Physical factors influencing immature-fish communities in the surf zones of sandy beaches in northwestern Kyushu Island,Japan

We aim to understand the relationships between physical conditions and characteristics of the immature-fish community in surf zones of sandy beaches. Therefore, we obtained fish samples between March 2007 and February 2008 and analyzed certain physical conditions in the surf zones of 21 sandy beaches on the coastline of the northwestern Kyushu Island, Japan. We collected a total of 83 species and 6458 immature individuals. In a BIO-ENV analysis, the highest correlation was observed between fish assemblage and S20 (i.e., the slope from the shoreline to the sites where the depth was 20 m) and current velocity (CV) values. Stepwise multiple linear regression analyses revealed that the number of species and individuals decrease with an increase in the S20 and CV values. These results show that species richness and the abundance of immature-fish increase under shelving and calm conditions. Thus, immature-fish assemblages are strongly influenced by the prevailing physical conditions. Moreover, in six of the 10 dominant species, a negative correlation was observed between CV and abundance. On the other hand, S20 was found to be the explanatory variable only in the case of the most dominant species, i.e., Gymnogobius breunigii. Furthermore, a positive correlation was observed between S1 (i.e., the slope from the shoreline to the sites where the depth was 1.0 m at the mean tidal level) and median particle size (i.e., MPS of the sediments) and the abundances of Sillago japonica and Favonigobius gymnauchen, respectively, and a negative correlation with salinity, in the case of Acanthogobius lactipes. We conclude that the characteristics of the fish community in surf zones on sandy beaches are determined by not only the shelving and calm conditions, which influence fish assemblages and abundances, but also the habitat diversity, which influences the diversity of fish species.     

Uranium-series chronology for sediments of Lake Hovsgol, Mongolia, and the 1-Ma records of uranium and thorium isotopes from the HDP-04 drill core

Uranium and thorium isotopes in an 81-m long sediment core (HDP-04) of Lake Hovsgol, Mongolia, were measured to investigate their downcore distributions and to explore potential linkage to paleoenvironmental changes. Three-dimensional isochron techniques using isotope-ratio diagrams in ²³⁸U–²³⁴U–²³⁰Th–²³²Th system presented by Ludwig and Titterington were applied to age date the lake sediments at the depths of 11.42, 14.71 and 14.83 m in the HDP-04 section, the estimated ages of these horizons are 66 ± 8, 122 ± 11 and 128 ± 22 ka, respectively. The ²³⁸U concentration throughout the entire section fluctuated by a factor of 12, ranging from 19.9 to 232.1 mBq/g with anomalously high ²³⁸U peak at 23.8 m in depth, while the ²³²Th concentration varied only by a factor of about two between 24.3 and 54.0 mBq/g. The discrimination of the bulk ²³⁸U into authigenic and terrigenous ²³⁸U fractions was attempted, based on the measured ²³²Th as a correction index for terrigenous materials. In the upper 24 m corresponding to the last 250 ka, the authigenic ²³⁸U was higher in interglacials and lower in glacials. This depth profile of authigenic ²³⁸U contents was almost identical pattern with that found in a sediment core (VER98-1-6) from the Academician Ridge, Lake Baikal. Further, this profile can be correlated well with that of photosynthetic pigment contents, one of proxies of paleoproductivity, suggesting that the variation of authigenic ²³⁸U contents were associated with the environmental change around Lake Hovsgol.     

Lost primordial continents

We investigate the bulk density variations of some representative compositions for the lower mantle based on the pressure–volume–temperature equation of state of the constituent mineral phases. The density variations of pyrolite, harzburgite, mid-ocean ridge basalt (MORB), tonalite–trondhjemite–granodiorite (TTG), and anorthosite are studied at a temperature of 300 K and at lower mantle pressures. The density of MORB is greater than that of pyrolite throughout the lower mantle, while the density of harzburgite is slightly lower than that of pyrolite. The density of anorthosite is comparable to that of pyrolite in the lower mantle in general, and greater in the lowermost mantle, while the density of TTG is lower than pyrolite throughout the lower mantle. The above results have important implications for the fate of primordial continents, TTG and anorthosite crust. While subducted TTG might be stagnant in the mantle transition zone, dense subducted anorthositic crust could be expected to sink to the core–mantle boundary (CMB) and thus might be a major component of the D" layer immediately above the CMB. Thus, we propose that significant bodies of continental material could be present in the mantle in the transition zone and immediately above the CMB, in addition to the continents on the Earth's surface.     

Seasonal Variations in Abundance and Size Composition of the Lobate Ctenophore Bolinopsis Mikado (Moser) in Tokyo Bay, Central Japan

Surveys of the abundance and size composition of the ctenophore Bolinopsis mikado were conducted in Tokyo Bay over a 5-year period from 1990 to 1994. B. mikado appeared throughout the year, and its mass occurrence was observed between August and November; annual maximum abundance ranged from 19 to 91 ind. m^–2. Water temperature seems to influence the seasonal variation of B. mikado abundance. Environmental conditions (e.g. rough waters due to a typhoon) and predation by the beroid ctenophore Beroe cucumis appear to affect annual variations of B. mikado abundance. Size frequency distributions of B. mikado indicated that its reproduction was most active in summer and fall but occurred throughout the year in Tokyo Bay. A sharp decline of the copepod population in August 1990 was probably due to predation by B. mikado which was very abundant at that time; its predatory impact was estimated to be 24 % day^–1.     

Ocean Tide Models Developed by Assimilating TOPEX/POSEIDON Altimeter Data into Hydrodynamical Model: A Global Model and a Regional Model around Japan

A global ocean tide model (NAO.99b model) representing major 16 constituents with a spatial resolution of 0.5° has been estimated by assimilating about 5 years of TOPEX/POSEIDON altimeter data into barotropic hydrodynamical model. The new solution is characterized by reduced errors in shallow waters compared to the other two models recently developed; CSR4.0 model (improved version of Eanes and Bettadpur, 1994) and GOT99.2b model (Ray, 1999), which are demonstrated in comparison with tide gauge data and collinear residual reduction test. This property mainly benefits from fine-scale along-track tidal analysis of TOPEX/POSEIDON data. A high-resolution (1/12°) regional ocean tide model around Japan (NAO.99Jb model) by assimilating both TOPEX/POSEIDON data and 219 coastal tide gauge data is also developed. A comparison with 80 independent coastal tide gauge data shows the better performance of NAO.99Jb model in the coastal region compared with the other global models. Tidal dissipation around Japan has been investigated for M₂ and K₁ constituents by using NAO.99Jb model. The result suggests that the tidal energy is mainly dissipated by bottom friction in localized area in shallow seas; the M₂ ocean tidal energy is mainly dissipated in the Yellow Sea and the East China Sea at the mean rate of 155 GW, while the K₁ energy is mainly dissipated in the Sea of Okhotsk at the mean rate of 89 GW. TOPEX/POSEIDON data, however, detects broadly distributed surface manifestation of M₂ internal tide, which observationally suggests that the tidal energy is also dissipated by the energy conversion into baroclinic tide.     

Interannual Variability of Antarctic Hydrographic Structure and Frontal Zones along Meridional Sections between Syowa Station and Southern Africa

Six years of quasi-meridional crossings of the Antarctic Ocean from Antarctica to southern Africa between 4°W and 16°E longitude are analyzed, with emphasis on temperature and salinity distributions. Data are sparse, but (particularly in the southern part of the sections) adequate to show significant variations in the latitude/depth distributions and T-S characteristics of the principal water masses. In particular, the cross-sectional area occupied by Warm Deep Water (Weddell Deep Water) dropped by about one third in 1968. Positions of major features associated with the Antarctic Divergence varied by up to 5 degrees of latitude. The surface temperature gradient often observed at the Antarctic Divergence appears to be the surface expression of a shallow (possibly seasonal) thermocline which sometimes slopes upward to intersect the sea surface. There is a clear need for more closely spaced and consistently planned data from Antarctic cruises, particularly those on which physical oceanography is an ancillary activity. As a bare minimum, much more closely spaced surface temperature (and if possible also salinity) measurements would be useful.     

Interelement relationships and age-related variation of trace element concentrations in liver of striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) from Japanese coastal waters

Concentrations of 19 trace elements (V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Cu, Zn, Se, Rb, Sr, Mo, Ag, Cd, Sb, Cs, Ba, Tl, Hg, and Pb) were determined in the liver of the striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) collected around Japan during 1977-1982 to examine the sex difference, age dependence, and interrelationships among trace elements. Tissue distribution of trace elements was also investigated in one adult and one fetus specimens. Generally, concentrations of Se, Sr, Ag, Cd, Cs, Ba, Hg, and Pb were higher in the tissues of adult than those of fetus, whereas the opposite trend was observed for Cr and Tl. There were no significant sex differences in the trace element levels in the liver. Significant positive correlations between age (0-26.5 years) and hepatic concentrations were found for Ag, Se, Hg, V, Fe, Pb, and Sr, suggesting their age-dependent accumulation in the liver. In contrast, hepatic concentrations of Mn and Zn decreased with age. Significant positive relationships were observed between Se, and Hg, Ag, V, Fe, and Sr in the liver.     

Characteristics of ChgH–GFP transgenic medaka lines, an in vivo estrogenic compound detection system

We previously reported the characteristics of a ChgH–GFP transgenic medaka line that indicates estrogenic compound pollution in environmental water by the green fluorescence of their liver. Recently, we established four more lines. In this study, the characteristics of the five transgenic medaka lines were investigated. The intensity of reporter gene expression varied among transgenic lines and generally correlated well with the amount of integrated transgene in each line. Line-specific ectopic expression was also observed. However, the sensitivity to 17-β estradiol did not differ among transgenic lines. Three transgenic lines are considered to be suitable as bio-indicators of estrogenic activity, due to the ease of observing green fluorescence in their livers. The transgenic lines can also detect the estrogenic activity of testosterone and 17-β trenbolone at the nominal concentration of 30 and 100 μg/l, respectively.