Thioploca spp. sheaths as niches for bacterial and protistan assemblages

Sulfide oxidizing bacterial mats are common in regions of the continental shelves characterized by high primary production and the resultant oxygen minimum zone. These mats are made up of several species of Beggiatoa and/or Thioploca, which oxidize sulfide that is generated in the sediment. Thioploca spp. inhabit a large polysaccharide sheath that encompasses bundles of 1–20 filaments (trichomes), each ranging from 3 to 60 μm in diameter. This sheath has been shown to be a critical component of the autecology of Thioploca. Analysis of Thioploca from cold seeps in Monterey Bay using light and transmission electron microscopy identified new and diverse microbial assemblages associated with interstitial spaces between trichomes, inside the sheath. Small diameter, non‐vacuolate, filamentous prokaryotes were numerous. Amoebae, euglenozoa, ciliates and other protists of unknown affiliation were observed in sheaths. Most of the protists possessed food vacuoles and some protists showed ultrastructural evidence of endosymbionts. These observations suggest that Thioploca sheaths may serve as oases on the sea floor, providing nutritional and detoxification services to previously unrecognized microbial partners.     

1321号台风“蝴蝶”强度变化特征和影响因素分析

利用NCEP/NCAR全球再分析格点资料（空间分辨率1°×1°）、台风实况资料及海南省气象台站观测资料,选取1321号台风＂蝴蝶＂为研究个例,从天气学原理高低空形势及动力、热力学物理量等多角度分析了＂蝴蝶＂强度演变特征及影响因素.研究结果表明,副热带高压与高空西风槽是影响此次台风的主要大尺度天气系统,弱冷空气南侵、南海海温偏高及越赤道气流强盛是＂蝴蝶＂迅速加强的重要原因.西风槽引导弱冷空气南侵使得台风外围环流气压梯度增加,斜压不稳定状态加剧;南海海温达到29℃,海温偏高使台风区域大气层结降低,深热对流发展;105°E越赤道气流强盛为台风提供了充沛水汽和能量.三者共同作用促使台风强度突然增强.另外,低层涡度、高层散度、湿位涡及水汽通量等物理量能够较好地表征＂蝴蝶＂强度变化特征.低层辐合流入、高层辐散流出为台风的加强提供了动力条件;湿位涡下负上正表明大气热力层结不稳定;水汽通量增加表明水汽条件充足.良好的动力条件、热力条件与水汽条件共同作用,使得＂蝴蝶＂在短时间内迅速加强为强台风.     

Simulation of the extreme waves generated by typhoon Bolaven (1215) in the East China Sea and Yellow Sea

Record-breaking high waves occurred during the passage of the typhoon Bolaven (1215) (TYB) in the East China Sea (ECS) and Yellow Sea (YS) although its intensity did not reach the level of a super typhoon. Winds and directional wave measurements were made using a range of in-situ instruments mounted on an ocean tower and buoys. In order to understand how such high waves with long duration occurred, analyses have been made through measurement and numerical simulations. TYB winds were generated using the TC96 typhoon wind model with the best track data calibrated with the measurements. And then the wind fields were blended with the reanalyzed synoptic-scale wind fields for a wave model. Wave fields were simulated using WAM4.5 with adjustment of C_d for gust of winds and bottom friction for the study area. Thus the accuracy of simulations is considerably enhanced, and the computed results are also in better agreement with measured data than before. It is found that the extremely high waves evolved as a result of the superposition of distant large swells and high wind seas generated by strong winds from the front/right quadrant of the typhoon track. As the typhoon moved at a speed a little slower than the dominant wave group velocity in a consistent direction for two days, the wave growth was significantly enhanced by strong wind input in an extended fetch and non-linear interaction.     

重庆极端高温的变化特征及其对区域性增暖的响应

利用重庆1961-2006年31个站逐日最高温度资料,统计出年极端高温发生频次、年极端高温强度、年极端最高温度,分析了它们近46年来的变化情况.结果表明:近46年来重庆年极端高温发生频次呈西减东增的趋势,但增加/减少趋势并不显著.年极端高温的强度和年极端最高气温均在不断增强.年极端高温发生频次的增加对于重庆区域增暖的响应最显著,而年极端最高温度的升高比年极端高温频次的增加对重庆区域性增暖的响应偏弱,但又比年极端高温强度的增强对重庆区域性增暖的响应程度要偏强.     

一次西南低涡东移引发长江中下游暴雨的诊断研究

利用常规观测资料和NECP再分析资料,对2013年6月6—7日西南低涡东移加强发展造成长江中下游大暴雨过程进行了诊断分析,重点探讨了西南低涡东移和发展维持的物理机制以及最强降水的变化特征。结果表明,沿着700 hPa高空切变线东移的西南低涡是造成此次长江中下游地区暴雨的直接影响系统,西南低涡沿着700 hPa切变线东移发展,深厚阶段正涡度柱伸展到400 hPa高度,自下而上呈近垂直结构。西南低涡附近低层辐合与高层辐散的大尺度环境条件、西南低涡与西南低空急流耦合发展动力结构、低空暖平流和高空槽前正涡度平流输送等条件是导致西南低涡东移到长江中下游后加强发展的主要因子。与西南低涡相伴随的强降雨区主要位于低涡南部3个纬距以内,该处的西南季风和副高西南侧东南气流两支水汽输送的汇合为暴雨发生提供了充沛的水汽和对流不稳定能量,而对流层中低层携带的冷空气侵入低层低涡的后部,不仅加强了低涡的斜压性,也促进了上冷下暖不稳定层结的产生和发展,为强降水的发生提供了不稳定对流触发条件。     

洋面冷锋的三维数值模拟──潜热释放对冷锋结构的影响

通过比较一次洋面冷锋过程的干、湿三维模拟结果，揭示潜热释放对冷锋结构的影响。结果表明：由于潜热释放的作用，冷锋区的温度梯度和风矢量的气旋性切变大大地加强了，冷锋附近的涡度场和垂直速度场呈现出更多的更加紧密的中尺度结构；锋面非地转直接环流在湿模拟中比在干模拟中发展得更加充分并且具有更高的组织性；潜热加热倾向于增加锋面环流的强度，尤其是其上升支的强度。研究表明，潜热释放过程是形成冷锋前沿上方低层大气中狭窄强上升气流区的关键因素之一。     

深海极端环境模拟装置设计

为了满足深海极端环境科学研究的需求,设计了深海极端环境模拟装置。对系统结构以及工作原理进行分析,介绍了培养釜、温度控制子系统和压力控制子系统。重点针对当前模拟装置压力控制精度不高的问题,设计了高精度压力传感器,并提出一种迭代自学习PID压力控制算法,实现系统压力自动检测和连续控制,同时带有观察窗的培养釜结构可以实现微生物状况实时观测。实验结果表明,该系统能够实现深海极端环境参量高精度模拟,可以为深海极端环境科学研究提供很好的平台。     

强壮前沟藻(Amphidinium carterae Hulbert)在多重逆境条件下的生长和生理响应

尽管单一逆境条件对浮游植物产生的影响已被广泛重视,然而对于多重逆境条件对藻细胞生长生理的研究仍有空白。本研究通过测定强壮前沟藻(Amphidinium carterae Hulbert)光密度(OD750)、叶绿素a含量(chl a)、光合作用效率(F_v/F_m)、碳氮比(C/N)等多个生理指标,分析其在9种环境下(常温光照、低温和低温黑暗三种物理环境,结合全营养、缺氮、缺磷三种营养状态)对多重逆境的生长和生理响应。研究结果表明,在多重逆境条件下,单一物理逆境因素(低温或黑暗)较氮限制或磷限制对藻细胞生长和生理的不利影响更为显著。营养限制并同低温环境双重作用对生物量和碳氮比产生显著性影响(P0.01)。此外,低温和黑暗条件耦合作用下,SYTOX Green染色强度处于较低水平,chl a稳定、F_v/F_m有所升高,强壮前沟藻在逆境环境下作为群体的衰亡得以缓解。     

Limited differences among habitats in deep‐sea macro‐infaunal communities off New Zealand: implications for their vulnerability to anthropogenic disturbance

The spread of human activities into the deep sea may pose a high risk to benthic communities and affect ecosystem integrity. The deep sea is characterized by physical and biological heterogeneity and different habitat types are likely to differ in their vulnerability to anthropogenic impacts. However, across‐habitat comparisons are rare, and no comprehensive ecological risk assessment has yet been developed. To address this gap in our knowledge, we compared macro‐infaunal community structure in four habitats (slope, canyons, seamounts and methane seeps) at depths between 700 and 1500 m in the Hikurangi Margin and Bay of Plenty regions off New Zealand. The most striking contrast in community structure was between the two study regions, due to an order of magnitude difference in macro‐infaunal abundance that we believe was caused by differences in surface productivity and food availability at the sea bed. We found differences in structural and functional attributes of macro‐infaunal communities among some habitats in the Hikurangi Margin (slope, canyon and seep), but not in the Bay of Plenty. We posit that differences between canyon and slope communities on the Hikurangi Margin are due to enhanced food availability inside canyons compared with adjacent slope habitats. Seep communities were characterized by elevated abundance of both symbiont‐bearing and heterotrophic taxa, and were the most distinct, and variable, among the habitats that we considered on the Hikurangi Margin. Communities of seamounts were not distinct from slope or canyon communities on the Hikurangi Margin, probably reflecting similar environmental conditions in these habitats. The communities of deep‐sea canyon and seep habitats on the Hikurangi Margin were sufficiently dissimilar from each other and from slope habitats to warrant separate management consideration. By contrast, the low dissimilarity between communities of canyon and slope habitats in the Bay of Plenty suggests that habitat‐based management is not required in this region, for macro‐infauna at least. Although the two study regions share similar species pools, populations of the Hikurangi Margin region may be less vulnerable than the sparser populations of the Bay of Plenty due to the higher availability of potential colonizers and faster population growth. Thus regions, and habitats in some regions, should be subject to separate ecological risk assessment to help identify the key risks and consequences of human activities, and to inform options for reducing or mitigating impacts.     

Oil dispersal modelling: reanalysis of the Rena oil spill using open-source modelling tools

ABSTRACT

Oil spill forecast modelling is typically used immediately after a spill to predict oil dispersal and promote mobilisation of more effective response operations. The aim of this work was to map oil dispersal after the grounding of the MV Rena on Astrolabe Reef and to verify the results against observations. Model predictions were broadly consistent with observed distribution of oil contamination. However, some hot spots of oil accumulation, likely due to surf-zone and rip current circulation, were not well represented. Additionally, the model was run with 81 differing wind conditions to show that the events occurring during the grounding represented the typical likely behaviour of an oil spill on Astrolabe Reef. Oil dispersal was highly dependent on prevailing wind patterns; more accurate prediction would require better observations of local wind patterns. However, comparison of predictions with observations indicated that the GNOME model was an effective low-cost approach.