Effects of Larval Settlement and Post-Settlement Mortality on the Distribution Pattern and Abundance of the Spirorbid Tube Worm Neodexiospira brasiliensis (Grube) (Polychaeta) Living on Seagrass Leaves

Abstract. The role of larval settlement, post-settlement mortality and competition with a red algae in determining the patterns of abundance and distribution of the spirorbid tube worm Neodexiospira brasiliensis (Grube) (Polychaeta: Spirorbidae) on leaves of three seagrass species: Zostera marina Linnaeus, Zostera asiatica Miki and Phyllospadix iwatensis Makino were examined in Aininkap, Akkeshi Bay, Akkeshi, Hokkaido, Japan. Field collections of seagrass shoots were made at about 1-week intervals. The density of newly settled larvae (< 0.3 mm in tube diameter) increased significantly on Z. asiatica and P. iwatensis , but not on Z. marina during the sampling period. It was highest on Z. asiatica among the three seagrass species, followed by P. iwatensis and Z. marina . Newly settled larvae occurred more on the basal part of younger leaves of each seagrass species. Mortality tended to be high on Z. marina , followed by Z. asiatica and P. iwatensis , although the differences were not great. Size-specific mortality showed the existence of high mortality in early post-settlement stages on Z. asiatica and P. iwatenisis . Relatively high mortality was also suffered by individuals with a tube diameter over 1.5 mm. Growth in tube diameter of N. brasiliensis was slower on P. iwatensis than on the other two seagrasses. The effect of a calcareous red algae on larval settlement was investigated with removal experiments; however, no effect of red algae was detected. Patterns in the distribution and abundance of N. brasiliensis on leaves of three seagrass species resulted from the heterogeneity of larval settlement rather than from post-settlement mortality or competition with red algae. Different densities of larval settlement among the three seagrass species or on a leaf are likely to relate to larval behaviour, such as negative phototaxis.     

In-situ diurnal sea surface temperature variations and near-surface thermal structure in the tropical hot event of the Indo-Pacific warm pool

Diurnal Sea Surface Temperature (SST) variations and the near-surface thermal structure of the tropical hot event (HE) have been investigated using advanced in-situ equatorial observations with hourly temporal resolution. The information on the HE area defined by the satellite cloud-free SSTs is used to sample the in-situ observations. The in-situ SSTs sampled for the HE conditions show that a maximum (minimum) SST has a histogram mode at 30.8°C (29.0°C), and frequently appears at 15:00 (07:00) local time. The amplitude of the diurnal SST variation (DSST) is defined by the difference between the maximum and minimum SSTs. The mean DSST during HEs is greater than 0.5°C, and has a maximum of about 0.75°C at the HE peak. The time series of mean DSST gradually increases (rapidly decreases) before (after) the peak. The satellite SST has a systematic positive bias against the corresponding daytime SST measured by the Triangle Trans-Ocean buoy Network. This bias is enhanced under conditions of large in-situ DSST. One-dimensional numerical model simulation suggests that the systematic bias is caused by the sharp vertical temperature gradient in the surface layer of HE. The near-surface thermal structure is generated by conditions of high insolation and low wind speed, which is the typical HE condition.     

Direct measurements of mid-depth circulation in the Shikoku basin by tracking SOFAR floats

Mid-depth circulation of the Shikoku Basin was measured by tracking four SOFAR floats drifting at the 1,500 m layer. Two floats were released on 17 April 1988 at 30°N, 135°59E and tracked for 433 days. Another two were released on 3 November 1988 at 29°52N and 133°25E, and tracked for 234 days. Two floats flowed clockwise around the Shikoku Warm Water Mass with a diameter of 400 km centered at 31°N and 136°E and a mean drift speed of 4.5 cm sec^–1. One of the floats showed about ten counterclockwise rotations with a period of about 8 days and a maximum speed of 80 cm sec^–1 in the sea area west to the Izu Ridge. In the east to Kyushu, a southward flow was observed under the northward flowing Kuroshio. The southward flow of 4 cm sec^–1 drift speed was considered to be a part of the counterclockwise circulation at deep layers along the perimeter of the Shikoku Basin. One float remained for 234 days in a limited area of 100 km by 150 km in the western part of the basin.     

Influence of shear speed and normal stress on the shear behavior and shear zone structure of granular materials in naturally drained ring shear tests

“Sliding Surface Liquefaction” is a process causing strength loss and consequent rapid motion and long runout of certain landslides. Using a new ring shear apparatus with a transparent shear-box and digital video camera system, shear-speed-controlled tests were conducted on mixed grains (mixture of three different sizes of sand and gravel) and mixed beads to study shear behavior and shear zone development process under the naturally drained condition in which pore pressure is allowed to dissipate through the opened upper drainage valve during shearing. Higher excess pore water pressure and lower minimum apparent friction were observed in the tests where grain crushing was more extensive under higher normal stress and higher shear speed. Along with the diffusion of silty water generated by grain crushing, smaller particles were transported upward and downward from the shear zone. Concentration of larger grains to the central and upper part of the shear zone was confirmed by means of visual observation together with grain size analysis of sliced samples from several layers after the test. On the other hand, smaller particles were accumulated mostly below the layer where larger grains were accumulated. The reason why larger grains were accumulated into the shear zone may be interpreted as follows: grains under shearing are also subjected to vertical movement, the penetration resistance of larger grains into a layer of moving particles is smaller than that into the static layer. Therefore, larger grains tend to move into the layer of moving grains. At the same time, smaller particles can drop into the pores of underlying larger grains downward due to gravity.     

真鲷(Pagrus major)脂蛋白脂肪酶基因表达与内脏脂肪蓄积营养调控定量研究

采用竞争性PCR方法 ,进行 4种营养状况对真鲷脂蛋白脂肪酶 (LPL)基因mRNA表达水平与内脏脂肪蓄积影响的定量研究。结果表明 ,真鲷LPL基因在肝脏存在营养诱导性表达 ,饥饿、高脂食物均是其表达诱导因子 ;在腹腔肠系膜脂肪组织存在组成性表达 ,其表达水平受摄食状态的影响 ,但饲料脂肪水平却不起作用。当真鲷喂食高脂食物时 ,诱导产生的大量肝脏LPL将为肝脏提供更多的来源于食物的游离脂肪酸 ,使肝脏有可能出现营养诱导性脂肪蓄积 ,但真鲷腹腔肠系膜脂肪组织LPL基因表达水平未出现适应性变化 ,其腹腔肠系膜脂肪组织将不可能作为营养诱导性蓄脂器官。由于上述营养状况对真鲷体重、腹脂指数、肝指数均没有产生显著性影响 ,说明真鲷具有在不同营养状况下与哺乳类相似的维持其内脏脂肪蓄积稳定的代谢机制 ,推测真鲷应存在某种在功能上与哺乳类相似的肥胖基因。     

Oxygen and hydrogen isotopic studies of ore deposition and metamorphism at the Raul mine,Peru

The volcano-sedimentary sequence at the Raul mine, central Peru, consists of andesitic volcanics, graywackes, and siltstones, and has been metamorphosed to the upper greenschist-lower amphibolite facies at temperatures of 400–500°C. Isotopic data (O and H) have been collected from: (a) quartz and magnetite from stratiform ores, (b) amphiboles from amphibolite units that host stratiform ores, (c) calcite from late veins, (d) detrital quartz from graywackes, and (e) whole rocks.Interunit differences in quartz and magnetite δ¹⁸O values suggest that these minerals have resisted isotopic exchange during metamorphism, and that quartz-magnetite isotopic temperatures (380–414°C) represent primary formational temperatures. Calculated δ¹⁸O values of water in equilibrium with quartz and magnetite range from 9.1 to 12.6%..Amphibole δ¹⁸O and δD values show no interunit differences and suggest that the amphiboles have exchanged isotopes with a large metamorphic fluid reservoir. Calculated δ¹⁸O_H2O and δD_H2O values range from 8 to 12%. and ?3 to +42%., respectively.δ¹⁸O_H2O values calculated from δ¹⁸O calcite and fluid inclusion filling temperatures range from 7.5 to 10%.. Water extracted from fluid inclusions in calcite has a δD value of ?20%..δ¹⁸O values of metamorphosed graywackes and volcanic sediments are not atypical, but andesitic lavas are ¹⁸O-rich (8–10%.) compared to normal andesites.Waters involved in ore deposition, metamorphism, and late vein formation at Raul are all thought to have a common source, principally seawater. The δ¹⁸O_H2O and δD_H2O values could be produced by evaporation of seawater, shale ultrafiltration, and isotopic exchange with host rocks during deep circulation through the volcano-sedimentary pile.A model is proposed whereby coastal ocean water is restricted from the open sea by volcanic island arcs, and subsequently undergoes evaporation. Circulation of this water is initiated by heat associated with seafloor volcanism. ¹⁸O-enrichment in andesites may be produced by isotopic exchange with high ¹⁸O waters at elevated temperatures and sufficiently high water/rock ratios.     

Development of peer‐to‐peer (P2P) internet online hybrid test system

A new Internet online hybrid test system, designated the ‘peer‐to‐peer (P2P) Internet online hybrid test system’, is proposed. In the system, the simulated structure is divided into multiple substructures, and each substructure is analysed numerically or tested physically in parallel at geographically distributed locations. The equations of motion are not formulated for the entire structure but for each substructure separately. Substructures are treated as highly independent systems, and only standard I/O, i.e. displacements and forces at the boundaries, are used as interfaces. A ‘Coordinator’ equipped with an iterative algorithm based on quasi‐Newton iterations is developed to achieve compatibility and equilibrium at boundaries. A test procedure, featuring two rounds of quasi‐Newton iterations and using assumed elastic stiffness, is adopted to avoid iteration for the substructure being tested physically. A fast and stable solution using a socket mechanism is developed for data exchange over the Internet. Demonstration tests applied to a base‐isolated structure was conducted, and the results are compared with an online hybrid test using the conventional test method. The results obtained from the P2P Internet hybrid test match very closely those obtained from the conventional tests. Investigations are also carried out on time consumption and control accuracy. The results show that the Internet data exchange solution using the socket mechanism is fast, and tests were completed successfully under the constructed Internet online hybrid test environment. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Multicomponent observation of crustal activity in the DPRI 800 m borehole close to the Nojima Fault

Abstract An 800 m borehole was drilled near the Nojima Fault, on which a strike–slip larger then 1 m occurred during the 1995 Hyogo-ken Nanbu earthquake ( M = 7.2). Crustal activity near the fault has been observed since May 1996 using a multicomponent instrument installed at the bottom of the borehole. Data of three components of strain, two components of tilt and temperature observed from May 1996 to December 1998 were analyzed. Long-term changes of strain and tilt show a north-east–south-west extension and southwards subsidence. As for the Earth tides and atmospheric effect, orientation of the principal axis of strain was mainly east-west and orientation of the maximum subsidence was mainly north-south. The observational data of strain had variations corresponding to a change in temperature at a depth of 800 m. The thermal expansion coefficient of the crust was calculated to be approximately 2.0 × 10⁻⁶/°K.     

Rare-earth distribution in alkali rocks from Oki-Dogo Island,Japan

Rare-earth, Sr and Ba abundances were determined for three basalts, one mugearite, one trachyandesite and five trachytes from Dogo, Oki Islands, Japan and Ca-rich clinopyroxene and feldspar phenocryst samples separated from them. It is concluded that rareearth, Sr and Ba abundance patters for basalts and three trachytes could be explained by crystallization differentiation of olivine basalt magma, while those for other samples suggest more complicated process of magma production. Calculated Eu²⁺ to total Eu ratios in the magmas showed a increasing trend with differentiation. It is found that Yb and Lu partition coefficients were larger than those of lighter rare earths for clinopyroxenes in trachytes suggesting preferential substitution of the heavy rare-earth ions for Mg-site in the clinopyroxenes.