Sobre el ecosistema de las aguas litorales de Mar del Plata. Niveles tróficos y cadenas alimentarias pelágicos demersales y bentónicos-demersales

The present paper deals with the trophic relationships of the communities of the coastal fishing area of Mar del Plata (Argentine). Different trophic levels of two main food chains (pelagic-demersal and benthic-demersal)were established. There are connections between both chains through certain species of invertebrates and fishes. This first try to establish the trophic relationships of our most important littoral communities, aims to set the preliminary bases for future energetic flow studies through the trophic web that gives a real economic importance to this productive area. (Document contains 45 pages)

Whales, dolphins, and porpoises of the eastern North Pacific and adjacent Arctic waters: a guide to their identification

This is an identification guide for cetaceans (whales, dolphins, and porpoises), that was designed to assist laymen in identifying cetaceans encountered in eastern North Pacific and Arctic waters. It was intended for use by ongoing cetacean observer programs. This is a revision of an earlier guide with the same title published in 1972 by the Naval Undersa Center and the National Marine Fisheries Service. It includes sections on identifying cetaceans at sea as well as stranded animals on shore. Species accounts are divided by body size and presence or lack of a dorsal fin. Appendices include illustrations of tags on whales, dolphins, and porpoises, by Larry Hobbs; how to record data from observed cetaceans at sea and for stranded cetaceans; and a list of cetacean names in Japanese and Russian. (Document contains 245 pages - file takes considerable time to open)

La merluza del Mar Argentino (Biología y Taxonomía).

la Sección Ictiología del Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia" de Buenos Aires, comenzó desde principios del año 1952 el estudio de la merluza del sector bonaerense. Las investigaciones se limitaron a la obtención de datos biológicos de pequeñas muestras, seleccionadas de los lances de los buques pesqueros de altura, que actuaban en las áreas de pesca ubicadas hacia el sur de la latitud de Mar del Plata. Para llegar a un estudio completo biológico-pesquero de esta especie, se hizo imperiosa la necesidad de realizar investigaciones tanto sobre las particularidades merísticas y estadísticas de las poblaciones, como también de las condiciones hidrológicas del ambiente en el cual viven, abarcando áreas más extensas y manteniendo una continuidad en el tiempo. Pero, todo ello estaba supeditado a la existencia y utilización de un buque oceanográfico y de pesca experimental, como es de práctica en los países del litoral marítimo del hemisferio norte, en los cuales las investigaciones pesqueras se hallan grandemente desarrolladas. Entretanto el Servicio de Hidrografía Naval de la Secretaría de Marina, por intermedio del Departamento de Oceanografía, planeó el estudio oceanográfico sistemático del Mar Epicontinental Argentino según distintas regiones geográficas, con el fin de lograr un conocimiento más completo de la dinámica de sus aguas. Como el mundo biológico está íntimamente relacionado con la dinámica de las masas de agua, para complementar los datos hidrográficos con algunos biológicos que podrían ser de utilidad para la pesca marítima del país, se incluyó en el mencionado plan el estudio de la merluza. A tal ppropósito en las campañas efectuadas bajo la denominación de "Operación Merluza", durante el período de mayo de 1954 a febrero de 1956. ha participado en lo que a trabajos de biología pesquera se refiere, personal de la Sección Ictiología del Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "B. Rivadavia" y del Departamento de Investigaciones Pesqueras del Ministerio de Agricultura y Ganadería de la Nación. A los efectos de la correlación de las observaciones biológicas con las fisicoquímicas del ambiente, se procuró realizar salidas coordinadas a bordo de algunos barcos pesqueros que actuaban en la misma región de los cruceros oceanográficos, buscando la posibilidad de coincidencia en tiempo y espacio. Conforme a este planteamiento se efectuaron varias salidas a las áreas de pesca de altura del sector bonaerense, principalmente a bordo del barco pesquero "Presidente Mitre" de la compañía "Pesquería Argentina de los Mares del Sud" de Buenos Aires. De acuerdo con el plan general de las campañas oceanográficas de la "Operación Merluza" (ver Capurro, 1955), los estudios de biología pesquera tuvieron los siguientes objetivos: 1o) Conocer la composición faunística, por distintos grupos de organismos, de los lances efectuados en la zona de pesca de altura del sector bonaerense y el grado de abundancia aparente de las especies de peces de importancia comercial; 2o) Determinar desde el punto de vista taxonómico las especies de peces extraídas, en particular las de la familia Merlucciidae, tratando de dilucidar si la merluza del Mar Argentino pertenece o no a una sola especie y si dentro de la misma existen entidades menores; 3o) Estudiar la estadística biológica de la población de merluza, según la distribución de las frecuencias por clases de largo total, y al mismo tiempo establecer el porcentaje de las clases comerciales y el estado del efectivo de la población;4o) Determinar las clases de edad, el ritmo de crecimiento y las relaciones entre la longitud y el peso total del cuerpo; 5o) Obtener un conocimiento más exacto acerca de la proporción de los sexos y el estado fisiológico de las gonadas a través del ciclo sexual; 6o) Determinar los componentes faunísticos que constituyen el alimento principal de la merluza, la cadena alimentaria, las variaciones individuales, estacionales y regionales del régimen nutritivo; 7o) Establecer las relaciones entre la dinámica de la población de merluza y las condiciones hidrológicas del ambiente; y 8o) Calcular el rendimiento de captura por unidad de esfuerzo en la zona de pesca de altura y relacionar los valores promedios con el fin de lograr alguna información acerca de los desplazamientos estacionales de la merluza. El presente trabajo se refiere a los tóptópicos mencionados y contiene los resultados obtenidos durante un período de 22 meses, es decir desde mayo de 1954 a febrero de 1956. Las conclusiones a las cuales se arribó tienen validez para la zona de pesca de altura del sector bonaerense y en especial para las condiciones de captura del buque "Presidente Mitre" en lo que a la estadística biológica se refiere. Además, uno de los fines de aplicación práctica de este trabajo fué el de verificar en qué medida las muestras biológicas obtenidas de los lances de la pesca comercial de altura, pueden servir de base para el estudio estadístico de la población de una determinada especie que se captura en gran cantidad. También merece destacarse que el presente trabajo constituye el punto de partida para el estudio biológico estadístico de la población de merluza en su dinámica a través del factor tiempo para un período mayor que debe sobrepasar el lapso normal del ciclo vital de esta especie. La finalidad de todo esto es la de obtener una base de comparación científica y estadística para un futuro control racional de la pesca de merluza en el Mar Argentino. Por último, los resultados del estudio de la merluza — en conexión con los de las campañas oceanográficas efectuadas en el sector bonaerense — podrían constituir los fundamentos iniciales para la confección de la carta pesquera del Mar Argentino. (PDF tiene 223 paginas.)

Report on Marine Mammal Unusual Mortality Event UMESE0501Sp: Multispecies Mass Stranding of Pilot Whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus), Minke Whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata), and Dwarf Sperm Whales (Kogia sima) in North Carolina on 15-16 January 2005

On 15-16 January 2005, three offshore species of cetaceans (33 short-finned pilot whales, Globicephala macrorhynchus, one minke whale, Balaenoptera acutorostrata, and two dwarf sperm whales, Kogia sima) stranded alive on the beaches of North Carolina. The pilot whales stranded near Oregon Inlet, the minke whale in northern North Carolina, and the dwarf sperm whales near Cape Hatteras. Live strandings of three species in one weekend was unique in North Carolina and qualified as an Unusual Mortality Event. Gross necropsies were conducted on 16-17 January 2005 on 27 pilot whales, two dwarf sperm whales, and the minke whale. Samples were collected for clinical pathology, parasitology, gross pathology, histopathology, microbiology and serology. There was variation in the number of animals sampled for each collection type, however, due to carcasses washing off the beach or degradation in carcass condition during the course of the response. Comprehensive histologic examination was conducted on 16 pilot whales, both dwarf sperm whales, and the minke whale. Limited organ or only head tissue suites were obtained from nine pilot whales. Histologic examination of tissues began in February 2005 and concluded in December 2005 when final sampling was concluded. Neither the pilot whales nor dwarf sperm whales were emaciated although none had recently ingested prey in their stomachs. The minke whale was emaciated; it was likely a dependent calf that became separated from the female. Most serum biochemistry abnormalities appear to have resulted from the stranding and indicated deteriorating condition from being on land for an extended period. Three pilot whales had clinical evidence of pre-existing systemic inflammation, which was supported by histopathologic findings. Although gross and histologic lesions involving all organ systems were noted, consistent lesions were not observed across species. Verminous pterygoid sinusitis and healed fishery interactions were seen in pilot whales but neither of these changes were causes of debilitation or death. In three pilot whales and one dwarf sperm whale there was evidence of clinically significant disease in postcranial tissues which led to chronic debilitation. Cardiovascular disease was present in one pilot whale and one dwarf sperm whale; musculoskeletal disease and intra-abdominal granulomas were present in two pilot whales. These lesions were possible, but not definitive, causal factors in the stranding. Remaining lesions were incidental or post-stranding. The minke whale and three of five tested pilot whales had positive morbillivirus titers (≥1:8 with one at >1:256), but there was no histologic evidence of active viral infection. Parasites (nematodes, cestodes, and trematodes) were collected from 26 pilot whales and two dwarf sperm whales. Sites of collection included stomach, nasal/pterygoid, peribullar sinuses, blubber, and abdominal cavity. Parasite species, locations and loads were within normal limits for free-ranging cetaceans and were not considered causative for the stranding event. Gas emboli lesions which were considered consistent with or diagnostic of sonarassociated strandings of beaked whales or small cetaceans were not found in the whales stranded as part of UMESE0501Sp. Twenty-five heads were examined with nine specific anatomic locations of interest: extramandibular fat, intramandibular fat, auditory meatus, peribullar acoustic fat, peribullar soft tissue, peribullar sinus, pterygoid sinus, melon, and brain. The common finding in all examined heads was verminous pterygoid sinusitis. Intramandibular adipose tissue reddening, typically adjacent to the vascular plexus, was observed in some individuals and could represent localized hemorrhage resulting from vascular rete rupture, hypostatic congestion, or erythrocyte rupture during the freeze/thaw cycle. One cetacean had peracute to acute subdural hemorrhage that likely occurred from thrashing on the beach post-stranding, although its occurrence prior to stranding cannot be excluded. Information provided to NMFS by the U.S. Navy indicated routine tactical mid-frequency sonar operations from individual surface vessels over relatively short durations and small spatial scales within the area and time period investigated. No marine mammals were detected by marine mammal observers on operational vessels; standard operating procedure for surface naval vessels operating mid-frequency sonar is the use of trained visual lookouts using high-powered binoculars. Sound propagation modeling using information provided to NMFS indicated that acoustic conditions in the vicinity likely depended heavily on position of the receivers (e.g., range, bearing, depth) relative to that of the sources. Absent explicit information on the location of animals meant that it was not possible to estimate received acoustic exposures from active sonar transmissions. Nonetheless, the event was associated in time and space with naval activity using mid-frequency active sonar. It also had a number of features in common (e.g., the “atypical” distribution of strandings involving multiple offshore species, all stranding alive, and without evidence of common infectious or other disease process) with other sonar-related cetacean mass stranding events. Given that this event was the only stranding of offshore species to occur within a 2-3 day period in the region on record (i.e., a very rare event), and given the occurrence of the event simultaneously in time and space with a naval exercise using active sonar, the association between the naval sonar activity and the location and timing of the event could be a causal rather than a coincidental relationship. However, evidence supporting a definitive association is lacking, and, in particular, there are differences in operational/environmental characteristics between this event and previous events where sonar has apparently played a role in marine mammal strandings. This does not preclude behavorial avoidance of noise exposure. No harmful algal blooms were present along the Atlantic coast south of the Chesapeake Bay during the months prior to the event. Environmental conditions, including strong winds, changes in upwelling- to downwelling-favorable conditions, and gently sloping bathymetry, were consistent with conditions which have been correlated with other mass strandings. In summary, we did not find commonality in gross and histologic lesions that would indicate a single cause for this stranding event. Three pilot whales and one dwarf sperm whale had debilitating conditions identified that could have contributed to stranding, one pilot whale had a debilitating condition (subdural hemorrhage) that could have been present prior to or resulting from stranding. While the pilot and dwarf sperm whale strandings may have had a common cause, the minke whale stranding was probably just coincidental. On the basis of examination of physical evidence in the affected whales, however, we cannot definitively conclude that there was or was not a causal link between anthropogenic sonar activity or environmental conditions (or a combination of these factors) and the strandings. Overall, the cause of UMESE0501Sp in North Carolina is not and likely will not be definitively known. (PDF contains 240 pages)

Proceedings of the Eighteenth International Sea Turtle Symposium, 3-7 March 1998, Mazatlán, Sinaloa, Mexico

For the first time in its history, the International Symposium on Sea Turtle Biology and Conservation migrated to a site outside of the United States. Thus the Eighteenth edition was hosted by the Mazatlán Research Unit of the Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología of the Mexican National Autonomous University (UNAM) in Mazatlán, Sinaloa (Mexico) where it was held from 3-7, March, 1998. Above all, our symposium is prominent for its dynamism and enthusiasm in bringing together specialists from the world´s sea turtle populations. In an effort to extend this philosophy, and fully aware of how fast the interest in sea turtles has grown, the organizers paid special attention to bring together as many people as possible. With the tremendous efforts of the Travel Committee and coupled with a special interest by the Latin American region´s devotees, we managed to get 653 participants from 43 countries. The number of presentations increased significantly too, reaching a total of 265 papers, ranging from cutting-edge scientific reports based on highly sophisticated methods, to the experiences and successes of community-based and environmental education programs. A priority given by this symposium was the support and encouragement for the construction of "bridges" across cultural and discipline barriers. We found success in achieving a multinational dialogue among interest groups- scientists, resource managers, decision makers, ngo's, private industry. There was a broad representation of the broad interests that stretch across these sectors, yet everyone was able to listen and offer their own best contribution towards the central theme of the Symposium: the conservation of sea turtles and the diversity of marine and coastal environments in which they develop through their complicated and protracted life cycle. Our multidisciplinary approach is highly important at the present, finding ourselves at a cross roads of significant initiatives in the international arena of environmental law, where the conservation of sea turtles has a key role to play. Many, many people worked hard over the previous 12 months, to make the symposium a success. Our sincerest thanks to all of them: Program committee: Laura Sarti (chair), Ana Barragán, Rod Mast, Heather Kalb, Jim Spotilla, Richard Reina, Sheryan Epperly, Anna Bass, Steve Morreale, Milani Chaloupka, Robert Van Dam, Lew Ehrhart, J. Nichols, David Godfrey, Larry Herbst, René Márquez, Jack Musick, Peter Dutton, Patricia Huerta, Arturo Juárez, Debora Garcia, Carlos Suárez, German Ramírez, Raquel Briseño, Alberto Abreu; Registration and Secretary: Jane Provancha (chair), Lupita Polanco; Informatics: Germán Ramírez, Carlos Suárez; Cover art: Blas Nayar; Designs: Germán Ramírez, Raquel Briseño, Alberto Abreu. Auction: Rod Mast; Workshops and special meetings: Selina Heppell; Student prizes: Anders Rhodin; Resolutions committee: Juan Carlos Cantú; Local organizing committee: Raquel Briseño, Jane Abreu; Posters: Daniel Ríos and Jeffrey Semminoff; Travel committee: Karen Eckert (chair), Marydele Donnelly, Brendan Godley, Annette Broderick, Jack Frazier; Student travel: Francisco Silva and J. Nichols; Vendors: Tom McFarland and J. Nichols; Volunteer coordination: Richard Byles; Latin American Reunión: Angeles Cruz Morelos; Nominations committee: Randall Arauz, Colleen Coogan, Laura Sarti, Donna Shaver, Frank Paladino. Once again, Ed Drane worked his usual magic with the Treasury of the Symposium Significant financial contributions were generously provided by government agencies. SEMARNAP (Mexico´s Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources and Fisheries) through its central office, the Mazatlán Regional Fisheries Research Center (CRIP-Mazatlán) and the National Center for Education and Capacity Building for Sustainable Development (CECADESU) contributed to the logistics and covered the costs of auditoria and audiovisual equipment for the Symposium, teachers and their hotels for the Community Development and Environmental Education workshop in the 5th Latin American Sea Turtle Specialists; DIF (Dept of Family Affairs) provided free accomodation and food for the more than 100 participants in the Latin American Reunion. In this Reunion, the British Council-Mexico sponsored the workshop on the Project Cycle. The National Chamber of the Fisheries Industry (CANAINPES) kindly sponsored the Symposium´s coffee breaks. Personnel from the local Navy (Octave Zona Naval) provided invaluable aid in transport and logistics. The Scientific Coordination Office from UNAM (CICUNAM) and the Latin American Biology Network (RELAB) also provided funding. Our most sincere recognition to all of them. In the name of this Symposium´s compilers, I would like to also express our gratitude to Wayne Witzell, Technical Editor for his guidance and insights and to Jack Frazier for his help in translating and correcting the English of contributions from some non-native English speakers. Many thanks to Angel Fiscal and Tere Martin who helped with the typing in the last, last corrections and editions for these Proceedings. To all, from around the world, who generously helped make the 18th Symposium a huge success, shared their experiences and listened to ours, our deepest gratitude! (PDF contains 316 pages)

Cruise Report: Summer 2008 Ecological Assessment of Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary NOAA Ship NANCY FOSTER NF-08-09-CCEHBR (June 14-June 21, 2008)

Summary: This cruise report is a summary of a field survey conducted within the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary (SBNMS), located between Cape Cod and Cape Ann at the mouth of Massachusetts Bay. The survey was conducted June 14 – June 21, 2008 on NOAA Ship NANCY FOSTER Cruise NF-08-09-CCEHBR. Multiple indicators of ecological condition and human dimensions were sampled synoptically at each of 30 stations throughout SBNMS using a random probabilistic sampling design. Samples were collected for the analysis of benthic community structure and composition; concentrations of chemical contaminants (metals, pesticides, PAHs, PCBs, PBDEs) in sediments and target demersal biota; nutrient and chlorophyll levels in the water column; and other basic habitat characteristics such as depth, salinity, temperature, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, pH, sediment grain size, and organic carbon content. In addition to the fish samples that were collected for analysis of chemical contaminants relative to human-health consumption limits, other human-dimension indicators were sampled as well including presence or absence of fishing gear, vessels, surface trash, marine mammals, and noxious sediment odors. The overall purpose of the survey was to collect data to assess the status of ecosystem condition and potential stressor impacts throughout SBNMS, based on these various indicators and corresponding management thresholds, and to provide this information as a baseline for determining how such conditions may be changing with time. While sample analysis is still ongoing a few preliminary results and observations are reported here. A final report will be completed once all data have been processed. The results are anticipated to be of value in supporting goals of the SBNMS and National Marine Sanctuary Program aimed at the characterization, protection, and management of sanctuary resources (pursuant to the National Marine Sanctuary Reauthorization Act) as well as a new priority of NCCOS and NOAA to apply Ecosystem Based approaches to the Management of coastal resources (EBM) through Integrated Ecosystem Assessments (IEAs) conducted in various coastal regions of the U.S. including the Northeast Atlantic continental shelf. This was a multi-disciplinary partnership effort made possible by scientists from the following organizations:  NOAA, National Ocean Service (NOS), National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS), Center for Coastal Environmental Health and Biomolecular Research (CCEHBR), Charleston, SC.  U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory (NHEERL), Atlantic Ecology Division (GED), Narragansett, RI.  U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory (NHEERL), Gulf Ecology Division (GED), Gulf Breeze, FL.  U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), National Wetlands Research Center, Gulf Breeze Project Office, Gulf Breeze, FL.  NOAA, Office of Marine and Aviation Operations (OMAO), NOAA ship Nancy Foster. (31pp) (PDF contains 58 pages)

“El Niño” study based on analysis of ocean surface temperatures 1935-57

ENGLISH: The following report describes the findings of an "El Niño" project carried out at the Department of Meteorology of the University of California, Los Angeles, at the request of, and with funds provided from, the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission. The project was, in its early stages, supervised by Professor M. Neiburger, but was in June 1959 transferred to Professor J. Bjerknes, who thereby became the sole author of this final report. Readers who may be interested in the general background of knowledge of the maritime meteorology of the Eastern Pacific are herewith referred to Professor Neiburger's final report of the "Subtropical Pacific Meteorology Project." That report, submitted in September 1958 to the Office of Naval Research, summarizes the results of all the meteorological soundings released at sea since 1949 from California in the north to Peru in the south. The soundings off Ecuador and Peru were all taken by the "Shellback" expedition during July 1952. Important as this first exploration of the atmosphere over the Eastern Equatorial Pacific was, it did not even begin to explore " El Niño " itself, which is confined to the southern summer season and, moreover, only reaches catastrophic proportions in a few exceptional years. SPANISH: Este estudio da a conocer los resultados de una investigación que, bajo el nombre de Proyecto "El Niño", ha sido efectuada en el Departamento de Meteorología de la Universidad de California, Los Angeles, a solicitud de la Comisión Interamericana del Atún Tropical y con fondos provistos por ésta. En sus primeras etapas, el proyecto fué supervisado por el Profesor M. Neiburger, pero en junio de 1959 fué transferido al Profesor J. Bjerknes, quien de este modo vino a ser el solo autor de este informe final. A los lectores interesados en los conocimientos de fondo de la meteorología marítima del Pacífico Oriental se les recomienda consultar el informe final del Profesor Neiburger intitulado "Subtropical Pacific Meteorology Project". Este informe, sometido a la "Office of Naval Research" en septiembre de 1958 sumariza los resultados de todos los sondeos meteorológicos efectuados en el mar desde 1949 en el área entre California en el norte y Perú en el sur. Todos los sondeos frente al Ecuador y el Perú fueron hechos por la Expedición "Shellback" durante el mes de julio de 1952. Importante como fué esta primera exploración de la atmósfera sobre el Pacífico Ecuatorial del Este, ni siquiera comenzó a explorar "El Niño" en sí, que se confina a la estación de verano en el sur y, más aún, sólo alcanza proporciones catastróficas en unos pocos años excepcionales.

The Biology of a High Isolated Tide Pool

A small isolated tide pool was studied quite intensively over a period on one month. A oensus of all animals present was taken, and a population record kept daily for the month. Fluctuations in the numbers of individuals were noted, and reasons for these fluctuations sought. The behavior and feeding habits of the various animals were noted, and an attempt was made to relate the animals to their environment. This is a student paper done for a University of California Berkeley Zoology class. Since UCB didn't have its own marine lab at the time, it rented space at Hopkins Marine Station where this work was done. Gene Haderlie went on to earn his Ph.D. from Berkeley and later became a Professor at the Naval Post Graduate School in Monterey. (PDF contains 22 pages)

A Comparison of the Range and Movements of Acmaea digitalis Eschscholtz, Acmaea scutum Eschscholtz, Acmaea limatula Carpenter and Lottia gigantea Sowerby

Ten limpets (4 Acmaea digitalis , 4 Acmaea scutum, 1 Acmaea limatula, and 1 Lottia gigantea) were marked and their movements observed over a thirteen day period. Recordings of positions were made on a map, and the path of each was drawn on the map from day to day. Acmaea digitalis showed the greatest range, mostly in a vertical direction, and moved usually at night during high tide. Acmaea scutum showed a more limited range in a horizontal direction, and moved both day and night during high tide. Acmaea limatula had a horizontal range similar to A. scutum,, but exhibited no movement during the day time. Lottia gigantea had the most restricted range of any limpet studied, and moved only at night during high tide. This is a student paper done for a University of California Berkeley Zoology class. Since UCB didn't have its own marine lab at the time, it rented space at Hopkins Marine Station where this work was done. Gene Haderlie went on to earn his Ph.D. from Berkeley and later became a Professor at the Naval Post Graduate School in Monterey. (PDF contains 23 pages)

Resultados de las campañas oceanográficas Mar del Plata I-V. Contribución al trazado de una carta bionómica del área de Mar del Plata. Las asociaciones del sistema litoral entre 12 y 70 m. de profundidad

Under the name of Campañas Oceanográficas Mar del Plata I-V, five oceanographic surveys were done together with the Servicio de Hidrografía Naval, in the area between Faro Querandí and Mar del Sur. (Argentina, Province of Buenos Aires). A total of 82 oceanographic stations were covered and physical-chemical (temperature, oxygen, salinity determinations), sedimental and biological samplings (plankton and bottom organisms) were obtained. Bottom organisms collections were made with a conventional type of dredge 1 meter wide and 46 cm high grame with a net of thin mesh 2,60 m. Macrofauna components were only considered. This data allowed us to attempt a bionomic and litological chart of the studied area.As the sediments seem to have great heterogeneity over the hole studied area, in many cases the bottom fauna collections belonged to defferent associations which made difficult the limitations of areas covered by each one. Anyway we can draw that we are very near the minimun limits.

Historical knowledge of sharks: ancient science, earliest American encounters, and American science, fisheries, and utilization

In western civilization, the knowledge of the elasmobranch or selachian fishes (sharks and rays) begins with Aristotle (384–322 B.C.). Two of his extant works, the “Historia Animalium” and the “Generation of Animals,” both written about 330 B.C., demonstrate knowledge of elasmobranch fishes acquired by observation. Roman writers of works on natural history, such as Aelian and Pliny, who followed Aristotle, were compilers of available information. Their contribution was that they prevented the Greek knowledge from being lost, but they added few original observations. The fall of Rome, around 476 A.D., brought a period of economic regression and political chaos. These in turn brought intellectual thought to a standstill for nearly one thousand years, the period known as the Dark Ages. It would not be until the middle of the sixteenth century, well into the Renaissance, that knowledge of elasmobranchs would advance again. The works of Belon, Salviani, Rondelet, and Steno mark the beginnings of ichthyology, including the study of sharks and rays. The knowledge of sharks and rays increased slowly during and after the Renaissance, and the introduction of the Linnaean System of Nomenclature in 1735 marks the beginning of modern ichthyology. However, the first major work on sharks would not appear until the early nineteenth century. Knowledge acquired about sea animals usually follows their economic importance and exploitation, and this was also true with sharks. The first to learn about sharks in North America were the native fishermen who learned how, when, and where to catch them for food or for their oils. The early naturalists in America studied the land animals and plants; they had little interest in sharks. When faunistic works on fishes started to appear, naturalists just enumerated the species of sharks that they could discern. Throughout the U.S. colonial period, sharks were seldom utilized for food, although their liver oil or skins were often utilized. Throughout the nineteenth century, the Spiny Dogfish, Squalus acanthias, was the only shark species utilized in a large scale on both coasts. It was fished for its liver oil, which was used as a lubricant, and for lighting and tanning, and for its skin which was used as an abrasive. During the early part of the twentieth century, the Ocean Leather Company was started to process sea animals (primarily sharks) into leather, oil, fertilizer, fins, etc. The Ocean Leather Company enjoyed a monopoly on the shark leather industry for several decades. In 1937, the liver of the Soupfin Shark, Galeorhinus galeus, was found to be a rich source of vitamin A, and because the outbreak of World War II in 1938 interrupted the shipping of vitamin A from European sources, an intensive shark fishery soon developed along the U.S. West Coast. By 1939 the American shark leather fishery had transformed into the shark liver oil fishery of the early 1940’s, encompassing both coasts. By the late 1940’s, these fisheries were depleted because of overfishing and fishing in the nursery areas. Synthetic vitamin A appeared on the market in 1950, causing the fishery to be discontinued. During World War II, shark attacks on the survivors of sunken ships and downed aviators engendered the search for a shark repellent. This led to research aimed at understanding shark behavior and the sensory biology of sharks. From the late 1950’s to the 1980’s, funding from the Office of Naval Research was responsible for most of what was learned about the sensory biology of sharks.

An ecological characterization of the marine resources of Vieques, Puerto Rico Part II: Field studies of habitats, nutrients, contaminants, fish, and benthic communities

Since the 1940s, portions of the Island of Vieques, Puerto Rico have been used by the United States Navy (USN) as an ammunition support detachment and bombing and maneuver training range. In April 2001, the USN began phasing out military activities on the island and transferring military property to the U.S. Department of the Interior, the Municipality of Vieques, and the Puerto Rico Conservation Trust. A small number of studies have been commissioned by the USN in the past few decades to assess selected components of the coral reef ecosystem surrounding the island; however, these studies were generally of limited geographic scope and short duration. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS), in consultation with NOAA’s Office of Response and Restoration (OR&R) and other local and regional experts, conducted a more comprehensive characterization of coral reef ecosystems, contaminants, and nutrient distribution patterns around Vieques. This work was conducted using many of the same protocols as ongoing monitoring work underway elsewhere in the U.S. Caribbean and has enabled comparisons among coral reef ecosystems in Vieques and other locations in the region. This characterization of Vieques’ marine ecosystems consists of a two part series. First, available information on reefs, fish, birds, seagrasses, turtles, mangroves, climate, geology, currents, and human uses from previous studies was gathered and integrated into a single document comprising Part I of this two part series (Bauer et al. 2008). For Part II of the series, presented in this document, new field studies were conducted to fill data gaps identified in previous studies, to provide an island-wide characterization, and to establish baseline values for the distribution of habitats, nutrients, contaminants, fish, and benthic communities. An important objective underlying this suite of studies was to quantify any differences in the marine areas adjacent to the former and current land-use zoning around Vieques. Specifically of interest was the possibility that either Naval (e.g., practice bombing, munitions storage) or civilian activities (e.g., sewage pollutants, overfishing) could have a negative impact on adjacent marine resources. Measuring conditions at this time and so recently after the land transfer was essential because present conditions are likely to be reflective of past land-use practices. In addition, the assessment will establish benchmark conditions that can be influenced by the potentially dramatic future changes in land-use practices as Vieques considers its development. This report is organized into seven chapters that represent a suite of interrelated studies. Chapter 1 provides a short introduction to the island setting, the former and current land-use zoning, and how the land zoning was used to spatially stratify much of the sampling. Chapter 2 is focused on benthic mapping and provides the methods, accuracy assessment, and results of newly created benthic maps for Vieques. Chapter 3 presents the results of new surveys of fish, marine debris, and reef communities on hardbottom habitats around the island. Chapter 4 presents results of flora and fauna surveys in selected bays and lagoons. Chapter 5 examines the distribution of nutrients in lagoons, inshore, and offshore waters around the island. Chapter 6 is focused on the distribution of chemical contaminants in sediments and corals. Chapter 7 is a brief summary discussion that highlights key findings of the entire suite of studies.

Assessment of siltation rate and sediment transport in Bombay harbour based on Cesium-137 distribution

Low level aqueous radioactive wastes from the nuclear complex at Trombay are discharged into the Bombay harbour. Of the 6 principal radionuclides comprising the discharge, cesium-137 is most predominantly taken up by silt from the sea water. Isoactivity contours show that activity levels just off the point of discharge, and further south to Pir Pau, were between 50 and 100 pCi/g. Activity in the main channel of the harbour remained below 10 pCi/g, while further north (below the Thane Creek bridge) it was around 20 pCi/g. Activity in the top 6 cm of a core off Trombay naval jetty was <5 pCi/g, reaching a maximum of 178 pCi/g at 14cm below the surface. Thereafter, it tapered off to 5 pCi/g down to a metre.

Seminario sobre ciencias básicas como prerequisito para la enseñanza de la oceanografía (1-2 octubre de 1962)- Seminario sobre biogeografía de los organismos marinos (3-6 octubre de 1962)

Por acuerdo del Seminario Latinoamericano sobre Estudios Oceanográficos realizado en la Universidad de Concepción, Chile, 20-25 noviembre de 1961, se recomendó la realización en Argentina de un Seminario sobre Biogeografía de Organismos Marinos, indicándose al Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales Bernardino Rivadavia como sede del mismo. Luego de varias conversaciones en Buenos Aires (Argentina), entre autoridades del Centro de Cooperación Científica para América Latina, del CONICET (Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas), del Servicio de Hidrografía Naval, del mencionado Museo y del Instituto de Biología Marina de Mar del Plata, se acordó realizar los seminarios en éste último instituto del 1 al 6 octubre de 1962. Del 1 al 2 de octubre, se realizó el Seminario sobre Ciencias Básicas como prerrequisito para la Enseñanza de la Oceanografía, pero los documentos no fueron incluídos en este Boletín. Del 3 al 6 de octubre, tuvo lugar el Seminario sobre Biogeografía de Organismos Marinos, con la participación de investigadores de: Brasil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Chile, Mexico, Perú, Uruguay, Venezuela y de Argentina, y se incluyeron los siguientes trabajos publicados: Joly, A. - Extensao da flora marinha no sul do Brasil- nota preliminar; Etcheverry Daza, H. - Distribución geográfica de las algas del Pacífico; Diaz-Piferrer, M. - Biogeografía de las algas marinas tropicales de la costa Atlántica de America, Resumen,; Kuhneman, O. - Importancia de la vegetación en biogeografía marina; Boschi, E.E. - Los peneidos de Brasil, Uruguay y Argentina; Bernasconi, I. - Distribución geográfica de los equinoideos y asteroideos de la extremidad austral de Sudamérica; Szidat, L. - La parasitología como ciencia auxiliar para la biogeografía de organismos marinos; López, R.B. - Problemas de la distribución geográfica de los peces marinos sudamericanos; Ximénez, I. - Estudio preliminar de la distribución geográfica actual de los pinípedos en América Latina; Balech, E. - La división zonal en biología marina y su nomenclatura; Stuardo, J. - Distribución de los moluscos marinos litorales en Latinoamérica; Boltovskoy, E. - Provincias zoogeográficas de América del Sur y su sector Antártico según los foraminíferos bentónicos; Rioja, E. - Caracteres de la biogeografía marina de México y de Centro América; Balech, E. - Caracteres biogeográficos de la región de Argentina y Uruguay; Vannucci, M. - Zoogeografía marinha do Brasil.