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The first Cretaceous taxa of Brontini, Cretoliota cornutus gen. et sp. nov. and Protoliota antennatus gen. et sp. nov. are described from the Burmese amber, representing the oldest fossil records of the family Silvanidae. Pleuroceratos burmiticus Poinar and Kirejtshuk, 2008 originally placed in Silvanidae is removed from this family to Cucujoidea, family uncertain. The discovery of a diverse fauna of Brontini in the Upper Cretaceous sheds a new light on the early evolution of Silvanidae and superfamily Cucujoidea.

Special issue Integrated study of a deep submarine canyon and adjacent open slopes in the Western Mediterranean Sea: an essential habitat.-- 11 pages, 4 figures, 3 tables, Due to their geomorphological structure and proximity to the coastline, submarine canyons may act as natural conduit routes for anthropogenic contaminants that are transported from surface waters to the deep-sea. Organisms dwelling in these canyon environments might thus be at risk of experiencing adverse health effects due to higher pollution exposure. To address this question, chemical and biochemical analyses were conducted on two of the most abundant deep-sea fish species in the study area, namely Alepocephalus rostratus and Lepidion lepidion, and the most abundant deep-sea commercial decapod crustacean Aristeus antennatus sampled inside Blanes canyon (BC) and on the adjacent open slope (OS). Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) levels, including polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and derivatives, hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs) and hexachlorobenzene (HCB) were determined in muscle tissue of selected samples from 900. m and 1500. m depth. Potential effects resulting from contaminant exposure were determined using hepatic biomarkers such as ethoxyresorufin. -O-deethylase (EROD), pentoxyresorufin. -O-deethylase (PROD), catalase (CAT), carboxylesterase (CbE), glutathione-. S-transferase (GST), total glutathione peroxidase (GPX), glutathione reductase (GR) and superoxide-dismutase (SOD) enzyme activities and lipid peroxidation levels (LP). L. lepidion and A. antennatus tissues exhibited higher POP levels inside BC compared to the OS at 900. m depth. These findings were consistent with biomarker data (i.e. enzymatic response to presence of contaminant agents). Elevated xenobiotic-metabolizing (EROD and PROD) and antioxidant enzymes (CAT and GPX) indicated higher contaminant exposure in both species caught within BC. No difference in POP accumulation between sites was observed in L. lepidion at 1500. m depth, nor in biomarker data, suggesting that the pollution gradient was less pronounced at greater depths. This trend was further corroborated by the results obtained for A. rostratus at 1500. m depth. Hence, the present findings suggest the, at least temporary, existence of a pollution gradient between Blanes canyon and the open slope at shallower depths and this resulted in alterations of the physiology of deep-sea organisms dwelling within this area. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd., The present work was funded by the Spanish Science and Technology Ministry Projects PROMETEO (CTM2007-66316-C02-02/MAR to JBC), DOS MARES (CTM2010-21810-C03-03/MAR to JBC), BIOFUN (CTM2007-28739-E/MAR to Francesc Sardà) and HERMIONE Project (EC-FP7 Contract Number 226354). Samuel Koenig holds a PhD Grant (AFR 08/067) from the Fonds National de la Recherche (FNR), Luxembourg

7 pages, 4 figures, Recruitment of Aristeus antennatus over the species' entire depth range and distribution area in the Mediterranean Sea is described. Because of the dearth of information on the recruitment of deep-sea species in the literature, the findings reported here take on special significance. Samples were collected at depths between 900 and 2800 m on seven trawl surveys using three samplers: an OTMS trawl, an Agassiz bottom frame trawl, and a Macer-Giroq suprabenthic sledge, computing a total of 80, 26 and 14 trawls, respectively. Early juveniles (≤ 15 mm CL) were observed to be present down to a depth of 2800 m and to attain maximum percentage abundance between 1350 and 2000 m. Spring was the season of peak abundance for juveniles. Several hypotheses explaining this deep-sea recruitment are discussed, including oceanographic events coupled with enrichment of the bathyal bottoms and competitive exclusion in deep-sea species. Studying the deep-sea recruitment of A. antennatus contributes to our understanding of the species' life history and supplies knowledge essential to proper management and sustainable exploitation of the species, The authors are grateful to the crews of the R/V García del Cid and the R/V Sarmiento de Gamboa (CSIC). The PROMETEO and BIOFUN (ESF) programmes were funded by MINISTERIO DE CIENCIA E INNOVACIÓN (MICINN). Thanks to Samuele Tecchio and Joan Navarro for graphic assistance

7 pages, 3 figures, 4 tables, Variations in cytochrome P450 enzyme (CYPs) distribution and function between animal groups could result in differential metabolism and elimination kinetics for certain contaminants. Although a number of studies have suggested that differences in polychlorobiphenyl (PCB) accumulation profiles between crustacea and fish might result from differential CYP patterns, the relationship between PCB bioaccumulation and CYP capacities has not been demonstrated in these organisms. In the present study we investigated the hepatic microsomal catalytic activities in three deep-sea fish species, Alepocephalus rostratus (Alepocephalidae), Coelorinchus mediterraneus (Macrouridae), and Lepidion lepidion (Moridae), and the decapod crustacean Aristeus antennatus (Decapoda), using six fluorescent CYP-mediated substrates, namely ER (7-ethoxyresorufin), PR (7-pentoxyresorufin), BR (7-benzyloxyresorufin), CEC (3-cyano-7-ethoxycoumarin), DBF (dibenzylfluorescein) and BFC (7-benzyloxy-4-trifluoromethylcoumarin). Furthermore, we related the metabolic activities to the accumulation patterns of 41 PCB congeners in the muscle of these organisms. The results indicated a marked difference in the presence and activities of CYP isoforms between fish and the crustacean A. antennatus. Liver microsomes of the three selected fish species were capable of metabolizing all six CYP-mediated substrates and enzymes were identified as primarily belonging to CYP1A and CYP3A subfamilies. In contrast, hepatopancreas microsomes from A. antennatus only showed activity for PR and DBF substrates, generally related to mammalian CYP2-like enzymes. Furthermore, a direct relationship between metabolic activities and PCB accumulation profiles could be established. Results revealed that A. antennatus accumulated significantly higher proportions of PCBs 28, 52, 118, 138, 158 and 169 than fish, which is in accordance with the previously observed lack of CYP1A-like biotransformation capacities. Moreover, A. antennatus exhibited lower levels of PCBs 87, 149, 153, 170, 180, 183, 194 and 206 indicating that this crustacean is able to metabolize congeners considered mammalian CYP2B inducers. Hence, the present findings highlight the role of CYP-mediated metabolism in the congener-specific accumulation of PCBs in aquatic organisms and stress the need to further investigate quantitative and qualitative differences in xenobiotic metabolism among animal groups, The present work was funded by the Spanish Science and Technology Ministry projects PROMETEO (CTM2007-66316-C02-02/MAR) and BIOFUN (CTM2007-28739-E/MAR). Samuel Koenig holds a PhD grant (AFR 08/067) from the Fonds National de la Recherche (FNR), Luxembourg. The authors also wish to thank David Huertas (IDAEA-CSIC), the “Deep-Sea Group” (ICM-CSIC) and the R/V Garcia del Cid (CSIC) crew for helping with field sampling

In June, 2003, Egypt's hospital-based electronic disease surveillance system began to record increased cases of acute febrile illness from governorates in the Nile Delta. In response to a request for assistance from the Egyptian Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization (WHO), the U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit No. 3 (NAMRU-3) provided assistance in identifying the cause and extent of this outbreak. Testing of human clinical samples (n=375) from nine governorates in Egypt identified 29 cases of RVF viremia that spanned the period of June to October, and a particular focus of disease in Kafr el Sheikh governorate (7.7% RVF infection rate). Veterinary samples (n=101) collected during this time in Kafr el Sheikh and screened by immunoassay for RVFV-specific IgM identified probable recent infections in cattle (10.4%) and sheep (5%). Entomologic investigations that focused in rural, rice growing villages in the Sidi Salim District of Kafr el Sheikh during August-September, 2003, collected, identified, and tested host-seeking female mosquitoes for the presence of pathogenic viruses. Three isolates of RVF virus (RVFV) were obtained from 297 tested pools of female mosquitoes and all three RVFV isolates came from Cx. antennatus (Becker). While Cx. pipiens has been considered the primary vector of RVF virus in Egypt and is often the most common man-biting species found, Cx. antennatus was the dominant species captured at the 2003 outbreak location in Kafr el Sheikh governorate. This is the first time that Cx. antennatus has been found naturally infected with RVFV in Egypt.

The feeding habits of the deep-sea blue–red shrimp Aristeus antennatus were determined based on the analysis of 1047 stomach contents, sampled in the Greek Ionian Sea (E. Mediterranean). The diet of this economically and biologically important decapod was studied in relation to the season, size class and sex. The diet of A. antennatus consisted of 54 different prey categories, and belonged mainly to smaller crustaceans (e.g. natantian decapods, euphausiids, tanaidaceans), molluscs, polychaetes, chaetognaths and, to a lesser extent, fishes. The above prey categories consisted of 71–82% of the relative abundance and total occurrence for males and 61–81% for females. Females seemed to be better fed than males (stomach fullness, food quality). A. antennatus displayed a highly diversified diet and the different feeding patterns were discussed. Diet composition showed slight seasonal fluctuations. The observed slight differences on A. antennatus diet among the western, central and eastern Mediterranean could be attributed to the more oligotrophic character of the eastern part of the basin. The principal factors driving the changes in the feeding strategy of this decapod among the seasons are the increased energy demands related to sexual requirements and the food availability in the marine environment. The ontogenetic changes in the shrimp's diet were relatively clear. Larger individuals exhibited selecting prey with a good swimming capacity (e.g. fishes), while the smaller individuals consumed prey with low mobility (e.g. copepods, ostracods).

Three genera and species of Scydmaeninae (Staphylinidae) are described as new from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber: Ektatotricha paradoxa Chatzimanolis, Engel & Newton gen. et sp. nov. and Electroatopos castaneus Chatzimanolis, Engel & Newton gen. et sp. nov. in the emended supertribe Hapsomelitae, and Kachinus antennatus Chatzimanolis, Engel & Newton gen. et sp. nov. in the supertribe Scydmaenitae. The supertribe Hapsomelitae is newly diagnosed and doubt cast on one of its putative apomorphies, with the development of a “patella” considered a misinterpretation by the original authors.

12 pages, 5 figures, 6 tables We performed a multidisciplinary study characterizing the relationships between hydrodynamic conditions (currents and water masses) and the presence and abundance of the deep-water rose shrimp Aristeus antennatus in a submarine canyon (Blanes canyon in the NW Mediterranean Sea). This species is heavily commercially exploited and is the main target species of a bottom trawl fishery. Seasonal fluctuations in landings are attributed to spatio-temporal movements by this species associated with submarine canyons in the study area. Despite the economic importance of this species and the decreases in catches in the area in recent years, few studies have provided significant insight into the environmental conditions driving shrimp distribution. We therefore measured daily A. antennatus catches over the course of an entire year and analyzed this time series in terms of daily average temperature, salinity, mean kinetic energy (MKE), and eddy kinetic energy (EKE) values using generalized additive models and decision trees. A. antennatus was captured between 600 and 900 m in the Blanes canyon, depths that include Levantine Intermediate Water (LIW) and the underlying Western Mediterranean Deep Water (WMDW). The greatest catches were associated with relatively salty waters (38.5–38.6), low MKE values (6 and 9 cm2 s 2) and moderate EKE values (10 and 20 cm2 s 2). Deep-water rose shrimp occurrence appears to be driven in a non-linear manner by environmental conditions including local temperature. A. antennatus appears to prefer relatively salty (LIW) waters and low currents (MKE) with moderate variability (EKE). The study was supported by a national research project founded by the Spanish CICYT agency (RECS II project, reference number REN2002-04556-C02-01/MAR).

Data were collected during four trawl surveys (April, May, June and September 2006) in the north-western Ionian Sea (Eastern Mediterranean) with the aim of investigating the recruitment and population structure of Aristeus antennatus and evaluating whether population processes on bottoms deeper than 800 m could have a role to the renewal of the exploited population on fishing grounds, above 800 m. Samples were taken randomly between 400 and 1200 m using a professional fishing vessel equipped with an experimental otter trawl net, with 20 mm stretched mesh size in the cod-end. No variation in density index was shown across the whole depth range while the negative trend of biomass index with depth was due to the increasing proportion of small individuals and males. The recruitment was observed on a wide depth range with an increasing frequency of occurrence at greatest depths. It seems to occur as a discrete phenomenon. A significant bigger-shallower phenomenon was detected in the female population indicating upwards displacement from virgin grounds to fishing ones. The exploited population mostly consists of large females. Mating and reproduction also occur in deep waters. The contribution to the renewal of the fishing population by the virgin one seems to be mostly due to the recruitment on unexploited deep areas and displacement of individuals from these areas to fishing ones. The deep waters act as a refuge area mostly for the recruitment of A. antennatus and, to lesser extent, for spawners. On the basis of all these results the authors discuss the optimum exploitation conditions often detected for this shrimp throughout the Mediterranean highlighting the fact that, since the exploited population mostly consists of reproductive females, conditions of “recruitment overfishing” might occur in A. antennatus contrary to other Mediterranean demersal resources.

9 pages, 3 figures, 1 table.-- Available online Nov 9, 2007.-- Issue title: "The Wrapping Up of the IDEA Project: International workshop on environment, demersal resources and fisheries" (Enric Massutí, Joan Moranta, John D.M. Gordon, Beatriz Morales-Nin and Pere Oliver, eds)., The fluctuations of catches of the deep-sea shrimp Aristeus antennatus (Risso, 1816) were analysed in the 6 ports of Catalonia where production is concentrated, based on monthly landings from 1988 to 2004. The 6 selected ports produced 300 t of red shrimp in 2004, or 80% of the total production in Catalonia. The series for each port showed clear interannual variability, with peaks of production in the early 1990s and more recently from 2001 to 2003. The time periods of the monthly data series, estimated by frequency analysis based on Fourier transform, varied around 7–8 years in the four central ports and 12–13 years in the two northern ports. Additionally, the different curves were not in phase: even in nearby ports, the maximum production is observed in different years. Since the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) index is an excellent proxy for long-term series of environmental variables, we aimed to explore relationships between the fluctuation of the NAO index and A. antennatus landings in the Catalan Sea. The correlation between the mean annual NAO index and the annual catches in each port was positive and significant with some time lags (from 1 to 3 years). The existence of clear patterns linking the NAO with marine ecological processes has been demonstrated in many studies, but the underlying ecological mechanisms are far from being well understood. The variations in environmental parameters linked to the NAO may act on biological organisms at different levels (individual, population) through physiology (metabolic and reproductive processes) or through trophic relationships, including ecological cascade effects. We propose that NAO-induced environmental variability may enhance food supply to A. antennatus and hence strengthen the reproductive potential of particular year classes, which result in increased catches 1 to 3 years later, although other possible effects of environmental variability on the population dynamics of this species are worth investigating.

20 pages, 9 figures, 5 tables, Dynamics of suprabenthos and zooplankton were analyzed in two areas located in the NW (off Sóller harbour) and S (off Cabrera Archipelago) of Mallorca (Balearic Islands, western Mediterranean) at depths ranging between 135-780 m. Four stations situated respectively at 150 m (shelf-slope break), and at bathyal depths of 350, 650 and 750 m were sampled at bi-monthly intervals during six cruises performed between August 2003 and June 2004. Suprabenthos showed maximum biomass in both areas from late spring to summer (April to August), while minimum biomass was found in autumn (September-November). Though variable, temporal dynamics of zooplankton showed peaks of biomass in late winter and summer (February and June), while minimals occurred in autumn (August-September) and, at bathyal depths, in April. Suprabenthos (abundance; MDS analyses) showed a sample aggregation as a function of depth (3 groups corresponding to the shelf-slope break, upper slope - over 350 m; and the middle, deeper part of the slope - over 650-750 m), without any separation of hauls by season. By contrast, zooplankton samples were separated by season and not by depth. There was evidence of three seasonal groups corresponding to summer (June 2004-August 2003), autumn-winter (September and November 2003, February 2004), and spring (April 2004), being especially well established off Sóller. In general, suprabenthos was significantly correlated with the sediment variables (e.g. total organic matter content (% OM), potential REDOX), whereas zooplankton was almost exclusively dependent on Chl a at the surface, which suggests two different food sources for suprabenthos and zooplankton. The increase of suprabenthos abundance in April-June was paralleled by a sharp increase (ca. 2.8 times) in the %OM on sediment during the same period, coupled ca. 1-2 months of delay with the peak of surface Chl a recorded in February-March (from satellite imagery data). Suprabenthos biomass was also correlated with salinity close to the bottom, suggesting a link between suprabenthos abundance and changes in the oceanographic condition of water masses close to the bottom. It is suggested that a higher suprabenthos biomass recorded off Sóller in comparison to that off Cabrera in June could, in turn, be related to a seasonal inflow of Levantine Intermediate Water (LIW) in April-June in this area at mid bathyal depths (350-650 m). This trend would be based on: 1) it was evident only at mid-slope depths between 350-750 m, coinciding with the LIW distribution, and 2) it was not recorded among zooplankton (collected throughout the water column). The possible effect of the fluctuations of suprabenthos and zooplankton on higher trophic levels has been explored studying the diet and food consumption rates of the red shrimp Aristeus antennatus, as indicator species by its dominance in bathyal communities. A. antennatus increased its food consumption from February to April-June 2004 off Sóller, which in the case of large (CL > 40 mm) specimens was found in both areas. In addition, there was a shift of diet from winter to spring-early summer. In this last period, A. antennatus preyed upon euphausiids and mesopelagic decapods and fish, while benthos (e.g. polychaetes and bivalves) decreased in the diet. This indicates an increase in the food consumption and probably in the caloric content of the diet in pre-spawning females in April-June 2004, which is synchronized with the period when gonad development begins in A. antennatus females (May-June). Anyway, macrozooplankton, and not suprabenthos, is crucial as a high energetic food source in the coupling between food intake and reproduction in the red shrimp. © 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved, This research has been sponsored by the Spanish project IDEA (REN2002-04535-C01/02)

Data on the size distribution and population biology of the deep-water shrimp Aristeus antennatus were collected during four trawl surveys carried out along the Italian coasts (exploited area) and off north-western Greece (unexploited area). Comparison between the sampled populations was carried out in the 500–800 m depth range where trawl fishing, targeting deep-water shrimps (A. antennatus and Aristaeomorpha foliacea), occurs only along the Italian coasts. Some explorative hauls were also made as deep as about 1200 m. A. antennatus was collected down to 1122 m in the Italian area and 1174 m in Greek waters. It was found to be more abundant in the former area than in the latter. In both areas, the sex ratio was largely in favour of females and changed with depth. Maturity process by size was found to be similar in the two areas. Even though the median carapace lengths computed for the Greek samples were significantly greater than those for the Italian ones, a wide size range with superimposed modal components was found on both sides of the Ionian Sea. The estimated growth performance was the same in the two areas. In the Greek sampled population, the total mortality rates generally coincided with the natural mortality rates. No significant differences in the total mortality rates were detected between the Italian and Greek stock. The application of the yield per recruit model to the exploited stock, according to different scenarios, indicated conditions close to optimal harvesting. These results are discussed considering all the features which reduce vulnerability to fishing and favour recovery of the A. antennatus stock, thus blunting the differences in the population structure between the exploited and unexploited areas. © 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

13 pages, 5 figures, 3 tables, The fishing tactics used to catch the two most valuable decapod species of the Catalan fisheries (Aristeus antennatus and Nephrops norvegicus) were analysed using multivariate statistics. For each fishing tactic, a monthly series of catch per unit effort (CPUE) was obtained. The technical specifications (gross tonnage (GT), engine power (HP) and length (m)) of the vessels participating in the fishery were also investigated. Generalised linear models (GLMs) were employed to analyse the relationship between the independent variables such as year, month, GT, HP and length with the CPUE of each species. The results showed that the models fitted to the A. antennatus data series could explain up to 52.4% of the deviance and that HP and length were important variables in the model, in addition to seasonal and interannual effects. On the other hand, none of the models fitted to the N. norvegicus data series could explain more than 13% of the deviance. These results allow a comparison to be made between the application of GLMs to a fishery with well-defined target species (A. antennatus) and a fishery where the species analysed (N. norvegicus) is only a valuable by-catch, We are indebted to the Fishermen’s Association of Barcelona for facilitating access to their sales database. We also thank two anonymous referees who helped to improve the original manuscript

The objectives of the present study were to characterize the benthic life strategies of Aristeus antennatus (Crustacea: Penaeidea), Parapenaeus longirostris (Crustacea: Penaeidea) and Nephrops norvegicus (Crustacea: Astacidea) on the basis of biochemical composition (proximate chemical composition, total lipids, glycogen and cholesterol contents), and its response to biological and environmental factors (sex, maturation, reproduction, food availability and depth) into account. The specimens were collected at depths between 200 and 600 m off the Portuguese south coast (Algarve). The nektobenthic species (A. antennatus and P. longirostris) showed higher protein, lipid, cholesterol and glycogen contents, and lower moisture content in the muscle than the benthic–endobenthic species (N. norvegicus). Consequently, the energy content of the nektobenthic species was also higher. Principal component analyses were used to assess the relationship between the different biochemical contents and to relate them to the biotic and abiotic factors. Depth seems to have the most important role in the observed trends of the biochemical composition. The increase of the ovarian lipid levels occurs as a result of the maturation process. The highest values were obtained in mature N. norvegicus females. The differences can be due to maternal investment (lipid metabolism of the female is geared to the provision of egg lipid), since N. norvegicus produce large lecithotrophic eggs. The biochemical differences observed in the three species did not seem to be due to distinct trophic strategies, but instead were a consequence of depth, which may have a significant interspecific effect on food intake. It was also evident that reproductive cycle has profound effects upon the biochemistry of the three species. Gonadal maturation has large associated energy costs due to the increase in biosynthetic work. Moreover, the biochemical composition would be influenced by or synchronized with seasonal feeding activity or food availability. r 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Total mercury and organic mercury were measured in five crustaceans representative of an offshore pelagic food web in the Gulf of Genoa, Italy: Meganycthiphanes norvegica, Gennadas elegans, Pasiphaea sivado, Pasiphaea multidentata and Aristeus antennatus . According to their predator-prey relationships, they represent three trophic levels in the Ligurian Sea. The concentrations of total and organic mercury increase with the trophic levels and with the weight of the specimens (except in G. elegans and in females of A. antennatus ). However, at higher trophic levels the specimens are also larger. Only in P. sivado , do levels of inorganic mercury increase significantly ( P = 0.001) with the size of the specimens. The ratio between organic mercury and total mercury did not increase with the trophic level.

Key Word Index-Phlebotominae, Phlebotomus, Sergentomyia. Abstract-The isoenzyme profiles of nine sandfiy species (Phlebotomus duboscqi, P. elgonensis, P. manini, P. pedifet; 5ergentomiya antennatus, S. bedfordi, S. gamhami, S. graingeri and S. schwetzJl from Kenya coUected from the field and reared in the Medical Vectors Research Programme of the ICIPE were determined by isoelectric focusing (IEF) on mini ultra-thin polyacrylamide gels supplied by Pharmacia. Three of the nine isoenzymes screened (MDH, G-6-PD, PGM, ME, lCD, GAPDH, 6-POG, HK and GPII, namely GP!, PGM and ME, gave banding panerns of taxonomic value. Cluster analysis of the simple matching coeffi· cients gave two distinct groupings corresponding to previously described Sergentomyia and Phlebotomus respectively. However, S. gamhami, previously grouped in the genus Sergenromyia, was found to be associ­ atad with the genus Phlebotomus.