Shell architecture,element composition,and stable isotope signature of the giant deep-sea oyster Neopycnodonte zibrowii sp. n. from the NE Atlantic

A conspicuous new deep-sea oyster, Neopycnodonte zibrowii sp. n., is described from the Azores Archipelago, where it thrives in 420 to >500 m water depth in high densities concealed underneath overhangs. The new species reaches a relatively large size, which may exceed 20 cm, and is characterised by a very unusual hinge line morphology, straight without a bulge of the resilium. It is compared to the extant Indo-Pacific Empressostrea kostini Huber and Lorenz, 2007 and to the cosmopolitan Neopycnodonte cochlear (Poli, 1791), which has a broadly sympatric distribution at shallower depths in the Azores and Bay of Biscay. Radiocarbon dating reveals that individuals reach an impressive lifespan of one to more than five centuries, placing them among the longest-lived molluscs known to date. They often grow on top of each other, forming stacks that resemble dish piles—an effective measure to optimise shell stability with minimal biomineralisation effort, but with the drawback of increased bioerosion ultimately leading to detachment.Three microstructure types are developed in N. zibrowii: (1) the cross-foliated, calcitic, dorsal to central endostracum and aragonitic ligostracum, (2) the porous vesicular structure of the calcitic ventral endostracum, and (3) the simple prismatic aragonitic myostracum. Foliated and vesicular shell portions show sub-millimetre-scale first-order increments delineated by conchiolin-rich growth breaks (interpreted as reproductive cyclicity), and less distinct second-order increments (interpreted as annual in nature). This pattern is clearly reflected by the elemental composition with the primary growth breaks lacking Ca and Sr but including Mg and S as organic matrix constituents. The second-order increments within the calcite are mirrored by moderately co-varying Mg/Ca and S/Ca fluctuations at stable Sr concentrations, reflecting varying proportions of organic matrix. Dorsal and central endostracum transects reveal a low inter-valve, but considerable inter-specimen variability with high Mg/Ca molar ratios and fluctuations (22.5±17.6 mmol/mol), low Sr/Ca values (0.2±0.1 mmol/mol), and a typical to high S/Ca content (6.9±2.2 mmol/mol), when compared to other calcitic bivalves.Unlike short-lived, shallow-water oysters, N. zibrowii thrives under very stable environmental conditions. Minimal temperature fluctuations and stable open marine salinity provide an optimal basis to recognise biological fractionation processes. Strong Mg/Ca fluctuations indicate a physiological control related to metabolism and biomineralisation, prohibiting the use of this ratio as a temperature or ocean chemistry proxy. Low Sr/Ca ratios indicate rather constant and low long-term accretion rates, while short-scale fluctuations may be attributed to short-term variations in growth rate and Mg incorporation. Oxygen isotopes yield a considerable spread of 1.8‰ with a mean of 2.0±0.3‰ δ¹⁸O V-PDB, and low correlation between different contemporaneous parts of the shell and between specimens. These values surprisingly exceed expected equilibrium conditions, calculated from in situ temperature data (annual mean 12.3±0.3 °C) and seawater isotopic composition (0.5±0.1‰ δ¹⁸O SMOW), by 0.5‰ on average. Such positively shifting vital effects, previously reported for limpets and barnacles, are often overlooked in high-temperature and high-amplitude settings and may be more common than is currently believed. Carbon isotopes range from 0.2 to 3.5‰ δ¹³C V-PDB (mean 1.8±0.7‰) and show an ontogenetic decrease, but may incorporate an environmental signal in adult portions, indicated by a strong correspondence of peaks between specimens. This signal is likely driven by a complex interplay of different factors, such as primary production, current-based food supply and metabolism.     

A reappraisal of the significance of obstacle clasts in cluster bedform dispersal

The dispersal of cluster bedforms is examined in a short, partially braided reach of the River Quoich, northeast Scotland, after minor flood events in 1989 and 1990. In all cases, the eventual dispersal of clusters occurred without prior removal of the obstacle clast. Since none of the obstacle clasts was dispersed in 1989 and only two-thirds by 1990, obstacle clasts probably form a less significant delay to sediment entrainment than previously assumed and represent a relatively immobile component of bed sediment.     

Dechlorinating and Iron Reducing Bacteria Distribution in a TCE-Contaminated Aquifer

Dehalorespiration bioremediation has been considered for chlorinated compound removal from two trichloroethene contaminated groundwater plumes in the OU 5 area of Hill Air Force Base, Utah. The distributions and population densities of the 16S rRNA genes of Bacteria, Dehalococcoides ethenogenes, Desulfuromonas michiganensis, Geobacter spp. and Rhodoferax ferrireducens -like bacteria, as well as the functional genes trichloroethene reductive dehalogenase ( tce A) and vinyl chloride reductase ( vcr A) were determined in contaminated aquifer material samples. The influence of aquifer physical and chemical properties, including iron availability, on these distributions was evaluated. Twenty aquifer cores were collected. DNA was extracted and analyzed using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) to quantify the gene densities. Dehalococcoides population densities were low and unevenly distributed. D. michiganensis was found in 12 cores while Geobacter spp. were found in 8 cores. Rhodoferax ferrireducens -like bacteria were widely distributed. The vcr A gene distribution was relatively uniform and broad but the tce A gene was detectable in only 2 cores. Gene distribution was not related to core clusters derived from physical/chemical characteristics.     

TRACING FLOOD FLOWS USING SEDIMENTARY INDICATORS

LinTRODUCTIONANDAIMSTheaimsofthisStUdyaretointroducenewtechniquesforanalysingfloodflowsfromsedimentarrangementmsapproachincorporatestheeffectsofflotvonthedevelopmentofrouglmessontheriverbed,andnot,asismostlythecase,theeffectsofbedroughnessonflow.Differentacsofflows,includingthemaalmumfloodflowarereconsmictedfromfloworientahonsofparticlesoveranentiregravCIbar.DuetOtheddricultiesinvolvedinobtaininglargeparticlesamples,studiesonpAncleOrientationsintheliteratUrearerare.WhilstmoStanalyse…     

Groundwater Monitoring on Guam: Management Responses to Recent Water Quality Violations

Guam has one of the finest limestone aquifers in the world. Located in the northern half of the island, this vital underground resource supplies the local community with about 80% of its drinking water needs. The majority of the island’s approximately 180,000 inhabitants live in the northern half of the island where significant economic growth and urban development have occurred over the last 30 years. The U.S. military has also occupied large tracts of land in this region for the past 60 years. The risks of groundwater contamination are, therefore, very real considering the population density in northern Guam and the rapid recharge rates to the underlying aquifer. Since April 1996, Guam Waterworks Authority (GWA) has regularly monitored the island’s drinking water resources for chemical and biological contaminants in accordance with the U.S. Safe Drinking Water Act requirements. This report summarizes and compares the groundwater data sets for two discrete time intervals: 1996 through 2001 and 2002 through 2007 for chemicals, and 1997(8) through 2002 and 2003 through 2007 for bacteria. Adaptive management strategies that evolved to deal with contaminant violations over this time frame are critically discussed. Overall, 95% of all GWA’s drinking water production wells were considered to be in relatively good shape from a chemical standpoint. Identified chemicals of concern were chlordane, ethylene dibromide, perchloroethylene, trichloroethylene, and nitrate. The microbiological integrity of Guam’s groundwater was, by comparison, less impressive prior to 2003 because of numerous wastewater spills, leaks, and overflows. Improved management practices introduced shortly afterward have significantly reduced the incidence of Escherichia coli contamination in recent years.     

Presence of DDT and Lindane in a Karstic Groundwater Aquifer in Yucatan,Mexico

Pollution caused by pesticides is becoming relevant because of their harmful environmental effects. The persistence, bioaccumulation and toxicity of some organochloride pesticides have resulted in their restricted use since 1970 and a requirement to monitor them in many countries. Pesticides have endocrine, immunological, reproductive and carcinogenic effects in both humans and animals. The facilitated infiltration of substances results in the pollution of hydric underground resources in karstic limestone such as that found in the state of Yucatan. Observing the north occidental region of the state of Yucatan is particularly important as it is characterized by agricultural activities (wide use of pesticides), significant human settlements and underground water flows oriented towards the north coast. In this study, the underground water quality of a karstic aquifer was evaluated by quantifying the presence of organochlorine pesticides in 29 wells located throughout the Mérida‐Progreso transect, Yucatan, Mexico. The presence of DDT, lindane and their metabolites was detected at concentrations above the permissible limits stated by Mexican regulatory standards (NOM‐127‐SSA1‐1994 2010) in the majority of wells studied. Continuous monitoring of the underground hydric resources in this region is therefore essential to raising awareness of pollution risks and the vulnerability of the coastal north to the contamination of the underground water flows.     

Factors Controlling In Situ Biogeochemical Transformation of Trichloroethene: Field Survey

We have previously defined in situ biogeochemical transformation as the biogenic formation of reactive minerals that are capable of abiotically degrading chlorinated solvents such as trichloroethene without accumulation of degradation products such as vinyl chloride (AFCEE et al. 2008 ). This process has been implemented in biowalls used to intercept contaminated groundwater. Abiotic patterns of contaminant degradation were observed at Altus Air Force Base (AFB) and in an associated column study, but not at other sites including Dover AFB. These abiotic patterns were associated with biogenic formation of reactive iron sulfide minerals. Iron sulfides in the form of small individual grains, coatings on magnetite, and sulfur‐deficient pyrite framboids were observed in samples collected from the Altus AFB biowalls and one of the EPA columns. Larger iron sulfide grains coated with oxide layers were observed in samples collected from Dover AFB. Altus AFB and the EPA column differed from Dover AFB in that groundwater flow at Dover AFB was relatively slow and potentially reversing. High volumetric sulfate consumption rates, an abiotic pattern of trichloroethene (TCE) degradation, and the formation of small, high surface area iron sulfide particles were associated with relatively high rates of TCE removal via an abiotic pattern. Geochemical modeling demonstrated that iron monosulfides such as mackinawite were near saturation, and iron disulfides such as pyrite were supersaturated at all sites. This environmental condition can be supportive of nucleation of small particles rather than crystal growth leading to larger particles. When nucleation is dominant, small, high surface area, and reactive particles result. When crystal growth dominates the crystals are larger and have lower specific surface area and reactivity. These results taken together suggest that creation of a dynamic environment can promote biogeochemical transformation based on generation of reactive iron sulfides.     

Long-range dependence in the time series of Taiţa River discharges

ABSTRACT

The aim of this article is to offer an insight into the hydrology of southeast Romanian catchments, which have not been studied systematically. The complex behaviour of the Tai?a, one of the most important rivers situated in the northern part of Dobrogea, is demonstrated. Long-range dependence (LRD) in the time series of its streamflow, including the presence of trends, is supported by an estimated Hurst exponent of approximately 0.8, as well as statistical tests.

Editor D. Koutsoyiannis; GUEST editor S. Weijs     

The water regime of the Monegros playa-lakes as established from ground and satellite data

The Monegros playa-lakes are isolated saline wetlands, locally named ‘saladas’, situated in a vulnerable semi-arid territory where agricultural expansion threatens the natural hydrologic cycle with regular artificial flooding, risking the survival of a valuable natural resource. This study aims to examine the water regime of these playa-lakes from climate data and available hydrologic records. These records are historical and limited to a series of weekly measurements of depth and of water extent extracted from Landsat imagery. We have characterized the hydrological behavior of the playa-lakes by treating ground and satellite data separately. For this purpose, the playa-lakes are first grouped according to the water occurrence episodes. Then their hydrologic status is related to the previous rainfall and also to ET₀, since there is a lack of local records of wind as well as brine or fresh water evaporation. The northern playa-lakes respond to rain faster than the southern ones. All playa-lakes have a significant relationship between water occurrence and rainfall accumulated within 180 days prior to an observation. A significant relationship between ET₀ and water occurrence was found for a shorter 15-day accumulation period. Quantifying the current water regime now is critical for monitoring the effects of expanding irrigation in adjacent lands. Remote sensing is well-suited to an environmental assessment for regions of difficult access with the added benefit of lowered field measurement cost. The hydrological data from the Monegros playa-lakes could be integrated with other playa environments worldwide to compare regionally specific climate conditions.     

SOFIE project – 3D shaking table test on a seven‐storey full‐scale cross‐laminated timber building

Multi‐storey buildings made of cross‐laminated timber panels (X‐lam) are becoming a stronger and economically valid alternative in Europe compared with traditional masonry or concrete buildings. During the design process of these multi‐storey buildings, also their earthquake behaviour has to be addressed, especially in seismic‐prone areas such as Italy. However, limited knowledge on the seismic performance is available for this innovative massive timber product. On the basis of extensive testing series comprising monotonic and reversed cyclic tests on X‐lam panels, a pseudodynamic test on a one‐storey X‐lam specimen and 1D shaking table tests on a full‐scale three‐storey specimen, a full‐scale seven‐storey building was designed according to the European seismic standard Eurocode 8 and subjected to earthquake loading on a 3D shaking table. The building was designed with a preliminary action reduction factor of three that had been derived from the experimental results on the three‐storey building. The outcomes of this comprehensive research project called ‘SOFIE – Sistema Costruttivo Fiemme’ proved the suitability of multi‐storey X‐lam structures for earthquake‐prone regions. The buildings demonstrated self‐centring capabilities and high stiffness combined with sufficient ductility to avoid brittle failures. The tests provided useful information for the seismic design with force‐based methods as defined in Eurocode 8, that is, a preliminary experimentally based action reduction factor of three was confirmed. Valid, ductile joint assemblies were developed, and their importance for the energy dissipation in buildings with rigid X‐lam panels became evident. The seven‐storey building showed relatively high accelerations in the upper storeys, which could lead to secondary damage and which have to be addressed in future research. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.