An ecosystem model with iron limitation of primary production in the equatorial Pacific at 140°W

We construct a one-dimensional ecosystem model (nitrate, ammonium, phytoplankton, zooplnakton and detritus) with simple physics and biology in order to focus on the structural relations and intrinsic properties of the food web that characterizes the biological regime in the central equatorial Pacific at 140°W. When possible, data collected during the EgPac and other cruises were used to calibrate model parameters for two simulations that differ in the limiting nutrient, i.e. nitrogen or iron. Both simulations show annual results in good agreement with the data, but phytoplankton biomass and primary production show a more pronounced annual variability when iron is used as the limiting nutrient. This more realistically reproduces the variability of biological production and illustrates the greater coupling between vertical physical processes and biological production when the limiting nutrient is iron rather than nitrogen. The iron simulation also illustrates how iron supply controls primary production variability, how grazingbalances primary production and controls phytoplankton biomass, and how both iron supply and grazingcontrol primary production. These results suggest that it is not possible to capture primary production variability in the central equatorial Pacific with biological models using nitrogen as the limiting nutrient. Other indirect results of this modeling study were: (1) partitioning of export production between dissolved and particulate matter is almost equal, suggesting that the importance of DOC export may have been previously overestimated; (2) lateral export of live biomass has to be taken into account in order to balance the nitrogen budget on the equator at 140°W; and (3) preferential uptake of ammonium (i.e. nitrate uptake inhibition by ammonium) associated with high regeneration of nitrogen (low f ratio as a consequence of the food web structure imposed by iron limitation) largely accounts for the surface build-up of upwelled nitrate.     

Cd, Pb, Cu, Ni and Co distribution in the German Bight

Cd, Pb and Cu concentrations, dissolved and total, have been determined in the German Bight. In 1975, 1977, 1978, 1980 and 1983 water samples were collected at 215 sampling stations. In the 1983 mission samples were also analysed for Ni and Co. The samples were filtered and acidified immediately after collection. Analysis was performed by voltammetry.The analytical data indicate that a net portion of the Cd, the Weser being a distinct source for it, will cross the estuarine zone. Open sea Cd levels in the German Bight are about a factor 10 higher than North Atlantic values. Pb, being transported mainly with the suspended particulate phase (up to 99.5%), is better eliminated by sedimentation in the estuaries. Ni and Cu occur mainly in the dissolved phase. Pollution by Co is distinct in the Elbe, but the output is rapidly diluted to background contents below 10 ng kg⁻¹. An interpretation of the results from the different years yields a rather steady state situation in the German Bight.     

Chemical oceanography, vol. 8: Edited by J.P. Riley and R. Chester. Academic Press, London, 1983, xvi + 398 pp., £45.00/US $75.00 (hardcover)

Representative profiles of inorganic nitrogenous species dissolved in interstitial waters of coral reef sands are presented. Ammonium is the dominant nitrogenous species in these pore waters with concentrations of up to 40 μm. Nitrate is present but in lower concentrations. Nitrite is found only occasionally in trace amounts. Computations of diffusive fluxes and inferences concerning microbial activity are derived from the profile structures. Computed flux rates of nitrogenous species from the sediment to the water column range between 0.75 and 1.37 μM m^?1 h^?1. These inputs may represent a significant source of recycled nitrogen to the primary producers of the coral reef ecosystem.     

A community-wide intercomparison exercise for the determination of dissolved iron in seawater

The first large-scale international intercomparison of analytical methods for the determination of dissolved iron in seawater was carried out between October 2000 and December 2002. The exercise was conducted as a rigorously “blind” comparison of 7 analytical techniques by 24 international laboratories. The comparison was based on a large volume (700 L), filtered surface seawater sample collected from the South Atlantic Ocean (the “IRONAGES” sample), which was acidified, mixed and bottled at sea. Two 1-L sample bottles were sent to each participant. Integrity and blindness were achieved by having the experiment designed and carried out by a small team, and overseen by an independent data manager. Storage, homogeneity and time-series stability experiments conducted over 2.5 years showed that inter-bottle variability of the IRONAGES sample was good (< 7%), although there was a decrease in iron concentration in the bottles over time (0.8–0.5 nM) before a stable value was observed. This raises questions over the suitability of sample acidification and storage.     

Distribution of As, Cr and V species in the Po-Adriatic mixing area, (Italy)

The distribution of dissolved and participate concentrations of As, Cr and V was investigated in the mixing area of the Po river in five surveys over the period March 1992-March 1995. The data obtained indicate noticeable contamination of coastal waters of the northern Adriatic with Cr but not As or V. Total dissolved concentrations for As and V were comparable with oceanic levels but were higher by a factor of 4 for Cr. These results suggest either low anthropogenic inputs of As and V, from terrigenous and atmospheric sources, or efficient removal mechanisms. The investigated metals had low reactivity during freshwater-seawater mixing and the distribution of concentrations in the dissolved and solid phases suggests that the dilution process is the main factor controlling the transport of these metals to the sea in low-to-medium solid transport conditions. Further investigations are required to elucidate the behavior of these metals during high solid transport conditions. Significant changes in the speciation of As occurred during the transition between the two end-member matrices. In the coastal waters of the northern Adriatic, the arsenite fraction in winter, and the arsenite and dimethylarsinate fractions in summer increased with respect to riverine waters. Changes in the speciation of chromium were minor, but also showed a small increase in reduced species in marine waters.     

Environmental overview of Eckernförde Bay,northern Germany

This environmental overview of Eckernförde Bay (northern Germany) summarizes the results of previous studies relevant to the Office of Naval Research's Coastal Benthic Boundary Layer (CBBL) Baltic field exercise conducted during 1993–1994. Significant environmental characteristics include the following: (1) surface sediment distribution is related to water depth, dictated primarily by hydrodynamic reworking of older glacial deposits; (2) the origin and characteristics of small-scale sedimentary structures depend on storm-generated waves and currents; (3) the proximity of the sea surface and sediment —water interface results in a pelagic—benthic coupling that drives biogeochemical processes and produces organicrich, acoustically turbid sediments; and (4) the bay floor is complicated topographically by pockmarks and manmade sedimentary structures.     

Total amount of oceanic excess CO2 taken from the North Pacific subpolar region

Concentrations of total carbonate, alkalinity and dissolved oxygen were obtained near the 1973 GEOSECS stations in the North Pacific subpolar region north of 40°N along 175°E between 1993 and 1994. A difference of excess CO₂ content between the GEOSECS and our expeditions was estimated. The maximum difference in water column inventory of excess CO₂ has increased by about 280 gC m^–2 above 2000 m depth which apparently means an uptake of excess CO₂ taken from air to sea during the last two decades. An averaged value of the annual flux of excess CO₂ at 75–1000 m depth was 8.63±2.01 gC m^–2yr^–1 in the North Pacific subpolar region. By introducing the annual flux of excess CO₂ into a two-box model for the North Pacific subpolar region, a penetration factor of excess CO₂ from air to sea was obtained to be 1.08×10^–2 gC m^–3ppm^–1 in the North Pacific subpolar region. Based on this factor, the surface concentration of excess CO₂ in the North Pacific subpolar region was estimated to be 68 mole I^–1, suggesting that the North Pacific subpolar region absorbed atmospheric excess CO₂ more than the saturated concentration of excess CO₂. Total amount of excess CO₂ taken from the North Pacific subpolar region by 1993 was estimated to be 36.2×10¹⁵ gC, which was equal to about one tenth of that released by human activities after the preindustrial era.     

Estrogenic responses to xenobiotics in channel catfish (Ictalwus punctatus)

Several environmentally relevant contaminants are characterized as xenoestrogens by virtue of their ability to induce responses similar to 17β-estradiol (E2). There is concern that exposure to these xenoestrogens may result in endocrine and, thus, reproductive disruption. The objective of the present research was to determine whether xenobiotics known to elicit estrogenic responses in mammals were estrogenic in channel catfish, and if these compounds were capable of altering normal physiological response to E2. Sexually immature catfish were exposed by intraperitoneal injection to E2, suspected xenoestrogens or combination doses of E2 and xenoestrogen. Appearance of vitellogenin (Vg) in serum was used as the bioindicator of estrogenicity; Vg was measured by ELISA 7 days after injection. The ED₅₀ of E2 for the appearance of Vg in blood, 0.6 mg/kg, was used as the positive control. Synthetic estrogens, ethinylestradiol, mestranol and DES were effective in inducing Vg; the antiestrogen tamoxifen inhibited response to E2 when given in a combination dose. Treatment by both methoxychlor and p-nonylphenol resulted in Vg appearance in serum; the doses required were 300 times that of E2, and the vitellogenic response was less when compared to the E2-induced response. In addition, a combination dose of methoxychlor with E2 decreased the magnitude of the response to E2. Other mammalian xenoestrogens, o,p′-DDT, chlordecone, lindane and β-HCH, were not able to produce a vitellogenic response in this study.