Low reproductive success for copepods during a bloom of the non‐aldehyde‐producing diatom Cerataulina pelagica in the North Adriatic Sea

Egg production rates and/or hatching success in the copepods Acartia clausi, Calanus helgolandicus and Temora longicornis were negatively affected by a late spring (May–June 2003) phytoplankton bloom in the North Adriatic Sea, dominated mainly by the large diatom Cerataulina pelagica. Highest total concentrations of 3.3·10⁴ cells·ml^?1 were located in the vicinity of the Po River, which also corresponded to the area where the highest numbers of phaeophorbides were measured (0.779, 0.528 and 0.419 μg·l^?1, respectively, compared to an average of the remaining stations of 0.183 ± 0.049 SD), suggesting some grazing on the bloom. Phytoplankton biomass in terms of carbon was dominated by diatoms, representing on average 42% of total phytoplankton carbon and more than 80% at several stations. Cerataulina pelagica, Cyclotella spp., Chaetoceros spp. and small unidentified centric diatoms dominated the diatom community numerically but C. pelagica was by far the dominant diatom in terms of carbon due to its large cell size. This species represented more than 60% of the diatom biomass at nine of the 14 stations sampled, and was absent only at one station, which was the most offshore station sampled during the cruise. Although polyunsaturated aldehydes (PUAs) were not detected, other oxylipins which are hydroxy and keto derivatives of eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids that affect copepod reproduction were found in these samples. Hence, we can attribute the negative impact of diatoms not only to PUAs, as previously believed, but also to these compounds. This is the first direct evidence of the presence of oxylipins other than PUAs in marine blooms dominated by diatoms.     

Access routes to high mountain huts facing climate-induced environmental changes and adaptive strategies in the Western Alps since the 1990s

ABSTRACT

In the European Alps, high mountain environments are subject to major impacts resulting from climate change, which strongly affect human activities such as mountaineering. The purpose of the study was to examine changes in access routes to 30 high mountain huts in the Western Alps since the 1990s. Data were derived from the use of two different methods, geo-historical studies and a questionnaire, and were used to identify both the climate-related processes affecting the climbing routes and the strategies implemented by public entities, Alpine clubs, guide companies, and hut keepers to maintain acceptable safety and technical conditions. The case studies revealed issues affecting three access routes and the results from the questionnaire showed that the main processes affecting access routes were loss of ice thickness and retreat from the front of the glaciated areas. Commonly, in situ equipment was installed to facilitate access for mountaineers and/or a part of a route was relocated to a safer area. The authors conclude that in most cases, the measures were effective but they were limited by financial, ethical and legal issues, especially in protected or classified areas that could jeopardise their durability and effectiveness.     

Impact of katabatic winds on the environment of Neanderthals during the Middle Palaeolithic in westernmost Europe

Compilation of the offshore and onshore altitudinal limits of the loess deposits of western France and southern England shows that they were deposited by low-level wind fields. These relate to (i) the deflation of silt-rich sediment extracted from the outwash plains of the not far distant British–Irish Ice Sheet and from the palaeo-rivers of the Channel, and (ii) the existence of north and north-western palaeo-winds deduced from particle size analysis and heavy mineral distribution, and suggest (iii) that loess particles were transported by strong katabatic winds blowing from the northern ice-covered regions towards Brittany and Normandy. Comparison between the main orientation of Neanderthal shelters and the direction of the katabatic winds shows that they were perpendicular to each other. The dominant orientation of the shelters was apparently ruled by these winds. A small-scale study concentrating on the penultimate glaciation shows that in contrast to Brittany and Normandy where loess deposits accumulated on north-facing cliffs, in England the same particles were deposited on the leeside of the hills. The existence of deflation zones, violently swept by Marine Isotope Stage 6 katabatic winds south of the British–Irish ice sheet, was probably at the origin of the restricted number of Neanderthals at that time in England. © 2021 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The Tuxtuac,Mexico, Meteorite,an LL5 Chondrite Fall

Abstract— The Tuxtuac meteorite fell in Zacatecas state, Mexico, on 16 October 1975, at 1820 hours. Two partly crusted masses, weighing 1924 g and 2340 g, were recovered. The stone is an ordinary chondrite, LL5, with olivine Fa₃₀ and 19.22 weight % total iron. The silicates contain numerous voids and a froth-like mesostasis is present within some chondrules. Metal phases present are kamacite (5.7–6.4% Ni, 6–7% Co) and high nickel metal (taenite 37–41% Ni, 1.7 ± 0.3% Co; tetrataenite 47–52% Ni, 0.8–1.4% Co). The stone is unusual for an LL-group chondrite in that it exhibits neither large-scale brecciation features nor dark veins.     

An Aeronautical Temporal GIS for Post-Flight Assessment of Navigation Performance

This paper describes the design and development of an experimental GIS prototype that may be used to assist experienced pilots, student pilots and flight instructors for post-flight evaluation of navigation performance. The system is developed as a GIS experimental application which employs geographical data derived from the Digital Chart of the World integrated with airspace data derived from the ICAO 1:500,000 Aeronautical Chart. Real-time data are collected and integrated within a monitoring computing environment from external sensors which include GPS, altitude and relative motion sensors. This enables the generation of multi-layered digital maps and navigation data capable of being rapidly re-configured to enhance visualization by abstraction. The integration of real time navigation data with geographical data facilitates airborne decision-making, cockpit management, and makes a valuable contribution to flight safety.