BMLSS (Scotland)
URL= http://www.ed.ac.uk/~evah01/bmlss.htm
For details of how to join the BMLSS, please contact the above address, or the World Wide Web site at Scotland which will include some sample articles which can be downloaded to your computer. The copyright of each article remains with the writer of each article and reproduction is not permitted without express permission.
The British Marine Life Study Society was formed in June 1990 and the first issue of Glaucus was published in September 1990. 20 issues of Glaucus have been published.
TORPEDO
Electronic News Service
Welcome to TORPEDO for November 1996. As the trial period extends until the end of 1996. If you do not wish to receive the information for 1996 please indicate. From 1997. TORPEDO will only be sent to recipients who specifically request it, or BMLSS members who put their EMail number of the Renewal Subscription Form or New Member Application Form.
OTHER MARINE WEB SITES
The following sites are worth looking at:
Internet Resource Guide for Zoology
URL= http://www.york.biosis.org/zrdocs/zoolinfo/subj_ind.htm
URL= http://www.ed.ac.uk/~evah01/fishpage.htm
URL= http://www2.tcd.ie/People/Bernard.Picton/Rare_Fish
URL= http://www.gla.ac.uk/~gbza62/contents.html
EXTRACT FROM MARINE SCENE (Autumn 1996)
Joint Nature Conservation Committee
Peterborough
Marine species submitted for inclusion under Schedule 5 of the 1981 Wildlife & Countryside Act.
Alosa fallax Twaite Shad
Cetorhinus maximus Basking Shark
Gobius cobitus Giant Goby
Gobius couchii Couch's Goby
Atrina fragilis Fan Mussel
Clavopsella navis hydroid
Increased protection is proposed for the Allis Shad, Alosa alosa.
Information from Clare Eno.
Note: Any further information on Gobius couchii would be of interest to me. I am not sure it is a good species. It is very close to the very common species Gobius niger and Gobius paganellus.
The species of hydroid is unknown to me.
Andy Horton.
DIARY
National Federation of Biological Recording
12 November (Friday) Evaluating Species for Action
One day Seminar at:
The John Clare Lecture Theatre. Peterborough Library.
Contact: Nicky Court (NFBR) Tel: 01962 846741 (daytime)
20-22 November 1996
Molluscan Conservation - a strategy for the 21st century.
at the National Museums & Gallery, Cardiff.
Details from:
The Secretary, Dept. of Zoology, National Museums & Galleries of Wales, Cathays park. Cardiff. CF1 3NP.
RECOMMENDED BOOKLIST 1995
1. Handbook of the Marine Fauna of North-West Europe.
Edited by P J Hayward & J S Ryland.
Oxford University Press 1995.
ISBN 0 19 854054 X (Hbk)
ISBN 0 19 854055 8 (Pbk)
This is the definitive handbook guide for the experienced rockpooler and marine biologist. It should be on your shelf and on the shelf of every Public Library. There is comprehensive and up to date identification of all invertebrate species likely to be seen in the seas around the British Isles. Fishermen will need a further book as the fish list omits some open water fish. Marine mammals are excluded. Excellent line drawings only.
Paperback price œ29.50.
2. Marine Wildlife of Atlantic Europe
by Amanda Young, photographs by Paul Kay.
Immel Publishing 1994 (not actually published until 1995)
ISBN 0 907151 81 7
This is an excellent book with splendid colour photographs of many of the common animals and seaweeds likely to seen by rockpoolers, divers and casual visitors to the coast. It is not a comprehensive identification manual but rather a book that describes the behaviour and appearance of the inhabitants of the marine world around the British Isles. Recommended.
3. Animals of sandy shores
by Peter J Hayward
Naturalists' Handbooks 21 Richmond Publishing Co. 1994.
ISBN 0 85546 293 0 Paper
ISBN 0 85546 294 9 Hardcover
An extremely detailed study of the characteristics and ecology of a sandy shore and the animals that live for the most part buried in the sand. This is not an easy read for the novice rockpooler but should appeal to the serious student of the seashore. Recommended. There is another good in the series Animals on Seaweeds by the same author.
4. A Field Guide to the Nudibranch of the British Isles
by Bernard E Picton & Christine C Morrow.
Immel Publishing 1994
ISBN 1 898162 05 0
This is both a comprehensive guide and a descriptive guide to the true sea slugs, the order of gastropod molluscs called the Nudibranchia that have completely lost their shells. Each species of these colourful animals has been excellently photographed. It should appeal to divers and rockpoolers. There are a few animals that are sometimes called sea-slugs like the Sea Hare which still retains part of its shell. These belong to a separate order called the Anaspidea that are not nudibranchs and are not included. There are no anatomical line drawings. Recommended.
5. Guide to the Identification of Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises in
European Seas
by Peter G H Evans
Sea Watch Foundation Publication 1995
ISBN 1 85716 193 9
This is a very useful little booklet to identify the cetaceans that can be seen in the seas around the British Isles, with colour photographs of all the common species that you should enable to identify each species if you can get close enough in fine weather. There is a list of addresses and further reading.
6. Marine Aquarium Keeping
by Stephen Spotte
John Wiley & Sons 1993
ISBN 0 471 59489 X
Although described as a no-frills, no-nonsense book for beginners, it is not the best book for those starting up in the hobby of marine fishkeeping. However, for advanced marine aquarists its straightforward style and sensible ordered explanations put it in a class of its own ahead of any other book on the subject. Essential reading.
7. The Care & Management of Decapod Crustaceans in Captivity
by R W Ingle
Universities Federation for Animal Welfare 1995
ISBN 0 900767 86 3
Decapod crustaceans, prawns, crabs, lobsters etc. are often kept by aquarists. They are not too difficult to keep, but species have their own particular requirements. Ray Ingle is an expert on British crabs. Aquarium management is very much in the style of Stephen Spotte. Aspects of crustacean biology are included. This is a compilation of information published elsewhere, but if you want it all in one book it is a good buy. Extensive bibliography. There is a UFAW Handbook on Cephalopods in the same series.
8. Sea Bass. Biology, exploitation and conservation.
by Graham D Pickett and Michael G Pawson
Chapman & Hall 1994 Fish & Fisheries 12
ISBN 0 412 40090 1
Of interest to anglers and fish biologists in southern England, this book examines the biology and its connection with commercial and recreational fishing, with a few notes on Bass behaviour in aquaria.
9. Secrets of the Seashore
Various authors
Hodder Stoughton. Reader's Digest 1984 reprinted 1989
ISBN 0 276 37436 3
This book first published in the last decade still represents a good value introduction to the world of the seashore.
10.
THE BRACKISH-WATER FAUNA OF
NORTHWESTERN EUROPE
by R.S.K. Barnes
[Cambridge University Press 1994]
ISBN 0 521 45529 4 (hc) œ40.00
ISBN 0 521 45556 1 (pb) œ15.95.
Books on brackish-water fauna never seem to fall within the province of the fresh water biologist or the marine biologist, hence the need for this book packed with information about physical characteristics, the ecology and the flora and fauna of the variety of brackish water habitats in northwestern Europe.
The book is divided into two parts.
Part 1 is called Brackish-water biology and starts with an interesting account of the origins of brackish-water habitats, which in itself is good enough reason for having a look at the book.
Part 2 is an identification guide to the animal species found in brackish-water habitats. The list is so comprehensive and thorough that the student will not have to resort to both a guide to marine species and one on fresh water.
This list includes the recommended books published in 1995. A separate list will be included for 1996 in the December 1996 'Torpedo' and will include other books published in 1995 that were omitted from the above list because they were not received in time.
OPISTHOBRANCH MOLLUSCA
All opisthobranch molluscs have been found to be under-recorded from shore and sub-littoral habitats. It is easy to understand why. Most species are very small, and despite their bright colouring they are cryptically disguised to match their prey of seaweeds or hydroids on which they spend most of their lives.
Rockpoolers and divers are in an unique position to rectify this shortfall in the knowledge of the distribution of all sea hares and sea slugs. All sightings should be sent in with as many details as possible, including any problems in identification, size, feeding plants, whether spawn is present and as many details of the location as possible. Special forms are available. It is also important to mention if the sighting has already been recorded to another authority to avoid duplication in the national records.
Nudibranchia
An extract only is included of the Nudibranch records. Please request the complete file that runs to 1500 words.
BMLSS Records
(Numbers in brackets are Glaucus reference numbers).
In alphabetical order by scientific names.
Acanthodoris pilosa
Regular occurrence in spring on east Brighton beach under rocks on the lower shore. Numbers vary from a dozen to hundreds from year to year. White specimens exceed black specimens. (A.Horton). Photographed.
(05.03.26*, 06.01.04)
Salcombe at 21 metres in July, and Dale, Pembs. at 12 metres in June (J.Lilley).
Aeolidia papillosa
Occurs in spring on east Brighton beach under rocks on the lower shore. Numbers vary from absent altogether up to 50 from year to year. Spawn spirals on the underside of rocks. (A.Horton). Photographed.
Frequent east Brighton under flint cobbles with spawn up to 5 cm long 1982 (D.Ventham).
Found under Worthing pier in spring, more often than at Brighton, numbers extremely variable: absent altogether most years, or occasional specimens in shallow pools or moribund; some years hundreds scattered over lower shore in conjunction with the sea anemone Sagartia troglodytes, present in thousands and confirmed to be its prey (A.Horton). Photographed. (03.01.31, 03.03.11, 04.03.21*,26*, 04.04.41*, 05.01.46*)
1993 recorded as a spawning year for this species at Worthing, reaching a maximum size of only 5 cm. (A.Horton). (04.03.21*)
Recorded at Manorbier beach, near Tenby, south Wales (C.Batt) (05.02.10).
Recorded in Fowey estuary, Cornwall (05.02.14) (R.Stokes).
Front cover photographs (monochrome) in Glaucus, feeding on sea anemone Actinia equina, and spawn.
(05.05.01)
Recorded at Broad Ledge, Lyme Regis, in 1995 (A.Brokenshire) (06.02.45).
At Surreys, Penzance 1968/1971 in Oarweed. CBRU records supplied by Dr Ian Lancaster.
Abundant at Fleet narrows, Dorset 1996 (P.Glanvill).
Archidoris pseudoargus
Colourful specimen discovered on Kingston beach at the entrance of Shoreham harbour on one occasion. Assumed to be a fishermen's discard (A.Horton). Photographed.
A single all yellow specimen discovered in a crevice on my only visit to Hope's Nose, a rocky beach in south Devon (A.Horton).
Solitary specimens found on two occasions on the shore at East Brighton 1982 (D.Ventham).
Solitary specimen under a rock on the shore at the Mumbles, Gower, south Wales (J.Hall).(04.04.31).
Specimen found at low spring tide at Gelliswick Bay, Milford Haven (C.Batt).(05.02.17, 05.03.21).
Specimens at Fleet narrows 1996 (P.Glanvill).
At Surreys, Penzance 1968/71. CBRU records supplied by Dr Ian Lancaster.
Hallsands, Devon at 20 metres. Plymouth at 15 metres. St. Bride's Bay, Pembs. at 16 metres. Littlehampton, Sussex, at 13 metres. Shelly Rocks, Bognor at 7 metres. Skomer, laying eggs 3 June 1995.
Several on chalk platform, north side of Swanage Bay at 6 to 7 metres.
Out of Bognor, two mating pairs 28 April 1996. (J.Lilley).
Further information on the World Wide Web:
URL= http://www2.tcd.ie/People/Bernard.Picton/nudibranchs/contents.html
This site is recommended.
Send marine wildlife reports to:
Shore Watch,
British Marine Life Study Society, Glaucus House, 14 Corbyn Crescent, Shoreham-by-Sea, Sussex. BN43 6PQ.
EMail: 106127.206 at CompuServe
Fax: 01273 465433 (Office Hours)
SEA EMPRESS: OILED BIRD REPORT
by Tim Thomas (RSPCA)
The full Sea Empress Oil Disaster Report is available to members in the Vernal/Summer issue of Glaucus.
This supplementary Report will be published in the Autumn/Winter issue of Glaucus and is available as a separate 'Torpedo' electronic file on request. It is also available as a print out. Please enclose a SAE.
RESEARCH
Etymology of the word 'shore' is under current investigation. Please send any information to 'Shorewatch'.
RARE FISH UPDATES
The rare fish reports can be found at:
URL= http://www2.tcd.ie/People/Bernard.Picton/Rare_Fish
Triggerfish Balistes capriscus
Reports 1996
Triggerfish were reported much later in the summer than 1995. At Mevagissey in south Cornwall, the first captures are usually made in spring, but the first one did not arrive until near the end of August (24th), when a fish of 1 kilo was captured in a crab pot and brought in to the Aquarium. The sea temperature was about 2øC down on 1995.
Chris Gilbertson
Dorset Fish
The first Triggerfish off Chesil Beach, Dorset was first sighted by divers on 15 August 1996. with a further 16 spotted on 1 September.
On Saturday 7 September on a night dive to the Royal Adelaide, 15 Triggerfish were seen in 11 metres of water off Chesil Beach away from the wreck and were laying on their sides, apparently asleep. What was unusual was that the dorsal spine of all of them was erect, one can only assume this was a defensive postures.
Ken Gollop of Lyme Regis Aquarium has had several reports of Triggerfish being brought to the surface in crab and lobster pots from the Lyme area.
(see 06.03.08)
Peter Glanvill.
Torpedo compiled by Andy Horton 1/11/96.