Projective ordination by SIMCA: A dynamic strategy for cost-efficient environmental monitoring around offshore installations

A method for environmental monitoring using benthic species profiles as input is developed in this work. The method, referred to as projective ordination, utilises local principal component modelling (SIMCA) to obtain a cross-validated model which spans the natural variation in a region around offshore oil-producing installations. The borderline between regions with disturbed and non-disturbed species communities is subsequently decided from the residual distribution. This distribution is used to design an approximate F-test for assessing whether a community at a particular sampling location is disturbed or not. If so, the nature of the disturbance is determined by projecting the data on the PC model.Projective ordination utilises information from previous surveys to define the permissible variation in species communities, i.e. the limit of the natural variation. In addition, the method is dynamic, in a sense that the sampling locations may vary from survey to survey.Furthermore, our analysis shows that the customary number of replicate samples per station can be reduced. Modelling with only four randomly chosen replicates out of the complete set of five for each sampling location, does not affect the model significantly. On the other hand, taking only 3 replicates into account leads to significant divergences.A model based on the 1990 and 1993 surveys at the Statfjord field is presented as an example of the technique.     

Seltene Mineralparagenesen in den Kalksteineinsehlüssen der Lava des Ettringer Bellerberges bei Mayen (Eifel)

Zusammenfassung Sechs metamorph veränderte Kalksteineinschlüsse aus verschiedenen Teilen der Lavaströme des Ettringer Bellerberges bei Mayen (Eifel) wurden optisch, chemisch und röntgenographisch untersucht. Sie setzen sich aus seltenen, z. T. erstmals in der Natur gefundenen Mineralen zusammen. Der Mineralbestand der Einschlüsse wird beschrieben. Er weicht von Probe zu Probe z. T. erheblich ab. Je nachdem in welchen Mineralen Fe und Al enthalten sind, lassen sich die Einschlüsse in 2 Gruppen einteilen: eine mit Brownmillerit, Mayenit, Larnit und eine 2. mit Wollastonit, Gehlenit, Magnetkies, Spinell.Am Aufbau aller Gesteine sind stets kristallwasserhaltige Minerale (Ettringet, Portlandit, Hydrocalumit) in z. T. ziemlich großen Mengen beteiligt. Diese Minerale kommen gelegentlich auch in Hohlräumen frei gewachsen vor.Eine völlig andere Zusammensetzung hat nur ein Teil aus dem Inneren eines Einschlusses. Er besteht nur aus Diopsid und Grossular.Soweit es die vorliegenden (noch nicht vollständigen) Untersuchungsergebnisse zulassen, werden mögliche Reaktionen, die zur Bildung dieser ungewöhnlichen Paragenese geführt haben könnten, diskutiert. Als Vergleich dienten nicht nur andere natürliche Kalkkontakte, sondern es wurden auch Erfahrungen der Zementforschung herangezogen.Die wasserfreien Minerale sind wahrscheinlich bei hohen Temperaturen und ziemlich niedrigen Drucken entstanden. Erst später; nachdem die Lava schon weitgehend abgekühlt war, können sich die kristallwasserhaltigen Minerale gebildet haben.Der Deutschen Forschungsgemeinschaft danken wir für das Bereitstellen von Geräten.

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Six metamorphic altered limestone inclusions from different parts of the lava flows of the Ettringer Bellerberg near Mayen (Eifel, Germany) have been investigated by optical, chemical, and X-ray methods. They are composed of rare minerals, two of them have been found the first time naturally. The mineral composition of the inclusions is not uniform. They may be divided into two groups, one with brownmillerite, mayenite, larnite, and another one with wollastonite, gehlenite, pyrrhotite, spinel. A small (inner) part of one inclusion consists only of diopside and grossularite.In all rocks there are minerals containing crystallized water (ettringite, portlandite, and hydrocalumite), sometimes in large amounts. These minerals are found occasionally well developed in cavities.Possible modes of formation of this unusual paragenesis are discussed as far as it is permitted by the results of this investigation.

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Herrn Prof. Dr.Carl W. Correns zum 70. Geburtstag gewidmet.     

A time-series study of particulate matter export in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre based on Th : U disequilibrium

Depth profiles of total ²³⁴Th (dissolved+particulate) were collected at Station ALOHA (22°45N, 158°00W) in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre during 9 cruises from April 1999 to March 2000. Samples were collected and processed by a new 2 L technique that enables more detailed depth resolution then previous ²³⁴Th studies. Significant zones of particle export (²³⁴Th deficiency) and particle remineralization (²³⁴Th excess) were measured both temporally and with depth. ²³⁴Th derived particulate carbon (PC) and nitrogen (PN) fluxes were determined with steady-state and non-steady-state models and PC/²³⁴Th and PN/²³⁴Th ratios measured with both in situ pumps and free-drifting particle interceptor traps deployed at 150 m. ²³⁴Th based export estimates of 4.0±2.3 mmol C m⁻² d⁻¹ and 0.53±0.19 mmol N m⁻² d⁻¹, were approximately 60% higher than those measured in PIT style sediment traps from the same time period, 2.4±0.2 mmol C m⁻² d⁻¹ and 0.32±0.08 mmol N m⁻² d⁻¹. Most of this difference is attributable to two large export events that occurred during October and December 1999, when traps undercollected for ²³⁴Th by a factor of 2 to 4. ²³⁴Th export (ThE) ratios based on ²³⁴Th derived PC flux/¹⁴C based primary production ranged from 4% to 22% (average=8.8%). Our results confirm the recent estimates of C export by Emerson et al. (Nature 389 (1997) 951) and Sonnerup et al. (Deep-Sea Research I 46 (1999) 777) and indicate that C export from the oligotrophic ocean must be considered when discussing C sequestration in global climate change.     

Effects of Cropping on Growth in the Mediterranean Seagrass Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile*

Abstract. In view of proposed human use of seagrass production the influence of cropping on the growth of Posidonia oceanica (L.) DELILE was investigated. Removal of photosynthetic tissue reduces productivity throughout most of the growth season. This is consistent with the observed low natural grazing rates in aquatic macrophytes. A high mortality of shoots points to possible irreversible damage to the meadow. Harvesting of Posidonia should therefore be restricted to the end of the leaf growth period in early fall.     

Coral Associations, Biocorrosion, and Space Competition in Pedum spondyloideum (Gmelin) (Pectinacea, Bivalvia)

Abstract. In the northern Red Sea several genera of sclcractinian corals arc used as hosts by Pedum spondyloideum. High population densities lead to space competition. The bivalves use chemical means to interact with each other and with their host corals. Due to dorsal attachment and predominantly ventral growth - to keep pace with coral growth - biocorrosion is less obvious, than in Lilhophuga.     

Isolation of differentially expressed genes from contaminant exposed European flounder by suppressive, subtractive hybridisation

Commercially farmed European flounder (Platichthys flesus) were treated with benzo[a]pyrene or cadmium under controlled laboratory conditions. In addition, animals were collected from the polluted Tyne and relatively clean Alde estuaries in the UK. Potential differentially expressed genes were isolated from liver tissue by means of suppressive, subtractive hybridisation. A total of 284 different mRNAs were identified as having the potential for being differentially expressed, of which 84 could be tentatively identified by homology with database sequences. These clones will form part of a flounder cDNA array for validation and future applications, with full identification being pursued for those expressed sequence tags for which differential expression can be confirmed by array technology.     

A SF6 tracer study of horizontal mixing in Lake Constance

Horizontal mixing processes in the hypolimnion of the western part of Lake Constance are studied by measuring the dispersion of a sulfur hexafluoride (SF₆) tracer plume. Only 1 liter gaseous SF₆ (STP) was released at a central hypolimnic depth of 60 m in August 1990. Over a period of 3 months the horizontal dispersion of the tracer plume was measured by 19 surveys using a new, vertically integrating sampling device. The observed horizontal dispersion is marked by strong storm-induced stirring events. Nevertheless mean turbulent diffusion coefficients for the whole period can be computed. They rise about linear from 0.7 10⁵ cm²/s to 3.0 10⁵ cm²/s with the distance from the western end of the lake. For the hypolimnion of Überlingersee, a sill-separated basin in the western part of Lake Constance, a simple budget model gives an exchange time of 67 ± 6 days with the main basin (Obersee).     

Narrow-band photometry and the stellar populations in elliptical galaxies

The modified Strömgrenuvby filter system, which has been used to investigate the spectrophotometric evolution of elliptical galaxies, is also found to be a powerful tool for the determination of stellar parameters in elliptical galaxies, especially metal content and the stellar type of the dominant population. We present an introduction to the behaviour of the filter system based on comparison to stellar libraries and then explore the results with respect to composite systems: globular clusters, spirals, and ellipticals.Paper presented at the 11th European Regional Astronomical Meetings of the IAU on New Windows to the Universe, held 3–8 July, 1989, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain.