A new genus and species of littoral mite (acari: Mesostigmata) from New Zealand

Tangaroellus porosus, gen. nov., sp. nov., is described from three coastal localities in New Zealand. Its affinities with the family Rhodacaridae are discussed.     

Oxygen consumption and apnoea in the shortfin eel,Anguilla australis schmidtii

Patterns of ventilation, oxygen consumption (VO₂), blood gas tensions (PaO₂ and PaCO₂) and pH were determined in shortfin eels (Anguilla australis schmidtii (Phillips)). At rest, shortfin eels (average weight 646.5 ± 64.5 g) had a VO₂ of 20.4 ± 1.2 ml. kg^‐1.h^‐1 (n = 13) at 17.5 ± 0.2°c, with smaller fish having the highest metabolic rates. The frequency of ventilation was inversely proportional to body weight in both A. australis schmidtii and A. dieffenbachii. In air‐saturated water 10 eels exhibited periodic apnoea (mean duration 3.59 min); periods of ventilation were more variable in duration (mean 4.92 min). After 2.62 min of apnoea, the PaO₂ of dorsal aortic blood had fallen from 9.12 to 1.91 kPa. Thus, although the blood has a high affinity for oxygen and the haemoglobins are 30% oxygen‐saturated at this low PaO₂, the eel allows its blood to be significantly depleted in oxygen during apnoeic pauses at rest. When ventilating its gills at rest, PaO₂ does not approach the PO₂ of the inspired water. It is suggested that these features of respiration in eels result in a saving of metabolic costs involved in ventilation. The results are discussed in terms of the eel's ability to withstand hypoxic conditions.     

Monazite geochronology and geochemistry of meta-sediments in the Narryer Gneiss Complex, Western Australia: constraints on the tectonothermal history and provenance

Mt. Narryer and Jack Hills meta-sedimentary rocks in the Narryer Gneiss Complex of the Yilgarn Craton, Western Australia are of particular importance because they yield Hadean detrital zircons. To better understand the tectonothermal history and provenance of these ancient sediments, we have integrated backscattered scanning electron images, in situ U–Pb isotopic and geochemical data for monazites from the meta-sediments. The data indicate multiple periods of metamorphic monazite growth in the Mt. Narryer meta-sediments during tectonothermal events, including metamorphism at ~3.3–3.2 and 2.7–2.6 Ga. These results set a new minimum age of 3.2 Ga for deposition of the Mt. Narryer sediments, previously constrained between 3.28 and ~2.7 Ga. Despite the significant metamorphic monazite growth, a relatively high proportion of detrital monazite survives in a Fe- and Mn-rich sample. This is likely because the high Fe and Mn bulk composition resulted in the efficient shielding of early formed monazite by garnet. In the Jack Hills meta-sediments, metamorphic monazite growth was minor, suggesting the absence of high-grade metamorphism in the sequence. The detrital monazites provide evidence for the derivation of Mt. Narryer sediments from ca. 3.6 and 3.3 Ga granites, likely corresponding to Meeberrie and Dugel granitic gneisses in the Narryer Gneiss Complex. No monazites older than 3.65 Ga have been identified, implying either that the source rocks of >3.65 Ga detrital zircons in the sediments contained little monazite, or that >3.65 Ga detrital minerals had experienced significant metamorphic events or prolonged sedimentary recycling, resulting in the complete dissolution or recrystallization of monazite.     

Wind Modulation of Dissolved Oxygen in Chesapeake Bay

A numerical circulation model with a simplified dissolved oxygen module is used to examine the importance of wind-driven ventilation of hypoxic waters in Chesapeake Bay. The model demonstrates that the interaction between wind-driven lateral circulation and enhanced vertical mixing over shoal regions is the dominant mechanism for providing oxygen to hypoxic sub-pycnocline waters. The effectiveness of this mechanism is strongly influenced by the direction of the wind forcing. Winds from the south are most effective at supplying oxygen to hypoxic regions, and winds from the west are shown to be least effective. Simple numerical simulations demonstrate that the volume of hypoxia in the bay is nearly 2.5 times bigger when the mean wind is from the southwest as compared to the southeast. These results provide support for a recent analysis that suggests much of the long-term variability of hypoxia in Chesapeake Bay can be explained by variations in the summertime wind direction.