The chaetognatha of the Eastropic Expedition, with notes as to their possible value as indicators of hydrographic conditions

ENGLISH: The purpose of this study was to investigate the possibility that certain species of Chaetognatha found in Eastern Tropical Pacific waters can serve as biological indicators of oceanographic features. "Indicator" organisms have been found useful in identifying water types, in tracing the pattern of current systems, and in tracing the origin of moving water masses. To be of use in this type of study, the organisms must be sufficiently abundant to be readily sampled, and easily identified to species; they must also, at least partially, fulfill the additional requisites listed and discussed by Sverdrup, Johnson, and Fleming (1942, pp. 866-867). Among several groups of organisms fulfilling these requirements are the Chaetognatha. Specimens of this group of animals occurred in large numbers in the plankton samples used for this study. The works of Thomson (1947), Fraser (1942), Ritter-Zahony (1911), and Sund (1959) were used for identification. SPANISH: El objetivo de este estudio ha sido el de investigar la posibilidad de utilizar ciertas especies de quetognatos encontrados en el Pacífico Oriental Tropical como indicadoras biológicas de características oceanográficas. Organismos "indicadores" fueron encontrados útiles para la identificación de tipos de agua, el trazado del régimen de los sistemas de corrientes y la determinación del origen de masas de agua en movimiento. Para servir a este tipo de estudios, los organismos deben ser lo suficientemente abundantes como para ser fácilmente muestreados e identificados hasta la especie; también deben satisfacer, por lo menos parcialmente, los requerimientos indicados y discutidos par Sverdrup, Johnson y Fleming (1942, pags. 866-867).

The Effects of Grass Carp on Aquatic Plants, Plankton and Benthos in Ponds

The effects of the grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella Val.)on aquatic plant biomass, water quality, phytoplankton, chlorophyll a, zooplankton and benthic fauna were investigated between May and September 2000 in earthen ponds at Cifteler- Sakaryabasi Aquaculture and Research Station. (PDF has 8 pages)

Bottle and Pumpcast Data from the 1988 Black Sea Expedition

This report contains inorganic nutrient chemistry, sulfide and oxygen data collected during cruises 2 through 5 of the 1988 Black Sea Oceanographic Expedition aboard the R/V Knorr. Continuous nutrient and sulfide data were obtained in the upper 375 m using a pumped profiling system. Discrete samples were collected from rosette-CTD casts. The corresponding physical oceanographic data have been presented by White et al. (1989). Although all of the data reported has been edited at least twice, errors may remain. We encourage queries and plan to distribute updates on electronic media if there are any non-trivial changes.

Charles M. Breder, Jr.: Atlantis Expedition, 1934

Dr. Charles M. Breder participated on the 1934 expedition of the Atlantis from Woods Hole, Massachusetts to Panama and back and kept a field diary of daily activities. The Atlantis expedition of 1934, led by Prof. A. E. Parr, was a milestone in the history of scientific discovery in the Sargasso Sea and the West Indies. Although naturalists had visited the Sargasso Sea for many years, the Atlantis voyage was the first attempt to investigate in detailed quantitative manner biological problems about this varying, intermittent ‘false’ bottom of living, floating plants and associated fauna. In addition to Dr. Breder, the party also consisted of Dr. Alexander Forbes, Harvard University and Trustee of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI); T. S. Greenwood, WHOI hydrographer; M. D. Burkenroad, Yale University’s Bingham Laboratory, carcinology and Sargasso epizoa; M. Bishop, Peabody Museum of Natural History, Zoology Dept., collections and preparations and H. Sears, WHOI ichthyologist. The itinerary included the following waypoints: Woods Hole, the Bermudas, Turks Islands, Kingston, Colon, along the Mosquito Bank off of Nicaragua, off the north coast of Jamaica, along the south coast of Cuba, Bartlett Deep, to off the Isle of Pines, through the Yucatan Channel, off Havana, off Key West, to Miami, to New York City, and then the return to Woods Hole. During the expedition, Breder collected rare and little-known flying fish species and developed a method for hatching and growing flying fish larvae. (PDF contains 48 pages)

Some observations on seasonal variations in plankton population Patuxent River, Maryland 1943-1945

In directly, phytoplankton serves as food for all aquatic animals since it is at the base of the food chain in which the phytoplankton-feeding animals are eaten by larger animals and these in turn are consumed by still larger forms. Hence, it becomes evident that the phytoplankton, its presence, and seasonal variations are of great importance. The report at hand is based on a record of the variations in the plankton population of surface waters at a single station, where collections were made biweekly from September 1943 through September 1945. The station chosen was in the channel of the Patuxent River, Maryland, near its entrance into Chesapeake Bay, about midway between the head and the mouth of the Bay. (PDF contains 31 pages)

An oceanographic atlas of the Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean, based on data from EASTROPIC Expedition, October-December 1955.

ENGLISH: EASTROPIC Expedition was a cooperative oceanographic study of the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean conducted during the period 2 October through 16 December 1955. The five participating agencies and the ships they operated were: Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO), Spencer F. Baird and Horizon; Pacific Oceanic Fisheries Investigations (POFI) of the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, now Honolulu Biological Laboratory (HBL) of the U. S. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries, Hugh M. Smith; California Department of Fish and Game, N. B. Scofield; the Peruvian Navy, Bondu; and the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission which operated no vessels but supplied equipment and personnel. In addition to these planned participations in EASTROPIC Expedition, valuable information was provided by CCOFI Cruise 5512 of the California Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigations, conducted during the period 29 November -16 December 1955 with the two vessels Stranger and Black Douglas. While the observational programs of most of the agencies involved, in part, special hydrographic-biological studies of known features and processes in the region (see reports listed under Data Sources) the deployment of ships and therefore of observations was sufficient that EASTROPIC Expedition could be considered a survey of the eastern tropical Pacific. This report is concerned with that aspect of the Expedition and is a presentation in atlas form of most of the hydrographic data collected. For reasons given below, emphasis has been placed on the upper 300 m of the water column. SPANISH: La Expedición EASTROPIC es un estudio oceanográfico cooperativo del Océano Pacífico Oriental Tropical llevado a cabo durante el período del 2 de octubre al 16 de dícíembre de 1955. Las cinco agencias participantes y los barcos operados por ellas son los siguientes: Scrípps Instítutíon of Oceanography (SIO) , Spencer F. Baird y Horizon; Pacific Oceanic Fisheries Investigatíons (PO'FI) del U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, ahora Honolulu Biological Laboratory (BHL) del U. S. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries, Hugh M. Smith; California Department of Fish and Game, N. B. Scofield; la Marina Peruana, Bondu; y la Comisión Interamericana del Atún Tropical que no dirigió ningún barco pero proporcionó equipo y personal. Además de estas participaciones planeadas en la Expedición EASTROPIC, fué suministrada información de valor por el Crucero CCOFI 5512 del California Cooperative Fisheries Investigatíons, llevado a cabo durante el período del 29 de noviembre al 16 de diciembre de 1955 con los barcos Stranger y Black Douglas. Aunque los programas de observación de la mayoría de las agencias, comprendieron en parte estudios especiales hidrográficos y biológicos de las características y de los procesos conocidos de la región (véase los informes indicados bajo Fuente de Datos), el despliegue de los barcos, y por lo tanto, de las observaciones, fué suficiente para que la Expedición EASTROPIC pudiera ser considerada como una encuesta del Pacífico Oriental Tropical. Este informe se refiere a este aspecto de la Expedición y es una presentación, en forma de un atlas, de la mayoría de los datos hidrográficos recolectados. Por las razones que se dan a continuación, se le dió énfasis a los 300 m., superiores de la columna de agua. (PDF contains 136 pages.)

Plankton periodicity and some physicochemical parameters of the intake channel of Lake Chad

This study examines zooplankton periodicity and some physicochemical parameters of the intake channel of Lake Chad (Nigeria). Nine different zooplankton species were identified at the sampling station 1, while seven different zooplankton species were identified at the sampling station 2 (the intake channel of Lake Chad). Each identified zooplankton species was grouped according to its major group of copepods, Cladocera or Rotifera. The copepods dominated the zooplankton community with the highest numbers of occurrence as Cyclopedia species throughout the course of the study at both station l and 2. There was a clear evidence of the influence of organic manure nutrients on total zooplankton population at station 1 when compared to that of station 2. The water quality variables measured in the course of this study show that the surface water temperature in station 1 ranges from 27.5 degree C to 30.5 degree C. The pH ranges from 6.8 to 8.5, while D.O. contents ranges from 2.9mg/L to 6.1mg/L and alkalinity recorded was 172.00 to 208.00. At the station 2 the water quality parameters obtained show that surface water temperature ranges from 27.3 degree C to 30.2 degree C, pH ranges between 6.9 to 8.5, while the D.O contents ranges from 3.0 mg/L to 6.2 mg/L.Alkalinity ranges from 172mg/L to 212 mg/L

Effects of different types of fertilizers on plankton productivity in earthen ponds

Three fertilizer types (NPK, Super-phosphate and cow dung) were applied at two levels (Low, 0.3 kg/25m super(2)/2weeks and High, 0.7kg/25 m super(2)/2weeks) to 12 ponds with two ponds serving as control. Each pond had an area of 25 m super(2). Application of fertilizers and monitoring of plankton productivity and water quality parameters continued fortnightly for 52 days. Results obtained were subjected to Statistical Variance Analysis. The abundance of phytoplankton was in the order: Chlorophyceae > Bacillariophyceae > Cyanophyceae > Desmideaceae. While that of zooplankton followed the order: Crustacean > Rotifer > Protozoan. Primary productivity showed a variation between treatments with lowest value of 5592 mg/O sub(2)/m super(3)/day obtained in the control and cow dung low application rates (1.5 kg/25 m super(2)/2weeks). The highest value for primary productivity was obtained at M sub(2) (0.7 kg/25 m super(2)/2weeks, N.P.K) with primary productivity value of 7200 mg/O sub(2)/m super(3)/day, closely followed by M sub(4) (0.7 kg/25 m super(2)/2weeks, super phosphate) with 6792 mg/O sub(2)/m super(3)/day.

The relationship between some physicochemical parameters and plankton composition on fish production in ponds

The effect of physico-chemical parameters and plankton composition on fish production in ponds was investigated in six fish farms for eight weeks. The physicochemical parameters investigated were temperature=25-30 plus or minus C, transparency=0.45-0.57m, dissolved oxygen=3.0-10.9mg/l, pH=6.0-7.7, dissolved carbon dioxide=5.46-28.3mg/l, total alkalinity=44.37-80.0ppm, chemical oxygen demand=31.88-72.18mg/l and biological oxygen demand=0.66-48.34mg/l. Plankton composition varies and was made of four families of phytoplankton namely; Cyanophyceae, Chlorophyceae, Dinophyceae and Diatomida; and four families of zooplankton viz; Protozoa, Rotifera, Copepoda and Dinoflagellates. Farm 1 and 6 recorded the highest average weight of about 1.0kg and average total length of about 40.0cm for the two fish species. This study showed that fish yield was dependable on the quality and management of pond water characteristics

The relationship between some physicochemical parameters and plankton composition on fish production in ponds

The effect of physico-chemical parameters and plankton composition on fish production in ponds was investigated in six fish farms for eight weeks. The physicochemical parameters investigated were temperature=25-30 plus or minus C, transparency=0.45-0.57m, dissolved oxygen=3.0-10.9mg/l, pH=6.0-7.7, dissolved carbon dioxide=5.46-28.3mg/l, total alkalinity=44.37-80.0ppm, chemical oxygen demand=31.88-72.18mg/l and biological oxygen demand=0.66-48.34mg/l. Plankton composition varies and was made of four families of phytoplankton namely: Cyanophyceae, Chlorophyceae, Dinophyceae and Diatomida; and four families of zooplankton viz: Protozoa, Rotifera, Copepoda and Dinoflagellates. Farm 1 and 6 recorded the highest average weight of about 1.0kg and average total length of about 40.0cm for the two fish species. This study showed that fish yield was dependable on the quality and management of pond water characteristics

The occurrence of two new plankton diatom populations in the English Lake District: Aulacoseira islandica

Samples of planktonic algae from major lakes in the English Lake District have been investigated over many years as part of a long-term monitoring programme set up by the Freshwater Biological Association and continued by the Institute For Ecology. Some lakes have been sampled regularly for long periods, others less frequently or only occasionally. Windermere north and south basins, and the neighbouring lakes Blelham Tarn and Esthwaite Water, have been under observation, mostly on a weekly basis, since the programme began in 1945. During this time diatoms have played a significant role in the population dynamics of these lakes.

The influence of global warming on freshwater plankton communities in Britain

The likely response of freshwater plankton to the direct and indirect effects of sustained global warming are summarized. The increase in CO2 posited by climatologists will have a direct effect on many biological processes, and an even more important indirect effect on the global climate. Lake plankton populations are relatively well buffered against sudden fluctuations in temperature but can react in unexpected ways to seasonal changes in the wind speed, with effects on seasonal growth and succession of plankton. The direct

Plankton associated with medusae of the freshwater jellyfish Craspedacusta sowerbyi (Lankester) in a Thames backwater

Samples of plankton were taken from Broom Water in August 1997 after a sighting of medusae on 11th August. Broom Water is about 8 m wide, and extends 250 m from the main channel of the Thames, above the weir at Teddington. On 11th August medusae were so abundant that it was possible to collect 20 in ten minutes. They were rising to the surface in bright sunlight, then sinking slowly down through the water. Examination of a medusa's tentacles under a microscope revealed the presence of a commensal protozoan, a ciliate Trichodina pediculus. Over 20 species of phytoplankton were found in Broom Water. Most of the species are common and widespread, but it was a surprise to find Errerella bornhemiensis with its characteristic pyramidal colonies, which is a relatively rare species. Zooplankters in Broom Water consisted of Rotifera and Crustacea. Zooplankton is the main food of Craspedacusta and it was found that the crustaceans but not the rotifers did undergo significant changes during the period 11-19th August. The major changes were a big increase in the percentage of cyclopoids, and a marked decrease in Bosmina. This could be because the delicate cuticle of Bosmina is much more susceptible to the stinging cells of the medusae compared with the tougher exoskeleton of the cyclopoid.

Groundwater abstraction and plankton in the druze pool of Azraq oasis, Jordan

The Azraq oasis lies in the Jordanian desert, about 85 km east of Amman. In this brief paper the author summarises his observations from a visit to the oasis in 1991, discusses the effects of pumping groundwater from the oasis to Amman and presents results from a plankton survey.

The family of chironomids or midges - Chironomidae. Keys to larvae and pupae [Translation from: Guide to the freshwater invertebrates of the European area of the USSR (Plankton and benthos) (ed. L. A. Kutikova and Ya. I. Starobogatov), p.371-431. Leningrad, Gidrometeoizdat, 1977]

The translation of this section of the larger publication ”Opredelitel' presnovodnykh bespozvonochnykh evropeiskoi chasti SSSR. (Plankton i bentos)” provides identification keys to the larvae and pupae of chironomids that occur in the Soviet Union. The morphology of the larvae of Chironomidae is described in the introductory part.