Effect of intertidal compared to subtidal exposure on the uptake,loss and oxidative toxicity of water-born benzo[a]pyrene in the mantle and whole tissues of the mussel,Mytilus edulis L

Blue mussels (Mytilus edulis, L.) were exposed to a single dose of 1 ppb benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) under subtidal (SC) or tidal conditions (TC; 6 h immersion, 6 h emersion) in order to follow its bioaccumulation in whole mussel and mantle tissue, and to compare BaP-mediated toxicity on lipids (malonaldehyde formation, MDA) in the mantle. Rapid uptake of BaP (70-80% of BaP initially introduced in tanks) was observed in both conditions after 12 h, but subsequent depuration in clean water was slower in TC mussels. BaP levels decreased in whole tissue in both conditions between 12 and 24 h, but increased in mantle. The mantle BaP levels were similar during the first 4 days in SC and TC, but whereas they decreased in SC after 7 days. BaP was retained at high levels in mantle in TC until the end of the study (14 days). In both conditions, significant increases (P < 0.05) in lipid peroxidation were observed after 4 days, but MDA levels were approximately 3 times higher in the mantle of TC than SC mussels, although BaP tissue concentrations were similar. These observations suggested that increased BaP-mediated toxicity in mantle lipid was due to the interactive effect of the tidal cycle of immersion/emersion on BaP-mediated oxidative damage.     

Preparation and characterization of subcellular fractions suitable for studies of xenobiotic metabolism from leaf sheaths of a marine seagrass: Posidonia oceanica (Linnaeus) Delile

The capacity of the mammalian liver microsomal P-450-dependent systems to metabolize a wide variety of endogenous and exogenous compounds is thought to reflect the presence of multiple forms of P-450 haemoproteins with broad and overlapping substrate specificity. In plants, the functions and specificity of cytochrome P-450 systems are less well known.This study was designed to prepare and characterize subcellular fractions from fresh sheaths (basal parts of leaves) of a mediterranean seagrass Posidonia oceanica (Linnaeus) Delile, the aim being the preparation of a microsomal fraction suitable for studying xenobiotic metabolism. The purity of the different fractions obtained by centrifugation, as well as the recovery of different organelles, was determined using enzyme markers (cytochrome c oxidase, alkaline phosphatase, glucose-6-phosphatase) and morphological examination by transmission electron microscopy. Some assays of enzymes involved in xenobiotic metabolism (cytochrome c reductase, laurate hydroxylase, ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase and glutathione-S-transferase) were also performed on different fractions of the preparation. The subcellular distribution for drug metabolism and marker enzymes showed a loss of endoplasmic reticulum in the pellet obtained after the first centrifugation, but the microsomal fraction was relatively free of mitochondria and fragments of the plasma membrane.Some assays are still being performed to avoid the small loss of endoplasmic reticulum experienced with the first pellet. However, the microsomes prepared in this study from sheaths of Posidonia oceanica appear suitable for further investigation of xenobiotic metabolism.     

Resurrecting vintage paper seismic records

Marine seismic data has been collected for several decades in both academia and industry. Early single channel acquisitions were often, if at all, recorded on magnetic media that are generally no longer supported for replay. Although seismic data over 10 years old has limited quality compared to modern acquisition, thousands of survey km of hard copy records remains world wide in areas with no recent coverage. In addition, many processed multi-channel datasets are now not available as digital files for a variety of reasons. Rising interest in continental margin geology in response to climate change priorities and the UNCLOS submission requirements of maritime states has created a demand to re-use these older records where the cost of new or re-acquisition is not pragmatic. Through creating digital SEG-Y files from images of these records they can be reprocessed and re-interpreted. This paper investigates the practicalities of paper seismic record re-use and measures the performance of a typical conversion option as an indicator of the validity of the concept. Examples of applications of the process illustrate what can be achieved and the limitations that exist so that users can make an informed choice of whether to resurrect their information.     

Contribution of the Bacterial and Microphytobenthic Microflora in the Energetic Demand of the Meiobenthos in an Intertidal Muddy Sediment (Kerguelen Archipelago)

Abstract. An intertidal mud sediment in the Kerguelen Archipelago was sampled weekly from January 1982 to March 1983. Measurements were taken for organic matter (carbon and nitrogen) and biological (bacteria, microphytobenthos, and mciofauna) parameters. The sediment is rich in organic matter, with a mean organic carbon content of 130gC- m-². Benthic living components yield low mean biomasscs in relation to the total organic pool. Besides some marine inputs, the main allochthonous source was identified as terrestrial inputs. Benthic activities seemed strongly governed by food availability and not by temperature. Obvious seasonal changes in bacterial abundances (direct counts), primary production, and mciofauna distributions were observed. Photosynthctic production reached high values (up to 2275 mg C-m^-2-d^-1), reflecting the presence of a dense microphytobenthos. Preliminary energy budgets for two seasons (spring and winter) have been constructed. In both periods, the measured primary production can support the high mciofauna production.     

Nitrogen loads to New Zealand aquatic receiving environments: comparison with regulatory criteria

ABSTRACT

There is concern about the deteriorating nutrient status of aquatic receiving environments in New Zealand. We estimated the amount by which current nitrogen (N) concentrations and loads exceed criteria in rivers, lakes and estuaries nationally. Criteria corresponded to national ‘bottom-line’ (i.e. minimal) environmental objectives set by government policy. Three metrics were evaluated: (1) degree of compliance describes the current TN loads in receiving environments relative to criteria; (2) catchment N status describes the acceptability of catchment N loads compared to criteria; and (3) excess load indicates the amount by which the N load exceeds the maximum allowable load (kg yr^?1). Non-compliance with N criteria was broadly distributed nationally particularly in low-elevation catchments. Catchments with unacceptable N status constituted at least 31% of New Zealand’s land area, which corresponds to at least 43% of the country’s agricultural land. The national excess load was estimated to be at least 19.1 Gg yr^?1. We are 97.5% confident that estimated excess loads exceed zero for nine of 15 regions and for the nation as a whole. The analyses provide a strategic assessment of where reductions in N emissions are required to achieve the minimal national objectives.     

The clinopyroxene/plagioclase symplectite in retrograde eclogites: A potential geothermobarometer

The retrograde P-T-t path of intermediate and high-temperature eclogites (T 500 ± 50°C) is characterized by the transformation of omphacite into a symplectitic intergrowth of clinopyroxene and plagioclase lamellae. Often, this symplectite shows a two stage microstructural evolution, i.e. a coarse lamellar width symplectite, »S1«, followed by a thinner lamellar width symplectite, »S2«. Each symplectite may also evolve independently into a final globular microstructure, »SG«.According to metallurgical concepts, the phase transition »omphacite clinopyroxene + plagioclase« is classified as a discontinuous precipitation reaction. In discontinuous precipitation reactions, the lamellar spacing (L) depends on temperature (T) according to the growth law log (L) = A-B/T, in which A and B are constants. Therefore thin symplectites characterize low temperatures, where-as coarse symplectites characterize higher temperatures.In order of specify the thermal evolution of continental collision zones, the reliability of the discontinuous precipitation growth law has been tested on eclogites showing contrasted retrograde P-T-t histories in different geological environments, i.e. Alpine, Caledonian and Variscan Belts. Indeed, our investigations reveal that the clinopyroxene/plagioclase symplectite can be used as a potential geothermobarometer in eclogites recording temperatures above 500 ± 50°C. The temperature is obtained by the lamellar spacing and pressure by the Jadeite content of the symplectite clinopyroxene in the presence of plagioclase and quartz.

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Zusammenfassung Der retrograde P-T-t Pfad von intermediären und hochtemperierten Eklogiten (T 500 ±50°C) ist charakterisiert durch die Umformung von Omphazit in symplektitische Verwachsungen von Klinopyroxen und Plagioklas-Lamellen. Häufig zeigt dieser Symplektit eine zweiphasige mikrostrukturelle Entwicklung, das heißt, ein Symplektit mit breiten Lamellen »S1« wird gefolgt von einem Symplektit mit dünneren Lamellen »2«. Jeder Symplektittyp kann sich schließlich selbständig zu einer kugelförmigen MikroStruktur »SG« entwikkeln.Auf Grund von metallurgischen Vorstellungen wir die Phasenumwandlung Omphazit zu Klinopyroxen + Plagioklas als diskontinuierliche Ausfällungsreaktion klassifiziert. In diskontinuierlichen Ausfällungsreaktionen hängt der Lamellenabstand (L) von der Temperatur (T) nach dem Wachstumsgesetz log (L) = A-B/T ab, in dem A und B Konstanten sind. Daher zeigen dünne Symplektite niedrige Temperaturen an, während breite Symplektite höhere Temperaturen anzeigen.Um die thermische Entwicklung von kontinentalen Kollisionszonen zu spezifizieren mußte die Zuververlässigkeit des diskontinuierlichen Ausfällungswachstumsgesetz an Eklogiten getestet werden, die unterschiedlich retrograde P-T-t Geschichten aus verschieden Umgebungen zeigen; das heißt aus alpinen, kaledonischen und variszischen Gebirgszügen. Tatsächlich offenbaren unsere Bemühungen, daß der Klinopyroxen/Plagioklas Symplektit als potentielles Geothermobarometer in Eklogiten benutzt werden kann, die Temperaturen über 500°C ± 50°C erfahren haben. Die Temperatur kann man aus dem Lamellenabstand erhalten; den Druck durch den Jadeitgehalt des symplektitischen Pyroxens, in Anwesenheit von Plagioklas und Quarz.

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Résumé La déstabilisation de l'omphacite, en une symplectite à alternance de lamelles de clinopyroxène et de plagioclase, caractérise l'initiation du trajet rétrograde P-T-t pour les éclogites de température 500 ± 50°C. Cette symplectite présente parfois une évolution microstructurale depuis une symplectite grossière à alternance de lamelles larges, »S1«, relayée par une symplectite à alternance de lamelles fines, »S2«. Chaque symplectite peut aussi évoluer indépendemment en une microstructure globulaire tardive, »Sg«.En accord avec les concepts établis par les métallurgistes, la transformation »omphacite clinopyroxène + plagioclase« est une précipitation discontinue. Pour ce type de transformation, l'espace interlamellaire (L) dépend de la température (T) selon la loi de croissance Log (L) =A-B/T (*), où A et B sont des constantes. Ainsi, une symplectite fine (de type S2) caractérise des températures relativement plus basses qu'une symplectite grossière (de type S1).Afin de préciser l'évolution thermique des zones de collision continentale, nous avons testé la loi de croissance (*) sur des éclogites échantillonnées dans divers contextes géologiques (chaînes alpine, calédonide et varisque), présentant des trajets rétrogrades P-T-t contrastés. Les résultats montrent que la symplectite à clinopyroxène/plagioclase représente un géothermobaromètre potentiel de la rétromorphose des éclogites: la taille de l'espace interlamellaire dépend de la température et la teneur en jadéite des lamelles de clinopyroxène, en présence de quartz et à l'équilibre avec le plagioclase, dépend de la pression.

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. , .. , «S 1», «S 2». «SG». , . (L) () — — log (L) = - /, . , . , , , .: , . , , / , , 500° + 50°. , — , .

     

Linking a prolonged Neo‐Tethyan magmatic arc in South Asia: Zircon U‐Pb and Hf isotopic constraints from the Lohit Batholith,NE India

The Neo‐Tethyan subduction that operated before the India‐Asia collision resulted in an Andean‐type convergent margin in South Asia and was associated with extensive arc magmatism that formed the Transhimalayan batholiths. Magmatism in the Gangdese Batholith, the largest batholith exposed in the Lhasa terrane of southern Tibet, is considered to have lasted from the early Jurassic to Eocene. However, eastward correlation of the Gangdese Batholith is uncertain because it is truncated by the eastern Himalayan syntaxis. Here, we report new data from the Lohit Batholith, NE India, including: (i) zircon U‐Pb ages of five granitoids from ca. 148 to 96 Ma; and (ii) zircon Hf isotopes of these rocks that yield high and positive ε_Hf(T) values. We argue that the Lohit Batholith is the eastward extension of the Gangdese Batholith, and can be correlated southward to the Wuntho‐Popa arc in West Burma, thus linking a prolonged Neo‐Tethyan magmatic arc system from southern Tibet to Southeast Asia.     

Indian summer monsoon during the last two millennia

The monsoon is a large‐scale feature of the tropical atmospheric circulation, affecting people and economies in the world's most densely populated regions. Future trends due to natural variability and human‐induced climate changes are uncertain. Palaeoclimate records can improve our understanding of monsoon dynamics and thereby reduce this uncertainty. Palaeoclimate records have revealed a dramatic decrease in the Asian summer monsoon since the early Holocene maximum 9 ka BP. Here we focus on the last 2 ka, where some records indicate an increasing trend in the summer monsoon. Analysing Globigerina bulloides upwelling records from the Arabian Sea, we find the weakest monsoon occurred 1500 a BP, with an increasing trend towards the present. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Parameterization and multi‐criteria calibration of a distributed storm flow model applied to a Mediterranean agricultural catchment

The principal challenge in the parameterization of storm flow models for agricultural catchments with an artificial drainage network and fields with different degrees of tillage lies in the parsimonious definition of distributed model parameters in a way that reduces the number of calibration parameters to a justifiable minimum. This paper presents a comprehensive case study for the parameter estimation of a distributed storm flow model applied to an agricultural catchment (0.91 km²) in the Mediterranean region. Model parameterization was combined with procedures for multi‐criteria, multi‐storm calibration, where we automatically calibrated three parameters related to flow velocity and infiltration, and compared single and multi‐storm criteria that are based on discharge volume, peak flow, and the Nash–Sutcliffe coefficient. Multi‐storm calibration yielded a set of parameter values for the simulation batch with best multi‐storm overall performance, which are close to the median values in the pre‐calibration of individual storms. Our results suggest that flow velocities and proportionality of the channel infiltration rate do not vary significantly over the course of 11 years. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.