Validated age and growth estimates are important for constructing age-structured population dynamic models of chondrichthyan fishes, especially those which are exploited. We review age and growth studies of chondrichthyan fishes, using 28 recent studies to identify areas where improvements can be made in describing the characteristics of ageing structures (both traditional and novel) utilized to estimate ages of sharks, rays, and chimaeras. The topics identified that need consistency include the: (1) terminology used to describe growth features; (2) methods used to both verify and validate age estimates from chondrichthyan calcified structures, especially edge and marginal increment analyses; and (3) the functions used to produce and describe growth parameters, stressing the incorporation of size at birth (L 0 ) and multiple functions to characterize growth characteristics, age at maturity and longevity.

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A standard, universally useful classification scheme for deepwater habitats needs to be established so that descriptions of these habitats can be accurately and efficiently applied among scientific disciplines. In recent years many marine benthic habitats in deep water have been described using geophysical and biological data. These descriptions can vary from one investigator to another, which makes it difficult to compare habitats and associated biological assemblages among geographic regions. Using geophysical data collected with a variety of remote sensor systems and in situ biological and geologic observations, we have constructed a classification scheme that can be used in describing marine benthic habitats in deep water. 0 1999 Ifremer / CNRS / IRD / Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS habitat / universal classification / benthic I fisheries management Resume .-Une classification des habitats benthiques profonds. Un systeme de classification des habitats benthiques profonds, pour avoir valeur de reference g&r&ale, doit pouvoir etre mis en pratique avec precision et efficacite dans les disciplines scientifiques. Ces dernieres an&es, les habitats marins benthiques profonds ont tte decrits a partir de dontrees geophysiques et biologiques ; les descriptions varient d'un chercheur a l'autre, rendant la comparaison difficile entre les habitats et les populations de differentes regions geographiques. Des donnees geophysiques obtenues par plusieurs systemes de detection a distance, et des observations biologiques et geologiques in situ, ont permis d'etablir une classification qui est proposee pour decrire les habitats marins benthiques en eau profonde. 0 1999 Ifremer / CNRS / IRD / Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS habitat I classification universelle I benthique I gestion des pecheries