The presence of emperor fishes has been reported in several archaeo-ichthyological studies in Eastern Arabia. The spangled emperor (Lethrinus nebulosus) is one of the main species currently composing annual landings in the central and southern Persian Gulf. Its presence outlines the importance of the coastal environments exploited during different life cycle stages, such as open-water reefs and sheltered embayments, including grass beds. Osteometrical methods for estimating the life-size from bones were developed during the last few decades. Measurements taken from the bones of 32 fresh spangled emperors, collected from a fish market in Umm al-Quwain (United Arab Emirates) in February 2017, were exploited to calculate regression equations (power fits), allowing size estimations from archaeological remains. Because of the difficulties in identifying emperor species using bones, we also tested and discussed the validity of a generic model.The Neolithic site of Akab has provided more than 37,000 fish remains, mostly belonging to kawakawa tunas, trevallies, and seabreams, which suggest that fishing was essentially carried out during the winter. Relatively few bones (totalling 100 measurements) were identified as belonging to spangled emperors. However, because of the ecological features of this species, estimated sizes permitted investigations into which fishing grounds were exploited, and even provided new evidence regarding ancient seasonality of coastal occupation in Eastern Arabia.

The Yelkouan Shearwater Puffinus yelkouan is a Procellariiform endemic to the Mediterranean Basin, recently categorised as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List. We need to identify the threats it faces, which are particularly poorly understood when at sea. Specifically, very little is known about the Yelkouan Shearwater feeding strategy and how it is related to potential threats at sea, such as contaminants which deserve particular attention regarding this shearwater, as the Mediterranean Basin is overall highly contaminated. Here, we analysed Yelkouan Shearwater diet, as well as metal (lead, cadmium, mercury, selenium) and organic contamination. The diet analysis revealed the predominance of fish prey, particularly Clupeids, Engraulids and Scombrids, both in terms of relative occurrence (84.6%) and relative biomass (99.7%). Crustaceans (Euphasiacea and Decapoda) were the major prey type during the pre-laying period (relative number: 88.8%) but contributed little to the biomass ingested. The metal levels we found in contour feathers were below the known adverse effect threshold for seabirds. Organic contamination in livers was also low but we found two eggs with levels of concern of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) and dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane (DDT) compounds.Zusammenfassung Der Mittelmeer-Sturmtaucher Puffinus yelkouan ist eine im Mittelmeerraum endemische Röhrennase und wurde kürzlich auf die Vorwarnliste der Roten Liste des IUCN gesetzt. Wir müssen die Bedrohungen, denen diese Art ausgesetzt ist und die insbesondere auf See nur schlecht verstanden sind, ermitteln. Besonders wenig ist über die Nahrungserwerbsstrategie des Mittelmeer-Sturmtauchers bekannt, während diese mit potenziellen Bedrohungen auf See, wie Schadstoffen, in Zusammenhang steht. Schadstoffe verdienen in Bezug auf diesen Sturmtaucher besondere Beachtung, denn der Mittelmeerraum ist insgesamt stark belastet. Hier haben wir die Nahrung des Mittelmeer-Sturmtauchers sowie seine Belastung mit Metallen (Blei, Cadmium, Quecksilber, Selen) und organischen Schadstoffen analysiert. Die Nahrungsanalyse zeigte, dass Fischbeute, vor allem Heringe, Sardellen, Makrelen und Tunfische, überwiegt, sowohl hinsichtlich der relativen Häufigkeit (84,6%) als auch der relativen Biomasse (99,7%). Krebstiere (Leuchtkrebse und Zehnfußkrebse) waren die Hauptbeute in der Zeit vor der Eiablage (relativer Anteil: 88.8%), trugen jedoch nur wenig zur aufgenommenen Biomasse bei. Der von uns in den Konturfedern gemessene Metallgehalt lag unter dem bekannten gesundheitsschädigenden Schwellenwert für Seevögel. Die Belastung der Leber mit organischen Schadstoffen war ebenfalls niedrig, jedoch fanden wir zwei Eier mit einem besorgniserregend hohen Gehalt an polychlorierten Biphenylen (PCB) und Dichlordiphenyltrichlorethan (DDT).