Seasonal and inter-annual variation in occurrence and biomass of rooted macrophytes and drift algae in shallow bays

Submerged rooted macrophytes and drift algae were studied in shallow (0–1 m) brackish soft-bottom bays in the Åland Islands, N Baltic Sea, in 1997–2000. The study was performed by aerial photography and ground-truth sampling and the compatibility of the methods was evaluated. The study provided quantitative results on seasonal and inter-annual variation in growth, distribution and biomass of submerged macrophytes and drift algae.On an average, 18 submerged macrophyte species occurred in the studied bays. The most common species, by weight and occurrence, were Chara aspera, Cladophora glomerata, Pilayella littoralis and Potamogeton pectinatus. Filamentous green algae constituted 45–70% of the biomass, charophytes 25–40% and vascular plants 3–18%. A seasonal pattern with a peak in biomass in July–August was found and the mean biomass was negatively correlated with exposure. There were statistically significant differences in coverage among years, and among levels of exposure. The coverage was highest when exposure was low. Both sheltered and exposed bays were influenced by drift algae (30 and 60% occurrence in July–August) and there was a positive correlation between exposure and occurrence of algal accumulations. At exposed sites, most of the algae had drifted in from other areas, while at sheltered ones they were mainly of local origin.Data obtained by aerial photography and ground-truth sampling showed a high concordance, but aerial photography gave a 9% higher estimate than the ground-truth samples. The results can be applied in planning of monitoring and management strategies for shallow soft-bottom areas under potential threat of drift algae.     

遮浪湾浮游幼虫的季节分布

本文分析遮浪湾浮游幼虫的季节分布及其与环境因子的关系,并讨论其它有关生态问题。湾内浮游幼虫总数量和主要类群数量的季节变化呈现典型的亚热带海区的双周期型,数量的平面分布随离岸距离增加而增多,水温过低或过高和低盐度均对幼虫的生长活动不利。湾中甲壳动物的无节幼虫最丰富,多毛类和棘皮动物的浮游幼虫次之。     

Possible evidence for enrichment of trace elements in the hydrous manganese oxide phases of suspended matter from an urbanized embayment

Total and weak-acid-soluble trace elements in suspended matter from the Duwamish River and Elliott Bay were determined from samples collected in February and September 1980. The results indicate that Mn scavenging in the water column is coincident with enrichments of Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, and Pb in the suspended matter, suggesting a possible enrichment of these trace elements in a hydrous Mn oxide phase. This process occurs primarily in the sub-surface waters of Elliott Bay. Since mass balance calculations show a net export of Mn out of the bay, this mechanism may be an important means of transporting toxic trace metals from polluted estuaries and embayments to cleaner coastal environments.     

Seasonal variations of the ocean surface circulation in the vicinity of Palau

The surface circulation in the western equatorial Pacific Ocean is investigated with the aim of describing intra-annual variations near Palau (134°30′ E, 7°30′ N). In situ data and model output from the Ocean Surface Currents Analysis—Real-time, TRIangle Trans-Ocean buoy Network, Naval Research Laboratory Layered Ocean Model and the Joint Archive for Shipboard ADCP are examined and compared. Known major currents and eddies of the western equatorial Pacific are observed and discussed, and previously undocumented features are identified and named (Palau Eddy, Caroline Eddy, Micronesian Eddy). The circulation at Palau follows a seasonal variation aligned with that of the Asian monsoon (December–April; July–October) and is driven by the major circulation features. From December to April, currents around Palau are generally directed northward with speeds of approximately 20 cm/s, influenced by the North Equatorial Counter-Current and the Mindanao Eddy. The current direction turns slightly clockwise through this boreal winter period, due to the northern migration of the Mindanao Eddy. During April–May, the current west of Palau is reduced to 15 cm/s as the Mindanao Eddy weakens. East of Palau, a cyclonic eddy (Palau Eddy) forms producing southward flow of around 25 cm/s. The flow during the period July to September is disordered with no influence from major circulation features. The current is generally northward west of Palau and southward to the east, each with speeds on the order of 5 cm/s. During October, as the Palau Eddy reforms, the southward current to the east of Palau increases to 15 cm/s. During November, the circulation transitions to the north-directed winter regime.     

Assessments of anthropogenic CO2 distribution in the tropical Atlantic Ocean

With a limited number of properties (salinity, temperature, total dissolved inorganic carbon, total alkalinity, and oxygen) from a recent cruise in the tropical Atlantic Ocean, we use the simple and recent approach TrOCA (Tracer combining Oxygen, inorganic Carbon, and total Alkalinity) to estimate the distribution of anthropogenic CO₂ along three latitudinal sections. In order to assess the quality of the anthropogenic CO₂ distribution, results from the method are compared to the CFC-11 measurements. We discuss the large-scale distribution of the main water masses of the tropical Atlantic Ocean in the light of the anthropogenic CO₂ and the CFC-11 distributions. Keeping in mind that the anthropogenic CO₂ emission began 60 years earlier than that of CFC-11, the former provides new insight on the local circulation and efficiency of the tropical waters to store the atmospheric carbon.     

南海暖水形态特征

利用Levitus资料 ,分析了南海各月某些标准层上的海温水平分布、南北向温度断面垂直分布 ,阐述了南海暖水水平和断面温度分布的阶段性特征 ,给出了南海暖水中心点 ( 1 1 3°E ,8°N)海温垂直结构特征。使用 3次自然样条函数 ,将格点资料插值到每米的深度上 ,求出各格点 2 8℃海温的深度 ,得出各月 2 8℃等温包络面。结果表明 :4～ 1 1月份 2 8℃等温包络面呈现大小不等和深浅不同的盆状 ,其各月的变化形象化地表示了暖水的演变过程。分析南海暖水中心点各标准层温度的季节变化表明 :30m以上海水温度季节变化基本一致 ,冬季 1月最低 ,春季 5月最高 ,次高出现在 1 0月份 ;50m海水温度最低值延至 3月份 ,最高在 7月份 ,次高也在 1 0月份。 2 8℃等温包络面所包体积的季节变化是一个较为规则的单峰型     

东海西湖凹陷平湖组层序地层划分

共识别出平湖组5个三级层序界面T63、T53(Sb1)、T43(Sb2)、T23(Sb3)、T03(Sb4)和3个体系域界面f1、T33(f2)、f3。平湖组共有6个段,可划分出3个沉积旋回。平湖六段未见底,沉积旋回性不清,平湖五段为SⅢ1,平湖四段和三段组成SⅢ2,平湖二段和一段划分为SⅢ3。本区短周期(四级层序)海平面变化曲线的包络线(相当于三级层序)和全球海平面三级周期的变化曲线基本一致,反映全球海平面变化对本区层序发育有明显的影响。     

Tracing terrigenous dissolved organic matter and its photochemical decay in the ocean by using liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry

Reversed-phase liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) is introduced as a new molecular fingerprinting technique for tracing terrigenous dissolved organic matter (DOM) and its photochemical decay in the ocean. DOM along a transect from the mangrove-fringed coast in Northern Brazil to the shelf edge was compared with mangrove-derived porewater DOM exposed to natural sunlight for 2–10 days in a photodegradation experiment. DOM was isolated from all samples via solid-phase extraction (C18) for LC/MS analysis. DOM in the estuary and ocean showed a bimodal mass distribution with two distinct maxima in the lower m/z range from 400 to 1000 Da (intensity-weighted average of 895 Da). Terrigenous porewater DOM from the mangroves was characterized by a broad molecular mass distribution over the detected range from 150 to 2000 Da (intensity-weighted average of 1130 Da). Polar compounds, i.e., those that eluted early in the reversed-phase chromatography, absorbed more UV light and had on average smaller molecular masses than the more apolar compounds.     

The life history and sexual biology of Pseudunciola obliquua (crustacea: amphipoda) in the New York Bight

Pseudunciola obliquua is the most abundant subtidal amphipod of the near-shore macrobenthos in the New York Bight south of Fire Island. It has an annual life-cycle. Breeding occurs in March and April, and a single brood of between 8 and 20 eggs per female is produced. Fecundity is linearly proportional to maternal length. The eggs take about two months to develop; the juveniles emerge in June and July. Initial recruitment in the study area was estimated to be 2980 and 5850 per m² for the 1979–1980 and 1980–1981 year classes, respectively. Of the initial recruits only about 10% survive to form the reproductive stock of the following spring.Females and males grow at similar rates and are equally abundant as juveniles and initially as adults, until they reach sexual maturity. After breeding, the abundance of males decreases rapidly due to post-reproductive death. Females continue to live, carrying the developing eggs in their brood pouches. Mean female growth increases throughout the brooding period until the young are released, shortly after which adult females also die. The entire generation of reproductive adults has died by September.