No abstract

2012. Chattonella globosa is a member of Dictyochophyceae: reassignment to Vicicitus gen. nov., based on molecular phylogeny, pigment composition, morphology and life history.Chattonella globosa is a heterokont flagellate that has been previously assigned to the Class Raphidophyceae. Phylogenetic analyses of the nuclear encoded SSU, partial LSU, ITS1 rDNA and mitochondrial encoded COI clearly indicated that it is closely related to Dictyocha speculum and Dictyocha octonaria, Order Dictyochales, in the Class Dictyochophyceae. Moreover, High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) pigment analysis of Chattonella globosa revealed the presence of two acyl-oxyfucoxanthin derivatives, 199-butanoyl-oxyfucoxanthin and 199-hexanoyloxyfucoxanthin, pigments not found in members of the Raphidophyceae. In the late exponential growth phase a large number of smaller, less pigmented cells of Chattonella globosa, which acted like gametes, fused to give rise to a large multi-nucleate cell. At times two or more of these cells fused further to form a 'massive', plasmodium-like aggregate (up to 500 mm long). Chattonella globosa is also characterised by swift transformation of the globular, either small, uninucleate, or large, multi-nulceate motile cells, into amoeboid form. The multi-nucleate cell, plasmodium-like aggregate and amoeboid form are three major cell types shared by many dictyochophytes in their polymorphic life history but not raphidophytes. Based on the pigment composition, morphological and life history data we transfer Chattonella globosa to a new genus, Vicicitus gen. nov. of the Order Dictyochales, Class Dictyochophyceae, as Vicicitus globosus (Y. Hara et Chihara) F. H. Chang comb. nov.

No abstract

Toothfish represent a major finfish resource in the Southern Ocean, where there has been a rapid increase in exploitation of the Patagonian toothfish Dissostichus eleginoides. Molecular genetic methods have been applied to address questions relating to stock discrimination in D. eleginoides. Eight microsatellite loci were tested in population samples from the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Ocean sectors of the Southern Ocean. Some loci were characterised by a large number of alleles, but no alleles were restricted to specific ocean basins. However there was a significant allelic heterogeneity in the total data indicative of population differentiation, and a high level of genetic sub‐division was measured with FST and RST. Seven polymorphic allozyme loci revealed no significant heterogeneity among Pacific and Indian Ocean sector samples. The microsatellite DNA heterogeneity suggests that there is restricted gene flow through the Southern Ocean, and that the different fishing grounds may support independent stocks.

No abstract

Hagfishes from New Zealand are reviewed and a phylogeny proposed using morphological and genetic data (DNA sequences of cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene, COI, and the small subunit RNA, 16S). Eptatretus cryptus sp. nov. was previously confused with Eptatretus cirrhatus (Forster in Bloch & Schneider, 1801) because of their similar morphology, and is found from the Three Kings Islands to Stewart Island and in the eastern part of the Chatham Rise (at depths of 96–922 m). Eptatretus poicilus sp. nov. is endemic to the Three Kings Islands, where it is common and associated with soft sediment and deep‐sea coral‐sponge habitats (114–842 m). Neomyxine caesiovitta sp. nov. is a slender hagfish found along the east coast of the North Island south to the Chatham Rise (430–1083 m). A neotype is erected for E. cirrhatus (type locality: Breaksea Sound, Fiordland), occurring widely in New Zealand coastal, shelf, and slope waters (1–922 m), but not at the Three Kings Islands. Eptatetrus goliath Mincarone & Stewart, 2006, Neomyxine biniplicata (Richardson & Jowett, 1951), and Nemamyxine elongata Richardson, 1958 are further described using additional material. Rubicundus eos (Fernholm, 1991) is still only known from the holotype (type locality: Challenger Plateau). Genetic results showed that the New Zealand Eptatretus species form a monophyletic group within the subfamily Eptatretinae, indicating likely speciation from a single common ancestor within the area. Eptatretus poicilus sp. nov. is the sister species of E. cirrhatus, and E. cryptus sp. nov. is closely associated with the clade formed by these two species. Eptatretus goliath is most closely associated with Eptatretus minor Fernholm & Hubbs, 1981 (Gulf of Mexico), these two species basally diverging within New Zealand hagfishes. The endemic genus Neomyxine forms a well‐supported monophyletic group of as yet uncertain position within the phylogenetic tree. A key to the New Zealand hagfishes, fresh colour photographs, distribution maps, and in situ video recordings are presented. © 2015 The Linnean Society of London