The use of fish parasites as biological indicators of anthropogenic influences in coral-reef lagoons: a case study of Apogonidae parasites in New-Caledonia

Parasite species have been widely used as fish host migration tag or as indicators of local pollution. In this paper our approach is to consider the entire parasite community as a biological indicator of the fish environmental conditions. Seven fish species belonging to the Apogonidae, Apogon bandanensis, A. cookii, A. doderleini, A. norfolkensis, A. trimaculatus, Cheilodipterus quinquelineatus and Fowleria variegata, were sampled on six stations in two bays (Grand-Rade and Sainte-Marie) around Nouméa (New-Caledonia). The two bays are submitted to urban wastewater inputs alone or combined with additional industrial inputs which influences decrease from the inner part to the entrance of each bay. A total of 592 fish were dissected for macro parasite examination. Parasites were grouped according to their taxonomical rank and development stage for the analysis. We found an inconsistent effect of the confinement between the two bays, revealing that the parasite community is not the same in the two bays. Moreover, the encysted metacercariae found in the pericardic cavity were found to be significant indicators of the specific anthropogenically impacted environmental conditions prevailing in the inner parts of the two bays. Other parasite taxa were found to be significant indicators of specific environmental conditions in one or two stations among the six sampled. Results on parasite specificity and biological life cycle of the parasite taxa found in sampled Apogonid were further compared with environmental parameters.     

The composition of Titan's stratosphere from Cassini/CIRS mid-infrared spectra

We have analyzed data recorded by the Composite Infrared Spectrometer (CIRS) aboard the Cassini spacecraft during the Titan flybys T0-T10 (July 2004-January 2006). The spectra characterize various regions on Titan from 70° S to 70° N with a variety of emission angles. We study the molecular signatures observed in the mid-infrared CIRS detector arrays (FP3 and FP4, covering roughly the 600-1500 cm⁻¹ spectral range with apodized resolutions of 2.54 or 0.53 cm⁻¹). The composite spectrum shows several molecular signatures: hydrocarbons, nitriles and CO₂. A firm detection of benzene (C₆H₆) is provided by CIRS at levels of about 3.5×¹⁰⁻⁹ around 70° N. We have used temperature profiles retrieved from the inversion of the emission observed in the methane ν₄ band at 1304 cm⁻¹ and a line-by-line radiative transfer code to infer the abundances of the trace constituents and some of their isotopes in Titan's stratosphere. No longitudinal variations were found for these gases. Little or no change is observed generally in their abundances from the south to the equator. On the other hand, meridional variations retrieved for these trace constituents from the equator to the North ranged from almost zero (no or very little meridional variations) for C₂H₂, C₂H₆, C₃H₈, C₂H₄ and CO₂ to a significant enhancement at high northern (early winter) latitudes for HCN, HC₃N, C₄H₂, C₃H₄ and C₆H₆. For the more important increases in the northern latitudes, the transition occurs roughly between 30 and 50 degrees north latitude, depending on the molecule. Note however that the very high-northern latitude results from tours TB-T10 bear large uncertainties due to few available data and problems with latitude smearing effects. The observed variations are consistent with some, but not all, of the predictions from dynamical-photochemical models. Constraints are set on the vertical distribution of C₂H₂, found to be compatible with 2-D equatorial predictions by global circulation models. The D/H ratio in the methane on Titan has been determined from the CH₃D band at 1156 cm⁻¹ and found to be . Implications of this deuterium enrichment, with respect to the protosolar abundance on the origin of Titan, are discussed. We compare our results with values retrieved by Voyager IRIS observations taken in 1980, as well as with more recent (1997) disk-averaged Infrared Space Observatory (ISO) results and with the latest Cassini-Huygens inferences from other instruments in an attempt to better comprehend the physical phenomena on Titan.     

Regional estimation of catchment‐scale soil properties by means of streamflow recession analysis for use in distributed hydrological models

The estimation of catchment‐scale soil properties, such as water storage capacity and hydraulic conductivity, is of primary interest for the implementation of distributed hydrological models at the regional scale. This estimation is generally performed on the basis of information provided by soil databases. However, such databases are often established for agronomic uses and generally do not document deep‐weathered rock horizons (i.e. pedologic horizons of type C and deeper), which can play a major role in water transfer and storages. Here, we define the Drainable Storage Capacity Index (DSCI), an indicator that relies on the comparison between cumulated streamflow and precipitation to assess catchment‐scale storage capacities. DSCI is found to be reliable to detect underestimation of soil storage capacities in soil databases. We also use the streamflow recession analysis methodology defined by Brutsaert and Nieber in 1977 to estimate water storage capacities and lateral saturated hydraulic conductivities of the nondocumented deep horizons. The analysis is applied to a sample of 23 catchments (0.2–291 km²) located in the Cévennes‐Vivarais region (south of France). For regionalization purposes, the obtained results are compared with the dominant catchment geology and present a clear hierarchy between the different geologies of the area. Hard crystalline rocks are found to be associated with the thickest and less conductive deep soil horizons. Schist rocks present intermediate values of thickness and of saturated hydraulic conductivity, whereas sedimentary rocks and alluvium are found to be less thick and most conductive. These results are of primary interest in view of the future set‐up of distributed hydrological models over the Cévennes‐Vivarais region. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Exotic pollen as an indicator of variable atmospheric circulation over the Labrador Sea region during the mid to late Holocene

Variability in the abundance of exotic (non‐native) pollen in sediment cores has long been considered as a potential proxy for changing atmospheric circulation, but the difficulty of gaining sufficient total exotic pollen and the incomplete understanding of atmospheric pollen transport patterns has hindered its application. In light of recent advances in the study of pollen transport, we present an exotic pollen record from two fjord sediment cores taken from the west (Placentia Bay, Newfoundland) and east (Narsaq Sund, Greenland) Labrador Sea as a basis for studying variations in regional atmospheric circulation. The two cores cover the last ca. 5500 years and indicate a shift in dominant spring/summer air masses at ca. 2000 (southern Greenland) and 3000 cal a BP (Newfoundland) transporting reduced concentrations of pollen from southerly and south‐westerly vegetation zones. This may suggest a shift away from more dominantly zonal atmospheric circulation (a feature of positive North Atlantic Oscillation years) to more frequent meridional circulation. These results support sea ice/sea‐surface temperature proxy reconstructions from Newfoundland, investigated as part of the same project, which also suggest increased winter atmospheric circulation during the early part of the time period studied. In this region, more positive North Atlantic Oscillation years, and therefore more zonal atmospheric circulation, are associated with increased atmospheric circulation in both the winter and the summer seasons. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Formation and evolution of the chaotic terrains by subsidence and magmatism: Hydraotes Chaos, Mars

The origin of the martian chaotic terrains is still uncertain; and a variety of geologic scenarios have been proposed. We provide topographic profiles of different chaos landscapes, notably Aureum and Hydraotes Chaos, showing that an initial shallow ground subsidence occurred at the first step of the chaos formation. We infer that the subsidence was caused by intrusion of a volcanic sill; which could have produced consequent melting as well as release of ground water from disrupted aquifer. Signs of a volcanic activity are observed on the floor of Hydraotes Chaos, a complex and deep depression located at the junction of three channels. The volcanic activity is represented by small, 0.5 to 1.5 km diameter, rounded cones with summit pits. The cone's size and morphology, as well as the presence of possible surrounding lava flows, suggest that they are primary volcanic cones similar to terrestrial cinder cones. The identification of volcanic activity on the deepest chaos, where the lower crustal thickness and the faults/fractures system contributed to the magma rising, reveals that magmatic activity, proved by the cones, and possibly help by structural activity, has been a major factor in the formation of chaotic terrains.     

Energy-GDP decoupling in a second best world—a case study on India

Reference emission scenarios in the literature have been the target of criticisms that suggest they convey too optimistic views on spontaneous energy-GDP decoupling of emerging countries economies. This article focuses on the case of India. It explores the role of current suboptimalities of the Indian power sector (structural under-investment in the sector leading to capacity shortage, power cuts and low efficiency) on future energy-GDP decoupling. To do so, it uses a hybrid general equilibrium framework, in which these suboptimalities are explicitly introduced. The results highlight that whether the constraints on investments in the power sector persist or not leads to contrasted trends in energy-GDP decoupling and GHG emissions. Over the short-term, capital scarcity in the power sector constrains the development of energy-intensive activities and therefore leads to higher energy-GDP decoupling. But on the longer-term, constrains on the power sector capacity limits substitution from fossil fuels to electricity, which entails both a low energy-GDP decoupling and a constraint on GDP growth when oil prices are high. The alleviation of suboptimalities appears thus as an insurance policy towards future oil price increase.     

First assessment of the Caulerpa racemosa (Caulerpales, Chlorophyta) invasion along the French Mediterranean coast

The introduced green alga Caulerpa racemosa var. cylindracea has been rapidly spreading in the Mediterranean Sea since 1990. It was first observed in France in 1997 (Marseilles). In early 2004, the stretch of the French Mediterranean coastline and the surface area affected by the invasion were estimated at about 83 km and 4014 ha, respectively. The depth range of colonized areas was usually 10-35 m depth. Shallow (0-10 m) and deep (down to 40 m) dense meadows were rarely observed. In contrast to the dead matte of Posidonia oceanica, which constituted the most widely colonized substratum, dense P. oceanica meadows and fine sand with large ripple-marks were not invaded. Few rocky areas were colonized and coarse sand bottoms were usually colonized below 20 m depth. All the colonized areas were exposed to human activities and more than 40% were fishing areas. Mild climate, suitable substrata, presence of vectors of dispersal and absence of efficient biological control make the French Mediterranean coast particularly vulnerable to the further spread of the alga.     

Comparison of Satellite-Only Gravity Field Models Constructed with All and Parts of the GOCE Gravity Gradient Dataset

The impact of GOCE Satellite Gravity Gradiometer data on gravity field models was tested. All models were constructed with the same Laser Geodynamics Satellite (LAGEOS) and Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) data, which were combined with one or two of the diagonal gravity gradient components for the entire GOCE mission (November 2009 to October 2013). The Stokes coefficients were estimated by solving large normal equation (NE) systems (i.e., the direct numerical approach). The models were evaluated through comparisons with the European Space Agency's (ESA) gravity field model DIR-R5, by GPS/Leveling, GOCE orbit determination, and geostrophic current evaluations. Among the single gradient models, only the model constructed with the vertical ZZ gradients gave good results that were in agreement with the formal errors. The model based only on XX gradients is the least accurate. The orbit results for all models are very close and confirm this finding. All models constructed with two diagonal gradient components are more accurate than the ZZ-only model due to doubling the amount of data and having two complementary observation directions. This translates also to a slower increase of model errors with spatial resolution. The different evaluation methods cannot unambiguously identify the most accurate two-component model. They do not always agree, emphasizing the importance of evaluating models using many different methods. The XZ gravity gradient gives a small positive contribution to model accuracy.