Studies on the application of cyanophyta in Japan

Summary The paper gives a survey of the blue-green algae found in Japan and used as food, medicine and nitrogenous fertilizer. Since time immemorial four kinds (Aphanothece sacrum, Nostoc verrucosum, Nostoc commune, Blachytrichia quoyi) have been used for cooking purposes; yet it is only now that man is trying to cultivate a species, theAphanothece sacrum. Recently a bluegreen alga (Spirulina maxima), which is particularly rich in protein and vitamins and has always been eaten by the natives, became known in Africa. The medicinal effects of linolenic acid was examined connection with the circulation of fatty acid. Only two of the species analysed (Spirulina platensis, Arthrospira sp.) produce relatively large quantities of γ-linolenic acid. The effects of the nitrogen-producing blue-green algaTolypothrix tenuis were observed in over 40 rice fields in various regions in Japan. In some places a considerable increase in the yield was noticed, but this was never as high as in India. Presumably the difference can be traced back to 3 main factors: air temperature, alkalinity of the water and the amount of nitrogen fertilizer.

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Zusammenfassung Das Referat gibt eine übersicht über essbare, medizinisch wirksame und stickstoffdüngende Blaualgen speziell aus Japan. Vier Arten (Aphanothece sacrum, Nostoc verrucosum, Nostoc commune, Blachytrichia quoyi) werden seit alter Zeit als Zugabe zu den Mahlzeiten gebraucht, wobei man erst heute eine Art (Aphanothece sacrum) zu kultivieren versucht. Kürzlich wurde in Afrika eine Blaualge (Spirulina maxima), bekannt, die einen besonders hohen Gehalt an Eiweiss und Vitaminen aufweist und seit jeher von den Eingeborenen gegessen wird. Im Zusammenhang mit dem Kreislauf der Fetts?uren wurde die medizinische Wirkung der Linols?ure geprüft. Nur zwei der analysierten Arten (Spirulina platensis, Arthrospira sp.) bilden relativ grosse Mengen Linols?ure. In gut 40 Reisfeldern verschiedener Regionen in Japan wurde die Wirkung der stickstoff-bindenden BlaualgeTolypothrix tenuis beobachtet. Es konnten zum Teil betr?chtliche Steigerungen erzielt werden, doch nie so hohe wie in Indien. Vermutlich sind die Unterschiede haupts?chlich auf drei Faktoren: Lufttemperatur, Alkalinit?t des Wassers und Menge an Stickstoffdünger zurückzuführen.

     

Slab rollback suggested by latest Miocene to Pliocene forearc stress and migration of volcanic front in southern Kyushu, northern Ryukyu Arc

The northern Ryukyu Arc has active backarc rift, neutral-stress forearc, and active accretionary prism. The Okinawa Trough has been shaped by the episodic rifting in the backarc. Paleostresses were inferred in this study from mesoscale faults in Neogene forearc sediments called the Miyazaki Group, southeast Kyushu in the northern Ryukyu Arc. The forearc stress changed from compressional to extensional from the latest Miocene through Early Pliocene time. The stress history is concordant with the transition in tectonic regime from folding to rifting in the backarc. The transition in the stress state occurred simultaneously also with trenchward movement of the volcanic front. These phenomena suggest that the subducting slab under southern Kyushu became steeper in the Early Pliocene. Extensional tectonics ceased sometime in the late Pliocene or early to mid-Pleistocene, concordant with the counterclockwise change of subducting direction of the Philippine Sea Plate.     

Constituent material properties and clast-size distribution of volcanic breccia

Volcanic breccia is a representative heterogeneous rock. As a preliminary study for determining its mechanical properties in laboratory and field experiments, its material properties and structural features were described. Three-dimensional clast-size distribution was also estimated for the study site using the theory of stereology. With this distribution determined, a numerical simulation was performed to investigate the relationship between the volumetric proportion of clasts in a sample and the areal proportion and maximum length of clasts on a lateral surface of the sample. The following observations were made: (1) coefficients of variation for volumetric proportion are dependent on the size of the sample, and became large when the size of the sample is small; (2) samples with a small coefficient of variation can be selected at any size if a restriction is placed on the ratio, D_max/D₀, of the maximum length of clasts to the size of the sample; and (3) the volumetric proportion of clasts in each sample can be estimated from the observed areal proportions within an error range that depends on the whole volumetric proportion.     

1994 COMPILATION OF ANALYTICAL DATA FOR MINOR AND TRACE ELEMENTS IN SEVENTEEN GSJ GEOCHEMICAL REFERENCE SAMPLES, "IGNEOUS ROCK SERIES"

Analytical data for minor and trace elements published or communicated to us, on seventeen GSJ (Geological Survey of Japan) reference samples, "Igneous rock series" received up to April 1994 are compiled. The data were evaluated statistically in consideration of analytical methods. Based on the selected available data, 1994 recommended and proposed values for 65 minor and trace elements are presented.     

Persistent Differences in Horizontal Gradients in Phytoplankton Concentration Maintained by Surf Zone Hydrodynamics

Surf zones, regions of breaking waves, are at the interface between the shore and coastal ocean. Surf zone hydrodynamics may affect delivery of phytoplankton subsidies to the intertidal zone. Over a month of daily sampling at an intermediate surf zone with bathymetric rip currents and a reflective surf zone, we measured surf zone hydrodynamics and compared concentrations of coastal phytoplankton taxa in the surf zones to concentrations offshore. At the intermediate surf zone, ~80% of the variability in the concentration of coastal phytoplankton taxa within the surf zone was explained by their variation offshore; however, concentrations were much higher and lower than those offshore in samples from a bathymetric rip current and over the adjacent shoal, respectively. Hydrodynamics at this intermediate surf zone did not hinder the delivery of coastal phytoplankton to the surf zone, but the bathymetric rip current system appeared to redistribute phytoplankton concentrating them within eddies. At the reflective shore, we sampled surf zones at a beach and two adjacent rocky intertidal sites. Concentrations of typical coastal phytoplankton taxa were usually an order of magnitude or more lower than those offshore, even when offshore samples were collected just 20 m beyond the breakers. The phytoplankton assemblages inside and outside the surf zone often appeared to be disconnected. Surf zone hydrodynamics at the steep, reflective shore coupled with low phytoplankton concentrations in near-surface water appeared to limit delivery of phytoplankton subsidies to the surf zone. Surf zone hydrodynamics may be a key factor in the alongshore variation in phytoplankton subsidies to coastal communities.     

Seasonal change of oceanographic conditions and chlorophyll <Emphasis Type="Italic">a</Emphasis> vertical distribution in the southwestern Okhotsk Sea during the non-iced season

Seasonal changes in oceanographic conditions related to primary productivity was investigated in the southwestern Okhotsk Sea during non-iced seasons, using the observation data conducted in 2000∼2006. Based on hydrographic characteristics, the studied area could be classified into two regions, the Coastal Region which is influenced under the Soya Warm Current and the Forerunner Water of the Soya Warm Current, and the Offshore Region where the Intermediate Cold Water was located in the subsurface layer. This study is the first report on seasonal change of nutrient and chlorophyll a concentrations in the offshore region of the southwestern Okhotsk Sea. Variability of concentrations of chlorophyll a and nutrients is temporally and regionally high in the Coastal Region. The maximum chlorophyll a concentration in April was observed at the surface layer of both regions. The most remarkable feature on the vertical structure in the Offshore Region was the consistent existence of the Intermediate Cold Water and the development of seasonal thermocline in the subsurface layer during summer and autumn. The stratification formed within the euphotic zone in the Offshore Region resulted in the formation of the subsurface chlorophyll a maximum (SCM) from May to October. Throughout the research period, although less amplitude of nutrients at the surface was observed in the Coastal Region than that in the Offshore Region, comparable amplitude of chlorophyll a concentration was observed between regions. These results suggested differences of environmental conditions for primary production between the two regions. Depending on the presence of SCM, relationships between chlorophyll a concentration at the sea surface and chlorophyll a standing stock within the euphotic layer were different. At most stations with SCM, the surface chlorophyll a concentration was lower than 0.6 mg m-3. This suggests that the presence of SCM and the chlorophyll a standing stock within the euphotic layer may be estimated using the surface chlorophyll a concentration from spring to autumn in the studied area.