Pollen abundance in Late Quaternary sediment cores off West Africa

The pollen record of three marine late Quaternary cores off Senegal shows a juxtaposition of Mediterranean, Northern Saharan, Central Saharan elements, which are considered transported by the trade winds from a winter-rainfall area, and Sahelian, Soudanese, Soudano-Guinean elements, considered transported both by winds and mostly by the Senegal River, and coming from the monsoonal, summer tropical rainfall area of southern West Africa. Littoral vegetation is either the edaphically dry and saline Chenopodiaceae from sebkhas at the time of the main regression, or the warm tropical humid mangrove with Rhizophora during the humid optimum period. Four stratigraphic zones reflect, from basis to top: Zone 4. A semi-arid period with a balanced pollen input. Zone 3. A very arid period with the disappearance of monsoonal pollen, probably from the disappearance of the Senegal River, a very saline littoral plain with Chenopodiaceae, a larger input of northern Saharan pollen from intensified trade winds. Zone 2. A quite humid period, much more so than today, very suddenly established, with a northward extension of the monsoonal areas, a rich littoral mangrove, and weakening of the trade winds. Zone l. A slow and steady evolution toward the present semi-humid conditions with regression of the mangrove, and of the monsoonal areas toward the south. Tentative datations and correlations with the Tchad area suggested: zone 4: 22,500 to 19,000 years BP; zone 3: 19,000 to 12,500 years BP; zone 2: 12,500 to 5,500 years BP; zone 1: 5,500 years BP to top of core. Dinoflagellate cysts display a tropical assemblage with mostly estuarine neritic elements and also a weak oceanic component, mostly in the lower slope core 47. Cosmopolitan taxa dominate the assemblage and only a few species point to more specialized environments. Quantitative variations of the assemblage are the basis of stratigraphy which is not similar to the pollen stratigraphy, and an inshore-outshore gradient has to be taken into account to correlate the three cores.

Distribution of molluscs on the Atlantic continental shelf off Southern Spanish Sahara, West Africa

Two hundred and seventy five mollusc species from the continental shelf off Southern Spanish Sahara (depth: 32-60 m) were identified. Their distribution pattern is strongly influenced by the nature of the bottom (firm substrate, shelter, stability of sediment) rather than other factors at that depth interval. This faunal assemblage shows great affinity to the Mediterranean and Lusitanian faunas, and comprises only few (22 %) exclusively Senegalese and species living south of Senegal.

Effect of acidification on an Arctic phytoplankton community from Disko Bay, West Greenland

Long-term measurements (i.e. months) of in situ pH have not previously been reported from the Arctic; this study shows fluctuations between pH 7.5 and 8.3 during the spring bloom 2012 in a coastal area of Disko Bay, West Greenland. The effect of acidification on phytoplankton from this area was studied at both the community and species level in experimental pH treatments within (pH 8.0, 7.7 and 7.4) and outside (pH 7.1) in situ pH. The growth rate of the phytoplankton community decreased during the experimental acidification from 0.50 ± 0.01/day (SD) at pH 8.0 to 0.22 ± 0.01/day at pH 7.1. Nevertheless, the response to acidification was species-specific and divided into 4 categories: I, least affected; II, affected only at pH 7.1; III, gradually affected and IV, highly affected. In addition, the colony size and chain length of selected species were affected by the acidification. Our findings show that coastal phytoplankton from Disko Bay is naturally exposed to pH fluctuations exceeding the experimental pH range used in most ocean acidification studies. We emphasize that studies on ocean acidification should include in situ pH before assumptions on the effect of acidification on marine organisms can be made.

Wild bee monitoring in six agriculturally dominated landscapes of Saxony-Anhalt (Germany) in 2010

Wild bee species abundance based on combined flight traps (yellow funnels with perspex windows) placed at ecotones between semi-natural habitats and agricultural fields. Design: six agricultural dominated landscapes of 4x4 km with one trap per square km in Saxony-Anhalt (Germany), activity of traps in late spring-early summer (three sampling rounds) and late summer (three sampling rounds).

Geochemical and stable isotope composition of Middle Campanian marl-limestone rhythmites of the Lehrte West Syncline near Hannover (Lower Saxony, northern Germany)

A cyclic marl-limestone succession of Middle-Late Campanian age has been investigated with respect to a Milankovitch-controlled origin of geochemical data. In general, the major element geochemistry of the marl-limestone rhythmites can be explained by a simple two-component mixing model with the end-members calcium carbonate and 'average shale'-like material. Carbonate content varies from 55 to 90%. Non-carbonate components are clay minerals (illite, smectite) and biogenic silica from sponge spicules, as well as authigenically formed zeolites (strontian heulandite) and quartz. The redox potential suggests oxidizing conditions throughout the section. Trace element and stable isotopic data as well as SEM investigations show that the carbonate mud is mostly composed of low-magnesium calcitic tests of planktic coccolithophorids and calcareous dinoflagellate cysts (calcispheres). Diagenetic overprint results in a decrease of 2% d18O and an increase in Mn of up to 250 ppm. However, the sediment seems to preserve most of its high Sr content compared to the primary low-magnesium calcite of co-occurring belemnite rostra. The periodicity of geochemical cycles is dominated by 413 ka and weak signals between 51 and 22.5 ka, attributable to orbital forcing. Accumulation rates within these cycles vary between 40 and 50 m/Ma. The resulting cyclic sedimentary sequence is the product of (a) changes in primary production of low-magnesium calcitic biogenic material in surface waters within the long eccentricity and the precession, demonstrated by the CaCO3 content and the Mg/Al, Mn/Al and Sr/Al ratios, and (b) fluctuations in climate and continental weathering, which changed the quality of supplied clay minerals (the illite/smectite ratio), demonstrated by the K/Al ratio. High carbonate productivity correlates with smectite-favouring weathering (semi-arid conditions, conspicuously dry and moist seasonal changes in warmer climates). Ti as the proxy indicator for the detrital terrigenous influx, as well as Rb, Si, Zr and Na, shows only low frequency signals, indicating nearly constant rates of supply throughout the more or less pure pelagic carbonate deposition of the long-lasting third-order Middle-Upper Campanian sedimentary cycle.

Vegetation community and geochemistry in the Uummannaq District, West Greenland

Beach and salt marsh vegetation of the Uummannaq District, northern West Greenland (c. 70°15' N - 72° N, 49° W - 54° W) was studied 1998 according to the Braun-Blanquet phytosociological approach. Habitat analyses included soil chemistry. Such vegetation locally occurs and is not developed over extensive areas. On gravely stony beaches a Mertensia maritima ssp. maritima community occurs, while a Honckenya peploides var. diffusa community is confined to sandy beaches. The association Honckenyo diffusae-Elymetum mollis Thannh. 1975 is confined to sandy shore walls and low dunes. All vegetation types are assigned to the alliance Honckenyo- Elymion arenariae Tx. 1966, which again is a unit of the order Honckenyo- Elymetalia arenariae Tx. 1966, which is sub ordered to the class Honckenyo-Elymetea arenariae Tx. 1966. On fine sediments along sheltered coasts salt marsh vegetation is locally developed mainly on fiord deltas and outwash plains of small rivers and streams. A distinct zonation pattern in vegetation can be observed from the lower to upper salt marsh: Puccinellietum phryganodis Hadac 1946 association, Caricetum subspathaceae Hadac 1946 association, Caricetum ursinae Hadac 1946 association (all assigned to the alliance Puccinellion phryganodis Hadac 1946) and Festuco-Caricetum glareosae Nordh. 1954 association (assigned to the alliance Armerion maritimae Br.-Bl. et de Leeuw 1936). Both alliances are units of the order Glauco- Puccinellietalia Beeftink et Westhoff in Beeftink 1965, which is assigned to the class Asteretea tripolii Westhoff et Beeftink in Beeftink 1962. TWINSPAN and CCA support the vegetation classification and the CCA with soil chemistry parameters shows that salinity (related to position above MHW) and Ncontent are strongly correlated with the floristical differentiation of the vegetation of the Honckenyo-Elymetea class. In the Asteretea tripolii class, position above MHW (negatively correlated with pH, conductivity and Clcontent) and fresh water supply are likely the main factors, which affect vegetation differentiation. A synoptic survey of vegetation types from Greenland based on published phytosociological tables is presented and distribution of the vegetation types is addressed, just as their position in a circumpolar context. Moreover a Cochlearia groenlandica-Melandrium triflorum community is described as a new vegetation type, occurring on shallow soil on cliffs influenced by salt spray.

Wild bee monitoring in six agriculturally dominated landscapes of Saxony-Anhalt (Germany) in 2011

Wild bee species abundance based on combined flight traps (yellow funnels with perspex windows) placed at ecotones between semi-natural habitats and agricultural fields. Design: six agricultural dominated landscapes of 4x4 km with one trap per square km in Saxony-Anhalt (Germany), activity of traps in late spring-early summer (three sampling rounds) and late summer (three sampling rounds).

Wild bee monitoring in six agriculturally dominated landscapes of Saxony-Anhalt (Germany) in 2014

Wild bee species abundance based on combined flight traps (yellow funnels with perspex windows) placed at ecotones between semi-natural habitats and agricultural fields. Design: six agricultural dominated landscapes of 4x4 km with one trap per square km in Saxony-Anhalt (Germany), activity of traps in late spring-early summer (three sampling rounds) and late summer (three sampling rounds).

TERENO (Terrestrial Environmental Observatories) wild bee monitoring in six agriculturally dominated landscapes of Saxony-Anhalt (Germany)

In 2001 we started as part of the EU FP5 project Greenveins monitoring of insect communities in the normal landscape of Saxony-Anhalt (Germany), which is dominated by agricultural use. We selected four landscape sites of 4x4 km and recorded insects using combined flight traps, combining the ideas of window and yellow pan traps (see Duelli et al., 1999). Traps consist of a yellow funnel (25 cm diameter) filled with water (preserving agent added) and two perspex windows mounted in a way that they are crossed in the center. Within each square km of a site one trap was placed at ecotones between semi-natural habitats and agricultural fields (16 traps per site). Traps were operated in late spring-early summer (three sampling rounds) and late summer (three sampling rounds). Follow-up sampling started in 2010 as long-term monitoring within the TERENO project (www.tereno.net), contributing to the LTER network (Long-Term Ecosystem Research) in Germany (www.lter-d.de) and internationally as well (www.lter-europe.net). Metadata about the sites and related activities and data sets can be found in the DEIMS Repository for Research Sites and Datasets (https://data.lter-europe.net/deims/). In 2010 another two landscapes were added and yearly sampled in the same way. Due to long processing time of trapped insects data of follow-up years will be available about 18 months after trapping.

Wild bee monitoring in six agriculturally dominated landscapes of Saxony-Anhalt (Germany) in 2012

Wild bee species abundance based on combined flight traps (yellow funnels with perspex windows) placed at ecotones between semi-natural habitats and agricultural fields. Design: six agricultural dominated landscapes of 4x4 km with one trap per square km in Saxony-Anhalt (Germany), activity of traps in late spring-early summer (three sampling rounds) and late summer (three sampling rounds).

Wild bee monitoring in six agriculturally dominated landscapes of Saxony-Anhalt (Germany) in 2013

Wild bee species abundance based on combined flight traps (yellow funnels with perspex windows) placed at ecotones between semi-natural habitats and agricultural fields. Design: six agricultural dominated landscapes of 4x4 km with one trap per square km in Saxony-Anhalt (Germany), activity of traps in late spring-early summer (three sampling rounds) and late summer (three sampling rounds).