Estimating Synechococcus spp. growth rates and grazingpressure by heterotrophic nanoplankton in the English Channel and the Celtic Sea

-Marine chroococcoid phycoerythrin - containing Synechococcus spp. recently have been implicated as a substantial component of the photosynthetic picoplankton in the ocean. Although the importance of Synechococcus as food sources for heterotrophic nanoplankton are now recognized, the information about its cycling of biomass and diel patterns is limited and the methodology used varies according to different authors. A selective metabolic inhibitor method was used to allow simultanous estimation of both growth rates and grazing disappearance rates of Synechococcus. Results obtained in the English Channel show growth rates ranging from 0. 25 to 0. 72 d-1 with an average value of 0. 51 d -1and grazing disappearance rates ranged from 0. 21 to 0. 64 d-1 (mean = 0. 44 d-1). Offshore in the Celtic Sea of the Northeast Atlantic Ocean, both rates were lower than in the channel. The similarity between average growth and grazing rates suggests a rapid recycling of Synechococcus biomass. In diel pattern, Synechococc     

Physiological response and photoacclimation capacity of Caulerpa prolifera (Forsskål) J.V. Lamouroux and Cymodocea nodosa (Ucria) Ascherson meadows in the Mar Menor lagoon (SE Spain)

The macroalga Caulerpa prolifera colonized the Mar Menor coastal lagoon after the enlargement of the main inlet in 1972, coexisting now with the previous Cymodocea nodosa meadows. The physiological response and the photoacclimation capacity of both species were studied. For this purpose in vivo chlorophyll a fluorescence, photoprotective mechanisms and oxidative stress were measured in both species in summer 2010 and exposure-recovery experiments were conducted to determine the acclimation capacity of both species. The results suggest that C. prolifera behaves as a shade-adapted species with a low photoprotective capacity, light being one of the main factors governing its distribution in the lagoon. The high photosynthetic capacity and lack of photoinhibition found in C. nodosa suggest that this species is highly photoprotected. It also possesses a high concentration of lutein and a high de-epoxidation degree, related to a much higher NPQ_max value.     

Reply to the comment of Talwani et al. (2017) on the Sibuet et al. (2016) paper entitled “Thinned continental crust intruded by volcanics beneath the northern Bay of Bengal”

The northern Bay of Bengal velocity-depth profiles do not follow the velocity-depth curve for the North Atlantic volcanic margins, and only partially the Kerguelen plume velocity-depth curves. Compared with the South China Sea northern margin proxy, we still suggest that the Bay of Bengal crust is thinned continental crust intruded by post-rifting volcanics, as also shown by the interpretation of the numerous high-quality deep multichannel seismic profiles we collected there. What was supposed to be underplating might be sills intruded through the lower thinned continental crust.     

Upper-ocean hydrography of the Nordic Seas during the International Polar Year (2007–2008) as observed by instrumented seals and Argo floats

Following indications of recent warming trends in the Nordic Seas, we have studied the hydrography of these marginal seas from the summer of 2007 until the fall of 2008, using observations gathered by instrumented seals and Argo floats. The combined dataset shows that the upper ocean was indeed both warmer and saltier over much of the Nordic Seas in 2007–2008 compared to the average ocean state for the period 1956–2006 (based on the World Ocean Atlas 2009). There are also indications that the surface Polar Waters of the East Greenland Current were colder and fresher than the climatology, though the quality of the climatology is questionable for this region given the low number of historical observations. Dynamic height calculations suggest that the observed hydrographic changes were associated with enhanced northward upper-ocean thermal wind transport in the east and possibly also enhanced southward transport in the west.     

Taxonomic study on the family Mitridae (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Neogastropoda) from the China''s seas. Subfamilies: Imbricariinae and Cylindromitrinae

Ninteen species of subfamilies Imbricariinae and Cylindromitrinae, family Mitridae, are recorded from the China＇s seas. Of which, one genus and six species are recorded for the first time from China＇s seas, i.e., genus Ziba Adams H and Adams A, Cancilla （Cancilla） carnicolor, Ziba duplilirata, Z. insculpta, Neocancilla circula, Scabricola （Scabricola） desetangsii, Scabricola （Swainsonia） ocellata ocellata.     

Preliminary studies on the colonial form of Cylindrotheca sp. (Bacillariophyceae)

From a stock culture of Cylindrotheca sp., non-motile colony-forming cells were observed and isolated.Colony-forming cells produced both single cells and colony-forming cells in liquid media.the rate of single cell production varied among clones.The single cells derived from colony-forming cells were also isolated , which were able to produce both colony-forming cells and single cells in liquid media. The cells derived from colony-forming cells never moved on the agar surface.     

Numerical analysis of the sea (lake) breeze dynamics and initialization of the model

In this paper, analysed are the effects of synoptic wind, earth-rotation inertia and land surface roughness on sea (lake) breeze process, on the basis of the calculated results of a 2-D primitive equation model with turbulent energy closure. The results show that a moderate background wind field acts as a trigger for sea (lake) breeze onset, and presents prominent effect on the breeze intensity, inland advance rate and structure feature. The effects of Coriolis force not only make the breeze veering round, but also damp the development of the breeze component normal to shore.The paper also discussed the dynamic method of wind field initialization based on one-site radiosonde. Three approaches of initialization have been tested. In comparison, it was found that the approach of one-dimensional dynamic initialization with nudging term was preferable to the others.     

Induced Maturation and Spawning by Sex Pheromones in Female Mudskipper (Boleophthalmus pectinirostris)

1 IntroductionMudskipper ( Boleophthalmus pectinirostris ) inhabits muddy burrow in the intertidal mudflats of the temperature zone, feeding mainly on benthic diatoms and adapting to a wide range of salinity[1~3]. Although it is small in size, the mudskipper is delicious, nutritious and has a high market value. Fish farmers in Southeastern Mainland China are eager to culture this species. However, at present the natural resource of the fish has been decreasing or disappearing in some area…     

Absorption of light by phytoplankton,detritus, and dissolved organic substances in the coastal region of the Black Sea (July–August 2002)

We present some results of our investigations of the concentrations of pigments and the biooptical characteristics of suspended and dissolved organic substances in the coastal region of the sea near the coast of the Crimea. Under the conditions of variable meteorological situation, we observe well-pronounced variations of the concentrations of pigments in the surface layer and their different vertical profiles. The inhomogeneity of the distribution of pigments in depth is accompanied by a decrease in the specific coefficients of absorption of light by phytoplankton. In the analyzed case, the contribution of detritus to absorption does not vary with depth and its maximum values are observed under the storm conditions. The dependences of the absorption of light by phytoplankton and suspended substances on the content of pigments and of the absorption of light by dissolved organic substances on the wavelength are established. These dependences are well described by power and exponential functions.Translated from Morskoi Gidrofiziche-skii Zhurnal, No. 4, pp. 39–50, July–August, 2004.     

Taxonomic study on the family Mitridae (Mollusca: Gastropoda:Neogastropoda) from the China’s seas. Subfamilies:Imbricariinae and Cylindromitrinae

1 IntroductionThe family Mitridae mainly distributes in tropicaland subtropical regions, particularly in the Indo—Pa-cific Ocean. Up to date, nearly 500 species have beendescribed in the world (Cernohorsky, 1976, 1991). InChina, the taxomonic and faunal research is very poor.Kuroda (1941) recorded 71 species from Taiwan, Chi-na (22 of them belong to the genus Vexillinae, which isplaced in family Costellariidae now as the species ofthis genus all have prominent axial cords or grooves onthe…     

Variability of the bottom-simulating reflector (BSR) and its association with tectonic structures in the Chilean margin between Arauco Gulf (37°S) and Valdivia (40°S)

Multichannel seismic reflection data recorded between Arauco Gulf (37°S) and Valdivia (40°S), on the Chilean continental margin, were processed and modeled to obtain seismic images and sub-surface models, in order to characterize the variability of the bottom-simulating reflector (BSR), which is a geophysical marker for the presence of gas hydrates. The BSR is discontinuous and interrupted by submarine valleys, canyons, as well as by faults or fractures. The BSR occurrence is more common south of Mocha Island due to moderate slopes and greater organic matter contribution by rivers in that area. Tectonic uplift and structural instability change the stability gas hydrate zone and consequently the BSR position, creating in some cases missing or double BSRs. Our modeling supports the presence of gas hydrate above the BSR and free gas below it. Higher BSR amplitudes support higher hydrate or free gas concentrations. In the study area, gas hydrate concentration is low (an average of 3.5%) suggesting disseminated gas hydrate distribution within the sediments. Also higher BSR amplitudes are associated with thrust faults in the accretionary prism, which serve as conduits for gas flow from deeper levels. This extra gas supply produces a wider thickness of gas hydrates or free gas.     

Two cases of probable hybridisation between the pufferfishes Arothron meleagris (Anonymous 1798) and A. nigropunctatus (Bloch and Schneider 1801) on a fringing reef at Réunion Island

Two individuals displaying mixed features of the colour patterns distinctive of Arothron meleagris and A. nigropunctatus were observed on the fringing reef at Réunion Island, between September 2012 and August 2013. Because many hybrid fish have been first identified through colour patterns that are intermediate between two known species, these pufferfish individuals were suspected to be hybrids. However, since no specimen was collected for examination, a hypothesis that the observed individuals could be hybrids is based on comparison of their colouration with colour patterns documented for A. meleagris and A. nigropunctatus. Several factors favouring hybridisation are met on this reef, particularly a difference in abundance between the two putative parental species. Since larval retention and self-recruitment are considered probable at Réunion, these individuals could be the progeny of interbreeding populations of these species on this reef. To our knowledge, only one hybrid has ever been reported in the genus Arothron, although without genetic confirmation. This implies that the existence of potentially interfertile species in this genus remains a hypothesis. Our field observations provide additional data supporting this hypothesis.