Measurements from the University of Colorado RAAVEN Uncrewed Aircraft System during ATOMIC

Between 24 January and 15 February 2020, small uncrewed aircraft systems (sUASs) were deployed to Morgan Lewis (Barbados) as part of the Atlantic Tradewind Ocean–Atmosphere Mesoscale Interaction Campaign (ATOMIC), a sister project to the ElUcidating the RolE of Cloud-Circulation Coupling in ClimAte (EUREC4A) project. The observations from ATOMIC and EUREC4A were aimed at improving our understanding of trade-wind cumulus clouds and the environmental regimes supporting them and involved the deployment of a wide variety of observational assets, including aircraft, ships, surface-based systems, and profilers. The current paper describes ATOMIC observations obtained using the University of Colorado Boulder RAAVEN (Robust Autonomous Aerial Vehicle – Endurant Nimble) sUAS. This platform collected nearly 80 h of data throughout the lowest kilometer of the atmosphere, sampling the near-shore environment upwind from Barbados. Data from these platforms are publicly available through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Center for Environmental Intelligence (NCEI) archive. The primary DOI for the quality-controlled dataset described in this paper is https://doi.org/10.25921/jhnd-8e58 (de Boer et al., 2021).

Clandestine

What duties do you owe to those in serious danger? To what level is the risk to your own well-being relevant to helping others? In this work of philosophical short story fiction, the narrator and her friend Tasha live in Florida. Twice a month they do nighttime speedboat drug runs for the Columbians. After completing a pickup, they are running a full boat of marijuana back to the States when they see a distress flare in the middle of the ocean. They decide to help the person in need in the hopes that, in his gratitude, he will not inform on them. They rescue the lone man, dropping him off near shore, and quickly head home. A few weeks later the police show up and arrest the narrator. She is sentenced to a year in prison. Upon parole, she finds out the man she saved was also running drugs, was captured, and traded information about her for his freedom.

Distribution and abundance of dinoflagellates from the coastal waters of Karachi, Pakistan, northern part of the Arabian Sea

The present study reports on seasonal and spatial variations in diversity, distribution and abundance of dinoflegellates and indicates the presence of HAB species in Pakistan waters. A total of 179 taxa, recorded in this study from offshore and near-shore waters, belong to 41 genera in 26 families and 10 orders. The high species count (149 species) was recorded from Manora Island offshore station (MI-1) and 105 spp, 109 spp and 115 spp were encountered from the Mubarak village offshore station (MV-1), Manora near shore station (MI-2) and Mubarak Village near-shore station (MV-2) respectively. Tripos furca was the dominant and frequently occurring species (> 1 x103 to > 25 x103 cells L-1 from coastal and >1x 105 cells L-l from near-shore stations) in addition to less abundant Alexandrium catenella, Alexandrium sp., Alexandrium minutum, and Prorocentrum micans (>103 to 25x 103cells/L). Another 44 species occurred in relatively low numbers (<103 cell L-l). Seventy species were found throughout the study period at all four stations. High number of species in three genera (Tripos (38), Protoperidinium (34) and Prorocentrum (20) was recorded. Potently toxic (16 genera 43 species) and HAB related (19 genera and 30 species) dinoflagellate taxa were also recorded. The percent contribution of dinoflagellates in total phytoplankton population generally remained below 20% except for a few instances. Manora Island stations had comparatively higher Shannon index and equitability and slightly lower dominance index. The PCA plot showed strong positive correlation among chlorophyll-a concentration, dissolved oxygen, total number of phytoplankton and dinoflagellates.

Variations in Concentrations and Ratio of Soluble Forms of Nutrients in Atmospheric Depositions and Effects for Marine Coastal Areas of Crimea, Black Sea

Atmospheric depositions have been recently recognized as an important source of nutrients for off-shore marine systems, in line with the coastal input and physical exchange. The input of nutrients with atmospheric depositions can change their inventory and ratio in the euphotic zone, thus increase the rate of primary production and the type of predominant phytoplankton. The influence of atmospheric depositions, temporal variations of this influence and consequences of this deposition have been neglected. Monitoring of nutrients in atmospheric depositions of Crimea in 2015–2020 has allowed studying of multi-scale variations in their input to coastal areas and scaling the effects of this input. It has been found that the contribution of dry deposition in the total flux of nutrients is more significant for silicates and phosphates. Intra-annual variations in concentrations of nitrogen reveal a maximum in an urbanized area for the cold period of year, due to burning of extra fuel. On the contrary, increasing concentrations of nitrogen have been detected in a rural area in warm period. High values of concentrations of phosphorus and silica are typical for dry summer period and associated with dust transport from natural and anthropogenic sources. The N:P:Si ratio in the atmospheric depositions has been significantly shifted towards nitrogen as compared to the stoichiometric ratio. The results obtained in this work suggest that additional flux of nutrients with atmospheric depositions is minor at the annual scale, but it may change the local inventory and C:N:P ratio in the surface layer of the sea on a daily-time scale. The input of nutrients with atmospheric depositions can lead to additional (up to twofold) production of organic matter and result in additional oxygen consumption, when this surplus organic matter sinks and is oxidized, thus supporting suboxic conditions in near-shore areas.

The Role of Sea-Whip Coral (Leptogorgia sp.) as Habitat of Temperate Near-Shore Fish of Gulf of Mexico Jetties

Many fish species use intercoastal jetties throughout their life cycle to migrate to and from the ocean into bays and estuaries. During migration, fish may encounter rock, algae, sand, sea-grass, and coral. Anecdotal information indicates that some migrating fish of intercoastal jetties preferentially select colonies of gorgonian coral (Leptogorgia spp.) vs. any other habitat when encountering a predator.&nbsp; Since very little information exists regarding Leptogorgia, we focused our study in determining the importance of such coral as fish habitat.&nbsp; Stationary field sampling was conducted seasonally to determine the abundance of these coral, the type of migrating fish, and the habitat they associated with.&nbsp; Mesocosm studies were then conducted to determine whether Leptogorgia habitats are important to fish in the presence or absence of a predator.&nbsp; Five different habitats were compared (rock, algae, sand, Leptogorgia, and seagrass) and 6 species of fish (sergeant major, pinfish, mangrove snapper, spotfin mojarra, pigfish, and red drum). In the field study component, more than 600 colonies of Leptogorgia were observed and 17 different fish species.&nbsp; The most commonly observed fish were sergeant major, pinfish, mangrove snapper, and spotfin mojarra, however, sergeant majors were the most abundant species using coral as habitat.&nbsp; The use of mesocosms showed that all fish species significantly selected for structured habitat over non-structured habitat (e.g. sand), but that the fish commonly called &lsquo;sergeant major&rsquo; significantly (ANOVA; p &le; 0.001) selected for Leptogorgia.

Dinoflagellate Taxonomy and Biostratigraphy of the Mid- to Late Eocene and Early Oligocene of New Zealand

<p>This document presents results from a study of the Mid- to Late Eocene and earliest Oligocene marine palynomorphs from on-shore and near-shore New Zealand. Eighty samples of appropriate age from across mainland New Zealand were examined for fossil dinoflagellates. Acritarchs encountered in the study are described, also, and the phenetic taxonomy of the Acritarcha provides an interesting contrast to the present 'mixed' state of dinoflagellate taxonomy: phylogenetic above the genus rank, and arguably below it, but predominantly phenetic at the genus rank. Extensive single mount collections were harvested from a number of samples which were found to be especially rich, well preserved, or which contained new taxa. The outcome has included descriptions of 25 new species, in addition to two (Corrudinium regulare and Corrudinium otagoense) published in an earlier paper (Clowes & Wilson 2006), namely: Achilleodinium echinatum, Achilleodinium improcerum, ?Areoligera hampdenensis, Batiacasphaera perforata, Chlamydophorella neopilata, Chlamydophorella pilata, Corrudinium bujakii, Deflandrea totara, Disphaerogena morgansii, Graptodinium inconditum, Graptodinium reticulatum, Nummus inornatus, Operculodinium crouchii, Operculodinium schioleri, Operculodinium pulcher, Operculodinium vulgare, Phthanoperidinium aculeatum, Phthanoperidinium australe, Phthanoperidinium dentatum, Phthanoperidinium granulatum, Phthanoperidinium spumosum, Phthanoperidinium tenuimurum, Pyxidinopsis mundus, Pyxidinopsis teuriensis, Samlandia tenuis. Although there remain some difficulties where the adopted suprageneric phylogeny meets the traditionally phenetic generic constructs, adopting an explicitly phylogenetic approach to dinoflagellate taxonomy was found to be a fruitful approach. Investigation into some of the new taxa described herein was first prompted by geographic or temporal occurrence criteria which hinted that relationships might be other than those immediately suggested by gross morphology. Only upon closer inspection were subtler morphological distinctions noticed. To adopt a wholly phylogenetic approach almost certainly requires the abandonment of taxa, particularly genera, which are uniquely defined by mutually exclusive morphological criteria. Other clues to phylogeny, such as stratigraphic and regional occurrence data, may also have to be recognised. Notwithstanding, all taxa described herein are, in fact, defined by means of conventional morphological distinctions. This study does not take the bold step to suggest a new taxon based wholly on geographical and temporal criteria. Doing so, however, is clearly a rational extension to the ideas presented herein, and is thought worthy of further investigation. A subordinate goal of this study was to further refine the younger part of Wilson's dinoflagellate biozonation for New Zealand (Wilson 1984d, 1987, 1988; Morgans et al. 2004), to: improve resolution, if possible; clarify an ambiguous boundary remaining in the literature, between the Wetzeliella hampdenensis and Wilsonidium tabulatum zones; incorporate more common taxa, which are not restricted to particular ecological settings. This has been progressed by a number of measures, including adopting a consistent approach to defining zone boundaries; replacement of the Wilsonidium echinosuturatum and Wilsonidium lineidentatum Zones with three new zones, Deflandrea convexa (early Porangan - late Porangan), Graptodinium inconditum (late Porangan - early Bortonian), and Impagidinium elegans (early Bortonian - late Bortonian); and the establishment of an additional new zone, the Stoveracysta kakanuiensis Zone, straddling the Eocene-Oligocene boundary.</p>

Dinoflagellate Taxonomy and Biostratigraphy of the Mid- to Late Eocene and Early Oligocene of New Zealand

<p>This document presents results from a study of the Mid- to Late Eocene and earliest Oligocene marine palynomorphs from on-shore and near-shore New Zealand. Eighty samples of appropriate age from across mainland New Zealand were examined for fossil dinoflagellates. Acritarchs encountered in the study are described, also, and the phenetic taxonomy of the Acritarcha provides an interesting contrast to the present 'mixed' state of dinoflagellate taxonomy: phylogenetic above the genus rank, and arguably below it, but predominantly phenetic at the genus rank. Extensive single mount collections were harvested from a number of samples which were found to be especially rich, well preserved, or which contained new taxa. The outcome has included descriptions of 25 new species, in addition to two (Corrudinium regulare and Corrudinium otagoense) published in an earlier paper (Clowes & Wilson 2006), namely: Achilleodinium echinatum, Achilleodinium improcerum, ?Areoligera hampdenensis, Batiacasphaera perforata, Chlamydophorella neopilata, Chlamydophorella pilata, Corrudinium bujakii, Deflandrea totara, Disphaerogena morgansii, Graptodinium inconditum, Graptodinium reticulatum, Nummus inornatus, Operculodinium crouchii, Operculodinium schioleri, Operculodinium pulcher, Operculodinium vulgare, Phthanoperidinium aculeatum, Phthanoperidinium australe, Phthanoperidinium dentatum, Phthanoperidinium granulatum, Phthanoperidinium spumosum, Phthanoperidinium tenuimurum, Pyxidinopsis mundus, Pyxidinopsis teuriensis, Samlandia tenuis. Although there remain some difficulties where the adopted suprageneric phylogeny meets the traditionally phenetic generic constructs, adopting an explicitly phylogenetic approach to dinoflagellate taxonomy was found to be a fruitful approach. Investigation into some of the new taxa described herein was first prompted by geographic or temporal occurrence criteria which hinted that relationships might be other than those immediately suggested by gross morphology. Only upon closer inspection were subtler morphological distinctions noticed. To adopt a wholly phylogenetic approach almost certainly requires the abandonment of taxa, particularly genera, which are uniquely defined by mutually exclusive morphological criteria. Other clues to phylogeny, such as stratigraphic and regional occurrence data, may also have to be recognised. Notwithstanding, all taxa described herein are, in fact, defined by means of conventional morphological distinctions. This study does not take the bold step to suggest a new taxon based wholly on geographical and temporal criteria. Doing so, however, is clearly a rational extension to the ideas presented herein, and is thought worthy of further investigation. A subordinate goal of this study was to further refine the younger part of Wilson's dinoflagellate biozonation for New Zealand (Wilson 1984d, 1987, 1988; Morgans et al. 2004), to: improve resolution, if possible; clarify an ambiguous boundary remaining in the literature, between the Wetzeliella hampdenensis and Wilsonidium tabulatum zones; incorporate more common taxa, which are not restricted to particular ecological settings. This has been progressed by a number of measures, including adopting a consistent approach to defining zone boundaries; replacement of the Wilsonidium echinosuturatum and Wilsonidium lineidentatum Zones with three new zones, Deflandrea convexa (early Porangan - late Porangan), Graptodinium inconditum (late Porangan - early Bortonian), and Impagidinium elegans (early Bortonian - late Bortonian); and the establishment of an additional new zone, the Stoveracysta kakanuiensis Zone, straddling the Eocene-Oligocene boundary.</p>