Distribution patterns of macrobenthic species in relation to organic enrichment within aquaculture earthen ponds

The relationship between organic enrichment and macrobenthic colonization patterns was investigated during an 8-month period in Diplodus sargus (white seabream) production ponds. A stratified sampling design was applied and each pond was divided into three zones: water entrance (WE); central (C); and automatic feeder zones (AF). Generally, the number of species and Shannon–Wiener diversity increased from the WE to the AF zone. Abundance did not present a clear trend. The recently developed marine biotic index (AMBI) was applied and showed to be sufficiently robust to discriminate, within a relatively small area, differences in macrobenthic communities due to organic enrichment. Nevertheless, caution is advised when applying this index or others based on ecological group’s assignment, as the classification of a certain area may differ when allocating a certain species to an unsuitable group. This is particularly evident when common species are involved.     

Heat, chloride, and specific conductance as ground water tracers near streams

Commonly measured water quality parameters were compared to heat as tracers of stream water exchange with ground water. Temperature, specific conductance, and chloride were sampled at various frequencies in the stream and adjacent wells over a 2-year period. Strong seasonal variations in stream water were observed for temperature and specific conductance. In observation wells where the temperature response correlated to stream water, chloride and specific conductance values were similar to stream water values as well, indicating significant stream water exchange with ground water. At sites where ground water temperature fluctuations were negligible, chloride and/or specific conductance values did not correlate to stream water values, indicating that ground water was not significantly influenced by exchange with stream water. Best-fit simulation modeling was performed at two sites to derive temperature-based estimates of hydraulic conductivities of the alluvial sediments between the stream and wells. These estimates were used in solute transport simulations for a comparison of measured and simulated values for chloride and specific conductance. Simulation results showed that hydraulic conductivities vary seasonally and annually. This variability was a result of seasonal changes in temperature-dependent hydraulic conductivity and scouring or clogging of the streambed. Specific conductance fits were good, while chloride data were difficult to fit due to the infrequent (quarterly) stream water chloride measurements during the study period. Combined analyses of temperature, chloride, and specific conductance led to improved quantification of the spatial and temporal variability of stream water exchange with shallow ground water in an alluvial system.     

Cloud condensation nuclei from biomass burning during the Amazonian dry-to-wet transition season

Aircraft measurements of cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) during the Large-Scale Biosphere–Atmosphere Experiment in Amazonia (LBA) were conducted over the Southwestern Amazon region in September–October 2002, to emphasize the dry-to-wet transition season. The CCN concentrations were measured for values within the range 0.1–1.0% of supersaturation. The CCN concentration inside the boundary layer revealed a general decreasing trend during the transition from the end of the dry season to the onset of the wet season. Clean and polluted areas showed large differences. The differences were not so strong at high levels in the troposphere and there was evidence supporting the semi-direct aerosol effect in suppressing convection through the evaporation of clouds by aerosol absorption. The measurements also showed a diurnal cycle following biomass burning activity. Although biomass burning was the most important source of CCN, it was seen as a source of relatively efficient CCN, since the increase was significant only at high supersaturations.     

Correlation of irradiation-induced yellow color with the O<Superscript>−</Superscript> hole center in tourmaline

Tourmaline with the general formula XY₃Z₆(BO₃)₃Si₆O₁₈(OH,O)₃(OH,F) and the trigonal space group R3m (C_3v⁵) is known as a gemstone with great variety of colors. Some color centers are related to transition metal ions, and others to electron or hole traps. In this paper we report on a combined study using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), electron nuclear double resonance (ENDOR), and the optical detection of EPR (ODEPR) on a yellow color center produced by -irradiation in colorless Li-bearing elbaite tourmaline from Brazil. The color center is an O^– hole trap center, which is stabilized within the plane spanned by three Y sites, and is located in the structural channels formed by Si₆O₁₈. We suggest that two of the Y sites are substituted by ²⁷Al and the other by ^6,7Li. During the irradiation process atomic hydrogen H⁰ is also produced, which shows the same thermal stability as the hole center (250 °C). Therefore, we assign H⁰ to be the local charge compensator for the hole trap. From the ODEPR measurements we conclude that the yellow color is caused by the O^– hole center. The large negative isotropic Al superhyperfine interaction of the O^– hole trap center is consistent with a calculation of the transferred hyperfine interactions by exchange polarization supporting the proposed defect model of an O^– at the O₁ sites, whereby the O^– is relaxed into the plane formed by three Y ions.     

Natural iron-containing blue and colorless euclase studied by electron paramagnetic resonance

Natural blue and colorless rare-gem mineral specimens of euclase from Brazil are investigated by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). Angular dependences of Fe³⁺ EPR spectra in three mutually perpendicular crystal planes are analyzed revealing g and D tensors with significant low-symmetry effects, as for example, the high asymmetry parameter E/D = 0.28. Fourth-order degree Stevens parameters are also included in analysis. The anisotropy of both g and D tensors is consistent with Fe³⁺ substituting for Al³⁺ ions in strongly distorted AlO₅(OH) octahedra in which the oxygen distances range from 1.85 to 1.98 Å. Fe³⁺ is not responsible for the blue color because colorless and blue euclase show nearly the same Fe³⁺ concentration as measured by EPR. However, total iron content in blue sample is much higher than in the colorless one suggesting that the existing model that Fe²⁺–Fe³⁺ intervalence charge transfer transition may explain the blue color of euclase.     

Cambro-Ordovician Magmatism in SE Brazil: U-Pb and Rb-Sr Ages, Combined with Sr and Nd Isotopic Data of Charnockitic Rocks from the Varzea Alegre Complex

In the central-southern region of Espírito Santo State, southeastern Brazil, several granitoids with a variable composition intruded high-grade metamorphic rocks, in the northern segment of the Ribeira fold belt. A close relationship between hydrous and anhydrous facies is present in some of the plutons, including the Varzea Alegre Igneous Complex, which has an inner domain formed by gabbro, diorite and granite, and an irregular outer ring of charnockitic rocks. These green megaporphyritic charnockites have primary anhydrous mineral assemblage, I-type and metaluminous character, and high-K calc-alkaline signature. U-Pb zircon single crystal ages obtained by TIMS indicate crystallization at about 500 Ma, similar to other late tectonic plutons of this part of the Ribeira belt. Sr and Nd isotopic ratios ranging from 0.7078 to 0.7096 and 0.5114 to 0.5116 respectively, are interpreted to be indicative of a hybrid origin from crustal and mantle-derived magmas. A binary diagram using Sr isotope ratios also demonstrates that the genesis of the charnockites probably included both magma mixing and fractional crystallization processes.     

Dynamic sea level changes following changes in the thermohaline circulation

Using the coupled climate model CLIMBER-3, we investigate changes in sea surface elevation due to a weakening of the thermohaline circulation (THC). In addition to a global sea level rise due to a warming of the deep sea, this leads to a regional dynamic sea level change which follows quasi-instantaneously any change in the ocean circulation. We show that the magnitude of this dynamic effect can locally reach up to ~1 m, depending on the initial THC strength. In some regions the rate of change can be up to 20–25 mm/yr. The emerging patterns are discussed with respect to the oceanic circulation changes. Most prominent is a south-north gradient reflecting the changes in geostrophic surface currents. Our results suggest that an analysis of observed sea level change patterns could be useful for monitoring the THC strength.