Integrative Systematics and Biogeography of the Hydrozoans (Leptothecata: Eirenidae) Eirene menoni Kramp, 1953 and Eirene lacteoides Kubota and Horita, 1992 from Japan and China with Comments on Pacific Ocean Distributions.

The hydrozoan family Eirenidae is known scientifically for its morphological plasticity and challenges in species identification. We used an integrative taxonomic approach based on morphological, molecular and life history evidence to systematically assess field-collected medusae of Eirene menoni Kramp 1953 and captive raised polyps of both E. menoni and E. lacteoides Kubota and Horita 1992. Following morphological review, we updated the genus description to include the presence of rudimentary bulbs (warts) on the ring canal in at least eight of the 24 valid Eirene species. We propose the potential for the mature E. menoni hydrotheca to develop into a gonotheca. However, this proposal will require additional study for verification. We provide validated distribution records from the Indo-Pacific Ocean for E. menoni,and updated collection records for E. lacteoides from the Yellow and East China Seas, and public aquaria-cultured specimens from Japan and Hawaii, using cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) sequences that we generated and compared with those from GenBank. The COI gene reliably separated four species, each forming a monophyletic clade with strong bootstrap support and low mean intraspecific molecular divergences (≤ 1%) within clades. However, some of the deeper nodes of the tree remained poorly resolved, and our analysis failed to demonstrate monophyly among eirenid genera Eirene and Tima. Our integrative taxonomic approach is essential in confirming species identity within the family Eirenidae and genus Eirene,and we have also identified a likely range expansion of E. lacteoides to Hawaii.

Tima nigroannulata (Cnidaria: Hydrozoa: Eirenidae), a New Species of Hydrozoan from Japan.

Tima nigroannulata sp. nov. is described from medusae collected in shallow waters of four prefectures on the Pacific coast of Japan (Miyagi, Fukushima, Kanagawa, and Miyazaki), as well as from cultures maintained at two aquaria (Enoshima Aquarium, Kanagawa Prefecture; Tsuruoka City Kamo Aquarium, Yamagata Prefecture). Adult medusae differ from those of other known species of the genus Tima Eschscholtz, 1829 in the following combination of characters: (1) umbrella usually hemispherical or higher, (2) marginal tentacles up to 50 or more in number; and (3) black pigment granules form a ring around the umbrella rim, and sometimes extend onto the tentacles and radial canals. Their hydroids, from aquarium cultures, have stolonal colonies with pedicels of varied length, vestigial hydrothecae, slender and vase- to club-shaped hydranths, and a whorl of about 20 filiform tentacles with an intertentacular web basally. Medusa buds develop singly within gonothecae that arise from the hydrothecal pedicels. The cnidomes of both hydroid and medusa stages comprise heteronemes, provisionally identified as microbasic mastigophores. Medusae of T. nigroannulata are confirmed as a unique, cohesive lineage by comparing mtDNA COI sequence fragments with those from two congeners, resulting in three well-supported reciprocally monophyletic clades, one representing each species. Records of the western Atlantic medusa Tima formosa L. Agassiz, 1862 from Japan overlap those of T. nigroannulata, and are believed to have been based on the new species described herein.

Description of Echthrogaleus spinulus n. sp. (Copepoda: Pandaridae) parasitic on a torpedo ray from the central Pacific Ocean utilising a morphological and molecular approach.

A new species of parasitic copepod, Echthrogaleus spinulus n. sp. (Pandaridae), is described from the torpedo ray Tetronarce tokionis (Tanaka) (Torpedinidae) captured in pelagic Hawaiian waters. The new species has pediger 4 bearing large dorsal plates with denticles on posterior margin, genital complex with posterolateral lobes widely curved medially and overlapping, leg 4 exopod incompletely 3-segmented, and the largest body size (maximum length 16 mm from anterior rim of frontal plates to tip of caudal rami, excluding setae). This morphology does not match any of the seven valid species of Echthrogaleus Steenstrup & Lütken, 1861. Analysis of 28S rDNA sequences separated the new material from the Central Pacific from samples of E. coleoptratus in the Atlantic and Eastern Pacific Oceans. However, due to the lack of DNA sequences in the databases, the new 28S rDNA sequence cannot used to confirm the species identity. The unique morphological characteristics of the Central Pacific female copepods combined with 28S rDNA sequencing was used as a basis to validate the new species.

Long-term fluctuations in circalunar Beach aggregations of the box jellyfish Alatina moseri in Hawaii, with links to environmental variability.

The box jellyfish Alatina moseri forms monthly aggregations at Waikiki Beach 8-12 days after each full moon, posing a recurrent hazard to swimmers due to painful stings. We present an analysis of long-term (14 years: Jan 1998- Dec 2011) changes in box jellyfish abundance at Waikiki Beach. We tested the relationship of beach counts to climate and biogeochemical variables over time in the North Pacific Sub-tropical Gyre (NPSG). Generalized Additive Models (GAM), Change-Point Analysis (CPA), and General Regression Models (GRM) were used to characterize patterns in box jellyfish arrival at Waikiki Beach 8-12 days following 173 consecutive full moons. Variation in box jellyfish abundance lacked seasonality, but exhibited dramatic differences among months and among years, and followed an oscillating pattern with significant periods of increase (1998-2001; 2006-2011) and decrease (2001-2006). Of three climatic and 12 biogeochemical variables examined, box jellyfish showed a strong, positive relationship with primary production, >2 mm zooplankton biomass, and the North Pacific Gyre Oscillation (NPGO) index. It is clear that that the moon cycle plays a key role in synchronizing timing of the arrival of Alatina moseri medusae to shore. We propose that bottom-up processes, likely initiated by inter-annual regional climatic fluctuations influence primary production, secondary production, and ultimately regulate food availability, and are therefore important in controlling the inter-annual changes in box jellyfish abundance observed at Waikiki Beach.