Organic nitrogen and caloric content of detritus III. Effect on growth of a deposit-feeding polychaete, Capitella capitata

Laboratory experiments showed that individual growth rate of the deposit-feeding polychaete, Capitella capitata (type 1) can be predicted by rate of organic nitrogen supply (ration) of detritus to the animals. The rate at which detritus is available to a deposit-feeder, whether by sedimentation to the bottom, or decomposition of otherwise undigestable components via microbial activity, or production rate of microbes themselves, is important and not just the concentrations of limiting substrate of different detritus sources. Even so, the portion of total caloric content of the detritus that can be utilized by a deposit-feeder—approximated by the ‘available’ caloric content—also contributes to limiting growth. However, available caloric content usually is low when nitrogen content is low, as in the case of vascular plant detritus. Trophic transfer efficiency (net production/food supplied) is a measurement of food chain transfer that is usually calculated in carbon or caloric units. If one is interested in comparing energy or carbon flow in food chains, then use of these parameters is appropriate; if one is interested in comparing the efficiencies of different species, then calculations must be made using nutritional factors limiting growth.     

A flood-dominated mesotidal inlet

Tidal inlets along the mesotidal coast of Maine contrast with those from other parts of the world by being dominated by flood-tidal currents. Analysis of the factors responsible for flood or ebb dominance indicates factors external to the backbarrier environment. We suggest that the flood dominance is caused by both a steepening of the tidal wave in the Gulf of Maine and the shallow depth of the ebb-tidal delta and spit platform. Flood currents are typically 10–20 cm/sec stronger than the ebb at the inlet throat. The flood dominance results in a significant net landward transport of sediment into the backbarrier.     

Spatio-temporal variations in the diversity and abundance of commercially important Decapoda and Stomatopoda in subtropical Hong Kong waters

In subtropical Hong Kong, western waters (WW) are strongly influenced by the freshwater input from the Pearl River estuary, especially during summer monsoon, whereas eastern waters (EW) are predominantly influenced by oceanic currents throughout the year. Such hydrographical differences may lead to spatio-temporal differences in biodiversity of benthic communities. This study investigated the diversity and abundance of commercially important decapods and stomatopods in EW (i.e. Tolo Harbour and Channel) and WW (i.e. Tuen Mun and Lantau Island) of Hong Kong using monthly trawl surveys (August 2003–May 2005). In total, 22 decapod and nine stomatopod species were recorded. The penaeid Metapenaeopsis sp. and stomatopod Oratosquillina interrupta were the most abundant and dominant crustaceans in EW and WW, respectively. Both univariate and multivariate analyses showed that WW supported significantly higher abundance, biomass and diversity of crustaceans than EW, although there were significant between-site and within-site variations in community structure. Higher abundance and biomass of crustaceans were recorded in summer than winter. Such spatio-temporal variations could be explained by differences in the hydrography, environmental conditions and anthropogenic impacts between the two areas. Temporal patterns in the abundance–biomass comparison curves and negative W-statistics suggest that the communities have been highly disturbed in both areas, probably due to anthropogenic activities such as bottom trawling and marine pollution.     

Importance of vertical mixing for additional sources of nitrate and iron to surface waters of the Columbia River plume: Implications for biology

The influence of the Columbia River plume on the distributions of nitrate and iron and their sources to coastal and shelf waters were examined. In contrast to other large estuaries, the Columbia River is a unique study area as it supplies very little nitrate (5 μM) and iron (14–30 nM) at salinities of 1–2 to coastal waters. Elevated nitrate and dissolved iron concentrations (as high as 20 μM and 20 nM) were observed, however, in the near field Columbia River plume at salinities of 20. Surface nitrate concentrations were higher than observed in the Columbia River itself and therefore must be added by entrainment of higher nitrate concentrations from subsurface coastal waters. Tidal flow was identified as an important factor in determining the chemical constituents of the Columbia River plume. During the rising flood tide, nitrate and iron were entrained into the plume waters resulting in concentrations of 15 μM and 6 nM, respectively. Conversely, during the ebb tide the concentrations of nitrate and total dissolved iron were reduced to 0.3–3 μM and 1–2 nM, respectively, with a concomitant increase in chlorophyll a concentrations. As these plume waters moved offshore the plume drifted directly westward, over a nitrate depleted water mass (< 0.2 μM). The plume water was also identified to move southwards and offshore during upwelling conditions and nitrate concentrations in this far field plume were also depleted. Iron concentrations in the near-field Columbia River plume are sufficient to meet the biological demand. However, due to the low nitrate in the Columbia River itself, nitrate in the plume is primarily dependent on mixing with nitrate rich, cold, high salinity subsurface waters. Without such an additional source the plume rapidly becomes nitrate limited.     

Compound paleovalley fills in the Lower Pennsylvanian New River Formation, West Virginia, USA

Ancient paleovalley fills are typically interpreted in the rock record using over-generalized models without carefully considering modern analogs, especially in light of recent discoveries. It is now known that many Quaternary paleovalleys are compound in origin, exhibit considerable stratigraphic complexity, contain multiple incisions, and can be orders of magnitude larger than their putative ancient counterparts. Compound paleovalley fills in the Lower Pennsylvanian New River Formation (NRF) are directly comparable to these Quaternary analogs, stimulating a paradigm shift in the interpretation of ancient paleovalleys. In the NRF, multiple laterally- and vertically-juxtaposed fill successions, separated by incision surfaces, record high-frequency fluvial responses to external controls within lower-order sequences. Lowstand incision and sediment bypass, as predicted in sequence stratigraphy, is largely discounted by the available evidence and the definition of regional sequence boundaries is not straightforward. The identification of genetic sequences may be the most effective approach to understanding the NRF and, by inference, many other ancient paleovalleys. Results from this study of the NRF promote a revised model for ancient paleovalleys that incorporates: 1) the pre-eminence of compound architecture, 2) periodic episodes of incision and subaerial exposure occurring in response to high-frequency changes in climate or relative sea level, 3) fluvial downcutting as the primary cause of paleovalley incision, although some sediments are still preserved in a net-erosional regime, and 4) composite, time-transgressive sequence boundaries that may be difficult or impossible to correlate regionally.