Integration of biochemical, histochemical and toxicogenomic indices for the assessment of health status of mussels from the Tamar Estuary, U.K

The aim of this study was to examine whether a combination of biochemical, histopathological and toxicogenomic data could be used as a valuable tool for the assessment of biological risk associated with pollutants within the Tamar River and Estuary, S.W. England, U.K. Accordingly, biochemical and histopathological biomarkers (protein carbonyls, lipofuscin, neutral lipids, lysosomal stability [N-acetyl-β-hexosaminidase and neutral red], lysosomal volume, ferric reducing antioxidant power [FRAP] and malonaldehyde [MDA]) and gene expression profiles were assessed in 5 sites from the Tamar River and Estuary (Neal Point, Town Quay, Wilcove, Cremyll Ferry and Whitsand; and a reference site, Trebarwith Strand, N. Cornwall). PAHs were measured in mussel tissue and sediment and metals were measured in mussel tissue only. Data from the biomarkers was integrated into a Mussel Expert System (MES) model to produce a simple assessment of mussel stress. Clear gradients of mussel toxicity were identified by the biomarkers (with the exception of neutral lipids) with the highest impacted animals found furthest up the Tamar, whilst the MES was unable to identify a gradient of effect. Gene expression profiles also indicated a gradient of stress with the greatest number of significantly up- or down- regulated genes found at the uppermost 2 sites. The MES did, however, determine that mussels from all sites, except the reference site, were highly stressed; a conclusion that could not be inferred from the biomarker data alone. It is concluded that the MES is a valuable tool that permits integration and interpretation of complex sets of biomarker data by identifying the biological meaning of biomarker changes.     

Field Research in the Baltic Sea on Cruise 55 of the P/V Akademik Ioffe

Oceanology - New data on the structure of the water column, upper layer of bottom sediments, and biological communities of the Gdansk and Gotland deeps and the Gulf of Finland in the Baltic Sea...     

Vertical Variability of Primary Production and Chlorophyll a in the Kara Sea in the Middle of Summer: Contribution of Subsurface Maxima to the Water Column Values

Oceanology - Spatial and vertical variability of primary production (PP) and Chl a were studied in the framework of the 76th cruise of R/V Akademik Mstislav Keldysh to the Kara Sea from July 7 to...     

Seasonal Dynamics of Red Blood Parameters in Healthy People in Regions with Different Types of Climate: a Meta-Analysis

Izvestiya, Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics - It is known that in mammals living in climates other than tropical, hemoconcentration is usually observed in winter. The average modern person actively...     

Effects of presence of a circumpolar region on buoyancy-driven circulation

Effects of the presence of a circumpolar region on buoyancy-driven circulation are investigated by using an idealized numerical ocean model. Comparison of circulation and meridional density (heat) transport is made between a closed ocean and an ocean with a cyclic gap near its southern boundary. The presence of the circumpolar region leads to disconnection of the meridional overturning across the circumpolar region. And the circumpolar eastward flow reaches the bottom of the ocean. It is essential for this that the pycnocline is deeper than the bottom of the gap. Since the amount of the mass transported northward must return southward at the levels deeper than the bottom of the cyclic gap, the weak stratification, hence weak vertical geostrophic shear, at the deeper levels leads to inactive communication across the circumpolar region. Meridional heat transport across the circumpolar region is made mainly by horizontal diffusion for the ocean with the cyclic gap, while the contribution of the advection is dominant for the closed ocean. Sensitivity of meridional heat transport to change in horizontal diffusivity is studied. The meridional heat transport for the ocean with the cyclic gap is more sensitive than for the closed ocean. The change in heat transport occurs not only in the circumpolar region but also in the rest of the ocean. It is suggested that subgrid scale phenomena, especially mesoscale eddies, in the circumpolar region controls the whole ocean to a great extent.     

Estimation of winds over the sea from land-based measurements

Simultaneous measurements of wind velocities at two different sites, one over the sea and the other over land, can differ substantially and therefore cannot be interchanged. In situations where the wind data at an offshore site are missing while simultaneous measurements from a land-based station exist, a linear mean-square estimation (LMSE) technique can be used to estimate the missing data. This technique relies on past wind data gathered simultaneously at the two locations, and it generates from the associated correlation a set of four transfer functions capable of predicting one data set from the other. In the present case, the LMSE technique is outlined briefly, and is then applied to construct seasonal transfer functions between a land-based station and two coastal/offshore sites in Kuwait. Comparisons between the actually observed wind characteristics and those predicted by the LMSE technique are favorable, and thus tend to confirm the applicability of the technique under appropriate conditions.     

Biogeochemistry of organic matter in the Laurentian Trough, II. Bulk composition of the sediments and relative reactivity of major components during early diagenesis

The organic carbon of 280–320 m deep Laurentian Trough sediments at landward and seaward sites (13–24 mgN/g) consisted of carbohydrates (15–22%), hydrolysable amino acids (7–13%), lipids (1–5%), labile proteins (0.3–1%) and a non-characterized fraction (62–74%). Amino acids, proteins and uncharacterized compounds accounted for 21–43, 0.9–4 and 51–78%, respectively, of total nitrogen (1.2–2.2 mgN/g). A clear reactivity trend (pheopigments ? lipids > proteins > amino acids ≈ nitrogen > carbon > carbohydrates) was deduced from the concentration decreases between settling particles and surficial sediments. This was confirmed by one-year inventories in the top cm, burial rates at 35 cm depth, and one-G model calculations. Lipids were a dominant substrate near the sediment-water interface whereas carbohydrates and amino acids constituted the principal energy sources deeper in the sediment. In the porewaters, DOC levels were low (2–6 mg/l) in the top 4 cm, indicating rapid removal (i.e. consumption, irrigation, diffusion), and increased with depth (8–12 mg/l), reflecting the buildup of refractory products. There were also clear compositional changes of DOC with depth. Geographical differences in water column fluxes were recorded in the sediments. The organic contents and ratios were higher at the landward site due to higher rates of sedimentation, bioturbation and terrestrial and total organic inputs. At the seaward station, the lower rates of these processes and stronger marine influence resulted in lower ratios and a more complete decay of organic matter within the top 35 cm sediments.     

Probable gas hydrate/free gas model over western continental margin of India

Multi-channel seismic reflection data from the western continental margin of India (WCMI) have been analyzed to construct a plausible model for gas hydrate formation. A reflector at 2950 ms two way travel time (TWT) on one of the sections is interpreted to represent the base of the layer of the methane hydrate, identified by a bottom simulating reflector (BSR) that lies almost 500 ms beneath the sea floor. BSRs of similar origin are common world wide, where they are usually interpreted to mark the base of gas hydrate bearing clastic sediment, with or without underlying free gas. In this study we present a model with the contrasting physical properties that produce synthetic wavelets that match with the observed BSR amplitude and waveforms for varying source-receiver offsets of multi-channel seismic reflection data. The preliminary results presented here put important constraints on models that predict the distribution and formation of hydrate. Offset-dependent amplitude recovery also gives an appropriate response for hydrate characterization.     

Industry participation in stock assessment: the New Zealand SNA1 snapper (Pagrus auratus) fishery

We describe industry funded contributions to the assessment of the SNA1 snapper (Pagrus auratus) fishery during the 1990s and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of industry funded research. We also provide background on the history of fisheries management in New Zealand, on the current assessment and management processes, and on the SNA1 snapper fishery. In the SNA1 fishery, the contributions of industry and the cooperation with Government scientists has resulted in high quality assessments. In our opinion, the advantages of industry funded research out weigh the disadvantages and suggest that industry funded assessments are highly desirable and should be an integral part of any management system.