breeding months.     

Rotifer fauna of Rajasthan,India

Summary Thirty six species of rotifers have been reported from Rajasthan including a new species of Monostyla. Lecane dorsicalis ARORA (1965) is regarded as a synonym of L. luna (Muller) 1776.     

Contributions to the rotifer fauna of ORISSA,India

This paper deals with 36 species of monogonont rotifers (belonging to 10 eurotatorien families) collected from Sambalpur (Orissa State) in Eastern India. Of the reported taxa, 15 species have been added as new records to the previous list from this region while one species represents a new record from this country.     

Mosquito (Diptera: Culicidae) fauna in inland areas of south-west Western Australia

Abstract  Previously existing sources of data regarding mosquitoes in inland areas of south-west Western Australia are few and qualitative in nature. This is the first attempt to quantitatively investigate mosquito fauna in this region. The existing data are reviewed and compared with the results of the quantitative surveys presented in this paper. Temporal comparisons appear to indicate that mosquito community structure in the region may have changed since the initial surveys in the 1950s from a combination of freshwater-breeding species towards a strong dominance of Aedes camptorhynchus (Thomson), a major vector of Ross River virus in southern Australia. It is speculated that this shift may have been brought about by the increasing area and severity of dryland salinity in the region over the last century, and also may increase the potential for Ross River virus disease transmission.     

Biological observations on freshwater systems adjacent to the coast of Sierra Leone

The Waange-Sewa basin with its extensive floodplains forms the major part of the Sherbro estuary. It is identified as one of the foremost areas for agriculture and fisheries in the southern part of Sierra Leone. Preliminary analysis on basic physico-chemistry and fish fauna of the rivers and lakes within the Waange-Sewa basin were made for the dry season and rainy season of 1983. Physico-chemical variables were used to estimate potential fish production for its river, floodplains, and lakes.