Functional trajectory models for assessment of transplanted eelgrass,Zostera marina L., in the Great Bay Estuary, New Hampshire

Functional trajectory models were used to assess the restoration of ecological functions in two transplanted eelgrass (Zostera marina L.) beds compared to three natural, reference beds in the Great Bay Estuary, New Hamsphire. Functional trajectory models describe the development of ecological functions over time in restored habitats relative to levels of function in natural habitats. We present the first application of trajectory models to transplanted seagrass and evaluate the utility of these models as a tool for assessing seagrass restoration. The project was an analysis of 9 yr of monitoring data, the longest monitoring of transplanted eelgrass to date. We used trajectory models to assess the time course of development of functions in transplanted beds by evaluating statistical trends, and to determine functional equivalence, defined as the time when functions in a transplanted bed reach an asymptote and are no more than 1 standard deviation below the reference mean. The functions modeled included primary production, 3-dimensional habitat structure, faunal use, and sediment filtering and trapping. Measured proxies for primary production and habitat structure increased logistically (sigmoidally) with time, reaching functional equivalence after 3 yr. In transplanted beds, trends in habitat use by infaunal invertebrates and fish were logarithmic, and values were functionally equivalent 2–4 yr after transplanting. We saw no trend in sediment filtering and trapping capacity of transplanted eelgrass over the 9 yr. Measures of function in both reference and transplanted beds fluctuated due to natural and anthropogenic disturbances. After reaching equivalence, measures of function in transplanted beds tracked those in reference beds, exhibiting long-term persistence and rebounding from disturbances similarly to reference beds. Trajectory models can illustrate the time course of eelgrass bed development, aiding the design of monitoring programs and the evaluation of ecological functional equivalence in seagrass restoration projects.     

Production and nutrient dynamics of aSyringodium filiforme Kütz. Seagrass bed in Indian River Lagoon,Florida

A year-long analysis of the characteristics of the seagrassSyringodium filiforme and the associated dynamics of the nutrient pool in the sediment pore water was done to assess co-variation. Changes in seagrass growth rate and standing stock throughout the year were accompanied by seasonal changes in the nutrient pools. The link between plant production and morphometrics and the sediment nutrient pool was found to be predominantly physiological, with the plant balancing the ability to photosynthesize with the nutrients needed for maintaining production. Measurements of whole plant growth for this seagrass, rather than the more typical leaf growth measurements, show that the production of new shoots and rhizome elongation for these plants represents as substantial amount of growth that usually goes unmeasured. Further, these whole plant growth measures demonstrate the rapid lateral rhizome spread of this species, exceeding one meter per plant per year. The primary cause of seasonal variation in the yearly seagrass cycle was investigated. Correlation analysis supported the hypothesis that the major factor controlling seasonal variation in this seagrass was light. During the peak growing season, however, growth was not regulated by light but by nitrogen. Depletion of the sediment ammonium pool and reduction in pore water ammonium relative to adsorbed ammonium, as well as changes in N content of seagrass leaves, support our hypothesis of peak growing season nitrogen limitation. Our results forSyringodium filiforme in terrigenous sediments are in contrast to our recent findings of phosphorus limitation in this same species occurring in carbonate sediments.     

Tafoni in the El Chorro area,Andalucia, southern Spain

Using a combination of field, laboratory and micromorphological evidence, this study examines tafoni (singular, tafone) in the El Chorro area of Andalucia, southern Spain, and makes inferences concerning the processes responsible for their formation. Twenty-five tafoni were randomly selected for field examination. The morphology of these cavernous rock domes is characterized by a helmet-shaped outer roof and an arched-shaped cavern, often with a partially overhanging visor; measurements of height, width and depth of the caverns revealed marked variations in size. The presence or absence of lichen cover, surface varnish, overhanging visor, cavern backwall stripes, rock flaking, weathering pits and cavern floor sediments was also noted. Surface hardness values, obtained using a Schmidt hammer, are relatively low but significantly higher on the outer roof of the tafoni than on the inner cavern walls. Analysis of sediment samples collected from the cavern backwalls and floors indicates predominantly sandy textures, alkaline pH values and some base cation enrichment. Micromorphological analysis of thin sections, prepared from undisturbed blocks, reveals large quantities of pore-filling cement, consisting mainly of calcite, mineral grains affected by weathering and pseudomorphic replacement, and dark, rounded nodules with a metallic appearance. In terms of their formation, different processes appear to act on different parts of the landform. On the outer roof surfaces, case hardening, resulting from near-surface cementation and surface varnish development, is dominant. On the inner cavern surfaces, however, core softening, resulting from granular disintegration and flaking, dominates. Exfoliation weathering, running water and wind deflation also appear to play an important role in tafone formation. A phased model of tafone evolution is proposed whereby the features pass through four phases of development–initiation, enlargement, amalgamation and degradation; in the study area there are examples of tafoni in each of these phases. Much of the evidence suggests that the tafoni are actively developing under current environmental conditions. © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Uranium/thorium dating of ferricretes from mid- to late pleistocene glacial sediments,western Tasmania,Australia

The uranium/thorium (U/Th) dating method was applied to pedogenic/diagenic ferricretes developed within glacial drifts from the northern West Coast Ranges of Tasmania. The dates derived from the method are, by definition, minima for the sediments, with the ferricretes being secondary mineral deposits which appear in the form of bands, horizons or nodules comprised of indurated masses of iron oxy(hydr)oxides developed post-depositionally within the host sediment or soil. The absence of such deposits in well-identified drift sediments of the last glaciation suggests the development of ferricrete horizons in glacial drifts occurred during earlier interstadials and interglacials. This has been confirmed by the uranium/thorium dating of ferricrete bands within glacigenic sediments obtained from three drill cores from the Boco Valley. The ages derived were found to be consistent with estimates for the timing of glaciation derived from palaeomagnetic analyses, radiocarbon dating and relative dating techniques. The results show that the uranium/thorium method can be used to successfully date ferricretes obtained from within glacial sediments of ages <350000 yr and provides valuable information regarding the minimum age of the host sediment. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

An evaluation of progress in implementing ecosystem-based management of fisheries in 33 countries

The performance of 33 countries was evaluated for ecosystem-based management (EBM) of fisheries in three fields (principles, criteria and implementation) using quantitative ordination including uncertainty. No country rated overall as ‘good’, only four countries were ‘adequate’, while over half received ‘fail’ grades. A few developing countries performed better than many developed nations. Two case studies test the method. In Indonesia, Raja Ampat and Papua, rated similar to the national evaluation, but better performance might follow successful implementation of a planned EBM initiative. A workshop in Australia rated regional fisheries managed by New South Wales 20% lower for EBM than federally managed fisheries.     

Evaluation of bioavailable hydrocarbon sources and their induction potential in Prince William Sound, Alaska.

To realistically evaluate the consequences of exposure to a complex mixture, we modified a passive sampler technology, the semipermeable membrane device (SPMD), which absorbs the bioavailable hydrophobic organic compounds present in an environment. These samplers were deployed in Prince William Sound (PWS), Alaska, at locations selected as potential sites of hydrocarbon deposition, as well as in random sites for regional assessment.Some of these sites were affected by previous human activity, such as canneries and salmon hatcheries, while others were sites of oil discharge as a consequence of the 1964 earthquake or the oil spill of T/V Exxon Valdez in 1989. The SPMDs were deployed for 27-28 d, processed, and then split, with one aliquot dedicated to chemical analysis and the other injected into juvenile rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), along with the proper controls including a solvent control, field blank, and positive control. Trout fry were sacrificed after 2 or 7d, and their livers assayed for CYP1A induction by the standard bioassay for hydrocarbon exposure, the ethoxyresorufin-o-deethylase (EROD) assay. The results of this study were consistent and reproducible and showed that oil, whether deposited in 1964 or 1989, is still bioavailable as it can elicit as sustained response. Also, the same oil deposited in different sites of the same region has degraded differently, which is demonstrated by this method. Other putative sources of hydrocarbons, such as oil seeps, were dismissed as regional sources of induction agents as the responses following injection of modified SPMD extract from those sites did not differ significantly from the solvent control. This is a flexible, sensitive method that assesses the response to site-specific bioavailable contaminants and does so within the normal physiological response range of the target.     

The Functions and Values of Fringing Salt Marshes in Northern New England,USA

We compared the functions and values of fringing salt marshes to those of meadow marshes along the southern Maine/New Hampshire coast. Differences included soil organic matter content, plant species richness, and percent cover of high and low-marsh species. More sediment was trapped per unit area in fringing marshes than in meadow marshes, but this difference was not significant. Similarities included aboveground and belowground peak season biomass and the ability to dampen wave energy. Both marsh types reduced the height of waves coming onto the marsh surface by 63% only 7 m into the marsh. Fringing marshes are diverse in terms of their physical characteristics (width, length, slope, elevation, soils). Despite their small size, they are valuable components of estuaries, performing many ecological functions to the same degree as nearby meadow marshes. More effort should be made to include them in regional efforts to conserve and restore coastal habitats.     

National Center for Geographic Information and Analysis

Abstract

Abstract. The growth of the remote sensing field has caused and explosion in the size and complexity of Earth satellite image databases. The explosion of data is already challenging current satellite-based GIS databases. New technologies for information management will be required in the future to maintain these large geographically-oriented systems created by projects such as NASA's Earth Observing System (EOS). This paper presents a technology adapted from the planning/scheduling field in Artificial Intelligence (AI) that promises to automate and facilitate the process of creating and storing satellite images and their associated data products.     

Could the Ancestral Puebloans of Chaco Canyon,New Mexico,Have Depended on a Groundwater Ecosystem?

A thousand years ago, a population of Ancestral Puebloans occupied a high desert canyon in northwestern New Mexico, USA, where precipitation was limited and surface water scarce. Geological conditions, however, seem favorable for the production of a large Hypocrene springs system near the south canyon walls sufficient to have produced a groundwater ecosystem favorable for agriculture, tree growth, and human occupancy. A human-induced ecological impact is suggested as contributing to the dewatering of the springs, eventually reducing local agricultural production and, presumably, the suitability of Chaco Canyon for human occupancy.