Decapod crustaceans from the lower Miocene Qom Formation of the Isfahan area, Central Iran

From the lower Miocene (Burdigalian) of the Qom Formation, exposed in three sections (Kuh-e-Donbeh, Bagher-Abad, and Vartun) in Central Iran, a deca-pod crustacean assemblage is described. The specimens exhibit two modes of preservation: carapaces (either isolated or with attached appendages) and isolated cheliped elements. All studied specimens are fractured and/or eroded. Based on this moderately preserved material, three brachyuran crab taxa are identified, including Mursia cf. lienharti (Bachmayer, 1962), Palaeocarpilius rugifer Stoliczka, 1871, and Necronectes sp. The occurrence of P. rugifer represents the youngest confirmed occurrence of the species, whereas other two taxa represent the first confirmed Iranian occurrences of respec-tive genera. This report enriches our knowledge on Miocene decapod assemblages of Iran, and thus helping to better understand the decapod migratory patterns along the Tethyan Sea-way.

Systematics and distribution of decapod crustaceans associated with late Eocene coral buildups from the southern Pyrenees (Spain)

A new decapod crustacean assemblage associated with late Eocene coral reef deposits in northeast Spain (southern Pyrenees) is recorded; it includes Gemmellarocarcinus riglosensis sp. nov., Daira corallina sp. nov., Lobogalenopsis joei sp. nov., Liopsalis cf. anodon (Bittner, 1875) and Galenopsis crassifrons A. Milne- Edwards, 1865. The genera Gemmellarocarcinus, Daira and Lobogalenopsis are here recorded for the first time from Eocene strata of the Iberian Peninsula, extending their palaeobiogeographical distribution. Detailed sampling from three different coral reef facies within the La Peña buildup, here referred to as branching, tabular and massive, suggest that the core of the reef, which was dominated by branching corals, hosted the highest diversity and abundance of decapod crustaceans. Daira corallina sp. nov. predominated in the branching corals facies, while G. crassiforns was the most abundant taxon within the tabular coral facies and carpiliids showed preferences for environments with massive corals. Thus, this constitutes a good example of primary ecological zonation among decapod crustaceans within a discrete reef.

An exclusion experiment to study the influence of habitat structure provided by Mussismilia corals (Cnidaria; Anthozoa) on the predation of associated crustaceans

Predation is an interaction between species that influences community organisation by the direct consumption of prey, influencing prey numbers, behaviours and traits. The intensity of predation is greatly influenced by the environment, and the physical structure of habitats may influence predation intensity by providing refuge for prey or reducing the foraging efficiency of predators. In this context, the aim of the present study is to verify the influence of predation on the richness and density patterns of crustaceans inhabiting different species of Mussismilia corals, which provide various habitat structures for the associated fauna. We conducted an exclusion experiment to include total, partial and no cage treatments. The richness and density of crustaceans differed among coral species and cage treatments, except between partial cage and no cage treatment. Mussismilia harttii showed higher richness and density in uncaged and partial cage treatments compared with M. braziliensis, which in turn showed higher values than M. hispida. These findings indicate the importance of predation in the structure of crustacean assemblage associated with Mussismilia species and that differences in the richness and abundance of associated fauna result from the different habitat structures provided by each species of Mussismilia.

Nekton communities as indicators of habitat functionality in Philippine mangrove plantations

In the present study, we investigated the changes to nekton communities with increasing mangrove forest age and relationships between nekton and the mangrove vegetation, mangrove sediments and environmental variables. The nekton community was assessed as a potential indicator for evaluating habitat functionality of mangrove planting programs. In all, 99 species from 52 families were captured, including crabs, shrimp, squid and fish. The crustacean assemblage was dominated by Portunidae and Penaeidae, whereas the fish assemblage was dominated by Atherinidae, Apogonidae, Hemirhamphidae, Tetraodontidae, Congridae, Sphyraenidae, Murraenidae, Ambassidae, Gerreidae, Clupeidae, Platycephalidae, Gobiidae, Mullidae and Plotosidae, with these families accounting for 90% of all individuals collected. The species composition, abundance and biomass of the nekton community were not significantly correlated with mangrove vegetation and sediment variables, but were significantly associated with environmental variables, particularly proximity to reef and tidal inundation. The lack of correlations suggests that the whole nekton assemblage was not a useful indicator in evaluating the progress of restoring habitat functionality in these planted mangroves. However, a significant interaction with mangrove vegetation was found for non-fish components of the nekton. As such, crustaceans, particularly of the Portunidae and Penaeidae families, were useful indicators for determining the habitat functionality of planted mangroves.