An investigation of survey technologies and modeling techniques for improving deepwater surveys of nonindigenous species in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands

Nonindigenous species (NIS) are a major threat to marine ecosystems, with possible dramatic effects on biodiversity, biological productivity, habitat structure and fisheries. The Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument (PMNM) has taken active steps to mitigate the threats of NIS in Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI). Of particular concern are the 13 NIS already detected in NWHI and two invasive species found among the main Hawaiian Islands, snowflake coral (Carijoa riseii) and a red alga (Hypnea musciformis). Much of the information regarding NIS in NWHI has been collected or informed by surveys using conventional SCUBA or fishing gear. These technologies have significant drawbacks. SCUBA is generally constrained to depths shallower than 40 m and several NIS of concern have been detected well below this limit (e.g., L. kasmira – 256 m) and fishing gear is highly selective. Consequently, not all habitats or species can be properly represented. Effective management of NIS requires knowledge of their spatial distribution and abundance over their entire range. Surveys which provide this requisite information can be expensive, especially in the marine environment and even more so in deepwater. Technologies which minimize costs, increase the probability of detection and are capable of satisfying multiple objectives simultaneously are desired. This report examines survey technologies, with a focus on towed camera systems (TCSs), and modeling techniques which can increase NIS detection and sampling efficiency in deepwater habitats of NWHI; thus filling a critical data gap in present datasets. A pilot study conducted in 2008 at French Frigate Shoals and Brooks Banks was used to investigate the application of TCSs for surveying NIS in habitats deeper than 40 m. Cost and data quality were assessed. Over 100 hours of video was collected, in which 124 sightings of NIS were made among benthic habitats from 20 to 250 m. Most sightings were of a single cosmopolitan species, Lutjanus kasmira, but Cephalopholis argus, and Lutjanus fulvus, were also detected. The data expand the spatial distributions of observed NIS into deepwater habitats, identify algal plain as an important habitat and complement existing data collected using SCUBA and fishing gear. The technology’s principal drawback was its inability to identify organisms of particular concern, such as Carijoa riseii and Hypnea musciformis due to inadequate camera resolution and inability to thoroughly inspect sites. To solve this issue we recommend incorporating high-resolution cameras into TCSs, or using alternative technologies, such as technical SCUBA diving or remotely operated vehicles, in place of TCSs. We compared several different survey technologies by cost and their ability to detect NIS and these results are summarized in Table 3.

Two new species and two new reports of Ulva L. (Ulvophyceae) from the coast of Karachi, Pakistan

Morphology and taxonomy of four species of Ulva i.e. U. anandii Amjad et Shameel sp. nov., U. bifrons Ardre, U. saifullahii Amjad et Shameel sp. nov. and U. taeniata (Setchell) et Gardner were described for the first time from Pakistan. Their anatomy has been investigated in detail and compared with the allied species. A taxonomic comment has been written on U. grandis Saifullah et Nizamuddin.

A new species and a new variety of Amphisolenia Stein from the north Arabian Sea bordering Pakistan

A new species Amphisolenia nizamuddinii Mansoor and Saifullah sp. nov. and a new variety Amphisolenia schroederi var. pakistanensis Mansoor and Saifullah var. nov. are hereby described from Pakistan's shelf and deep sea vicinity during the transition period between the northeast and southwest monsoon seasons.

A new species and a new record of Sphaeromopsis Holdich and Jones, 1973 from Pakistan waters (Isopoda, Sphaeromatidae)

Sphaeromopsis minutus, sp. nov., the sixth species of Splitteromopsis Holdich and Jones is described and figured in detail. The genus Sphaeromopsis and species S. serriguberna Holdich and Harrison, 1981 is recorded for the first time from northern Arabian Sea, Karachi (Pakistan).

Rotifera from Sri Lanka (Ceylon) 3. New species and records with a list of Rotifera recorded and their distribution in different habitats from Sri Lanka

In two previous papers, the Eurotatorian fauna of Sri Lanka has been systematically dealt with. Description of 104 species is given in the previous papers. In the present study an additional twenty-two species are described. Of these two are new. The composition of the Sri Lanka Rotifera is discussed in relation to the fauna of other parts of the world. The distribution of the species in different types of habitats is studied on the basis of samples. A complete list of all Rotifera recorded from Sri Lanka so far is given for easy reference. Examples of localities where species were collected are also given.