Opportunities for large-scale CO2 disposal in coastal marine volcanic basins based on the geology of northeast Hawaii

Human exposure to the neurotoxic methylmercury (MeHg) occurs primarily via the consumption of marine fish, but the processes underlying large-scale spatial variations in fish MeHg concentrations [MeHg], which influence human exposure, are not sufficiently understood. We used the Atlantic silverside (Menidia menidia), an extensively studied model species and important forage fish, to examine latitudinal patterns in total mercury (Hg) [Hg] and [MeHg]. Both [Hg] and [MeHg] significantly increased with latitude (0.014 and 0.048 μg MeHg·g dry weight−1 per degree of latitude in juveniles and adults, respectively). Four known latitudinal trends in silverside traits help explain these patterns: latitudinal increase in MeHg assimilation efficiency, latitudinal decrease in MeHg efflux, latitudinal increase in weight loss due to longer and more severe winters, and latitudinal increase in food consumption as an adaptation to decreasing length of the growing season. Given the absence of a latitudinal pattern in particulate MeHg, a diet proxy for zooplanktivorous fish, we conclude that large-scale spatial variation in growth is the primary control of Hg bioaccumulation in this and potentially other fish species.

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Geographic patterns of biodiversity in European coastal marine benthos

Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom ◽

10.1017/s0025315416001119 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 97 (3) ◽

pp. 507-523 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Herman Hummel ◽

Pim Van Avesaath ◽

Sander Wijnhoven ◽

Loran Kleine-Schaars ◽

Steven Degraer ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Environmental Factors ◽

Large Scale ◽

Organic Matter Content ◽

Local Variation ◽

Matter Content ◽

Marine Biodiversity ◽

Coastal Marine ◽

The Baltic ◽

Taxonomic Groups ◽

The Cost

Within the COST action EMBOS (European Marine Biodiversity Observatory System) the degree and variation of the diversity and densities of soft-bottom communities from the lower intertidal or the shallow subtidal was measured at 28 marine sites along the European coastline (Baltic, Atlantic, Mediterranean) using jointly agreed and harmonized protocols, tools and indicators. The hypothesis tested was that the diversity for all taxonomic groups would decrease with increasing latitude. The EMBOS system delivered accurate and comparable data on the diversity and densities of the soft sediment macrozoobenthic community over a large-scale gradient along the European coastline. In contrast to general biogeographic theory, species diversity showed no linear relationship with latitude, yet a bell-shaped relation was found. The diversity and densities of benthos were mostly positively correlated with environmental factors such as temperature, salinity, mud and organic matter content in sediment, or wave height, and related with location characteristics such as system type (lagoons, estuaries, open coast) or stratum (intertidal, subtidal). For some relationships, a maximum (e.g. temperature from 15–20°C; mud content of sediment around 40%) or bimodal curve (e.g. salinity) was found. In lagoons the densities were twice higher than in other locations, and at open coasts the diversity was much lower than in other locations. We conclude that latitudinal trends and regional differences in diversity and densities are strongly influenced by, i.e. merely the result of, particular sets and ranges of environmental factors and location characteristics specific to certain areas, such as the Baltic, with typical salinity clines (favouring insects) and the Mediterranean, with higher temperatures (favouring crustaceans). Therefore, eventual trends with latitude are primarily indirect and so can be overcome by local variation of environmental factors.

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Oxygenation variability in Mejillones Bay, off northern Chile, during the last two centuries

Biogeosciences ◽

10.5194/bg-8-137-2011 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

pp. 137-146 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

J. A. Díaz-Ochoa ◽

S. Pantoja ◽

G. J. De Lange ◽

C. B. Lange ◽

G. E. Sánchez ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Large Scale ◽

Bottom Water ◽

Gradual Increase ◽

Water Productivity ◽

Marine Ecosystem ◽

Biological Productivity ◽

Short Term ◽

Coastal Marine Ecosystem ◽

Coastal Marine ◽

Environmental Variations

Abstract. The Peru Chile Current ecosystem is characterized by high biological productivity and important fisheries. Although this system is likely to be severely affected by climate change, its response to current global warming is still uncertain. In this paper, we analyze 10–166 year-old sediments in two cores collected from Mejillones Bay, an anoxic sedimentary setting favorable for the preservation of proxies. Based on a 166-year chronology, we used proxies of bottom-water oxygenation (Mo, V, S, and the (lycopane + n−C35)/n−C31 ratio) and surface water productivity (biogenic opal, counts of diatom valves, biogenic Ba, organic carbon, and chlorins) to reconstruct environmental variations in Mejillones Bay. During the last two centuries, a shift took place in the coastal marine ecosystem of Bahia Mejillones at decadal scales. This shift was characterized by intense ENSO-like activity, large-scale fluctuations in biological export productivity and bottom water oxygenation, and increased eolian activity (inferred from Ti/Al and Zr/Al). This short-term variability was accompanied by a gradual increase of sulfidic conditions that has intensified since the early 1960s.

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Influence of the Intrinsic Characteristics of Cementitious Materials on Biofouling in the Marine Environment

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su13052625 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (5) ◽

pp. 2625

Author(s):

Mahmoud Hayek ◽

Marie Salgues ◽

Jean-Claude Souche ◽

Etienne Cunge ◽

Cyril Giraudel ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Marine Environment ◽

Human Activities ◽

Large Scale ◽

Ecological Engineering ◽

Dry Weight ◽

Concrete Surface ◽

Cementitious Materials ◽

Marine Biodiversity ◽

Coastal Marine ◽

The Face

Coastal marine ecosystems provide essential benefits and services to humanity, but many are rapidly degrading. Human activities are leading to significant land take along coastlines and to major changes in ecosystems. Ecological engineering tools capable of promoting large-scale restoration of coastal ecosystems are needed today in the face of intensifying climatic stress and human activities. Concrete is one of the materials most commonly used in the construction of coastal and marine infrastructure. Immersed in seawater, concretes are rapidly colonized by microorganisms and macroorganisms. Surface colonization and subsequent biofilm and biofouling formation provide numerous advantages to these organisms and support critical ecological and biogeochemical functions in the changing marine environment. The new challenge of the 21st century is to develop innovative concretes that, in addition to their usual properties, provide improved bioreceptivity in order to enhance marine biodiversity. The aim of this study is to master and clarify the intrinsic parameters that influence the bioreceptivity (biocolonization) of cementitious materials in the marine environment. By coupling biofilm (culture-based methods) and biofouling (image-analysis-based method and wet-/dry-weight biomass measurement) quantification techniques, this study showed that the application of a curing compound to the concrete surface reduced the biocolonization of cementitious materials in seawater, whereas green formwork oil had the opposite effect. This study also found that certain surface conditions (faceted and patterned surface, rough surface) promote the bacterial and macroorganism colonization of cementitious materials. Among the parameters examined, surface roughness proved to be the factor that promotes biocolonization most effectively. These results could be taken up in future recommendations to enable engineers to eco-design more eco-friendly marine infrastructure and develop green-engineering projects.

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Feedback mechanisms stabilise degraded turf algal systems at a CO2 seep site

Communications Biology ◽

10.1038/s42003-021-01712-2 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Ben P. Harvey ◽

Ro Allen ◽

Sylvain Agostini ◽

Linn J. Hoffmann ◽

Koetsu Kon ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ocean Acidification ◽

Large Scale ◽

Kelp Forests ◽

Coastal Habitats ◽

Turf Algae ◽

Coastal Marine ◽

Human Value ◽

Coastal Marine Ecosystems ◽

And Function ◽

Global And Local

AbstractHuman activities are rapidly changing the structure and function of coastal marine ecosystems. Large-scale replacement of kelp forests and coral reefs with turf algal mats is resulting in homogenous habitats that have less ecological and human value. Ocean acidification has strong potential to substantially favour turf algae growth, which led us to examine the mechanisms that stabilise turf algal states. Here we show that ocean acidification promotes turf algae over corals and macroalgae, mediating new habitat conditions that create stabilising feedback loops (altered physicochemical environment and microbial community, and an inhibition of recruitment) capable of locking turf systems in place. Such feedbacks help explain why degraded coastal habitats persist after being initially pushed past the tipping point by global and local anthropogenic stressors. An understanding of the mechanisms that stabilise degraded coastal habitats can be incorporated into adaptive management to better protect the contribution of coastal systems to human wellbeing.

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Are marine heatwaves increasing the likelihood of terrestrial heatwaves?

10.5194/egusphere-egu21-8106 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Charuni Pathmeswaran ◽

Sarah Perkins-Kirkpatrick ◽

Alex Sen Gupta ◽

Melissa Hart

Keyword(s):

Statistical Analysis ◽

South America ◽

Climate Variability ◽

Large Scale ◽

South Atlantic ◽

Temperature Data ◽

The South ◽

Coastal Marine ◽

Synoptic Conditions ◽

Modes Of Climate Variability

<p>Despite numerous studies that have examined terrestrial or marine heatwaves independently, little work has been done investigating any possible association between the two. Examination of a limited number of past events suggests that co-occurring terrestrial and marine heatwaves may have common drivers, or may interact with each other. For example, a recent study<sup>1</sup> identified common remote drivers behind the major marine heatwave that developed in the South Atlantic during the summer of 2013/14 and terrestrial heatwaves over South America. Co-occurring events could also potentially interact via local land-sea interactions, thereby altering the likelihood of these co-occurring events. This study will explore possible links between adjacent coastal marine and terrestrial heatwaves. We will investigate the likelihood of co-occurrence of terrestrial and marine heatwaves, using statistical analysis of observational temperature data. We will also investigate the mechanisms driving co-occurring events, including the local fluxes, synoptic conditions, and links to large scale modes of climate variability</p>

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Speciation with gene flow via cycles of isolation and migration: insights from multiple mangrove taxa

National Science Review ◽

10.1093/nsr/nwy078 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 6 (2) ◽

pp. 275-288 ◽

Cited By ~ 27

Author(s):

Ziwen He ◽

Xinnian Li ◽

Ming Yang ◽

Xinfeng Wang ◽

Cairong Zhong ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gene Flow ◽

Large Scale ◽

Marine Species ◽

Mangrove Species ◽

Coastal Marine ◽

The Pacific ◽

Geographical Barrier ◽

And Migration ◽

Time Required ◽

Genome Assemblies

AbstractAllopatric speciation requiring an unbroken period of geographical isolation has been the standard model of neo-Darwinism. While doubts have been repeatedly raised, strict allopatry without any gene flow remains a plausible mechanism in most cases. To rigorously reject strict allopatry, genomic sequences superimposed on the geological records of a well-delineated geographical barrier are necessary. The Strait of Malacca, narrowly connecting the Pacific and Indian Ocean coasts, serves at different times either as a geographical barrier or a conduit of gene flow for coastal/marine species. We surveyed 1700 plants from 29 populations of 5 common mangrove species by large-scale DNA sequencing and added several whole-genome assemblies. Speciation between the two oceans is driven by cycles of isolation and gene flow due to the fluctuations in sea level leading to the opening/closing of the Strait to ocean currents. Because the time required for speciation in mangroves is longer than the isolation phases, speciation in these mangroves has proceeded through many cycles of mixing-isolation-mixing, or MIM, cycles. The MIM mechanism, by relaxing the condition of no gene flow, can promote speciation in many more geographical features than strict allopatry can. Finally, the MIM mechanism of speciation is also efficient, potentially yielding mn (m > 1) species after n cycles.

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Direct evidence of aeolian deposition of marine diatoms to an ice sheet

Antarctic Science ◽

10.1017/s0954102012000235 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 24 (5) ◽

pp. 527-535 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

A.L. Budgeon ◽

D. Roberts ◽

M. Gasparon ◽

N. Adams

Keyword(s):

Large Scale ◽

Source Region ◽

Ice Sheet ◽

Ice Cores ◽

Open Water ◽

Marine Species ◽

Marine Diatoms ◽

Coastal Marine ◽

Westerly Winds ◽

Antarctic Snow

AbstractAntarctic snow samples collected from the Wilkins Runway, c. 50 km inland from the Windmill Islands, East Antarctica, contain aeolian-derived diatoms. The diatom assemblage preserved is exclusively of marine origin. As diatoms are excellent indicators of source conditions, we are able to confirm that an unusual weather event, with anomalous north-westerly winds blowing at around 10 m s-1, resulted in the deposition of coastal marine species at the Wilkins Runway. The composition of the floral assemblage collected indicate that the parent water mass was from a coastal marine region undergoing typical Antarctic summer conditions with periods of both consolidated sea ice and open water. On inspection of available satellite imagery, these conditions were found upwind of the deposition site. This study provides a methodology for diatoms found within ice cores to be identified and the source region to be determined. It also provides evidence for a large-scale aeolian deposition of marine diatoms to an ice sheet, which may have implications for the interpretation of controversial marine diatoms found in sediments that have been used as evidence for the retreat of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet.

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Cataclysmic Disturbances to an Intertidal Ecosystem: Loss of Ecological Infrastructure Slows Recovery of Biogenic Habitats and Diversity

Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution ◽

10.3389/fevo.2021.767548 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 ◽

Author(s):

David R. Schiel ◽

Shawn Gerrity ◽

Shane Orchard ◽

Tommaso Alestra ◽

Robyn A. Dunmore ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Life Histories ◽

Large Scale ◽

Stable States ◽

Tidal Zone ◽

Recovery Processes ◽

Ecological Infrastructure ◽

Coastal Marine ◽

The Face ◽

Shifting Sand ◽

Sand And Gravel

Understanding the resilience and recovery processes of coastal marine ecosystems is of increasing importance in the face of increasing disturbances and stressors. Large-scale, catastrophic events can re-set the structure and functioning of ecosystems, and potentially lead to different stable states. Such an event occurred in south-eastern New Zealand when a Mw 7.8 earthquake lifted the coastline by up to 6 m. This caused widespread mortality of intertidal algal and invertebrate communities over 130 km of coast. This study involved structured and detailed sampling of three intertidal zones at 16 sites nested into four degree of uplift (none, 0.4–1, 1.5–2.5, and 4.5–6 m). Recovery of large brown algal assemblages, the canopy species of which were almost entirely fucoids, were devastated by the uplift, and recovery after 4 years was generally poor except at sites with < 1 m of uplift. The physical infrastructural changes to reefs were severe, with intertidal emersion temperatures frequently above 35°C and up to 50°C, which was lethal to remnant populations and recruiting algae. Erosion of the reefs composed of soft sedimentary rocks was severe. Shifting sand and gravel covered some lower reef areas during storms, and the nearshore light environment was frequently below compensation points for algal production, especially for the largest fucoid Durvillaea antarctica/poha. Low uplift sites recovered much of their pre-earthquake assemblages, but only in the low tidal zone. The mid and high tidal zones of all uplifted sites remained depauperate. Fucoids recruited well in the low zone of low uplift sites but then were affected by a severe heat wave a year after the earthquake that reduced their cover. This was followed by a great increase in fleshy red algae, which then precluded recruitment of large brown algae. The interactions of species’ life histories and the altered physical and ecological infrastructure on which they rely are instructive for attempts to lessen manageable stressors in coastal environments and help future-proof against the effects of compounded impacts.

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Some comments about observations and image processing of comet 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1

International Astronomical Union Colloquium ◽

10.1017/s0252921100031493 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 173 ◽

pp. 243-248

Author(s):

D. Kubáček ◽

A. Galád ◽

A. Pravda

Keyword(s):

Image Processing ◽

Large Scale ◽

Harvard College ◽

Oak Ridge ◽

Large Scale Structures ◽

Short Period Comet ◽

Short Period ◽

Scale Structures ◽

Harvard College Observatory ◽

Period Comet

AbstractUnusual short-period comet 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1 inspired many observers to explain its unpredictable outbursts. In this paper large scale structures and features from the inner part of the coma in time periods around outbursts are studied. CCD images were taken at Whipple Observatory, Mt. Hopkins, in 1989 and at Astronomical Observatory, Modra, from 1995 to 1998. Photographic plates of the comet were taken at Harvard College Observatory, Oak Ridge, from 1974 to 1982. The latter were digitized at first to apply the same techniques of image processing for optimizing the visibility of features in the coma during outbursts. Outbursts and coma structures show various shapes.

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