Probable causes for cyanobacterial expansion in the Baltic Sea: Role of anoxia and phosphorus retention

This study corroborates the hypothesis that nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria have probably occurred as an important component of the phytoplankton community in the Baltic Sea at least since brackish water conditions were initiated 8,500¹⁴C yr BP. Pigment analyses indicate that extensive occurrences started prior to a sharp increase in nutrient levels dated to 7,100¹⁴C yr BP. The cyanobacteria could have functioned as a natural trigger for eutrophication in the Baltic Sea by importing nitrogen. This is also verified by a contemporaneous drop in the δ¹⁵N values from 4‰ to around 2‰. We further conclude that the spreading of cyanobacteria was probably caused by a decrease in nitrogen∶phosphorus (N∶P) in the water mass that resulted from the intrusion of oceanic water with high P levels. The fractionation of P in sediments indicated that iron-bound P was efficiently sequestered under anoxic conditions that occurred as a consequence of the establishment of a stable stratification caused by the marine intrusion. This pool only showed minor variations around 3 μmol g⁻¹ at the freshwater-brackish water transition. All P pools except the CaCO₃ fraction showed a distinct increase around 9,300¹⁴C yr BP prior to the transition. We interpreted this increase as a change in preservation of organic matter or in the source of the sediment. Slightly after 4,000¹⁴C yr BP there was a dramatic drop in all P pools without any corresponding decreases in total N and carbon. Total P decreased from around 75 to 25–30 μmol g⁻¹. The most dramatic drop occurred in the organic bound and the detrital apatite fractions, which decreased by a factor of 3–4. We explain this as a preferential regeneration of P, especially organic P, compared to other nutrients due to more prevalent anoxic conditions.     

Circulating subbeam systemsand the physics of pulsar emission

The purpose of this paper is to suggest how detailed single-pulse observations of slow radio pulsars may be utilized to construct an empirical model for their emission. It links the observational synthesis developed in a series of papers by Rankin in the 1980s and 90s to the more recent empirical feedback model of Wright (2003a) by regarding the entire pulsar magnetosphere as a non-steady, non-linear interactive system with a natural built-in delay. It is argued that the enhanced role of the outer gap in such a system indicates an evolutionary link to younger pulsars, in which this region is thought to be highly active, and that pulsar magnetospheres should no longer be seen as being driven by events on the neutron stars polar cap, but as having more in common with planetary magnetospheres and auroral phenomena.Received: 8 May 2003, Published online: 14 November 2003 Correspondence to: Joanna M. Rankin. On leave from: Physics Department, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA     

Neoproterozoic magmatism in NW Sinai,Egypt: magma source and evolution of collision-related intracrustal anatectic leucogranite

The present study deals with tectonomagmatic evolution of the collision-related leucogranite located near the northwest corner of exposed basement in Sinai, Egypt. The area is composed of: (1) a gabbroic complex; (2) amphibolite; (3) post-orogenic leucogranite; (4) Feiran gneisses. The amphibolite and gabbroic suites, generated in an island arc environment, have a high Fe-tholeiitic affinity and were derived from two independent magmas. On the basis of rare earth element (REE) patterns, the gabbroic melts could have been generated from a garnet- and amphibole-bearing, enriched mantle, and were subsequently modified by fractional crystallization of pyroxene and amphibole with minor plagioclase, whereas the amphibolite melts could be derived from garnet-free depleted mantle.The leucogranite has high Al₂O₃ content (>13 wt%), alumina saturation index (ASI) mostly >1, and normative corundum, indicating a peraluminous nature. Chondrite-normalized REE patterns for the leucogranite show light REE enrichment (La/Sm_N=2.7–4.86), general flattening of the heavy REE (Gd/Lu_N=1.2–2), and negative europium (Eu) anomalies (Eu/Eu*=0.24–0.47). The peraluminous nature and enrichment of the incompatible elements (K, Rb, Ba and Th) in the leucogranite strongly suggest derivation from a crustal source. The most probable source for the leucogranite magmas is represented by the adjacent Feiran gneisses, which could have generated the leucogranite by dehydration melting under water-undersaturated conditions. It appears likely that the restite unmixing model is responsible for the chemical variations within the leucogranite. In accordance with this model, the chemical variation of the leucogranite can be attributed to varying degrees of separation of restitic material from the melt during its emplacement and solidification and fractional crystallization could have played a minor role during magma ascent through the crust.     

Isotopic and molecular distributions of biochemicals from fresh and buried <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhizophora mangle</Emphasis> leaves†

Rhizophora mangle L. (red mangrove) is the dominant species of mangrove in the Americas. At Twin Cays, Belize (BZ) red mangroves are present in a variety of stand structures (tall >5 m in height, transition ~2–4 m and dwarf ~1–1.5 m). These height differences are coupled with very different stable carbon and nitrogen isotopic values[1] (mean tall δ ¹³C = -28.3‰, δ ¹⁵N = 0‰; mean tall δ ¹³C = -25.3‰, δ ¹⁵N = -10‰). To determine the utility of using these distinct isotopic compositions as 'biomarkers' for paleoenvironmental reconstruction of mangrove ecosystems and nutrient availability, we investigated the distribution and isotopic (δ ¹³C and δ ¹⁵N) composition of different biochemical fractions (water soluble compounds, free lipids, acid hydrolysable compounds, individual amino acids, and the residual un-extractable compounds) in fresh and preserved red mangrove leaves from dwarf and tall trees. The distribution of biochemicals are similar in dwarf and tall red mangrove leaves, suggesting that, regardless of stand structure, red mangroves use nutrients for biosynthesis and metabolism in a similar manner. However, the δ ¹³C and δ ¹⁵N of the bulk leaf, the biochemical fractions, and seven amino acids can be used to distinguish dwarf and tall trees at Twin Cays, BZ. The data support the theory that the fractionation of carbon and nitrogen occurs prior to or during uptake in dwarf and tall red mangrove trees. Stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes could, therefore, be powerful tools for predicting levels of nutrient limitation at Twin Cays. The δ ¹³C and δ ¹⁵N of biochemical fractions within preserved leaves, reflect sedimentary cycling and nitrogen immobilization. The δ ¹⁵N of the immobilized fraction reveals the overlying stand structure at the time of leaf deposition. The isotopic composition of preserved mangrove leaves could yield significant information about changes in ecosystem dynamics, nutrient limitation and past stand structure in mangrove paleoecosystems.     

Morphological response of tidal marshes,flats and channels of the Outer Yangtze River mouth to a major storm

Systematic morphological changes of the coastline of the outer Yangtze River mouth in response to storms versus calm weather were documented by daily surveys of tidal marshes and flats between April 1999 and May 2001 and by boat surveys offshore during this and earlier periods. The largest single event during 1999 to 2001 was Typhoon Paibaian, which eroded the unvegetated tidal flat and lower marsh and led to accretion on the middle-to-upper marsh and in the subtidal channel. The greatest erosion of 21 cm occurred at the border between the marsh and the unvegetated flat due to the landward retreat of the marsh edge during the storm. Strong waves on the flats increased suspended sediment concentration by 10–20 times. On the upper marsh, where the frequency of submergence by astronomical tides is only 3%, Typhoon Paibian led to 4 cm of accretion, accounting for 57% of the net accretion observed over the 2-yr study. Typhoon Paibian led to 4 cm of accretion, accounting for 57% of the net accretion observed over the 2-yr study. Typhoon Paibian and other large storms in the 1990s caused over 50 cm of accretion along the deep axis of the river mouth outlet channel. During calm weather, when hydrodynamic energy was dominated by tides, deposition was centered on the unvegetated flats and lower, marsh with little deposition on the high marsh and erosion in the subtidal channel. Depositional recovery of the tidal flat from typhoon-induced erosion took only several days, whereas recovery of the subtidal channel by erosion took several weeks. A conceptual model for the morphological responses of tidal marshes, flats, and subtidal channels to storms and calm weather is proposed such that sediment continually moves from regions of highest near-bed energy towards areas of lower energy.     

Tectonic and sedimentary basin evolution of the eastern Bangong–Nujiang zone (Tibet): a Reading cycle

The ophiolite-bearing Bangong-Nujiang zone (BNZ) traversing central Tibet from east to west separates the Qiangtang block in the north from the Lhasa block in the south. Their stratigraphic development indicates that both blocks once formed a continuous continental platform until the Late Triassic. Following Late Paleozoic-Triassic rifting, ocean crust formed between both blocks during the Late Triassic creating the Dongqiao-Naqu basin (DNB) among other basins (Yu et al. 1991). The analysis of the rift flank sequences reveals that rifting was dominated by transtension. The basin was shortened by post-Mid-Cretaceous transpression. Thus, the overall basin evolution represents a Reading cycle despite some active margin processes which gave this cycle a special imprint. Major basin parts were preserved despite transpressional shortening suggesting that the eastern BNZ represents a remnant basin. Our understanding of the DNB solves the prior problem of viewing the BNZ as a Mid-Late Jurassic collisional suture although typical collision-related deformation, thickening, mountain building, as well as related molasse formation are lacking. Our model also explains the scattered linear ophiolite distribution by local transpression of remnant oceanic basin floor without having to consider problematic long range ophiolite thrusting.     

Studies on the Tolerating Mechanism for Sulfide in Urechis Unicinctus (Echiura:Urechidae)-cytological observation on Urechis Unicinctus in Different Hydrogen Sulfide Environment

This study on the cytological changes of the body wall ,aspiratory intestine and crissal bursa in Urechis unicincuts by light microscope(LM) and transmission electron microscope(TEM) showed that the difference between the body wall and the natural environment rich in H2S was not obvious,that the wall color of the aspiratory intestine in H2S rich environment changed from normal semitransparency to dark brown.that its epithelia were disassembled and the electron density of its cytoplasm matrix was lower;and that in H2S rich environment many basoplhilic granules occurred in the epithelia of the crissal bursa.Granules with single membrane and myelinefingure were found with TEM.