Ecological condition of coastal ocean waters along the U.S. Western Continental Shelf: 2003

Executive Summary: The western National Coastal Assessment (NCA-West) program of EPA, in conjunction with the NOAA National Ocean Service (NOS), conducted an assessment of the status of ecological condition of soft sediment habitats and overlying waters along the western U.S. continental shelf, between the target depths of 30 and 120 m, during June 2003. NCA-West and NOAA/NOS partnered with the West Coast states (Washington (WA), Oregon (OR), and California (CA)), and the Southern California Coastal Water Research Project (SCCWRP) Bight ’03 program to conduct the survey. A total of 257 stations were sampled from Cape Flattery, WA to the Mexican border using standard methods and indicators applied in previous coastal NCA projects. A key study feature was the incorporation of a stratified-random sampling design with stations stratified by state and National Marine Sanctuary (NMS) status. Each of the three states was represented by at least 50 random stations. There also were a total of 84 random stations located within NOAA’s five NMSs along the West Coast including the Olympic Coast NMS (OCNMS), Cordell Bank NMS (CBNMS), Gulf of Farallones NMS (GFNMS), Monterey Bay NMS (MBNMS), and Channel Islands NMS (CINMS). Collection of flatfish via hook-and-line for fish-tissue contaminant analysis was successful at 50 EMAP/NCA-West stations. Through a collaboration developed with the FRAM Division of the Northwest Fisheries Science Center, fish from an additional 63 stations in the same region and depth range were also analyzed for fish-tissue contaminants. Bottom depth throughout the region ranged from 28 m to 125 m for most stations. Two slightly deeper stations from the Southern California Bight (SCB) (131, 134 m) were included in the data set. About 44% of the survey area had sediments composed of sands (< 20% silt-clay), about 47% was composed of intermediate muddy sands (20-80% silt-clay), and about 9% was composed of muds (> 80% silt-clay). The majority of the survey area (97%) had relatively low percent total organic carbon (TOC) levels of < 2%, while a small portion (< 1%) had high TOC levels (> 5%), in a range potentially harmful to benthic fauna. Salinity of surface waters for 92% of the survey area were > 31 psu, with most stations < 31 psu associated with the Columbia River plume. Bottom salinities ranged only between 31.6 and 34.4 psu. There was virtually no difference in mean bottom salinities among states or between NMS and non-NMS stations. Temperatures of surface water (range 8.5 -19.9 °C) and bottom water (range 5.8 -14.7 °C) averaged several degrees higher in CA in comparison to WA and OR. The Δσt index of watercolumn stratification indicated that about 31% of the survey area had strong vertical stratification of the water column. The index was greatest for waters off WA and lowest for CA waters. Only about 2.6 % of the survey area had surface dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations ≤ 4.8 mg/L, and there were no values below the lower threshold (2.3 mg/L) considered harmful to the survival and growth of marine animals. Surface DO concentrations were higher in WA and OR waters than in CA, and higher in the OC NMS than in the CA sanctuaries. An estimated 94.3% of the area had bottom-water DO concentrations ≤ 4.8 mg/L and 6.6% had concentrations ≤ 2.3 mg/L. The high prevalence of DO from 2.3 to 4.8 mg/L (85% of survey area) is believed to be associated with the upwelling of naturally low DO water across the West Coast shelf. Mean TSS and transmissivity in surface waters (excluding OR due to sample problems) were slightly higher and lower, respectively, for stations in WA than for those in CA. There was little difference in mean TSS or transmissivity between NMS and non-NMS locations. Mean transmissivity in bottom waters, though higher in comparison to surface waters, showed little difference among geographic regions or between NMS and non-NMS locations. Concentrations of nitrate + nitrite, ammonium, total dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) and orthophosphate (P) in surface waters tended to be highest in CA compared to WA and OR, and higher in the CA NMS stations compared to CA non-sanctuary stations. Measurements of silicate in surface waters were limited to WA and CA (exclusive of the SCB) and showed that concentrations were similar between the two states and approximately twice as high in CA sanctuaries compared to OCNMS or nonsanctuary locations in either state. The elevated nutrient concentrations observed at CA NMS stations are consistent with the presence of strong upwelling at these sites at the time of sampling. Approximately 93% of the area had DIN/P values ≤ 16, indicative of nitrogen limitation. Mean DIN/P ratios were similar among the three states, although the mean for the OCNMS was less than half that of the CA sanctuaries or nonsanctuary locations. Concentrations of chlorophyll a in surface waters ranged from 0 to 28 μg L-1, with 50% of the area having values < 3.9 μg L-1 and 10% having values > 14.5 μg L-1. The mean concentration of chlorophyll a for CA was less than half that of WA and OR locations, and concentrations were lowest in non-sanctuary sites in CA and highest at the OCNMS. Shelf sediments throughout the survey area were relatively uncontaminated with the exception of a group of stations within the SCB. Overall, about 99% of the total survey area was rated in good condition (<5 chemicals measured above corresponding effect range low (ERL) concentrations). Only the pesticides 4,4′-DDE and total DDT exceeded corresponding effect range-median (ERM) values, all at stations in CA near Los Angeles. Ten other contaminants including seven metals (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ag, Zn), 2-methylnaphthalene, low molecular weight PAHs, and total PCBs exceeded corresponding ERLs. The most prevalent in terms of area were chromium (31%), arsenic (8%), 2-methylnaphthalene (6%), cadmium (5%), and mercury (4%). The chromium contamination may be related to natural background sources common to the region. The 2-methylnaphthalene exceedances were conspicuously grouped around the CINMS. The mercury exceedances were all at non-sanctuary sites in CA, particularly in the Los Angeles area. Concentrations of cadmium in fish tissues exceeded the lower end of EPA’s non-cancer, human-health-risk range at nine of 50 EMAP/NCA-West and nine of 60 FRAM groundfish-survey stations, including a total of seven NMS stations in CA and two in the OCNMS. The human-health guidelines for all other contaminants were only exceeded for total PCBs at one station located in WA near the mouth of the Columbia River. Benthic species richness was relatively high in these offshore assemblages, ranging from 19 to 190 taxa per 0.1-m2 grab and averaging 79 taxa/grab. The high species richness was reflected over large areas of the shelf and was nearly three times greater than levels observed in estuarine samples along the West Coast (e.g NCA-West estuarine mean of 26 taxa/grab). Mean species richness was highest off CA (94 taxa/grab) and lower in OR and WA (55 and 56 taxa/grab, respectively). Mean species richness was very similar between sanctuary vs. non-sanctuary stations for both the CA and OR/WA regions. Mean diversity index H′ was highest in CA (5.36) and lowest in WA (4.27). There were no major differences in mean H′ between sanctuary vs. nonsanctuary stations for both the CA and OR/WA regions. A total of 1,482 taxa (1,108 to species) and 99,135 individuals were identified region-wide. Polychaetes, crustaceans and molluscs were the dominant taxa, both by percent abundance (59%, 17%, 12% respectively) and percent species (44%, 25%, 17%, respectively). There were no major differences in the percent composition of benthic communities among states or between NMSs and corresponding non-sanctuary sites. Densities averaged 3,788 m-2, about 30% of the average density for West Coast estuaries. Mean density of benthic fauna in the present offshore survey, averaged by state, was highest in CA (4,351 m-2) and lowest in OR (2,310 m-2). Mean densities were slightly higher at NMS stations vs. non-sanctuary stations for both the CA and OR/WA regions. The 10 most abundant taxa were the polychaetes Mediomastus spp., Magelona longicornis, Spiophanes berkeleyorum, Spiophanes bombyx, Spiophanes duplex, and Prionospio jubata; the bivalve Axinopsida serricata, the ophiuroid Amphiodia urtica, the decapod Pinnixa occidentalis, and the ostracod Euphilomedes carcharodonta. Mediomastus spp. and A. serricata were the two most abundant taxa overall. Although many of these taxa have broad geographic distributions throughout the region, the same species were not ranked among the 10 most abundant taxa consistently across states. The closest similarities among states were between OR and WA. At least half of the 10 most abundant taxa in NMSs were also dominant in corresponding nonsanctuary waters. Many of the abundant benthic species have wide latitudinal distributions along the West Coast shelf, with some species ranging from southern CA into the Gulf of Alaska or even the Aleutians. Of the 39 taxa on the list of 50 most abundant taxa that could be identified to species level, 85% have been reported at least once from estuaries of CA, OR, or WA exclusive of Puget Sound. Such broad latitudinal and estuarine distributions are suggestive of wide habitat tolerances. Thirteen (1.2%) of the 1,108 identified species are nonindigenous, with another 121 species classified as cryptogenic (of uncertain origin), and 208 species unclassified with respect to potential invasiveness. Despite uncertainties of classification, the number and densities of nonindigenous species appear to be much lower on the shelf than in the estuarine ecosystems of the Pacific Coast. Spionid polychaetes and the ampharetid polychaete Anobothrus gracilis were a major component of the nonindigenous species collected on the shelf. NOAA’s five NMSs along the West Coast of the U.S. appeared to be in good ecological condition, based on the measured indicators, with no evidence of major anthropogenic impacts or unusual environmental qualities compared to nearby nonsanctuary waters. Benthic communities in sanctuaries resembled those in corresponding non-sanctuary waters, with similarly high levels of species richness and diversity and low incidence of nonindigenous species. Most oceanographic features were also similar between sanctuary and non-sanctuary locations. Exceptions (e.g., higher concentrations of some nutrients in sanctuaries along the CA coast) appeared to be attributable to natural upwelling events in the area at the time of sampling. In addition, sediments within the sanctuaries were relatively uncontaminated, with none of the samples having any measured chemical in excess of ERM values. The ERL value for chromium was exceeded in sediments at the OCNMS, but at a much lower percentage of stations (four of 30) compared to WA and OR non-sanctuary areas (31 of 70 stations). ERL values were exceeded for arsenic, cadmium, chromium, 2- methylnaphthalene, low molecular weight PAHs, total DDT, and 4,4′-DDE at multiple sites within the CINMS. However, cases where total DDT, 4,4′-DDE, and chromium exceeded the ERL values were notably less prevalent at CINMS than in non-sanctuary waters of CA. In contrast, 2-methylnaphthalene above the ERL was much more prevalent in sediments at the CINMS compared to non-sanctuary waters off the coast of CA. While there are natural background sources of PAHs from oil seeps throughout the SCB, this does not explain the higher incidence of 2-methylnaphthalene contamination around CINMS. Two stations in CINMS also had levels of TOC (> 5%) potentially harmful to benthic fauna, though none of these sites exhibited symptoms of impaired benthic condition. This study showed no major evidence of extensive biological impacts linked to measured stressors. There were only two stations, both in CA, where low numbers of benthic species, diversity, or total faunal abundance co-occurred with high sediment contamination or low DO in bottom water. Such general lack of concordance suggests that these offshore waters are currently in good condition, with the lower-end values of the various biological attributes representing parts of a normal reference range controlled by natural factors. Results of multiple linear regression, performed using full model procedures to test for effects of combined abiotic environmental factors, suggested that latitude and depth had significant influences on benthic variables regionwide. Latitude had a significant inverse influence on all three of the above benthic variables, i.e. with values increasing as latitude decreased (p< 0.01), while depth had a significant direct influence on diversity (p < 0.001) and inverse effect on density (p <0.01). None of these variables varied significantly in relation to sediment % fines (at p< 0.1), although in general there was a tendency for muddier sediments (higher % fines) to have lower species richness and diversity and higher densities than coarser sediments. Alternatively, it is possible that for some of these sites the lower values of benthic variables reflect symptoms of disturbance induced by other unmeasured stressors. The indicators in this study included measures of stressors (e.g., chemical contaminants, eutrophication) that are often associated with adverse biological impacts in shallower estuarine and inland ecosystems. However, there may be other sources of humaninduced stress in these offshore systems (e.g., bottom trawling) that pose greater risks to ambient living resources and which have not been captured. Future monitoring efforts in these offshore areas should include indicators of such alternative sources of disturbance. (137pp.) (PDF contains 167 pages)

TV Maxambomba: processos de singularização

TV Maxambomba: Processos de Singularização é o resultado do processo de investigação sobre as potencialidades que residem na linguagem audiovisual, sobretudo no processo de produção de vídeo e comunicação popular, apropriados por pessoas que nas suas diferenças utilizam a linguagem e a tecnologia do vídeo como ferramenta de produção da expressão da sua cultura, da sua realidade, da sua criação e inventividade. Percorrendo o percurso da TV Maxambomba, essa pesquisa trouxe a dimensão da potencia que envolve a articulação de pessoas e grupos utilizando a tecnologia do audiovisual, a linguagem do vídeo no seu processo de criação como mecanismo de produção de conhecimento e de subjetivação. Ao longo dos seus 15 anos A TV Maxambomba revela-se como um potencial laboratório de invenção midiática, democratizando a linguagem audiovisual, possibilitando que numa era midiática, inicia-se a era pós-mídia. Transgredindo as normas e os formatos televisivos, traçando suas linhas de fuga, trazendo as peculiaridades das comunidades e territórios ocupados pela TV Maxambomba, territorializando e desterritolizando sua própria linguagem, revela-se como espaço de produção de processos de singularização.

Cognição e Mediação Técnica: passagem analógico-digital da recepção de TV sob a ótica da Teoria Ator-rede

Algumas situações relativas às práticas de comunicacão chamam a atenção, seja pelas possibilidades técnicas que surgem a cada nova ferramenta criada, seja pela influência inconteste para as relações humanas e sociais. Em um momento em que a comunidade acadêmica é convocada a pensar uma nova televisão, este trabalho se propõe a entrar em campo para observar o que há disponível: usos, formatos e linguagens em fase de transição. Propomos, portanto, uma análise empírica ambientada em espaço de recepção midiática, e utilizamos como ferramenta metodológica o Princípio da Simetria com base na Teoria Ator-rede. Seguindo a ideia de rastrear conexões a partir de uma escrita etnográfica, o método propõe pensar o social menos como categoria de base analítica - posto antecipadamente e desvinculado do campo das ações - e mais como algo focado em processo contínuo. As práticas so-ciais e midiáticas são pensadas aqui para além dos limites humanos - ou exclusivamente técnicos. O ator-rede se estabelece não como uma entidade fixa, mas através de fluxos a partir dos quais o método ajudará a descrever a propagação das associações. A discussão sobre possibilidades técnicas e produção de conteúdo mal começou. Talvez por isso se encontre vivendo o momento de transcender o campo dos conceitos normativos e das especulações, para assim acompanhar as instâncias midiáticas como redes de actantes inventadas e re-inventadas a cada dia, nas condições de possibilidades dos momentos práticos de uso. Coube à pesquisa em questão a observação mais detida desses procedimentos e da relação entre tecnologias em transformação, audiências, materialidades, espaços, corpos, sensações e emoções, para que assim seja possível identificar algum entendimento sobre o que poderá caracterizar a televisão, pelo menos provisoriamente

Classificação indicativa: as disputas em torno da regulação da TV no Brasil

A classificação indicativa da programação televisiva gerou recentemente um grande debate no Brasil. Através de uma pesquisa em jornais de janeiro de 2007 a abril de 2008, esta dissertação pretende apresentar e entender as diversas posições, o embate ideológico em torno de ideias como liberdade e democracia, e quais os interesses por trás desta disputa. Enquanto representantes de movimentos sociais e organizações não governamentais em defesa dos direitos da criança e do direito à comunicação se empenhavam na regulamentação, o empresariado da comunicação apresentação forte resistência.

Do confronto à conciliação : debates presidenciais na TV como eventos persuasivos

Este estudo faz uma análise dos debates presidenciais na televisão como eventos persuasivos de campanha. O objetivo foi contribuir para a compreensão não só do papel dessa fonte de informação política no contexto brasileiro, mas discutir também de maneira sistemática os seus possíveis efeitos. Os debates na TV são uma variável comunicacional de curto prazo dos processos eleitorais. Eles oferecem estímulos comunicacionais que são disseminados no ambiente da campanha, seja por quem o assiste diretamente, seja por quem fica sabendo desses eventos e dos desempenhos dos candidatos através de outros dispositivos, como a imprensa e o Horário da Propaganda Gratuita Eleitoral (HPGE). Como apenas informação não basta para explicar mudanças de opinião, focamos o estudo em dois eixos principais. O primeiro deles na identificação e no mapeamento das estratégias persuasivas adotadas pelos candidatos, porque eles são instados a confrontar seus adversários, num evento ao vivo, e por meio do qual os eleitores podem avaliar não só o seu posicionamento político, como a maneira que se apresentam. Está presente, neste caso, um impacto sobre a atitude dos eleitores com relação aos competidores. Os principais resultados indicam haver um padrão no objetivo das mensagens, prevalecendo, no agregado, o ataque entre os candidatos da oposição, e a aclamação entre os candidatos da situação. O posicionamento do candidato, bem como o conteúdo político das mensagens apresentaram resultados significativos para um possível efeito sobre a atitude dos eleitores. No estudo, propomos ainda a análise dos enquadramentos adotados pelos competidores, cuja função é estabelecer um quadro de referência para a audiência. Esta variável, que procura levar em conta aspectos da comunicação verbal e nãoverbal, também apresentou resultados significativos. No segundo eixo analítico, tratamos dos efeitos agregados desses acontecimentos de campanha. Foram analisados os debates de 2002, quando prevalecia um clima de opinião favorável à oposição, e 2010, quando o clima é favorável à situação. Com relação ao impacto dos debates no ambiente informacional, os dados sugerem que, em 2002, a atuação de Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT), candidato da oposição, levou a uma ampliação da cobertura jornalística positiva sobre o candidato; enquanto houve um declínio dessa cobertura para José Serra (PSDB), candidato da situação. Em 2010, na cobertura da imprensa após os debates, tanto a candidata da situação, Dilma Rousseff (PT), quanto o da oposição, José Serra, apresentaram equilíbrio. O impacto no ambiente informacional da campanha foi acompanhado de um aumento da intenção de voto agregada para os candidatos que lideravam as pesquisas e que representavam a mudança em 2002, no caso Lula, ou a continuidade em 2010, no caso Dilma. Nas duas eleições, portanto, os debates na TV no Brasil indicaram ser eventos persuasivos importantes, apesar de terem um papel menos central como dispositivo de informação eleitoral e de não levarem à troca de posição entre os competidores nas pesquisas opinião. Mas eles contribuem, ao menos indiretamente, para consolidar e ampliar intenções de voto dos primeiros colocados a partir de uma percepção positiva disseminada sobre os seus desempenhos.

Preferencias de géneros televisivos, contexto familiar y valores, un estudio transcultural con adolescentes

304 p.

Seasonal and interannual variation in juvenile salmonids and associated fish assemblage in open waters of the lower Columbia River estuary

The transition between freshwater and marine environments is associated with high mortality for juvenile anadromous salmonids, yet little is known about this critical period in many large rivers. To address this deficiency, we investigated the estuarine ecology of juvenile salmonids and their associated fish assemblage in open-water habitats of the lower Columbia River estuary during spring of 2007–10. For coho (Oncorhynchus kisutch), sockeye (O. nerka), chum (O. keta), and yearling (age 1.0) Chinook (O. tshawytscha) salmon, and steelhead (O. mykiss), we observed a consistent seasonal pattern characterized by extremely low abundances in mid-April, maximum abundances in May, and near absence by late June. Subyearling (age 0.0) Chinook salmon were most abundant in late June. Although we observed interannual variation in the presence, abundance, and size of juvenile salmonids, no single year was exceptional across all species-and-age classes. We estimated that >90% of juvenile Chinook and coho salmon and steelhead were of hatchery origin, a rate higher than previously reported. In contrast to juvenile salmonids, the abundance and composition of the greater estuarine fish assemblage, of which juvenile salmon were minor members, were extremely variable and likely responding to dynamic physical conditions in the estuary. Comparisons with studies conducted 3 decades earlier suggest striking changes in the estuarine fish assemblage—changes that have unknown but potentially important consequences for juvenile salmon in the Columbia River estuary.

Nature of the rain spectrum at a low latitude coastal station

The internal structure of rain falls in terms of rain rate during various instances of time can be determined by measuring rain amounts received during very short intervals of time. A system that can record the intensity of rain fall at every minute has been used for this study.