Indo-West Pacific Ocean Research Articles

The complete mitochondrial genome of the Japanese fan lobster Ibacus ciliatus (Crustacea, Achelata, Scyllaridae)

Slipper lobsters are a unique group of decapod crustaceans; they have cylindrical or flattened bodies and belong to the family Scyllaridae. The genus Ibacus (Leach, 1815) (Achelata, Scyllaridae, Ibacinae) consists of eight recognized species to date, all of which occur in the Indo-West Pacific Ocean and are commercially important seafood species. The complete mitochondrial genome of the Japanese fan lobster Ibacus ciliatus (Von Siebold, 1824) is 15,696 bp in size and consists of 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNAs, 2 ribosomal RNAs, and a control region of 783 bp. The base composition of I. ciliatus is 35.8% A, 34.7% T, 19.0% C, and 10.5% G, with an overall AT content of 70.5%. The mitogenome of I. ciliatus was found to have gene arrangement and transcriptional polarity identical to that of the American lobster Homarus americanus, showing the pancrustacean ground pattern. Here, we present the complete mitogenome sequence of I. ciliatus; it is the first mitogenome information from the subfamily Ibacinae, and represents the second for the family Scyllaridae.

Morphological and molecular evidence supports the occurrence of a single species of Zebrias zebrinus along the coastal waters of China

The so-called zebra sole includes a group of small flatfishes characterized by transverse band pairs on the ocular side and distributed throughout shallow waters along the coast of the Indo-West Pacific Ocean. Several species of the zebra sole have been recorded from the coastal waters of China. Morphological analysis of 1 107 specimens of the zebra sole from 15 successive localities along the China’s coast demonstrated that no significant variations among these localities were found on the basis of meristic counts and morphometric characters. Phylogenetic analysis based on COI gene sequences of 14 individuals and D-loop of 22 individuals from eight localities showed that they were indistinguishable among these localities. Therefore, both morphological and molecular evidence supported the occurrence of a single species of the zebra sole along the China’s coast. The available name for this species is Zebrias zebrinus (Temminck and Schlegel, 1846) instead of Z. zebra (Bloch, 1787). Zebrias fasciatus (Basilewsky, 1855) and Solea ommatura (Richardson, 1846) are considered here as two synonyms of Z. zebrinus.

The diet of the Harlequin crab Lissocarcinus orbicularis, an obligate symbiont of sea cucumbers (holothuroids) belonging to the genera Thelenota, Bohadschia and Holothuria

The present paper characterizes, for the first time, the diet of the Harlequin crab Lissocarcinus orbicularis, an obligate symbiotic crab that associates with sea cucumbers (holothuroids) belonging to the genera Thelenota, Bohadschia and Holothuria. These tropical holothuroids host a rich symbiotic community in the Indo-West Pacific Ocean of which the Harlequin crab is the best known. The diet of L. orbicularis was characterized by analyzing the microscopic, molecular and isotopic signatures obtained from its gastric content. The presence of sea cucumber ossicles in the gastric mills of the crabs suggests that symbionts eat the superficial integument of their host and this was supported by the fact that Holothuroid DNA was detected in the stomach of L. orbicularis after DGGE and sequencing of the 18S rDNA gene. The stable isotopic δ13C and δ15N values of crab tissues were compared with diverse potential food sources including three holothuroids, three algae, one sea grass as well as the organic matter contained in the water column, in the sediment, and the second most abundant symbiont, the polychaete Gastrolepidia clavigera. The low δ15N values of crabs suggests that the crabs do not exclusively feed on sea cucumber tissue but assimilate diverse food sources such as sea grasses and organic matter contained in sediment that have similar δ13C values. There were no differences between the feeding of males and females but there was a positive correlation between the carapace length and the stable isotopic values indicating a shift of the food source as crabs grow larger.

Description of a new species of Marphysa Quatrefages, 1865 (Polychaeta: Eunicidae) from the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia and comparisons with species from Marphysa Group A from the Indo-West Pacific and Indian Ocean

A new species of Marphysa Quatrefages, 1865 (Polychaeta: Eunicidae) is described from the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia and compared with species from Marphysa Group A from the Indo-West Pacific and Indian Ocean. The number of species known within Marphysa Group A has been increased, and the concept that M. mossambica is a widely distributed species in the Indo-Pacific is refuted. The new species is commercially important and occurs in the mangrove forest along the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Notes on the biology, ecology and commercial aspects of M. moribidii sp. nov. are presented.

Molecular evidence for co-occurring cryptic lineages within the Sepioteuthis cf. lessoniana species complex in the Indian and Indo-West Pacific Oceans

The big-fin reef squid, Sepioteuthis cf. lessoniana (Lesson 1930), is an important commodity species within artisanal and near-shore fisheries in the Indian and Indo-Pacific regions. While there has been some genetic and physical evidence that supports the existence of a species complex within S. cf. lessoniana, these studies have been extremely limited in scope geographically. To clarify the extent of cryptic diversity within S. cf. lessoniana, this study examines phylogenetic relationships using mitochondrial genes (cytochrome oxidase c, 16s ribosomal RNA) and nuclear genes (rhodopsin, octopine dehydrogenase) from nearly 400 individuals sampled from throughout the Indian, Indo-Pacific, and Pacific Ocean portions of the range of this species. Phylogenetic analyses using maximum likelihood methods and Bayesian inference identified three distinct lineages with no clear geographic delineations or morphological discriminations. Phylogeographic structure analysis showed high levels of genetic connectivity in the most widespread lineage, lineage C and low levels of connectivity in lineage B. This study provides significant phylogenetic evidence for cryptic lineages within this complex and confirms that cryptic lineages of S. cf. lessoniana occur in sympatry at both small and large spatial scales. Furthermore, it suggests that two closely related co-occurring cryptic lineages have pronounced differences in population structure, implying that underlying differences in ecology and/or life history may facilitate co-occurrence. Further studies are needed to assess the range and extent of cryptic speciation throughout the distribution of this complex. This information is extremely useful as a starting point for future studies exploring the evolution of diversity within Sepioteuthis and can be used to guide fisheries management efforts.

Integrating multiple lines of evidence to better understand the evolutionary divergence of humpback dolphins along their entire distribution range: a new dolphin species in Australian waters?

The conservation of humpback dolphins, distributed in coastal waters of the Indo-West Pacific and eastern Atlantic Oceans, has been hindered by a lack of understanding about the number of species in the genus (Sousa) and their population structure. To address this issue, we present a combined analysis of genetic and morphologic data collected from beach-cast, remote-biopsied and museum specimens from throughout the known Sousa range. We extracted genetic sequence data from 235 samples from extant populations and explored the mitochondrial control region and four nuclear introns through phylogenetic, population-level and population aggregation frameworks. In addition, 180 cranial specimens from the same geographical regions allowed comparisons of 24 morphological characters through multivariate analyses. The genetic and morphological data showed significant and concordant patterns of geographical segregation, which are typical for the kind of demographic isolation displayed by species units, across the Sousa genus distribution range. Based on our combined genetic and morphological analyses, there is convincing evidence for at least four species within the genus (S.teuszii in the Atlantic off West Africa, S.plumbea in the central and western Indian Ocean, S.chinensis in the eastern Indian and West Pacific Oceans, and a new as-yet-unnamed species off northern Australia).

Review of theAcanthopagrus latuscomplex (Perciformes: Sparidae) with descriptions of three new species from the Indo‐West Pacific Ocean

Acanthopagrus latus, long considered a single valid Indo-West Pacific Ocean species, characterized by having yellow pelvic, anal and caudal fins, is reviewed and separated into A. latus (east Asian shelf) and Acanthopagrus longispinnis (Bengal Bay), and three new species: Acanthopagrus morrisoni sp. nov. (north-western Australia), Acanthopagrus arabicus sp. nov. [Middle East (except for the Red Sea) to coasts of Iran and Pakistan, and western Indian coast] and Acanthopagrus sheim sp. nov. (The Gulf). Although A. latus as redefined considerably varies in morphology and colouration, it can be recognized as a discrete east Asian endemic, with the following nominal species being junior synonyms: Chrysophrys auripes, Chrysophrys xanthopoda, Chrysophrys rubroptera and Sparus chrysopterus. Chrysophrys novaecaledoniae, known only from the holotype (type locality: Nouméa, New Caledonia), is a questionable junior synonym of A. latus, the lack of subsequent collections suggesting that the type locality is erroneous. Acanthopagrus longispinnis is differentiated from the other species in the complex by consistently having 12 dorsal-fin spines and a much larger second anal-fin spine, 21-26% (mean 23%) of standard length (LS ) (v. 14-24%, mean 18-21% in the other four species). Acanthopagrus morrisoni sp. nov. has the entire caudal fin yellow with a wide black posterior margin (persisting in preserved specimens) and consistently 3 ½ scale rows between the fifth dorsal-fin spine base and the lateral line. Acanthopagrus sheim sp. nov. has the pelvic, anal and lower caudal fins vivid yellow, with two (rarely three) small black blotches on the lower inter-radial membranes between the spinous and soft dorsal-fin rays. Acanthopagrus arabicus sp. nov. consistently has 4 ½ scale rows between the fifth dorsal-fin spine base and the lateral line, whereas A. latus always has black streaks proximally on the inter-radial membranes between the yellow anal-fin rays. A neotype and lectotye, respectively, are designated for A. latus and A. longispinnis. The p-distance (net nucleotide substitutions per site) of partial mitochondrial 16s ribosomal RNA genes (538 bp) among the above species (except A. longispinnis) and three other congeners (Acanthopagrus berda, Acanthopagrus pacificus and Acanthopagrus bifasciatus) strongly indicates that each is a distinct species. A key is provided for the 20 species of Acanthopagrus currently known from the Indo-West Pacific Ocean.

A 426-year drought history for Western Tian Shan, Central Asia, inferred from tree rings and linkages to the North Atlantic and Indo–West Pacific Oceans

We have reconstructed the Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI) from 1580 to 2005 for Western Tian Shan, Central Asia, using tree rings of Picea schrenkiana. The reconstruction explains 35% of the actual January–May PDSI variance during the common period 1925–2005. Split-sample validation supports our use of the reconstruction model based on the full period of reliable observational data (1925–2005). Spatial climate correlation analyses with gridded PDSI data revealed that our PDSI reconstruction represents a strong regional drought signal for Western Tian Shan. Dry periods occurred during ad 1614–1628, 1700–1722, 1758–1790, 1806–1833, 1873–1898, 1908–1936, 1943–1951, 1960–1966 and 1973–1988; while the periods of ad 1580–1613, 1629–1699, 1723–1757, 1791–1805, 1834–1872, 1899–1907, 1937–1942, 1952–1959, 1967–1972 and 1989–present were relatively wet. Our reconstruction agrees reasonably well with the dry and wet periods previously estimated from tree rings in Tian Shan. Significant spectral peaks are identified at 2–5, 60.2 and 213 years. Our reconstructed drought is significantly correlated with sea surface temperature in the North Atlantic and Indo–West Pacific Oceans. The linkages to the North Atlantic and Indo–West Pacific Oceans suggest the connection of moisture variations of Central Asia to the westerly circulation and tropical ocean–atmosphere systems.

Dactylogyrids (Monogenoidea: Polyonchoinea) parasitizing the gills of snappers (Perciformes: Lutjanidae): revision of Euryhaliotrema with new and previously described species from the Red Sea, Persian Gulf, the eastern and Indo-west Pacific Ocean, and the Gulf of Mexico

Twenty one of 29 species of snappers (Lutjanidae), examined for dactylogyrids (Monogenoidea) from the Red Sea, Persian Gulf, the Indo-west and eastern Pacific Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean Sea were parasitized by 16 new and 11 previously described species of Euryhaliotrema: Euryhaliotrema adelpha sp. nov., Euryhaliotrema anecorhizion sp. nov., Euryhaliotrema cardinale sp. nov., Euryhaliotrema chrysotaeniae, Euryhaliotrema cognatus sp. nov., Euryhaliotrema cryptophallus sp. nov., Euryhaliotrema diplops sp. nov., Euryhaliotrema distinctum sp. nov., Euryhaliotrema fajeravilae sp. nov., Euryhaliotrema fastigatum, Euryhaliotrema fatuum sp. nov., Euryhaliotrema ferocis sp. nov., Euryhaliotrema hainanense, Euryhaliotrema longibaculum, Euryhaliotrema mehen comb. nov., Euryhaliotrema paracanthi, Euryhaliotrema paululum sp. nov., Euryhaliotrema perezponcei, Euryhaliotrema ramulum sp. nov., Euryhaliotrema seyi sp. nov., Euryhaliotrema simplicis sp. nov., Euryhaliotrema spirotubiforum, Euryhaliotrema tormocleithrum sp. nov., Euryhaliotrema torquecirrus, Euryhaliotrema tubocirrus, Euryhaliotrema xinyingense, and Euryhaliotrema youngi sp. nov. Six species of Euryhaliotrema, previously reported from lutjanid hosts, were not collected: Euryhaliotrema anguiformis comb. nov., Euryhaliotrema guangdongense, Euryhaliotrema johni, Euryhaliotrema lutiani, Euryhaliotrema lutjani, and Euryhaliotrema nanaoense comb. nov. The diagnosis of Euryhaliotrema was emended to include species having tandem or slightly overlapping gonads, a pretesticular germarium, a globose haptor with morphologically similar anchors and hooks, a coiled or meandering male copulatory organ, a dextral vaginal pore, and hooks with upright acute thumbs and slender shanks comprised of one subunit. A bulbous base of the MCO and presence of an accessory piece in the copulatory complex were no longer considered features defining the genus. As a result, Euryhaliotrematoides and Aliatrema were placed in subjective synonymy with Euryhaliotrema, and the following transfers were proposed: Euryhaliotrema annulocirrus comb. nov., Euryhaliotrema aspistis comb. nov., Euryhaliotrema berenguelae comb. nov., Euryhaliotrema cribbi comb. nov., Euryhaliotrema grandis comb. nov., Euryhaliotrema mehen comb. nov., Euryhaliotrema microphallus comb. nov., Euryhaliotrema pirulum comb. nov., and Euryhaliotrema triangulovagina comb. nov. In addition, the following new combinations were proposed based on the revised diagnosis of the genus: Euryhaliotrema anguiformis comb. nov., Euryhaliotrema eukurodai comb. nov., Euryhaliotrema kurodai comb. nov., Euryhaliotrema monoporosum comb. nov., and Euryhaliotrema nanaoense comb. nov. The dactylogyrids, Protancyrocephalus rangusi (from a lutjanid host) and Daitreosoma chaetodontis (from a chaetodontid host), were considered species inquirendae. Haliotrematoides tukerhamatus comb. nov. is considered the senior subjective synonym of Haliotrematoides nagabinae. New host records for some previously described species of Euryhaliotrema from lutjanid and chaetodontid hosts were reported.

Isolation and Characterization of Polymorphic Microsatellite Loci from Metapenaeopsis barbata Using PCR-Based Isolation of Microsatellite Arrays (PIMA)

The red-spot prawn, Metapenaeopsis barbata, is a commercially important, widely distributed demersal species in the Indo-West Pacific Ocean. Overfishing has made its populations decline in the past decade. To study conservation genetics, eight polymorphic microsatellite loci were isolated. Genetic characteristics of the SSR (simple sequence repeat) fingerprints were estimated in 61 individuals from adjacent seas of Taiwan and China. The number of alleles, ranging from 2 to 4, as well as observed and expected heterozygosities in populations, ranging from 0.048 to 0.538, and 0.048 and 0.654, respectively, were detected. No deviation from Hardy–Weinberg expectations was detected at either locus. No significant linkage disequilibrium was detected in locus pairs. The polymorphic microsatellite loci will be useful for investigations of the genetic variation, population structure, and conservation genetics of this species.

Species, sex, size and male maturity composition of previously unreported elasmobranch landings in Kuwait, Qatar and Abu Dhabi Emirate

This paper presents data from the first major survey of the diversity, biology and fisheries of elasmobranchs in the Persian (Arabian) Gulf. Substantial landings of elasmobranchs, usually as gillnet by-catch, were recorded in Kuwait, Qatar and the Emirate of Abu Dhabi (part of the United Arab Emirates), although larger elasmobranchs from targeted line fisheries were landed in Abu Dhabi. The elasmobranch fauna recorded was distinctive and included species that are undescribed, rare and have a highly restricted known distribution. Numerical abundance was dominated by sharks (c. 80%), of which carcharhinids were by far the most important. The milk shark Rhizoprionodon acutus and whitecheek shark Carcharhinus dussumieri together comprised just under half of all recorded individuals. Around 90% of recorded sharks were small (50-90 cm total length, L(T) ) individuals, most of which were mature individuals of species with a small maximum size (<100 cm L(T) ), although immature individuals of larger species (e.g. Carcharhinus sorrah and other Carcharhinus spp.) were also important. The most frequently recorded batoid taxa were cownose rays Rhinoptera spp., an undescribed whipray, and the granulated guitarfish Rhinobatos granulatus. The first size, sex and maturity data for a wide range of Gulf elasmobranch species are presented (including L(T) at 50% maturity for males of four shark species) and include some notable differences from other locations in the Indo-West Pacific Ocean. A number of concerns regarding the sustainability of the fishery were highlighted by this study, notably that most of the batoid species recorded are classed by the IUCN Red List as vulnerable, endangered, data deficient or not evaluated. Despite their considerable elasmobranch landings, none of the three countries sampled have developed a 'Shark Plan' as encouraged to do so under the FAO International Plan of Action: Sharks. Furthermore, Kuwait and Qatar currently report zero or no elasmobranch landings to the FAO.

Revision of the genus 'Microbrotula' (Teleostei: Bythitidae), with description of two new species and a related new genus

Following recent systematic revisions of Anderson (2005, 2007), seven species of the viviparous genus Microbrotula (Teleostei: Bythitidae) have been described, all from the Indo-west Pacific Ocean. Six of these species are here recognised as valid: M. bentleyi, M. greenfieldi, M. punicea, M. queenslandica, M. randalli and M. rubra. Microbrotula polyactis is regarded as a junior synonym of M. bentleyi. Two additional new species, M. andersoni and M. hamata, obtained from Christmas Island (eastern Indian Ocean) and New Caledonia, respectively, are described herein. The main specific characters distinguishing the new species are the number of precaudal vertebrae, numbers of pectoral, caudal and dorsal fin rays, number and distribution of head pores, number and distribution of sensory papillae on the head and lateral line, presence or absence of a (mostly hidden) curved spine at the lower angle of the preopercle, and otolith morphology. The limits of the genus Microbrotula are redefined and the genus is compared with other shallow water bythitine genera. Calamopteryx is regarded as the genus that is most closely related to Microbrotula. As a result of the redefinition of Microbrotula, one of its previously assigned species, M. randalli, is placed in a new genus, Ematops, characterised by the head pore pattern, unique presence of scales partly covering the eye, number of precaudal vertebrae, number of pectoral and caudal fin rays and the otolith proportion.

Biogeographic patterns in the Australian chondrichthyan fauna

The major biogeographic structure and affinities of the Australian chondrichthyan fauna were investigated at both interregional and intraregional scales and comparisons made with adjacent bioregions. Faunal lists were compiled from six geographical regions with species from these regions assigned to distributional classes and broad habitat categories. Australian species were further classified on provincial and bathomic structure following bioregionalization outputs from regional marine planning. About 40% of the world's chondrichthyan fauna occurs in Indo-Australasia (482 species) of which 323 species are found in Australian seas. The tropical Australian component, of which c. 46% of taxa are regional endemics, is most similar to faunas of Indonesia, New Guinea and New Caledonia. The temperate Australian component is most similar to New Zealand and Antarctica with about half of its species endemic. Highest levels of Australian endemism exist in bathomes of the outer continental shelf and upper slope. A relatively high proportion of regional endemism (57% of species) on the slope in the poorly surveyed but species-rich Solanderian unit is probably due to high levels of large-scale habitat complexity in the Coral Sea. The richness of demersal assemblages on the continental shelf and slope appears to be largely related to the spatial complexity of the region and the level of exploration. Much lower diversity off Antarctica is consistent with the pattern in teleosts. The complex chondrichthyan fauna of Australia is confirmed as being amongst the richest of the mega-diverse Indo-West Pacific Ocean. Species-level compositions of regional faunas across Indo-Australasia differ markedly because of moderate to high levels of intraregional speciation. Faunal assemblages in Australian marine provinces and bathomes differ from each other, supporting a broader pattern for fishes that underpins a marine planning framework for the region.

Allogalathea (Decapoda: Galatheidae): a monospecific genus of squat lobster?

The genus Allogalathea was established by Baba in 1969 to include the well-known species Galathea elegans. This species is widely distributed across the Indo-West Pacific Ocean, and is characterized by living in close association with crinoids, and by its conspicuous coloration. Although the genus is considered monospecific, different colour patterns and discrete morphological variations mainly associated with the rostrum and chelipeds have been reported. These differences could point to cryptic species, thereby questioning Allogalathea as a monotypic taxon. To address this issue, we sequenced the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (COI; 658 bp) and 16S rRNA (882 bp) genes and the nuclear gene phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK; 598 bp) in numerous specimens from eight different localities, and also examined their morphological characters. DNA sequences were analysed using maximum-parsimony, maximum-likelihood, and Bayesian approaches of phylogenetic inference. The resulting trees were combined with morphological evidence to test species boundaries. Our molecular data revealed four deeply divergent clades, which can be distinguished by subtle morphological differences in the spinulation and length : breadth ratio of the P1 carpus, spinulation of the walking legs, and shape of the rostrum. Our findings indicated that Allogalathea elegans is in fact a species complex comprising four different species, which, although genetically very distinct, are morphologically very similar. We provide morphological descriptions and a key to these four species of the genus.

Regional patterns of evolutionary turnover in Neogene coral reefs from the central Indo-West Pacific Ocean

The Indo-Pacific is an area of intense ecological interest, not least because of the region’s rich biodiversity. Important insights into the origins, evolutionary history, and maintenance of Indo-Pacific reef faunas depend upon the analysis of faunal occurrences derived from detailed stratigraphic sections. We investigated Neogene origination and extinction patterns derived from a combination of new coral occurrences and previously published records from the central Indo-West Pacific Ocean (cIWP, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and Fiji). Two faunal turnover events were observed. In the first, an increase in generic richness of Scleractinia from the cIWP during the middle Miocene (17–14 Ma) coincided with both large-scale sea level fluctuations and the great Mid-Miocene collision event. We raise the hypothesis that Mid-Miocene origination was facilitated by habitat and population fragmentation associated with tectonism and sea level fall. The second, subsequent, turnover event was characterized by an overall lowering of generic diversity throughout the late Miocene and Pliocene (7–3 Ma), and was followed by a pronounced pulse of extinction at the Pliocene–Pleistocene boundary (~2.6 Ma). With the exception of the onset of Pleistocene sea-level cycles and the onset of northern hemisphere glaciation around 2.5 Ma, which might explain increased extinction during this time interval, there are no tectonic, eustatic, climatic or oceanographic events that neatly coincide with this second episode of Neogene coral taxonomic turnover. Our results reveal a total of 62 genera, including synonyms, from the Miocene to the Pleistocene. Neither episode of turnover among coral genera is exactly coincident with turnover in the Atlantic thus regional environmental change is found to drive Neogene reef dynamics.

Developmental morphology of Sarcodia montagneana and S. grandifolia from New Zealand and a phylogeny of Sarcodia (Sarcodiaceae, Rhodophyta) based on rbcL sequence analysis

Despite its widespread distribution in the Indo-West Pacific Ocean, Sarcodia is one of the least understood genera among the red algae. Samples investigated from different parts of the Indo-West Pacific Ocean were well separated phylogenetically, based on rbcL base pair distances, and probably represent separate species. In this report we investigate the developmental morphology of two species from New Zealand: the type species, Sarcodia montagneana, and S. grandifolia (including S. ‘flabellata’). Molecular studies indicate that S. montagneana is restricted to the north-eastern part of the North Island and that S. grandifolia occurs from Wellington southwards as far as the Snares Islands. Thalli are multiaxial and consist of three primary layers: a surface layer of uninucleate cells, a cortex of five or six layers of polygonal multinucleate cells, and a medulla of multinucleate stellate cells. Secondary rhizoidal filaments are frequent to abundant in the medulla. Spermatangia occur in chains and release spermatia through a pore. The female reproductive system is procarpic and consists of a supporting cell that bears two side branches and a one-celled terminal carpogonium. The auxiliary cell is the basal cell of one of the side branches and is undifferentiated prior to fertilization. After presumed fertilization, the carpogonium separates into a terminal cell and a subterminal hypogynous cell that fuses with the auxiliary cell and deposits in it a single nucleus. The auxiliary cell cuts off a gonimoblast initial obliquely that first forms a short linear chain of gonimoblast cells. Cystocarp formation proceeds rapidly with the outward development of linear files derived from surface cells that differentiate into a terminal ostiole and inner and outer pericarp layers separated by a central cavity. The mature gonimoblasts consist of an inner gonimoblast reticulum of laterally fused cells that attach secondarily to outer cells of the inner pericarp and outer gonimoblast filaments that terminate in short chains of carposporangia. Tetrasporangia are zonately divided and are scattered over the thallus surface with new initials formed continuously. The morphological and molecular observations reported here contrast sharply with those of previous studies and are largely new to the Sarcodia literature.

Revision of the bathyal cusk-eels of the genus Bassogigas (Ophidiidae) with description of a new species from off Guam, west Pacific Ocean

The bathyal genus Bassogigas (Teleostei: Ophidiidae) is revised based on 25 specimens, 18 from the west Atlantic Ocean and seven from the Indo-west Pacific Ocean. One specimen, from off Guam, west Pacific Ocean, represents a new species, Walker's cusk eel Bassogigas walkeri. The other 24 specimens all belong to the type species, Gills cusk eel Bassogigas gillii. A comparison between the Atlantic and the Indo-west Pacific Ocean specimens of B. gillii showed no differences in meristic and morphometric characters, but in two of the Indo-west Pacific Ocean specimens the sagittal otolith varied somewhat from the remaining specimens. The two Bassogigas species differ in the length of the lateral line, the number of scales in the midline of the body, the form of the median basibranchial tooth patches and in the thickness of the otolith.

Zoogeography of the echiuran fauna of the Indo-West Pacific Ocean (Phylum: Echiura)

This report provides a checklist of the echiuran fauna of the Indo-West Pacific Ocean and analyses their distribution in relation to general biogeographic regions. Currently the echiuran fauna of the Indo-West Pacific comprises three families, 30 genera and 103 species. The family Bonelliidae contains 43 species in 21 genera; the Echiuridae is represented by eight genera and 58 species, and the Urechidae by two species, Urechis novaezealandiae (Dendy) and U. unicinctus (von Drasche). Investigations undertaken on this group of animals after the publication of the monograph by Stephen &amp; Edmonds (1972) on the phyla Sipuncula and Echiura have revealed one new genus, 15 new species and several new records. This study shows that the Indo-Pacific has a high species diversity, comprising about 62% of the known world fauna. The West Indian Ocean is currently represented by 28 species; 55 species have been recorded in the Central Indo-West Pacific and 53 species in the West Pacific. Only four species are thought to be cosmopolitan while approximately 50 species appear to be endemic to the Indo-West Pacific Ocean. Members of the Echiuridae are usually found in shallow-waters of littoral and subtidal zones while bonelliids are inhabitants of deeper bottoms where cold temperatures prevail.

Genetic Isolation among Morphotypes in the Photosymbiotic DidemnidDidemnum molle(Ascidiacea, Tunicata) from the Ryukyus and Taiwan

Didemnum molle, a colonial ascidian that harbors the symbiotic cyanophyte Prochloron spp., is distributed throughout the coral reefs of the Indo-West Pacific Ocean. Several morphotypes of D. molle are characterized by the color and size of their colonies. Previous molecular phylogeny inferred from gene sequences for the cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) identified four morphotypes (i.e., gray, brown, white, and large) from several sites in the Ryukyu Islands, Japan. With the addition of 17 specimens, including another morphotype (small), from several collection sites (Taiwan and the Ryukyus), the present report demonstrates genetic separation among the five morphotypes based on COI sequences. A number of sexually mature specimens of the different morphotypes were collected at the same times and sites, indicating reproductive isolation among morphotypes.

Regional Precipitation Trends: Distinguishing Natural Variability from Anthropogenic Forcing

Abstract In this study, the nature and causes for observed regional precipitation trends during 1977–2006 are diagnosed. It is found that major features of regional trends in annual precipitation during 1977–2006 are consistent with an atmospheric response to observed sea surface temperature (SST) variability. This includes drying over the eastern Pacific Ocean that extends into western portions of the Americas related to a cooling of eastern Pacific SSTs, and broad increases in rainfall over the tropical Eastern Hemisphere, including a Sahelian rainfall recovery and increased wetness over the Indo–West Pacific related to North Atlantic and Indo–West Pacific ocean warming. It is further determined that these relationships between SST and rainfall change are generally not symptomatic of human-induced emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and aerosols. The intensity of regional trends simulated in climate models using observed time variability in greenhouse gases, tropospheric sulfate aerosol, and solar and volcanic aerosol forcing are appreciably weaker than those observed and also weaker than those simulated in atmospheric models using only observed SST forcing. The pattern of rainfall trends occurring in response to such external radiative forcing also departs significantly from observations, especially a simulated increase in rainfall over the tropical Pacific and southeastern Australia that are opposite in sign to the actual drying in these areas. Additional experiments illustrate that the discrepancy between observed and GHG-forced rainfall changes during 1977–2006 results mostly from the differences between observed and externally forced SST trends. Only weak rainfall sensitivity is found to occur in response to the uniform distribution of SST warming that is induced by GHG and aerosol forcing, whereas the particular pattern of the observed SST change that includes an increased SST contrast between the east Pacific and the Indian Ocean, and strong regional warming of the North Atlantic Ocean, was a key driver of regional rainfall trends. The results of this attribution study on the causes for 1977–2006 regional rainfall changes are used to discuss prediction challenges including the likelihood that recent rainfall trends might persist.