scholarly journals Taxonomic and functional diversity of benthic macrofauna associated with rhodolith beds in SE Brazil

PeerJ ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. e11903
Author(s):  
Patricia Sarcinelli Stelzer ◽  
Ana Carolina A. Mazzuco ◽  
Luiz Eduardo Gomes ◽  
João Martins ◽  
Sergio Netto ◽  
...  

Rhodoliths are free-living and morphologically diverse marine calcareous algae commonly distributed over the continental shelf seafloor. They increase the seabed structural complexity and are of potential value as feeding and reproductive grounds for a myriad of marine fauna. The higher structural seabed complexity within rhodolith beds may also increase benthic diversity by creating microhabitats, but this relationship has been rarely explored within rhodolith beds worldwide. Here we compared benthic macrofaunal (>500 µm) structure on rhodolith beds (nodule epifauna) and within unconsolidated sediments (sediment infauna) under high and low-density beds to test whether rhodolith bed density and nodule morphology influenced macrofaunal assemblages. We observed that macrofaunal density on nodules (2538 ± 288.7 ind·m−2) was 15-fold higher when compared to sediments under those beds (166 ± 38.8 ind·m−2). Rhodolith bed density was positively related to macrofaunal density, composition, and functional diversity on the rhodoliths. Low-density beds (61 ± 27.1 nodules·m−2) with discoid-shape nodules were dominated by peracarid crustaceans whereas high-density beds (204 ± 18.7 nodules·m−2) with spheroidal nodules were dominated by Annelid polychaetes. The sediment macrofauna was also positively influenced by the density of rhodolith nodules, which increased sediment carbonate and organic quality (protein and lipids) under high-density beds. Macrofaunal functional diversity was generally higher on rhodoliths, with low similarity (low nestedness) and high taxa turnover between macrofaunal assemblages of rhodoliths and sediments. These findings indicate that rhodolith beds provide an unique habitat for benthic macrofaunal communities, with exclusive functional and taxonomic richness that are likely not typical in the unconsolidated sediment below these beds in SE Brazil. This study highlights the importance of protecting rhodolith beds from multiple sources of anthropogenic disturbance and exploration on continental shelves.

Author(s):  
L. Mulestagno ◽  
J.C. Holzer ◽  
P. Fraundorf

Due to the wealth of information, both analytical and structural that can be obtained from it TEM always has been a favorite tool for the analysis of process-induced defects in semiconductor wafers. The only major disadvantage has always been, that the volume under study in the TEM is relatively small, making it difficult to locate low density defects, and sample preparation is a somewhat lengthy procedure. This problem has been somewhat alleviated by the availability of efficient low angle milling.Using a PIPS® variable angle ion -mill, manufactured by Gatan, we have been consistently obtaining planar specimens with a high quality thin area in excess of 5 × 104 μm2 in about half an hour (milling time), which has made it possible to locate defects at lower densities, or, for defects of relatively high density, obtain information which is statistically more significant (table 1).


1975 ◽  
Vol 33 (02) ◽  
pp. 256-270
Author(s):  
R. M Howell ◽  
S. L. M Deacon

SummaryElectron microscopy and particle electrophoresis were found to be complementary techniques with which to complete the physical data from an earlier study on barium sulphates used to adsorb clotting factors from serum. The differences revealed by scanning electron microscopy (S. E. M.) in the physical shape of low and high density grades of barium sulphate particles appear to be of greater significance than charge as expressed by electrophoretic mobility, in determining whether or not precursor or preformed factor Xa is eluted.This conclusion was based on the finding that at pH values close to 7, where the adsorption from serum occurs, all samples with the exception of natural barytes were uncharged. However as the high-density, or soil-grade, was found by S. E. M. to consist of large solid crystals it was suggested that this shape might induce activation of factor X as a result of partial denaturation and consequent unfolding of the adsorbed protein. In contrast, uptake of protein into the centre of the porous aggregates revealed by S. E. M. pictures of low-density or X-ray grade barium sulphate may afford protection against denaturation and exposure of the enzyme site.The porous nature of particles of low-density barium sulphate compared with the solid crystalline forms of other grades accounts not only for its lower bulk density but also for its greater surface/gram ratio which is reflected by an ability to adsorb more protein from serum.Neither technique produced evidence from any of the samples to indicate the presence of stabilising agents sometimes used to coat particles in barium meals.


Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 1821
Author(s):  
Ildar I. Salakhov ◽  
Nadim M. Shaidullin ◽  
Anatoly E. Chalykh ◽  
Mikhail A. Matsko ◽  
Alexey V. Shapagin ◽  
...  

Low-temperature properties of high-density polyethylene (HDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE), and their blends were studied. The analyzed low-temperature mechanical properties involve the deformation resistance and impact strength characteristics. HDPE is a bimodal ethylene/1-hexene copolymer; LDPE is a branched ethylene homopolymer containing short-chain branches of different length; LLDPE is a binary ethylene/1-butene copolymer and an ethylene/1-butene/1-hexene terpolymer. The samples of copolymers and their blends were studied by gel permeation chromatography (GPC), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), 13С NMR spectroscopy, and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) using testing machines equipped with a cryochamber. It is proposed that such parameters as “relative elongation at break at −45 °C” and “Izod impact strength at −40 °C” are used instead of the ductile-to-brittle transition temperature to assess frost resistance properties because these parameters are more sensitive to deformation and impact at subzero temperatures for HDPE. LLDPE is shown to exhibit higher relative elongation at break at −45 °C and Izod impact strength at −20 ÷ 60 °C compared to those of LDPE. LLDPE terpolymer added to HDPE (at a content ≥ 25 wt.%) simultaneously increases flow properties and improves tensile properties of the blend at −45 °C. Changes in low-temperature properties as a function of molecular weight, MWD, crystallinity, and branch content were determined for HDPE, LLDPE, and their blends. The DMA data prove the resulting dependences. The reported findings allow one to understand and predict mechanical properties in the HDPE–LLDPE systems at subzero temperatures.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hee Young Kwon ◽  
Kyung Mee Song ◽  
Juyoung Jeong ◽  
Ah-Yeon Lee ◽  
Seung-Young Park ◽  
...  

AbstractThe discovery of a thermally stable, high-density magnetic skyrmion phase is a key prerequisite for realizing practical skyrmionic memory devices. In contrast to the typical low-density Néel-type skyrmions observed in technologically viable multilayer systems, with Lorentz transmission electron microscopy, we report the discovery of a high-density homochiral Néel-type skyrmion phase in magnetic multilayer structures that is stable at high temperatures up to 733 K (≈460 °C). Micromagnetic simulations reveal that a high-density skyrmion phase can be stabilized at high temperature by deliberately tuning the magnetic anisotropy, magnetic field, and temperature. The existence of the high-density skyrmion phase in a magnetic multilayer system raises the possibility of incorporating chiral Néel-type skyrmions in ultrahigh-density spin memory devices. Moreover, the existence of this phase at high temperature shows its thermal stability, demonstrating the potential for skyrmion devices operating in thermally challenging modern electronic chips.


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