Study of the effect of temperature, irradiance and salinity on growth and yessotoxin production by the dinoflagellate Protoceratium reticulatum in culture by using a kinetic and factorial approach

A complete first order orthogonal plan was used to optimize the growth and the production of yessotoxin (YTX) by the dinoflagellate Protoceratium reticulatum in culture by controlling salinity, temperature and irradiance. Initially, an approach to the kinetic data of cellular density and YTX production for each one of the experimental design conditions was performed. The P. reticulatum growth and YTX production were fitted to logistical equations and to a first-order kinetic model, respectively. The parameters obtained from this adjustment were used as dependent variables for the formulation of the empirical equations of the factorial design tested. The results showed that in practically all the cases for both, P. reticulatum growth and YTX production, irradiance is the primary independent variable and has a positive effect in the range 50-90 micromol photons m(-2) s(-1). Additionally, in certain specific cases, temperature reveals significant positive effects when maintained between 15 and 23 degrees C and salinity in the range of 20-34 displays negative effects. Despite the narrow ranges used in the work, results showed the suitability of factorial analysis to evaluate the optimal conditions for growth and yessotoxin production by the dinoflagellate P. reticulatum.     

Measurement of environmental trace-metal levels with transplanted mussels and diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT): a comparison of techniques

Transplanted mussels and diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) were used to assess levels of cadmium, copper, lead and zinc at four sites situated inside and outside of two enclosed marinas, near Melbourne, Australia. Mussels accumulated all metals except cadmium. Over one year, there were large temporal differences in tissue metal levels in mussels, but differences between sites were only apparent for copper and lead. DGT showed temporal differences of the same kind as those seen in the mussels, but appeared to have more power to discriminate between sites. DGT found higher copper levels inside marinas than outside, and high levels of zinc were found inside one marina. Levels of copper and zinc were high enough to be of environmental concern for one site. The effect of fouling on DGT measurements will have to be quantified, or avoided by the use of multiple short-term exposures, if the technique is to become a widespread in situ monitoring tool.     

Nordic海和北大西洋冰携层中的非同期沉积

一些海洋地质研究已经证实了主要来自赫德森海峡的大量冰山形成了６个快速沉积冰携碎屑（ＩＲＤ）的Ｈｅｉｎｒｉｃｈ层。这些独特的地层厚度为１ｍ至几厘米,在北大西洋可追踪至３０００ｋｍ以下。然而,虽然对Ｎｏｒｄｉｃ海的许多沉积岩心作了验证,但是粗砾层的厚度和Ｈｅｉｎｒｉｃｈ层的空间连续性还是分辨不出来。目前只在某些区域发现了相关的ＩＲＤ事件和某些Ｈｅｉｎｒｉｃｈ事件。Ｆｅｎｎｏｓｃａｎｄｉａｎ、斯瓦巴德—巴伦支海和格陵兰冰盖注出冰川附近的冰心表明,整个Ｎｏｒｄｉｃ海的ＩＲＤ层之间几乎不存在系统的区域相关…     

北大西洋罗卡尔海槽北部上第四系地层及古海洋学变化

运用微化石及沉积学方法,对采自罗卡尔海槽北部不同沉积环境的六个浅层重力管样品进行了层序分析,从采自巴拉扇沉积波的钻孔样品可识别出半远洋、浊流、准浊流沉积层序。从罗卡尔海槽东北部的陆坡裙、海底陆坡到冰碛沉积区内采获的岩芯,是一些半远洋与冰海沉积物,泥质粉砂岩和等深积砂岩与之互层或覆于其上。甲藻类孢子,浮游有孔虫类以及超微生物地层标志,反映了四次冰消作用,巴拉扇的一个长岩芯样记录了这四次冰消作用,即晚     

Contrasting time trends of organic contaminants in Antarctic pelagic and benthic food webs

We demonstrate that pelagic Antarctic seabirds show significant decreases in concentrations of some persistent organic pollutants. Trends in Adélie penguins and Southern fulmars fit in a general pattern revealed by a broad literature review. Downward trends are also visible in pelagic fish, contrasting sharply with steady or increasing concentrations in Antarctic benthic organisms. Transfer of contaminants between Antarctic pelagic and benthic food webs is associated with seasonal sea-ice dynamics which may influence the balance between the final receptors of contaminants under different climatic conditions. This complicates the predictability of future trends of emerging compounds in the Antarctic ecosystem, such as of the brominated compounds that we detected in Antarctic petrels. The discrepancy in trends between pelagic and benthic organisms shows that Antarctic biota are still final receptors of globally released organic contaminants and it remains questionable whether the total environmental burden of contaminants in the Antarctic ecosystem is declining.     

An assessment of the impact of copper mine tailings disposal on meiofaunal assemblages using microcosm bioassays

Microcosms were used to assess the impact of copper mine tailings disposal on the littoral meiofaunal assemblages of the Atacama region of northern Chile. The specific purpose was to establish a cause and effect relationship between the elevated copper concentrations and altered meiofaunal assemblages observed at the study sites. Meiofaunal assemblages were exposed to a series of copper concentrations to assess general toxicity, both densities and taxa diversities decreased with increasing copper. Natural coarse sediments were mixed with a tailings substitute to assess the physical impact of the tailings dumping on meiofaunal assemblages. Meiofaunal assemblage densities increased with increasing amounts of tailings substitute, entirely due to an increase in surface utilising foraminiferans. However, taxa diversities decreased as the interstitial spaces became blocked. Finally, the microcosms were used to conduct bioassays of sediments and seawaters from the impacted sites. The sediments from the impacted sites proved to be toxic resulting in reduced meiofaunal densities and taxa diversities. Seawater samples did not prove to be significantly toxic. The use of microcosms has allowed the effects of the physical and chemical components of tailings to be assessed individually, which was not possible in the field. Additionally, it allowed a cause and effect relationship to be established between elevated concentrations of porewater copper observed in the field and the reduced densities and taxa diversities of the meiofaunal assemblages observed at the same sites.     

Spatial and temporal changes in infaunal communities inhabiting soft-bottoms affected by brine discharge

The discharge of an effluent of high salinity from reverse osmosis desalination plants has a strong impact on marine communities. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of brine discharge over soft bottom communities along the Alicante coast (Southeast Spain) over a two year period. Changes in the infaunal assemblage were analysed using univariate and multivariate techniques. Each year we sampled along three transects at three depths (4, 10 and 15m) during winter and summer. We observed a substitution of a community characterized by the presence of Polychaeta, Crustacea and Mollusca, for another dominated by nematodes (up to 98%), in the stations closer to the discharge where salinity values exceed 39 psu.