scholarly journals 18 Review of the Circulation and Characteristics of Intermediate Water Masses of the Mediterranean: Implications for Cold-Water Coral Habitats

2019 ◽  
pp. 195-211 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel R. Hayes ◽  
Katrin Schroeder ◽  
Pierre-Marie Poulain ◽  
Pierre Testor ◽  
Laurent Mortier ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cold Water ◽  
Water Masses ◽  
Intermediate Water ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
Water Coral

Ba/Ca, P/Ca, Li/Ca and Mn/Ca ratios in the deep-sea bivalve Acesta excavata: Valuable tools to reconstruct plankton dynamics in cold-water coral ecosystems?

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicolai Schleinkofer ◽  
Jacek Raddatz ◽  
David Evans ◽  
Axel Gerdes ◽  
Silke Voigt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Resolution ◽  
Cold Water ◽  
Environmental Parameters ◽  
Water Masses ◽  
Geochemical Data ◽  
Marine Bivalve ◽  
Intermediate Water ◽  
Inductively Coupled ◽  
Promising Tool ◽  
Water Coral

<p>Phytoplankton is one of the most important producers of oxygen, and plays an important role in the export of large amounts of carbon to the deeper ocean. Since phytoplankton is also the basis of most food webs in the ocean, understanding the dynamic system of phytoplankton is a crucial part to understand past carbon- and nutrient cycles and paleoclimatic changes. The export of nutrients is also an important factor impacting cold-water coral (CWC) reefs and may play a role in controlling their distribution. Here we present laser ablation inductively coupled mass spectrometer (LA-ICP-MS) Element/Ca measurements from Acesta excavata, a file clam, often associated with cold-water coral reefs along the European continental margin. Environmental parameters were recorded with lander systems directly deployed in the CWC reefs, which allows us to compare our geochemical data to in-situ ocean data.</p><p>Our results reveal, that Ba/Ca ratios show stable baseline values with intermittent sharp peaks. The location of these peaks in between major growth lines and temperature reconstructions with Mg/Sr ratios (Schleinkofer et al., submitted) show that these peaks occur during Winter and are repeatable between samples from the same location. This indicates a strong external forcing mechanism and allows cross-dating of different bivalve shells. While the occurrence of Ba/Ca peaks correlates with phytoplankton maxima, the absolute Ba/Ca ratio does not correlate with the phytoplankton abundance.</p><p>Mn/Ca ratios show similar trends as Ba/Ca ratios but the peaks are phase shifted and occur slightly delayed. These peaks could be triggered by decreasing oxygen concentrations in the water caused by the decomposition of organic material.</p><p>As A. excavata does not show easily distinguishable growth lines under the light microscope despite of Mutvei staining or fluorescence microscopy, we hypothesize that P/Ca ratios might be usable to locate highly phosphorylated shell areas that usually correlate with major growth lines. P/Ca ratios show no perceivable features in the vicinity of major growth lines. Instead we recognize that Ba/Ca peaks follow a minimum in P/Ca which is possibly caused by the uptake of phosphor by plankton.</p><p>These results suggest that A. excavata have potential as a promising tool for high resolution paleoenvironmental reconstructions of both intermediate and overlying surface water masses.</p><p>References</p><p>Schleinkofer N, Raddatz J, Evans D, Gerdes A, Flögel S, Voigt S, et al. Elemental to calcium ratios in the marine bivalve Acesta excavata: an archive for high-resolution paleoceanographic reconstructions of intermediate water masses. PLoS One. Submitted</p>

scholarly journals Mediterranean Coral Provinces as a Sponge Diversity Reservoir: Is There a Mediterranean Cold-Water Coral Sponge Fauna?

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andreu Santín ◽  
Jordi Grinyó ◽  
Maria Jesús Uriz ◽  
Claudio Lo Iacono ◽  
Josep Maria Gili ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cold Water ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Atlantic Water ◽  
Intermediate Water ◽  
Biodiversity Hotspots ◽  
Basin Scale ◽  
Sponge Diversity ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
Water Coral

Cold-water coral reefs (CWC) are known to be biodiversity hotspots, however, the sponge assemblages found to dwell within these habitats haven not been studied in depth to date in the Mediterranean Sea. The present article provides the first insight on the associated sponge fauna of the recently discovered CWC communities on the Catalan Margin and, to a lesser extent, the Cabliers Coral Mound Province, while also reviewing the current knowledge of the sponge fauna dwelling in all the Mediterranean CWC provinces. In regards to the studied areas, some rare species are cited for the first time in the Mediterranean or redescribed, while two of them, Hamacantha (Hamacantha) hortae sp. nov. and Spongosorites cabliersi sp. nov. are new to science. At a basin scale, Mediterranean CWC appear as poriferan biodiversity hotspots, yet current diversity values on each site rather represent a small fraction of its actual fauna. Additionally, the existence of an endemic sponge fauna exclusively dwelling on CWC is refuted. Nonetheless, the sponge fauna thriving in Mediterranean CWC appears to be unique, and different from that of other Atlantic regions. Finally, with the current knowledge, the sponge fauna from the Mediterranean CWC is grouped in three distinguishable clusters (Alboran Sea, Western and Eastern Mediterranean), which appears to be determined by the basins water circulation, specially the Levantine Intermediate Water and the Atlantic Water following a western-eastern pattern from the Strait of Gibraltar to the Adriatic Sea. Overall, sponge living in Mediterranean CWC are still poorly explored in most areas, yet they appear to be good candidates for biogeographical studies.Zoobank Registration: LSID urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:E58A3DFF-EDC5-44FC-A274-1C9508BF8D15.

scholarly journals A 300,000 year record of cold-water coral mound build-up at the East Melilla Coral Province (SE Alboran Sea, western Mediterranean)

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robin Fentimen ◽  
Eline Feenstra ◽  
Andres Rüggeberg ◽  
Efraim Hall ◽  
Valentin Rime ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Cold Water ◽  
Water Masses ◽  
Sediment Geochemistry ◽  
Intermediate Water ◽  
Alboran Sea ◽  
Ecological Requirements ◽  
Glacial Periods ◽  
Alborán Sea ◽  
Water Coral

Abstract. This study provides a detailed reconstruction of cold-water coral mound build-up within the East Melilla Coral Province (Southeast Alboran Sea) over the last 300 ky. Based on benthic foraminiferal assemblages, macrofaunal quantification, grain size analysis, sediment geochemistry, and foraminiferal stable isotope compositions, a reconstruction of environmental conditions having prevailed in the region is proposed. The variations in planktonic and benthic δ18O values indicate that cold-water coral mound build-up follows and records global climate variability. In contrast to northeast Atlantic counterparts, coral mound build-up in the southeast Alboran Sea occurs during glacial as well as during interglacial periods and at very low aggradation rates (between 1 and 10 cm.ky−1). Environmental conditions during glacial periods, particularly during the Last Glacial Maximum, appear to better suit the ecological requirements of the erect cheilostome bryozoan Buskea dichotoma. We propose that Buskea dichotoma has an important role in the build-up of cold-water coral mounds at the East Melilla Coral Province during glacial periods. Benthic foraminiferal assemblages suggest that important terrestrial input favoured cold-water coral proliferation during interglacial periods. The existence of strong Alboran Gyres during interglacial periods, promoting mixing between surface and intermediate water masses and bottom water turbulence, was possibly beneficial for cold-water coral development. Conversely, benthic foraminiferal assemblages indicate that the seafloor received less organic matter during glacial periods. Overall, the arid continental conditions combined to more stratified water masses resulted in limited coral proliferation during glacial times.

The “Sardinian cold-water coral province” in the context of the Mediterranean coral ecosystems

2017 ◽  
Vol 145 ◽  
pp. 61-78 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Taviani ◽  
L. Angeletti ◽  
S. Canese ◽  
R. Cannas ◽  
F. Cardone ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cold Water ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
Water Coral

scholarly journals Involving fishers in scaling up the restoration of cold-water coral gardens on the Mediterranean continental shelf

2021 ◽  
Vol 262 ◽  
pp. 109301
Author(s):  
Maria Montseny ◽  
Cristina Linares ◽  
Núria Viladrich ◽  
Marina Biel ◽  
Nuno Gracias ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Continental Shelf ◽  
Cold Water ◽  
Scaling Up ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
Water Coral

scholarly journals Characterization of the Atlantic Water and Levantine Intermediate Water in the Mediterranean Sea using Argo Float Data

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giusy Fedele ◽  
Elena Mauri ◽  
Giulio Notarstefano ◽  
Pierre Marie Poulain
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Thermohaline Circulation ◽  
Internal Variability ◽  
Warming Trend ◽  
Atlantic Water ◽  
Western Mediterranean ◽  
Water Masses ◽  
Intermediate Water ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
The Mediterranean

Abstract. The Atlantic Water (AW) and Levantine Intermediate Water (LIW) are important water masses that play a crucial role in the internal variability of the Mediterranean thermohaline circulation. In particular, their variability and interaction, along with other water masses that characterize the Mediterranean basin, such as the Western Mediterranean Deep Water (WMDW), contribute to modify the Mediterranean Outflow through the Gibraltar Strait and hence may influence the stability of the global thermohaline circulation. This work aims to characterize the AW and LIW in the Mediterranean Sea, taking advantage of the large observational dataset provided by Argo floats from 2001 to 2019. Using different diagnostics, the AW and LIW were identified, highlighting the inter-basin variability and the strong zonal gradient that characterize the two water masses in this marginal sea. Their temporal variability was also investigated focusing on trends and spectral features which constitute an important starting point to understand the mechanisms that are behind their variability. A clear salinification and warming trend have characterized the AW and LIW in the last two decades (~0.007 and 0.008 yr−1; 0.018 and 0.007 °C yr−1, respectively). The salinity and temperature trends found at subbasin scale are in good agreement with previous results. The strongest trends are found in the Adriatic basin in both the AW and LIW properties. A subbasin dependent spectral variability emerges in the AW and LIW salinity timeseries with peaks between 2 and 10 years.

38 Cold-Water Coral in Aquaria: Advances and Challenges. A Focus on the Mediterranean

2019 ◽  
pp. 435-471 ◽  
Author(s):  
Covadonga Orejas ◽  
Marco Taviani ◽  
Stefano Ambroso ◽  
Vasilis Andreou ◽  
Meri Bilan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cold Water ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
Water Coral

29 Cold-Water Coral Associated Fauna in the Mediterranean Sea and Adjacent Areas

2019 ◽  
pp. 295-333 ◽  
Author(s):  
José L. Rueda ◽  
Javier Urra ◽  
Ricardo Aguilar ◽  
Lorenzo Angeletti ◽  
Marzia Bo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Cold Water ◽  
Associated Fauna ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
Water Coral

Coral mound development at the Campeche cold-water coral province, southern Gulf of Mexico: Implications of Antarctic Intermediate Water increased influence during interglacials

2017 ◽  
Vol 392 ◽  
pp. 53-65 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lélia Matos ◽  
Claudia Wienberg ◽  
Jürgen Titschack ◽  
Gerhard Schmiedl ◽  
Norbert Frank ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gulf Of Mexico ◽  
Cold Water ◽  
Intermediate Water ◽  
Antarctic Intermediate Water ◽  
Southern Gulf Of Mexico ◽  
Water Coral
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