Abstract
THE report for 1933-34 of the Scottish Marine Biological Association, Millport, shows that much work has been done during the year. The director, Mr. R. Elmhirst, has studied specially the conditions under which shore algae live, and subdivides the littoral area into three natural algal belts correlated with the run of the tide. This tidal flow theory also fits closely to the observed distribution of various animal species inhabiting the sandy and muddy areas of the tidal zone. Mr. A. C. Stephen, following up his previous reports on molluscan ecology, has found that in 1933 the density of population of Tellina tenuis was far in excess of any previously met with, on an average 8214 per square metre. This was largely composed of a very abundant spat. The closely related T. fabula was also very successful in its spatting, but the conditions were evidently not so favourable for the common cockle, Cardium edule, very little spat of this species occurring. Dr. Orr, Dr. Marshall and Dr. Nicholls, in continuing their co-operative work on the plankton with special reference to Calanus, have shown that the success or failure of a brood depends on the presence or absence of diatoms during the early stages of development. A study of the chemical composition of Calanus showed that the fat content followed the changes in weight, and that the protein content also followed in general the changes in weight. Spent females were rarely found, which indicates that they die soon after spawning. An unusual occurrence was noted in the behaviour of Stage V Calanus on one occasion, when they swarmed actually on the surface of the water for two or three days, remaining in the upper few metres nearly all the time and only showing a tendency to seek deeper water during the darkest part of the night, which is a complete reversal of the normal migration. This subject is undergoing further investigation.
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Marine Research at Millport. Nature 136, 638–639 (1935). https://doi.org/10.1038/136638c0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/136638c0