December, 1999 
SCAMIT Newsletter 
Vol. 18, No.8 
showed substantial, but not total, agreement 
with the current conchologically based 
taxonomy. She also found the clades indicated 
in the analysis to reflect the change in diet from 
carnivory to herbivory in this family. Internal 
evidence of strength of relationship was used to 
propose a series of nomenclatural changes, 
often reviving long unused but available 
names. None of our local species were 
affected by these proposed changes. 
The examination of the ecology of living 
hexactinellid sponges made possible by the 
existence of relatively shallow-water 
populations of Rhabdocalyptus dawsoni in 
British Columbia is continued by Wyeth 
(1999). Video documentation of feeding in thin 
sponge sections sandwiched between cover 
slips was carried out, as well as transmission 
EM examination of fixed sections. The study 
demonstrated that this species, and probably 
other hexactinellids, were non-specific particle 
feeders. They differ from demosponges in not 
having appreciable particle phagocytosis by 
collar bodies. 
Potential ecosystem impacts of the introduction 
of the European Green Crab, Carcinus maenas, 
into the Pacific Northwest are considered by 
Jamieson et al (1998). They suggest that the 
feeding of Carcinus on a variety of 
invertebrates in the intertidal and shallow 
sublittoral is likely to impact both the 
mariculture of bivalves, and the nutrition of 
migratory exploited populations such as 
salmon. They urge baseline surveys of areas 
currently not reached by the crab so that 
impacts, when this invasive species arrives, can 
be better documented. 
As invertebrate biologists we see it all; asexual 
reproduction by fragmentation, by fission, by 
gemmulation, by parthenogenesis, as well as a 
variety of sexual reproductive modes. Leonard 
(1999) examines hermaphroditism in light of 
the Modern Portfolio Theory, an economic 
theory with potential application to sex 
allocation. Those interested in sex in the 
theoretical sense may find this discussion of 
some interest. There are no pictures, however. 
While still deeply immersed in data production 
for Bight ‘98, those of us involved in the 
SCBPP and in development of the Benthic 
Response Index (BRI) look forward to the 
completion of the data generation portion of 
the program and the beginning of analysis. We 
want to try the BRI on the B’98 data to see if 
our attempt at honing a new analytic tool has 
succeeded. Engle & Summers (1999) present a 
somewhat different type of analysis for use 
with estuaries in the Gulf of Mexico. The end 
intent is the same; production of an index 
reflecting the degree of degradation of the 
considered ecosystem. The implication here, 
and in the BRI, is anthropogenic impact, 
although natural impacts are not a priori 
excluded. The BRI and the index created by 
Engle & Summers differ strongly in structure, 
however. Theirs is a multimetric index similar 
in design to those used in shallow Estuarine 
areas of the eastern U.S.(i.e. Weisberg et al 
1997), and initially attempted here. Engle and 
Summers demonstrate its application, and 
provide validation testing to confirm its utility. 
XMAS PARTY 
The SCAMIT Christmas Party was held on 
Saturday, 11 December at the Cabrillo Marine 
Aquarium. A small but joyful gathering once 
again ate to repletion on succulent viands 
provided by those in attendance and by 
SCAMIT itself. Vice-President Leslie Harris 
(despite being under the weather) not only 
coordinated the festivities but provided another 
beautifully crafted worm-cake. Santa did not 
make an appearance this year but the youth in 
attendance (none under 12) did not mind his 
being occupied elsewhere. For a small group 
we seemed to make a rather loud noise, at least 
while talking. Later, when be began to sing 
carols to the instrumental accompaniment of 
Ann Dalkey (flute) and Larry Lovell 
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