The Harveyi clade or core group of the Vibrio genus includes both pathogenic and non‐pathogenic bacteria. Some of the species belonging to the clade, such as Vibrio harveyi , Vibrio alginolyticus , Vibrio campbellii and Vibrio parahaemolyticus , include serious pathogens of aquatic organisms. Importantly, within these species, some strains are pathogenic, whereas others are not. Other members of the clade, such as Vibrio natri...

Serrasalmid and pimelodid fish hybrids represent important advances for aquaculture in Brazil, but they also constitute serious genetic risks to cultivated and natural populations. Serrasalmid hybrids (‘tambacu’, ‘tambatinga’ and ‘patinga’) result from crosses between Colossoma macropomum , Piaractus mesopotamicus and Piaractus brachypomus . Pimelodid hybrids (‘ponto e vírgula’, ‘cachandiá’ and ‘cachapira’) arise from crosses...

The diet of the New Zealand fur seal Arctocephalus forsteri was determined from examination of scats and regurgitates collected from two breeding colonies at Banks Peninsula, Canterbury. Identifiable otoliths and squid beaks were obtained from 392 scats and 16 regurgitations collected over four seasons in 2008. Nine species were identified in scats and three species were identified in regurgitates. Arrow squid ( Nototodarus sl...

We developed protocols to analyse the cell cycle of Heterosigma akashiwo in the natural phytoplankton assemblage using tyramide signal amplification‐fluorescence in situ hybridisation (TSA‐FISH) and flow cytometry. We determined the optimum probe and formamide concentrations for the species‐specific TSA‐FISH probe to be 0.5 ng µL −1 and 40%, respectively. The probe did not hybridise to non‐target phytoplankton including Chatto...

Kapiti Marine Reserve (KMR) was established in May 1992 following a single baseline biological survey. We surveyed macroalgal, macroinvertebrate and fish species for abundance and/or size at two sites inside and two outside KMR and then conducted reservation status (inside vs outside KMR) and temporal (1992 baseline vs 1999–2000) tests to quantify biological responses after 8 years of protection. Reservation status has had a s...

New Zealand (NZ) sea lions ( Phocarctos hookeri ) are slowly recolonising the Otago coast, South Island, New Zealand. The increase in their numbers may lead to resource competition with other marine predators and fisheries. We determined the diet of female NZ sea lions at Otago during autumn. In total, 571 scats and 110 regurgitations were collected on Otago Peninsula during 2008 and 2009. Barracouta ( Thyrsites atun ) and jac...

To understand the impact of environmental factors on the survival success of introduced species by ship ballast water, we investigated the survival potential of autotrophic phytoplankton from international commercial ships. Ballast water was collected from chemical tankers that originated in three different bioregions. A laboratory experiment was designed to simulate the resource‐limited waters of the ballast tank as well as t...

Light is an important environmental factor regulating physiological processes and ecological activities in fishes. This research aimed to examine the effect of light on the growth, distribution and body colour of juvenile King George whiting ( Sillaginodes punctata ) when fish were exposed to different light levels under laboratory conditions. In this study, the fish were exposed to three light levels (25, 500, and 1000 lux) i...

This work provides, based on data from roving creel surveys, the first quantitative analysis for a main recreational fishery of the southwestern Atlantic coast. Anglers interviewed were willing to accept minimum size limits but mostly did not approve the maximum daily catch, despite the fact that they considered that the fishery quality was decreasing. Angler profile differed among months but the avidity effect was negligible....

We analyse short‐term individual and group behavioural reactions and long‐term individual responses of bottlenose dolphins ( Tursiops truncatus ) in New Zealand to remote skin biopsy sampling. The biopsy system employed uses a small stainless steel tip (5‐mm diameter, 9‐mm length) mounted on a lightweight polycarbonate projectile, fired from a modified veterinary rifle with adjustable pressure. Individual and group behavioural...

Every year, an area of sea ice forms around the continent of Antarctica that is inhabited by communities of microbes. Although the microbial component of this habitat has been postulated to play an ecologically important role in the Southern Ocean, our understanding of the diversity of Antarctic sea‐ice bacteria is limited. The aim of this study was to identify bacterial components present in sea ice at Cape Hallett. Total com...

The diet of the sparid fish Pagrus auratus (snapper) was examined within the Mahurangi Harbour in north‐eastern New Zealand. Ontogenetic shifts occurred in diet. Individuals 100 mm consumed brachyuran crabs, caridean shrimps, bivalves, polychaetes and hermit crabs, with individuals >300 mm also able to consume harder shelled molluscs and bivalves. The stomach contents of juvenile snapper (10–100 mm) sampled across habitats of...

The large dog cockle, Tucetona laticostata (Quoy and Gaimard, 1835), is widely but sporadically distributed throughout coastal waters of Hauraki Gulf. One location at which this species proves common is around Otata Island, one of a series of islands in the ‘Noises’ complex in Hauraki Gulf, where it resides partially buried in gravel and rhodoliths in shallow water, at 5–15 m depth. The shells of T . laticostata collect in lar...

As is well known, optimal levels of both homeostasis and welfare of farmed fish are almost completely dependent upon human endeavour to investigate fish brain capacities and utilize them for the greatest benefit. According to the accumulated research experience specifically concerning minimization of farmed fish stress, the final outcome of the involved mechanisms is strongly associated with fish species and biological stage a...

Seaweeds absorb inorganic nutrient wastes from mariculture and reduce their undesirable environmental effects. Mariculture in Saudi Arabia is increasing rapidly, thus, to exploit aquaculture wastes and to reduce coastal pollution risks, local seaweeds were cultured using mariculture effluents in integration on the Red Sea coast. The aim of the present study was to test integrated aquaculture of seaweed and marine fish ( Oreoch...

The aim of proteomics is to simultaneously resolve all potential proteins expressed by a cell, tissue or organism in a specific physiological condition. It will allow scientists to build and test better hypotheses, with the ultimate goal to find better solutions to challenges in agricultural sciences, medicine and environmental management. Recent and very promising applications of proteomics have also been provided in the fiel...

Threats to wild horseshoe crab populations and growing interest in their use for research, education and biomedical applications have prompted demand for improved techniques to rear and maintain crabs in captivity. Although numerous laboratory studies have been conducted to determine growth and survival of horseshoe crabs under various conditions, these data have not been compiled and summarized to inform culture practices. We...