Hydrodynamic,non-photic modulation of biorhythms in the Norway lobster,Nephrops norvegicus (L.)

Data on biological rhythms of the Norway lobster Nephrops norvegicus (L.) are compared with new findings on inertial currents, a non-photic geophysical hydrodynamic fluctuation. Laboratory experiments on animal endogenous cardiac activity and locomotor rhythms using individuals from the middle slope (400–600 m depth) of the Mediterranean Sea revealed a consistent proportion of ultradian 18-h animals (20.6% and 12.0% of the studied cases for cardiac and locomotor tests, respectively). This characteristic, not reported in similar experiments with individuals from shallower depths (20–200 m) in the Atlantic Ocean, was initially considered meaningless from an ecological point of view. However, a close comparison with in situ oceanographic measurements over 1 year revealed a clear relationship between inertial current fluctuations and the observed 18-h behavioural and physiological rhythms. We propose a novel scenario involving potential non-photic (i.e. hydrodynamic) modulation of Nephrops biorhythms, and suggest that this may provide a paradigm for other benthic species in deep-water areas.     

Dense shelf water cascades and sedimentary furrow formation in the Cap de Creus Canyon,northwestern Mediterranean Sea

To investigate the processes by which sediment is transported through a submarine canyon incised in a continental margin affected by recurrent dense shelf water cascading events, several instrumented moorings were deployed in the Cap de Creus Canyon from September 2004 to September 2005. This was done as part of the EuroSTRATAFORM Program that investigated sediment transport and accumulation processes in the Gulf of Lions. Results obtained in this observational study confirm that major cascading events can effectively contribute to the rapid export of sediment from the shelf and upper slope to deeper environments, and suggest that the associated strong currents carrying coarse particles are able to erode the canyon floor and generate sedimentary furrows. During winter 2004–2005, persistent northerly winds and the absence of river floods contributed to decrease the buoyancy of coastal waters and to dramatically enhance the intensity of dense shelf water cascades in the Gulf of Lions. Under such conditions, cascading continuously affected the entire Cap de Creus upper canyon section for more than a month and sustained cold temperatures and down-canyon steady currents >60 cm/s (up to 100 cm/s), showing periodic fluctuations that lasted between 3 and 6 days. Increases in suspended sediment concentrations were associated with dense shelf water cascading outbursts, but the magnitude of the concentration peaks decreased with time, suggesting a progressive exhaustion of the resuspendable sediments from the shelf and canyon floor. Grain size analyses of the particles caught by a near-bottom sediment trap show that dense shelf water cascades are able to transport coarse sediments (up to 65% sand) in suspension (and presumably as bed load), which have the potential to abrade the seafloor and generate erosive bed forms. The orientation of a large field of “wide” (i.e., widths about 1/2 spacing indicative of erosive formation) sedimentary furrows recently observed in the Cap de Creus Canyon clearly coincides with the preferential direction of highest velocities measured by the moored current meters, indicating a causative relationship between contemporary dense shelf water cascades and furrow formation.     

Comparison of horizontal and downward particle fluxes across canyons of the Gulf of Lions (NW Mediterranean): Meteorological and hydrodynamical forcing

In the framework of the European project Eurostrataform, an array of six near-bottom mooring lines was deployed in the heads of the major submarine canyons incising the continental slope of the Gulf of Lions (NW Mediterranean). All moorings were equipped with sediment traps, current meters and turbidity Optical Backscatters Sensors (OBS) situated at few meters above the bottom. Particulate mass fluxes were recorded weekly by the sediment traps between November 2003 and May 2004 and compared with horizontal export fluxes obtained from the turbidity and current meters.     

General patterns of circulation, sediment fluxes and ecology of the Palamós (La Fonera) submarine canyon, northwestern Mediterranean

Currents, particle fluxes and ecology were studied in the Palamós submarine canyon (also known as the Fonera canyon), located in the northwestern Mediterranean. Seven mooring arrays equipped with current meters and sediment traps were deployed along the main canyon axis, on the canyon walls and on the adjacent slope. Additionally, local and regional hydrographic cruises were carried out. Current data showed that mean near surface and mid-depth currents were oriented along the mean flow direction (NE–SW), although at 400 and 1200 m depth within the canyon current reversals were significant, indicating a more closed circulation inside the canyon. Mean near-bottom currents were constrained by the local bathymetry, especially at the canyon head. The most significant frequency at all levels was the inertial frequency. A second frequency of about three days, attributed to a topographic wave, was observed at all depths, suggesting that this wave was probably not trapped near the bottom. The current field observed during the most complete survey revealed a meandering pattern with cyclonic vorticity just upstream from and within the canyon. The associated vertical velocity ranged between 10 and 20 m/day and was constrained to the upper 300 m. This latter feature, together with other computations, suggests that during this survey the meander was not induced by the canyon but by some kind of instability of the mean flow.In the canyon, suspended sediment concentration, downward particle fluxes, chlorophyll and particulate C and N were significantly higher up-canyon from about 1200 m depth than offshore, defining, along with the different hydrodynamics, two canyon domains: one from the canyon head to about 1200 m depth more affected by the canyon confinement and the other deeper than 1200 m depth more controlled by the mean flow and the shelf-slope front. The higher near-bottom downward total mass fluxes were recorded in the canyon axis at 1200 m depth along with sharp turbidity increases and are related to sediment gravity flows. During the deployment period, the increase in downward particle fluxes occurred by mid-November, when a severe storm took place. On the canyon walls at 1200 m depth, suspended sediment concentrations, downward particle fluxes, chlorophyll and particulate C and N were higher on the southern wall than on the northern wall inversely to the current’s energy. This could be caused by an upward water supply on the southern canyon wall and/or the mean flow interacting with the canyon bathymetry. In the swimmers collected by the sediment traps, the dominant species was an elasipod holothurian, which has not been recorded in other canyons or elsewhere in the Mediterranean, indicating particular speciation.     

Bilan,fonctionnement et protection du système karstique de la Fontaine de Vaucluse (sud-est de la France)

Résumén

L’aquifère karstique de la célèbre Fontaine de Vaucluse a fait l’objet de nouvelles investigations hydrogéologiqurs dont les résultats portent sur la définition et le fonctionnement du système.

Les données géologiques (lithologie, structure) nous ont permis la délimitation d’un impluvium de 1115 km² dont l’altitude moyenne. 870 m, est confirmée par les traceurs naturels physico-chimiques et isotopiques.

Le bilan hydrique, faute d’un réseau météorologique représentatif, a été calculé à partir d’un modèle climatique par tranches d’altitude, qui utilise les gradients pluviométriques et thermiques régionaux. On montre alors que les 3/4 des pluies efficaces proviennent des zones situées au-dessus de l’altitude moyenne de l’impluvium.

Les études hydrodynamiques et physico-chimiques nous ont permis de démontrer la faible inertie du système malgré sa taille, donc sa bonne karstification, ce qui confirme à l’échelle de l’ensemble les observations spéléologiques ponctuelles du plateau et de l’émergence.

Malgré leur faible apport au débit total, les précipitations estivales marquent la chimie de l’émergence et interrompent ainsi la phase de tarissement.

La contribution de l’eau des réserves au débit est prépondérante : respectivement les 3/4 et les 2/3 des volumes annuels écoulés en 1981 et 1982.

Compte tenu de l’absence de sols et de terrains poreux de couverture, ainsi que du développement de la karstification, la vulnérabilité du système est grande. Aussi une attention particulière doit-elle être portée à l’aménagement de la zone montagnarde de l’impluvium dont le rôle est prépondérant dans l’alimentation du système.     

Basic magmas in the early evolution of the Southernmost Patagonian Batholith,Chile

Basic magmas played an important role in the early evolution of a segment of the Patagonian Batholith (141 to 34 m.y.) exposed south of Tierra del Fuego, Chile. The basic magmatism lasted 40 m.y. to possibly 60 m.y. (141 to 84 m.y.). It is represented by early gabbros and hornblendites (141 to 103 m.y.) and by synplutonic dikes and some of the numerous basic inclusions in the granitoids of a Cretaceous (113 to 84 m.y.) plutonic group. Some of the inclusions are interpreted as the disrupted portions of synplutonic dikes.Available data indicate that basaltic to rhyolitic volcanism which took place in the area during the Early Cretaceous was contemporaneous with the basic magmatism reported here and during its latest stage, with granitoid magmas. Therefore, gabbros apparently formed part of the roots of the island arc during the early stages of its evolution, whilst granitoids may have had a greater participation at a later stage in the root system.

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Zusammenfassung Basische Magmen spielten eine bedeutende Rolle bei der frühen Entwicklung eines Abschnittes des Patagonischen Batholithen (141-34 Mio. J.), der südlich Tierra del Fuego, Chile, aufgeschlossen ist. Der basische Magmatismus dauerte 40 bis etwa 60 Millionen Jahre (141-84 Mio. J.). Er besteht aus frühen Gabbros und Hornblenditen (141-103 Mio. J.) und aus synplutonischen Gängen und einigen der zahlreichen basischen Einschlüsse in dem Granitkomplex der kretazischen Plutonit-Gruppe (113-84 Mio. J.). Einige der Einschlüsse werden als isolierte Anteile von synplutonischen Gängen gedeutet.Die zur Verfügung stehenden Daten belegen, daß der basaltische bis rhyolitische Vulkanismus, der sich in diesem Gebiet während der frühen Kreide ereignete, gleichzeitig mit dem hier vorgestellten basischen Magmatismus und in dessen letztem Stadium zusammen mit granitischen Magmen ereignete. Daher waren offensichtlich Gabbros an den Wurzeln des Inselbogens während der frühen Entwicklungsstadien beteiligt, während Granotioide mit größerem Anteil an dem späterem Stadium des Wurzelsystems beteiligt waren.

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Resumen Magmas básicos tuvieron un importante rol en la historia temprana del segmento del Batolito Patagónico (141 a 34 M a) que se expone al sur de Tierra del Fuego, Chile. El magmatismo básico tuvo una duración de unos 40 Ma y hasta unos 60 Ma (141 a 84 Ma). Este magmatismo está representado por gabros y hornblenditas (141 a 103 Ma), por diques sinplutónicos y por algunas de las numerosas inclusiones básicas en los granitoides pertenecientes a un grupo plutónico del Cretácico (113 a 84 Ma). Algunas de las inclusiones se interpretan como partes de diques sinplutónicos.La información existente permite indicar que el volcanismo basáltico y riolítico que tuvo lugar en la región, durante el Cretácico Inferior, fue contemporáneo con el magmatismo básico del que se informa en este artículo. Aparentemente, la etapa final de este volcanismo habría sido coetáneo con un importante magmatismo granítico. En consecuencia, aparentemente, en las etapas iniciales de la evolución de la cadena volcánica, los gabros habrían constituído parte de su raíz, mientras que posteriormente habría habido mayor participación de granitoides.

     

Calc-alkaline and alkaline miocene and calc-alkaline recent volcanism in the Southernmost Patagonian Cordillera, Chile

In the southernmost Patagonian Cordillera (south of Lat. 54°45′) previously unrecorded calc-alkaline dacites and andesites, and adjacent alkali-basalts, were dated at 21 and 18 Ma (K-Ar), respectively. In the same area post-glacial low-K calc-alkaline andesites, identified at Isla Cook, represent the southernmost Recent volcanism recorded so far in South America, about 400 km south of Monte Burney, previously known as the southernmost Recent volcano. The association of contemporaneous calc-alkaline and alkali volcanics suggests a subduction-related environment for the Miocene volcanism, and the Recent calc-alkaline volcanics indicate that currently there is a small component of subduction of the Antarctic Plate beneath the South American part of the Scotia Plate.     

Rockfalls: analysis of the block fragmentation through field experiments

Landslides - Fragmentation is a common feature of rockfall that exerts a strong control on the trajectories of the generated blocks, the impact energies, and the runout. In this paper, we present a...     

Sediment delivery,resuspension, and transport in two contrasting canyon environments in the southwest Gulf of Lions

Multiple canyons incise the continental slope at the seaward edge of the continental shelf in the Gulf of Lions and are actively involved in the transfer of sediment from shelf to deep sea. Two canyons in the southwest region of the Gulf of Lions, Lacaze-Duthiers Canyon and Cap de Creus Canyon, were instrumented with bottom-boundary-layer tripods in their heads to evaluate the processes involved in sediment delivery, resuspension and transport. In both canyons, intense cold, dense-water flows carry sediment across the slope. In the Lacaze-Duthiers canyon head (located ∼35 km from the shoreline), dense-water cascading into the canyon was episodic. Currents were highly variable in the canyon head, and responded to interactions between the along-slope Northern Current and the sharp walls of the canyon. Inertial and other high-frequency fluctuations were associated with suspended-sediment concentrations of ∼5 mg/l. In Cap de Creus canyon head (located ∼14 km from the shoreline), downslope currents were higher in magnitude and more persistent than in Lacaze-Duthiers canyon head. Greater suspended-sediment concentrations (peaks up to 20 mg/l) were observed in Cap de Creus Canyon due to resuspension of the canyon seabed during dense-water cascading events. The similarities and contrasts between processes in these two canyon heads emphasize the importance of the interaction of currents with sharp canyon bathymetry. The data also suggest that cold, dense-water flows have more potential to carry sediment to the slope on narrow shelves, and may more efficiently transfer that sediment to the deep sea where a smooth transition between shelf and slope exists.