3,4-benzopyrene and perylene in mussels, Mytilus sp., from the Laguna Veneta,North-East Italy

From July, 1975 to November, 1976 mussels from the Laguna Veneta, north-east Italy, and the adjacent Adriatic Sea were collected bimonthly at ten stations and analysed for 3,4-benzopyrene (BaP) and perylene (Pe) content. Mean concentrations were in the range 12·0–135·1 μg/kg dry weight for BaP and 1·5–16·9 μg/kg for Pe, but values as high as 327 μg/kg for BaP and 71 μg/kg for Pe have been measured. The distribution of BaP and Pe closely matches previous results on petroleum hydrocarbon contamination in mussels from this area and indicates that the major portion of BaP and Pe in these bivalves is due principally to human activities.     

The near field of internal waves after the moving area of atmospheric pressures

The near wave field generated by the travelling atmospheric pressure zone over a stratified fluid is studied within the framework of the linear theory of long waves allowing for the Coriolis force. The exact solution of the problem as a set of single integrals is deduced for the model distribution of pressures. The characteristics of the near wave field have been computed for the Väisälä-Brunt frequency profile takeu from observations. Their dependences on the geographical latitude and the wave generator travelling rate are analysed.Translated by Mikhail M. Trufanov.     

Interactions of cadmium with the reproductive cycle of Mytilus edulis L.

Sublethal effects of cadmium on reproduction can have detrimental consequences for the long-term survival, even of species with high LC₅₀ values. The sea mussel, Mytilus edulis, is well-known for its use in biomonitoring work due to its relatively low sensitivity towards many toxicants, including cadmium.¹ Because little is known on sublethal effects of this metal in invertebrates,^2–6 we have studied these effects, with emphasis on reproduction, by exposing mussels to 100 ppb cadmium in sea water. This concentration significantly inhibits follicle development in both male and female gonads, but has subsequently a stimulating effect on the spawning frequency. Due to these opposite effects the consequences of cadmium stress for gamete production are expected to be small, as the average number of gametes released by spawning animals was not significantly changed.     

Equilibrium constants of triethanolamine in major seawater salts

Acid–base equilibrium constants of triethanolamine (TEA) have been determined by potentiometric titrations with a glass electrode, at 25 °C. Ionic strength was kept constant with only one electrolyte (using one of these salts: NaCl, KCl, MgCl₂ or CaCl₂), with binary mixtures of MgCl₂ and CaCl₂, and finally, in a solution with a composition approximately similar to that of natural seawater without sulfate. Equilibrium constants have been expressed in function of ionic strength by means of Pitzer equations and interaction parameters proposed in this theory have been obtained. It has been found that acid–base behaviour of TEA depends greatly on the salt used: basicity of TEA is decreased by CaCl₂, while it is increased by the other electrolytes used in this work.     

Experimental investigation of forces and geometry of a net cage in uniform flow

A scale model of a flexible circular net with different weights attached to the bottom was tested in a flume tank. Global forces and net deformation were measured for different steady current velocities. Three different sizes of bottom weights were used in the tests. The results from these tests are presented and discussed with the emphasis on the dependency between the forces and the geometry. Comparison is also made to empirical based formulas for calculation of drag and lift forces on net structures. Findings show that i) the forces on, and deformation of a flexible net structure are mutually highly dependent on each other; ii) estimates of global forces on a flexible net structure calculated using simple drag formulas derived from stiff net panel experiments give large errors when compared to experimental measurements; iii) numerical models taking into account the dependency between force and deformation should be used to obtain accurate estimates of forces on flexible net structures; and iv) the forces on a flexible net structure are dependent on Reynolds number, and their dependency are similar to that of a regular cylinder.     

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.