Bottom fauna associated with mussel beds and alvinellid communities in the hydrothermal field at 9° N of the East Pacific Rise

Samples from mytilid mollusk and alvinellid polychaet communities and associated fauna were collected during cruise 49 of R/V Akademik Mstislav Keldysh at 9° N of the East Pacific Rise. The mytilids Bathymodiolus thermophylus occupied zones of diffuse releases of hydrothermal solutions with temperature anomalies a few degrees in amplitude. The alvinellid assemblages were located in the hottest parts of hydrothermal vents (～ 40°C) over sulfide mounds. The taxonomic compositions of these kinds of assemblages are different. The taxonomic richness of mytilid communities is almost twice higher. A comparison of the samples using Jaccard’s index showed a greater similarity among the alvinellid samples than that between the mytilid ones. With respect to the species number, polychaets formed the most diverse group, while gastropods were the second most diverse. The dominant species had greater proportions in alvinellid communities than in mytilid ones. This study showed great differences between the mytilid and alvinellid associations in their species composition and community structure.     

Co-evolving geomorphical and socio-economic dynamics in a coastal fishing village of the Bragança region (Pará, North Brazil)

In the area of a coastal fishing village on the mangrove peninsula of Bragança, State of Pará, North Brazil, coastal changes were observed by a beach profile monitoring programme between 1997 and 2001. The assessment allowed a subdivision of the region into four small coastal cells (1–3 km), partly exhibiting heavy erosion. A number of related socio-economic problems, such as loss of alternative income sources caused by the locally unpredictable erosion patterns were identified in three separate village sections. This results in a year-round dependence on seasonally low fishery incomes and increases the risk of poverty. Since limited options for action are available to the local population, different social groups have evolved different land use patterns, which in turn influence local coastal morphodynamics. Not only the hydrodynamic signature, but also the socio-economic organisation of a coastal community and the co-evolutionary path between these two variables thus indicate the state of a coastal system and the most promising policy actions towards sustainable coastal management.     

Are midwater shrimp trapped in the craters of submarine volcanoes by hydrothermal venting?

The biology of Kick’em Jenny (KEJ) submarine volcano, part of the Lesser Antilles volcanic arc and located off the coast of Grenada in the Caribbean Sea, was studied during a cruise in 2003. Hydrothermal venting and an associated biological assemblage were discovered in the volcanic crater (∼250 m depth). Warm water with bubbling gas emanated through rock fissures and sediments. Shrimp (some of them swimming) were clustered at vents, while other individuals lay immobile on sediments. The shrimp fauna consisted of 3 mesopelagic species that had no prior record of benthic or vent association. We suggest that these midwater shrimp, from deeper water populations offshore, were trapped within the crater during their downward diel vertical migration. It is unknown whether they then succumbed to the hostile vent environment (immobile individuals) or whether they are potentially opportunistic vent residents (active individuals). Given the abundance of submarine arc volcanoes worldwide, this phenomenon suggests that volcanic arcs could be important interaction sites between oceanic midwater and vent communities.     

Biochemical‐genetic variation in a wild and a cultured population of the greenshell mussel,Perna canaliculus

A wild and a cultured greenshell mussel (Perna canaliculus) population were compared for biochemical genetic variation at seven polymorphic and four monomorphic allozyme loci. Significant heterozygote deficiencies were observed for all polymorphic loci (La—1, La—2, Lap, Lgg—1, Lgg— 2, Pgi, and Pgm) for both populations (except the Pgi locus of the wild mussel population). Genotypic disequilibrium was calculated for both populations: genotypic frequencies were significantly non‐random at three pairs of loci among the wild mussels, and significantly non‐random at three different pairs of loci among the cultured mussels. All six pairs of loci which exhibited significant genotypic disequilibrium involved amino‐peptidases, suggesting that these loci form a linkage group, and that neither the Pgi nor the Pgm loci are associated with this group. Exact tests for population differentiation based upon population‐specific allele distributions indicated that four of the polymorphic loci were significantly heterogeneous among the two populations, whereas the remaining three polymorphic loci were not. Based upon the private allele system, the number of migrants (N _m) between the populations was estimated to be 2.009, which, according to the private allele system, represents a high level of gene flow. These findings are discussed with regard to the population biology and genetic structure of this species.     

Seep carbonate formation controlled by hydrothermal vent complexes: a case study from the Vøring Basin, the Norwegian Sea

Several hundred hydrothermal vent complexes were formed in the Vøring Basin as a consequence of magmatic sill emplacement in the late Palaeocene. The 6607/12-1 exploration well was drilled through a 220-m-thick sequence of Eocene–Miocene diatomites with carbonate nodules above the apex of one of these vent complexes. Analysed calcites and dolomites from this interval have isotopic signatures typical for methane seep carbonates, with low ¹³C signatures of –28 to –54 PDB. The data suggest that the vent complex acted as a fluid migration pathway for about 50×10⁶ years after its formation, leading to near-surface microbial activity and seep carbonate formation.     

Model of the Baltic Sea’s dynamics with nonhydrostatic effects on a triangular grid

A numerical model of the sea’s thermohydrodynamics with a finite-difference approximation of the equations of the nonhydrostatic dynamics on a grid with a triangular form of the horizontal section of its element is formulated. The slope of the lower side of the grid’s bottom cell is determined by the given linear profile of the bottom relief. Within the shallow-water approach, the dispersion relations of the B and C grids and the developed discrete model are compared; the results of tests for different approximations of the bottom relief for a rectangular basin are given and analyzed. The developed model of the thermohaline dynamics is used for studying the influence of the nonhydrostatic effects on the circulation of the Baltic Sea and a part of Vistula Bay. The comparison of the simulation results obtained according to the version with the full equation of the vertical momentum and to that using the hydrostatic approach shows the influence of the effects of the nonhydrostatic dynamics on the structure of the simulated fields even with small horizontal resolution (the step of the grid is 3.5 km). This is manifested in the strengthening of the field of the vorticity and the increasing of the sea level gradients and the velocities of the horizontal currents, whose growth reaches 1.5 cm/s.     

Unravelling the dynamics of a multi-gear fleet – Inputs for fisheries assessment and management under the Common Fisheries Policy

Effective species management requires good knowledge on vessel dynamics, either at a stock basis or through the establishment of multiannual management plans as advisable under the new European Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). Achieving such knowledge on Portuguese multi-gear fisheries is challenging given the large number of species caught and the different management measures applied to potential target species. The latter ranges from no input or output controls to output controls based on individual vessel quotas (IVQ). To provide accurate regional knowledge to the CFP, the dynamics of vessels involved in the trammel net fishery targeting anglerfish (Lophius spp.) was characterised based on onboard sampling data and logbook reports. The selected vessels were very dynamic, and were found to target other species such as hake (Merluccius merluccius), John Dory (Zeus faber) and octopus (Octopus vulgaris). Anglerfish landing trends can be explained by changes in abundance, quota availability and shifts/changes in fishing effort. Overall, the dynamics of these vessels varied with area of exploitation, IVQ value and anglerfish total allowable catch (TAC). These results show the influence of different management systems in the dynamics of vessels and the advantage of an IVQ management system, where fishers can spatially and temporally allocate effort. Results also highlight a fishing effort shift towards unregulated species in face of IVQ or TAC restrictions.     

Reestablishment of an accretionary prism after the subduction of a spreading ridge—constraints by a geometric model for the Golfo de Penas, Chile

Seismic studies offshore southern Chile have revealed the presence of a 70–80 km wide accretionary prism seaward of the Golfo de Penas (GPAP), where the Chile Ridge collided with the South American Plate between 3 and 6 Ma ago. Using the paleo-positions of the Chile Ridge relative to South America, the maximum age of this accretionary prism, which continues to be formed in the aftermath of the ridge–continent collision, has been estimated. Building on these earlier findings, this study presents a mass balance analysis based on a 2D model of accretionary wedge and trench geometry. This model can explain the relative importance of sedimentary fluxes and deformation front migration for the wedge restoration. The proposed model can also serve to evaluate the effects of fluctuations in (1) terrigenous sediment flux related to climate change, and (2) subduction channel thickness on the accretionary prism growth. Notably, the data reveal that the key parameters controlling the rebuilding of the GPAP are the terrigenous sediment flux (75 km²/10⁶ years), the relative advance of the deformation front (39.6 km/10⁶ years), and the thickness of the subduction channel (0.1 km). Moreover, the range of possible solutions for the observed size of the accretionary prism is narrowed by fitting the present-day thickness of sediments at the deformation front. Finally, climate-induced variations in sedimentary fluxes on the margin can affect the rate of growth of the accretionary prism during short periods of time (<100,000 years).     

Study on the mussel (Mytilus viridis) as an 90Sr contaminative bioindicator of a sea area

It is well known that mussels have been applied more and more to monitoring marine pollution, and have been reported on the marine radioactive monitoring. The majority concentrates the attention on the study of monitoring active products. However, the report on monitoring fission products is rare. T. R. Rice reported that the phytoplankton could concentrate ~(90)Sr, but its drawback is too large mobility to reflect the radioactive level of the specific sea area. For this purpose, the paper applies the mussel, which life range is more fixed, to discuss the possibility of monitoring ~(90)Sr.     

Spatial dynamics of the South Australian rock lobster (Jasus edwardsii) fishery under a quota‐based system

The southern rock lobster, Jasus edwardsii, is South Australia's most valuable fisheries resource, with an annual landed value of c. AU$100 million. Approximately 80% of this revenue comes from the southern zone (SZ) rock lobster fishery, which has been managed under an individual transferable quota system since 1993. The total allowable commercial catch is currently set at 1900 tonnes. Long‐term spatial trends in catch and effort were analysed over the period 1970–2005 to investigate possible changes in the spatial dynamics of the fleets as a result of quota introduction. Data indicate that the fishery contracted into three main Marine Fishing Areas (MFAs) after 1993. In particular, the long‐term catch average in MFA 51 decreased from 185.4 tonnes pre‐quota to 59.8 tonnes post quota. This MFA is located in the northern region of the SZ and is one of the furthest MFAs from the main fishing ports in the region. The fishery is also spatially contracted within MFAs. Approximately 80% of the annual catch comes from <60m depth despite catch rates being 2–3 times greater in offshore sites as evidenced from both fishery‐dependent and independent sources. Such trends appear driven by recent market preferences that select for small (<1 kg), red‐coloured lobster that are primarily located on inshore grounds. As a result, fishers now target inshore sites to maximise returns under the quota‐based system. The observed shift in the spatial dynamics of the SZ has clear implications for the biological performance indicators on which the fishery is managed. Specifically, the results highlight the need for a fishery‐independent assessment of the resource that provides estimates of catch rate and biomass independent of current harvest strategies. Preliminary results from a trial survey undertaken in 2005/06 and 2006/07 show higher lobster abundance in lowly exploited offshore sites compared with inshore areas. These trends highlight the need for refined spatial management of the resource, which is the focus of the new management plan for the fishery.     

An early footprint of fisheries: Changes for a demersal fish assemblage in the German Bight from 1902–1932 to 1991–2009

Groundfish survey data from the German Bight from 1902–08, 1919–23, and 1930–1932 and ICES International Bottom Trawl Survey (IBTS) quarter 3 data from 1991 to 2009 were analysed with respect to species frequencies, maximum length, trends in catch-per-unit-effort, species richness parameters (SNR) and presence of large fish (Φ₄₀), the latter defined as average presence of species per haul with specimens larger than 40 cm given. Four different periods are distinguished: (a) before 1914 with medium commercial CPUE and low landings, Φ₄₀ ≈ 2, high abundance in elasmobranchs and SNR conditions indicating highly diverse assemblages, (b) conditions immediately after 1918 with higher commercial CPUE, recovering landings, Φ₄₀ at > 4 in 1919, and SNR conditions indicating highly diverse assemblages, (c) conditions from 1920 to the early 1930's with decreasing commercial CPUE, increased landings, decreasing Φ₄₀, SNR conditions similar to later years indicating less diverse assemblages, and a decrease in elasmobranchs. In the IBTS series (d), Φ₄₀ remains low indicating an increased rarity of large specimens, and SNR characteristics are similar to the third period. Dab, whiting and grey gurnard have increased considerably in the IBTS series as compared to the historic data. Φ₄₀ is suggested an alternative indicator reflecting community functional diversity when weight based indicators cannot be applied.     

Seismic activity recorded by a single OBS/H near the active Longqi hydrothermal vent at the ultraslow spreading Southwest Indian Ridge (49°39′ E)

ABSTRACT

In this paper, we describe the results of a first pilot experiment of passive seismic monitoring near the active Longqi hydrothermal vent at the Southwest Indian Ridge during Chinese cruise DY115-30. During 102-day experiment, we recorded over 2,000 seismic events on a single ocean bottom seismometer with hydrophone close to the hydrothermal field. We classified these events into the following three classes based on their time–frequency characteristics: (1) volcano tectonic microearthquakes (VTMs); (2) regional earthquakes; (3) short-duration events (SDEs). We preliminarily located the 1,277 VTMs using a single-station location method. Our results revealed hypocenters primarily beneath the axial valley ridge which is about 10?km away from hydrothermal vent and extending to the upper mantle at a depth of 15?km. Two discrete swarms of VTMs occurred during our survey period. The SDEs show a complex frequency characteristics ascribed to clusters of monochromatic waves around different frequencies. This suggests that SDEs result from combination of harmonic waves resonating in fluid-filled pipes and cracks.     

Numerical investigation on the penetration of gravity installed anchors by a coupled Eulerian–Lagrangian approach

Gravity installed anchors (GIAs) are released from a height of 30–150 m above the seabed, achieving velocities up to 19–35 m/s at the seabed, and embed to depths of 1.0–2.4 times the anchor length. Challenges associated with GIAs include the prediction of anchor initial embedment depth, which determines the holding capacity of the anchor. Based on the coupled Eulerian–Lagrangian approach, a numerical framework is proposed in this paper to predict the embedment depth of GIAs, considering the effects of soil strain rate, soil strain-softening and hydrodynamic drag (modeled using a concentrated force), with the anchor-soil friction described appropriately. GIAs are influenced by the hydrodynamic drag before penetrating into the soil completely, hence the anchor accelerates less than the previous investigations in shallow penetration, even decelerates directly at the terminal impact velocity. The hydrodynamic drag has more influence on OMNI-Max anchors (with an error of ∼4.5%) than torpedo anchors, and the effect becomes more significant with increasing impact velocity. An extensive parametric study is carried out by varying the impact velocity, strain rate and strain-softening parameters, frictional coefficient, and soil undrained shear strength. It is concluded that the dominant factor affecting the penetration is the soil undrained shear strength, then are the impact velocity, strain rate dependency and frictional coefficient, and the minimal is the strain-softening of soil. In addition, although the strain rate dependency is partly compensated by the softening, the anchor embedment depth accounting for the effects of strain rate and strain-softening is lower than that for ideal Tresca soil. Strain rate dependency dominates the combined effects of strain rate and strain-softening in the dynamic installation of GIAs, on which should pay more attention, especially for the calibration of the related parameters and the measured solutions. In the end, the theoretical model based on the bearing resistance method is extended by accounting for the hydrodynamic drag effect.     

Trophic ecology of the deep-sea fish Malacosteus niger (Pisces: Stomiidae): An enigmatic feeding ecology to facilitate a unique visual system?

The deep-sea fish Malacosteus niger belongs to a family of fishes, the dragonfishes (Order: Stomiiformes, Family: Stomiidae), that are among the top predators of the open ocean mesopelagic zone. Malacosteus typifies the morphological adaptation of this group for the taking of relatively large prey. These adaptations include huge fangs, an enormous gape, and the loss of gill rakers. Despite these adaptations, examination of specimens of this species from different ocean basins shows that zooplanktivory is a common feeding mode of the species, an extreme departure from its trophic lineage. Large calanoid copepods made up 69–83% of prey numbers and 9–47% of prey biomass in specimens from the North Atlantic, the Gulf of Mexico, and throughout the Pacific. As M. niger feeding observations have never been reported, the rationale for this enigmatic feeding ecology must be inferred from other aspects of its ecology. As presently known, M. niger is unique among all vertebrates in the possession of both a long-wave bioluminescence system and a bacteriochlorophyll-derived retinal photosensitizer that allows long-wave visual sensitivity. A two-part theory is presented to explain why M. niger radically diverges from its clade and preys on food it does not appear morphologically suited to eat: (1) the combination of long-wave bioluminescence and vision systems suggests that M. niger may search small volumes for food, and thus may sustain itself energetically by snacking on small parcels of food (copepods) in between rare encounters with large prey, and (2) M. niger may gain the raw material for its long-wave visual sensitivity, and thus its feeding mode, from the consumption of copepods.     

Ichnological data as a useful tool for deep-sea environmental characterization: a brief overview and an application to recognition of small-scale oxygenation changes during the Cenomanian�CTuronian anoxic event

The oceanic anoxic event at the Cenomanian?CTuronian transition (OAE-2) is a worldwide phenomenon related with variations in atmosphere?Cocean dynamics. This event coincides with significant changes in the palaeoenvironment determining marine mass extinction affecting numerous groups of organisms. Ichnological analysis of the Cenomanian?CTuronian boundary interval has been conducted in three selected sections from different ecological and depositional settings in the western Tethys. Indeed, a brief overview of existing knowledge in this domain highlights increasing recognition of the usefulness of trace fossils in the characterization of even minor-scale deep-sea environmental changes linked to sea-level dynamics. At the study sites, variations in ichnological features, including trace fossil composition, tiering patterns and ichnofabrics, can be related to fluctuations in bottom- and pore-water oxygenation during the Cenomanian?CTuronian interval. In the Barnasiówka section (Polish Outer Carpathians), changes between oxic/dysoxic??characterized by Chondrites, Planolites and even Thalassinoides??and euxinic conditions, without trace fossils or only with Chondrites, can be explained by variations in gravity flows influencing the benthic habitat. In the El Chorro and Hedionda sections (Betic Cordillera), longer anoxic intervals during the OAE-2, characterized by the absence of trace fossils, are interrupted by shorter dysaerobic and aerobic sub-events associated with Chondrites, Palaeophycus, Planolites, Thalassinoides, Trichichnus and Zoophycos, but showing significant differences between these two sections related to the palaeogeographically differentiated influence of upwelling conditions.     

Three-dimensional characteristics of mesoscale eddies simulated by a regional model in the northwestern Pacific Ocean during 2000–2008

Mesoscale eddies play vital roles in ocean processes. Although previous studies focused on eddy surface features and individual three-dimensional (3D) eddy cases in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, the analysis of unique eddy 3D regional characteristics is still lacking. A 3D eddy detection scheme is applied to 9 years (2000–2008) of eddy-resolving Regional Ocean Modeling System (ROMS) output to obtain a 3D eddy dataset from the surface to a depth of 1 000 m in the northwestern Pacific Ocean (15°–35°N, 120°–145°E). The 3D characteristics of mesoscale eddies are analyzed in two regions, namely, Box1 (Subtropical Countercurrent, 15°–25°N, 120°–145°E) and Box2 (Southern Kuroshio Extension, 25°–35°N, 120°–145°E). In Box1, the current is characterized by strong vertical shear and weak horizontal shear. In Box2, the current is characterized by the strong Kuroshio, topographic effect, and the westward propagation of Rossby waves. The results indicate the importance of baroclinic instability in Box1, whereas in Box2, both the barotropic and baroclinic instability are important. Moreover, the mesoscale eddies’ properties in Box1 and Box2 are distinct. The eddies in Box1 have larger number and radius but a shorter lifetime. By contrast, Box2 has fewer eddies, which have smaller radius but longer lifetime. Vertically, more eddies are detected at the subsurface than at the surface in both regions; the depth of 650 m is the turning point in Box1. Above this depth, the number of cyclonic eddies (CEs) is larger than that of anticyclonic eddies (AEs). In Box2, the number of CEs is dominant vertically. Eddy kinetic energy (EKE) and mean normalized relative vorticity in Box2 are significantly higher than those in Box1. With increasing depth, the attenuation trend of EKE and relative vorticity of Box1 become greater than those of Box2. Furthermore, the upper ocean (about 300 m in depth) contains 68.6% of the eddies (instantaneous eddy). Only 16.6% of the eddies extend to 1 000 m. In addition, about 87% of the eddies are bowl-shaped eddies in the two regions. Only about 3% are cone-shaped eddies. With increasing depth of the eddies, the proportion of bowl-shaped eddies gradually decreases. Conversely, the cone- and lens-shaped eddies are equal in number at 700–1 000 m, accounting for about 30% each. Studying the 3D characteristics of eddies in two different regions of the northwestern Pacific Ocean is an important stepping stone for discussing the different eddy generation mechanisms.