Search

Together with Syllidae, Nereididae and Eunicidae, Spionidae is one of the four more speciose families of polychaete annelids in southern Africa, comprising 25% of the known species and 53–85% of the unresolved cosmopolitans. Among southern African spionids, the genus Dipolydora Verrill, 1881 particularly requires further revision and, in this paper, we contribute by refining the morphological characteristics of D. capensis (Day, 1955) and D. goreensis (Augener, 1918). Neither species has been redescribed since their original description and are currently difficult to distinguish and identify. Therefore, our study provides additional morphological details based on examining type specimens and newly collected materials from South Africa and the Republic of Congo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the resurgence of the invasive polychaete species Ficopomatus enigmaticus in the Caspian Sea. The Caspian Sea has been affected by natural and human activities, resulting in the introduction of non-native species. F. enigmaticus, which was introduced from the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov in the mid-20th century, is one of eight polychaete species found in the Caspian Sea. The presence of F. enigmaticus has ecological and economic impacts, as it can alter habitats and food webs. The study reports the first resurgence of F. enigmaticus in the southern coasts of the Caspian Sea, specifically in the Anzali Port and Caspian Port areas. The research collected samples from various stations to study the dynamics of the Caspian Sea ecosystem. The study found that F. enigmaticus established aggregations in the marina of Caspian Port, but not in Anzali port. Over time, the density of F. enigmaticus increased in the marina, covering the canal walls. The document also mentions the impact of F. enigmaticus on the local ecology, including its contribution to water purification and potential safety hazards for recreational users. The changing Caspian environment, such as declining sea levels, may create opportunities for new invasions of alien species like F. enigmaticus. [Extracted from the article]

Worldwide, bait worms are collected for recreational and subsistence fishing, and fetch high prices in bait shops. While a variety of polychaete families are collected, we focus only on the “Marphysa” group (Family Eunicidae) occurring in rivers, estuaries and protected bays. We discuss the management strategies currently in place in Australia, South Africa and France, and we suggest that they are inadequate and fail to take into account Eunicid diversity and biology. While the reproductive strategies of only a few species have been investigated, they all exhibit very different strategies, and this must be taken into account when developing management and monitoring plans to ensure sustainable harvesting. Information is also needed on the impacts of collecting in these coastal habitats and their ecosystems that are increasingly being impacted by climate change. We also comment on the collection of the “Marphysa” group elsewhere in the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the diversity, composition and distribution patterns of polychaete macrofauna inhabiting unconsolidated sediments on the continental shelf of southern Namibia. During the austral summer of 2021, 910 Van Veen grab samples were collected from 91 sites in water depths ranging between 43 and 146 m. All benthic macrofauna (> 1 mm) were extracted, identified, enumerated and weighed. Polychaetes were the most abundant taxon, equating to 66% of total abundance and 37% of total biomass. A total of 83 712 polychaete specimens comprising 112 species, 80 genera and 33 families were collected. Several taxa identified were listed as putative cosmopolitans (19 taxa) or have known wide local distributions (10 taxa). Voucher specimens were collected for DNA barcoding to improve reference sequence libraries for the region. Hierarchical cluster analyses using both abundance and biomass data were undertaken to determine spatial distribution patterns in polychaete communities. Both datasets yielded similar results with polychaete assemblages divided into inshore and offshore communities, that were further subdivided at a local scale. Investigation of physical and chemical drivers suggested that polychaete communities in southern Namibia are structured to varying degrees by water depth, latitude, sediment composition, redox potential and organic content. Deeper stations comprised the highest diversity of polychaeta fauna. Species adapted to hypoxic conditions (e.g. Sigambra parva, Pararionospio pinnata, Diopatra cf. monroi and Nepthys cf. hombergii) dominated an area known as the mudbelt, where organically enriched silts and clays originating from the Orange River are deposited on the mid-shelf between the 40 and 120 m isobaths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Spence Shale Member of the Langston Formation in northern Utah and southern Idaho preserves generally non-biomineralized fossil assemblages referred to as the Spence Shale Lagerstätte. The biota of this Lagerstätte is dominated by panarthropods, both biomineralized and soft-bodied examples, but also preserves diverse infaunal organisms, including species of scalidophorans, echinoderms, lobopodians, stalked filter feeders, and various problematic taxa. To date, however, only a single annelid fossil, originally assigned to Canadia sp., has been described from the Spence Shale. This lone specimen and another recently collected specimen were analysed in this study using scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry. The previous occurrence was reassigned to Burgessochaeta cf. B. setigera. The new fossil, however, has been identified as a novel polychaete taxon, Shaihuludia shurikeni gen. et sp. nov., characterised by the presence of fused, bladed chaetae and a wide body. The occurrence of Burgessochaeta is the first outside the Burgess Shale and its vicinity, whereas Shaihuludia shurikeni gen. et sp. nov. adds to the diversity of annelids in the middle Cambrian and highlights the diversity of the Spence Shale Lagerstätte. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polychaetes are important components of the macrofaunal communities associated with golden kelp Ecklonia radiata holdfasts across different spatial scales. However, the polychaete component varies in different habitat types in response to varying environmental conditions. Here, we compared patterns of variation in Ecklonia radiata holdfast-associated polychaetes between rock pools and gullies along South Africa's southeast coast. Eighteen species were found in gullies and 28 species in rock pools, with 13 and 16 families represented, respectively. The study sites at Cwebe, Dwesa and Nqabarha had 12, 11 and 20 species, respectively. The rock pools were more species-rich than the gullies, while Nqabarha was the most species-rich site. The composition of species varied both among habitat types and between sites, with a separation in polychaete composition observed between Cwebe and Dwesa. The species that contributed >60% to the distinction between habitat types and among sites were Lepidonotus semitectus, Cirriformia capensis, Eunice aphroditotis, Syllis sp., Chaetopterus variopedatus, L. durbanensis, Arabella iricolor, Lysidice natalensis and Gunnarea gaimardi. The polychaete distribution on kelp holdfasts was influenced by the sediment and geomorphological characteristics of the sampling sites. Our findings highlight the importance of sediment in creating habitat heterogeneity and how this facilitates high species richness in rock pools. However, physical factors explained a small proportion of the variance in the polychaete assemblages. Therefore, biological factors could be more important drivers than abiotic elements, particularly between habitat types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyses intriguing tubular fossils derived from the Upper Permian deposits of southern China. The fossils’ structure is diagenetically altered by silicification precluding an unambiguous systematic assignment. However, the general morphology and tube architecture strongly imply a relationship with tube-dwelling organisms of different affinity such as tentaculitoids and tube-dwelling polychaetes. Due to the simple morphology of the tubes lacking any ornamentation, as well as the encrustation mode of some individuals, the investigated specimens most likely belong to early sabellids. Although calcareous sabellids persisted since the Middle Permian, their distribution and abundance during the Permian were confined to a single occurrence. If the fossils studied indeed represent sabellids, the global range and abundance of this group during the late Palaeozoic was likely more extensive than currently assumed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Concrete infrastructure in coastal waters is increasing. While adding complex habitat and manipulating concrete mixtures to enhance biodiversity have been studied, field investigations of sub-millimetre-scale complexity and substrate colour are lacking. Here, the interacting effects of 'colour' (white, grey, black) and 'microtexture' (smooth, 0.5 mm texture) on colonisation were assessed at three sites in Australia. In Townsville, no effects of colour or microtexture were observed. In Sydney, spirorbid polychaetes occupied more space on smooth than textured tiles, but there was no effect of microtexture on serpulid polychaetes, bryozoans and algae. In Melbourne, barnacles were more abundant on black than white tiles, while serpulid polychaetes showed opposite patterns and ascidians did not vary with treatments. These results suggest that microtexture and colour can facilitate colonisation of some taxa. The context-dependency of the results shows that inclusion of these factors into marine infrastructure designs needs to be carefully considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The deep sea (>200m depth) off South Africa is largely unexplored, with most benthic macrofauna samples limited to depths shallower than 100m. The benthic infaunal diversity of the Agulhas Bank shelf edge has not yet been studied. We analysed seven grab samples that were opportunistically collected along the shelf edge at depths of 290-533 m. A total of 136 macrofauna items representing 75 species were identified, and the first species list of the infauna of the shelf edge was compiled, Polychaetes comprised 48% of total abundance, and the sites had an average similarity of 7% based on species abundance, Spearman rank correlation showed that depth and sediment particle size are important environmental drivers of community abundance and biomass variation on the shelf edge, Habitat heterogeneity is likely high along the Agulhas Bank shelf edge, Greater sampling effort in habitats for which data are scarce provides crucial information for offshore biodiversity assessment and management [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of annelid, Alitta yarae sp. nov., is described from material collected in southern Brazil. This species was collected mostly from fishing buoys but also in muddy substrates of the following estuaries: Paraná Estuary Complex, Guaratuba, and Babitonga Bay. Alitta yarae sp. nov. belongs to a group of species with pennant-shaped posterior dorsal ligules. The most similar species of this group is A. succinea, which shares glandular structures from posterior dorsal ligules on lower edge only and having yellow-amber mandibles. However, the two species differ in the extension of the bare space between areas VI and VII-VIII, which is reduced in A. yarae sp. nov. and wider in A. succinea (respectively shorter than or equal to the palpophore), and the paragnath arrangement. Molecular analysis recovered ~20% genetic distance from the closest species A. succinea and no pattern of segregation among the estuaries studied. Finally, both the morphological and the molecular analyses strongly support the designation of a new species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spionid genus Scolelepis is commonly divided into the subgenera Scolelepis (s. str.) and Parascolelepis. In the Black Sea, two species ascribed to the subgenus Parascolelepis have been reported so far - Scolelepis tridentata and Scolelepis cantabra. Both species are quite rare and when found are usually difficult to identify because of their fragility. To ascertain the identity of specimens from the Black Sea, the type-series of S. tridentata and non-type specimens of S. cantabra were examined. The examination of specimens from the Black Sea identified as Scolelepis tridentata revealed that they differ from the nominal species in several characters. Therefore, they are described herein as Scolelepis bellani n. sp., a species that most closely resembles S. korsuni from Arctic waters. Also, the occurrence of S. cantabra in the Black Sea is confirmed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Syllinae is the largest and the most diverse subfamily in Syllidae and usually a dominant group in many marine habitats, both in terms of numbers of species and individuals. However, the lack of morphological synapomorphies for many genera and the non-monophyly of most of these suggested by molecular studies, have stressed taxonomic and systematic problems within this subfamily. Although several studies have revised some genera in the Indo-Pacific area, important gaps of knowledge remain for this biogeographic region. Thus, in this study we undertook detailed morphological examination of Syllis and Megasyllis specimens from the Philippine Islands and provide a phylogenetic analysis of Indo-Pacific Syllinae in order to evaluate the position of newly described species. We provide line drawings, light microscopy observations and electron microscopy micrographs for eight species, including five new to science. Maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference analyses of four molecular markers (28S rRNA, 18S rRNA, 16S rRNA, cytochrome c oxidase subunit I) from 85 specimens are presented, showing the non-monophyletic status of Syllis and Megasyllis. Overall, our study increases the biodiversity of syllids in this poorly known Indo-Pacific area, highlighting the importance of examining both morphological and molecular data to expand our knowledge of the subfamily Syllinae and to further resolve the taxonomic issues that remain in this group. The following new taxa are described: Megasyllis kurui sp. nov. Moreno-Martínez, San Martín & Álvarez-Campos, Syllis ireneae sp. nov. Moreno-Martínez, San Martín & Álvarez-Campos, Syllis santii sp. nov. Moreno-Martínez, San Martín & Álvarez-Campos, Syllis tini sp. nov. Moreno-Martínez, Syllis walong sp. nov. Moreno-Martínez, San Martín & Álvarez-Campos. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ichnological study of the Djebel Bouarif Cenomanian deposits (Northern Aurès Range, Algeria) revealed relatively abundant and diverse sclerobiont communities that are preserved in corals, bivalves and gastropods. Fossil traces are dominated by exceptionally preserved Gastrochaenolites, often with tracemakers (bivalves), which are preserved in situ, Entobia, and Maeandropolydora. Other borings are rare and are represented by a single specimen of Rogerella, Nihilichnus, and Spirolites. Among sclerozoans, encrusting juvenile oysters and non-oyster bivalves (Pseudolimea? granulata) are the most abundant groups. Other epibionts, such as gastropods and polychaetes (Glomerula serpentina), are less common; dwarf gastropods were located on a single oyster Costagyra olisiponensis, whereas Glomerula specimens were clustered on the lower and upper surfaces of coral Aspidiscus cristatus. Gastrochaenolites with original tracemakers and all the epibionts studied herein have not been described from the Djebel Bouarif Cenomanian deposits to date. The rare occurrences of Spirolites and Nihilichnus are reported from Algeria for the first time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of serpulid tube worm, Metavermilia (Vepreculina) gollieti sp. nov., is based on tubes found in the late Eocene lower part of the Lincoln Creek Formation exposed along the Middle Fork of the Satsop River, Mason County, Washington State. Metavermilia (V.) gollieti differs from other species of the subgenus Metavermilia (Vepreculina) by its relatively large tube diameter, possession of 5 to 7 sharp longitudinal lines of granula, with a tube cross-section tunnel-shaped posteriorly and pentagonal at the aperture. Metavermilia (V.) gollieti extends the known geochronological range of the predominately Cretaceous subgenus Metavermilia (Vepreculina) from the Barremian to the late Eocene, only the second Cenozoic occurrence because there is the possiblity that 'Serpula' granosa from the Miocene ('Tortonian') may belong to Vepreculina. At the least, the new Eocene species fills a long gap in the geologic record of Vepreculina midway between Maastrichtian and Miocene as well as being the first record of the subgenus in North America. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coral reefs are highly biodiverse ecosystems, enriched by a range of biofouling species. Temporal variations in biofouling can affect ecosystem stability, but these diverse coral-associated communities remain underexplored in some regions. In the present study, biofouling assemblages of coral reefs in the Chabahar Bay were investigated during a summer monsoon at three deployment periods. In total, 26 taxa were identified with barnacles and polychaetes being the dominant taxa during the whole study. The coverage percentage was driven mostly by the encrusting taxa such as bryozoans and algae while biomass was determined by the dominance of shell-forming taxa. The results of PERMANOVA showed that the effects of the submersion period were significant on the assemblage structure. Biofouling assessment plays a pivotal role in safeguarding the intricate balance and long-term health of coral reef ecosystems. For a comprehensive understanding of biofouling dynamics and interactions with coral-associated species, conducting long-term studies is vital. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prionospio Malmgren 1867 is one of the abundant genera of the family Spionidae Grube, 1850. Despite its rich diversity, information on their complete mitochondrial genome has remained unknown. In this study, we determined the complete mitochondrial genome of a spionid polychaete, Prionospio cf. japonica Okuda 1935. The specimen was collected from the fine sand in the intertidal zone of South Korea. The mitogenome consists of 15,267 base pairs, harboring 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNAs, and two ribosomal RNAs. The maximum-likelihood phylogenetic tree based on the 11 PCGs showed that Prionospio cf. japonica grouped with other spionid polychaetes and formed a monophyletic group. Also, the mtDNA of P. cf. japonica was more closely related to that of non-polydorin spionid, Marenzelleria neglecta, than polydorin spionids. The molecular data will be valuable for studying evolutionary relationships among annelids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Myxicola infundibulum Montagu, 1808 is the most reported species of its genus, showing an unusually wide distribution from the Mediterranean area to Australia, North Europe, and North America, a situation deriving from a wide synonymizing of numerous species with M. infundibulum. Recently, genetic analysis confirmed that the Australian form of this species is an introduced taxon from the Mediterranean area, while the examined North American specimens were genetically and morphologically different. In the present paper we travel through the history of M. infundibulum from the first descriptions, trying to trace both the origin of this taxon and the origin of its wide distribution, through an analysis of the descriptions of all valid and invalid taxa to date. We also examined material present in the collection of one of the authors previously identified as M. infundibulum, comparing Mediterranean material to some from the English Channel, and material from North America. This led to the erection of four taxa new to science from material recently collected along the Italian coasts, and the restoration of Myxicola pacifica Johnson, 1901. Delimitation of taxa is based only on morphology, and we propose new morphological features to be considered; however, a molecular examination is planned in the near future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leeches of the genus Dina are one of the most abundant leech species in running waters in Montenegro. This paper described a new yellowish-spotted and medium-sized leech from the Skadar Lake basin in Montenegro. Phylogenetic analysis based on COI data reveals that Dina nesemannisp. nov. is more closely related to D. latestriata from Prespa Lake than to other yellow-spotted leeches known from montane and alpine areas of Montenegro. Morphologically, the new species can be separated from all other yellow-spotted leeches by the peculiar shape of the ovisacs. The new species is a characteristic and possibly an endangered representative of the fauna of highly threatened Mediterranean ponds and swamps in the central and southern part of Montenegro. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In northern New Zealand, there is speculation that predation by a recovering shorebird, the South Island Pied Oystercatcher (Haematopus finschi), has caused the continuing decline of an endemic surf clam, the toheroa (Paphies ventricosa). Consequently, there have been requests by the public for these protected birds to be culled to protect and restore the toheroa. To better inform management and decision-making for these species we set out to understand the impact of oystercatcher predation on toheroa at Ripiro Beach in New Zealand. A study was conducted to establish the spatio-temporal overlap of toheroa and oystercatcher distributions, determine oystercatcher prey selection, and assess the impacts of oystercatcher predation on toheroa population size structure. Monthly surveys over a 12-month period indicated limited spatial overlap between the two species, and that most toheroa beds on Ripiro Beach are not subjected to oystercatcher predation. In areas where oystercatchers and toheroa co-occurred, oystercatchers consumed a variety of prey including polychaetes, small and medium-sized toheroa and a non-threatened surf clam (P. subtriangulata). While oystercatchers do feed on toheroa (and may be capable of locally reducing abundance of small toheroa in a population), feeding on larger individuals (>50 mm in length) was not observed. These results suggest that culling of oystercatchers would be of no benefit for the recovery of toheroa populations. It is likely that less obvious factors are impeding the recovery of toheroa in New Zealand. This study highlights the importance of understanding predator-prey interactions before implementing management actions such as lethal control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bon Accord Lagoon (BAL), Tobago is home to a Thalassia testudinum (K.D. Koenig, 1805) dominated seagrass community and polychaetes usually show an affinity to seagrass beds compared to other environments. The objectives of this study were to investigate the polychaete community associated with the Thalassia beds in BAL, determine seasonal variation, and compare with the neighbouring hard bottom polychaete community in Mt. Irvine Bay (MIB). Benthic macroinvertebrates were sampled using a 15 cm diameter corer at a depth of 10 cm. Six stations were sampled during the wet and dry seasons of 2018. Samples were sieved in the field using a 0. 5 mm mesh screen. They were stained and preserved with a 10% formalin-seawater mixture, sorted and macrofaunal species identified to the lowest possible taxonomic level. Thirty – one polychaete families were ranked according to trophic categories as described by Fauchald and Jumars (1979) and updated where possible. Average family density for the dry season was recorded at 206.89 ± 307.53 ind/m2 and 129.55 ± 227.23 ind/m2 for the wet. Maldanidae and Syllidae recorded highest densities for dry and wet seasons respectively. Deposit feeders were the largest trophic group represented across both seasons in the BAL with Maldanidae being the most dominant. Carnivorous polychaetes dominated MIB with Syllidae being the most dominant. BAL showed higher diversity and richness compared to MIB. Based on functional traits of the community the environment at BAL can be regarded as healthy. This study establishes a much-needed baseline for future research and management of marine biodiversity in southwest Tobago. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The order Amphipoda is one of the largest orders in the Crustacea, many species of which are involved in symbiotic relations with other animals. Despite the considerable diversity of the Amphipoda both in number of species and ecology, polychaete-commensalism has been poorly known and described from few species. In particular, there has been little discussion of the evolutionary origins of polychaete-commensalism relationships. Amphipods in the family Leucothoidae are known as commensal inhabitants of filter-feeding invertebrates, where they utilize the feeding current produced by their hosts. Leucothoids are typically found from three types of filter-feeding hosts: sponges, ascidians, and bivalve molluscs. Relatively little is known about leucothoids that associate with other types of hosts. An undescribed species of the genus Leucothoe associated with burrows of terebellid polychaetes from Japan has been found. We herein describe this species as Leucothoe vermicola sp. nov., providing COI mtDNA and 18S rDNA sequences for DNA barcoding. This is the first record of a symbiotic association between Leucothoidae and Terebellidae. We also provide a hypothesis of the phylogenetic position of L. vermicola sp. nov. and evolution of the polychaete-commensalism in this species. The polychaete-commensalism in the present new species may have resulted from the entry of generalist species into polychaete hosts, rather than from host-conversion from a specialist species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two species, of the sabellid annelid genera Acromegalomma Gil and Nishi, 2017 and Notaulax Tauber, 1879, are reported associated with dead coral (Acropora sp.) in the Gulf of Mannar, south-eastern coast of India. The record for Acromegalomma quadrioculatum (Willey, 1905) constitutes the first report of this species from the Gulf of Mannar, whereas Notaulax pyrrhogaster (Grube, 1878) constitutes the first record of this species in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During a relatively long-term pollution monitoring study between 2015 and 2021 (annually between 2015 and 2019; triennially after 2019), a total of 257 polychaete species belonging to 40 families were identified at 17 soft bottom stations (depth range: 11–89 m) along the Levantine coast of Turkey. Among them, four species belonging to Hesionidae (Oxydromus digitifera sp. nov.), Orbiniidae (Leitoscoloplos mediterranea sp. nov.), Paraonidae (Paraonis lobulata sp. nov.) and Capitellidae (Barantolla cryptogenica sp. nov.) are new to science, two species belonging to Cirratulidae (Chaetozone elakata) and Ampharetidae (Anobothrus amoureuxi) are new additions to the Mediterranean fauna and 28 species are new additions to the marine fauna of Turkey. Among the families, Spionidae (29 species), Syllidae (22 species) and Paraonidae (22 species) accounted for 28% of the total number of species, and Capitellidae, Lumbrineridae and Spionidae comprised 45% of the total number of individuals. The most dominant species in the region were Lumbrineris geldiayi, Notomastus mossambicus and Prionospio saccifera. A total of 20 alien species belonging to 12 families were found in the region, with N. mossambicus and P. saccifera accounting for more than 85% of the total number of individuals of alien species. The new species are described and compared to the closely related species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polychaete worms are used widely as bait in South Africa, but common names are not used consistently among fishers or in the literature. This can have implications for conservation, since different polychaete species will not be equally vulnerable to exploitation, and uncertainties about the names of species make it difficult to monitor harvests to assess catch rates. This study develops a consensus view of English and Afrikaans common names for known bait species, building on names already used by fishers and in the literature. The greatest (but not complete) consensus in use of names among fishers and in the literature was for species in the families Arenicolidae, Eunicidae and Nereididae. However, most species are known by multiple common names, some common names are used for multiple species in different families, and the use of at least one name has changed. By applying principles like those used to develop scientific names, we propose a binomial naming system that includes a collective common name that applies to the family or genus, and which, for most species, is already used by fishers, as well as qualifying names that apply to the individual species. The qualifying names may refer to a morphological character that can be observed in the field, its distribution, ecology or the specific name. Research is needed to develop consensus names in isiXhosa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Originally published in 1967, John H Day's work 'A monograph on the Polychaeta of southern Africa' is still used widely to identify polychaetes. However, ongoing taxonomic revisions have revealed that several putative cosmopolitan or locally widespread taxa contained in the monograph are complexes of species with discrete distributions, globally and locally. This study therefore aimed to develop lists of taxa, including unresolved cosmopolitan and widespread indigenous species, that should be prioritised for revision to unlock their hidden diversity. A total of 609 species (56 families and 316 genera) were scored according to their time since description, global and local distribution, availability of genetic data and vouchers, alien status and economic importance, and then ranked. At least half the taxa reported locally are unresolved cosmopolitan complexes, and a quarter have wide local distributions, probably hiding cryptic diversity. Accordingly, we estimate that approximately 500 polychaete species are still undescribed in southern Africa. The four highest-scoring families (Syllidae, Nereididae, Spionidae and Eunicidae) comprise 25% of the species and 53–85% of the unresolved cosmopolitans, while multiple species are considered pests, used as bait or possible aliens. Prioritised genera (e.g. Eunice, Syllis, Nereis, Prionospio, Dipolydora) and species (e.g. Pseudonereis variegata) are usually members of prioritised families, but some species are not (e.g. Sabella cf. pavonina, Fimbriosthenelais zetlandica, Paleanotus chrysolepis, Gunnarea gaimardi, Capitella capitata). All taxon levels should therefore be considered to ensure that all species most in need of revision are identified. Ways to facilitate revisions are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sthenelais simplex Ehlers, 1887 was described from the Gulf of Mexico, but it is currently regarded as a junior synonym of Leanira incisa (Grube, 1877) described from the Congo. The latter is now included in Ehlersileanira Pettibone, 1970 as its type species. However, the redescription of L. incisa was based on specimens from several distant localities, including the type material of S. simplex. Through the revision of material from the University of Miami Deep-Sea Expeditions along the tropical Atlantic, including the Gulf of Guinea, specimens corresponding to S. simplex and E. incisa were found and carefully studied. The main results include the restriction of E. incisa and the reinstatement of S. simplex as a different species under the name E. simplex (Ehlers, 1887) comb. nov., reinst. Ehlersileanira simplex differs from E. incisa by having large auricles, as long as the median antennal ceratophore; median antenna with ceratophore and style of similar length; rectangular elytra in segment 4; branchiae beginning at segment 16; ctenidial pads beginning at segment 9; and tubular segmental papillae beginning at about segment 20. A key to all the species of Ehlersileanira is also included. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here, we sequenced and annotated the complete mitochondrial genome for the terebellid polychaete, Neoamphitrite affinis (Malmgren 1866). The complete mitogenome of N. affinis is 15,823 bp, with 33.4% A, 18.2% C, 11.5% G, and 37.0% T. The circular N. affinis mitochondrial genome comprises 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 23 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes including 2 methionine tRNA genes, 2 ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes, and a non-coding region. Phylogenomic analysis based on 26 in-group taxa belonging to the two main clades, Sedentaria and Errantia, is congruent with published phylogenetic relationship for annelids, which N. affinis was grouped with Pista cristata (Terebellida; Terebellidae). This mitogenome resource will be useful for future phylogenetic studies of families belonging to Sedentaria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective of this work is to provide information on the age and growth, gonadal maturity and the feeding habits of the phaeton dragonet [Synchiropus phaeton (Günther, 1861)] in the eastern Mediterranean (Aegean Sea), a species for which there exists limited information. The phaeton dragonet is a demersal fish species with a wide distribution in the eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea and is considered as a by-catch in bottom-trawl fisheries. The species demonstrated a negative allometric growth in both sexes, though it exhibited an increasing sex-related gonad growth associated with each reproductive stage. The age range of the Aegean population was 0–7 years. Finally, the main food items in the stomach contents of the species were Crustacea and Polychaeta, and the fractional trophic level was estimated as 3.01 ± 0.3, classifying the species as an omnivore with preference for animal material. Despite the fact that the data of this study derived from a single sampling, this work can be considered as an effort to fill in knowledge gaps in the biology of this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Composetia Hartmann-Schröder, 1985 (Nereididae de Blainville, 1818), to which 51 species with broadly heterogeneous characteristics were previously assigned, is reviewed based upon the examination of the type material of the type species, C. costae (Grube, 1840), and seven other species. According to our designation of the lectotype of C. costae, a generic definition of Composetia is established, and taxonomic issues about C. costae are addressed. The current taxonomic status of several species similar to or previously synonymised with C. costae is re-evaluated. Based on the redefinition of Composetia, the taxonomic status of all species previously regarded as Composetia is reassessed. Consequently, three species are moved to two newly established genera based on their type material: Parasetia gen. nov., comprising the single species P. irritabilis (Webster, 1879) comb. nov.; and Potamonereis gen. nov., embracing P. kumensis (Sato, 2020) comb. nov. and P. tokashikiensis (Sato, 2020) comb. nov. Additionally, one species is redescribed and transferred to Leonnates, L. microcephala (Grube, 1878) comb. nov. Ten species currently remain in Composetia, and two of them, C. brasiliensis (McIntosh, 1885) and C. versipedata (Ehlers, 1887), are redescribed. Nereis articulata Ehlers, 1887, previously considered a member of Composetia, has a doubtful identity requiring further investigation. Although the generic placement of many of the remaining species is uncertain, we present our tentative re-evaluations for each of them. Keys are included for identifying all genera similar to Composetia, and for identifying all species within Composetia and Potamonereis gen. nov. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Species of the genus Spirobranchus are sessile polychaetes with an important role in marine ecosystems since they are suspension-feeding invertebrates. However, for most species almost nothing is known about their early and larval development, so we describe the early development of two species of Spirobranchus from the Southern Mexican Pacific. The early trochophore larva of S. incrassatus was formed 12 h post-fertilization at 28°C and was described up to a 24-day-old metamorph, whilst it was only possible to follow S. cf. corniculatus to the eight-day-old early trochophore larva. With this study, we describe the early embryological stages, which provide an understanding of the reproductive biology of these polychaetes. Furthermore, this type of information is the basis for future experimental work on the possible response of embryos and larvae to changes in environmental variables, such as temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the epibiotic community along Cymodocea nodosa leaves in a seagrass meadow in the Northern Adriatic Sea. In accordance with previous studies, we found that autotrophic organisms dominated throughout the study period (May–October 2014) and showed a clear temporal occurrence pattern with highest occurrence frequencies during summertime. Low relative occurrence of autotrophs was observed in spring, coinciding with higher values for sessile heterotrophs. In both autotrophs and heterotrophs, we observed a general trend towards increased epibiota cover on old leaves and towards the apical (i.e. older) parts of leaves, even though this pattern does not hold true for all species or sampling times. Most heterotrophs were rarely observed, but serpulid polychaetes, the foraminiferan Tretomphaloides concinnus, the hydrozoan Clytia linearis as well as gastropod clutches occurred frequently on all parts of the leaves and showed occurrence patterns putatively reflecting spatial competition with autotrophs and predator avoidance. Hitherto, few data have been available on the epifaunal diversity and community structure on C. nodosa. Thus, this study provides important baseline data for future studies investigating the impact of natural and anthropogenic stressors on epibiota communities associated with this ecologically important Mediterranean seagrass species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Penaeus brasiliensis and P. paulensis are shrimp species which overlap their distribution only in the Southwest Atlantic. In addition, they are fishery resources intensively exploited. The interactions between these two sympatric species, especially sharing of food resources, are still unknown. We have investigated the niche breadth of juvenile pink shrimps in two proximal coastal nurseries (Sepetiba and Guanabara bays) located in Southeast Brazil (∼23°W) by means of stable isotopes and stomach content analyses. These two bays are important nurseries for these species and are located in one of the most populous regions of Brazil. Diets were basically composed of benthic invertebrates (mollusks, crustaceans and polychaetes), particulate organic matter and benthic diatoms. We detected significant spatial differences in isotopic compositions (δ13C and δ15N), with pink shrimps from Guanabara Bay displaying the lowest values of both isotopes. The δ13C range and diet support that benthic microalgae are the primary producers in P. brasiliensis and P. paulensis food chains. Trophic diversity was higher in Guanabara Bay based on δ15N range, Standard Ellipse Area, and Centroid Distance metrics, displaying greater individual variability in isotopic signatures compared to Sepetiba Bay, probably due to enhanced food diversity and spatial heterogeneity in the former. The overlap in the ellipses areas between the two shrimp species was greater in Sepetiba Bay and indicates a greater sharing of resources that should be more abundant and available. Niche metrics analysis revealed greater spatial rather than interspecific differences. We advocate paying particular attention to monitoring the pink shrimps of Sepetiba Bay due to their smaller trophic niche width and lower δ15N range, which increases their sensitivity to changing habitat, mainly due to human actions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Up to now, 19 species in eight genera and two families (Dorvilleidae and Oenonidae) of polychaetes are known to be endoparasitic in the body of other polychaetes. In this paper, we describe Endovermis seisuiae gen. et sp. nov. as the first representative of Phyllodocidae parasitizing other polychaetes. Specimens of E. seisuiae were found in the body cavity of Aphrodita sp. (Aphroditidae) and Lepidonotus sp. (Polynoidae) collected from muddy sediment, 216–218 m deep, off central Japan, the western North Pacific. Our multi-locus molecular phylogenetic analysis based on COI, 16S, 18S, and 28S sequences along with other phyllodocids for which sequences were available in public databases suggested that Endovermis as sister to the clade formed by Paranaitis Southern, 1914 and Eteone Savigny, 1922. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study investigated the structure of the crab Clibanarius symmetricus (Randall, 1840) population found in a biogenic reef formed by the polychaete Sabellaria wilsoni Lana & Gruet, 1989 on the Amazonian coast. The population was sampled over a one-year cycle on a reef located in the mesolittoral zone of a sandy beach. The mean and maximum size of the crabs collected on the reef were smaller than those recorded in other tropical and subtropical coastal habitats, given that most of the specimens collected were immature (undetermined sex juveniles and sexually immature adults). Thaisella coronata (Lamarck, 1816) was the gastropod species whose shells were most occupied by the hermit crabs (70% of the specimens), although the smallest juveniles have used more the shells of other species. The results of the study suggest that C. symmetricus uses the reef as a nursery habitat, with bimonthly peaks in density that reflect recruitment periods. The sexually mature adults appear to use the reef only as a foraging area and, occasionally, as a refuge. The results demonstrated the importance these reefs on the population biology of this species and supports the need for more detailed monitoring studies and conservation actions for these habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the embryonic blast cells of leeches, segmental identity is conferred in a cell-intrinsic manner (i.e., with temporal rather than spatial signals), at or shortly after the birth of the cell. If these blast cells are destroyed in only one of the two germinal bandlets that form the ventral midline, this can result in segment-specific features that fall out of register on either side of the leech body. Here we present a specimen of the leech Erpobdella punctata, in which the gonopores have been duplicated and the male and female reproductive tracts are out of register between the left and right sides of the body. To confirm the identity of the specimen, we use a phylogenetic approach and high-resolution stereo microscopy. The probable cause of the phenotypic anomaly is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Submarine canyons play pivotal roles in the physical, biological and ecological processes of coastal areas, especially in closed or semi-closed basins as the Mediterranean Sea, influencing the biodiversity and the abundance of the benthic fauna. On February 2013, during the Tyrrhenian Gravity Flows (TyGraF) campaign, samples have been collected along the Gioia Canyon Basin (Italy) with the aim to describe the taxonomical composition and the abundances of the macrobenthic assemblages, filling the gap of knowledge in this area. A total of 93 taxa were identified, and the Annelida was the phylum with the highest number of specimens and most diversified (46 taxa). The polychaetes Sternaspis scutata, Prionospio cirrifera and Monticellina sp., the bivalves Thyasira sp.1 and Saccella commutata and the amphipods belonging to the genera Ampelisca and Harpinia showed the highest densities in the studied area; however, results suggest low values of the abundances of the macrobenthos if compared with those generally reported for other canyons, both inside and outside the Mediterranean Sea. The marine biotic index (AMBI) highlights that the canyon system and the surrounded area were slightly disturbed and characterized by a high percentage of tolerant taxa. This study is the first baseline for future analyses of the macrobenthic communities of this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The original description of the fan worm Parasabella fullo (Grube, 1878) is brief and mainly focused on the color. This paper provides a redescription based on syntype material from northern Japan kept at Museum für Naturkunde of Berlin and new records in California (USA). Diagnostic characters used in redescribing the species are the shapes of inferior thoracic notochaetae, ventral thoracic shields and dorsal collar margins. Although this Japanese species was collected on vessels' hulls in California, it is not clear if and where the species is established here, due to past difficulties in identification without well-defined characters. Nevertheless, a resident population appears to exist in the region, given the species occurrence on local recreational vessels. The redescription provides information to distinguish it from the local Californian indigenous species Parasabella pallida Moore, 1923. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Dendronereis Peters, 1854 is characterized in the polychaete family Nereididae by its feathershaped branchiae on the anterior segments. In this study, we present the first complete mitogenome of Dendronereis, represented by D. chipolini Hsueh, 2019, collected from Beibu Gulf, China. The nucleotide composition is biased toward A + T nucleotides, accounting 31.5% for A, 22.3% for C, 14.7% for G and 31.5% for T. The assembled mitogenome is 15,763 bp in length, with a typical set of 13 proteincoding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA (tRNA), 2 ribosomal RNA (rRNA), and 1 non-coding control region. All genes are encoded on H-strand. The control region is 1260 bp in length and located between tRNAGly and tRNA-Met. Phylogenetic study showed that D. chipolini is arranged with high support into the clade of Namanereidinae. The complete mitogenome provides important molecular data for investigating the phylogeny and evolution of the nereid animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, videos were recorded to observe oviposition in living, mature worms of Tubifex tubifex. After the formation of a lemon shaped cocoon around the clitellum at segments 11 and 12, mature eggs that have been stored in the ovisac at segments 12–14 begin to move into segments 11–12 through the constricted posterior end of the cocoon. Within a second or so, ovisac eggs emerge out of the posterior margin and return to the posterior segments. Such movements are repeated several times before the ovisac eggs settle in the ovarian coelom of segment 11. Within a few seconds of the eggs moving into the ovarian coelom, the clitellar region begins to change its contour slightly; it looks as if something round is tapping on the coelomic wall of this region. As this tapping ceases, the coelomic eggs begin to move to the space between the cocoon and the clitellum. Coelomic eggs are individually squeezed out of the female gonopores located near the midpoint of the cocoon. This process, referred to as egg deposition, is accomplished within 30 s. The egg deposition is followed by the backward withdrawal of the anterior segments from the cocoon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current coastal protection measures become increasingly insufficient under circumstances of climate change and increasing anthropogenic pressures. Aggregations of the ecosystem engineer Lanice conchilega (Pallas, 1766) stabilize the sediment bed of sandy shorelines. Therefore, this polychaete is considered an interesting target species in the search for nature-inspired designs in coastal zone management. This study investigated the potential of L.conchilega as a resilient coastal builder by trying to cultivate them and enhancing the larval settling process by using artificial substrata. A closed Recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) combining spawning induction and larval rearing was designed and tested. The tanks with adults were exposed to different photoperiods prior to water temperature rise. A spawning and fertilisation event was recorded in the 0:24 Light:Dark (LD) tank up to the trochophore stage. Additionally, the temperature-shock spawning induction method was experimentally proved effective. All practical experience on the invitro spawning induction and larval rearing of L.conchilega is discussed and summarized as a guideline for future culturing trials. In vitro substratum settlement experiments with aulophore larvae sampled with plankton hauling revealed the potential of artificial substrata to trap larvae. Nonetheless, a preference in substratum type is not to be excluded yet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study redescribes two closely related species of Pseudonereis Kinberg, 1865 (Nereididae de Blainville, 1818), P. mancorae (Berkeley & Berkeley, 1961) comb. nov. and P. pseudonoodti (Fauchald, 1977), based on their type specimens collected from the Eastern Tropical Pacific. Pseudonereis mancorae comb. nov. was inappropriately placed in Neanthes but it is herein transferred to Pseudonereis on the basis of the presence of both P-bars and comb-like rows of paragnaths on areas II–IV of pharynx, which are the most reliable features of Pseudonereis. Moreover, P. pseudonoodti was previously incompletely redescribed. These two species are similar but distinguishable by the development of the neuropodial superior lobe, the shape of the heterogomph falcigers in the neuropodia, the colour of aciculae in the parapodia, and the colour and thickness of paragnaths in the pharyngeal rings. An updated list of the 19 valid species of Pseudonereis is also provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recruiting King George whiting Sillaginodes punctatus were studied to assess the potential for food competition with permanent resident fish species in a nursery habitat. Marine migrant post larval S. punctatus (<60 mm TL) consumed primarily harpacticoid copepods and had high (>0.6) diet overlap with permanent resident fish species Favonigobius leteralis and Stigmatopora nigra. Food electivity index indicated that S. punctatus juveniles preferred harpacticoid copepods and amphipods, while juvenile Heteroclinus adelaide and Gymnapistes marmoratus migrating to the nursery habitat targeted larger prey such as amphipods. Preference for larger prey by H. adelaide and G. marmoratus species coupled with differences in prey composition in the stomach was due to mouth size and feeding habits, resulting in different food preferences to S. punctatus. The whiting showed an ontogenetic shift in diet with early settlers (>60 mm TL) consuming less copepods and more amphipods, while previous year recruits (>120 mm TL) consumed polychaete worms. This study indicates that competition for food resources between the new recruiting S. punctatus juveniles and permanent resident juveniles is reduced through differences in temporal and spatial feeding behaviours, mouth morphology, and ontogenetic shift in prey consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The massive presence of the green worm Phyllodoce tuberculosa Kudenov, 1975 on a beach of the southern Gulf of California (Mexico) is reported. It was found reaching densities of 48 ind/m2 during low tides, 4 days before the full moon and during the full moon of March 2020. The population comprised mainly gravid females, in a sex ratio of 1:100 (1 male per 100 females). Mature oocytes measure 110–120 μm in diameter. Mature spermatozoa have a nearly spherical head, with an elliptical nucleus, a cap-like acrosome and a long flagellum (ect-aquasperm type). This is the first finding of P. tuberculosa since its description in 1975. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we investigated the global population genetic structure of the polychaete, Harmothoe imbricata, to determine connectivity patterns within the species. We sequenced the mtDNA marker, cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) from 29 specimens sampled across three sites from the New England coast of the United States. These were supplemented with 145 archived sequences from GenBank and the Barcode of Life Database, representing 16 global populations, which encompassed three broadly defined marine biogeographic regions: the Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic. The resulting haplotype network and pairwise AMOVA results showed marked structure across all the major biogeographic regions and also provides evidence for cryptic diversity in the species. Haplotypes from Arctic populations were more closely related to each other than those from the northwestern and northeastern Atlantic. Two evolutionary divergent lineages were recovered from Los Angeles, California and Manitoba, Canada. The highest genetic diversity was observed in the Arctic populations, providing evidence for an Arctic origin for H. imbricata. While human-mediated introductions may have likely contributed to some of the genetic patterns observed in this study, future work should incorporate a nuclear DNA component which could shed more light on contemporary movement of this species across large spatial scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Germline precursors that can be present in asexual animals have never been characterized in aeolosomatids, minute meiofaunal Annelida usually reproducing by paratomic fission with pygidial budding. We investigated if Aeolosoma hemprichi and Aeolosoma viride still have the ability to naturally produce germ cells using an antibody raised against Vasa protein, which is a conserved germline marker. In A. hemprichi the anti-Vasa antibody recognized groups of cells floating in the coelom of the first zooid in subgroups that produce only a few eggs sporadically and also in those reproducing exclusively by paratomic fission. The presence of Vasa was also detected in the asexually formed second zooid. In A. viride, devoid of natural sexuality, the antibody evidenced randomly distributed cells in the coelomic cavity of the first zooid. Western blots of total protein extracts of adult animals of both species detected the presence of Vasa as a single band with a molecular weight corresponding to that observed in other polychaetes. The positive response of Vasa in western blots, along with the presence of labelled cells in the coelom of A. viride and in the growing zooid of A. hemprichi, suggest the ability to transmit the germline precursors asexually. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of polychaete, Prionospio atrovitta, is described from the sandy sediments of the Andaman and Nicobar insular margin. The major feature distinguishing P. atrovitta from other species of the genus Prionospio is the presence of well-marked black pigmented band near the anterior dorsal margin of the prostomium and pigmentation on the caruncle in the adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of Dorvilleidae, Protodorvillea artemidis sp. nov., is described from the soft bottom of the Gulf of Taranto (northern Ionian Sea) and the Straits of Messina (southern Tyrrhenian Sea), in the western Mediterranean Sea. The specimens were collected in October 2014, near the village of Rossano Calabro (Southern Italy, Ionian Sea), and in July 2016 off the village of Scilla (Southern Italy, Tyrrhenian Sea), from 6 to 38 m depth. Protodorvillea artemidis sp. nov. is characterised by four eyes, two short clavate antennae, dorsal and ventral cirri from the first parapodium, a long subacicular falciger reminiscent of that of Dorvillea, and the simultaneous occurrence of supraacicular and subacicular cultriform chaetae with serrated edges. Protodorvillea artemidis sp. nov. is similar to P. kefersteini (McIntosh, 1869) but differs from this species mainly by morphological characteristics of prostomium, mouth parts, and supraacicular and subacicualar chaetae. Morphological characters important for differentiation of the new species herein described from congeneric species are discussed. The description of P. artemidis sp. nov. helps to improve the knowledge on the diversity of Mediterranean invertebrates, and specifically on the family Dorvilleidae, which is still poorly known and includes many opportunistic species, early indicators of pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we report the complete mitogenome sequence of the polychaete, Melinna cristata (Sars, 1851). The circular M. cristata mitochondrial genome is 15,696 bp in length and has an AT content of 66%. As in other polychaetes, the genome has 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), two ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes, 22 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, and a non-coding region. Gene composition and their order in the M. cristata mitochondrion are identical to the Terebelliformia mitogenomes. A maximum-likelihood gene tree based on the M. cristata mitogenome combined with previously published Sedentaria and Errantia mitogenomes revealed that M. cristata forms a clade with two Terebelliformia species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complete mitogenome sequence of the commensal polynoid scale worm Arctonoe vittata was determined for the first time in the present study. The total length of the newly sequenced mitogenome was 15,125 bp, including 13 protein-coding genes, 2 rRNA genes, and 22 tRNA genes. The phylogenetic position of A. vittata was examined by maximum likelihood analysis using concatenated 13 protein-coding genes with 18 selected polychaete species. Arctonoe vittata was nested within the suborder Aphroditiformia and closely related to Aphrodita australis among the selected species. The newly determined mitogenome sequence will be useful for further phylogenetic and evolutionary studies of this group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To facilitate development of tailored management strategies for bait species within Knysna Estuary (South Africa), demand for bait, harvesting activity and perceptions around conservation among recreational and subsistence bait fishers were investigated. In 2015 and 2016, bait collectors were interviewed (n = 84) and observed (n = 167) during low tides at six sites during peak and off-peak holiday periods. Significant associations among subsistence and recreational fishers and their favoured bait species, collecting spots and method, frequency of collection, views on regulations and desired daily limit for mudprawns suggest differences that may warrant different management strategies. Furthermore, observed methods and duration of bait collecting differed according to site, suggesting spatial variation in baiting pressures. Subsistence fishers potentially collect more mudprawns more frequently than do recreational fishers and consequently have a greater impact on mudprawn populations. By contrast, recreational fishers collect more polychaete worms, but because they are mainly active during holidays, their impact on these species may be localised and not yet critical. Most subsistence fishers would like increased daily bag limits, to sell bait and would welcome a rotational zonation scheme to replace the current permanent exclusion zone. The merits and disadvantages of these management options and suggestions are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]