First Record of Tropical Crabs <Emphasis Type="Italic">Portunus sanguinolentus</Emphasis> (Herbst, 1783) and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Plagusia depressa tuberculata</Emphasis> Lamarck, 1818 in Peter the Great Bay,Sea of Japan

Crabs Portunus sanguinolentus (Herbst, 1783) and Plagusia depressa tuberculata Lamarck, 1818 were found in Peter the Great Bay (Sea of Japan) on a drifting buoy. The occurrence of the members of tropical fauna along the coast of Primorye was due, in all likelihood, to the enlargement of the amount of anthropogenic garbage transported with sea currents that serves as a substrate for settlement of different marine organisms.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Biologiya Morya, Kepel, Tsareva.     

Fauna of Sponges (Porifera) of Peter the Great Bay,Sea of Japan

A complete list of sponges of Peter the Great Bay (northwestern Sea of Japan) is presented comprising 40 species belonging to 27 genera, 19 families, 9 orders, and 2 classes. Information is presented about the biogeographical composition of sponge fauna of the bay, the depths of their habitats, and their substrates.Original Russian Text Copyright ¢ 2005 by Biologiya Morya, Khodakovskaya.     

Species Composition and Seasonal Dynamics of Density and Biomass of Euglenoids in Peter the Great Bay,Sea of Japan

The species composition and seasonal dynamics of density and biomass of euglenoids in the plankton of Peter the Great Bay were examined. Ten species of euglenoids were found. Of these, Eutreptiella braarudiiThrondsen and Eutreptiella eupharyngeaMoestrup et Norris are new records for the Far Eastern seas of Russia. Sharply pronounced peaks of euglenoid density and biomass occurred in the spring and summer. Increased density and biomass of species of the genera EuglenaEhr. and EutreptiaPerty were observed in polluted waters near sewage outlets.     

Karyotype of the sculpin <Emphasis Type="Italic">Myoxocephalus jaok</Emphasis> (Pisces: Cottidae) from Peter the Great Bay,Sea of Japan

The karyotype of the sculpin Myoxocephalus jaok from the Ussuriisky, Amursky, and Vostok Bays was studied. It was found that 2n = 24, among the chromosomes there were 16 metacentric, 4 submetacentric, and 4 acrocentric, NF = 44. There was no variation in the number of chromosomes, and no differences between male and female karyotypes were revealed. A comparison of Myoxocephalus jaok, M. brandti and M. stelleri karyotypes was performed. The pronounced distinction of Myoxocephalus jaok karyotype resulting from chromosomal rearrangements was shown.     

On the introduction of the ascidian <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ciona savignyi</Emphasis> Herdman, 1882 into Peter the Great Bay,Sea of Japan

The occurrence of the solitary ascidian Ciona savignyi Herdman, 1882 in Vostok Bay (Peter the Great Bay, Sea of Japan) was first documented in 2004. Adult specimens occurred in fouling communities of floating docks in Gaidamak Bay and on different anthropogenic substrates. The introduction of this ascidian into Vostok Bay is attributable to fishing ships which regularly frequent ports of Japan and to favorable environmental conditions (temperature and salinity of seawater).     

Characterization of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Vibrio gigantis</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Vibrio pomeroyi</Emphasis> isolated from invertebrates of Peter the Great Bay,Sea of Japan

Previously unknown associations of Vibrio gigantis with the trepang Apostichopus japonicus and of V. pomeroyi with the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus nudus were described in Vostok Bay of Peter the Great Bay, Sea of Japan. Bacterial isolates were identified based on their morphological, cultural and biochemical characteristics, as well as by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Strain 915 (V. gigantis) was found to possess amylase, gelatinase, chitinase, pustulanase, glucosidase, galactosidase, and alginase, while strain 929 (V. pomeroyi) possessed amylase, gelatinase, chitinase, and fucoidanase. S. nudus and A. japonicus probably provide favorable niches for V. gigantis and V. pomeroyi and act as natural reservoirs for these bacteria in Peter the Great Bay. The broad spectrum of enzymes in associated vibrios suggests their role in food digestion of the above marine invertebrates.     

First record of a Facetotectan crustacean in plankton of Peter the Great Bay, Sea of Japan

Nauplii V of the rare crustacean Hansenocaris furcifera Itô, 1989, belonging to the infraclass Facetotecta were recorded in the plankton of Peter the Great Bay (Sea of Japan) for the first time. The larvae were probably transported in summer from the coastal waters off Japan. Scanning electron microscopic observations revealed previously unknown morphological characteristics of these larvae: three pairs of pore fields on the dorsal side of the carapace and the presence of processes covered with thickened setae and located at the base of mandibles.     

Epibiotic macroalgae on the scallop <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mizuhopecten yessoensis</Emphasis> in Peter the Great Bay,Sea of Japan

The composition and structure of the epibiotic flora of the Japanese scallop Mizuhopecten yessoensis were studied on the basis of data from long-term (1979 to 2007) observations on the scallop beds in Peter the Great Bay (Sea of Japan). In all, 52 species of macroalgae belonging to three phyla were found on the scallop shells; 3 species were new records for the benthic flora of the area studied. Red algae constituted the bulk of the species richness of algal epibionts; brown algae were represented by the lowest number of species. Species of Chlorophyta predominated in terms of biomass; species of Rhodophyta were found in lower numbers. The main form of the thallus of epibiotic algae was bushy or filamentous. The ratio of common to rare species was 30 : 70. As compared to the benthic flora, the epibiotic flora on the scallop shells was characterized by a greater number of warm-water species.     

Discovery of larvae of the hermit crab <Emphasis Type="Italic">Diogenes nitidimanus</Emphasis> Terao, 1913 (Decapoda: Diogenidae) in ship ballast waters: Evidence in support of its introduction into Peter the Great Bay

The larva of the hermit crab Diogenes nitidimanus Terao, 1913 was found in the ballast waters of the tanker Minotaur that arrived from the Chinese port of Laizhou (Bohai Bay, Yellow Sea). Earlier, an abundant population of mature adults of D. nitidimanus was found in Vostok Bay (Peter the Great Bay), this suggested the introduction and naturalization of this species in the Peter the Great Bay. The finding of its larva in ballast waters of a ship on the Russia-China route confirms the introduction of this species into Peter the Great Bay.     

Seasonal Distribution of Antlered Sculpin, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Enophrys diceraus</Emphasis> (Cottidae) in Peter the Great Bay,Sea of Japan

The antlered sculpin Enophrys diceraus in Peter the Great Bay is found to inhabit from shallow waters to depths deeper than 600 m. The range of depth where this species occurs is the narrowest, from 12 to 250 m deep, in summer. The greatest depths of inhabitation are characteristic, in all seasons, only of adult fish of this species. In the cold period of the year, the young probably avoid the upper part of the shelf where the temperatures have cooled down to negative numbers. Spawning in the antlered sculpin begins in the second half of November. Females dominate the population of this species inhabiting Peter the Great Bay. Males reach 38 cm long and more; females can be up to 31 cm long. The greatest density of antlered sculpin in the summer period on the preferred substrates is observed in the western part of the bay, primarily on sandy ground.     

The Abundance and Distribution of the Great Cormorant, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phalacrocorax carbo carbo</Emphasis> (Linnaeus, 1758), in Peter the Great Bay,Sea of Japan

The recent data on the breeding abundance and distribution of the great cormorant, Phalacrocorax carbo (Linnaeus, 1758), on the Peter the Great Bay coast, Sea of Japan, are provided. A total of 1715 inhabited nests have been recorded, including 1255 nests on Furugelm Island and 460 nests on Lisii Island.     

Growth of young Pacific herring <Emphasis Type="Italic">Clupea pallasii</Emphasis> of Peter the Great Bay (Sea of Japan)

The growth of Pacific herring Clupea pallasii in Peter the Great Bay (Sea of Japan) during the first year of life is followed based on long-term data (from 1999 to 2014). The first vegetation season is characterized by periodical changes of the growth rate and body size variation. Over the period of investigation, a relationship between the growth rate and abundance of Pacific herring at the age 0+ is not detected. In the first year of life, the groups of fishes with a slow and fast growth rate are registered. They possess similar trends of growth but differ in the increment size and intensity of the growth in the fall.     

Assessment of the state of the Japanese scallopMizuhopecten yessoensis in Alekseeva Bight (Peter the Great Bay, Sea of Japan) based on morphological and biochemical parameters

The results of an integrated examination of the state of the scallopMizuhopecten yessoensis in Alekseeva Bight (Peter the Great Bay, Sea of Japan) are presented. In mollusks of different ages, shell height was measured; in animals of commercial size (over 100 mm), some size and weight characteristics (annual increment of shell and adductor muscle and soft tissue weight) were determined. The morphology of the digestive gland and gills was studied. In the adductor muscle and digestive gland, the concentration of heavy metals (HMs) (Hg, Cu, Zn, Mn, Pb, Cd, Ni, Co, and Cr) was determined. In the digestive gland, metallothionein and reduced glutathione concentration was also determined, as was the activity of glutathione-dependent enzymes (glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase). In scallops collected outside Alekseeva Bight, the linear growth rate and adductor muscle weight were on average 1.3 and 1.7 times greater, respectively, than in those collected in the bight. In scallop organs, numerous histomorphological alterations were revealed: digestive cell vacuolization and hemocyte infiltration of the digestive gland, hyperplasia and vacuolization of the respiratory epithelium, and connective tissue hypertrophy in gill filaments. The biochemical parameters of scallops from Alekseeva Bight differed substantially from those of mollusks collected outside the bight. We conclude that one of the factors negatively affecting the state of theM. yessoensis population in Alekseeva Bight is the contamination of the bight with HMs, especially mercury. This is consistent with the results of chemical analysis of bottom sediments and tissues of two mytilid species,Modiolus kurilensis andCrenomytilus grayanus, specimens of which were collected in the bight together with the scallops [3].     

Peculiarities of early ontogenesis of the tubenose poacher, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pallasina barbata</Emphasis> steindachner, 1876 (Pisces,Agonidae) from Peter the Great Bay (Sea of Japan)

Based on the analysis of original material (52 specimens of Pallasina barbata larvae and juveniles), sampled in the Peter the Great Bay (Sea of Japan) from 1992 to 2006, the ontogenetic stages of this species were described for the first time. It is shown that P. barbata has a planktonic larval stage in its development. The major morphologic features that are typical for larvae and juveniles during their development were revealed. It was shown that snout length, head length and pectoral fin size are increased with growth; at the same time body height and eye diameter are decreased, and the nature of larval pigmentation is changed. The main differences between P. barbata and close species are shown. Original illustrations of larvae and juvenile are provided.     

Growth dynamics of the barfin plaice <Emphasis Type="Italic">Liopsetta pinnifasciata</Emphasis> (Pleuronectidae) in Peter the Great Bay (Sea of Japan)

Dynamics of the linear sizes of the barfin plaice Liopsetta pinnifasciata has been considered during the life cycle. Two stages are distinguished: an intensive initial growth (35.9% of the maximum length for 6.0% of the life) and its subsequent gradual variation. The linear growth rate is shown to correspond to the rate of sclerite formation on the scales.     

A new species of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Careproctus</Emphasis> (Liparidae) from the Sea of Japan

A new snailfish, Careproctus notosaikaiensis, is described on the basis of 6 specimens collected from the central part of the Sea of Japan, off Saikai, western coast of the Noto Peninsula, Ishikawa, Japan. The new species is distinguished from other congeners by the following combination of the characters: vertebrae 57–58, 10–12 abdominal and 46–48 caudal; dorsal-fin rays 52; anal-fin rays 46–47; principal caudal-fin rays 10; pectoral-fin rays 35–37; pectoral fin with a deep notch; proximal pectoral radials 4 (3 + 1), round; gill slit extending to pectoral-fin ray 4–7; teeth strongly trilobed; pleural ribs 2 pairs; 2 suprabranchial pores; chin pores paired in the same pit; pyloric caeca 20–29; dorsal and anal fins with dark margins and stomach black in preserved specimens.