http://www.hindawi.comThe latest articles from Hindawi Publishing Corporation© 2012, Hindawi Publishing Corporation. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jmb/2011/153654/In recent years, blood metabolites have been investigated as a tool for monitoring physiological condition in wild or cultured crustaceans exposed to different environmental conditions. Blood protein levels fluctuate with changes in environmental and physiological conditions and play fundamental roles in the physiology of crustaceans from O2 transport to reproduction up to stress responses. Proteins are major contributors to hemolymph density, and the present study correlates the easy and low cost measure of hemolymph density by a density-salinity refractometer with the total protein concentration, measured with a colorimetric method. Moreover, the study evaluates the accuracy of the relationship and provides a conversion factor from hemolymph density to protein in seven species of crustaceans, representative of taxa far apart in the phylogenetic tree and characterized by different life habits. Measuring serum-protein concentration by using a refractometer can provide a non-destructive field method to assess crustacean populations/species protein-related modifications of physiological state without need of costly laboratory facilities and procedures.Simonetta Lorenzon, Marzia Martinis, and Enrico A. FerreroCopyright © 2011 Simonetta Lorenzon et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jmb/2011/976396/The analysis of 255 bottom trawl samples obtained in annual experimental surveys (2007–2010) along the western Mediterranean shows the existence of five well-defined demersal assemblages that follow a depth distribution: (a) upper shelf assemblages, including two assemblages differentiated by the type of substrate (sand-muddy and terrigenous muddy bottoms); (b) a middle shelf assemblage; (c) an upper slope assemblage; (d) a middle slope assemblage. Faunally, they are dominated by fish (37% of 452 total species), followed by crustaceans (22%), molluscs (17%), echinoderms (9%), and other invertebrates (15%). The assemblages identified showed major alterations on the shelf and shelf edge and less pronounced ones on the upper and middle slope. The average diversity values were more or less high, evidencing the high species richness in the western Mediterranean. The identified assemblages may facilitate future multispecies fisheries management based on an ecosystem approach.Mariano García-Rodríguez, Pere Abelló, Angel Fernández, and Antonio EstebanCopyright © 2011 Mariano García-Rodríguez et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jmb/2011/945734/The influence of environmental parameters on the spawning aggregation of Euphausia sibogae was investigated along the southwest coast of India during the peak phase of summer monsoon 2005. The prevailing ecological conditions between the aggregation period (peak phase) and non-aggregation period (early phase) were also compared. The aggregation was observed at station 1 (8∘N; 76.5∘E, 480 ind⋅m-3) and 6 (10∘N; 75.5∘E, 839 ind.m-3) during the peak phase of the summer monsoon. Eggs (14769 eggs m-3) and different developmental stages were observed in higher abundance at station 6. The physicochemical conditions indicated that the aggregation coincided with the upwelling. The nutrient enrichment due to the upwelling triggered phytoplankton blooms, and this appeared to provide a conducive environment for spawning and development of E. sibogae.K. J. Jayalakshmi, P. Jasmine, K. R. Muraleedharan, M. P. Prabhakaran, H. Habeebrehman, Josia Jacob, and C. T. AchuthankuttyCopyright © 2011 K. J. Jayalakshmi et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jmb/2011/473615/Ocean acidification (OA) is a relatively young yet rapidly developing scientific field. Assessing the potential response(s) of marine organisms to projected near-future OA scenarios has been at the forefront of scientific research, with a focus on ecosystems (e.g., coral reefs) and processes (e.g., calcification) that are deemed particularly vulnerable. Recently, a heightened emphasis has been placed on evaluating early life history stages as these stages are generally perceived to be more sensitive to environmental change. The number of acidification-related studies focused on early life stages has risen dramatically over the last several years. While early life history stages of corals have been understudied compared to other marine invertebrate taxa (e.g., echinoderms, mollusks), numerous studies exist to contribute to our status of knowledge regarding the potential impacts of OA on coral recruitment dynamics. To synthesize this information, the present paper reviews the primary literature on the effects of acidification on sexual reproduction and early stages of corals, incorporating lessons learned from more thoroughly studied taxa to both assess our current understanding of the potential impacts of OA on coral recruitment and to inform and guide future research in this area.Rebecca AlbrightCopyright © 2011 Rebecca Albright. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jmb/2011/193759/The composition and distribution of the main associations of submerged macrobenthos of Bahía Málaga (Colombian pacific coast), were studied in relation to the distribution of hard and soft substrates and some abiotic factors. Eight localities were sampled during six months: three in the external border of the estuary and five in the inner part. In total, 728 organisms were registered, belonging to 207 species, 132 genera, 86 families, and 14 orders of six invertebrate groups (Porifera, Cnidaria, Polychaeta, Mollusca, Crustacea, and Echinodermata). The submerged bottoms presented soft and hard substrates, with rocks and thick sand in five sites, soft bottoms with fine sand in one, and soft bottoms with slime and clay in two. The temperature and salinity values were higher in the external localities, while dissolved oxygen and pH were higher in the internal localities. The localities with hard substrates presented the highest richness of species while the soft substrates, were characterized by a paucity of species and individuals. The similarity classification analyses showed two groups: one characterized by having 61 species in common and high richness with 113 exclusive species. The other group with low diversity and richness values, 37 species in common and 23 exclusive species.Carlos E. Guevara-Fletcher, Jaime R. Cantera Kintz, Luz M. Mejía-Ladino, and Fabián A. CortésCopyright © 2011 Carlos E. Guevara-Fletcher et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jmb/2011/312459/Under optimal conditions, bivalves tend to filter the ambient water at a maximum rate but under suboptimal environmental conditions, including low or very high algal concentrations, the filtration rate is reduced. The upper algal concentration at which the blue mussel, Mytilus edulis, exploits its filtration capacity over an extended period of time was identified by stepwise raising the algal (Rhodomonas salina) concentration in steady-state experiments above the threshold for continuous high filtration rate. The duration time before incipient saturation reduction decreased with increasing algal concentration, and the threshold concentration for incipient saturation reduction of filtration activity was found to be between about 5,000 and 8,000 cells mL−1, equivalent to 6.3 and 10.0 μg chl a L−1, respectively. Reduced filtration rate was related to total number of algal cells ingested previous to incipient saturation and found to be 11.4±1.7×106 cells. Video-microscope recordings of pseudofaeces production revealed that the trigger threshold concentration for formation of pseudofaeces was about 12,000 cells mL−1. Faeces produced by saturated mussels consisted of closely packed undigested algal cells, indicating severe overloading of the digestive system caused by high algal concentrations which mussels are not evolutionary adapted to cope with.Hans Ulrik Riisgård, Parnuna P. Egede, and Isabel Barreiro SaavedraCopyright © 2011 Hans Ulrik Riisgård et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jmb/2011/483428/Since potentially harmful ultraviolet radiation (UVR, 280–400 nm) and high photosynthetically active radiation (PAR, 400–700 nm) are present in the shallow waters of the Gulf of Aqaba where part of the seagrass Halophila stipulacea's population thrives, we examined the effects of high PAR with and without UVR on its photosynthesis and midday chloroplast “clumping phenomenon” (Sharon and Beer 2008). It was found that midday clumping occurred only under high PAR in the presence of UVR, which resulted in a 44% reduction in the absorption cross section (or absorption factor, AF) of the leaves and, accordingly, a parallel lowering of midday electron transport rates (ETR). In addition, UVR had a direct effect on the photosynthetic apparatus by lowering quantum yields and, thus, ETRs, while pigment relations remained unaltered. We conclude that the potentially harmful effects of UVR and high PAR on the photosynthetic apparatus of Halophila stipulacea are mitigated by their activation of chloroplast clumping, which functions as a means of protecting most chloroplasts from high irradiances, including UVR.Yoni Sharon, Gal Dishon, and Sven BeerCopyright © 2011 Yoni Sharon et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jmb/2011/690375/On the Skagerrak coast the kelp Saccharina latissima has suffered severe stand reductions over the last decade, resulting in loss of important habitats. In the present study, healthy kelp plants were transplanted into four deforested areas and their patterns of growth, reproduction, and survival were monitored through subsequent seasons. Our main objective was to establish whether the kelp plants were able to grow and mature in deforested areas. We observed normal patterns of growth and maturation at all study sites. However, heavy fouling by epiphytes occurred each summer, followed by high kelp mortality. The study shows that the seasonal variations and the life stage timing of S. latissima make formation of self-sustainable populations impossible in the present environment. Most noteworthy, we suggest that fouling by epiphytes is involved in the lack of kelp forest recovery in Skagerrak, Norway.Guri Sogn Andersen, Henning Steen, Hartvig Christie, Stein Fredriksen, and Frithjof Emil MoyCopyright © 2011 Guri Sogn Andersen et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jmb/2011/501465/The harvesting of groupers (Serranidae) in Indonesia for the live reef food fish trade (LRFFT) has been ongoing since the late 1980s. Eight sites in Komodo National Park that included two fish spawning aggregation (FSA) sites were monitored for groupers and humphead wrasse, Cheilinus undulatus, from 1998 to 2003 and from 2005 to 2008 to examine temporal changes in abundance and assess the effectiveness of conservation and management efforts. Monitoring identified FSA sites for squaretail coralgrouper, Plectropomus areolatus, and brown-marbled grouper, Epinephelus fuscoguttatus. Both species formed aggregations before and during full moon from September to December, prior to lapses in monitoring (2003–2005) and in enforcement (2004-2005). Following these lapses, data reveal substantial declines in P. areolatus abundance and the apparent extirpation of one aggregation at one site. Other non-aggregating species targeted by the LRFFT showed similar declines at three of eight monitored sites. This paper highlights the impact of FSA fishing and the need for a seamless monitoring and enforcement protocol in areas where aggregation fishing pressure is high. Within Komodo National Park, local fishers, particularly those operating on behalf of the LRFFT, pose a serious threat to population persistence of species targeted by this trade.Sangeeta Mangubhai, Muhammad Saleh, Suprayitno, Andreas Muljadi, Purwanto, Kevin L. Rhodes, and Katherina TjandraCopyright © 2011 Sangeeta Mangubhai et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jmb/2011/842821/Skates exhibit a variety of manifestations of sexual dimorphism. However, this phenomenon has been poorly documented in deepwater species. New data on the sexual dimorphism of five species of deepwater skates from the North Atlantic Ocean are presented: Amblyraja jenseni, Bathyraja pallida, Bathyraja richardsoni, Rajella bigelowi, and R. kukujevi. These skates exhibit sexual dimorphism most frequently in interorbital width, disc length and width, length of the third gill slit, horizontal diameter of the orbit, length of the fifth gill slit, space between the first and fifth gill slits, length of the second dorsal fin base, mouth width, length and width of each lobe of the nasal curtain, distance from the snout to the center of anus, distance from the snout tip to the point of maximum disc width, length of the lateral fold, length of the orbit + spiracle (measured together), tail height at the pelvic fin tips, and the number of median thorns.Alexei M. Orlov and Charles F. CottonCopyright © 2011 Alexei M. Orlov and Charles F. Cotton. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jmb/2011/960207/Herbivory is an important structuring factor in coral reefs, influencing seaweed abundance, competitive interactions between seaweeds and corals, and coral reef resilience. Despite reports of a drastic increase in the cover of benthic algae and turf dominancy in the coral reefs of Eilat, Red Sea, very little is known about the factors responsible for this phenomenon or the possible effects of herbivory on turf algae and coral recruits. Here, we examine the effects of herbivory by experimentally exposing turf algae and coral recruits to grazing activities of herbivorous fish and sea urchins. Using remote video cameras to document removal of algae and coral spats, we show that the main grazing impact is due to daily grazing by fishes, whereas the significant impact of sea urchins is mainly expressed in their adverse effect on the survival of coral recruits, with a relatively low effect on algal biomass. These findings contribute to our understanding of the factors influencing turf algae establishment and proliferation, and the survival of coral recruits on the coral reefs of Eilat. The clear differences between the impact of herbivorous fish and that of sea urchins, on the Eilat reefs, have critical implications for reef resilience and restoration measures.Leor Korzen, Alvaro Israel, and Avigdor AbelsonCopyright © 2011 Leor Korzen et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jmb/2011/235832/About 300 cod (Gadus morhua) were sampled on three different sites of different proximity to grey seals (Halichoerus grypus), which are the most important final host for Pseudoterranova krabbei, off Drangar, Northwest Iceland, in the summer of 2004. Cod caught at each station were grouped into four sizes: (1) 40–54 cm, (2) 55–59 cm, (3) 60–69 cm and, (4) >70 cm. Difference in prevalence between catch-sites were analyzed by a binary logistic regression model. Abundance, and density were investigated with multiple regressions. As expected prevalence, abundance and density of Pseudoterranova larvae were highest in the fish caught closest to shore, which was also in closest proximity to grey seal colonies and in the shallowest waters. In the closest proximity to grey seal colonies and in the shallowest water, the prevalence and abundance of sealworm larvae increased with increased length of fish. Finally, the density of Pseudoterranova larvae in cod declined exponentially with depth: 50% at 65 meters and almost zero at 210 meters. In the paper these observations were discussed in relation to sealworm eggs dispersal, depth gradient off the coast, temperature tolerance of the sealworm ovum, and behavioral types of Icelandic cod.Erlingur HaukssonCopyright © 2011 Erlingur Hauksson. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jmb/2011/597424/For British grey seals, as with many pinniped species, population monitoring is implemented by aerial surveys of pups at breeding colonies. Scaling pup counts up to population estimates requires assumptions about population structure; this is straightforward when populations are growing exponentially but not when growth slows, since it is unclear whether density dependence affects pup survival or fecundity. We present an approximate Bayesian method for fitting pup trajectories, estimating adult population size and investigating alternative biological models. The method is equivalent to fitting a density-dependent Leslie matrix model, within a Bayesian framework, but with the forms of the density-dependent effects as outputs rather than assumptions. It requires fewer assumptions than the state space models currently used and produces similar estimates. We discuss the potential and limitations of the method and suggest that this approach provides a useful tool for at least the preliminary analysis of similar datasets.Mike Lonergan, Dave Thompson, Len Thomas, and Callan DuckCopyright © 2011 Mike Lonergan et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jmb/2011/594684/Based on long-term data of measurements of nutrient and chlorophyll a concentrations as well as estimates of primary production, the response of phytoplankton to nutrient enrichment was evaluated in the highly urbanized Jiaozhou Bay. Results showed that phytoplankton biomass, as indicated by chlorophyll a concentration, did not show a direct linear response to increased nutrient concentrations. Instead, chlorophyll a concentration was maintained at a constant level in the last two decades in Jiaozhou Bay, so did primary productivity. However, a reduction of zooplankton biomass was observed during the same period. Analysis showed that although the scale of phytoplankton blooms might be limited by availability of silicate due to low Si/N ratio and low concentration, top-down control on phytoplankton biomass by bivalve grazing may be an important factor in Jiaozhou Bay ecosystem.Baodong Wang and Zongling WangCopyright © 2011 Baodong Wang and Zongling Wang. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jmb/2011/185890/The photo-physiological characteristics of thermo-tolerant Symbiodinium types have been postulated to have negative effects on the energetics of the reef corals by reducing fitness. To investigate this, two key and inextricably coupled indicators of fitness, lipids and reproduction, were monitored in colonies of the broadcast-spawning coral Acropora millepora over a two-year period that included a natural bleaching event. In the absence of bleaching ITS1-type clade D predominant colonies had 26% lower stored lipids compared to C2 colonies. At spawning time, this correlated with 28% smaller eggs in type-D colonies. This energetic disparity is expected to have reduced larval duration and settlement-competency periods in type-D compared to type-C2 colonies. More importantly, irrespective of the effect of genotype, the fitness of all corals was adversely affected by the stress of the bleaching event which reduced prespawning lipids by 60% and halved the number of eggs compared to the previous year. Our results extend work that has shown that direct temperature stress and symbiont change are likely to work in concert on corals by demonstrating that the lipids and reproduction of the reef building corals on tropical reefs are likely to be impaired by these processes as our climate warms.Alison M. Jones and Ray BerkelmansCopyright © 2011 Alison M. Jones and Ray Berkelmans. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jmb/2010/201932/The feeding preference of the sesarmid crab Perisesarma bidens was investigated when offered different diets: Enteromorpha intestinalis (algae), Kandelia obovata leaves, and propagules. Nutritional value of food, its assimilation, and fates were evaluated using a combination approach of the fatty acids (FAs) and C/N ratios. When offered a mixed diet, male crabs preferred algae than leaves and/or propagules, while a female preference was equally for leaves and algae but less than propagules. The nutritional value of algae was higher as indicated by low C : N ratios and high ω3/ω6 ratios than leaves and propagules. FAs comparison of tissues and faeces indicated that crabs efficiently assimilate essential fatty acids (EFAs) from a given diet in the order of algae greater than leaves and propagules. Despite of sesarmid crabs being a mangrove leaf-eater, E. intestinalis can potentially be important source of nitrogen supplement for P. bidens under mangrove forests.Islam S. S. Mchenga and Makoto TsuchiyaCopyright © 2010 Islam S. S. Mchenga and Makoto Tsuchiya. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jmb/2010/410129/Long-term variations (1975–2002) in climatology of marine environmental parameters, Antarctic krill, Euphausia superba, and the pelagic tunicate, Salpa thompsoni, were compared within the Atlantic Sector of the Southern Ocean. Sea water temperature in the top 400 m increased at a rate of 0.020–0.030°C ⋅ yr−1, which was accompanied by the dissolved oxygen decline. Top 100 m water layer became fresher with lower concentrations of phosphates and nitrates, while at subsurface layers (200–400 m) both salinity and nutrients showed small increasing trend. Unlike phosphates and nitrates, silicate concentrations decreased in the entire water column. Shorter-term water temperature dynamics closely correlated with the El Nino events expressed as the Southern Oscillation Index which in turn was linked to the propagation of the Antarctic Circumpolar Wave (ACW). The variations of sea-ice extent matched well the changes in both air and water temperatures. In general, abundance of krill and salps showed opposite to each other trends. Due to large area considered in this study, no significant relationships between abiotic factors and both krill and salps were found. However, our analysis demonstrated that krill abundance was greater in years with lower sea water temperature, greater sea-ice extent and higher nutrient concentration, while salps showed the opposite pattern.Chung Il Lee, Evgeny Pakhomov, Angus Atkinson, and Volker SiegelCopyright © 2010 Chung Il Lee et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jmb/2010/563205/A pathogenic Aeromonas hydrophila strain An4 was isolated from marine catfish and characterized with reference to its proteolytic and hemolytic activity along with SDS-PAGE profile (sodium dodecyl sulphate-Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis) of ECPs (extracellular proteins) showing hemolysin (approximately 50 kDa). Agar well diffusion assay using crude cell extract of the bacterial isolate clearly demonstrated antibacterial activity against indicator pathogenic bacteria, Staphylococcus arlettae strain An1, Acinetobacter sp. strain An2, Vibrio parahaemolyticus strain An3, and Alteromonas aurentia SE3 showing inhibitory zone >10 mm well comparable to common antibiotics. Further GC-MS analysis of crude cell extract revealed several metabolites, namely, phenolics, pyrrolo-pyrazines, pyrrolo-pyridine, and butylated hydroxytoluene (well-known antimicrobials). Characterization of EPS using FTIR indicated presence of several protein-related amine and amide groups along with peaks corresponding to carboxylic and phenyl rings which may be attributed to its virulent and antibacterial properties, respectively. Besides hemolysin, EPS, and protease, Aeromonas hydrophila strain An4 also produced several antibacterial metabolites.Anju Pandey, Milind Naik, and Santosh Kumar DubeyCopyright © 2010 Anju Pandey et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jmb/2010/415167/Determining stressor-response relationships in reef building corals continues to be a critical research need due to global declines in coral reef ecosystems and projected declines for the future. A simplified recirculating coral exposure system was coupled to a solar simulator to allow laboratory testing of a diversity of species and morphologies of reef building corals under ecologically relevant conditions of temperature and solar radiation. Combinations of lamps and attenuating filters allowed for assignment of solar radiation treatments in experimental bleaching studies. Three bleaching experiments were performed using the reef building coral, Pocillopora damicornis, to assess the reproducibility of system performance and coral responses under control and stress conditions. Experiments showed consistent temperature- and solar radiation dependent-changes in pigment, numbers of symbiotic algae, photosystem II quantum yield, and tissue loss during exposure and recovery. The laboratory exposure system is recommended for use in experimental bleaching studies with reef building corals.Mace G. Barron, Cheryl J. McGill, Lee A. Courtney, and Dragoslav T. MarcovichCopyright © 2010 Mace G. Barron et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jmb/2009/215196/This study reveals the effect of elevated pCO2 on Porites cylindrica and Galaxea fascicularis. The corals responded differently under elevated pCO2. Zooxanthellae cell density, cell mitotic index, and photosynthesis rate of P. cylindrica decreased drastically under the elevated pCO2. At the end of the experiment, P. cylindrica suffered from a declining calcium carbonate precipitation rate. G. fascicularis increased its respiration rate and expelled 71% of its symbiotic zooxanthellae algae under elevated pCO2. Photosynthetic pigments in the remaining zooxanthellae algae increased from 1.85 to 11.5 times to sustain its photosynthetic outputs. At the end of the experiment, G. fascicularis managed to increase the rate of its calcium carbonate precipitation. Increase pCO2 in the atmosphere may affect species diversity of coral reefs.Yii-Siang Hii, Abol Munafi Ambok Bolong, Teng-Teng Yang, and Hock-Chark LiewCopyright © 2009 Yii-Siang Hii et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jmb/2009/176801/The taxonomic composition of 160 species of bivalves and gastropods recorded in the Gulf of Tehuantepec is presented with information on their habitat and distribution along 10 different localities of the shoreline and 42 stations of the continental shelf. The species were on sandy and rocky beaches, coastal lagoons, estuaries, mangroves, rocky breakwaters of ports, and shallow subtidal areas (14–47 m depth). A total of 78 bivalve species and 82 gastropod species were recorded. Most of these were associated with sandy and rocky beaches and breakwaters of ports. The estuaries host 30 species and the coastal lagoons only two. In the shallow subtidal there were 18 gastropod species and 40 bivalve species representing 36.3% of all. This study adds 24 bivalve species and 29 gastropod species not recorded in previous studies for a total count of 213 species (102 bivalves and 111 gastropods) for Gulf of Tehuantepec.Eduardo Ríos-Jara, Ceciel-M. Navarro-Caravantes, Cristian-M. Galván-Villa, and Ernesto Lopez-UriarteCopyright © 2009 Eduardo Ríos-Jara et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jmb/2009/861590/Body-induced vortices and flow regimes surrounding five mature male blue sharks, Prionace glauca (L.), were investigated. Flow was simulated using 3-dimensional computational fluid dynamics software (Fluent). A k-epsilon turbulent model represented the ocean flow regime. Compared to controls (horizontal cylinders) morphology increased the flow velocity along the body surface. The region around the gill slits displayed maximum relative velocity magnitude which may improve oxygen uptake. The area of the lateral line adjacent to the dorsal fin returned the minimum relative velocity magnitude. The vorticity magnitude was enhanced by dorsal fin-body interactions along the adjacent section of lateral line suggesting that P. glauca channels vortices along the lateral line, at reduced relative velocity magnitudes.T. H. E. Smith and G. S. CaldwellCopyright © 2009 T. H. E. Smith and G. S. Caldwell. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jmb/2009/625672/We sequenced the mitochondrial ND4 gene to elucidate the evolutionary processes of Bathymodiolus mussels and mytilid relatives. Mussels of the subfamily Bathymodiolinae from vents and seeps belonged to 3 groups and mytilid relatives from sunken wood and whale carcasses assumed the outgroup positions to bathymodioline mussels. Shallow water mytilid mussels were positioned more distantly relative to the vent/seep mussels, indicating an evolutionary transition from shallow to deep sea via sunken wood and whale carcasses. Bathymodiolus platifrons is distributed in the seeps and vents, which are approximately 1500 km away. There was no significant genetic differentiation between the populations. There existed high gene flow between B. septemdierum and B. brevior and low but not negligible gene flow between B. marisindicus and B. septemdierum or B. brevior, although their habitats are 5000–10 000 km away. These indicate a high adaptability to the abyssal environments and a high dispersal ability of Bathymodiolus mussels.Akiko Kyuno, Mifue Shintaku, Yuko Fujita, Hiroto Matsumoto, Motoo Utsumi, Hiromi Watanabe, Yoshihiro Fujiwara, and Jun-Ichi MiyazakiCopyright © 2009 Akiko Kyuno et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jmb/2009/629310/Saltpans with different management levels were studied for macroinvertebrate community and abiotic variables like water depth, water conductivity, and organic matter in sediments. Significant variation was observed between saltpans, between ponds within saltpans, and between periods within ponds for abundance, and also between saltpans for biomass. Environmental variables varied significantly between saltpans and between ponds. Significant positive correlations occurred between depth and total abundance, between depth and Corixidae abundance, and also between organic matter in sediments and diversity. Significant negative correlations were observed between depth and diversity and between organic matter in sediments and total abundance. Multidimensional Scaling and Canonical Correspondence Analysis confirmed results of analysis of variance and correlations. Invertebrate communities were numerically dominant as also revealed by ABC method. Abandoned saltpan ponds show the largest changes in water depth, with communities dominated by some opportunist species, varying within short temporal scales, which is typical from highly disturbed systems.P. C. Tavares, D. Alves, and M. ShapouriCopyright © 2009 P. C. Tavares et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jmb/2009/640215/A spatially explicit bioenergetics model was used to predict juvenile sockeye salmon Oncorhynchus nerka growth rate potential (GRP) on the eastern Bering Sea shelf during years with cooler and warmer spring sea surface temperatures (SSTs). Annual averages of juvenile sockeye salmon GRP were generally lower among years with cooler SSTs and generally higher in offshore than nearshore regions of the eastern Bering Sea shelf during years with warmer SSTs. Juvenile sockeye salmon distribution was significantly (P<.05) related to GRP and their prey densities were positively related to spring SST (P<.05). Juvenile sockeye salmon GRP was more sensitive to changes in prey density and observed SSTs during years when spring SSTs were warmer (2002, 2003, and 2005). Our results suggest that the pelagic productivity on the eastern Bering Sea shelf was higher during years with warmer spring SSTs and highlight the importance of bottom-up control on the eastern Bering Sea ecosystem.Edward V. Farley Jr. and Marc TrudelCopyright © 2009 Edward V. Farley Jr. and Marc Trudel. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jmb/2009/275040/To determine if bearded seals (Erignathus barbatus) harvested near a zinc and lead mine (Red Dog, Alaska , USA) by subsistence hunters from Kivalina, Alaska, were as safe to eat as bearded seals from other locations in Alaska, we compared 19 trace element concentrations in liver tissue. Liver concentrations from nine bearded seals harvested near the Red Dog Mine (RDM) port site were compared with 15 bearded seals from two reference sites (Hooper Bay and Little Diomede, Alaska, USA). Concentrations did not differ by gender, but we found statistically significant trends in concentrations of cadmium, mercury, manganese, selenium, and vanadium with age. Arsenic and copper were the only elements found to be more concentrated in the liver of bearded seals harvested near RDM than in the other locations. The predominant form of arsenic in marine mammals is known to be a nontoxic organic form, not the toxic inorganic form, and copper is an essential element. Although elevated near RDM, neither element was found at concentrations that presented health risks. We found no evidence that bearded seals harvested near RDM were less safe to eat or that trace element concentrations were greater than those found in bearded seals harvested elsewhere in Alaska or Canada.Lori Quakenbush and John J. CittaCopyright © 2009 Lori Quakenbush and John J. Citta. All rights reserved.