Effects of salinity and temperature on the larval development of a sesarmid crab Neosarmatium trispinosum Davie (Crustacea: Brachyura: Sesarmidae) from mangrove swamp in Okinawa Island, Japan

The larval development of the semiterrestrial sesarmid mangrove crab Neosarmarium trispinosum was studied under laboratory conditions at salinities 0-35%o and constant temperatures of 20-30°C. The larval development consists of five zoeal stages and a megalopa. Larvae survived to the first crab stage at salinities between 15 and 35%o with different percentages. At 0, 5 and 10%o, the larvae died within 12-18 hours without moulting to subsequent stages. The highest survival rate was recorded at 20-25%o and 25-30°C with shortest development duration to the first crab stage ranging from 24-28 days. At the highest salinity (35%o), survival rate was gradually decreased with increasing development duration. There were significant differences (P

Phycochemical studies on sterols from three brown seaweeds of northern Arabian Sea

Three brown algae i.e. Dictyota hauckiana Nizamuddin, Levringia boergesenii Kylin and Spatoglossum variabile Figari et De Notaris, collected from the coastal areas of Karachi, have been investigated for their sterol composition. Four sterols with cholesta skeleton including a new one, 17α-hydroxy-24β-vinyl cholesterol have been isolated from them. Their structures were elucidated with the help of spectroscopic analysis. The new sterol has been named as hauckiosterol after its first source of isolation.

An illustrated key to Malacostraca (Crustacea) of the Northern Arabian Sea part-V: Isopoda

The northern Arabian Sea Isopod fauna is keyed out, excluding the gulfs fauna. Some terrestrial species are also included. Previous accounts and recent collections from Pakistan mainly at Karachi have turned up 7 suborders, 18 families, 76 genera and 12 1 species. There 5 are new records from Pakistan. For each species, there is an illustration and information of its reporter from the area and on its host, if parastic. The source of illustration is also given.

An illustrated key to the Malacostraca (Crustacea) of the northern Arabian Sea. Part 3: Euphausiacea

The key includes twenty-one species of euphausiids belonging to two families and six genera. The key was prepared following Brinton (1975). Since several authors attributed a fundamental importance to thelycum in systematics of euphausiids therefore the available figures of thelycum are also included.

Population structure of the grapsid crab, Helice tridens latimera (PARISI) in the Taiho mangrove, Okinawa, Japan

Grapsid crab Helice tridens latimera inhabiting mangroves, seashores as well as muddy and rocky areas. Ovigerous females were observed from December to May. Juveniles appeared in July and from December to April. In the laboratory they reached 9.50 mm in carapace width 4 months after hatching. It is likely that spawning of this crab occurs throughout the year.

The characteristics of distribution and change of the seawater temperature and salinity of Cai river estuary and Northern Part of Nha Trang bay in the dry and rainy season

In this paper, some results of analyzing the hydrographic characteristics of the seawater temperature and salinity are presented. The received results showed that: in dry season, the influence of the Cai river water has is limited in Cai river estuary with the approximate transferable distance from the river mouth to the open sea of about 1 km. The isohaline 32%o could be defined as the separate boundary of the Cai river water; In rainy season, due to the river water discharges are high, the influence of Cai river water could be transferred to the open sea and island areas. The immerge of the Cai river water in the open sea areas in rainy season has changed the vertical structure of salinity and temperature in the northern part of Nhatrang bay. In both seasons, the Cai river water have influenced in the surface water layers 0 - 2m and the water layers deeper than 2m are influenced by the sea waters with the salinity of higher than 32%o.

Distribution of heavy metals in the northern shrimp Pandalus borealis from the Oslofjord

Studies on the distribution of heavy metals like copper, cadmium, zinc, lead and mercury in deep sea prawns Pandalus borealis in the Oslofjord region showed that those collected from inner and middle fjord contained higher levels of heavy metals than those from the outer fjord. Their content in the edible portions, viz., tail muscle, was less compared to other organs. In terms of metal concentration copper and zinc are present in significant quantities in Pandalus borealis.

Results of drift card experiments and considerations on the movement of milkfish eggs and larvae in the northern Sulu Sea

For a period of one year beginning December 1977, drift card experiments were conducted off the western and southern coasts of Panay Island to determine the surface currents in the area. Of a total 2,384 drift cards released during the study, 382 (16.02%) were recovered, 92% of them within 30 days following dispatch. The surface currents in the study area are strongly influenced, in direction and speed, by the prevailing monsoon winds. During the NE monsoon period, the surface currents move away from the coast; during the SW monsoon, toward and/or parallel to the coast. Based on the results, the probable movement and transport of milkfish (Chanos chanos) eggs and larvae from the spawning ground to the fry collection ground are also discussed.

Culture potential of Amblypharyngodon mola with carps in polyculture in farmers' pond of northern regions of Bangladesh

To assess the culture potential of mola (Amblypharyngodon mola) along with carps in polyculture systems, an experiment consisted of three treatments each with five replications was conducted for 4 months in two villages of Parbatipur upazilla under Dinajpur district. In the first treatment (SS), catla, rohu, mrigal, grass carp, Thai punti, common carp and a higher density of silver carp (8 per 40m²) were stocked. In the second treatment (SM), stocking density of silver carp was reduced to half and mola was added at a stocking density of 12,500/ha with all other fishes used in SS. In the third treatment (MM), no silver carp was stocked and mola was added at a stocking density of 25,000/ha with all other fishes used in SS. All treatments were subjected to the same regime of feed and fertilizers. The yields of large carps were 2035 kg/ha, 1757 kg/ha and 1326 kg/ha for treatments SS, SM and MM, respectively. Catla, grass carp and carpio showed better growth and production performance in presence of mola at a higher density, while rohu, Thai punti and mrigal showed better performance when stocking density of mola was relatively low. Mola yield was almost two times higher (184 kg/ha) in absence of silver carp (MM) than (62 kg/ha) in presence of silver carp (SM). The result showed that there was a significantly (p<0.01) lower total fish production in treatment MM. But there were no significant difference in total production between treatment SS and SM.

An illustrated key to the Malacostraca (Crustacea) of the northern Arabian Sea. Part 6: Decapoda anomura

The key deals with the Decapoda, Anomura of the northern Arabian Sea, belonging to 3 super-families, 10 families, 32 genera and 104 species. With few exceptions, each species is accompanied by illustrations of taxonomic importance; its first reporter is referenced, supplemented by a subsequent record from the area. Necessary schematic diagrams explaining terminologies are also included.

Chemical forms of copper, zinc, lead and cadmium in sediments of the northern part of the Red Sea, Egypt

Total concentrations and chemical forms of heavy metals in sediment samples from the Gulf of Suez and the northern part of the Red Sea, collected during January 2003, were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry. Maximum concentrations of 49.56, 65.42, 33.52 and 3.52 µg/g were recorded for total Cu, Zn, Pb and Cd respectively at Adabiya location. These may reflect the high contribution of land-based activities in the northern part of the Gulf. Also, high percentages of heavy metals were found in the residual fraction (Cu=78.61, Zn=77.10 and Pb=66.80%) while a high percentage of Cd was found in the carbonate fraction (45.82%). However, few or negligible percentages were recorded in the exchangeable fractions (Cu=0.51, Zn=1.57 and Pb=1.74%). Concentration of Cd in the exchangeable fraction was too low to be detected.

Evaluation of some biological indices and population dynamic of "Saurida tumbil" in the northern Persian Gulf and Oman Sea

The Great lizardfish is one of the commercial demersal fishes in the Persian Gulf and Oman Sea. In this study the food preference index (FPI), Fullness index (FI) and stomach contents of Saurida tumbil were evaluated to assess the quantity and kind of food which this species consumes in the study area. The samples were collected monthly from commercial bottom trawl fisheries in main fishing grounds of eastern Strait of Hormuz. A total of 346 specimens were collected during years 2009-2010 of which 269 specimens were female and 77 specimens were male. The minimum and maximum total length were 161 and 590 mm, respectively with the highest frequency in length group of 350-370mm. Results showed that 20.9% of stomachs were full, 18.9% were semi-full and 60.2% were empty. The main stomach contents (FPI=80.2%) were fishes and minor stomach contents (FPI=25.7%) were crustacean (Specially crab and shrimp) and cephalopods were found as random food. The minimum and maximum FIs were 2.5 and 42.5 in December and September respectively; and the overall CV was 60.2. The results indicate that this fish is a relatively frugal species which consumes fishes as main food and there is no difference in feeding of male and female.

Distribution and abundance of cirripede larvae (Cirripedia: Thoracica) in the northern Arabian Sea

Cirripede larvae obtained in the zooplankton samples of the North Arabian Sea Ecological and Environmental Research (NASEER) cruise I (January, 1992) have been studied for their distribution and abundance. They were collected in the northern Arabian Sea waters (22°51'N to 24°58'N, 60°05'E to 65°59'E). Thirty- two samples were taken at 18 stations. The maximum number of larvae were collected from a station near Indus cone (Sta. 8), whereas an off shore station (Sta. 37) and one near the Makran coast (Sta. 60) had poor representation. Regular coastal collections from Manora Channel (24°48'N, 66°59'E), during the study period of one year (1994), have been also included to supplement the NASEER samples. Only one naupliar stage (VI) and a cyprid stage were identified. Relative abundance in day and night samples were also studied.

A review of spider majid crabs of the northern Arabian Sea, with particular reference to Pakistani species, and with description of an undescribed Pleistacantha

The present report deals with the history of work done on northern Arabian Sea majids, their zoogeographical consideration and recognition of present status of certain genera which are established by recent workers. I have nothing of substance to add to previous treatment by Griffin & Tranter (1986). Emphasis is given to species inhabiting coastal waters of Pakistan. The occurrence of the genus Pleistacantha in the Arabian Sea and its adjacent gulfs is discussed in detail due to presence of a unique female which was taken by Fridtj of Nansen Cruise in 1977. This seems to be an undescribed species. At the moment the female is just given as Pleistacantha sp1 till more specimens obtained determine its position. Some interesting features of Doclea muricata are also considered.

Check list of plankton of the northern Red Sea

Qualitative estimation of phytoplankton and zooplankton of the northern Red Sea and Gulf of Aqaba were carried out from four sites: Sharm El-Sheikh, Taba, Hurghada and Safaga. A total of 106 species and varieties of phytoplankton were identified including 41 diatoms, 53 dinoflagellates, 10 cyanophytes and 2 chlorophytes. The highest number of species was recorded at Sharm El-Sheikh (46 spp), followed by Safaga (40 spp), Taba (30 spp), and Hurghada (23 spp). About 95 of the recorded species were previously mentioned by different authors in the Red Sea and Gulf of Suez. Eleven species are considered new to the Red Sea. About 115 species of zooplankton were recorded from the different sites. They were dominated by four main phyla namely: Arthropoda, Protozoa, Mollusca, and Urochordata. Sharm El-Sheikh contributed the highest number of species (91) followed by Safaga (47) and Taba (34). Hurghada contributed the least (26). Copepoda dominated the other groups at the four sites. The appearances of Spirulina platensis, Pediastrum simplex, and Oscillatoria spp. of phytoplankton in addition to the rotifer species and the protozoan Difflugia oblongata of zooplankton impart a characteristic feature of inland freshwater discharge due to wastewater dumping at sea in these regions resulting from the expansion of cities and hotels along the coast.