Fish assemblages and rapid colonization after enlargement of an artificial reef off the Algarve coast (Southern Portugal)

Artificial reefs (ARs) have been deployed in Algarve (Southern Portugal) coastal waters to contribute to the sustainability of local nearshore fisheries. Herein, we describe the colonization process of the recently deployed Faro/Ancão AR, and assess the time until the fish assemblage reaches stability and their seasonal patterns. In addition, we compare the results from the present study with those previously reported for an older AR. The fish assemblages were monitored monthly over a 2‐year period by means of visual census. A rapid increase in fish colonization occurred within the first 4 months. After this initial period the assemblage structure showed high similarity (> 73%). The high rate of colonization of the AR was related to the maturity already achieved by the nearby 14‐year‐old AR and to the fish migration from the Ria Formosa lagoon, a nearby nursery habitat. The reef fish assemblage structure showed a seasonal pattern, mainly associated with recruitment episodes of occasional demersal species (Boops boops, Trachurus trachurus and Pagellus spp.) in spring and summer. A total of 66% of the species found in AR are of commercial and recreational importance. The overall mean density and biomass were 2.8 ind·m^?3 and 207 g·m^?3. The occasional demersal species accounted for 42% of the fish density. The most important species in terms of biomass belong to the Sparidae family along with Dicentrarchus labrax. The fish assemblage of the new ARs showed higher mean number of species, diversity, density and biomass values than those reported for the older AR. This result was associated with enlargement of the AR area and with the fishing exploitation of the isolated, small and patchy old AR. Moreover, the high biomass values recorded in the new ARs were mainly due to the increased density of D. labrax after AR enlargement. The results of the present study are used to define guidelines for suitable management strategies for the AR areas that are exploited by the local commercial and recreational fisheries.     

Weathering processes in the Indus River Basin: implications from riverine carbon, sulfur, oxygen, and strontium isotopes

This study deals with the major ions and isotope systematics for C, O, S, and Sr in the Indus River Basin (IRB). Major ion chemistry of the Indus, and most of its headwater tributaries, follow the order Ca²⁺>Mg²⁺>(Na⁺+K⁺) and HCO₃⁻>(SO₄²⁻+Cl⁻)>Si. In the lowland tributaries and in some of the Punjab rivers, however, (Na⁺+K⁺) and (SO₄²⁻+Cl⁻) predominate. Cyclic salts, important locally for Na⁺ in dilute headwater tributaries, constitute about 5% of the annual solutes transported by the Indus. Weathering of two lithologies, sedimentary carbonates and crystalline rocks, controls the dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) concentrations and its carbon isotope systematics throughout the Indus, but turbulent flow and lower temperatures in the headwaters, and storage in reservoirs in the middle and lower Indus promote some equlibration with atmospheric carbon dioxide. Combined evidence from sulfur and oxygen isotopic composition of sulfates refutes the proposition that dissolution of these minerals plays a significant role in the IRB hydrochemistry and suggests that any dissolved sulfates were derived by oxidation of sulfide minerals.

In the upper Indus, silicate weathering contributes as much as 75% (or even higher in some tributaries) of the total Na⁺ and K⁺, declining to less than 40% as the Indus exits the orogen. In contrast, about two-thirds of Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ in the upper Indus (over 70% in some tributaries) and three-fourth in the lower Indus, are derived from sedimentary carbonates. The ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios tend to rise with increasing proportions of silicate derived cations in the headwater tributaries and in the upper and middle Indus, but are out of phase or reversed in the lower Indus. Finally, close to the river mouth, the discharge weighted average contribution of silicate derived Ca²⁺+Mg²⁺ and silicate derived Na⁺+K⁺ are, respectively, about one-fourth and two-thirds of their total concentrations.     

Numerical study of the biaxial compressive strength of high strength concrete based on a yield design micromechanical approach

This paper presents a numerical study of high strength concrete microstructure effects on its uniaxial and biaxial compressive strengths. Concrete is first represented as a set of angular aggregates interacting within a cement paste matrix. Then, a yield design kinematic approach is conducted at the mesoscopic scale in order to determine the concrete compressive strength for a given loading path. The proposed model, having a low computational cost, is able to capture the main microstructure effects already observed in literature on concrete uniaxial compressive strength, in particular, the aggregates volume fraction and maximal size effects. Finally, the proposed model also predicts the biaxial failure envelope of high strength concrete and confirms some experimental trends observed in literature.     

Impact of Saharan dust on PM10 concentration in the Mediterranean Tunisian coasts

This paper presents samples of Saharan dust outbreak affecting the Mediterranean Tunisian coasts and its impact on PM10 (Particles with an aerodynamic diameter below 10 µm) surface concentrations measured at seven monitoring stations during summer 2006. During the events, the daily PM10 levels at all stations exceeded EU and Tunisian air quality standard limits which are equal to 50 µg/m³. The maximum values ranged from 200 µg/m³ to 300 µg/m³ depending on the monitoring station. The impact is even more dramatic on PM10 hourly concentrations leading to maximum hourly peaks ranging from 400 µg/m³ to 850 µg/m³ again depending on the monitoring station (industrial or residential, traffic and commercial). Comparison between backward air masses trajectories reaching Tunisian coasts and satellite imageries vis-à-vis the PM10 hourly concentrations measured at the monitoring stations during 2006 evidenced the influence of the Saharan dust outbreaks on surface concentrations. The origin of the air masses is found to be from South-West direction under the influence of air masses from the Algerian Saharan desert.     

Organic matter heterogeneities in 2.72 Ga stromatolites: Alteration versus preservation by sulfur incorporation

The stromatolites of the weakly metamorphosed 2.72 Ga Tumbiana Formation present abundant organic globules that resemble in size, shape and distribution the microorganisms observed in modern stromatolites. In order to evaluate the significance of these cell-like organic materials, we characterized organic matter in-situ down to the nanoscale using a combination of Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Raman microspectroscopy, scanning transmission X-ray microscopy (STXM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM).These analyses revealed the occurrence of two distinct types of organic matter forming μm-scale textural and chemical heterogeneities distributed in distinct mineralogical laminae of the stromatolites. Type A organic matter, which is by far the most abundant, consists of sulfur-poor organic matter that is located in mud-type laminae at grain boundaries, mostly in association with silicate minerals. In contrast, Type B organic matter is rare and preserved as inclusions in the core of calcite grains forming laminates. It occurs as micrometer-sized cell-like globules containing variable amounts of organic sulfur likely in the form of thiophenes.Different scenarios may account for these compositional heterogeneities in the kerogen. Based on textural and compositional analogies with modern stromatolites, it is argued that Type B sulfur-rich globules may represent microbial cells protected by mineral encapsulation and selectively preserved through polymerization by early diagenetic sulfurization. In modern sediments, this reaction is fuelled by bacterial sulfate reduction (BSR). This metabolism has been widely considered as a major driver in modern stromatolites calcification and could thus have played an important role in the formation of the Tumbiana Formation stromatolites. In contrast, Type A sulfur-poor organic matter corresponds to either fossil extracellular polymer substances (EPS) or recondensed kerogen. This pool was likely not sulfurized due to either local and/or timely variations in the concentrations of H₂S or adverse pyritization driven by the availability of iron. Our observations thus show the need to use spatially-resolved techniques to complement organic geochemistry analyses and provide a detailed analysis of the organic carbon pools composing Archean stromatolites.     

Multiscale characterization of pyritized plant tissues in blueschist facies metamorphic rocks

Pyritized plant tissues with well-preserved morphology were studied in rocks from Vanoise (western Alps, France) that experienced high-pressure, low-temperature metamorphic conditions in the blueschist facies during the Alpine orogeny. Organic and inorganic phases composing these fossils were characterized down to the nanometer scale by Raman microspectroscopy, scanning transmission X-ray microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The graphitic but disordered organic matter composing these fossils is chemically and structurally homogeneous and mostly contains aromatic functional groups. Its original chemistry remains undefined likely because it was significantly transformed by diagenetic processes and/or thermal degradation during metamorphism. Various mineral phases are closely associated with this organic matter, including sulphides such as pyrite and pyrrhotite, carbonates such as ankerite and calcite, and iron oxides. A tentative time sequence of formation of these diverse mineral phases relative to organic matter decay is proposed. The absence of traces of organic matter sulphurization, the pervasive pyritization of the vascular tissues and the presence of ankerite suggest that the depositional/diagenetic environment of these metasediments was likely rich in reactive iron. Fe-sulphides and ankerite likely precipitated early and might have promoted the preservation of the fossilized biological soft tissues by providing mechanical resistance to compaction during diagenesis and subsequent metamorphism. In contrast, iron oxides which form rims of 100-nm in thickness at the interface between organic matter and Fe-sulphides may result from metamorphic processes. This study illustrates that it may be possible in some instances to deconvolve metamorphic from diagenetic imprints and opens new avenues to better constrain processes that may allow the preservation of organic fossils during diagenesis and metamorphism.     

Modelling hydrological connectivity of tropical floodplain wetlands via a combined natural and artificial stream network

The ecological condition and biodiversity values of floodplain wetlands are highly dependent on the hydrological connectivity of wetlands to adjacent rivers. This paper describes a method for quantifying connectivity between floodplain wetlands and the main rivers in a wet tropical catchment of northern Australia. We used a one‐dimensional hydrodynamic model to simulate time‐varying water depths across the stream network (i.e. rivers, streams and man‐made drains). The timing and duration of connectivity of seven wetlands (four natural and three artificial) with the two main rivers in the catchment were then calculated for different hydrological conditions. Location and areal extent of the wetlands and the stream network were identified using high‐resolution laser altimetry, and these data formed key inputs to the hydrodynamic model. The model was calibrated using measured water depths and discharges across the floodplain. An algorithm was developed to identify contiguous water bodies at daily time steps, and this gave the temporal history of connection and disconnection between wetlands and the rivers. Simulation results show that connectivity of individual wetlands to both rivers varies from 26 to 365 days during an average hydrological condition. Location, especially proximity to a main river, and wetland type (natural stream or artificial drain) were identified as key factors influencing these levels of connectivity. Some natural wetlands maintain connection with the river for most or all of the year, whereas the connectivity of some artificial wetlands varies from 26 to 36 days according to their patterns of network connection to adjacent rivers – a result that has important implications for the accessibility of these types of wetland to aquatic biota. Using readily available river gauge data, we also show how connectivity modelling can be used to identify periods when connectivity has fallen below critical thresholds for fish movement. These connectivity patterns within the floodplain network are central to the setting of river flows that will meet environmental requirements for biota that use floodplain wetlands during their life history. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A new pan-sharpening method using multiobjective particle swarm optimization and the shiftable contourlet transform

In this paper, a novel approach based on multiobjective particle swarm optimization (MOPSO) is presented for panchromatic (Pan) sharpening of a multispectral (MS) image. This new method could transfer spatial details of the pan image into a high-resolution version of the MS image, while color information from the low-resolution MS image is well preserved. The pan and MS images are locally different because of different resolutions, and therefore we cannot directly combine them in the spatial domain. For this reason, we generate two initial results, which are more appropriate for a weighted combination. First, the pan and the MS images are histogram matched. Then we use the shiftable contourlet transform (SCT) to decompose the histogram-matched pan and MS images. The SCT is a new shiftable and modified version of the contourlet transform. In this step, an algorithm based on the SCT is used to generate two initial results of the high-resolution MS images. Our objective is to produce two modified high-resolution MS images, in which one has high spatial similarity to the pan image and the other one has high radiometric quality in each band. Therefore, we have used two different fusion rules to integrate the high-frequency contourlet coefficients of the pan and MS images to generate two initial results of high-resolution MS image or the pan-sharpened (PS) image. Finally, we can find the optimal PS image by applying the MOPSO algorithm and using the two initial PS results. Specifically, the PS image is obtained via a weighted combination of the two initial results, in which the weights are locally estimated via a multiobjective particle swarm optimization algorithm to generate a PS image with high spatial and radiometric qualities. Based on experimental results obtained, the produced pan-sharpened image also has good spectral quality. The efficiency of the proposed method is tested by performing pan-sharpening of high-resolution (Quickbird and Wordview2) and medium-resolution (Landsat-7 ETM +) datasets. Extensive comparisons with the state-of-the-art pan-sharpening algorithms indicate that our new method provides improved subjective and objective results.     

Incorporating climate change into water resources planning for the town of Polokwane,South Africa

Incorporating climate change into water resource planning is crucial to ensuring sustainable growth and development. The aim of this study was to investigate how the proposed steps to incorporating climate change into project planning developed by USAID could be applied in practice using the town of Polokwane in northeastern South Africa as a case study. Two Regional Circulation Models (RCMs) and statistical downscaling from a range of General Circulation Models (GCMs) were used to produce a set of monthly climate scenarios for 2025 and 2050. These scenarios were used to estimate the impact on surface water runoff in the Olifants River catchment and the Letaba River catchment, and groundwater recharge in the Sand River Aquifer. The impact on the potential yields from the existing Flag Bashielo Dam and other proposed dams in the Olifants River catchment were determined using the Water Resources Yield Model (WRYM). The results of the analysis were discussed at a regional stakeholders workshop. The workshop participants concluded that the higher priority for now should be on water conservation and demand management (WCDM) and to consider a phased approach to developing additional storage capacity. The results of this study show that the six-stage process for incorporating climate change into resource planning can be applied in practice and that the potential threat of climate change can give emphasis to existing win–win approaches such as WCDM and phased implementation that should form part of any sustainable water resource planning approach.     

Ocean acoustic noise and passive coherent array processing

Broadband correlation processing for extracting time-domain Green's functions and coherent wavefronts from random ocean noise has been demonstrated recently using experiments and numerical simulations that are consistent with theoretical predictions. Ocean acoustic noise processing presents additional challenges over its seismological counterpart. Mainly, the ocean environment is temporally non-stationary and it is spatially heterogeneous. Further, in the lower underwater acoustic frequency regime of about 20 to 500 Hz, space-time episodic shipping is the dominant noise source. The data from different publications and research groups are gathered here, with the goal being to review recent underwater acoustic research that demonstrates the viability and potential applications of passive coherent array processing in the ocean.