Lead and Aroclor 1254 disrupt reproductive neuroendocrine function in Atlantic croaker

We have previously shown that lead (lead chloride) and a polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) mixture (Aroclor 1254) can alter hypothalamic serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) content, and pituitary gonadotropin II (GTH II) release in vitro, in the Atlantic croaker (Micropogonias undulatus). In the present study we investigated whether impairment of the hypothalamic 5-HT pathway involves alterations in tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH), the rate-limiting enzyme in 5-HT biosynthesis, or monoamine oxidase (MAO), the catabolic enzyme. Aroclor 1254 (1 mg/kg body wt. for 30 days) significantly inhibited hypothalamic TPH activity without altering MAO activity, and caused a significant decline in 5-HT content. On the other hand, lead exposure (15 mg/kg body wt. for 30 days) only induced a slight decrease in hypothalamic 5-HT content and TPH activity, and a minor increase in MAO activity. However, both Aroclor 1254 and lead significantly inhibited the GTH II response to stimulation by a luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone analog (LHRHa) in vivo and caused reduced gonadal growth. These results demonstrate that impairment of hypothalamic serotonin metabolism by Aroclor 1254 involves inhibition of 5-HT synthesis, whereas lead does not exert a profound influence on 5-HT metabolism. The decline in 5-HT availability due to reduced 5-HT synthesis in the PCB-exposed fish may result in disruption of the stimulatory 5-HT-GnRH pathway controlling GTH II secretion leading to impairment of gonadal growth.     

Basalt from Louisiana continental shelf

A basalt outcrop was discovered on Alderdice Bank on the outer Louisiana continental shelf. The basalt shows an age of 76.8 ± 3.3 × 10⁶ years. Textural, mineralogical, and chemical characteristics indicate that it is an alkali basalt of shallow intrusive origin. It was probably brought to the seafloor by salt tectonics and exposed due to salt dissolution.An accurate account of the Mesozoic geologic history of the Gulf of Mexico must consider the apparent consanguinity of all magmatic rocks of the region, including the Alderdice Bank basalt, and the apparent basinward decrease in age of magmatic activities.     

Abundance, distribution and patch formation of zooplankton

The goal of studies described here was to determine the responses of zooplankton taxa to phytoplankton patches which develop in and near intrusions of cold, nutrient-rich Gulf Stream water. To achieve this goal we determined the horizontal and vertical distributions of abundant mesozooplankton taxa on the south-eastern continental shelf of the USA between 29°30′ and 31°N. The study period was from June 23 to August 16, 1981. Highest concentrations of zooplankton usually occurred in and near patches of phytoplankton. Increased phytoplankton appeared to trigger the formation of patches of the calanoid copepod Temora turbinata and the cyclopoid copepods Oithona spp. and Oncaea spp. The patches of zooplankton had greater alongshore than cross-shelf dimensions. T. turbinata responded rapidly to increased concentrations of phytoplankton by reproducing and aggregating in and above intruded waters. Oithonidae which were often, but not always, abundant in phytoplankton patches eventually attained high concentrations over most of the middle and part of the inner shelf. Their concentration and that of Oncaeidae increased steadily. Oncaeidae were not abundant in recently upwelled waters, as was T. turbinata but reached high concentrations in older intrusions when the abundance of T. turbinata remained level or decreased slowly. Both cyclopoid taxa are thought to reproduce slowly (egg sacs) compared to T. turbinata. Another taxon, the doliolids, became abundant far more rapidly in intruded waters (by asexual reproduction) than did the other three taxa. Doliolids were the most opportunistic intrusion zooplankton form. They do not regularly occur in low abundance on the shelf, as do the three copepod taxa, but develop in pulses in regions where T. turbinata and Oncaea are not abundant. Of the four taxa studied the abundance of doliolids increased and decreased most rapidly, whereas Oithona and Oncaea increased slowly and did not decrease during the study period. T. turbinata and Oncaea were most abundant at 60% of all stations in the intruding water. Doliolids and Oithona on the other hand, were mostly in the thermocline and intrusion. Whereas phytoplankton patches, which developed in intrusions, were physically induced (PAFFENHÖFER and LEE, 1988), patches of zooplankton were biologically induced.     

Side-scan and acoustic subbottom characterization of the sea floor near the Dry Tortugas, Florida

 Between 2 and 6 February, 1995, a 25 km² area at the Dry Tortugas (Florida Keys) was surveyed with a 100 kHz side-scan sonar system and 3.5-kHz subbottom profiler. The side-scan system revealed a pattern of alternating high and low backscatter. The subbottom profiler showed areas with no acoustic penetration between sediment troughs. The combination of both methods allowed delineation of the boundaries in high-backscatter regions, and sediment samples allowed correlations between high backscatter and coarser-grained sediments.     

Influence of capture stress, salinity and reproductive status on zinc associated with metallothionein-like proteins in the livers of three marine teleost species

The influence of capture stress, salinity and reproductive status on zinc associated with the metallothionein-like (MT-like) proteins in the livers of three marine teleost species was investigated. In striped mullet, Mugil cephalus L., the zinc associated with the MT-like protein, as determined by gel-permeation HPLC, increased significantly from approximately 102 to 1162 nmol zinc bound/g wet wt 7 days following capture in the field, handling, transportation to the laboratory and transfer to holding tanks. Significant increases were also observed following exposure to reduced salinity for 7 days. Smaller increases were observed in cultured red drum, Sciaenops ocellatus, livers following exposure to reduced salinity and physical trauma for 7 days. Finally, there was approximately a 2·5-fold increase in the zinc associated with the MT-like protein in livers of female spotted seatrout, Cynoscion nebulosus, collected during the reproductive season compared to regressed animals. These findings emphasize the need for establishing the natural fluctuations in MT levels as well as the response to common physical environmental variables before measurement of MT can be used reliably as a biochemical indicator of environmental contamination.     

Winter-spring phytoplankton blooms in Dabob Bay, Washington

Scientific investigations in Dabob Bay, Washington State, USA, have been extensive since the early 1960s, but phytoplankton blooms have been studied mostly with regard to chlorophyll concentrations and little is known about the phytoplankton species themselves. Here we provide information on the species present, their abundances during blooms, their contribution to organic carbon concentrations and the ability of some phytoplankton species to produce toxic aldehydes that may impact metazoan grazers.Multiple blooms of phytoplankton, dominated by diatoms, occurred in the late winter-early spring period, with depth-integrated chlorophyll levels ranging from <20 to 230 mg m⁻² and peaks in February and April. The major bloom species included Skeletonema costatum, Thalassiosira spp. and Chaetoceros spp; Phaeocystis cf. pouchetii occurred in 2002 and 2004. Other taxa or groups of organisms that were sometimes abundant included unidentified small flagellates <10 μm in size and unidentified heterotrophic dinoflagellates. Large diatoms usually comprised most of the cell carbon, but a large, heterotrophic dinoflagellate, identified only as Gyrodinium “tear” because of its shape, was a major contributor to the microplankton carbon when present even in small numbers. Five Thalassiosira species and S. costatum were found to produce polyunsaturated aldehydes (PUA) that are known to affect copepod reproduction and hatching success. Our findings are similar to the few previous studies in the last four decades that included phytoplankton species and suggest long-term similarities and relative stability in the phytoplankton species present and their timing in Dabob Bay.     

Hydrodynamic characteristics of the western Doñana Region (area of El Abalario), Huelva,Spain

The Doñana region, in southwestern Spain, comprises a large and important nature reserve, the wetlands of which are affected by human activity. Planting of an extensive eucalyptus forest in the 1950s and, more recently, the use of aquifers for irrigation and water supply for some coastal tourist resorts, have altered the natural groundwater-flow system. The area of the study is the western sector of the region, called El Abalario, which is a gentle topographic elevation between the Atlantic coast and La Rocina Creek (Arroyo de la Rocina). Underneath a variable layer of eolian sands with high dunes near the coast, thick Plio-Quaternary detritic strata, mostly fine silica sands, overlie marls. Near the base there is a variable, deltaic-origin layer of coarse sands and gravels. The dome-shaped water table, inside the sands, is close to the surface everywhere except beneath the dune belt, and small, temporary, shallow lagoons are numerous. The coarse sand and gravel layer conditions groundwater flow and behaves as a semiconfined layer between sands. A cross section through the area was simulated with a model to check the validity of the conceptual groundwater-flow pattern and its sensitivity to the hydraulic parameters. The model was calibrated using parameter values obtained by pumping tests and multilevel piezometric data, and checked against the estimated groundwater discharge into La Rocina Creek. Groundwater flows peripherally to the sea coast, to La Rocina Creek, or directly east and southeastward into the Doñana marshlands, in the Guadalquivir River delta. The average net aquifer recharge rate was calculated to be between 100 and 200 mm year^–1 for the area covered by brush, but is remarkably lower in the areas of eucalyptus trees. The transient-state model shows that recharge varies spatially and is not clearly proportional to annual precipitation. Phreatic evapotranspiration plays an important role in decreasing the net value of aquifer recharge to approximately 0.4–0.6 of that calculated with a soil-balance model. The cross section model was used to study the effect of groundwater abstraction on water-table depth by subtracting the contribution of vertical flow, calculated by a well-hydraulics formula, to the semiconfined deep aquifer. The result was a decrease in phreatic evapotranspiration, flow into La Rocina Creek, and lagoon-inundation frequency. Replacement of the eucalyptus forest with native vegetation may raise water-table levels and even reactivate old tributaries to La Rocina Creek.

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Resumen La región de Doñana, situada en el sudoeste de España, incluye una gran e importante reserva natural, cuyos humedales están siendo afectados por la actividad humana. La extensa plantación de eucaliptus en la década de 1950 y el uso más reciente de los acuíferos para riego y para abastecimiento de centros turísticos costeros han modificado el sistema de flujo del agua subterránea en esta zona. Este estudio se ha realizado en el sector occidental, llamado El Abalario. Se trata de una elevación suave situada entre el océano Atlántico y el arroyo de La Rocina. Debajo de un manto variable de arenas eólicas, que forma un alto cordón dunar costero, se encuentran sedimentos detríticos plio-cuaternarios formados por arenas silíceas finas, que hacia la base incluyen una capa de arenas gruesas y gravas de origen deltrico, los que a su vez yacen sobre margas. El flujo de agua subterránea está relacionado con niveles de gravas y gravillas semiconfinadas por las arenas fluvio-marinas que contienen el nivel freático. El nivel freático es somero excepto debajo del cordón dunar. Son frecuentes pequeñas lagunas temporales. Se ha simulado el flujo de agua subterránea en una sección para comprobar el modelo de flujo conceptual y la sensibilidad a variaciones de los parámetros. El modelo fue calibrado usando los valores de los parámetros hidráulicos obtenidos en ensayos de bombeo y datos piezométricos medidos a diferentes profundidades, y la descarga estimada al arroyo de La Rocina. La recarga de agua subterránea drena lateralmente, por un lado hacia la costa y por otro lado a través del arroyo de La Rocina, o directamente hacia las Marismas de Doñana situadas en el delta del río Guadalquivir. Con una lluvia media anual entre 550 y 600 mm, la recarga neta media estacionaria anual del acuífero, considerando periodos de tiempo largos, se estima entre 100 y 200 mm en las zonas de vegetación autóctona, y es notablemente menor en las zonas de plantación de eucaliptos. El modelo transitorio indica que la recarga varia espacialmente y no es claramente proporcional a la precipitación para periodos de un año. La evapotranspiración freática varia espacialmente y juega un papel importante; disminuye el valor neto de la recarga al acuífero para dejarlo en 0,4 a 0,6 de lo que se calcula mediante un balance de agua en el suelo. La sección modelada sirve para estudiar el efecto de la extracción de agua subterránea sobre la profundidad del nivel freático mediante la substracción del flujo vertical, que se calcula mediante una fórmula de hidráulica de pozos para el acuífero semiconfinado profundo. El resultado es una disminución de la evapotranspiración freática, del flujo al arroyo de la Rocina y de la frecuencia de inundación de las lagunas. La substitución del bosque de eucaliptus por vegetación nativa puede elevar los niveles freáticos e incluso reactivar antiguos "caños" tributarios al arroyo de La Rocina.

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Résumé La région de Doñana, située dans le sud ouest de l'Espagne, comprend une importante réserve naturelle avec des zones humides, affectée par l'activité humaine. L'exploitation de vastes plantations d'eucalyptus pendant les années 50 et l'usage plus récent des nappes souterraines pour l'irrigation et l'alimentation en eau des centres touristiques côtiers ont modifié le système de flux d'eau souterraine dans cette zone. La présente étude a été réalisée dans le secteur occidental, appelé El Abalario. Ce secteur consiste en une légère élévation située entre l'Océan Atlantique et la ravine de La Rocina. Une couverture variable de sables éoliens, formant une haute crête dunaire côtière, recouvre des sédiments detritiques plio-quaternaires, déposés eux même sur des sables siliceux lesquels reposent à leur tour sur des marnes. Près de la base se trouvent des sables grossiers et des graviers d'origine deltaïque, dont l'épaisseur varie spatialement. Le flux d'eau souterraine est conditionné par l'aquifère semi confinés des graviers et des sables grossiers. Le niveau phréatique de l'aquifère libre des sables fluvio-marins est peu profond, excepté sous les dunes. On y trouve souvent des petites lagunes temporaires peu profondes. Le flux de l'eau souterraine a été simulé dans une section verticale pour vérifier le modèle hydrogéologique conceptuel et la sensibilité aux variations des paramètres. Le modèle a été calé en utilisant d'une part les valeurs des paramètres hydrauliques obtenus par des essais de pompage et d'après les données piezométriques mesurées à différentes profondeurs, et d'autre part l'apport estimé de la ravine de La Rocina. L'écoulement d'eau souterraine s'effectue par drainage latérale dans trois directions, d'une part vers la côte, d'autre part à travers la ravine de La Rocina et finalement directement vers les Marais de Doñana situés à l'est et sud-est dans le delta du fleuve Guadalquivir. Avec une pluviométrie moyenne comprise entre 550 et 600 mm, la recharge nette moyenne annuelle des nappes, pour des périodes de temps assez longues, est estimée entre 100 et 200 mm dans les aires de végétation autochtone, et elle est nettement inférieure dans les aires plantées d´eucalyptus. Le modèle transitoire montre que la recharge varie dans l'espace et qu'elle n'est pas clairement proportionnelle aux précipitations annuelles. L'évapotranspiration phréatique joue un rôle important et diminue la valeur nette de la recharge des nappes de 0,4 à 0,6 de la valeur calculée avec un modèle de bilan d'eau dans le sol. La section modélisée est utilisée pour étudier l'effet de l'extraction d'eau souterraine sur la profondeur du niveau phréatique en soustrayant le flux vertical, calculé grâce à une formule d'hydraulique des puits, de la nappe profonde semi-confinée. Le résultat de cette extraction est une diminution de l'évapotranspiration phréatique, du flux au niveau de la ravine de La Rocina et de la fréquence d'inondation des lagunes. La substitution de forêts d'eucalyptus par de la végétation autochtone peut permettre la remonté des niveaux phréatiques et même réactiver d'anciens ravins affluents à La Rocina.

     

Biogeochemical factors influencing the residence time of microconstituents in a large tidal estuary, Delaware Bay

Generally the large tidal estuaries of the eastern United States, such as Delaware Bay, are characterized by rather high suspended particle concentrations at the landward end and high biological activity at the seaward end. As such, these estuaries can be conceptualized as geochemical and biochemical “reactors” for those processes controlling the transmission of trace elements from fresh to the coastal shelf waters. The efficiency of these reaction processes relative to estuarine flushing will control the residence times of microconstituents in such estuaries.Evidence is drawn from the Delaware estuary to illustrate biogeochemical estuarine reaction processes using salinity distribution data and mass balance calculations. The Delaware retains some of its estuarine trace elements as sedimented estuarine particles, while others are more conservative and largely exported. Those retained by sedimenting processes include trace elements in primarily geochemical (particle reactive) chemistries, while those exported appear recycled by biochemical (nutrient reactive) chemistries. Often, the behavior of trace elements (e.g., Fe, Cd) and nutrients (e.g., PO₄) appear biogeochemically linked. Other examples are drawn from mixing studies to illustrate particle interaction, and benthic flux measurements to illustrate limited diagenetic reflux.The residence time of estuarine microconstituents should depend seasonally on the relative turbidity, flushing rate, and primary production of tidally dominated estuaries such as the Delaware. Thus, residence times of the more biogeochemically reactive microconstituents must be substantially shorter (days to weeks) than the average flushing times of these larger estuaries, while the residence times of the less reactive ones should approach such flushing times (weeks to months). True estuarine residence times of microconstituents can only be modeled after using large data sets averaged over time (season, tides) and space (salinity).     

Phytoplankton production in two east coast estuaries: Photosynthesis-light functions and patterns of carbon assimilation in Chesapeake and Delaware Bays

Chesapeake Bay is a large and productive estuary that has received close scrutiny in recent years because of indications that its water quality and biota have been damaged by man's activities. Data on primary production for the estuary as a whole, however, are surprisingly sparse. We describe here the distribution of photosynthetic carbon assimilation by phytoplankton in Chesapeake Bay, and relate productivity patterns to hydrographic characteristics of the estuary. Between March 1982 and April 1983, a series of four cruises was conducted on Chesapeake Bay, and two cruises on the urbanized Delaware Bay for comparison. The upper Chesapeake and Delaware were highly turbid with high concentrations of suspended particulate matter and dissolved inorganic nutrients. Low chlorophyll concentrations were usually found in these areas of high turbidity, despite the abundance of nutrients, suggesting light limitation. Application of Wofsy's (1983) model of phytoplanton growth confirmed this suggestion. Chlorophyll and productivity maxima usually occurred seaward of the turbidity maxima where light penetration increased and suffient nutrients were present to support active phytoplankton growth. Further seaward of the chlorophyll maxima in the Chesapeake, the photic zone depth increased, concentrations of nutrients decreased, and phytoplankton biomass decreased, suggesting that nutrient availability, rather than light, controlled phytoplankton growth in the lower portion of the estuary. In contrast to the Chesapeake, Delaware Bay was more turbid, had generally higher nutrient concentrations, and was lower in phytoplankton productivity. The chlorophyll maxima and region of rapid phytoplankton growth occurred further toward the lower estuary and shelf regions in Delaware Bay because the high turbidity extended further seaward. Nutrients were never depleted at the shelf end of the estuary sufficiently to retard phytoplankton growth. Photosynthesis-irradiance (P-I) curves from simulated in situ and constant intensity incubations showed a strong correlation of the light-limited slope (a^B) with the light-saturated rate ( ) on each cruise. Spatial variations in corresponded to patterns of phytoplankton abundance, as did integral production (PP) and carbon-based growth rates (μ_C, μ_m), and photosynthetic parameters varied significantly with temperature.     

Hydrocarbons in bivalve mollusks of Port Valdez, Alaska: Consequences of five years' permitted discharge

Petroleum hydrocarbons were investigated in Mytilus edulis and Macoma balthica at six intertidal sites in Port Valdez, Alaska after three to five years of oil terminal operation. Information about the concentrations of total hydrocarbons, unresolved complex mixture, normal alkanes, isoprenoids, olefins, hopanes and polycyclic aromatic hyrocarbons shows that petroleum accumulation in these bivalve mollusks is greatest at the Valdez municipal boat harbor and a crude oil terminal which has been permitted to discharge 170 kg oil day⁻¹. Accumulation two- to ten-fold less were observed at 3 km from the terminal and boat harbor. The temporal trends in petroleum hydrocarbon concentrations in M. edulis and M. balthica reflect the effects of selective retention and depuration of different hydrocarbon classes as well as variation in hydrocarbon sources. It is not clear whether the petroleum concentrations in Port Valdez bivalves had reached steady state by 1982, the final sampling time reported here.