Hydrodynamic and Sediment Transport Patterns in the Minho and Douro Estuaries (NW Portugal) Based on ADCP Monitoring Data: Part 2—Statistical Interpretation of Bottom Moored Datasets

Exploratory statistical partitioning methods (K-means Clustering analysis) were applied to ADCP monitoring datasets collected inside the Douro and Minho estuaries. This analysis is aimed to discriminate ADCP acoustic responses according to the variations of the suspended particles within the ensonified medium. Based on the interpretation of the results, this work establishes general sediment transport patterns at both estuaries’ exits under continuously varying river flows and tidal amplitudes recorded during a summer dry seasonal scenario (September 2005) and winter high river discharge (January/February 2007) conditions. Results confirm the already known present scarcity of (sandy) sediment export from the Douro and Minho estuaries into the inner shelf and the consequent sediment depletion of the adjacent littoral, with no effective contribution of the Douro and some evidence of sand export observed at the Minho outlet during the winter of 2007.

Sand-capping stabilizes muddy sediment and improves benthic light conditions in eutrophic estuaries: laboratory verification and the potential for recovery of eelgrass (Zostera marina)

Decades of eutrophication have increased water turbidity in Danish estuaries and led to light limitation of eelgrass (Zostera marina) growth. Former eelgrass areas are now denuded and consist of organic-rich muddy sediment with frequent resuspension events that maintain a high turbidity state. In addition, low anchoring capacity of eelgrass in the soft organic-rich sediments has contributed to eelgrass loss. When navigation channels in Danish estuaries are dredged, large amounts (~100.000 m3) of sandy sediment are shipped to remote dumping sites. Instead, we suggest that the dredged sand is used to consolidate adjacent muddy areas. We demonstrate in the present study that capping of fluid muddy sediment with 10 cm of sand is feasible without any vertical mixing and that this marine restoration approach can significantly lower the magnitude and frequency of resuspension events. Erosion of suspended solids change from 5 g m-2 min-1 in muddy areas to about 0.2 g m-2 min-1 in sand-capped areas, implying that sand-capping can significantly improve light conditions. Moreover, erosion thresholds increase from about 10-12 cm s-1 for mud to 40 cm s-1 for sand-capped mud. In conclusion, improved benthic light and increased anchoring capacity by sand-capping, a marine restoration practice, has the potential to facilitate restoration of otherwise lost eelgrass habitats.

Sediment shell-content diminishes current-driven sand ripple development and migration

Shells and shell fragments are biogenic structures that are widespread throughout natural sandy shelf seas and whose presence can affect the bed roughness and erodibility of the seabed. An important and direct consequence is the effect on the formation and movement of small bedforms such as sand ripples. We experimentally measured ripple formation and the migration of a mixture of natural sand with increasing volumes of shell material in a racetrack flume. Our experiments reveal the impacts of shells on ripple development in sandy sediment, providing information that was previously lacking. Shells expedite the onset of sediment transport while simultaneously reducing ripple dimensions and slowing down their migration rates. Moreover, increasing shell content enhances near-bed flow velocity due to the reduction of bed friction that is partly caused by a decrease in average ripple size and occurrence. This, in essence, limits the rate and magnitude of bed load transport. Given the large influence of shell content on sediment dynamics as well as the high shell concentrations found naturally in the sediments of shallow seas, a significant control from shells on the morphodynamics of sandy marine habitats is expected.

Combining Optical Microscopy and X-ray Computed Tomography Reveals Novel Morphologies and Growth Processes of Methane Hydrate in Sand Pores

Understanding the mechanisms involved in the formation and growth of methane hydrate in marine sandy sediments is crucial for investigating the thermo-hydro-mechanical behavior of gas hydrate marine sediments. In this study, high-resolution optical microscopy and synchrotron X-ray computed tomography were used together to observe methane hydrate growing under excess gas conditions in a coarse sandy sediment. The high spatial and complementary temporal resolutions of these techniques allow growth processes and accompanying redistribution of water or brine to be observed over spatial scales down to the micrometre—i.e., well below pore size—and temporal scales below 1 s. Gas hydrate morphological and growth features that cannot be identified by X-ray computed tomography alone, such as hollow filaments, were revealed. These filaments sprouted from hydrate crusts at water–gas interfaces as water was being transported from their interior to their tips in the gas (methane), which extend in the µm/s range. Haines jumps are visualized when the growing hydrate crust hits a water pool, such as capillary bridges between grains or liquid droplets sitting on the substrate—a capillary-driven mechanism that has some analogy with cryogenic suction in water-bearing freezing soils. These features cannot be accounted for by the hydrate pore habit models proposed about two decades ago, which, in the absence of any observation at pore scale, were indeed useful for constructing mechanical and petrophysical models of gas hydrate-bearing sediments.

Intraspecific density effect on growth of Marphysa “sp.” Juveniles

There is growing demand for the territorial tube-building genus Marphysa (Eunicidae: Polychaete), commonly known in Portugal as “goose”, for use as fishing bait, and it is being harvested all around the world for that purpose. Effects of intraspecific density on juvenile growth were studied over a four-month period in laboratory facilities. Three polychaete densities (low, 50 worms; medium, 150 worms; and high, 250 worms) were used in a 0.25 m2 aquarium containing sandy sediment and recirculating water. Total length, dry weight and number of segments were recorded for 60% of the initial population. All polychaetes were also counted to determine mortality rate and territorial behaviour through the existence of body lesions and broken and regenerating posterior segments. The results obtained in this study showed that density had a significant effect (p<0.001) on growth rates in any of the densities studied and that growth was significantly higher at lower densities (p<0.001). For all density levels, estimated daily growth was higher in the first month, decreasing progressively over time. The high aggressiveness and territorial behaviour of Marphysa “sp.” juveniles, well evidenced by the highest mortality (35%) under high density and by the presence of worms with lesions under low density (30%) observed in the first month, suggests that territoriality is probably the main factor involved in the organization and spatial arrangements of individuals within a population. Marphysa juveniles probably compete for burrow space. The results reveal that Marphysa juveniles have a very territorial and aggressive behaviour that should be considered if the species is used for aquaculture production. Additional studies are required to determine the density effects for different developmental stages.

Insights into the Funerary Practices in the Dolmen of Cabecinha (Figueira da Foz, Portugal)

The dolmen of Cabecinha in the region of Figueira da Foz (Coimbra, Portugal) was excavated at the end of the 19th century by António dos Santos Rocha. This tomb belongs to a Megalithic necropolis of c. 21 dolmens in Western-Central Portugal and was explored and published between 1880 and 1909. The aim of this contribution is to present the human bone collection of the Megalitho da Cabecinha, cross-referencing this data with the original available documentation from the excavation and the chronology obtained from direct radiocarbon dating of a human bone fragment. This approach is adopted to get insights into the funerary practices, and the biological and pathological profiles of the individuals deposited in the dolmen. The most relevant information obtained pertains to the mortuary behaviour, where a unique funerary practice for this Megalithic necropolis was identified. In each corner of the irregular polygonal chamber, an adult individual was deposited in crouching or squatting position in sandy sediment and surrounded by small flat limestone slabs. All but one individual was associated with votive items.

Tracing woody-organic tsunami deposits of the 2011 Tohoku-oki event in Misawa (Japan)

With a minimum of three reported waves, the 2011 Tohoku-oki tsunami’s destructive force caused massive damage along the northern Japanese Aomori coast. At Misawa the coastal control area was inundated up to 550 m inland and sandy sediment remnants can be traced to c. 350 m (c. 61–63% of the maximum inundation) from the shoreline. Linking the discovery of floatable plastic objects within a woody and organic layer to our analytical data lead to the detection of a yet undocumented woody-organic tsunami deposit first appearing on top of the sandy deposit but then reaching even further inland (approx. 69–72% of the max. inundation). By this observation our understanding of the documented part of the tsunami inundation may be improved. As a consequence, sand sheets of historic and paleo-tsunamis represent minimum estimates for the coastal inundation and underestimation may be reduced by addressing the woody and organic fraction of a tsunami’s inundation.

Impact of bottom trawling on sediment biogeochemistry: a modelling approach

Bottom trawling in shelf seas can occur more than 10 times per year for a given location. This affects the benthic metabolism, through a mortality of the macrofauna, resuspension of organic matter from the sediment, and alterations of the physical sediment structure. However, the trawling impacts on organic carbon mineralization and associated processes are not well known. Using a modelling approach, the effects of increasing trawling frequencies on early diagenesis were studied in five different sedimentary environments, simulating the effects of a deeper-penetrating gear (e.g. a tickler chain beam trawl) versus a shallower, more variable penetrating gear (e.g. an electric pulse trawl). Trawling events strongly increased oxygen and nitrate concentrations in surface sediment layers and led to significantly lower amounts of ammonium (43 %–99 % reduction) and organic carbon in the top 10 cm of the sediment (62 %–96 % reduction). As a result, total mineralization rates in the sediment were decreased by up to 28 %. The effect on different mineralization processes differed both between sediment types and between trawling frequencies. The shallow-penetrating gear had a slightly smaller effect on benthic denitrification than the deeper-penetrating gear, but there were no statistically different results between gear types for all other parameters. Denitrification was reduced by 69 % in a fine sandy sediment, whereas nitrogen removal nearly doubled in a highly eutrophic mud. This suggests that even relatively low penetration depths from bottom fishing gears generate significant biogeochemical alterations. Physical organic carbon removal through trawl-induced resuspension of sediments, exacerbated by a removal of bioturbating macrofauna, was identified as the main cause of the changes in the mineralization process.