The use of infauna by juvenile Penaeus aztecus Ives and Penaeus setiferus (Linnaeus)

Penaeus aztecus Ives, the brown shrimp, and Penaeus setiferus (Linnaeus), the white shrimp, co-occur in Texas salt marshes as juveniles. Although their life cycles are similar, evidence indicates that the species utilize different resources for the primary faunal element of their diets. Prey selection and growth studies have shown that brown shrimp successfully remove infauna from natural sediment. Further, a diet of polychaetes, whether alone or in combination with algae, produced growth in the species. Brown shrimp appear to be trophically linked to infaunal populations, thus the structure and dynamics of the benthic community may directly affect local brown shrimp productivity. Areas dominated by surface-dwelling polychaetes as opposed to deep burrowers may provide more accessible foraging opportunities for juvenile brown shrimp. By contrast, white shrimp neither removed infauna nor grew to a significant degree when provided polychaetes or amphipods as food. White shrimp are omnivorous but do not rely on infaunal material to the same extent as brown shrimp. The primary faunal element in the diet of white shrimp has not yet been identified. The dietary differences between the two species may play a role in determining which species dominates in regions with varying marsh accessibility. Although not the only factors influencing penaeid survival and growth, prey choice and availability may greatly affect production and local success of penaeid populations. *** DIRECT SUPPORT *** A01BY081 00013     

Effects of menhaden predation of plankton populations in Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island

The Atlantic menhaden,Brevoortia tyrannus, is an abundant plankton-feeding fish that undertakes extensive seasonal migrations, moving from overwintering locations offshore south of Cape Hatteras to the mid-Atlantic Bight and New England inshore waters during spring and summer. A bioenergetic model, based on field and laboratory studies, shows that when large numbers of menhaden enter Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island, during spring and early summer, they significantly influence plankton populations through size-selective grazing and nutrient regeneration. A population biomass of 9.1×10⁶ kg of menhaden feeding for 12 h each day in the upper bay would result, in a substantial reduction of the instantaneous growth rate of the >20-μm phytoplankton. Instantaneous growth rates of zooplankton would be negative if the same population of menhaden was present, resulting in a reduction in the biomass of zooplankton. Given the ambient phytoplankton and zooplankton populations, menhaden could achieve the seasonal growth measured in Narragansett Bay during 1976 by feeding on average about 5 h d^?1. Daily nitrogen excretion rates of the 9.1×10⁶ kg menhaden population were 56.4% of the mean standing stock of ammonia-N in the upper bay. Because menhaden travel in schools their effects are likely to be intense but strongly localized, increasing spatial heterogeneity in the ecosystem. When the fish migrate southward in the fall they transfer between 3.3% and 6.2% of the nitrogen exported annually from the bay.     

Use of annular flumes to determine the influence of current velocity and bivalves on material flux at the sediment-water interface

A benthic annular flume for both laboratory and in situ deployment on intertidal mudflats is described. The flume provides a means of quantifying material flux (i.e., biodeposition of suspended particulates, sediment resuspension, nutrients, oxygen, and contaminants) across the sediment-water interface in relation to changes in current velocity and benthic community structure and/or population density of key macrofauna species. Flume experiments have investigated the impact of the infaunal bivalveMacoma balthica and the epifaunal bivalveMytilus edulis on seston and sediment flux at the sediment-water interface. The bioturbatorMacoma was found to increase the sediment resuspension and/or erodability by 4-fold, at densities similar to those recorded at the Skeffling mudflat (Humber estuary) (i.e., >1000 individuals m^?2). There was a significant correlation between sediment resuspension andMacoma density (r=0.99; p<0.001), which supported previous in situ field observations indicating bioturbation byMacoma enhanced sediment erodability. Biodeposition rates (g m^?2 h¹) ofMytilus edulis andCerastoderma edule were quantified and related to changes in population density in a mussel bed (Cleethorpes, Humber estuary). Biodeposition rates were up to 40-times the natural sedimentation rates. At the highest mussel bed densities (i.e., 50–100% cover or >1400 mussels m^?2) the physical presence of this epifaunal bivalve on the sediment surface reduced erosion by 10-fold. The shift from net biodeposition to net erosion occurred at current velocities of 20–25 cm s^?1. These results demonstrate that infaunal and epifaunal bivalves can have a significant impact on seston flux or sediment deposition and on sediment resuspension or erodability in estuaries where there are extensive mudflats.     

The barometric tides at Zürich and on the summit of Säntis

Summary Lunar barometric tidal determinations (L ₂) have been made by the Chapman-Miller method for Zürich (493 m) and Säntis (2000 m) based on 49 years' data. The seasonal variations ofL ₂ are much larger at Zürich than on the Säntis summit. However, a comparison with the five other pairs of stations for which tidal determinations at different altitudes, but short horizontal distances, are available do not indicate that this result is as an altitude effect, nor do they show any other systematic differences betweenL ₂ at the lower and the higher station. The solar tidal determinations agree well with those made byEggenberger (1944) and fit in with those obtained for other stations. From the difference between the pressure oscillations at Zürich and on Säntis the corresponding meantemperature oscillations of the air column between the two stations has been computed.The National Center for Atmospheric Research is sponsored by the National Science Foundation.     

Thermal alteration experiments on organic matter in recent marine sediment—II. Isoprenoids

Several isoprenoid compounds were isolated from a heat-treated marine sediment in the southern California continental shelf (from Tanner Basin) which were not present in the original sediment. Among the compounds identified were: phytol, dihydrophytol, C₁₈-isoprenoid ketone, phytanic and pristanic acids, C₁₉- and C₂₀-monoolefins, and the alkanes 2,6,10-trimethylpentadecane, pristane and phytane. The significance and possible routes leading to these compounds is discussed.     

Thermal alteration experiments on organic matter in recent marine sediment—III. Aliphatic and steroidal alcohols

Recent sediments from Tanner Basin (off southern California) and Bandaras Bay (in Gulf of California) have been analyzed for normal, isoprenoid and steroidal alcohols using chromatographic (column, GLC, TLC), and spectroscopic (u.v., i.r., MS) methods, prior to and after heat-treatment (from 65 to 150°C). Normal saturated alcohols (C₁₄-C₂₄) and monounsaturated alcohols (C₂₂-C₂₄) were identified, as well as the isoprenoid alcohols, phytol and dihydrophytol.Two series of sterols (Δ⁵ and Δ⁷) were found in Tanner Basin, and Δ⁵-sterols and triterpenes, in Bandaras Bay sediment. Sterols from both sediments contained the corresponding stanols.     

Some thermodynamical and microphysical aspects of monsoon clouds

The thermodynamical and microphysical characteristics of monsoon clouds in the Poona, Bombay and Rihand regions were investigated using extensive aircraft in-cloud observations. The number of clouds sampled at Poona, Bombay and Rihand is 2199, 169 and 104 respectively. The temperatures inside the cloud are colder than its environment at Poona and Rihand. The maximum difference is about 3°C at the cloud base level and the difference decreased with height. At Bombay the difference is less than 1°C and at some levels the temperatures inside the cloud are warmer than its environment. The lapse rates of temperatures inside the cloud are slightly less than those in the immediate environment of the cloud. The environmental lapse rates are nearly equal to the saturated adiabatic value. The positive increments in liquid water content (LWC) are associated with the increments in temperature inside the cloud. Similarly positive increments in temperatures inside the cloud are associated with the increments in temperature of its immediate environment at the same level or the layer immediately above. The maximum cloud lengths observed at Poona and Bombay respectively are 14 and 3 km. The horizontal cross-section of LWC showed a maximum number of 13 peaks in clouds at Poona while only 7 peaks were observed at Bombay. The location of maximum LWC in the horizontal cross-section is more or less at the centre of the cloud. The LWC profile showed an increase with height from the base of the cloud at Poona and Bombay. There is no marked variation of LWC with height at Rihand. The total droplet concentration at different altitudes at Poona and Bombay is in the range 28–82 cm^?3. The size distribution of cloud droplets experienced a broadening effect with increase in height from the cloud base at Poona. The broadening effect at Bombay is not as marked as that at Poona.     

Convolute laminations — a theoretical analysis: example of a Pennsylvanian sandstone

Data from an outcropping laminated interval were collected and analyzed to test the applicability of a theoretical model describing instability of layered systems. Rayleigh—Taylor wave perturbations result at the interface between fluids of contrasting density, viscosity, and thickness. In the special case where reverse density and viscosity interlaminations are developed, the deformation response produces a single wave with predictable amplitudes, wavelengths, and amplification rates.Physical measurements from both the outcropping section and modern sediments suggest the usefulness of the model for the interpretation of convolute laminations. Internal characteristics of the stratigraphic interval, and the developmental sequence of convoluted beds, are used to document the developmental history of these structures.     

Vital and mortal staining of algae in the presence of chlorine-produced oxidants

Evans blue and neutral red were tested as mortal and vital stains respectively for eight estuarine algal species which had been exposed to chlorine-produced oxidants in a continuous-flow system. The effect of CPO on staining with Evans blue was negligible. High concentrations of CPO affected staining with neutral red in several instances; this is probably due to CPO-induced mortality of test organisms during the exposure or staining period. Neutral red leached fromSkeletonema costatum andOlisthodiscus luteus before the end of the staining period. Staining ofDunaliella tertiolecta with neutral red proceeded more slowly. Evens blue, which was incorporated quickly and remained in the cells, is recommended for live-dead determinations for all species examined exceptNitzschia closterium, for which neutral red should be used. Neither stain was effective onMychonastes ruminatus (Simpson and Van Valkenburg 1978).