Some remarks on the colour patterns of east African freshwater crabs

Very few accounts of African potamonids refer to natural colouration, and the author cannot recall any describing colour patterns. The generally undistinguished appearance of these crabs is well illustrated by Rathbun (1921) on the Congo Brachyura which includes collector's notes on a number of potamonid species. This article is based on remarks extracted from a communication sent to Dr. C. H. Fernando in connection with the article "Colour patterns in Ceylonese freshwater crabs (Patomonidae)", Bulletin of the Fisheries Research Station, Ceylon, v. 21.1(1970), pp. 1-4.

Effect of colour on the catch of gill nets

The effect of white, green, blue and yellow coloured drift gill nets on their catch with respect to Scomberomorus guttatus (Schneider), Scomberomorus commerson (Lacepede), Scomberomorus lineolatus (Cuvier), Parastomateus niger (Bloch), Euthynnus ajjinis (Cantor) and sharks Carcharius melanopterus is discussed. White nets were more effective for S. guttatus while the coloured ones caught more of P. niger. Blue had no significant effect for sharks. In the case of S. lineolatus, S. commerson and E. affinis no preference to colour was noted.

Studies on the effect of colour of webbing on the efficiency of gill nets for hilsa and pomfret off Veraval

Influence of colour of webbing on the catch of gill nets for commercially important hilsa (Hilsa toli and Hilsa ilisha) and pomfret (Pampus argenteus and Parastromateus niger) has been studied in the coastal waters off Veraval. Among the colours tested yellow and white are recommended for hilsa and pomfret gear. Influence of fishing depth, surface water temperature and turbidity on catch are also discussed.

First record of a spindle cowry Crenovolva (Ovulidae, Gastropoda) from Bulleji, Karachi, on the gorgonian coral Muricella sp. and with a note on their association

Attached to hard substrata on our shores occur the branching colonies of gorgonian corals of the genus Muricella (Fig. 1A, Pl. 1B, C, D). Since there is no report on this genus from Pakistan this report be taken as the first record from here. The family Ovulidae comprises several hundred species of marine gastropods, all of which appear to be obligate associates of cnidarians as stated by Robertson (1970) and Hadfield (1976); the present ovulid gastropod genus Crenovolva lives exclusively on the gorgonians (Morton, 1989). Tirmizi and Zehra (1984) recorded thirty-two families of gastropods from Pakistan, but not any representative of the Ovulidae, so the material at hand may be the first record from Pakistan. Since we are unable to reach to specific level the material is being reported as unspecified.

Isolatin [sic] the bacteria produced biactive [sic] metabolits [sic] cytotoxic compound in order to prduction [sic] anticancer substance in the coral regin [sic] the Persian Gulf (Larak Island)

In the present investigation the marine bacteria isolated from corals, sponges sea water and sediments of coral regions in the larak Island located in the Persian Gulf and were examined for ability to produce cytotoxic metabolits in order to use as an anticancer compounds. Cytotoxic effect were isolated bacteria from different samples and were examined by Artemia Cytotoxic Bioassay test, in which 4.5 percent of sea waters, 12 percent of sediments and 28 percent of marine invertebrat showed cytotoxic activity, using Brine Shrimp Bioassay test. Streptomyces S-2004 isolated from soft coral specified as Sinularia erecta had LC50=0.5mg/m1 in Brine Shrimp Bioaassay test. The streptomyces S-2004 produced cytotoxic metabolits in low nutrient condition and sea water medium after 7 days on 250 rpm shaken in vitro condition. The extract partially were semipurified. Then ethyl acetate extraction from aceton extracted of bacterial plate had cytotoxic effect (LC50=4.19ktg/m1) in Human epidermoid carcinoma of mouth cells (KB) by using neutral red assay. Morphological effects of this extract on KB cells showed turgescence, cellular blebs and apoptosis which was a proof for anticancer compounds of the extract. It is seems that streptomyces S-2004 is a new strain and could be introduced as a talented bacteria, which produced cytotoxic metabolits.

Connectivity of coral reefs between marine park and non-marine park islands in the Malacca Straits

This study investigates the genetic population and gene flow in the clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris), across the Langkawi and Payar Archipelago by analysis of molecular markers in the mitochondrial region.