In recent years, and especially since the initiation of the BIOMASS (Biological Investigations of Marine Antarctic Systems and Stocks) Programme ten years ago, a large amount of information on the taxonomy and biology of Antarctic fishes has accumulated in many laboratories and institutions the world over. This, together with the fact that the last revisionary review of Antarctic fishes was produced by J.R. Norman (1938) more than half a century ago, was reason enough to undertake the production of a reference book that reviews current knowledge on the taxonomy, distribution and biology of Southern Ocean fishes.Thus, at a meeting of the BIOMASS Working Group on Fish Ecology held in August 1984, O. Gon of the J.L.B. Smith Institute of Ichthyology, Grahamstown, South Africa, introduced the Southern Ocean fish book project to a group of leading Antarctic ichthyologists. The proposal was immediately and enthusiastically endorsed by the group, and further, they agreed that the proposed book should be complementary to two other international projects already under way-the FAO Species Identification Sheets edited by W. Fischer and J.-C. , and the Guide to the Otoliths of Southern Ocean Fishes by T. Hecht (1987).From the beginning, it was recognised that the proposed treatise should be assembled in the same way as the now widely-acclaimed book Smiths' Sea Fishes, i.e. with contributions of different family accounts by a group of international experts each according to his/her own specialty. P.C. Heemstra, who was co-editor of the Smiths' Sea Fishes book, was invited to co-edit the Southern Ocean fish book. This new book includes contributions by 32 ichthyologists from 11 countries who document 272 species belonging to 49 families. Most of the new and highly accurate species illustrations were specially and meticulously prepared for this volume by the talented scientific artist D.P. Voorvelt of the J.L.B. Smith Institute, and will be treasured by the ichthyological community.Fishes of the Southern Ocean is a valuable synthesis of information on the taxonomy and biology of Antarctic fishes. The information provided will force ichthyologists to review current ideas on the origin, evolution and biogeography of the fishes of the Southern Ocean.
South Africa is currently proclaiming a Marine Protected Area (MPA) in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of its sub-Antarctic Prince Edward Islands. The objectives of the MPA are to: 1) contribute to a national and global representative system of MPAs, 2) serve as a scientific reference point to inform future management, 3) contribute to the recovery of the Patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides), and 4) reduce the bird bycatch of the toothfish fishery, particularly of albatrosses and petrels. This study employs systematic conservation planning methods to delineate a MPA within the EEZ that will conserve biodiversity patterns and processes within sensible management boundaries, while minimizing conflict with the legal toothfish fishery. After collating all available distributional data on species, benthic habitats and ecosystem processes, we used C-Plan software to delineate a MPA with three management zones: four IUCN Category Ia reserves (13% of EEZ); two Conservation Zones (21% of EEZ); and three Category IV reserves (remainder of EEZ). Compromises between conservation target achievement and the area required by the MPA are apparent in the final reserve design. The proposed MPA boundaries are expected to change over time as new data become available and as impacts of climate change become more evident.
The present study describes some aspects of the life history of Boyer's sand smelt Atherina hoyeri in the hypersaline Bardawil Lagoon on the Mediterranean coast of the Sinai peninsula, Egypt. Monthly samples were collected with a small-mesh experimental beach-seine during the years 1973-1974. Age determinations were based on otoliths readings and length frequency distributions which indicate that the Bardawil Lagoon population consists mostly of 0-age group. The largest recorded fish was 63 mm in standard length (s.L.). Length-weight relationship has been calculated as: W= 13.7 x I O -~X L~'~~ where "=weight (9) and L=s.L.(mm). Atherina boyeri mature at the length of 34 mm. Spawning takes place from March to September. The average number of eggs in the ovary of a ripe female at the beginning of the spawning season was found to be 522. Females of all sizes were more numerous than males. In immature fish, less than 34 mm long, females constituted 53% of the population. In larger fish the number of females was higher; in fish over 34 mm long females constituted 64% and in fish over 5 1 rnm-96%. Atherina boyeri in the Bardawil Lagoon feeds on both zoobenthos and zooplankton, mainly amphipods and copepods. Polychaetes, mysidaceans, insects and fish were also represented. Atherina boyeri is the host of endoparasitic Trematoda, Acanthocephala and Nematoda. The examined fish were found to have metacercaria in their mesenteries and liver.
Morphological and genetic studies of mormyrid fishes belonging to the genus Marcusenius from South Africa and Mozambique revealed four species of which three are described as new. Marcusenius pongolensis is widespread throughout the Incomati, Pongola and Kosi river systems, and sparsely represented in the Limpopo River system in South Africa. Marcusenius krameri sp. nov. is endemic to the Limpopo River system, and is the sister taxon of M. caudisquamatus sp. nov. from the Nseleni and Mhlatuze river systems in the KwaZulu-Natal Province of South Africa. The Ruvuma specimens were well differentiated from all southern and eastern African species of Marcusenius, and are therefore recognised as M. lucombesi sp. nov. Phylogenetic analysis of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene showed that the three new species and M. altisambesi form a monophyletic lineage that is sister to a group containing M. pongolensis and M. macrolepidotus. Marcusenius krameri and M. lucombesi seems to prefer slow flowing reaches of rivers, whereas M. pongolensis and M. caudisquamatus seems to mainly inhabit rapid flowing sections of rivers with a rocky substrate. A key to the southern African species of Marcusenius is provided.
Recent sampling efforts in Madagascar and Zanzibar, as well as examinations of six-gilled sawsharks in several museum collections provided evidence for a complex of species within Pliotrema warreni Regan. The present manuscript contains a redescription of P. warreni involving the syntypes and additional material, as well as formal descriptions of two new species of Pliotrema Regan. All specimens of both new species were found in the western Indian Ocean. Individuals of the first new species, hereafter referred to as P. kajae sp. nov., were identified originating from Madagascar and the Mascarene Ridge. Specimens of the second new species, hereafter referred to as P. annae sp. nov., were only found off Zanzibar. Pliotrema kajae sp. nov. appears to inhabit upper insular slopes and submarine ridges at depths of 214-320 m, P. annae sp. nov. so far is only known from shallow waters (20-35 m). Both new species differ from P. warreni in a number of characteristics including the known distribution range and fresh coloration. Taxonomical differences include barbels that are situated approximately half way from rostral tip to mouth, with prebarbel length equidistant from barbel origin to symphysis of the upper jaw in P. kajae sp. nov. and P. annae sp. nov. (vs. about two thirds way from rostral tip to mouth, with prebarbel length about twice the distance from barbel origin to symphysis of upper jaw in P. warreni) and rostra that are clearly and slightly constricted between barbel origin and nostrils, respectively (vs. rostrum not constricted). Pliotrema kajae sp. nov. differs from P. annae sp. nov. in a longer snout, more numerous large lateral rostral teeth and upper jaw tooth rows, jaw teeth with (vs. without) sharp basal folds, and coloration, particularly pale to light brown (vs. medium to dark brown) dorsal coloration with (vs. without) two indistinct yellowish stripes. A revised diagnosis of Pliotrema and a key to the species are provided.
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