On the rediscovery of Baseodiscus hemprichii (Ehrenberg, 1831)(Nemertea, Anopla, Baseodiscidae) from Karachi waters

During a study of biodiversity in the Pakistan coast several species of nemerteans were encountered. One is uncertainly identified as Lineus ruber (Muller, 1774), the identification of another is under way. A third, Baseodiscus hemprichii, has previously been recorded from Karachi by Puri (1924). He gave a detailed description of his specimens, but no illustrations. Baseodiscus hemprichii has been collected many times from rocky areas on the Karachi coast, but on only one occasion was it photographed and then drawn. The species is briefly described here.

Population genetic structure of Neogobius caspius (Eichwald ,1831) in the South Caspian Sea using PCR-RFLP Marker

Neogobius caspius is a small benthic fish that is native to the Caspian Sea. The importance of this fish is because of it is role as a main food resource of the sturgeon fish. The genetic diversity of N. caspius population in the Caspian Sea was studied using PCR- RFLP technique. A total of 135 samples of N. caspius were collected from coastal line in the north Caspian sea, including specimens from coasts of Anzali , Torkman Port and Chalus. Genomic DNA was extracted by phenol-chloroform method and then was amplified using a pair primer of cytochrom b gene, 2 tRNA gene and the control region sequences by a thermal cycler. D2 (5'-CCGGAGTATGTAGGGCATTCTCAC-3'), CY1 (5'-YYTAACCRRGACYAATGACTTGA-3') 12 restriction enzyme were used to digest the target gene region including: Alul HincII —Tas1 —Rsa1 -MboI -DraI -BSeNI(BSRI) Alw261(BsmAI). Bsul 51 Hin11 Bsh12851- BsuRI(HaeIII) digested PCR products were observed by silver staining method followed by Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). The results were shown the same pattern among the species. There was no polymorphism and no differentiation in population in the Neogobius caspius fish and all individuals have shown homogenous genotype.

Torpedo sinuspersici Olfers, 1831

Electric rays, thought to be the most primitive of the skates and rays, have stout tails but have rather expansive disc. This group is distinguished by the presence of powerful electric organs, derived from branchial muscles in head region. Torpedo sinuspersici found inshore in sandy bottoms, and well offshore from the surf zone down to 200 m. Also on or near coral reefs (like Kish Island in Persian Gulf). Common in shallow sandy areas. Occasionally hooked by anglers, more often seen by divers; can deliver a strong shock. Flesh is edible. T. sinuspersici can survive for hours after being stranded on the beach. Little is known of the life history of the Gulf torpedo. It is a sluggish predator of bony fishes. At night it actively hunts for food, sculling slowly through the water about a meter above the bottom; during the day it usually rests on the bottom and opportunistically ambushes unwary prey. It uses its broad pectoral fins to envelop the target fish before delivering an electric shock to stun it. Usually solitary, they may form groups during the mating season. Reproduction is a placental viviparous, with the developing embryos initially surviving on their yolk sacs, and then on enriched uterine fluid produced by the mother. Litters of 9-22 young are birthed in the summer. Newborns measure about 10 cm wide; males mature at a disc width of 39 cm and females at 45 cm.

Pempheris vanicolensis (Cuvier, 1831)

Pempheris vanicolensis has reported for the first time from Persian Gulf (Kish Island). Various aspects of the biology of P. vanicolensis Cuvier & Valenciennes, a recent Lessepsian (Suez Canal) immigrant into the Mediterranean, are given. Red Sea and Mediterranean populations were compared, and the results indicate that the spawning season is shortened in the Mediterranean, continuing from April to September, as opposed to year-round in the Red Sea. Descriptions of a ripe ovary and post-larva from the Mediterranean are given. Individuals reach a mean size of 10.8 cm in their first year, and 14.4 cm in the second year. Little change has occurred in the diet of the immigrant population, and both populations feed nocturnally, chiefly on larval and adult stages of planktonic crustaceans. Direct underwater observations on the diurnal behavior of the species show that the fish leave their daytime cave shelter at sunset, congregate at a nearby site and then migrate inshore and disperse into small groups to feed. Before dawn, they reassemble at the cave's entrance, and finally enter it at sunrise, after the school has built up. Observations on Persian Gulf sweepers show that the fish are segregated into size groups, ranging 15–18 cm adults at depths of 3 m.

PICES Press, Vol. 7, No. 1, January 1999

Taking stock and looking to the future - note from former PICES Chairman The state of the western North Pacific in the first half of 1998 The status of the Bering Sea in the first eight month of 1998 The state of the eastern North Pacific since February 1998 Highlights of PICES VII, review of SB activities and future workplan The second PICES Workshop on the Okhotsk Sea and ajacent area PICES-GLOBEC Climate Change and Carrying Capacity Program: A report from PICES VII Data management for the CCCC Program Report on GOOS Living Marine Resource Panel Meeting Photos from PICES VII Vjatcheslav Petrovich Shuntov GLOBEC Canada: Who we are, what we’ve been doing and where we’re headed The Ocean Carrying Capacity Research Program (OCC) at the Alaska Fisheries Science Center, Auke Bay Laboratory, Juneau, Alaska JAMSTEC research activities in the northern North Pacific People and events

Laboratory Evaluation of Mefluidide Effects on Elongation of Hydrilla and Eurasian Watermilfoil

The potential of mefluidide (N-(2,4-dimethyl-5[[trifluromethyl) sulfonyl] amino] phenol) acetamide) to act as a submersed aquatic plant growth regulator was evaluated using a laboratory bioassay system. Main stem elongation of hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata (L.f.) Royle) and Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum L.) was effectively reduced by mefluidide at low concentrations. The lowest effective concentration of mefluidide that reduced stem length in Eurasian watermilfoil (100 yg a.i./L) was 5 times lower than that for hydrilla (500 yg a.i./L). Short-term net photosynthetic rates of these plants were not affected by mefluidide at concentrations as high as 1000 yg a.i./L. The minimum exposure time required to maintain an inhibitory effect for at least 28 days at a concentration of 500 yg ai.i./L was 3 to 7 days for Eurasian watermilfoil and 7 to 14 days for hydrilla. The results suggest that mefluidide is a more effective growth regulator for Eurasian watermilfoil than hydrilla. Exogenously applied gibberellic acid (GA) did not completely overcome the inhibitory effect of mefluidide even when GA was added at a high concentration (10-5 M). In addition, the internodal lengths of stems treated with mefluidide were not reduced as they were when treated with gibberellin synthesis inhibitors. The reduction of main stem elongation by mefluidide appeared to be due to the inhibition of new cell and tissue development at the stem tip rather than from inhibition of GA biosynthesis.

Forecasting Climate Impacts on Future Production of Commercially Exploited Fish and Shellfish

Foreword [pdf, < 0.1 MB] Acknowledgements PHASE 1 [pdf, 0.2 MB] Summary of the PICES/NPRB Workshop on Forecasting Climate Impacts on Future Production of Commercially Exploited Fish and Shellfish (July 19–20, 2007, Seattle, U.S.A.) Background Links to Other Programs Workshop Format Session I. Status of climate change scenarios in the PICES region Session II. What are the expected impacts of climate change on regional oceanography and what are some scenarios for these drivers for the next 10 years? Session III. Recruitment forecasting Session IV. What models are out there? How is climate linked to the model? Session V. Assumptions regarding future fishing scenarios and enhancement activities Session VI Where do we go from here? References Appendix 1.1 List of Participants PHASE 2 [pdf, 0.7 MB] Summary of the PICES/NPRB Workshop on Forecasting Climate Impacts on Future Production of Commercially Exploited Fish and Shellfish (October 30, 2007, Victoria, Canada) Background Workshop Agenda Forecast Feasibility Format of Information Modeling Approaches Coupled bio-physical models Stock assessment projection models Comparative approaches Similarities in Data Requests Opportunities for Coordination with Other PICES Groups and International Efforts BACKGROUND REPORTS PREPARED FOR THE PHASE 2 WORKSHOP Northern California Current (U.S.) groundfish production by Melissa Haltuch Changes in sablefish (Anoplopoma fimbria) recruitment in relation to oceanographic conditions by Michael J. Schirripa Northern California Current (British Columbia) Pacific cod (Gadus macrocephalus) production by Caihong Fu and Richard Beamish Northern California Current (British Columbia) sablefish (Anoplopoma fimbria) production by Richard Beamish Northern California Current (British Columbia) pink (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) and chum (O. keta) salmon production by Richard Beamish Northern California Current (British Columbia) ocean shrimp (Pandalus jordani) production by Caihong Fu Alaska salmon production by Anne Hollowed U.S. walleye pollock (Theragra chalcogramma) production in the eastern Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska by Kevin Bailey and Anne Hollowed U.S. groundfish production in the eastern Bering Sea by Tom Wilderbuer U.S. crab production in the eastern Bering Sea by Gordon H. Kruse Forecasting Japanese commercially exploited species by Shin-ichi Ito, Kazuaki Tadokoro and Yasuhiro Yamanka Russian fish production in the Japan/East Sea by Yury Zuenko, Vladimir Nuzhdin and Natalia Dolganova Chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) production in Korea by Sukyung Kang, Suam Kim and Hyunju Seo Jack mackerel (Trachurus japonicus) production in Korea by Jae Bong Lee and Chang-Ik Zhang Chub mackerel (Scomber japonicus) production in Korea by Jae Bong Lee, Sukyung Kang, Suam Kim, Chang-Ik Zhang and Jin Yeong Kim References Appendix 2.1 List of Participants PHASE 3 [pdf, < 0.1 MB] Summary of the PICES Workshop on Linking Global Climate Model Output to (a) Trends in Commercial Species Productivity and (b) Changes in Broader Biological Communities in the World’s Oceans (May 18, 2008, Gijón, Spain) Appendix 3.1 List of Participants Appendix 3.2 Workshop Agenda (Document contains 101 pages)

Marine Debris Survey Manual

Over the last several years, concern has increased about the amount of man-made materials lost or discarded at sea and the potential impacts to the environment. The scope of the problem depends on the amounts and types of debris. One problem in making a regional comparison of debris is the lack of a standard methodology. The objective of this manual is to discuss designs and methodologies for assessment studies of marine debris. This manual has been written for managers, researchers, and others who are just entering this area of study and who seek guidance in designing marine debris surveys. Active researchers will be able to use this manual along with applicable references herein as a source for design improvement. To this end, the authors have synthesized their work and reviewed survey techniques that have been used in the past for assessing marine debris, such as sighting surveys, beach surveys, and trawl surveys, and have considered new methods (e.g., aerial photography). All techniques have been put into a general survey planning framework to assist in developing different marine debris surveys. (PDF file contains 100 pages.)

Panama City Fisheries Resources Office: FY 2006 Annual Report

HIGHLIGHTS FOR FY 2006 1. Captured and tagged 475 Gulf sturgeons in five Florida rivers and one bay. 2. Documented Gulf sturgeon marine movement and habitat use in the Gulf of Mexico. 3. Assisted the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) with the collection of Gulf sturgeon, implantation of acoustic tags, and monitoring of fish in a study to examine movement patterns and habitat use in Pensacola and Choctawhatchee bays post-Hurricane Ivan. 4. Provided technical assistance to Jon “Bo” Sawyer in completing a study – Summer Resting Areas of the Gulf Sturgeon in the Conecuh/Escambia River System, Alabama-Florida – for acquiring a Degree of Master of Science at Troy University, Alabama. 5. Coordinated tagging and data collection with NOAA observers aboard trawlers while collecting Gulf sturgeon during dredging operations in the coastal Gulf of Mexico. 6. Hosted the 7th Annual Gulf Sturgeon Workshop. 7. Implemented Gulf Striped Bass Restoration Plan by coordinating the 23rd Annual Morone Workshop, leading the technical committee, transporting broodfish, coordinating the stocking on the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint (ACF) river system, and evaluating post-stocking success. 8. Continued updating and managing the Freshwater Mussel Survey Database, a Geographic Information System (GIS) database, for over 800 unique sites in the Northeast Gulf (NEG) drainages in Alabama (AL), Georgia (GA), and Florida (FL). 9. Formed a recovery implementation team for listed mussels in the ACF river basin and oversaw grant cooperative agreements for 14 listed and candidate freshwater mussels in the NEG watersheds. 10. Initiated a project in the Apalachicola River to relocate mussels stranded as a result of drought conditions, and calculate river flows at which mussels would be exposed. 11. Initiated a project in Sawhatchee Creek, Georgia to determine the status of threatened and endangered (T&E) freshwater mussels and target restoration projects, population assessments, and potential population augmentation to lead toward recovery of the listed species. 12. Initiated a study to determine the age and growth of the endangered fat threeridge mussel (Amblema neislerii). 13. Provided technical assistance to the Panama City Ecological Services office for a biological opinion on the operations of Jim Woodruff Lock and Dam and its effects on the listed species and designated and proposed critical habitat in the Apalachicola River, Florida. 14. Assisted with a multi-State, inter-agency team to develop a management plan to restore the Alabama shad in the ACF river system. 15. Conducted fishery surveys on Tyndall AFB, Florida and Ft. Benning, Georgia and completed a report with recommendations for future recreational fishery needs. 16. Provided fishery technical assistance to four National Wildlife Refuges (NWR) (i.e., Okefenokee NWR, Banks Lake NWR, St. Vincent NWR, and St. Marks NWR). 17. Initiated an Aquatic Resources and Recreation Fishing Survey on Department of Defense facilities located in Region 4. 18. Identified 130 road-stream crossings on Eglin AFB for rehabilitation and elimination of sediment imputs. 19. Continued the Aquatics Monitoring Program at Eglin AFB to assess techniques that determine current status and sustainability of aquatic habitat and develop a measure to determine quality or degradation of habitat. 20. Assisted Eglin AFB Natural Resource managers in revising the installation’s Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan (INRMP) and its associated component plans. 21. Coordinated recovery efforts for the endangered Okaloosa darter including population/life history surveys, stream restoration, and outreach activities. 22. Initiated a comprehensive status review of the Okaloosa darter with analyses performed to assess available habitat, preferred habitats, range expansions/reductions/fragmentations, population size, and probability of extinction. 23. Assisted the Gulf Coastal Plain Ecosystem Partnership and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) under a Memorandum of Agreement to develop conservation strategies, implement monitoring and assessment programs, and secure funds for aquatic management programs in six watersheds in northwest Florida and southeast Alabama. 24. Entered into a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Air Force to encourage the conservation and rehabilitation of natural resources at Hurlburt Field, Florida. 25. Multiple outreach projects were completed to detail aquatic resources’ conservation needs and opportunities; including National Fishing Week, Earth Day, several festivals, and school outreach.

Spatial and temporal variation in otolith chemistry for tautog (Tautoga onitis) in Narragansett Bay and Rhode Island coastal ponds

The elemental composition of otoliths may provide valuable information for establishing connectivity between fish nursery grounds and adult fish populations. Concentrations of Rb, Mg, Ca, Mn, Sr, Na, K, Sr, Pb, and Ba were determined by using solution-based inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry in otoliths of young-of-the year tautog (Tautoga onitis) captured in nursery areas along the Rhode Island coast during two consecutive years. Stable oxygen (δ18O) and carbon (δ13C) isotopic ratios in young-of-the year otoliths were also analyzed with isotope ratio mass spectrometry. Chemical signatures differed significantly among the distinct nurseries within Narragansett Bay and the coastal ponds across years. Significant differences were also observed within nurseries from year to year. Classification accuracy to each of the five tautog nursery areas ranged from 85% to 92% across years. Because accurate classification of juvenile tautog nursery sites was achieved, otolith chemistry can potentially be used as a natural habitat tag.

Offshore Migratory Corridors and Aerial Photogrammetric Body Length Comparisons of Southbound Gray Whales, Eschrichtius robustus, in the Southern California Bight, 1988–1990

Through most of their annual migration, gray whales, Eschrichtius robustus, remain within 10 km of shore, but in the Southern California Bight many individuals migrate much farther from shore. This paper summarizes aerial survey and photogrammetric efforts to determine body lengths and temporal and spatial distributions of migratory gray whales in the southern portion of the Southern California Bight. Aerial surveys were flown along 13 east–west transects between lat. 32°35′N and 33°30′N during the southbound gray whale migratory seasons of 1988–90 in the Southern California Bight. Photogrammetry was used to obtain body length estimates of animals during some of the surveys. A total of 1,878 whales in 675 groups were sighted along 25,440 km of transect distance flown and 217 body lengths were measured. Using position and heading data, three major migratory pathways or corridors in the southern portion of the bight are defined. Those migrating offshore were split almost evenly between two corridors along the west sides of Santa Catalina and San Clemente Islands. These corridors converge on the mainland coast between San Diego and the United States–Mexico border. No whales larger than 11.5 m were photographed within 30 km of the mainland coast, suggesting that smaller, and presumably younger, whales use the coastal migratory corridor through the California Bight.