Reproductive success of Calanus pacificus during diatom blooms in Dabob Bay, Washington

While numerous laboratory studies in the last decade have shown that diatoms can induce reproductive failure in copepods, field evidence for a negative diatom effect is equivocal. To unambiguously elucidate the effects diatoms have on copepod reproduction in situ, we undertook a study of the abundance, distribution, grazing rates, and reproductive success of Calanus pacificus in Dabob Bay, Washington, USA, during two spring bloom periods. We simultaneously measured the phytoplankton composition, abundance, and distribution. Here we present results for the reproductive success of C. pacificus using four measurements: egg production rate, clutch size, egg hatching success, and naupliar survival (to the first feeding stage). Egg production rate was positively correlated with chlorophyll a concentration, and egg hatching success and naupliar survival were usually greater than 80%. However, in February 2002 and 2003 – during blooms of diatoms of the genus Thalassiosira – either egg hatching success, naupliar survival, or both were significantly depressed compared to other times in spring and summer. These effects, combined with evidence that C. pacificus was grazing aldehyde-producing Thalassiosira at the time of their blooms, indicate that diatoms can negatively affect copepod reproduction in the field, albeit only under specific circumstances and for brief periods.     

Methane gas Seeps Along the Oxic/Anoxic Gradient in the Black Sea: Manifestations, Biogenic Sediment Compounds and Preliminary Results on Benthic Ecology

Abstract. Sediment parameters (grain size, organic content, chloroplastic pigments, Adenylates, Potential hydrolytic activity and electron transport system activity) and benthic biota were studied in methane seep area south-west of the Crimean Peninsula in the Black Sea over a depth range from 60 to 260m. A control transect with similar depths was performed in an adjacent nonseep area. Methane seepage in this region occurs from 35 to ˜ 85m depth, passing the oxic anoxic interface zone at 130 to 180m. The methane seep areas were characterized by abundant carbonate precipitates which occurred in various shapes from small, flat structures to tall chimneys with increasing anoxia. The carbonates were associated with distinct bacterial mats. Most of the measured biochemical parameters in the sediment were quite similar in the seep and nonseep areas. The content of organic matter was higher and grain size was more uniform in the nonseep areas. However, the seep areas were charaterized by highter proportions of the larger fauna (size classes 0.5–1 mm and ≥ 1mm) as well as increased total numbers of benthic fauna in the suboxic and upper anoxic zone. The animals did not show any seep-specific adaptations. In addition to methane seepage, highly variable hydrochemical and sedimentary conditions on the lower shelf and upper slope may also play an important role in structuring the composition and distribution of the benthic fauna.     

Seasonal variations of exposure biomarkers, oxidative stress responses and cell damage in the clams, Tapes philippinarum, and mussels, Mytilus galloprovincialis, from Adriatic sea

This work investigated the natural variability of several biomarkers in Tapes philippinarum and Mytilus galloprovincialis, sampled from Northern Adriatic where these organisms are important sentinel species for future environmental impact assessment. Levels of metallothioneins, peroxisomal enzymes and acetylcholinesterase, showed a significant seasonality and marked differences between clams and mussels. Among antioxidant enzymes, catalase and GST decreased during the warmer period, the latter enzyme activity resulting particularly high in clams. The total oxyradical scavenging capacity toward peroxyl radicals decreased in mussels from winter to summer, indicating a prooxidant challenge due to higher seawater temperature and intensity of light irradiance. Lysosomal membrane stability did not exhibit significant seasonal variations, while some variations were observed for DNA damages. Overall results indicated a significant influence of seasonal variability on several biomarkers and species-specific differences which should be considered to discriminate the appearance of anthropogenic disturbance.     

Ash erupted during normal activity at Stromboli (Aeolian Islands,Italy) raises questions on how the feeding system works

Ash fallout collected during 4 days of sampling at Stromboli confirms that a crystal-rich (HP) degassed magma erupts during the Strombolian explosions that are characteristic of the normal activity of this volcano. We identified 3 different types of juvenile ash fragments (fluidal, spongy and dense), which formed through different mechanisms of fragmentation of the low-viscosity, physically heterogeneous (in terms of the size and spatial distribution of bubbles) shoshonitic magma. A small amount (less than 3 vol%) of volatile-rich magma with low porphyricity (LP), erupted as highly vesicular ash fragments, has been collected, together with the HP magma, during normal strombolian explosions. Laboratory experiments and the morphological, textural and compositional investigations of ash fragments reveal that the LP ash is fresh and not recycled from the last paroxysm (15 March 2007). We suggest that small droplets of LP magma are dragged to the surface by the time-variable but persistent supply of deep derived CO₂-rich gas bubbles. This coupled ascent of bubbles and LP melts is transient and does not perturb the dynamics of the HP magma within the shallow reservoir. This finding provides a new perspective on how the Stromboli volcano works and has important implications for monitoring strategies.     

The aging of gypsum in underground mines

The aging properties of gypsum extracted from two underground mines in France (Livry–Gargan and Grozon) have been highlighted by means of observation performed using scanning electron microscopy on samples taken along horizontal boreholes drilled through to the middle of several pillars. The aging process is exhibited by the presence of traces of dissolution (edges of the dissolved crystals, corroded crystalline surfaces, important intra- and intercrystalline space). These dissolution figures decrease in number and in intensity from the wall heading towards the middle of the pillar. The “older” pillars display a greater number of dissolution traces than the “more recent” pillars. Then, the role of the aging has been assessed by determining various physical and mechanical parameters on cylindrical samples of 38 mm in diameter and 76 mm in height, machined from the set of drilled boreholes. The following parameters have been quantified: density, grains density, total porosity, porosity accessible to water, intrinsic permeability to nitrogen, velocity of ultrasonic compression and shear waves, dynamic Young's modulus, dynamic Poisson's ratio, uniaxial compressive strength and static Young's modulus. Significant variations in parameter values between the wall and the middle of the pillar were recorded and recognized as being strongly correlated with the intensity of dissolution traces, and hence with gypsum aging.     

New Activity of Chiron: Results from 5 Years of Photometric Monitoring

The results of photometric observations of Centaur object Chiron carried out at the Observatório do Pico dos Dias (OPD, Brazil), the Estación Astrof?́sica de Bosque Alegre (EABA, Argentina), and Complejo Astronómico El Leoncito (CASLEO, Argentina) from 1997 to 2001 are presented here. The analysis of the photometric data shows that the brightness of Chiron reached a minimum value in 1999 and began increasing again in 2000. The absolute magnitude, H_V, varied from 7.26 in June 1999 to 5.78 in April 2001. The data tend to indicate that Chiron is starting a new outburst of activity which is compatible with a sporadic cometary behavior not related to heliocentric distance.     

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674987112001533

The collision of a divergent ocean ridge may evolve into two end cases:in the continuity of ocean-floor subduction.or in the detachment of the subducted plate.The northern Patagonia active plate margin has the unique situation that in Cenozoic time it has been subjected to two divergent ridge collisions,each one representing one of the end members.The Neogene Antarctica-Nazca divergent ridge collision evolved as a continuous ocean-floor subduction system,promoting a magmatic hiatus at the arc axis,the obduction of part of the ridge ocean-floor in the fore-arc.and basaltic volcanism in the back-arc.In contrast,the Paleogene Farallon-Aluk divergent ridge collision evolved into a transform margin,with the detachment and sinking of the Aluk plate and the development of a large slab window.As in the previous case,this collision promoted a magmatic hiatus at the arc axis,but the tectono-magmatic scenario changed to postorogenic synextensional volcanism that spread to the former fore-arc（basalt,andesite,rhyolite） and former back-arc（bimodal ignimbrite flare-up,basalt）.Geochemistry of this slab window synextensional volcanism shows more MORB-like basalts towards the former fore-arc,and MORB-OIB-like basalts towards the former back-arc.Instead,an isolated undeformable crustal block in the former back-arc,with an "epeirogenic" response to the slab window and extensional regime,was covered by OIB-type basalts after uplift.Major elements show that slab window basalts reach TiCh values up to 3 wt%,as compared with the top value of 1.5 wt%of arc magmas.Besides,the MgO with respect to（FeO^t + Al₂O₃） ratio helps to distinguish slab window magma changes from the former fore-arc to the former back-arc and also with respect to the "epeirogenic" block.Higher contents of HFS elements such as Nb and Ta also help to distinguish this slab window from arc magmas and also,to distinguish slab window magma changes from the former fore-arc to the former back-arc and "epeirogenic" block settings.The isotope compositions of slab window magmatism show a disparate coeval array from MORB to crustal sources,interpreted as a consequence of the lack of protracted storage and homogenization due to the extensional setting.     

东洞庭湿地植被格局变化及其影响因素

东洞庭湖(也称东洞庭)湿地植被格局的变化特征及其影响因素的分析是该地区湿地植被保护与恢复策略制定的基础。基于美国陆地资源卫星Landsat TM/ETM+数据,应用决策树分类法分别提取东洞庭湖1999年、2002年、2006年三个时期湿地景观信息,通过转移矩阵法和质心迁移法对植被的时空演变分析。结果表明:(1)1993～2002年东洞庭湖芦苇、林地、苔草滩地面积均有所增加,芦苇增长速度最快,年均增长面积为28.93km²;2002～2006年林地面积迅速增加,年均增长面积为29.655km²,苔草面积有所减少,芦苇面积保持基本稳定;(2)东洞庭湖湿地植被质心呈现从林地—芦苇—苔草逐层靠近湖心的分布特点,1993～2006年三种植被类型的质心均不断向湖心迁移,其中以林地与芦苇的变迁更为显著。     

Risk perception and decision-making: do farmers consider risks from climate change?

This paper provides one of the first empirical studies that examine the impact of climate change adaptation practices on technical efficiency (TE) among smallholder farmers in Nepal. An adaptation index is used to explore the impact of farmers’ adaptation on TE using the stochastic frontier analysis framework. Data for six districts of Nepal representing all three agro-ecological regions (terai, hill, and mountain) were collected from a focus group discussion, a stakeholder workshop and a household survey. The survey shows that about 91% of the farming households have adopted at least one practice to minimize the adverse impacts of climate change. Empirical results reveal that adaptation is an important factor explaining efficiency differentials among farming households. Those adopting a greater number of adaptation practices on a larger scale are, on average, found to be 13% more technically efficient than those adopting fewer practices on smaller scale. The empirical results also show that average TE is only 0.72, indicating that there are opportunities for farming households in Nepal to further improve productive efficiency, on average by 28%. Other important factors that explain variations in the productive efficiency across farming households include farmer’s education level, irrigation facilities, market access, and social capital such as farmer’s participations in relevant agricultural organizations and clubs. This study provides empirical evidence to policy makers that small scale adjustments made by farmers in response to climate change impacts are effective in improving farmers’ efficiency in agriculture production. This indicates a need for farmers’ involvement in climate change adaptation planning.