Seasonal Changes in the Biochemical Constituents of Green Seaweed Chaetomorpha antennina from Covelong, India.

Seaweeds are well known for having a wealth of nutritional benefits and providing ecological support to associated fauna. Seasonality influences the biochemical characteristics, affecting their ecological and economic values. In the present study, we evaluated pigments, primary and secondary metabolites, minerals, and antioxidant properties of green seaweed Chaetomorpha antennina growing on the intertidal rocks along the Covelong coast, India, in different seasons (from June 2019 to March 2020). Significant variations were found in the levels of antioxidants, minerals, and metabolites in different seasons, e.g., amino acid levels were the highest in post-monsoon and the lowest in summer. In monsoon, we found the highest concentration of fatty acids in the thalli. Lipid peroxidation and total antioxidant activity were at their maximum levels during post-monsoon, which indicated oxidative damage responses. No significant variations were found in the levels of photosynthetic pigments. The outcomes indeed suggested seasonal variations in the biochemical and nutrient profile of C. antennina. We suggest that the harvesting/collection of C. antennina for different nutrients and metabolites should be performed in the respective seasons.

Delimiting species within the Lysmata vittata (Stimpson, 1860) (Decapoda: Lysmatidae) species complex in a world full of invaders.

Historically, Lysmata vittata has been reported with a near global non-polar distribution. Early studies reported a wide morphological variation in this species, which served as a basis for further synonymization of at least four species. Herein, we investigated the species diversity within L. vittata complex and tested whether L. rauli and L. durbanensis are valid species instead of junior synonyms of L. vittata. Our integrated morphological and molecular data strongly supports the validity of at least six taxonomic entities within the broader L. vittata complex, including L. rauli and L. durbanensis and three undescribed species. Multivariate analyses highlighted prominent morphological differences in accessory branch structure of dorsolateral antennular flagellum, number of carpal and meral segments of the second pereopod, and color pattern which segregated shrimps into distinct morpho-groups. Phylogenetic analyses supported morphological groupings and recovered five widely divergent lineages, which corresponded to the morphological groupings: L. vittata sensu stricto; L. rauli sensu stricto; L. sp. CHINA; L. sp. AUS1; and L. sp. AUS2. Therefore, we formally resurrect L. rauli to valid species status and posit it is native to the subtropical and tropical Indo West-Pacific. Although data were limited, we also formally resurrect L. durbanensis to valid species status from southern Africa. Our results imply L. vittata and L. rauli are exotic species in the western Atlantic, New Zealand, and the Mediterranean. This study provides a solid framework to continue untangling the historic L. vittata species complex, which is likely to include additional species to the ones included in the present study.

Physiological responses of the symbiotic shrimp Ancylocaris brevicarpalis and its host sea anemone Stichodactyla haddoni to ocean acidification.

In this study, the physiology of symbiotic 'peacock-tail' shrimp Ancylocaris brevicarpalis and its host 'Haddon's carpet' sea anemone Stichodactyla haddoni were tested under lowered pH (7.7) and control (8.1) conditions. The biochemical responses such as digestive enzyme (AP), organic acids (lactate and succinate), oxidative damages (MDA), antioxidants metabolites/enzymes (ASC, GSH, SOD, CAT, APX, GPX, GR, POX, and PHOX), and detoxification enzyme (GST) were measured. The AP showed insignificantly reduced values in both the organisms in lowered pH conditions compared to control indicating the effect of abiotic stress. The hierarchical clustering analysis indicated low MDA in sea anemone can be explained by higher POX, APX, GR, ASC, and GSH levels compared to shrimps. However, the detoxification enzyme GST showed less activity in sea anemones compared to shrimps. The results suggest that A. brevicarpalis and sea anemone S. haddoni may have deleterious effects when exposed to short-term acidification stress.

A new species of the genus Protohyale Bousfield & Hendrycks, 2002 (Crustacea, Amphipoda, Hyalidae) from Covelong, Chennai, India.

A new species of marine amphipod, Protohyale covelongensis sp. nov., is described from India. The taxon is fully described and illustrated with which it could be easily identified morphologically. Protohyale covelongensis sp. nov. has a specific shape of the basis of pereopod 7 in the mature male, forming a distinct axe-shaped flange on its anterior margin. This characteristic feature serves to distinguish it from other Indian hyalid species. This new species is also compared with known species with which it could be confused. We have performed molecular phylogeny based on the mitochondrial gene cytochrome c oxidase subunit I.

A new species of Lysmata Risso, 1816 (Crustacea, Decapoda, Lysmatidae) from the Gulf of Mexico.

A new species of peppermint shrimp, Lysmata baueri n. sp., is described based on a single specimen from the eastern Gulf of Mexico. The new species can be distinguished from other morphologically similar species of Lysmata Risso, 1816 by the number of teeth, length and shape of the rostrum, the length of the antennular peduncle relative to the scaphocerite, the number of meral and ischial articles in the second pereiopods, and the number of spines on the flexor margin of the dactyli from the third to fifth pereiopods. Morphological characters demonstrate that L. baueri n. sp., is most closely related to the eastern Pacific L. californica (Stimpson, 1866), L. nayaritensis Wicksten, 2000 and L. porteri (Rathbun, 1907).

Notes on some Indo-Pacific Caridean shrimps (Crustacea: Decapoda: Caridea: Palaemonidae and Gnathophyllidae) particularly from India.

Although among the less conspicuous members of the tropical shallow reef fauna, the caridean shrimps are not less abundant. Much scope for further study on the marine carideans of Indian waters still exists and many species must certainly remain to be discovered. Although, the recent checklist on prawn fauna of Indian waters reports 285 species of caridean shrimps (including fresh water forms) (Radhakrishnan et al, 2012). With this, the present study also contributes another report on the documentation of six species of caridean shrimps from the Gulf of Mannar and Lakshadweep waters of Indian peninsula. Out of six species Ancylomenes magnificus (Bruce), Periclimenes soror Nobili, Stegopontonia commensalis Nobili, Gnathophyllum americanum Guerin Meneville and Gnathophylloides mineri Schmitt are new to the Indian fauna. In the present paper, detailed notes on species description, color pattern, distribution, habitat and hosts were discussed.