Sediment rejection by recent scleractinian corals: a key to palaeo-environmental reconstruction

26 of the 59 living species of scleractinian corals found in Western Atlantic and Caribbean waters, less than 68 metres deep, and two fungiid genera from the Pacific are analysed in terms of their behaviour, sediment rejecting properties, functional morphology and distribution patterns.The contrasting behaviour and skeletal structure of the two solitary fungiids provides evidence for the construction of a theoretical mechanical model which is applied to the subsequent interpretation of the more complex colonial reef corals from the Atlantic province.Regional distribution patterns, growth forms and calical orientations of the Atlantic species and their associated sediment types were noted in dives across transects in extreme environments in the Caribbean. Representative samples were then selected from the five functional ecological niches in the Florida keys, and subjected to inundations of sized and painted carbonate sand particles in the laboratory. The coral was filmed before the sedimentary influx, on impact and during rejection. The skeletons were then extracted and dissected to construct a mechanical model compatible with their behavioural functions.There are four means of sediment rejection: distension by the stomodeal up-take of water, tentacular action, ciliary beat, and mucus entanglement. Differences in sediment rejection are ascribed to two factors (1) variations in the polyps' distensional capacity, and (2) the geometry of the calice.A theoretical model of characteristic scleractinian distribution patterns on an Atlantic patch reef mirrors regional distribution patterns. The sediment rejecting experiments are used as additional evidence for interpreting other behavioural activities of greater consequence e.g. food gathering and the removal of excrement.Theoretical models are described for the relationship of calical form to polypal function and calcical orientation to distribution patterns on the corallum; and also variations in growth form. Ecological distributions, in local patch reef and regional occurrences, are outlined in terms of the recent scleractinian corals of the Atlantic province. These models are tested against some rugose and tabulate coral distributions in the Irish Carboniferous.

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Zusammenfassung 26 der 59 Korallenarten (Scleractinia), die im westlichen Atlantik und der Karibischen See in weniger als 68 m Wassertiefe leben, und 2 Fungia-Gattungen des Pazifiks werden auf Verhalten, Fähigkeit Sediment abzuschütteln und funktioneller Morphologie untersucht. Aufgrund der Gegensätze in Verhalten und Skelettstruktur der beiden Fungia-Einzelkorallen wird ein theoretisches Modell erarbeitet, das dann auf die komplizierteren koloniebildenden Korallen angewandt wird.Regionale Verteilung, Wuchsformen und Kelchorientierung der atlantischen Korallen und die dazugehörigen Sedimente wurden in Tauchgängen in extremen Bereichen der Karibischen See erfaßt. Repräsentative Korallen-Exemplare wurden dann von fünf ökologisch definierten Bereichen der Florida Keys gesammelt und im Labor mit sortierten und gefärbten Karbonatsandkörnern überschüttet. Die Korallen wurden vor dem Experiment, während des Schüttens und des Abschüttelns gefilmt. Danach wurden die Skelette herauspräpariert und ein mechanisches Modell entwickelt, das die verhaltensbedingten Funktionen berücksichtigt.Das Sediment wird mit Hilfe von vier Mechanismen abgeschütteln: Ausdehnung der Weichteile durch Aufnahme von Wasser, Tentakelbewegungen, Ziliarbewegungen und Schleimumwicklung. Unterschiede in der Fähigkeit, Sediment abzuschütteln, wurden auf 1. Unterschiede in der Fähigkeit des Polypen, sich auszudehnen, und 2. Unterschiede in der Kelchform zurückgeführt.Ein theoretisches Modell der Korallenverteilung auf einem isolierten Riff spiegelt die Grundzüge regionaler Verteilung wider. Die Sedimentabschüttel-Experimente ergeben zusätzliche Anhaltspunkte für die Interpretation anderer Verrichtungen von größerer Bedeutung, z. B. Nahrungsaufnahme und Entfernung von Exkrementen. Theoretische Modelle für das Verhältnis von Kelchform zu Polypenfunktion und von Kelchorientierung zur Position auf dem Korallenstock und zu Wuchformunterschieden werden beschrieben.Ökologische Verteilungen, lokal und regional, werden anhand der rezenten Korallen des Atlantiks aufgezeigt. Diese Modelle werden dann am Beispiel der Verteilung rugosen und tabulaten Korallen im Karbon Irlands getestet.

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Résumé 26 espèces vivantes de coraux scléractiniens sur 59, furent découvertes dans l'Atlantique-Ouest et les eaux des Caraïbes, à moins de 68 m de fond; 2 genera fungiid du Pacifique sont analysés en fonction de leur comportement, des propriétés de rejet des sédiments dont ils font preuve, de leur morphologie fonctionelle et de leurs reséaux de distribution.Le contraste dans le compartement et dans la structure squelettique des deux fungiids solitaires, justifie la construction d'un modèle théorique mécanique qui est appliqué à l'interprétation suivante des coraux de récif coloniaux et plus complexes que l'on trouve dans la région atlantique.Les réseaux de distribution régionale, les formes de croissances d'orientations calicales de l'espèce atlantique et les types de sédiments qui leur sont associés, ont été remarqués lors de plongées aux environs extrêmes de la mer Caraïbe. Des échantillons représentatifs ont ensuite été sélectionnés dans les cinq niches écologiques fonctionelles des cayes de Floride. Puis ont été soumis, en laboratoire à des inondations de particules de sable carbonaté taillées et teintes. Le corail a été filmé avant l'entrée des sédiments, pendant l'opération et pendant le rejet. Les squelettes, ont ensuite été extraits et disséqués pour construire un modèle mécanique compatible avec leurs fonctions de compartement.Il existe quatre modes de rejet des sédiments: dilatation par absorbsion stomodéal d'eau, action tentaculaire, action ciliaire et enveloppement de mucus.Les différences dans le rejet de sédiments sont imputables a deux facteurs (1) les variations de la capacité dimensionelle du polype et (2) la géométrie du calice. Un modèle théorique des réseaux le distribution scléractiniènne, charactéristique sur un petit récif atlantique, réflecte des sébeaux de distribution régionale. Les expériences sur le rejet de sédiments, sont utilisées comme preuve supplémentaire à l'interprétation d'autres activités de comportement, comme par exemple, la recherche de nourriture ou l'émission d'éxcréments.Les modèles théoriques sont décrits pour permettre le rapport entre la forme calicale et la fonction polypale, plus entre l'orientation calicale et les résaux de distribution sur le corallum, ainsi que pour étudier les variations dans les formes de croissance. L'étude des coraux scléractiniens récents de la province atlantique, permet d'établir une ébauche de leur répartition écologique, aussi bien sur les petits récifs locaux qu'au niveau des incidences régionales. Les modèles sont également testés grace à des répartitions de coraux rugueux et tabulates dans le Carbonifière Irlandais.

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The Qso Hosts I Zw 1 and 3C 48: Prototypes of a Merger-Driven Quasar Evolution?

I Zw 1 and 3C 48 are two neighboring template objects at a later stage of the hypothesized merger-driven evolutionary sequence from ultra-luminous infrared galaxies (ULIRGs) to quasi-stellar objects (QSOs). Since galaxy mergers are assumed to trigger the evolution, it is important to confirm the merger properties of transitionary objects. Using multi-wavelength observations and N-body simulations, the merger histories of I Zw 1 and 3C 48 have been investigated in two separate case studies. Here, the results from both studies are compared and their relevance for the evolutionary hypothesis is discussed.This research is partly based on observations with ISAAC at the Very Large Telescope (VLT) of the European Southern Observatory (ESO) under projects 67.B-0009 and 67.B-0019.     

Observations of asymmetry in contrasting wave‐ and tidally‐dominated environments within a mesotidal basin: implications for estuarine morphological evolution

Tides are often considered to be the dominant hydrodynamic process within mesotidal estuaries although waves can also have a large influence on intertidal erosion rates. Here, we use a combination of hydrodynamic measurements and sediment deposition records to determine the conditions under which observed waves are ‘morphologically significant’, in which case they influence tidal and suspended sediment flux asymmetry and subsequently infilling over geomorphological timescales. Morphological significant conditions were evaluated using data from contrasting arms in a dendritic mesotidal estuary, in which the orientation of the arms relative to the prevailing wind results in a marked difference in wave conditions, deposition rates and morphology. By defining the morphological significance of waves as a product of the magnitude of bed shear stress and frequency of occurrence, even small (but frequently occurring) winds are shown to be capable of generating waves that are morphologically significant given sufficient fetch. In the arm in which fetch length is restricted, only stronger but rare storm events can influence sediment flux and therefore tides are more morphologically significant over longer timescales. Water depth within this mesotidal estuary is shown to be a critical parameter in controlling morphological significance; the rapid attenuation of short period waves with depth results in contrasting patterns of erosion occurring during neaps and accretion during springs. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

LEGRI instrument health. A historical review

LEGRI has been operating successfully on MINISAT-01 since its switch-on the 22nd of May 1997. HouseKeeping (HK) data have been continuously receivedfor nearly two years by LEGRI SOC in Valencia, and subsequently checked on adaily basis and then stored for long term monitoring analysis.LEGRI HouseKeeping data include three critical operating parameters:temperature, power and polarisation voltages. Six temperature sensors arespread over the different LEGRI units: Detector Unit, Data Processing Unit,High Voltage Unit and Star Sensor. Voltages are measured at eight differentpoints. Detector Unit temperature and polarisation voltage are thecritical parameters for LEGRI operation. Solid state detectors aresensitive to changes not only in polarisation but also in temperature.Around one and a half million of measurements for each of the HK fourteen parameters have been recorded and analysed. The data show a very remarkablestability, within the expected margins, and the averages are very close to theoptimal design values. Special attention has been paid to the detectorpolarisation voltages analysis with a mean value of 286 ± 2 V when the detectors are operating. Thermal control over all the LEGRI units shows a remarkable stability in their temperatures.On the detector plane a mean value of T _det = 13 ± 2 ^°C has been found.We can therefore conclude that LEGRI as a system has been operating withinits optimal design conditions. We also want to point out the excellentperformance of the MINISAT-01 thermal control system.     

Geodynamic evolution of a forearc rift in the southernmost Mariana Arc

The southernmost Mariana forearc stretched to accommodate opening of the Mariana Trough backarc basin in late Neogene time, erupting basalts at 3.7–2.7 Ma that are now exposed in the Southeast Mariana Forearc Rift (SEMFR). Today, SEMFR is a broad zone of extension that formed on hydrated, forearc lithosphere and overlies the shallow subducting slab (slab depth ≤ 30–50 km). It comprises NW–SE trending subparallel deeps, 3–16 km wide, that can be traced ≥ ∼30 km from the trench almost to the backarc spreading center, the Malaguana‐Gadao Ridge (MGR). While forearcs are usually underlain by serpentinized harzburgites too cold to melt, SEMFR crust is mostly composed of Pliocene, low‐K basaltic to basaltic andesite lavas that are compositionally similar to arc lavas and backarc basin (BAB) lavas, and thus defines a forearc region that recently witnessed abundant igneous activity in the form of seafloor spreading. SEMFR igneous rocks have low Na₈, Ti₈, and Fe₈, consistent with extensive melting, at ∼23 ± 6.6 km depth and 1239 ± 40°C, by adiabatic decompression of depleted asthenospheric mantle metasomatized by slab‐derived fluids. Stretching of pre‐existing forearc lithosphere allowed BAB‐like mantle to flow along the SEMFR and melt, forming new oceanic crust. Melts interacted with pre‐existing forearc lithosphere during ascent. The SEMFR is no longer magmatically active and post‐magmatic tectonic activity dominates the rift.     

Multi‐method virtual electromagnetic experiments for developing suitable monitoring designs: A fictitious CO2 sequestration scenario in Northern Germany

We present a numerical study for 3D time‐lapse electromagnetic monitoring of a fictitious CO₂ sequestration using the geometry of a real geological site and a suite of suitable electromagnetic methods with different source/receiver configurations and different sensitivity patterns. All available geological information is processed and directly implemented into the computational domain, which is discretized by unstructured tetrahedral grids. We thus demonstrate the performance capability of our numerical simulation techniques. The scenario considers a CO₂ injection in approximately 1100 m depth. The expected changes in conductivity were inferred from preceding laboratory measurements. A resistive anomaly is caused within the conductive brines of the undisturbed reservoir horizon. The resistive nature of the anomaly is enhanced by the CO₂ dissolution regime, which prevails in the high‐salinity environment. Due to the physicochemical properties of CO₂, the affected portion of the subsurface is laterally widespread but very thin. We combine controlled‐source electromagnetics, borehole transient electromagnetics, and the direct‐current resistivity method to perform a virtual experiment with the aim of scrutinizing a set of source/receiver configurations with respect to coverage, resolution, and detectability of the anomalous CO₂ plume prior to the field survey. Our simulation studies are carried out using the 3D codes developed in our working group. They are all based on linear and higher order Lagrange and Nédélec finite‐element formulations on unstructured grids, providing the necessary flexibility with respect to the complex real‐world geometry. We provide different strategies for addressing the accuracy of numerical simulations in the case of arbitrary structures. The presented computations demonstrate the expected great advantage of positioning transmitters or receivers close to the target. For direct‐current geoelectrics, 50% change in electric potential may be detected even at the Earth's surface. Monitoring with inductive methods is also promising. For a well‐positioned surface transmitter, more than 10% difference in the vertical electric field is predicted for a receiver located 200 m above the target. Our borehole transient electromagnetics results demonstrate that traditional transient electromagnetics with a vertical magnetic dipole source is not well suited for monitoring a thin horizontal resistive target. This is due to the mainly horizontal current system, which is induced by a vertical magnetic dipole.     

Composition and petrology of HED polymict breccias: The regolith of (4) Vesta

We have done petrologic and compositional studies on a suite of polymict eucrites and howardites to better understand regolith processes on their parent asteroid, which we accept is (4) Vesta. Taking into account noble gas results from companion studies, we interpret five howardites to represent breccias assembled from the true regolith: Elephant Moraine (EET) 87513, Grosvenor Mountains (GRO) 95535, GRO 95602, Lewis Cliff (LEW) 85313, and Meteorite Hills (MET) 00423. We suggest that EET 87503 is paired with EET 87513, and thus is also regolithic. Pecora Escarpment (PCA) 02066 is dominated by melt‐matrix clasts, which may have been formed from true regolith by impact melting. These meteorites display a range in eucrite:diogenite mixing ratio from 55:45 to 76:24. There is no correlation between degree of regolith character and Ni content. The Ni contents of howardite, eucrite, and diogenites (HEDs) are mostly controlled by the distribution of coarse chondritic clasts and metal grains, which in some cases resulted from individual, low‐velocity accretion events, rather than extensive regolith gardening. Trace element compositions indicate that the mafic component of HED polymict breccias is mostly basalt similar to main‐group eucrites; Stannern‐trend basaltic debris is less common. Pyroxene compositions show that some trace element‐rich howardites contain abundant debris from evolved basalts, and that cumulate gabbro debris is present in some breccias. The scale of heterogeneity varies considerably; regolithic howardite EET 87513 is more homogeneous than fragmental howardite Queen Alexandra Range (QUE) 97001. Individual samples of a given howardite can have different compositions even at roughly 5 g masses, indicating that obtaining representative meteorite compositions requires multiple or large samples.     

Estrogenic responses of larval sunshine bass (Morone saxatilis x M. Chrysops) exposed to New York City sewage effluent

To determine the estrogenicity of effluents from sewage treatment plants (STPs) to larval fish, 2-day-old sunshine bass were exposed to effluents from three STPs serving New York City (NYC), varying in size and treatment level. Estrogenic response was evaluated by measuring vitellogenin (VTG) and estrogen receptor (ER) expression in cytosolic fractions of whole body homogenates. Concentrations of the presumptive endocrine disruptors in the effluents were also measured. VTG and ER levels in sewage-exposed fish were 3-5 times that observed in controls. Combined concentrations of estradiol and estrone ranged from 5 to 13 ng/l and nonylphenol-ethoxylate metabolites (NPEOs: 4-nonylphenol, and 1-, 2-, and 3-nonylphenol-ethoxylates) ranged from 180 to 470 microg/l in chlorinated effluent. Results indicate that both ER and VTG can be used as biomarkers for endocrine disruption in larval fish, and that 4-day exposure to sewage effluent is sufficient to elicit significant expression of these markers in sunshine bass larvae. The extremely higher concentrations of NPEOs found in effluent relative to hormones (approximately 40,000-fold) indicates that surfactant metabolites may be contributing significantly to the estrogenic effects observed.     

Relating millimeter-scale turbulence to meter-scale subtidal erosion and accretion across the fringe of a coastal mangrove forest

Within a wave-exposed mangrove forest, novel field observations are presented, comparing millimeter-scale turbulent water velocity fluctuations with contemporaneous subtidal bed elevation changes. High-resolution velocity and bed level measurements were collected from the unvegetated mudflat, at the mangrove forest fringe, and within the forest interior over multiple tidal cycles (flood–ebb) during a 2-week period. Measurements demonstrated that the spatial variability in vegetation density is a control on sediment transport at sub-meter scales. Scour around single and dense clusters of pneumatophores was predicted by a standard hydraulic engineering equation for wave-induced scour around regular cylinders, when the cylinder diameter in the equations was replaced with the representative diameter of the dense pneumatophore clusters. Waves were dissipated as they propagated into the forest, but dissipation at infragravity periods (> 30 s) was observed to be less than dissipation at shorter periods (< 30 s), consistent with the predictions of a simple model. Cross-wavelet analysis revealed that infragravity-frequency fluctuations in the bed level were occasionally coherent with velocity, possibly indicating scour upstream of dense pneumatophore patches when infragravity waves reinforced tidal currents. Consequently, infragravity waves were a likely driver of sediment transport within the mangrove forest. Near-bed turbulent kinetic energy, estimated from the turbulent dissipation rate, was also correlated with bed level changes. Specifically, within the mangrove forest and over the unvegetated mudflat, high-energy events were associated with erosion or near-zero bed level change, whereas low-energy events were associated with accretion. In contrast, no single relationship between bed level changes and mean current velocity was applicable across both vegetated and unvegetated regions. These observations support the theory that sediment mobilization scales with turbulent energy, rather than mean velocity, a distinction that becomes important when vegetation controls the development of turbulence.