Distribution of planktonic foraminifera and paleotemperature reconstruction for the Subantarctic Zone of the South Atlantic

Pleistocene summer sea-surface temperatures (SSST) have been reconstructed on a composite core section recovered in the Subantarctic Zone of the Southern Ocean from planktonic foraminifers applying the Modern Analog Technique. The composite consists of Core PS2489-2 and the sections recovered at ODP Site 1090, and documents the last 1.83 Ma. Three distinct climatic periods can be identified that mirror the Pleistocene development of the Southern Ocean hydrography. Cold climatic conditions prevailed at 43°S during glacial as well as during interglacial periods during the early Pleistocene (1.83-0.87 Ma), indicating a northward shift of isotherms that characterize the present-day Polar Front Zone by about 7° of latitude. Evidence shows a strong linkage between Southern Ocean and low latitude climate during that interval time. Between the Mid-Pleistocene Revolution (ca. 0.9 Ma) and the Mid-Brunhes Event (ca. 0.4 Ma), we observe higher amplitude fluctuations in the SSST between glacial and interglacial periods, corresponding to the temperature range between the present Polar Front and Subantarctic Front. These climatic variations have been related to changes in the northern hemisphere ice sheets. The past 0.4 Ma are characterized by strong SSST variations, of up to 8°C, between glacials and interglacials. Only during the climatic optima (stages 11.3, 9.3, 7.5, 7.1, 5.5, and the early Holocene), SSST exceeded present SSST at the core locality (10.2°C). Although the carbonate dissolution record exhibits high variability during the Pleistocene, it can be shown that SSST estimates were not significantly biased. The Mid-Brunhes dissolution cycle as well as the Mid-Pleistocene enhanced carbonate preservation appear to belong to a global long-term variability in carbonate preservation.

Spatial distribution of key zooplankton species using continuous plankton recorder (CPR) data from the North Atlantic (2000-2009)

The continuous plankton recorder (CPR) survey is an upper layer plankton monitoring program that has regularly collected samples, at monthly intervals, in the North Atlantic and adjacent seas since 1946. Water from approximately 6 m depth enters the CPR through a small aperture at the front of the sampler and travels down a tunnel where it passes through a silk filtering mesh of 270 µm before exiting at the back of the CPR. The plankton filtered on the silk is analyzed in sections corresponding to 10 nautical miles (approx. 3 m**3 of seawater filtered) and the plankton microscopically identified (Richardson et al., 2006 and reference therein). In the present study we used the CPR data to investigate the current basin scale distribution of C. finmarchicus (C5-C6), C. helgolandicus (C5-C6), C. hyperboreus (C5-C6), Pseudocalanus spp. (C6), Oithona spp. (C1-C6), total Euphausiida, total Thecosomata and the presence/absence of Cnidaria and the Phytoplankton Colour Index (PCI). The PCI, which is a visual assessment of the greenness of the silk, is used as an indicator of the distribution of total phytoplankton biomass across the Atlantic basin (Batten et al., 2003). Monthly data collected between 2000 and 2009 were gridded using the inverse-distance interpolation method, in which the interpolated values were the nodes of a 2 degree by 2 degree grid. The resulting twelve monthly matrices were then averaged within the year and in the case of the zooplankton the data were log-transformed (i.e. log10 (x+1).

Tab.1: Estimates for marine mammals populations south of the Antarctic Polar Front

The aim of this contribution is to supply summarized information on the distribution and numbers of marine mammals in the Antarctic. In relation to the topic of the workshop the question to be answered is: "Is there spatial or temporal variation in mammalian presence in the Antarctic area that has relevance to the operation of acoustic devices". If acoustic devices have impact on marine mammals, this does not stop at political borders. Nevertheless, since legal implementation of the Antarctic Environmental Protocol was the major stimulus behind the workshop, this contribution was asked to limit itself to the Antarctic Treaty area, that is south of 60°S.

Validation of the reduction of rear-end collisions by a high-mounted auxiliary stoplamp. Final report.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington, D.C.

Development of car/trailer handling and braking standards. Volume II: technical report for Phase I - rear wheel drive tow cars. Final report.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Office of Passenger Vehicle Research, Washington, D.C.

Field test evaluation of rear lighting systems. Final report.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington, D.C.

Selection of vehicle rear lighting systems. Final report.

National Highway Safety Bureau, Washington, D.C.

Field test evaluation of rear lighting deceleration signals: I - analytical and experimental studies. Interim report.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington, D.C.

A preliminary evaluation of seat back locks for two-door passenger cars with folding front seatbacks. Technical report.

Mode of access: Internet.

A demonstration of the safety benefits of front brakes on heavy trucks. Final report.

Federal Highway Administration, Bureau of Motor Carrier Safety, Washington, D.C.

Cost analysis for upgraded passenger car rear signal lighting requirements. Final report.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington, D.C.

Sea-surface temperature and sea ice distribution of the Southern Ocean at the EPILOG Last Glacial Maximum

Based on the quantitative study of diatoms and radiolarians, summer sea-surface temperature (SSST) and sea ice distribution were estimated from 122 sediment core localities in the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific sectors of the Southern Ocean to reconstruct the last glacial environment at the EPILOG (19.5-16.0 ka or 23 000-19 000 cal yr. B.P.) time-slice. The statistical methods applied include the Imbrie and Kipp Method, the Modern Analog Technique and the General Additive Model. Summer SSTs reveal greater surface-water cooling than reconstructed by CLIMAP (Geol. Soc. Am. Map Chart. Ser. MC-36 (1981) 1), reaching a maximum (4-5 °C) in the present Subantarctic Zone of the Atlantic and Indian sector. The reconstruction of maximum winter sea ice (WSI) extent is in accordance with CLIMAP, showing an expansion of the WSI field by around 100% compared to the present. Although only limited information is available, the data clearly show that CLIMAP strongly overestimated the glacial summer sea ice extent. As a result of the northward expansion of Antarctic cold waters by 5-10° in latitude and a relatively small displacement of the Subtropical Front, thermal gradients were steepened during the last glacial in the northern zone of the Southern Ocean. Such reconstruction may, however, be inapposite for the Pacific sector. The few data available indicate reduced cooling in the southern Pacific and give suggestion for a non-uniform cooling of the glacial Southern Ocean.

Does spatial distribution of fauna depend on algal belts on intertidal boulder fields of the French Basque coast ?

To determine good ecological status and conservation of the Sub-Marine area of the Bay of Biscay, the implementation of a new rocky intertidal habitats monitoring is needed. A protocol has been adapted from the Brittany protocol for the water body FRFC11 "Basque coast" for the two indicators "intertidal macroalgae" and "subtidal macroalgae" under the Water Framework Directive to qualify the ecological. However no protocol has been validated for fauna in front of meridional characters of the benthic communities. Investigations carried out on macroalgae communities on intertidal area in WFD framework, since 2008, constitute an important working basis. This is the aim of the Bigorno project (Intertidal Biodiversity of the south of the Bay of Biscay and Observation for New search and Monitoring for decision support), financed by the Agency of Marine Protected Areas and the Departmental Council. To implement knowledge, a sampling protocol has been used in 2015 on the boulder fields of Guéthary. This site is part of Natura 2000 area "rocky Basque coast and offshore extension "It constitutes also a Znieff site and restricted fishing area. The sampling strategy considers the heterogeneity of substrates and the presence of intertidal microhabitats. Two main habitats are present: "mediolittoral rock in exposed area habitat" and "boulder fields". Habitat "intertidal pools and permanent ponds" is also present but, it is not investigated. Sampling effort is of 353 quadrats of 0.1 m², drawn randomly according to a spatially stratified sampling plan, defined by habitat and algal belts. Taxa identification and enumeration are done on each quadrat. The objective of this work is to expose results from data collected during 2015 sampling program. The importance of characterizing benthic fauna communities spatial distribution belonging to the Basque coast according to algal belts defines during the WDF survey was highlighted. Concurrently, indicators of biodiversity were studied.