Variations in stable carbon isotope ratio of the copepod Acartia tonsa during the onset of the Texas brown tide

The Laguna Madre of South Texas is a shallow coastal lagoon whose dominant primary producers shifted from seagrasses to phytoplankton with the onset of the Texas brown tide, which persisted from 1990 through 1997. Acartia tonsa is the dominant component of the mesozooplankton and forms an important link in both the phytoplankton and detritus-based pelagic food webs. Stable carbon isotope ratios of A. tonsa, as well as the two major primary producers: phytoplankton (as particulate organic carbon) and seagrasses, were measured from March 1989 to October 1991. Zooplankton samples were collected at four locations in the Laguna Madre: two in shallow water (c. 1 m) over seagrass beds and two in slightly deeper water (c. 2–3 m) over a muddy bottom in a secondary bay without seagrasses. We found seasonal trends in the isotopic composition of A. tonsa collected within both habitats as well as distinct differences between the average {ie995-1} values of individuals collected in the two regions. Isotopic ratios of animals collected during the summer months were generally 4–8‰ enriched in ¹³C compared with those collected in the winter, at all stations. A. tonsa collected over seagrass beds were 2–5‰ more enriched in ¹³C than those collected over muddy bottoms. These observations suggest carbon derived from seagrasses can be an important source of nutrition for these copepods in summer, especially for copepods living over seagrass beds. The effects of the persistent brown tide decreased the contribution of seagrasses as a carbon source for A. tonsa during the summer of 1991. The pathway by which seagrass carbon enters the diet of A. tonsa is unclear, but the two pathways considered most likely are through copepods feeding on microzooplankton that have fed on bacteria nourished on seagrass carbon, or by copepods feeding directly on particles of seagrass detritus.     

An empirical test of helium diffusion in apatite: borehole data from the Otway basin, Australia

We have analyzed helium ages of apatites from several boreholes in the Otway basin, Australia, to evaluate whether laboratory helium diffusivity can be accurately extrapolated to conditions relevant in nature. Downhole apatite helium ages define a broad swath of values from 78–71 Ma at the surface (15°C) to nearly zero at depths corresponding to ambient temperatures of 80°C. The width of the swath results from uncertainties in corrected borehole temperatures, differences in the thermal history experienced by the various boreholes, and possibly from slightly different helium diffusivities among the detrital apatite grains studied. In the eastern Otway basin, the shape and position of the helium age profile is in good agreement with predictions based on the extrapolation of laboratory diffusivity data for Durango apatite coupled with published thermal histories for this part of the basin. In contrast, helium ages are much younger than predicted in the western Otway basin. Based on measured ages from Otway sediments, which have been essentially isothermal over the last few million years, an empirical diffusivity (D/a²) of 2×10⁻¹⁵ s⁻¹ can be assigned to apatites residing at downhole temperatures of 67–97°C. This empirical diffusivity is consistent with laboratory diffusion measurements, demonstrating that such measurements are reasonably accurate and can be applied with confidence to natural geologic settings. Given this confirmation of the laboratory diffusivity data, the discrepancy between the observed and modeled helium age profiles in the western Otway basin suggests that these sediments recently experienced higher temperatures than presently supposed.     

Isotopic fractionation associated with biosynthesis of fatty acids by a marine bacterium under oxic and anoxic conditions

Shewanella putrefaciens (Strain MR-4), a gram negative facultative marine bacterium, was grown to stationary phase under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions using lactate as the sole carbon source. Aerobically-produced cells were slightly enriched in ¹³C (+1.5‰) relative to the lactate carbon source, whereas those from anaerobic growth were depleted in ¹³C (−2.2‰). The distribution of fatty acids produced under aerobic conditions was similar to that resulting from anaerobic growth, being dominated by C_16:1 ω7 and C_16:0 fatty acids with a lesser amount of the C_18:1 ω7 component. Low concentrations of saturated even numbered normal fatty acids in the C₁₄ to C₁₈ range, and iso-C_15:0 were synthesized under both conditions. Fatty acids from anaerobic cultures (average δ¹³C=−37.8‰) were considerably depleted in ¹³C relative to their aerobically-synthesized counterparts (−28.8‰). The distinct differences in isotopic composition of both whole cells and individual fatty acid components result from differences in assimilation pathways. Under aerobic conditions, the primary route of assimilation involves the pyruvate dehydrogenase enzyme complex which produces acetyl-CoA, the precursor to lipid synthesis. In contrast, under anaerobic conditions formate, and not acetate, is the central intermediate in carbon assimilation with the precursors to fatty acid synthesis being produced via the serine pathway. Anaerobically-produced bacterial fatty acids were depleted by up to 12‰ relative to the carbon source. Therefore, detection of isotopically depleted fatty acids in sediments may be falsely attributed to a terrestrial origin, when in fact they are the result of bacterial resynthesis.     

The hypothetical chemical and spectroscopic activity of Germane in the atmosphere of Jupiter

It is suggested that in a reducing environment such as the Jovian atmosphere, GeH₄ may be spectroscopically active. Absorption features might be detectable in the 4.7μ window in the Jovian upper atmosphere.     

Photoelectric photometry of asteroids 9 Metis, 18 Melpomene, 60 Echo, 116 Sirona, 230 Athamantis, 694 Ekard,and 1984 KD

Photoelectric observations of seven asteroids were made from Gila Observatory between October 14, 1983, and June 21, 1984. The following synodic rotational periods and amplitudes are reported: 9 Metis, P = 5.04 hr, ΔM = 0.05; 18 Melpomene, P = 11.570 hr, ΔM = 0.22; 60 Echo, P = 25.208 hr, ΔM = 0.22; 116 Sirona, P = 12.028 hr, ΔM = 0.42; 230 Athamantis, P = 23.99 hr, ΔM > 0.20; 694 Ekard, P = 5.925 hr, ΔM = 0.50; 1984 KD, P = 1.97 hr, ΔM = 0.26. The rotational periods reported for asteroid 60 Echo, 116 Sirona, 694 Ekard, and 1984 KD represent completely new results. The synodic rotational period reported for asteroid 1984 KD is tentative and is based largely upon the observations of a single night. The reported synodic periods of the remaining six asteroids are based upon a minimum of 3 nights of photometric observations.     

Some newly discovered coronal emission lines from high altitude infrared observations of the 7 March, 1970, solar eclipse

A survey of the infrared coronal spectrum between 1 and 3 was made from a high altitude aircraft during the 7 March, 1970, solar eclipse. The observations were made with a Fourier transform spectrometer and were confined to the outer chromosphere and inner corona. In addition to well known chromospheric lines of Hi and Hei, nine additional lines were seen. Evidence is presented for the tentative assignment of these lines to forbidden transitions in highly ionized atoms of magnesium, aluminum, silicon, sulphur, and chromium.