Soldier crab (Dotilla myctiroides) distribution,food resources and subsequent role in organic matter fate in Ao Tang Khen,Phuket, Thailand

This study aimed to elucidate Dotilla myctiroides (H. Milne-Edwards) food resources and how the soldier crab influences the organic matter composition on the intertidal flat. A preliminary assessment of D. myctiroides size, sex, and population distribution was conducted to clarify the characteristics of the inhabiting population. Overall, D. myctiroides size and abundance was normal across the tidal flat area. Comparison of different sediment types from the soldier crab habitat (surface sediments, igloos, burrow lining, burrow pellets, feeding pellets, and feces) using the fatty acid (FA) analysis technique revealed D. myctiroides removes organic matter via the significantly lower contributions of polyunsaturated FAs, essential FAs, and dinoflagellates in the feeding pellets. Dotilla myctiroides tissue analysis of the hepatopancreas and hindgut in individuals that had been starved for 24 h confirmed not only the consumption of dinoflagellates, but diatoms and macroalgae as well. In addition, the FA metabolism within the digestive system implied the ability of the soldier crab to synthesize highly unsaturated FAs (HUFAs) such as 20:4n–6, 20:5n–3 and 22:6n–3.     

Spatial and temporal patterns of seagrass habitat use by fishes at the Ryukyu Islands,Japan

To investigate whether or not regional–temporal patterns of seagrass habitat use by fishes existed at the Ryukyu Islands (southern Japan), visual surveys were conducted in seagrass beds and adjacent coral reefs in northern, central, and southern Ryukyu Islands, in November 2004, and May, August, and November 2005, the northern region having less extensive seagrass beds compared with the central and southern regions. During the study period, the seagrass beds were utilized primarily by 31 species, the densities of some of the latter differing significantly among regions. With the exception of Apogonidae and Holocentridae, all species were diurnal and could be divided into 6 groups based on seagrass habitat use patterns; (1) permanent residents A (10 species, e.g. Stethojulis strigiventer), juveniles and adults living in seagrass beds as well as other habitats; (2) permanent residents B (5 species, e.g. Calotomus spinidens), juveniles and adults living only or mainly in seagrass beds; (3) seasonal residents A (4 species, e.g. Cheilodipterus quinquelineatus), juveniles living in seagrass beds as well as other habitats; (4) seasonal residents B (6 species, e.g. Lethrinus atkinsoni), juveniles living only or mainly in seagrass beds; (5) transients (5 species, e.g. Parupeneus indicus), occurring in seagrass beds in the course of foraging over a variety of habitats; and (6) casual species (1 species, Acanthurus blochii), occurring only occasionally in seagrass beds. Regarding temporal differences, juvenile densities in each group were high in May and August compared with November in each region, whereas adult densities did not differ drastically in each month. For regional differences, juvenile and adult densities of permanent residents A and B were higher in the southern and central regions than in the northern region. Moreover, some seasonal residents showed possible ontogenetic habitat shift from seagrass beds to coral reefs in each region. These results indicated that seagrass habitat use patterns by fishes changed temporally and regionally and there may be habitat connectivity between seagrass beds and coral reefs via ontogenetic migration in the Ryukyu Islands.     

Factors affecting dominant peak-flow runoff-generation mechanisms among five neighbouring granitic headwater catchments

We examined how and why dominant peak-flow runoff-generation mechanisms differ among neighbouring headwater catchments. We monitored runoff and groundwater levels and performed terrain analyses in a granitic second-order catchment and its four neighbouring subcatchments in the Kiryu Experimental Watershed in Japan. Our analysis of lag times from peak rainfall to peak runoff suggests differences in the dominant peak-flow runoff-generation mechanisms among the five catchments. For two of the three zero-order catchments, with few perennial groundwater bodies, subsurface flow from hillslopes was the dominant mechanism at some events. However, the dominant mechanisms were channel precipitation and riparian runoff at almost all events in first- and second-order catchments and in the third zero-order catchment, which has a large perennial groundwater body over a bedrock depression in the riparian zone. In this zero-order catchment, the quick-flow ratio was the smallest of the five catchments because subsurface flow from the hillslope was buffered at the riparian zone. These facts suggest that the channel length, riparian buffering, and hillslope connectivity were the factors governing the different dominant peak-flow runoff-generation mechanisms among the catchments. Riparian buffering was affected, not only by surface topography, but also by bedrock topography and bedrock groundwater (BGW) dynamics. Our findings indicate that both of BGW dynamics and topography are important for catchment classification, and the relative importance of topography increases with the change from baseflow to stormflow. Furthermore, mismatching between a geographic source and a flow path resulted in different catchment classifications depending on the approach. Therefore, multiple approaches during both baseflow and stormflow periods are necessary for catchment classification to apply information obtained from one headwater catchment to other headwater catchments within the same region.     

On the effects of compression of a gaseous disc by thermal and dynamical pressures of intergalactic gas

We consider a galaxy moving in a cluster of galaxies and study the effects of compression of the gas disc by both thermal and dynamical pressures of intergalactic gas. As the result of compression, massive gas clouds are formed. They are not stripped by dynamical pressure of the intergalactic gas but stay in the galaxy until they are disrupted by formation of massive stars.Paper presented at the IAU Third Asian-Pacific Regional Meeting, held in Kyoto, Japan, between 30 September–6 October, 1984.     

Asteroids approaching the Earth from directions around the Sun

We have estimated close asteroid encounters with the Earth by numerical integrations of a system with the Sun, 9 planets, and 188 near-earth-asteroids during the period 1994–4600. Asteroids approach the Earth from directions within 30 around the Sun in more than 20% of encounters with the closest distance less than 0.01 AU. Since ground-based observations cannot detect these objects, we should develop space-borne and/or lunar observatories in a short time to allow enough warning time before a catastrophic collision.     

Log N — log S of radio sources at 10 GHz with flat spectra

A logN — logS relation at 10 GHz is constructed for sources with the flat spectra 0.5 (flux densitySv ^–) from observations at NRO, MPIfR and others. Based on the source distribution on log (Luminosity) volume plane we obtain an epoch-depending luminosity function which explains the above relation.Paper presented at the IAU Third Asian-Pacific Regional Meeting, held in Kyoto, Japan, between 30 September–6 October, 1984.Nobeyama Radio Observatory, a branch of the Tokyo Astronomical Observatory, University of Tokyo, is a facility open for general use by researchers in the field of astronomy and astrophysics.     

Study on the managanese nodule

Chemical and X-ray analyses were performed on the fifteen manganese nodules collected from the Pacific Ocean floor. The results were discussed compared with the previous data on the manganese nodules. Minerals were found to be todorokite, δ-MnO₂ and other silicates, montmorillonite, illite, phillipsite and α-SiO₂. Average composition shows that copper is concentrated on the deep sea nodules more than the shallow ones, and that the todorokite rich nodules contain more copper and nickel than the δ-MnO₂ rich ones. The analyses of fresh water iron-manganese precipitates by bacterial activity suggest that biological process is one of the important factors on the genesis of the sedimentary iron-manganese deposits, including the manganese nodule. The Institute of Physical and Chemical Research     

Growth characteristics ofChattonella antiqua (Raphidophyceae)

Chattonella antiqua (Raphidophyceae), which causes heavy red tides in the Seto Inland Sea, Japan, was placed in axenic clonal culture by micropipette washing. The effects of temperature, salinity, light intensity and pH on growth were monitored. Maximum growth occurred at 25°C, at salinities between 25 and 41‰, under light intensities above 0.04 ly min^?1. The pH effect was not significant in the pH range from 7.6 to 8.3. Comparisons of our results with those from field observations suggest that the development of theC. antiqua red tide is strongly temperature dependent.     

Seasonal Variation in Host Utilization of Epiphytic Lacuna Species in Mixed Algal and Surfgrass Stands in Japan

Abstract.  On the subtidal rocky shore of Akkeshi Bay, Hokkaido, Japan, the congeneric phytal gastropods, Lacuna uchidai and L. decorata , inhabit the multispecific vegetation consisting of the surfgrass, Phyllospadix iwatensis and the brown alga, Cystoseira hakodatensis . We studied the phenologies of Phyllospadix and Cystoseira , host utilization patterns and life histories of Lacuna spp. to examine how these gastropods accommodate the seasonal fluctuations of the habitat. The preferences for macrophyte by Lacuna spp. were examined by laboratory experiments. The phenologies of macrophytes, the seasonal and between-substrata variations of Lacuna spp. were examined by monthly sampling from Phyllospadix and Cystoseira beds between May 1999 and May 2000. Lacuna uchidai showed significant preference for Phyllospadix , whereas L. decorata had no preference for a particular substratum. Most L. uchidai were collected from the Phyllospadix bed, however L. decorata appeared in both Phyllospadix and Cystoseira beds. The peak of new recruit of L. uchidai coincided with that of Phyllospadix biomass. The synchronization of life cycle with the phenology of the host may be adaptive for using the limited habitat. Seasonal variation in density of L. decorata coincided with neither patterns for Phyllospadix nor Cystoseira . Seasonal variation in density and size frequency distribution suggested L. decorata migrated among adjacent macrophytes. Although it was a little vague, this hypothesis was probably the best explanation of our results. Our study shows that two co-occurring Lacuna species utilize the macrophytes as habitats by the different life histories and utilization patterns and, may be alternatively accommodated to the seasonal fluctuations of their habitats.     

Observation of behavior of a sergestid shrimpSergestes lucens Hansen by underwater photography

Some behavior ofSergestes lucens by day was observed by underwater camera with an electronic flash. A number of species was snapped at about 2–60 m above the steep continental slope where the bottom ranged between 341 and 437 m depths. They were often abundant from 3–4 to 10 m above the bottom. It suggests that the shrimps scatter widely along the continental slope by day. The maximum concentration of the shrimp was 1.2 individuals/m³. None of the shrimps was found on the bottom, and the majority were swimming in horizontal position.