Recruitment variability in dab (Limanda limanda) in the southeastern North Sea

Data from three annual surveys, covering inshore and offshore waters of the southeastern North Sea, were analysed to study recruitment variability in dab (Limanda limanda) over the period 1978–1997. Geometric mean abundance of 0- to 5-group dab was estimated using general linear models. Juvenile dab (0- and 1-group) were found over the entire area, from inside the estuaries to 50 m depth offshore. Environmental conditions (water temperature, wind stress, turbidity) affected the catch rates. The potential errors in the estimates of year-class strength, caused by differences in catchability, are discussed. The inter-annual pattern of year-class strength appeared to be established between ages 1 and 2, suggesting that factors determining recruitment are not restricted to the pelagic early life phase only, but also operate during the demersal juvenile phase. Recruitment variability at age 2 was in the order of 50–60% and appears to be equal to, or lower than, recruitment variability in plaice and sole. These results contradict expectations based on the concentration hypothesis, which states that the degree of variation in recruitment is inversely related to the degree of concentration during early life phases.     

Continuous seismic and magnetic profiles over the Mid Atlantic Ridge between 12° and 18°N

Results are given of the Mid Atlantic Ridge section of a transoceanic survey carried out on board of freighters heading for South America and of ships of both the Royal Navy and the Royal Netherlands Navy. The tracks cross the Mid Atlantic Ridge between 12° and 18°N (GEBCO sheets 153/154).     

Sources and Distribution of Particulate Organic Matter of a Tropical Estuarine-Lagoon System from NE Brazil as Indicated by Lipid Biomarkers

In the present work, we evaluated the origin of organic matter in the tropical estuarine-lagoon system of Mundaú–Manguaba, NE Brazil, by considering the bulk (organic carbon and chlorophyll-a) and lipidic (n-alcohols and sterols) composition of suspended particles. Water samples were collected in August 2006 from 24 stations covering the salinity gradient from the rivers down to the sea outlet. Chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) varied from 22.7 to 134.1 μg L⁻¹ in the lagoons, indicating eutrophic to hypertrophic conditions at the time of sampling. The high correlation between Chl-a and phytol together with the molar C:N ratio indicated the presence of fresh and recently produced autochthonous particulate organic matter throughout the system, except for the river samples. The elevated concentrations of short-chain n-alcohols and phytosterols, mainly 24-methylcholesta-5,24(28)-dien-3β-ol, also corroborated the predominance of autochthonous organic matter in the lagoons but were generated by distinct sources: cianobacteria in the freshwater Manguaba lagoon and diatoms in the brackish Mundaú lagoon compartments. Input of terrestrial organic matter was only detected in the rivers themselves or at the upper river–lagoon interfaces. Coprostanol indicated contamination by sewage in Mundaú lagoon and in some rivers, but at lower levels when compared to other Brazilian coastal lagoons and estuaries.     

Stakeholder analysis of the governance framework of a national SDI dataset – whose needs are met in the buildings and address register of the Netherlands?

ABSTRACT

National spatial data infrastructures are key to achieving the Digital Earth vision. In many cases, national datasets are integrated from local datasets created and maintained by municipalities. Examples are address, building and topographic information. Integration of local datasets may result in a dataset satisfying the needs of users of national datasets, but is it productive for those who create and maintain the data? This article presents a stakeholder analysis of the Basisregistratie Adressen en Gebouwen (BAG), a collection of base information about addresses and buildings in the Netherlands. The information is captured and maintained by municipalities and integrated into a national base register by Kadaster, the Cadastre, Land Registry and Mapping Agency of the Netherlands. The stakeholder analysis identifies organisations involved in the BAG governance framework, describes their interests, rights, ownerships and responsibilities in the BAG, and maps the relationships between them. Analysis results indicate that Kadaster and the municipalities have the highest relative importance in the governance framework of the BAG. The study reveals challenges of setting up a governance framework that maintains the delicate balance between the interests of all stakeholders. The results provide guidance for SDI role players setting up governance frameworks for national or global datasets.     

Qualitative and quantitative applications of LiDAR imagery in fluvial geomorphology

The potential for geomorphological mapping and quantitative calculations of light detection and ranging (LiDAR) data within fluvial geomorphology was studied for two river catchments within Belgium (Dijle and Amblève), which differ in physical settings and floodplain morphology. Two commercial, of‐the‐shelf LiDAR datasets with different specifications (horizontal resolution and vertical accuracy) were available for parts of the floodplains of both catchments. Real‐time kinematic (RTK) Global Positioning System (GPS) data were used as ground truth for error calculations. Qualitative analysis of LiDAR data allowed the identification of former channel patterns, levees, colluvial hillslope and fan deposits. These results were confirmed by field data, topographic surveys and historical maps. The pixel resolution proved to be an important factor in the identification of small landforms: only features with a width equal to or larger than LiDAR resolution can be detected. This poses limits on the usability of regionally available LiDAR data, which often have a horizontal resolution of several metres. The LiDAR data were also used in a quantitative analysis of channel dynamics. In the study area, the width of the Dijle River channel increased 3 m on average between 1969 and 2003. A sediment budget of channel processes for the period 1969–2003 indicated a total river bank erosion of 16·1 10³ m³ and a total within channel deposition of 7·1 10³ m³, resulting in a net river erosion of 9·0 10³ m³ or c. 0·4 Mg year^?1 per metre river length. Sequential LiDAR data can in theory be used to calculate vertical sedimentation rates, as long as there is control on the error of the reference levels used. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley and Sons, Ltd.     

Soil frost effects on streamflow recessions in a subarctic catchment

The Arctic is warming rapidly. Changing seasonal freezing and thawing cycles of the soil are expected to affect river run‐off substantially, but how soil frost influences river run‐off at catchment scales is still largely unknown. We hypothesize that soil frost alters flow paths and therefore affects storage–discharge relations in subarctic catchments. To test this hypothesis, we used an approach that combines meteorological records and recession analysis. We studied streamflow data (1986–2015) of Abiskojokka, a river that drains a mountainous catchment (560 km²) in the north of Sweden (68° latitude). Recessions were separated into frost periods (spring) and no‐frost periods (summer) and then compared. We observed a significant difference between recessions of the two periods: During spring, discharge was linearly related to storage, whereas storage–discharge relationships in summer were less linear. An analysis of explanatory factors showed that after winters with cold soil temperatures and low snowpack, storage–discharge relations approached linearity. On the other hand, relatively warm winter soil conditions resulted in storage–discharge relationships that were less linear. Even in summer, relatively cold antecedent winter soils and low snowpack levels had a propagating effect on streamflow. This could be an indication that soil frost controls recharge of deep groundwater flow paths, which affects storage–discharge relationships in summer. We interpret these findings as evidence for soil frost to have an important control over river run‐off dynamics. To our knowledge, this is the first study showing significant catchment‐integrated effects of soil frost on this spatiotemporal scale.     

Distributions of total,inorganic and organic phosphorus in surface and recent sediments of the sub-tropical and semi-pristine Guaratuba Bay estuary,SE Brazil

This study addresses the distribution of total phosphorus (TP) and its inorganic (IP) and organic (OP) fractions, grain-size and organic matter of surface and recent sediments, coupled to the behavior of total and dissolved inorganic phosphorus (TP and DIP) of the water column, of the semi-pristine Guaratuba Bay estuary, SE Brazil. Surface sediment samples were taken at 43 sites spread along the estuarine gradient and recent sediments from 3 short (35 cm long) cores from the upper, central and lower portions of the estuary, respectively. Highest TP and IP concentrations of surface sediments were detected within the upper sector and the transition zone between the upper and central sectors, all characterized by fine sediments, low salinities and water depths. In contrast, the lower sector and its narrow and deep tidal channel, subject to more intense tidal forcing, exhibited a higher fraction of sandy sediments with lower TP, IP and OP contents. In spite of the spatial variability in sediment grain size, IP corresponded to the major fraction of TP in all estuarine sectors and both TP and IP correlated significantly with the fine sedimentary (silt + clay) grain-size fraction. The fine surface sediments acted as a trap for IP at the fresh water–low salinity interface, which also corresponded to the region of a DIP sink in surface waters. In general, the short sediment cores showed that TP and IP contents increased from 15 cm depths to the top layer. Published sedimentation rates from additional cores taken at the sites of the short cores of this study, implied that depositional alterations of TP and IP increased during the early 1970s, which corresponded to the onset of anthropogenic disturbances from crop plantations in the lowland plains of the river end-member and urbanization at the estuary’s mouth and along the adjacent coast.     

On the parameterization of biological influences on offshore sand wave dynamics

The bed of the North Sea is covered by sand waves and houses a great number of macrobenthic animals. These bio-engineers are known to have a significant influence on the stability of the bed and thereby on the geomorphology of the seabed. This paper proposes a parameterization of these bio-geomorphological interactions. Given the abundance of three dominant bio-engineers on the Dutch Continental Shelf, the predicted occurrence of sand waves, in which the parameterization is included, shows significantly better results, compared to the prediction for the default case without biology. Therefore, the inclusion of biological activity could be important to predict the occurrence of sand waves.