PICES Press, Vol. 11, No. 2, July 2003

Cover [pdf, 1.2 Mb] PICES Science Board and Governing Council hold their first joint meeting [pp. 1-3] [pdf, 0.2 Mb] 3rd International Zooplankton Production Symposium [pp. 4-7] [pdf, 0.6 Mb] The state of the eastern North Pacific entering spring 2003 [pp. 8-9] [pdf, 0.4 Mb] The state of the western North Pacific in 2002 [pp. 10-13] [pdf, 0.6 Mb] The Bering Sea: Current status and recent events [pp. 14-15] [pdf. 0.7 Mb] Patricia Livingston [pp. 16-19] [pdf. 0.5 Mb] Recent changes in the abundance of northern anchovy (Engraulis mordax) off the Pacific Northwest, tracking a regime shift? [pp. 20-21] [pdf. 0.6 Mb] Developing new scientific programs in PICES [pp. 22-26] [pdf. 0.2 Mb] Report of the Yokohama 2003 MODEL Task Team Workshop to develop a marine ecosystem model of the North Pacific Ocean including pelagic fishes [pp. 27-29] [pdf. 0.5 Mb] 3rd PICES Workshop on the Okhotsk Sea and adjacent Areas [pp.30-31] [pdf. 0.4 Mb] Recent oceanographic and marine environmental studies at FERHRI [pp.32-34] [pdf. 0.4 Mb] Symposium Announcement [p. 35] [pdf. 0.3 Mb] PICES announcements [p. 36] [pdf. 0.3 Mb]

The distribution of aquatic bugs (Hemiptera-Heteroptera) in Scotland

Data on the distribution of aquatic bugs in Scotland was compiled with a widely-used biological recording software called RECORDER supplemented by a mapping program (DMAP) and a program that linked the two. Status lists are given with a brief account of the distribution of each species. Common and widespread species are listed in group one, including Velia caprai and Gerris lacustris, with less common species in group two such as Hydrometra stagnorum and Microvelia reticulata. Rare, uncommon or under-recorded species are also listed. These include Hebrus ruficeps, Gerris najas and Cymatia coleoptrata.

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.

Comparative study on the toxin production and profiles Raphidophytes at different salinities

PLEASE ALSO CHECK THE FULL TEXT ABSTRACT. Toxin production and toxin profiles of four Raphidophytes grown under different salinities were compared to investigate the influence of salinity on cellular content of neurotoxin. In Chatonella andqua CaTx-1, CaTx-11, and CaTx-111 peaked at 25 pplt with yields of 0.99, 0.42, and 2.90 pg/ceU, but the highest yields (2.35 pg/cell) of CaTx-IV was attained at 30 ppt. On the other hand, Chatonella marina yielded higher proportions of CmTx-1 (0.55 pg/ceH) and CmTx-111 (2.50 pg/cell) at 25 ppt. However, CmTx-IV was present in its highest amount (1.65 pg/cell) at 30 ppt, as seen in C anriqua. A smaH amount of CmTx-11 was also detected at 20-35 ppt. The toxin compositions indicate that H. akashiwo is more sensitive to higher salinities than the other three raphidophytes. Substantial compositional change was observed in case of H. akashiwo. HaTx-11 (corresponding to PbTx-9) was detected only as a trace at 20 and 25 ppt. Toxin HaTx-IV (corresponding to oxidized PbTx-2) was most dominant and peaked at 20 ppt with a yield of 0.3 pg/cell. Considerable amounts of HaTx-1 and III (corresponding to PbTx-2 and 3) were also detected. At higher salinities of above 25 ppt HaTx-11 was not detected. F. japonica gave highest yields of FjTx-11 (PbTx-2) and FjTx-IV (Oxidized PbTx-2) at 20 ppt with yields of 0.95, 1.54 pg/cell while the production of toxic profiles FjTx-1 (PbTx- 1) and FjTx-111 (PbTx-3) peaked at 25 ppt with yields of 0.99, 2.54 pg/ceU. A sharp decrease in all toxins profiles (CaTx, CmTx, HaTX and FjTx) was found at salinities of above 30 ppt.

Hydrographical conditions and benthic assemblages in the Suez Gulf, Egypt

The coastal development and human activities along the Suez Gulf leading to sedimentation, degrade the quality of water, disturbing the natural structure and functions of aquatic communities. The Suez Gulf is a large semi-closed area with a 346 km long coastline on the western beach side. The prevailing physicochemical parameters in shallow intertidal waters were measured seasonally over the year. Benthic faunas in the sampling sites were studied indicating their regional distribution in relation to the impact of different environmental parameters in the intertidal region. The concentration of copper in seawater reached high level at St. IV (4.57 ug/1), which is exposed to sewage and petroleum hydrocarbons. The grain size of the sediment is a determining factor for the organic carbon concentration and the sandy substrate enhances organic matter degradation processes. A large number of oil fields are present along the western coast of the Suez Gulf, therefore, cadmium and organic matter appeared to be high. The values of pH did not vary greatly among the different sampling sites. It was high at EI-Ein, El-Sukhna and Ras-Shukeir due to the disposal of mainly acidic sewage and industrial effluents of the two stations Adabiya and Ras-Gharib respectively. The macrobenthos included 71 species embraced mainly from Mollusca (53.5% Gastropoda and 12.7% Bivalvia) and the other invertebrates included 7 groups namely, Rhizostoma, Polychaeta, Cirripedia, Amphipoda, Isopoda, Decapoda and Echinodermata. The distribution of benthos is affected by the temperature and salinity of seawater. The concentration of organic matter in seawater and in sediments in shallow waters shows high values in the central part of the Gulf of Suez.

Occurrence and abundance of brachyuran larvae in the Manora Channel (Karachi, Pakistan) during 1993

The present paper investigates the occurrence and abundance of brachyuran larvae in the Manora Channel during August- December 1993. The fortnightly planktonic sampling was carried out in Manora Channel which is bordered by mangroves, during day time from surface and subsurface waters at shallow depth using Bongo net of 300 micron mesh size. Analysis of samples revealed presence of brachyuran larvae of 12 species belonging to 6 families. Of these 4 species are confirmed: Serenella indica, Dotilla blanfordi, Metopograpsus thukuhar and Clistocoeloma lanatum, 2 provisionally identified species are: Pilumnus ?karachiensis and Pinnotheres ?pisum, 2 species are identified upto generic level: Philyra sp. and Pinnotheres sp., and 1 Ocypodid species and 3 Xanthid species are identified upto family level. This study based on identification, occurrence and abundance of brachyuran larvae in the area, also gives percentage composition of brachyuran larvae collected during 1993, in the Manora Channel.

Water quality of two semi-closed areas in the United Arab Emirates Coast along the Arabian Gulf:a comparative study

A comparative study was carried out between the two biggest creeks along the Arabian Gulf coast of the United Arab Emirates to evaluate impacts of sewage and industrial effluents on their hydrochemical characteristics. Surface and bottom water samples were collected from Abu Dhabi and Dubai creeks during the period from October 1994 to September 1995. The hydrochemical parameters studied were: temperature (21.10-34.00°C), salinity (37.37-47.09%), transparency (0.50-10.0 m), pH (7.97-8.83), dissolved oxygen (1.78-13.93 mg/l) and nutrients ammonia (ND- 13.12,ug-at N/1), nitrite (ND-6.66 ,ug-at N/1), nitrate (ND- 41.18 ,ug-at N/1), phosphate (ND- 13.06 ,ug-at P/1), silicate (0.68-32.50 ,ug-at Si/1), total phosphorus (0.26- 21.48 ,ug-at P/1), and total silicon (0.95- 40.32 ,ug-at Si/1). The present study indicates clearly that seawater of Abu-Dhabi Creek was warmer (28.l2°C) than Dubai (27.56°C) resulting in a higher rate of evaporation. Owing to more evaporation, salinity levels showed higher levels at Abu Dhabi (43.33%) compared to Dubai (39.03%) seawater. The study also revealed higher secchi disc readings at Abu Dhabi Creek (4.68 m) as compared to Dubai Creek (2.60 m) suggesting more transparency at Abu Dhabi Creek. Whereas, seawater of Dubai exhibited higher levels of pH (1.03 times), and dissolved oxygen (1.05 times) than Abu Dhabi seawater due to an increase in productivity. Meantime, seawater of Dubai showed higher tendency to accumulate ammonia (8.22 times), nitrite (10.93 times), nitrate (5.85 times), phosphate (10.64 times), silicate (1.60 times), total phosphorus (3.19 times), and total silicon (1.54 times) compared to Abu Dhabi seawater due to the enrichment of seawater at Dubai with domestic sewage waters which has distinctly elevated the levels of the nutrient salts particularly in inner-most parts of the creek leading to eutrophication signs. The changes occurred in the receiving creek water of Dubai as a result of waste-water disposal that have also reflected on the atomic ratios of nit: Effect of pollution rogen: phosphorus: silicon.

Pond production of Artemia in Pakistan

Currently our government and the private sectors are very much interested in the establishment of marine aquaculture. For the successful operation in aquaculture of finfishes and shellfishes, the basic requirement is the suitable diet, apart from proper environment. For the larvae, juveniles and adult stages of the culturing organisms the live Artemia is the ideal food. The aquaculturists the worldover are using live food for their culturing organisms, as the live food played an important role in the dietary management of aquaculture of finfishes and shellfishes (Sorgeloos and Kulasekarapandian, 1984), particularly during larval stages. The live nauplii of Artemia are used in aquaculture of finfishes and shellfishes due to being nutritionally balanced, non polluting, economically bearable, viable and readily acceptable to the culturing species. The adult Artemia is also used for feeding the aquarium fishes particularly so when there is a clear abundance of this resource which is cheaper and can economically compete with alternative artificial diet. By the use of Artemia the aquaculturists may obtain optimum growth and survival rate of the organisms. The life cycle of Artemia is very short, which is completed within two weeks especially during dry season in highly saline waters, the two weeks old Artemia starts producing cysts. These cysts become ready to harvest within a week.

A new record of Excirolana Orientalis (Dana, 1853), a cirolanid genus and species (Isopoda, Flabellifera) from the Pakistan coast

Excirolana orienta/is (Dana, 1853) belonging to the Cirolanidae, hitherto unknown from Pakistan, is collected from the rocky intertidal region of Manora Island, Karachi coast The specimens are fully described and illustrated. A list of the known species of the genus Excirolana is also provided since the genus is also first time reported from here.