Arm regeneration frequency in eight species of ophiuroidea (Echinodermata) from European sea areas

Eight ophiuroid species, six from the northern Kattegat-eastern Skagerrak and three from the northern Adriatic Sea, were examined for regeneration of arms. The species were separated into groups based upon mode of feeding and habitat. Comparison between groups collected in the northern Kattegat-eastern Skagerrak showed that infaunal suspension- and deposit-feeding species (Amphiura filiformis and A. chiajei) had significantly more scars per arm (mean number 0.78) than epibenthic suspension feeders (Ophiothrix fragilis and Ophiocomina nigra, 0.29) or epibenthic carnivores and deposit feeders (Ophiura ophiura and O. albida, 0.13). Spatial variation in arm regeneration incidence was found between sampling sites in the northern Kattegat-eastern Skagerrak for Amphiura filiformis and in the northern Adriatic Sea for Ophiothrix quinquemaculata. The ash-free dry weight (AFDW) and nitrogen (N) contents were measured in arms of six species of brittle-stars from the northern Kattegat-eastern Skagerrak. Differences between species were found, with highest concentrations of AFDW and N in Amphiura filiformis, intermediate in A. chiajei, Ophiocomina nigra and Ophiothrix fragilis, and lowest in Ophiura ophiura and O. albida. As the infaunal suspension- and deposit-feeding brittle-stars (Amphiura spp.) had the highest proportions of damaged arms and highest AFDW and N contents in their arms in this comparison, it is suggested that selective cropping of arms by demersal fish is the main cause of arm damage on Amphiura spp. in this area.     

Turbulent and Macro-turbulent Structures Developed in the Benthic Boundary Layer Downstream of Topographic Features

The characteristics and effects of large-scale flow structures developed in the benthic boundary layer downstream from large topographic features were analysed throughout a tidal cycle. The observed signature of the macro-turbulent features consisted of streamwise modules of low horizontal velocity and high suspended sediment concentration (SSC), alternating with modules of high horizontal velocity and low SSC. These modules extended 10 to 20 m streamwise and exceeded 1 m vertically, and are believed to be related to flow separation effects over large bedforms upstream of the deployment site. The macroscale flow modules intensified the ‘ burst-like ’ turbulent events and favoured sediment transport. ‘ Ejection-like ’ events were magnified during modules of decreasing horizontal velocity and increasing turbidity, whereas ‘ sweep-like ’ events were magnified during modules of increasing horizontal velocity and decreasing SSC. The enhanced turbidity of the macroscale modules may be the result of enhanced upward diffusion of sediment by ejection events, whereas the low-turbidity modules may be induced by increased downward transport of suspended sediment by sweep events. These hypotheses were supported by cross-spectral analysis performed on velocity and suspended sediment concentration time-series recorded at the site. An enhanced (negative) contribution of outward and inward interaction events to the Reynolds stress, compared to those reported in uniform BBLs, resulted in ‘ abnormally ’ low stress values.     

Predicting oxygen in small estuaries of the Baltic Sea: a comparative approach

Coastal eutrophication, manifested as hypoxia and anoxia, is a global problem. Only a few empirical models, however, exist to predict bottom oxygen concentration and percentage saturation from nutrient load or morphometry in coastal waters, which are successfully used to predict phytoplankton biomass both in lakes and in estuaries. Furthermore, hardly any empirical models exist to predict bottom oxygen from land-use. A data set was compiled for 19 estuaries in the northern Baltic Sea, which included oxygen concentration and percentage saturation, water chemistry, estuary morphometry, and land-use characteristics. In regression analyses, bottom oxygen was predicted both as a function of the percentage of watershed under agriculture and of mean depth. These models accounted for ca. 55% of the variation in oxygen. Additionally, oxygen was linked to fetch (diameter of the area in the direction of the prevailing wind), which accounted for 30% of the variation in oxygen. This suggests that shallow Finnish estuaries are wind-sensitive. In ‘pits’ (sub-thermocline waters of deep basins), near-bottom total nitrogen strongly correlated with oxygen percentage saturation (R²=0.81). Neither chlorophyll a, total phosphorus nor nutrient loading explained oxygen variation in entire estuaries or in ‘pits’, probably mainly due to annual sedimentation/sediment–water flux dynamics. On the basis of the results of cross-validation, the models have general applicability among Finnish estuaries.     

Flow fields in reflected waves at a sloped sea wall

Wave run-up, and flow visualization experiments were conducted with a 1:2 sloped sea wall model. The visualization experiments gave an overview of flow fields in reflected, non-breaking conditions. Maximum particle velocities were found to be significantly smaller than suggested in the literature. Downrush produced a fast sheet flow, extending down to the toe of the sea wall. This created a ‘reverse’ breaker during the retreat of the initially non-breaking wave, which explains the high-energy dissipation rates for non-breaking waves reported in the literature. Embankments may therefore be exposed to wave impact pressures in areas up to 1.18H₀ below MWL.     

Settleable and Non-Settleable Suspended Sediments in the Ogeechee River Estuary, Georgia, U.S.A.

Suspended particle dynamics were investigated in the Ogeechee River Estuary during neap tide in July 1996. Samples were operationally separated into ‘ truly suspended ’ (settling velocity <0·006 cm s⁻¹) and ‘ settleable ’ (settling velocity >0·006 cm s⁻¹) fractions over the course of a tidal cycle to determine whether these two fractions were comprised of particles with differing biological and chemical characteristics. Total suspended sediment, organic carbon and nitrogen, chlorophyll a and phaeopigment concentrations were measured in each fraction, as well as rates of bacterial hydrolytic enzyme activity [β-1,4-glucosidase (βGase) and β-xylosidase (βXase)]. The majority of the suspended sediment (by weight) was in the truly suspended fraction; all measured parameters were largely associated with this fraction as well. When compared to the settleable material, the truly suspended material was significantly higher in % POC (5·7±0·6 vs. 3·9±1·8), % chlorophyll (0·07±0·02 vs. 0·03±0·01), % phaeopigment (0·030±0·006 vs. 0·018±0·012), and weight-specific maximal uptake rates (V_maxper mg suspended sediment) of both enzymes (1·8±0·4 vs. 0·7± 0·2 nmol mg⁻¹ h⁻¹βGase and 1·1±0·3vs . 0·3±0·2 nmol mg⁻¹ h⁻¹βXase), providing clear evidence for a qualitative distinction between the two fractions. These results are interpreted to mean that the more organic-rich, biologically active material associated with the suspended fraction is likely to have a different fate in this Estuary, as ‘ truly suspended ’ sediments will be readily transported whereas ‘ settleable ’ sediments will settle and be resuspended with each tide. These types of qualitative differences should be incorporated into models of particle dynamics in estuaries.     

A dual sensor device to estimate fluid flow velocity at diffuse hydrothermal vents

Numerous attempts have been made over the last thirty years to estimate fluid flow rates at hydrothermal vents, either at the exit of black smoker chimneys or within diffuse flow areas. In this study, we combine two methods to accurately estimate fluid flow velocities at diffuse flow areas. While the first method uses a hot film anemometer that performs high-frequency measurements, the second allows a relatively rapid assessment of fluid flow velocity through video imagery and provides in situ data to calibrate the sensor. Measurements of flow velocities on hydrothermal diffuse flow areas were obtained on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (MAR). They range from 1.1 to 4.9 mm/s at the substratum level, in low-temperature (4.5–16.4 °C) diffuse flow areas from the Tour Eiffel sulfide edifice. A strong correlation was observed between fluid flow velocities and temperature, supporting the possible use of temperature as a proxy to estimate the flow rates in diffuse flow areas where such a simple linear flow/temperature relation is shown to dominate.     

Recovery of Mytilus edulis L. from chronic oil exposure

Previous laboratory studies¹ have shown that physiological and cellular processes of Mytilus edulis are affected by exposure to low and environmentally realistic concentrations of oil. However, there is little information concerning the rate of recovery from oil exposure and the extent to which physiological recovery may be related to the depuration of hydrocarbons from the tissues. The present study has shown a marked reduction in the feeding rate and scope for growth of mussels exposed to two concentrations of diesel oil (30 and 130 μg/litre) for 8 months. During recovery from oil exposure the depuration of hydrocarbons from the tissues was concomitant with the recovery of physiological performance. Mussels exposed to high oil concentrations (‘high-oil’ mussels) were found to recover more rapidly than those exposed to low oil concentrations (‘low-oil’ mussels), both in terms of depuration and scope for growth, and there was evidence of ‘catch-up’ growth. Recovery of both low- and high-oil mussels was complete after approximately 55 days.     

Upstream dams and downstream clams: growth rates of bivalve mollusks unveil impact of river management on estuarine ecosystems (Colorado River Delta, Mexico)

We studied how the extensive diversion of Colorado River water, induced by dams and agricultural activities of the last 70 years, affected the growth rates of two abundant bivalve mollusk species (Chione cortezi and Chione fluctifraga) in the northern Gulf of California. Shells alive on the delta today (‘Post-dam’ shells) grow 5.8–27.9% faster than shells alive prior to the construction of dams (‘Pre-dam’ shells). This increase in annual shell production is linked to the currently sharply reduced freshwater influx to the Colorado River estuary. Before the upstream river management, lower salinity retarded growth rates in these bivalves. Intra-annual growth rates were 50% lower during spring and early summer, when river flow was at its maximum. Growth rates in Chione today are largely controlled by temperature and nutrients; prior to the construction of dams and the diversion of the Colorado River flow, seasonal changes in salinity played an important role in regulating calcification rates.Our study employs sclerochronological (growth increment analysis) and geochemical techniques to assess the impact of reduced freshwater influx on bivalve growth rates in the Colorado River estuary. A combination of both techniques provides an excellent tool to evaluate the impact of river management in areas where no pre-impact studies were made.     

Experiments on the resuspension of estuarine sediments containing benthic diatoms

A laboratory system was used to test the effect of water flow on the resuspension of mud and sand sediments and, specifically, benthic diatoms from the Ems estuary, The Netherlands. Current velocities generated by two rotating cylinders in a cylindrical tank were determined by a small float and a laser Doppler velocimeter. At low angular velocities, the amount of suspended matter increased linearly with angular velocity and the float current velocity. However, at higher angular velocities, the increase in current velocity was less because of the strong turbulence: concomitantly, the current velocity boundary layer (δ) became thinner and the suspended matter concentration increased rapidly. The dominant diatom species from the sandy sediment were suspended in two distinct groups, one of which consisted of the species Navicula aequorea, Navicula salinicola, Ophephora martyi and Opephora pacifica, and was more exclusively bound to sand grains than the other. The benthic diatom species inhabiting the silty sediment did not show this difference. The most important shortcoming in the experiments was the inability to determine the radial and vertical velocity components. This precluded reliable calculations of the shear stress. The data presented emphasize the importance of finding a method to determine the shear stress under experiments and field conditions so that direct comparisons can be made. Despite this it is assumed that, just as under the experimental conditions discussed, under natural conditions in shallow waters resuspension starts at current velocities as low as ca. 10 cm s⁻¹.     

Field measurements of longshore sediment transport during storms

This paper presents an analysis of longshore sediment transport (LST) rates based on an accumulation of data obtained during five storms. Direct measurements of velocities and suspended sediment concentration were conducted at a minimum of nine positions across a barred profile in waves up to H_m0=3.5 m to provide a measure of the cross-shore distribution and total suspended-load sediment transport rates. The study was conducted at the US Army Engineer Waterways Experiment Station's Field Research Facility, located in Duck, NC. Measurements were made using the Sensor Insertion System (SIS) which provides an economical means to collect the required information. The largest LST rate computed from the measurements was 1780 m³ h⁻¹. Although the cross-shore distribution of the LST varied, it most often had two peaks associated with wave shoaling and breaking at the bar and near the beach. Comparisons of measurement results with predictions using the ‘CERC' LST formula show the predicted rates were sometimes higher and other times lower; suggesting that additional terms may be required for short term predictions during storms. Comparisons to a ‘Bagnold' type formulation, which included a velocity term that could account for wind and other effects on LST, show better agreement for at least one of the storms. These results are intended to help fill a void of information documenting the cross-shore distribution and LST rates, particularly during storms.     

Resistant performance of perforation in protective structures using a semi-empirical method with marine applications

To predict the performance of protective structures, in a preliminary design for weapons effects analysis processes considering the ship vulnerability evaluation, it is important to choose a method which is simple, quick and feasible. This paper presents a semi-empirical method to study the resistant performance of perforation in protective structures for fragment effects, such as residual velocity after penetration of structures between source of explosion and the target. In the calculation procedure, the mass distribution of fragments is obtained by expressing Mott’s equation, the initial and striking velocities are calculated using Gurney’s formulas and the residual velocity is estimated using Baker et al.’s equation. Using experimental results from the literature, Woodward’s test data (1978) and Edwards and Mathewson’s experimental data (1997) are employed to verify the ballistic limit velocity, and Rupert et al’s test data (1997), Sorensen et al’s test data (1999) and Yarin et al’s test data (2000) are adopted to check the residual velocity. An example of a 500-ton patrol-boat’s hull and bulkhead is also discussed. The results of the verification are good in terms of agreement, and impact velocities of this study varies from 1500 m/s to 2000 m/s, the ratio of L/D ranges from 6 to 10 and the ratio (h/D) varies from 2.0 to 11.0, may serve as a useful reference for designers.     

Effects of mercury on the prosobranch mollusc Crepidula fornicata: Acute lethal toxicity and effects on growth and reproduction of chronic exposure

Exposure to a mercury-equilibrated algal suspension containing 0·25, 0·42 and 1 μg Hg litre⁻¹ as mercuric chloride in solution reduced the growth and condition of pairs of adults of the slipper limpet Crepidula fornicata in a 16-week period. Reproduction rates and larval survival to settlement were also reduced over the first three spawnings when the exposed pairs reached sexual maturity. The adult and larval 96-h LC₅₀s were 330 and 60 μg Hg litre⁻¹, respectively, as mercuric chloride in solution, indicating that a ‘safety factor’ of 10⁻¹ needs to be applied to adult data to protect the most sensitive stage in the life cycle. However, the chronic exposure of the maturing adults showed that levels of inorganic mercury below the ‘safe’ concentration derived from the adult 96 h LC₅₀ affected growth and reproductive success.     

Sedimentology, stratigraphic occurrence and origin of linked debrites in the West Crocker Formation (Oligo-Miocene), Sabah, NW Borneo

The West Crocker Formation (Oligocene–Early Miocene), NW Borneo, consists of a large (>20 000 km²) submarine fan deposited as part of an accretionary complex. A range of gravity-flow deposits are observed, the most significant of which are mud-poor, massive sandstones interpreted as turbidites and clast-rich, muddy sandstones and sandy mudstones interpreted as debrites. An upward transition from turbidite to debrite is commonly observed, with the contact being either gradational and planar, or sharp and highly erosive. Based on their repeated vertical relationship and the nature of the contact between them, these intervals are interpreted as being deposited from one flow event which consisted of two distinct flow phases: fully turbulent turbidity current and weakly turbulent to laminar debris flow. The associated bed is called a co-genetic turbidite–debrite, with the upper debrite interval termed a linked debrite. Linked debrites are best developed in the non-channellised parts of the fan system, and are absent to poorly-developed in the proximal channel-levee and distal basin floor environments. Due to outcrop limitations, the genesis of linked debrites within the West Crocker Formation is unclear. Based on clast size and type, it seems likely that a weakly turbulent to laminar debris-flow flow phase was present when the flow event entered the basin. A change in flow behaviour may have led to deposition of a sand-rich unit with ‘turbidite’ characteristics, which was subsequently overlain by a mud-rich unit with ‘debrite’ characteristics. Flow transformation may have been enhanced by the disintegration and incorporation into the flow of muddy clasts derived from the upstream channel floor, channel mouth or from channel-levee collapse. Lack of preservation of this debrite in proximal areas may indicate either bypass of this flow phase or that the available outcrops fail to capture the debris flow entry point. Establishing robust sedimentological criteria from a variety of datasets may lead to the increasing recognition of co-genetic turbidite-debrite beds, and an increased appreciation of the importance of bipartite flows in the transport and deposition of sediments in deepwater environments.     

Influence of basin-scale and mesoscale physical processes on biological productivity in the Bay of Bengal during the summer monsoon

Physical forcing plays a major role in determining biological processes in the ocean across the full spectrum of spatial and temporal scales. Variability of biological production in the Bay of Bengal (BoB) based on basin-scale and mesoscale physical processes is presented using hydrographic data collected during the peak summer monsoon in July–August, 2003. Three different and spatially varying physical processes were identified in the upper 300 m: (I) anticyclonic warm gyre offshore in the southern Bay; (II) a cyclonic eddy in the northern Bay; and (III) an upwelling region adjacent to the southern coast. In the warm gyre (>28.8 °C), the low salinity (33.5) surface waters contained low concentrations of nutrients. These warm surface waters extended below the euphotic zone, which resulted in an oligotrophic environment with low surface chlorophyll a (0.12 mg m⁻³), low surface primary production (2.55 mg C m⁻³ day⁻¹) and low zooplankton biovolume (0.14 ml m⁻³). In the cyclonic eddy, the elevated isopycnals raised the nutricline upto the surface (NO₃–N > 8.2 μM, PO₄–P > 0.8 μM, SiO₄–Si > 3.5 μM). Despite the system being highly eutrophic, response in the biological activity was low. In the upwelling zone, although the nutrient concentrations were lower compared to the cyclonic eddy, the surface phytoplankton biomass and production were high (Chl a – 0.25 mg m⁻³, PP – 9.23 mg C m⁻³ day⁻¹), and mesozooplankton biovolume (1.12 ml m⁻³) was rich. Normally in oligotrophic, open ocean ecosystems, primary production is based on ‘regenerated’ nutrients, but during episodic events like eddies the ‘production’ switches over to ‘new production’. The switching over from ‘regenerated production’ to ‘new production’ in the open ocean (cyclonic eddy) and establishment of a new phytoplankton community will take longer than in the coastal system (upwelling). Despite the functioning of a cyclonic eddy and upwelling being divergent (transporting of nutrients from deeper waters to surface), the utilization of nutrients leading to enhanced biological production and its transfer to upper trophic levels in the upwelling region imply that the energy transfer from primary production to secondary production (mesozooplankton) is more efficient than in the cyclonic eddy of the open ocean. The results suggest that basin-scale and mesoscale processes influence the abundance and spatial heterogeneity of plankton populations across a wide spatial scale in the BoB. The multifaceted effects of these physical processes on primary productivity thus play a prominent role in structuring of zooplankton communities and could consecutively affect the recruitment of pelagic fisheries.     

Microscale gradients of planktonic microbial communities above the sediment surface in a mangrove estuary

The microscale (1 and 4 cm sampling resolution) distributions of chemical (O₂, NH₃, NO₃⁻, NO₂⁻, PO₄³⁻) and biological (Chl a, phytoplankton, bacterioplankton, viruses) parameters were measured in the 16 cm of water immediately overlaying the sediment-water interface (SWI) within a temperate mangrove estuary in South Australia during December 2003 and March 2004. Shear velocities (u_*) during the time of sampling were very low (<0.1 cm s⁻¹), and we consequently predict that resuspension of organisms and materials was negligible. In December 2003, profiles were often characterised by strong gradients in nutrients and organisms, with the highest concentrations often observed within 0.5 cm of the SWI. Microscale patterns in O₂, NH₃, NO₃⁻ and NO₂⁻ indicated that a variety of anaerobic and aerobic transformation processes probably occurred at the SWI and within profiles. Strong gradients in PO₄³⁻ were indicative of nutrient flux across the SWI as a consequence of degradation processes in the sediments. Pico- and nanophytoplankton concentrations were strongly correlated (p < 0.01) to PO₄³⁻, and exhibited 12- and 68-fold changes in abundance, respectively, with highest concentrations observed nearest to the SWI. Several bacterial subpopulations were discriminated using flow cytometry and significant shifts in the ‘cytometric structure’ of the bacterial community were observed within microscale profiles. Two populations of viruses were correlated to the phytoplankton and low DNA (LDNA) bacteria, and each exhibited elevated concentrations within 0.5 cm of the SWI. In March 2004, microscale distributions of O₂ and nutrients were more homogenous than in December 2003, and dissimilar microbial community structure and patterns were observed above the SWI. The patterns observed here support the prediction that benthic processes can strongly influence the ecology of planktonic communities in the overlaying water, and provide further evidence for the existence of microscale variability amongst communities of aquatic microorganisms.     

Hypoxia tolerance and antioxidant defense system of juvenile jumbo squids in oxygen minimum zones

Jumbo squid (Dosidicus gigas) is a large oceanic squid endemic off the Eastern Tropical Pacific that undertakes diel vertical migrations into mesopelagic oxygen minimum zones. One of the expected physiological effects of such migration is the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) at the surface, promoted by the transition between hypoxia and reoxygenation states. The aim of this study was to investigate the energy expenditure rates and the antioxidant stress strategies of juvenile D. gigas under normoxia and hypoxia, namely by quantifying oxygen consumption rates, antioxidant enzyme activities [including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST)], heat shock protein expression (Hsp70/Hsc70), and lipid peroxidation [malondialdehyde (MDA) levels]. A high significant decrease (68%) in squid’s metabolic rates was observed during hypoxia (p<0.05). This process of metabolic suppression was followed by a significant increase in Hsp70/Hsc70 expression (p<0.05), which may be interpreted as a strategy to prevent post-hypoxic oxidative damage during the squid’s night upwards migration to the surface ocean. On the other hand, in normoxia, the higher SOD and CAT activities seemed to be a strategy to cope with the reoxygenation process, and may constitute an integrated stress response at shallower depths. GST activity and MDA concentrations did not change significantly from normoxia to hypoxia (p>0.05), with the latter indicating no enhancement of lipid peroxidation (i.e. cellular damage) at the warmer and normoxic surface waters. The understanding of such physiological strategies that are linked to oxygen deprivation and reoxygenation phases may provide valuable information about how this species is quickly responding to the impacts of environmental stressors coupled with global climate change.     

A three-dimensional hydrodynamic model of estuarine circulation with an application to Southampton Water, UK

A three-dimensional hydrodynamic model has been developed to simulate water mass circulation in estuarine systems. This model is based on the primitive equation in Cartesian coordinates with a terrain-following structure, coupled with a Mellor–Yamada 2.5 turbulence scheme. A fractional-step method is applied and the subset of equations is solved with finite volume and finite element methods. A dry–wet process simulates the presence of the tidal flat at low water. River inputs are introduced using a point-source method. The model was applied to a partially mixed, macrotidal, temperate estuary: Southampton Water, UK. The model is validated by comparisons with sea surface elevation, ADCP measurements and salinity data collected in 2001. The mean spring range 2(M₂ + S₂) and the mean neap range 2(M₂ − S₂) are modelled with an error relative to observation of 12 and 16%, respectively. The unique tidal regime of the system with the presence of the ‘young flood stand’ corresponding to the slackening conditions occurring at mid flood and ‘double high water’ corresponding to an extension of the slackening conditions at high tide is accurately reproduced in the model. The dynamics of the modelled mean surface and bottom velocity closely match the ADCP measurements during neap tides (rms of the difference is 0.09 and 0.01 m s⁻¹ at the bottom and at the surface, respectively), whereas at spring the difference is greater (rms of the difference is 0.25 and 0.20 m s⁻¹ at bottom and surface, respectively). The spatial and temporal variation of the degree of stratification as indicated by salinity distributions compares well with observations.     

O abundance and dissolved silicate in the Lena delta and Laptev Sea (Russia)

Water samples from the Lena River and stratified Laptev Sea (northeastern Siberia) have been analyzed to determine their stable oxygen isotope composition (¹⁸O/¹⁶O). Measurements at the Lena River reference station give a δ¹⁸O value of −18.9‰ in both surface and bottom waters. In the brackish water surface plume, a nearly perfect correlation is found between δ¹⁸O and chlorinity

δO=−18.9+0.7C1⁻(n=15; r=0.999)

A few values lie distinctly below this correlation; they all correspond to surface samples collected in the semi-enclosed Buorkhaya Gulf, and they most likely reveal the occurrence of ‘old’ water masses. Some of the δ¹⁸O values in the deep waters collected in the same zone also fall below the surface-plume correlation line.Dissolved silicate concentrations exhibit a large variability. However, when they are related to the different water masses identified using oxygen isotope data, a more coherent picture is obtained. Concentrations in the surface plume decrease more or less regularly from 50 to 72 μmol in the Lena River, to 7 μmol at the ‘marine’ end-member (Cl⁻ = 14 g l⁻¹). Dissolved silicate results in the Buorkhaya Gulf are quite distinct, with a clear deficiency in the surface waters, and an excess in the deep waters.These δ¹⁸O and dissolved silicate variations are discussed in relation to the hydrology and the biological productivity of the investigated area.     

Effects of deepening the Elbe Estuary on sediment regime and water quality

Changes in the transport and sedimentation of suspended particulate matter (SPM) after deepening of the navigation channel of the Elbe Estuary in 1999 were studied. Long-term series of the grain size composition of sediments and sedimentation rates in the main stream and its branches (Nebenelben) were compared with changes in flow velocities and tidal water levels. In addition, water quality parameters like biological oxygen demand (BOD₇), dissolved oxygen and particulate organic carbon (POC) were analysed to determine changes in the origin and fate of the SPM. In the main stream, deepening produced no significant changes of the flow velocities. However, there was a decrease of the mean tidal low water level between 5.7 and 8.1 cm at the upper end of the estuary. These small changes in hydrology had the effect that fine-grained suspended matter derived from freshwater run-off accumulated in the surface water of the freshwater region in the estuary and remained within this region until all degradable organic matter was consumed. Accumulation of the fine-grained SPM produced an increase of the <63 μm fraction in the sediments of the Hamburg harbour by about 20% and in the SPM along the freshwater longitudinal profile up to about 120%. Coupled to this the mean BOD₇ increased between May and August by 38%. Enhanced oxygen deficiencies thus occurred after 1999, with concentrations of below 6 mg O₂ L⁻¹ over a length of about 100 km along the freshwater longitudinal profile of the Elbe Estuary. In the shallow water regions present in the branches of the main stream, deepening of the navigation channel was followed by a 25% decrease in the flow velocities during low tide. This was coupled to an increase of the sedimentation rates which produced a rise of the sediment level between 0.7 and 1.5 m until 2004 and a permanent loss in the capacity of the branches for re-aeration of the open water. The results indicate that in tidal systems SPM might be more sensitive for monitoring changes in the transport regime than hydrological parameters.