Growth rates,densities, and distribution of Lophelia pertusa on artificial structures in the Gulf of Mexico

Using industry inspection video and ROV imaging, we examined Lophelia pertusa (Linnaeus 1758) on 10 artificial structures of known ages (9 to 100 years) in the northern Gulf of Mexico (GoM). Five different types deep-water energy installations with depths ranging from 320 to 995 m, and three shipwrecks with depths ranging from approximately 530 to 615 m, were examined. Density, depth ranges, and growth rates of L. pertusa colonies were calculated from video and image analysis. L. pertusa colonies were present on all structures examined. Minimum calculated growth rates for the largest colonies ranged from 0.32 to 3.23 cm/yr on the different structures. The shallowest depth at which L. pertusa was observed was 201 m and the deepest was 801 m, considerably expanding the known depth range of this species in the northern GoM. Colony density varied with structure type, age, and depth, with the highest density between 503 and 518 m on the single structure that spanned the entire depth range of occurrence of L. pertusa observed in this study. L. pertusa colonies growing on thinner and deeper installations appear to have higher colonization rates, i.e. to develop higher densities over a shorter time period, compared to those on shallower and more massive types of installations. However, on average, colonies have slower growth rates on these installations than colonies on more massive, shallower installations (compliant and solid installations). In general, the calculated minimum growth rates were higher on the installations than on the shipwrecks, which were substantially older. A continuum of colony sizes was documented on all installations, suggesting multiple settlement events. L. pertusa thickets were observed on the oldest anthropogenic structures, with most of the components of these structures covered by colonies of L. pertusa. Brown, orange, and mottled color-variants were documented for the first time in the GoM. All installations examined for this study were colonized by L. pertusa and it is likely that most artificial surfaces in appropriate depths in the GoM will be as well.     

Note on the Growth Rate of Water Waves Propagating at an Arbitrary Angle to the Wind

The dependence of the turbulent airflow over water waves on the angle,, between mean wind and wavedirections is investigated. To this end,an existing semi-analytical model is extended. In this model, the main simplification of the problem is obtained by using the well-established divisionof the wave boundary layer into inner and outer regions for modelling turbulence. The effect of waves on turbulence is restricted to the thin inner region. Simulations show that the influence of the wind speed component transverse to the wave direction on the air flow, and hence on the growth rate of the waves, is small. This is confirmed by calculations with a numerical model that solves the full Reynolds equations using a second-order turbulence closure scheme. The growth rate of slowly moving waves (as compared to the wind speed) is then proportional to cos², whereas, for faster waves, it has a narrower angular distribution.     

Factors contributing to the development of extreme North Atlantic cyclones and their relationship with the NAO

The occurrence of extreme cyclones is analysed in terms of their relationship to the NAO phase and the dominating environmental variables controlling their intensification. These are latent energy (equivalent potential temperature 850 hPa is used as an indicator), upper-air baroclinicity, horizontal divergence and jet stream strength. Cyclones over the North Atlantic are identified and tracked using a numerical algorithm, permitting a detailed analysis of their life cycles. Extreme cyclones are selected as the 10% most severe in terms of intensity. Investigations focus on the main strengthening phase of each cyclone. The environmental factors are related to the NAO, which affects the location and orientation of the cyclone tracks, thus explaining why extreme cyclones occur more (less) frequently during strong positive (negative) NAO phases. The enhanced number of extreme cyclones in positive NAO phases can be explained by the larger area with suitable growth conditions, which is better aligned with the cyclone tracks and is associated with increased cyclone life time and intensity. Moreover, strong intensification of cyclones is frequently linked to the occurrence of extreme values of growth factors in the immediate vicinity of the cyclone centre. Similar results are found for ECHAM5/OM1 for present day conditions, demonstrating that relationships between the environment factors and cyclones are also valid in the GCM. For future climate conditions (following the SRES A1B scenario), the results are similar, but a small increase of the frequency of extreme values is detected near the cyclone cores. On the other hand, total cyclone numbers decrease by 10% over the North Atlantic. An exception is the region near the British Isles, which features increased track density and intensity of extreme cyclones irrespective of the NAO phase. These changes are associated with an intensified jet stream close to Europe. Moreover, an enhanced frequency of explosive developments over the British Isles is found, leading to more frequent windstorms affecting Europe.

The North Patagonian orogenic front and related foreland evolution during the Miocene,analyzed from synorogenic sedimentation and U/Pb dating (∼42°S)

Miocene sedimentary successions of the Ñirihuau and Collón Cura formations east of the El Maitén Belt constitute a partial record of the Andean exhumation, defining a synorogenic infill of the Ñirihuau Basin in the foothills of the North Patagonian fold and thrust belt. Gravimetric and seismic data allow recognizing the internal arrangement and geometry of these depocenters that host both units, separating a synextensional section previous to the Andean development at these latitudes, from a series of syncontractional units above. A series of progressive unconformities in the upper terms shows the synorogenic character of these units corresponding to the different pulses of deformation that occurred during the middle Miocene. New U–Pb ages constrain these pulses to the ∼13.5–12.9 Ma interval and allow reconstructing the tectonic history of this region based on the detrital zircon source populations. The U–Pb maximum ages of sedimentation give to the Ñirihuau Formation in particular a younger age than previously assumed. Additionally, synsedimentary deformation in strata of the upper exposures of the Collón Cura Formation associated with contractional structures and U–Pb ages allow identifying a younger paleoseismogenic pulse in ∼11.3 Ma. Thus, based on these data and a compilation of previous datasets, a tectonic evolution is proposed characterized by a contractional episode that migrated eastwardly since ∼19 to 15 Ma producing the Gastre broken foreland and then retracted to the eastern North Patagonian Precordillera, where out-of-sequence thrusts cannibalized the wedge top zone in the El Maitén belt at ∼13.5–11.3 Ma.     

光温与坛紫菜自由丝状体生长发育的关系

于1993年3月-1994年4月，在实验室内可控条件下，用坛紫菜自由丝状体为材料，研究温度（13-33℃）、光强[5-40μmol／（m2·s）]和光周期（8－24h）对其生长发育的影响。结果表明：（1）17-21℃，丝状体生长快速健康；25-29℃，适于孢子囊枝的形成，27℃较佳；丝状体在温度高于29℃时开始死亡，丝状藻丝对高温的耐受力比孢子囊枝差；17-21℃，适于壳孢子的形成。（2）丝状体的生长随着光强的增加和光照时间的延长而加快。（3）实验光强下，光周期≤12h，孢子囊枝的形成量随光照时间的增加而增加；光周期长于12h，孢子囊枝基本不形成。（4）藻丝的色泽随光强的增加由红色趋于黄色，不同温度下，形态和色泽与生长速度和发育程度有关。（5）在实验光强下，壳孢子的形成量与光强关系不大。认为坛紫菜自由丝状体的生长发育与光温条件密切相关，据此，可以调控丝状体的生长发育进程，获得理想的生长发育阶段的材料。     

胶州湾水域短吻舌鳎年龄、生长及其年龄结构特征的研究

依2450尾短吻舌鳎渔业生物学测定和耳石观测,数理分析得出,耳石轮径与鱼体全长呈线性相关,与纯体重呈显著幂函数关系。运用过程分析法确认年轮形成以年为周期,主要为4～5月。经二次线性拟合年间 Von Bcrtalanffy 生长方程:雌鱼L_t=350.8996[1—e~(-O.3965(t+0.7574)], W_t=269.1963[1—e~(-0.392(t+0.7165)]3.1175;雄鱼L_t=314.0091[1—e~(-0.3444(t+1.1236))],W_t=191.6984[1—e~(-0.3263(t+0.9666)]~2.8788胶州湾水域短吻舌鳎年龄构成0～Ⅷ龄,Ⅱ龄鱼占优势(34.06％)。     

褐菖鲉仔、稚鱼生长特性及其关键变态期的研究

根据1991～1994年间褐菖YouSebastiscus marmoratus人工苗种培育中仔、稚鱼生物学测定资料及其关键变态期出现时间、特征等资料，研究了日龄与褐菖You仔、稚鱼生长参数间的相互关系，分析了褐菖You仔、稚鱼阶段的关键变态期的出现规律及其生长参数间的关系，探讨了褐褐菖You仔、稚鱼关键变态期的发生机理及其应对措施。     

北方玉米冠层光合有效辐射垂直分布及影响因子分析

玉米冠层内光合有效辐射（PAR）的大小直接影响冠层内叶片的光合作用,进而影响玉米净第一性生产力或作物产量的准确评估。为弄清玉米冠层内光合有效辐射的分布规律及其影响因子,基于锦州玉米农田生态系统于2006年生育期的光合有效辐射观测数据和叶面积指数动态观测数据,对玉米冠层光合有效辐射的垂直分布特征及其影响因子进行了分析。结果表明：玉米冠层内不同垂直层次叶片的PAR分布随生育期变化显著,与叶面积指数呈显著的负相关（R2=0.89）;玉米冠层光合有效辐射的消光系数K值在生育期呈动态变化,约为0.76,且表现为苗期较大、生育后期较小。分析表明,在进行光合有效辐射及与此密切相关的光合作用模拟时,应考虑消光系数的动态变化。     

Tree Population Dynamics of Three Altitudinal Vegetation Communities on Mount Cameroon(1989-2004)

Changes in permanent sample plots in the lowland,submontane and montane forests on Mount Cameroon(4,095 m above sea level),an active volcano,are described for 15 years from 1989 to 2004.Throughout the study period,the stocking level of trees with a diameter at breast height(DBH) ≥ 10 cm in the three forests were lower than in pan-tropical stands suggesting a significant impact of volcanic and human-related activities on the vegetation communities on the mountain.Annual mortality rates in the submontane and ...     

Effects of suspended particles on the growth of two dominant phytoplankton species of Bohai Bay,China

Suspended particles (SP) are increasing dramatically in Bohai Bay, China and may affect the growth and composition of phytoplankton assembly. To determine the effects of SP on the growth of two dominant phytoplankton species, Phaeodactylum tricornutum Bohlin and Gymnodinium sp., we cultured and tested their growth characteristics under SP concentrations ranging from 0 g L⁻¹ to 0.8 g L⁻¹. Our results show that the increase in the SP concentrations results in significant decrease in the maximum cell densities and the maximum specific growth rates of these two species. The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) of SP to P. tricornutum and Gymnodinium sp. were 1.07 g L⁻¹ and 0.68 g L⁻¹ respectively, indicating the inhibitory effect of SP on Gymnodinium sp. was greater than on P. tricornutum. These results suggest that SP inhibits the growth of the two algal species and P. tricornutum is more tolerant to SP than Gymnodinium sp.