PanPlot - software to visualize profiles and core logs

The program PanPlot was developed as a visualization tool for the information system PANGAEA. It can be used as a stand-alone application to plot data versus depth or time or in a ternary view. Data input format is tab-delimited ASCII (e.g. by export from MS-Excel or from PANGAEA). The default scales and graphic features can individualy be modified. PanPlot graphs can be exported in platform-specific interchange formats (EMF, PICT) which can be imported by graphic software for further processing.

PanPlot 2 - software to visualize profiles and time series

The program PanPlot 2 was developed as a visualization tool for the information system PANGAEA. It can be used as a stand-alone application to plot data versus depth or time. Data input format is tab-delimited ASCII (e.g. by export from MS-Excel or from PANGAEA). The default scales and graphic features can individualy be modified. PanPlot 2 graphs can be exported in several image formats (BMP, PNG, PDF, and SVG) which can be imported by graphic software for further processing.

At surface behaviour of adult male southern elephant seals from King George Island from expedition JUB2000

Adult male southern elephant seals instrumented in 2000 on King George Island (n = 13), travelled both to the north (doi:10.1594/PANGAEA.231580, doi:10.1594/PANGAEA.231585) and to the east (doi:10.1594/PANGAEA.231571, doi:10.1594/PANGAEA.231579, doi:10.1594/PANGAEA.261708, doi:10.1594/PANGAEA.261709, doi:10.1594/PANGAEA.261710, doi:10.1594/PANGAEA.261711) of the Antarctic Peninsula. Five males (doi:10.1594/PANGAEA.231571, doi:10.1594/PANGAEA.231579, doi:10.1594/PANGAEA.231580, doi:10.1594/PANGAEA.261710, doi:10.1594/PANGAEA.231585) remained within 500 km of the island and focusing movements in the Bransfield Strait and around the Antarctic Peninsula. Sea-surface temperatures encountered by these animals showed little variation and they seemed to move about irrespective of sea ice cover, but frequented areas of shallow bathymetry. Three males (doi:10.1594/PANGAEA.261708, doi:10.1594/PANGAEA.261709, doi:10.1594/PANGAEA.261711) moved as far as 75°S to the east of the peninsula, into the Weddell Sea, with maximum distances of more than 1500 km from King George Island. They travelled into the Weddell Sea along the western continental shelf break until they reached the region of the Filchner Trough outflow. Here the bathymetry consists of canyons and ridges which support the intensive mixing between the warm saline waters of the Weddell Gyre and the very cold outflow waters with Ice Shelf water ingredients at the Antarctic Slope Front. Another five data sets were shorter then 40 days, and excluded from analyses (doi:10.1594/PANGAEA.231568, doi:10.1594/PANGAEA.231576, doi:10.1594/PANGAEA.231572, doi:10.1594/PANGAEA.231577, doi:10.1594/PANGAEA.264710). A computer animation was developed to visualize the animal movements in relation to the extent and concentration of sea ice (doi:10.1594/PANGAEA.509404). The need for re-instrumentation of adult males from King George Island is highlighted to investigate whether males continue to travel to similar areas and to obtain higher resolution data.

Spatial compartmentalization of free radical formation and mitochondrial heterogeneity in bivalve gills revealed by live-imaging techniques, supplementary material

Live-imaging techniques (LIT) utilize target-specific fluorescent dyes to visualize biochemical processes using confocal and multiphoton scanning microscopy, which are increasingly employed as non-invasive approach to physiological in-vivo and ex-vivo studies. Here we report application of LIT to bivalve gills for ex-vivo analysis of gill physiology and mapping of reactive oxygen (ROS) and nitrogen (RNS) species formation in the living tissue. Our results indicate that H2O2, HOO. and ONOO- radicals (assessed through C-H2DFFDA staining) are mainly formed within the blood sinus of the filaments and are likely to be produced by hemocytes as defense against invading pathogens. The oxidative damage in these areas is controlled by enhanced CAT (catalase) activities recorded within the filaments. The outermost areas of the ciliated epithelial cells composing the filaments, concentrated the highest mitochondrial densities (MTK Deep Red 633 staining) and the most acidic pH values (as observed with ageladine-a). These mitochondria have low (depolarized) membrane potentials (D psi m) (JC-1 staining), suggesting that the high amounts of ATP required for ciliary beating may be in part produced by non-mitochondrial mechanisms, such as the enzymatic activity of an ATP-regenerating kinase. Nitric oxide (NO, DAF-2DA staining) produced in the region of the peripheral mitochondria may have an effect on mitochondrial electron transport and possibly cause the low membrane potential. High DAF-2DA staining was moreover observed in the muscle cells composing the wall of the blood vessels where NO may be involved in regulating blood vessel diameter. On the ventral bend of the gills, subepithelial mucus glands (SMG) contain large mucous vacuoles showing higher fluorescence intensities for O2.- (DHE staining) than the rest of the tissue. Given the antimicrobial properties of superoxide, release of O2.- into the mucus may help to avoid the development of microbial biofilms on the gill surface. However, cells of the ventral bends are paying a price for this antimicrobial protection, since they show significantly higher oxidative damage, according to the antioxidant enzyme activities and the carbonyl levels, than the rest of the gill tissue. This study provides the first evidence that one single epithelial cell may contain mitochondria with significantly different membrane potentials. Furthermore, we provide new insight into ROS and RNS formation in ex-vivo gill tissues which opens new perspectives for unraveling the different ecophysiological roles of ROS and RNS in multifunctional organs such as gills.

Tertiary flora of Saxony

The thesis represents the first part of a reference book to the Tertiary flora of Saxony. All taxa based on leaves of angiosperms and on Ginkgo are included in this compendium. After an overview about the geological state of knowledge on the Tertiary in Saxony, phytostratigraphic concepts are introduced and a historical survey on the Tertiary paleobotanical research in Saxony is given. All plant macrofossils published from Saxonian Tertiary until end of 2013 and their sites of discovery (primary data) were recorded. This data were supplemented by additional attributes and unified through project-based M.Sc. theses. Subsequently, taxa of fossil leaves were selected, their data evaluated and brought to a consistent state of research. Data sheets for 187 out of 235 examined taxa were established for a determination atlas. Macro- and micromorphological attributes are described in this atlas and information are given about the systematic, synonymy, palaeoecology and spatial and temporal distribution. The describing part is illustrated by images and instructive drawings. The documented data were surveyed and discussed related to their quality within the literature in the result part. A bibliography of the extensive palaeobotanical literature for plant fossils of Saxony completes the work. The taxon and locality related data are implemented into an open source geographical information system (GIS) in order to visualize and to manage them effectively. For the first time, the results of this thesis implemented in the GIS allow the generation of distribution maps for the taxa of leaves of Tertiary angiospermes and Ginkgo in Saxony. Furthermore it enables to query topographical, geological and paleobotanical information about the fossil sites. A determination key was developed for the fossil material that allows a rough determination of the findings in the field. The compendium will be available for free use in a printed as well as in a digital version.

Ocean acidification impacts on sperm mitochondrial membrane potential bring sperm swimming behaviour near its tipping point

Broadcast spawning marine invertebrates are susceptible to environmental stressors such as climate change, as their reproduction depends on the successful meeting and fertilization of gametes in the water column. Under near-future scenarios of ocean acidification, the swimming behaviour of marine invertebrate sperm is altered. We tested whether this was due to changes in sperm mitochondrial activity by investigating the effects of ocean acidification on sperm metabolism and swimming behaviour in the sea urchin Centrostephanus rodgersii. We used a fluorescent molecular probe (JC-1) and flow cytometry to visualize mitochondrial activity (measured as change in mitochondrial membrane potential, MMP). Sperm MMP was significantly reduced in delta pH -0.3 (35% reduction) and delta pH -0.5 (48% reduction) treatments, whereas sperm swimming behaviour was less sensitive with only slight changes (up to 11% decrease) observed overall. There was significant inter-individual variability in responses of sperm swimming behaviour and MMP to acidified seawater. We suggest it is likely that sperm exposed to these changes in pH are close to their tipping point in terms of physiological tolerance to acidity. Importantly, substantial inter-individual variation in responses of sperm swimming to ocean acidification may increase the scope for selection of resilient phenotypes, which, if heritable, could provide a basis for adaptation to future ocean acidification.

Limits of the Southern Ocean

The knowledge about processes concerning perception and understanding is of paramount importance for designing means of communication like maps and charts. This is especially the case, if one does not want to lose sight of the map-user and if map-design is to be orientated along the map-users needs and preferences in order to improve the cartographic product's usability. A scientific approach to visualization can help to achieve useable results. The insights achieved by such an approach can lead to modes of visualization that are superior to those, which have seemingly proved their value in praxis - so-called "bestpractices" -, concerning their utility and efficiency. This thesis shows this by using the example of visualizing the limits of bodies of waters in the Southern Ocean. After making some introductorily remarks on the chosen mode of problem-solution in chapter one, which simultaneously illustrate the flow of work while working on the problem, in chapter two the relevant information concerning the drawing of limits in the Southern Ocean is outlined. Chapter 3 builds the theoretical framework, which is a multidisciplinary approach to representation. This theoretical framework is based on "How Maps Work" by the American Cartographer MacEachren (1995/2004). His "scientific approach to visualization" is amended and adjusted by the knowledge gained from recent findings of the social sciences where necessary. So, the approach suggested in this thesis represents a synergy of psychology, sociology, semiotics, linguistics, communication theory and cartography. It follows the tradition of interdisciplinary research getting over the boundaries of a single scientific subject. The achieved holistic approach can help to improve the usability of cartographic products. It illustrates on the one hand those processes taking place while perceiving and recognizing cartographic information - so-called bottom-up-processes. On the other hand it illuminates the processes which happen during understanding this information in so-called top-down-processes. Bottom-up- and top-down-processes are interdependent and inseparably interrelated and therefore cannot be understood without each other. Regarding aspects of usability the approach suggested in this thesis strongly focuses on the map-user. This is the reason why the phenomenon of communication gains more weight than in MacEachren's map-centered approach. Because of this, in chapter 4 a holistic approach to communication is developed. This approach makes clear that only the map-user can evaluate the usability of a cartographic product. Only if he can extract the information relevant for him from the cartographical product, it is really useable. The concept of communication is well suited to conceive that. In case of the visualization of limits of bodies of water in the Southern Ocean, which is not complex enough to illustrate all results of the theoretical considerations, it is suggested to visualize the limits with red lines. This suggestion deviates from the commonly used mode of visualization. So, this thesis shows how theory is able to ameliorate praxis. Chapter 5 leads back to the task of fixing limits of the bodies of water in the area of concern. A convention by the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) states that those limits should be drawn by using meridians, parallels, rhumb lines and bathymetric data. Based on the available bathymetric data both a representation and a process model are calculated, which should support the drawing of the limits. The quality of both models, which depends on the quality of the bathymetric data at hand, leads to the decision that the representation model is better suited to support the drawing of limits.

Mn/Ca and Fe/Ca systematics in benthic foraminifera from the Peruvian OMZ

In this study we present an initial dataset of Mn/Ca and Fe/Ca ratios in tests of benthic foraminifera from the Peruvian oxygen minimum zone (OMZ) determined with SIMS. These results are a contribution to a better understanding of the proxy potential of these elemental ratios for ambient redox conditions. Foraminiferal tests are often contaminated by diagenetic coatings, like Mn rich carbonate- or Fe and Mn rich (oxyhydr)oxide coatings. Thus, it is substantial to assure that the cleaning protocols are efficient or that spots chosen for microanalyses are free of contaminants. Prior to the determination of the element/Ca ratios, the distributions of several elements (Ca, Mn, Fe, Mg, Ba, Al, Si, P and S) in tests of the shallow infaunal species Uvigerina peregrina and Bolivina spissa were mapped with an electron microprobe (EMP). To visualize the effects of cleaning protocols uncleaned and cleaned specimens were compared. The cleaning protocol included an oxidative cleaning step. An Fe rich phase was found on the inner test surface of uncleaned U. peregrina specimens. This phase was also enriched in Al, Si, P and S. A similar Fe rich phase was found at the inner test surface of B. spissa. Specimens of both species treated with oxidative cleaning show the absence of this phase. Neither in B. spissa nor in U. peregrina were any hints found for diagenetic (oxyhydr)oxide or carbonate coatings. Mn/Ca and Fe/Ca ratios of single specimens of B. spissa from different locations have been determined by secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS). Bulk analyses using solution ICP-MS of several samples were compared to the SIMS data. The difference between SIMS analyses and ICP-MS bulk analyses from the same sampling sites was 14.0-134.8 µmol mol-1 for the Fe/Ca and 1.68(±0.41) µmol mol-1 for the Mn/Ca ratios. This is in the same order of magnitude as the variability inside single specimens determined with SIMS at these sampling sites (1sigma[Mn/Ca] = 0.35-2.07 µmol mol-1; 1sigma[Fe/Ca] = 93.9-188.4 µmol mol-1). The Mn/Ca ratios in the calcite were generally relatively low (2.21-9.93 µmol mol-1) but in the same magnitude and proportional to the surrounding pore waters (1.37-6.67 µmol mol-1). However, the Fe/Ca ratios in B. spissa show a negative correlation to the concentrations in the surrounding pore waters. Lowest foraminiferal Fe/Ca ratios (87.0-101.0 µmol mol-1) were found at 465 m water depth, a location with a strong sharp Fe peak in the pore water next to the sediment surface and respectively, high Fe concentrations in the surrounding pore waters. Previous studies found no living specimens of B. spissa at this location. All these facts hint that the analysed specimens already were dead before the Fe flux started and the sampling site just recently turned anoxic due to fluctuations of the lower boundary of the OMZ near the sampling site (465 m water depth). Summarized Mn/Ca and Fe/Ca ratios are potential proxies for redox conditions, if cleaning protocols are carefully applied. The data presented here may be rated as base for the still pending detailed calibration.

BSRN snapshot 2015-09, links to zip archives

The Baseline Surface Radiation Network (BSRN) and its central archive - the World Radiation Monitoring Center (WRMC) - was created in 1992. It is a project of the Data Assimilation Panel from the Global Energy and Water Cycle Experiment (GEWEX) under the umbrella of the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) and as such is aimed at detecting important changes in the Earth's radiation field at the Earth's surface which may be related to climate changes. The data are of primary importance in supporting the validation and confirmation of satellite and computer model estimates of these quantities. At a small number of stations in contrasting climatic zones, covering a latitude range from 80°N to 90°S, solar and atmospheric radiation is measured with instruments of the highest available accuracy and with high time resolution (1 to 3 minutes). Since 2008 the WRMC is hosted by the Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI), Bremerhaven, Germany (http://www.bsrn.awi.de/).

(Table B2) Relative abundances of diatom species used in the Canoco analysis at sediment surface samples from the Chinese inshore waters

Canonical correspondence analysis has been used to analyze and to visualize the relationships between the main species and selected environmental variables in a study of diatoms from surface sediment samples in Chinese inshore waters. The result shows that the diatom distribution in Chinese inshore waters is closely correlated with the environmental variables and that the measured environmental variables account for the major changes of the diatom composition. Winter sea-surface temperature (WST), winter sea-surface salinity (WSS), water depth and summer sea-surface salinity (SSS) play an important role for the diatom distribution. Among the environmental factors, winter sea-surface temperature is the most important, controlling the distribution of diatoms in the surface sediments in Chinese inshore waters, and therefore, it may be potentially reconstructed in palaeoceanographic studies. Three diatom assemblages are distinguished, representing environments with different hydrological characteristics. The temperate-water diatom assemblage may be used as an indicator of the coastal circulation system of Bohai Sea and Yellow Sea. While the warm-temperate water diatom assemblage is closely related to Shanghai-Zhejiang-Fujian coastal currents and Northern Bay coastal currents of South China Sea. The deep water diatom assemblage is a response to that the waters are less controlled by coastal currents, but are more influenced by open sea currents, such as Kuroshio.

(Table T1) Gas hydrate fabric and dipping angles of ODP Leg 204 sediments

The sediments of Hydrate Ridge/Cascadia margin contain extensive amounts of gas hydrate. A total of 57 sediment samples including gas hydrate were preserved in liquid nitrogen and have been imaged using computerized tomography to visualize hydrate distribution and shape. The analysis gives evidence that gas hydrate in vein and veinlet structures is the predominant shape in the deeper gas hydrate stability zone with dipping angles from 30° to 90°(vertical).

At surface behaviour of juvenile and female southern elephant seals from King George Island from expeditions JUB1996 and JUB1997

Between December 1996 and February 1997, weaned pups and postmoult female southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina) were fitted with satellite transmitters at King George Island (South Shetlands). Of the nine adult females tracked for more than two months, three stayed in a localized area between the South Shetlands and the South Orkneys. The other six females travelled southwest along the coast of the Antarctic Peninsula up to the Bellingshausen Sea. Two of them then moved far northeast and hauled out on South Georgia in October. One female was last located north of the South Shetlands in March 1998. In total, eight females were again sighted on King George Island and six of the transmitters removed. The tracks of the weaners contrasted with those of the adults. In January, five juveniles left King George Island for the Pacific sector ranging about four weeks in the open sea west of the De Gerlache Seamounts. Three of them returned to the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula in June, of which one was last located on the Patagonian Shelf in November 1997. A computer animation was developed to visualize the animal movements in relation to the extent and concentration of sea ice. The juveniles avoided sea ice while the adults did not. The latter displayed behavioural differences in using the pack ice habitat during winter. Some females adjusted their movement patterns to the pulsating sea ice fringe in far-distant foraging areas while others ranged in closed pack ice of up to 100 %. The feeding grounds of adult female elephant seals are more closely associated with the pack ice zone than previously assumed.