Impact of mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis) raft-culture on benthic macrofauna, in situ oxygen uptake, and nutrient fluxes in Saldanha Bay, South Africa

2001 ◽  
Vol 58 (5) ◽  
pp. 1021-1031 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeanie Stenton-Dozey ◽  
Trevor Probyn ◽  
Alistair Busby
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Mytilus Galloprovincialis ◽  
N:P Ratio ◽  
Nutrient Fluxes ◽  
Reference Sites ◽  
Raft Culture ◽  
Organic Debris ◽  
Uptake Rates ◽  
Mussel Culture

Culture of the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis in a South African bay created organic enrichment and anoxia in sediments. Particulate organic matter (POM) was high under rafts versus the references, especially in the first 10 cm (C = 7.5 versus 0.4%, N = 0.7 versus 0.08%). Total reducible sulphides (TRS) increased threefold downcore (from 0.04 to 0.12%). High C:N ratios (12–15) indicated accumulation of refractory POM, derived mainly from faeces and decaying mussels and foulers. Although O2 uptake by raft sediments was the lowest, rates could not conclusively be separated from the references. Ammonium dominated N efflux, the highest and most variable rates being under mussels (825 ± 500 µmol NH4·m–2·h–1). Phosphate efflux (25–140 µmol·m–2·h–1) could not be ascribed to culture biodeposition, but there was an inconclusive trend for the molar N:P ratio to be highest in these sediments. Macrofauna biomass was reduced and trophic groups and taxa altered. Under rafts, macrofauna and organic debris were linked to O2 uptake rates, whereas at the reference sites, macrofauna appeared to be the major O2 consumer. It was concluded that POM and TRS in sediment as well as macrofauna biomass, and potentially molar N:P ratios, were more sensitive indicators of benthic impact from mussel culture than O2 uptake rates or nutrient fluxes.

scholarly journals Effect of incubation time and substrate concentration on N-uptake rates by phytoplankton in the Bay of Bengal

2005 ◽  
Vol 2 (5) ◽  
pp. 1331-1352
Author(s):  
S. Kumar ◽  
R. Ramesh ◽  
S. Sardesai ◽  
M. S. Sheshshayee
Keyword(s):  
Incubation Time ◽  
Uptake Rate ◽  
Nitrate Uptake ◽  
N Uptake ◽  
Marine Phytoplankton ◽  
Total Production ◽  
New Production ◽  
Urea Uptake ◽  
Uptake Rates

Abstract. We report here the results of three experiments, which are slight variations of the 15N method (JGOFS protocol) for determination of new production. The first two test the effect of (i) duration of incubation time and (ii) concentration of tracer added on the uptake rates of various N-species (nitrate, ammonium and urea) by marine phytoplankton; while the third compares in situ and deck incubations from dawn to dusk. Results indicate that nitrate uptake can be underestimated by experiments where incubation times shorter than 4h or when more than 10% of the ambient concentration of nitrate is added prior to incubation. The f-ratio increases from 0.28 to 0.42 when the incubation time increases from two to four hours. This may be due to the observed increase in the uptake rate of nitrate and decrease in the urea uptake rate. Unlike ammonium [y{=}2.07x{-}0.002\\, (r2=0.55)] and urea uptakes [y{=}1.88x{+}0.004 (r2=0.88)], the nitrate uptake decreases as the concentration of the substrate (x) increases, showing a negative correlation [y{=}-0.76x+0.05 (r2=0.86)], possibly due to production of glutamine, which might suppress nitrate uptake. This leads to decline in the f-ratio from 0.47 to 0.10, when concentration of tracer varies from 0.01 to 0.04μ M. The column integrated total productions are 519 mg C m-2 d-1 and 251 mg C m-2 d-1 for in situ and deck incubations, respectively. The 14C based production at the same location is ~200 mg C m-2 d-1, which is in closer agreement to the 15N based total production measured by deck incubation.

scholarly journals First in situ estimations of small phytoplankton carbon and nitrogen uptake rates in the Kara, Laptev, and East Siberian seas

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bhavya P. Sadanandan ◽  
Jang Han Lee ◽  
Ho Won Lee ◽  
Jae Joong Kaang ◽  
Jae Hyung Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sea Ice ◽  
Nitrogen Uptake ◽  
N Uptake ◽  
Total Carbon ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Carbon And Nitrogen ◽  
Uptake Rates ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Small Phytoplankton

Abstract. Carbon and nitrogen uptake rates by small phytoplankton (0.7–5 μm) in the Kara, Laptev, and East Siberian seas in the Arctic Ocean were quantified using in situ isotope labelling experiments for the first time as part of the NABOS (Nansen and Amundsen Basins Observational System) program during August 21 to September 22, 2013. The depth integrated C, NO3−, and NH4+ uptake rates by small phytoplankton showed a wide range from 0.54 to 15.96 mg C m−2 h−1, 0.05 to 1.02 and 0.11 to 3.73 mg N m−2 h−1, respectively. The contributions of small phytoplankton towards the total C, NO3−, and NH4+ was varied from 24 to 89 %, 32 to 89 %, and 28 to 89 %, respectively. The turnover times for NO3− and NH4+ by small phytoplankton during the present study point towards the longer residence times (years) of the nutrients in the deeper waters, particularly for NO3−. Relatively, higher C and N uptake rates by small phytoplankton obtained during the present study at locations with less sea ice concentrations points towards the possibility of small phytoplankton thrive under sea ice retreat under warming conditions. The high contributions of small phytoplankton towards the total carbon and nitrogen uptake rates suggest capability of small size autotrophs to withstand in the adverse hydrographic conditions introduced by climate change.

Dehydration and decomposition of pyrophyllite at high pressures: electrical conductivity and X-ray diffraction studies to 5 GPa

1997 ◽  
Vol 34 (6) ◽  
pp. 875-882 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tara L. Hicks ◽  
Richard A. Secco
Keyword(s):  
Electrical Conductivity ◽  
South African ◽  
Pressure Dependence ◽  
High Pressures ◽  
Ionic Conduction ◽  
Temperature Phase ◽  
X Ray Diffraction ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Temperature Dependence Of Conductivity

The dehydration and decomposition of South African pyrophyllite were studied in the pressure range 2.5–5.0 GPa and in the temperature (T) range 295–1473 K using both in situ electrical conductivity measurements and X-ray diffraction studies on the recovered samples. Activation energies for conduction (Qc) vary in the range 0.02–0.07 eV for T ≤ 500 K where the dominant conduction mode is electronic, and Qc is in the range 1.10–1.28 eV for T ≥ 500 K where ionic conduction dominates. Abrupt changes in the isobaric temperature dependence of conductivity mark the onset of dehydration and subsequent decomposition into kyanite plus quartz–coesite. At 2.5 GPa, South African pyrophyllite forms the dehydroxylate phase at 760 K with a pressure dependence of ~30 K/GPa and complete decomposition follows at 1080 K with a pressure dependence of ~41 K/GPa. The resulting pressure–temperature phase diagram is in very good agreement with many previous studies at 1 atm (101.325 kPa).

The Earliest South African Hominids

2021 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
pp. 125-143
Author(s):  
Ronald J. Clarke ◽  
Travis Rayne Pickering ◽  
Jason L. Heaton ◽  
Kathleen Kuman
Keyword(s):  
East Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
The South ◽  
Taxonomic Assignment ◽  
First Time ◽  
Over Time

The earliest South African hominids (humans and their ancestral kin) belong to the genera Australopithecus, Paranthropus, and Homo, with the oldest being a ca. 3.67 million-year-old nearly complete skeleton of Australopithecus (StW 573) from Sterkfontein Caves. This skeleton has provided, for the first time in almost a century of research, the full anatomy of an Australopithecus individual with indisputably associated skull and postcranial bones that give complete limb lengths. The three genera are also found in East Africa, but scholars have disagreed on the taxonomic assignment for some fossils owing to historical preconceptions. Here we focus on the South African representatives to help clarify these debates. The uncovering of the StW 573 skeleton in situ revealed significant clues concerning events that had affected it over time and demonstrated that the associated stalagmite flowstones cannot provide direct dating of the fossil, as they are infillings of voids caused by postdepositional collapse.

Hard as a rock? Looking for typical and atypical reference sites in the Greek network

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olga-Joan Ktenidou ◽  
Faidra Gkika ◽  
Erion-Vasilis Pikoulis ◽  
Christos Evangelidis
Keyword(s):  
Ground Motion ◽  
Site Response ◽  
Time Budget ◽  
Strong Motion ◽  
General Rule ◽  
Spectral Ratio ◽  
Reference Sites ◽  
Motion Models ◽  
Ground Motion Variability

<p>Although it is nowadays desirable and even typical to characterise site conditions in detail at modern recording stations, this is not yet a general rule in Greece, due to the large number and geographical dispersion of stations. Indeed, most of them are still characterised merely through geological descriptions or proxy-based parameters, rather than through in-situ measurements. Considering: 1. the progress made in recent years with sophisticated ground motion models and the need to define region-specific rock conditions based on data, 2. the move towards large open-access strong-motion databases that require detailed site metadata, and 3. that Greek-provenance recordings represent a significant portion of European seismic data, there are many reasons to improve our understanding of site response at these stations. Moreover, it has been shown recently in several regions that even sites considered as rock can exhibit amplification and ground motion variability, which has given rise to more scientific research into the definition of reference sites. For Greece, in-situ-characterisation campaigns for the entire network would impose unattainable time/budget constraints; so, instead, we implement alternative empirical approaches using the recordings themselves, such as the horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratio technique and its variability. We present examples of 'well-behaved', typical rock sites, and others whose response diverges from what is assumed for their class.</p><p> </p>

Short term nitrogen dynamics in a small Brazilian wetland (Lago Infernão, São Paulo)

1989 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 323-335 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clive Howard-Williams ◽  
F. de Esteves ◽  
J. E. Santos ◽  
M. T. Downes
Keyword(s):  
N Uptake ◽  
Algal Community ◽  
Nitrifying Bacteria ◽  
Temperature Changes ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Uptake Rates ◽  
Eichhornia Azurea ◽  
Short Time ◽  
Epiphyte Community

ABSTRACTWe have studied a number of related processes of the nitrogen cycle in a Brazilian floodplain lake to identify the major pools and pathways over a short time period. The study was centred on the littoral zone dominated by the floating plantEichhornia azurea, which has a large epiphyte algal community of which heterocystous cyanobacteria were the major components. The water column was continuously undersaturated with oxygen although some elevated values (to 60% saturation) were recorded in the macrophyte beds in the afternoon. Marked diel temperature changes were documented. NH4-N dominated the dissolved N component in the water with maximal values (60 mg m−3) at lowest O2, concentrations early in the morning. Nitrogen fixation (acetylene reduction) of the epiphyte community showed marked diel changes with daily values of 5 mg N fixed m−2day−1(based on 3:1 C2H4:N2ratio). Macrophyte NH4-N uptake rates (in situincubations) were 93 mg N m−2day−1. The activities of nitrifying bacteria could not be detected with the nitrapyrin block on dark CO2fixation but denitrification (acetylene block technique) was recorded in the sediments when enhanced with NO-3. The major pathways of aquatic nitrogen involved macrophyte uptake and sediment release of NH4-N.

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