Production primaire, secondaire et régéneration des sels nutritifs dans l'upwelling de Mauritanie

Primary and secondary productions and nutrient regeneration in the Mauritanian upwelling area were studied by following a drogue for 9 days, from the point of upwelling till the water mass dives under offshore waters. The lag between phytoplanktonic bloom, zooplanktonic peak and bacterial activity is very short and may be explained by a well-settled biological cycle connected with an undercurrent. Organic production was estimated in two ways: (1) from chlorophyll 'a' values, considering a C/Chla ratio of 25 during the 5.5 day phytoplankton growth period, primary production computed by this method reaches 13.5 g C/m2; (2) from 14C values net primary production calculated for the same period reaches 10.5 g C/m2 and total organic production (net production + organic excretion) reaches 19.5 g C/m2. Organic production computed ratios, delta O/ delta C/ delta N/ delta Si/ delta P are equal to 130/43/11/7.4/1. Secondary production and 'grazing' are estimated from mesozooplankton respiration values and have a huge increase during the bloom. Net secondary production is assessed to be 1.0-4.2 g C/m2 for 6 days. Evidence of nutrient regeneration as ammonia, phosphate and silicate is given and regeneration rates are calculated. Zooplankton excretion plays an important part in nitrogen and phosphorus regeneration. Bacterial activity is induced by zooplankton organic excretion, then increased by phytoplankton decomposition at the end of the bloom.

Study on the layer structure of W/C multilayers deposited by magnetron sputtering using x-ray reflectivity

A study on the layer structure of W/C multilayers deposited by magnetron sputtering is reported. In the study, soft x-ray resonant reflectivity and hard x-ray grazing incidence reflectivity of the W/C multilayers were measured. The imperfections at the interface such as interdiffusion and formation of compounds were dealt with by two methods. On analyzing the experimental results, we found that the incorporation of an interlayer was a more suitable method than the traditional statistical method to describe the layer structure of a W/C system we fabricated. The optical constants of each layer at a wavelength of 4.48 nm were also obtained from the analysis. Copyright (C) 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Detection of particles with a cloud chamber

Cloud chambers were essential devices in early nuclear and particle physics research. Superseded by more modern detectors in actual research, they still remain very interesting pedagogical apparatus. This thesis attempts to give a global view on this topic. To do so, a review of the physical foundations of the diffusion cloud chamber, in which an alcohol is supersaturated by cooling it with a thermal reservoir, is carried out. Its main results are then applied to analyse the working conditions inside the chamber. The analysis remarks the importance of using an appropriate alcohol, such as isopropanol, as well as a strong cooling system, which for isopropanol needs to reach −40ºC. That theoretical study is complemented with experimental tests that were performed with what is the usual design of a home-made cloud chamber. An effective setup is established, which highlights details such as a grazing illumination, a direct contact with the cooling reservoir through a wide metal plate, or the importance of avoiding vapour removal. Apart from that, video results of different phenomena that cloud chamber allow to observe are also presented. Overall, it is aimed to present a physical insight that pedagogical papers usually lack.

Mersey Estuary saltmarsh vegetation survey 2002

This is the Mersey Estuary Saltmarsh vegetation survey 2002 report produced by the English Nature Cheshire in 2003. This report looks at the mapping of vegetation communities on the saltmarsh of the Mersey Estuary. The total area of saltmarsh and associated communities within the Mersey Estuary was found to be 724.1 ha. Most of the saltmarsh in the Mersey Estuary is presently ungrazed or only very lightly grazed, creating a very rank sward in excess of 20 cm in height which is not generally suitable for grazing or roosting birds. On the northern side of the Mersey Estuary, the saltmarsh around the Hale Decoy was lightly grazed by horses, but the remainder was ungrazed. On the south side, the saltmarsh was fairly heavily sheep-grazed along the Frodsham Score, very lightly grazed at Ince Banks by sheep straying from Frodsham and ungrazed at Stanlow Banks. Despite much of it presently being ungrazed, the saltmarsh of the Mersey Estuary is relatively poor in plant species. It appears that this is because the ungrazed areas have been so for less than 20 years and have thus not had time to develop the diversity of a long-established ungrazed marsh. However, withdrawal or depletion of grazing has produced a rank sward which is less valuable to grazing and roosting birds.

The role of substrate, flow and larval supply to recruitment of the red abalone (Haliotis rufescens)

Precipitous declines in wild populations of the red abalone Haliotis rufescens and the eventual closure of the commercial and southern recreational fishery have led to renewed interest in supplementing wild stocks with hatchery-raised individuals. Most work to date has focused on releasing small juveniles and has had limited success. Although much is known about larval settlement, juvenile survivorship and growth of abalone, there is scanty information on natural processes in the field. The failure of many regulated fisheries worldwide suggests that both the larval and juvenile stages may be important in determining the future population, and that early juvenile mortality is more important than previously believed. This paper presents a series of experiments designed to examine factors and mechanisms that could affect settlement, survivorship, and growth of larvae and early post-settlers in the field. Laboratory trials under different flow regimes showed that red abalone larvae settled preferentially on substrates encrusted with coralline algae, and that settlement was rapid when exposed to crusts compared to other surfaces. Urchin grazing of films appeared to facilitate abalone settlement but only when urchins were removed. Initial field experiments showed that released larvae settled on natural cobble rock, and that settlement was at least one order of magnitude greater when settlement habitats were tented. I then examined post-settlement survivorship at one and two days after settlement, and found that although there was a large amount of variation, on average 10% of released larvae were found as newly-settled recruits after 1 day. Survivorship and growth of recruits were followed over at least one month in both Spring and Fall. Abalone settled at higher densities, survived better and grew faster in the warmer Fall months than in the Spring. The density of month-old abalone recruits was correlated with density of naturally-occurring gastropods in the Spring, but not in the Fall. These results suggest that settlement and survivorship can be extremely variable across space and time, and that oceanographic and local biotic conditions play a role and should be considered when planning larval seeding.

Comunidades macrofaunais bênticas associadas às algas de deriva e à grama marinha Halodule wrightii Ascherson na Ilha do Japonês, Cabo Frio, RJ

As extensas pradarias submersas formadas pelas gramas marinhas são importantes habitats da costa, onde ocorrem interações ecológicas entre diversas espécies da vegetação subaquática, invertebrados bentônicos e peixes. As gramas marinhas e algas de deriva são conhecidas como macrófitas marinhas e, por ocuparem o mesmo tipo de substrato, são normalmente encontradas juntas, proporcionando oxigênio, alimento, proteção, abrigo além de sítios de reprodução e pastagem para os animais associados a essas pradarias. Amostras de algas de deriva e de H. wrightii foram coletadas, ao longo de transectos fixos de 50 m paralelos à Ilha do Japonês, a fim de analisar a existência de relações positivas entre as espécies de macrófitas marinhas e sua macrofauna associada, comparar as duas comunidades e avaliar a estruturação da comunidade macrofaunal bêntica do local. Os transectos foram alocados de acordo com a posição do banco de grama marinha. Observou-se que a densidade de eixos e a biomassa de H. wrightii não explicam a variação da biomassa, riqueza de espécies e diversidade (Índice de Simpson) das algas de deriva. A grande movimentação das algas de deriva ao longo do banco de grama marinha faz com que elas se homogeneízem e ocupem diferentes lugares ao acaso na pradaria, muitos desses locais com baixa biomassa de H. wrightii devido à grande variabilidade na distribuição dessa espécie no local de estudo. Os descritores ecológicos da grama marinha também não tiveram relações positivas com sua macrofauna bêntica associada. A comunidade macrofaunal associada às gramas marinhas foi mais densa, rica e diversa do que a comunidade macrofaunal associada às algas de deriva. Os moluscos Anomalocardia flexuosa, Cerithium atratum, Ostrea sp, Tellina lineata e Divalinga quadrissulcata dominaram o ambiente de gramas marinhas. A maior complexidade estrutural das algas de deriva forneceu um habitat protegido mais atrativo para os crustáceos como, Pagurus criniticornis, Cymadusa filosa e Batea catharinensis. A malacofauna associada às algas não foi abundante, mas um novo registro foi a ocorrência do bivalve invasor Lithopaga aristatus, perfurando uma concha de Ostrea sp. As relações entre os descritores da biomassa algal foram comprovadas para a maioria dos descritores de sua fauna associada. As relações das macrófitas marinhas com a macrofauna total associada seguiram o mesmo padrão das relações das algas de deriva. As análises de agrupamento e ordenação mostraram que as comunidades macrofaunais bênticas do local são estruturadas de acordo com os táxons dos organismos associados mais dominantes influenciados pelo tipo de vegetação basibionte (algas de deriva ou grama marinha). Destaca-se com o presente estudo a importância de medidas de maior proteção no local para a preservação e manutenção do ecossistema da Ilha do Japonês, RJ, Brasil

Monitoring of streambank stability and streamside vegetation in a livestock exclosure on the Warm Springs River, Oregon : comparison of ground-based surveys with aerial photographic analysis

The objective of this monitoring project was to determine the baseline condition for a 960-m long stream reach and its associated streamside zone, which terminates at the confluence with the Deschutes River. This stream reach had been damaged heavily in the February 1996 flood and had also received many years of overuse by livestock grazing. The monitoring project was conducted in July 1997 just after installation of riparian exclosure fencing. Future resurvey of the study area will allow determination of progress made in ecological recovery.

Changes in frost frequency and desert vegetation assemblages in Grand Canyon, Arizona

The effect of decreasing frost frequency on desert vegetation was documented in Grand Canyon by replication of historical photographs. Although views by numerous photographers of Grand Canyon have been examined, 400 Robert Brewster Stanton and Franklin A. Nims views taken in the winter of 1889-1890 provide the best information on recent plant distribution. In Grand Canyon, where grazing is limited by the rugged topography, vegetation dynamics are controlled by climate and by demographic processes such as seed productivity, recruitment, longevity and mortality. The replicated photographs show distribution and abundance of several species were limited by severe frost before 1889. Two of these, brittlebush (Encelia farinosa) and barrel cactus (Ferocactus cylindraceus), have clearly expanded their ranges up-canyon and have increased their densities at sites where they were present in 1890. In 1890, brittlebush was present in warm microhabitats that provided refugia from frost damage. Views showing desert vegetation in 1923 indicate that Encelia expanded rapidly to near its current distribution between 1890 and 1923, whereas the expansion of Ferocactus occurred more slowly. The higher frequency of frost was probably related to an anomalous increase in winter storms between 1878 (and possibly 1862) and 1891 in the southwestern United States.

Watershed restoration: a guide for citizen involvement in California.

There is nothing mysterious about how coastal rivers, their estuaries, and their relationship with the sea all work to satisfy many of our greatest needs, including drinkable water, fish and shellfish, and soils essential for sustaining the production of food and fiber. Nor are the methods that have proved successful in the protection and restoration of watershed health difficult to understand. It is difficult, however, to imagine how we are to survive without healthy watersheds. Each watershed along California’s coast shows signs of increasing abuse from road construction and maintenance, livestock grazing, residential development, timber harvesting, and a dozen other human activities. In some cases whole streams have simply been wiped away. This document has been created to guide and support every person in the community, from homemaker to elected official, who wants her or his watershed to provide clean water, harvestable fish resources and other proof that life in the watershed cannot only be maintained but also enjoyed. It is based on years of experience with watershed protection and restoration in California. If citizen involvement is to be effective, it must draw not only on scientific knowledge but also on an understanding of how to translate individual views into commitments and capable group action. This guide briefly reviews the condition of California’s coastal watersheds, identifies the kinds of concerns that have led citizens to successful watershed protection efforts, explains why citizen, in addition to government, effort is essential for watershed protection and restoration to succeed, and puts in the reader’s hands both the technical and organizational “tools of the trade” in the hope that those who use this guide will be encouraged to join in efforts to make their watershed serve this and future generations better.

Increased toxicity of Karenia brevis during phosphate limited growth: ecological and evolutionary implications

Karenia brevis is the dominant toxic red tide algal species in the Gulf of Mexico. It produces potent neurotoxins (brevetoxins [PbTxs]), which negatively impact human and animal health, local economies, and ecosystem function. Field measurements have shown that cellular brevetoxin contents vary from 1–68 pg/cell but the source of this variability is uncertain. Increases in cellular toxicity caused by nutrient-limitation and inter-strain differences have been observed in many algal species. This study examined the effect of P-limitation of growth rate on cellular toxin concentrations in five Karenia brevis strains from different geographic locations. Phosphorous was selected because of evidence for regional P-limitation of algal growth in the Gulf of Mexico. Depending on the isolate, P-limited cells had 2.3- to 7.3-fold higher PbTx per cell than P-replete cells. The percent of cellular carbon associated with brevetoxins (%C-PbTx) was ~ 0.7 to 2.1% in P-replete cells, but increased to 1.6–5% under P-limitation. Because PbTxs are potent anti-grazing compounds, this increased investment in PbTxs should enhance cellular survival during periods of nutrient-limited growth. The %C-PbTx was inversely related to the specific growth rate in both the nutrient-replete and P-limited cultures of all strains. This inverse relationship is consistent with an evolutionary tradeoff between carbon investment in PbTxs and other grazing defenses, and C investment in growth and reproduction. In aquatic environments where nutrient supply and grazing pressure often vary on different temporal and spatial scales, this tradeoff would be selectively advantageous as it would result in increased net population growth rates. The variation in PbTx/cell values observed in this study can account for the range of values observed in the field, including the highest values, which are not observed under N-limitation. These results suggest P-limitation is an important factor regulating cellular toxicity and adverse impacts during at least some K. brevis blooms.

Osmotic stress does not trigger brevetoxin production in the dinoflagellate Karenia brevis

With the global proliferation of toxic Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) species, there is a need to identify the environmental and biological factors that regulate toxin production. One such species, Karenia brevis, forms nearly annual blooms that threaten coastal regions throughout the Gulf of Mexico. This dinoflagellate produces brevetoxins, potent neurotoxins that cause neurotoxic shellfish poisoning and respiratory illness in humans, as well as massive fish kills. A recent publication reported that a rapid decrease in salinity increased cellular toxin quotas in K. brevis and hypothesized that brevetoxins serve a role in osmoregulation. This finding implied that salinity shifts could significantly alter the toxic impacts of blooms. We repeated the original experiments separately in three different laboratories and found no evidence for increased brevetoxin production in response to low-salinity stress in any of the eight K. brevis strains we tested, including three used in the original study. Thus, we find no support for an osmoregulatory function of brevetoxins. The original publication also stated that there was no known cellular function for brevetoxins. However, there is increasing evidence that brevetoxins promote survival of the dinoflagellates by deterring grazing by zooplankton. Whether they have other as yet unidentified cellular functions is currently unknown.

Mesoscale, cyclonic eddies as larval fish habitat along the southeast United States shelf: A Lagrangian description of the zooplankton community

The Charleston Gyre region is characterized by continuous series of cyclonic eddies that propagate northeastwards before decaying or coalescing with the Gulf Stream south of Cape Hatteras, NC, USA. Over 5 d, chlorophyll-a concentration, zooplankton displacement volume, and zooplankton composition and abundance changed as the eddy moved to the northeast. Surface chlorophyll-a concentration decreased, and zooplankton displacement remained unchanged as the eddy propagated. Zooplankton taxa known to be important dietary constituents of larval fish increased in concentration as the eddy propagated. The concurrent decrease in chlorophyll-a concentration and static zooplankton displacement volume can be explained by initial stimulation of chlorophyll-a concentration by upwelling and nutrient enrichment near the eddy core and to possible grazing as zooplankton with short generation times and large clutch sizes increased in concentration. The zooplankton community did not change significantly within the 5 d that the eddy was tracked, and there was no indication of succession. Mesoscale eddies of the region are dynamic habitats as eddies propagate northeastwards at varying speeds within monthly periods. The abundance of zooplankton important to the diets of larval fish indicates that the region can provide important pelagic nursery habitat for larval fish off the southeast coast of the United States. A month of feeding and growth is more than half the larval duration of most fish spawned over the continental shelf of the southeastern United States in winter.

放牧对内蒙古冷蒿小禾草草原植物群落特征的影响

了解天然草原放牧生态系统中，不同管理措施对草－畜系统的影响及系统中草－畜互作方式，是实现草原生态系统持续管理的基础。在内蒙古典型草原区，我们建立了24hm2围栏放牧实验样地。本文通过对试验样地5个放牧率（1.33，2.67，4.00，5.33和6.67羊／hm2）和两种放牧方式下（连续放牧与轮牧）一年排除放牧后植被变化的研究，试图揭示8年的放牧对草地群落的作用结果，探寻放牧率与植物群落生产力、种类组成和演替方向的关系，以求为建立合理的放牧制度提供佐证。 研究发现：①不同的放牧率下8年的放牧使地上生物量出现显著差异，中度放牧（SR3）下的草原群落达到了最大地上生物量，在较轻的放牧率（SR1，SR2）下有超补偿生长出现，地下生物量随着放牧率的升高而下降。②放牧使群落植物组成发生重大变化，随着放牧率的升高，表现出明显的向星毛委陵菜退化草原演替的趋势，无牧的群落表现出恢复演替的趋势。③在轻牧（SR1）处理下植物群落达到了最高的多样性，在多样性与生物量之间，不能发现较具规律性的关系。④轮牧群落的生产力潜力显著高于连续放牧，连续放牧方式造成植物斑块状分布，降低了草场的利用效率。⑤放牧造成了草原植物生态位分化。

放牧对典型草原土壤-植物系统中碳、氮、磷库特征的影响

放牧是内蒙古典型草原最主要的利用方式。放牧已对草原生态系统的结构和功能产生了巨大的影响。本论文研究了放牧对内蒙古典型草原土壤-植物系统中碳、氮、磷库特征的影响，结果表明： （1）草地开垦已使土壤C、N贮量显著损失。放牧已使羊草草原土壤C贮量表现出下降的趋势，大针茅草原没有表现出这种变化趋势。 （2）放牧尚没有使土壤全N发生显著变化，但土壤N素一些组分的比例发生了变化。放牧后，土壤NH_3-N下降，酸不溶态N比例有所提高;放牧使Fe-P比例显著降低。 （3）蒙古草原土壤微生物量C、N与土壤有机C、全N、降雨量、温度均表现出了很好的相关性。放牧对微生物量的影响与不同草原类型和放牧率有关。 （4）放牧使土壤养分元素的空间异质性加大。退化草地恢复过程中小叶锦鸡儿灌丛诱导了植物组成、生物量和土壤化学元素含量在空间上的分异，这种生态效应有利于退化草地的恢复。 （5）不同放牧强度对土壤C、N、P库和植物系统中C、N、P含量的影响不同。放牧使植物系统地上部C含量下降，N、P含量提高。高强度的放牧使土壤N、根系中的N素向表层相对聚集，表现出明显的表聚化现象。植物C/N、C/P比在中、重度放牧强度下最低，此时植物残体分解速率最高，极度放牧最终C、N循环速率减小。不考虑放牧率，研究放牧对土壤C、N、P含量的影响可能会得出矛盾的结论。 （6）放牧草地中低等植物地衣、蓝细菌在元素化学循环中的作用提高。地衣Xanthoparmelia camtschadalis （Ach.）的生物量在经度放牧草地中最高，其体内C、N含量与放牧率的关系与维管植物相似。退化草地中蓝细菌可能是最重要的N素来源。

松嫩平原盐碱化草地模拟模型研究

松嫩平原盐碱化草地是我国著名的天然草场，又是东北西部绿色生态屏障，具有较高的经济价值和重要的生态意义。但是由于各种自然因素和人为因素，致使草地出现退化、沙化和盐渍化，尤其是草地盐渍化加重，生态环境日趋恶化。当地地形条件和气候要素是导致草地原生盐碱化的主要原因。而人类对草地的过度使用，如过度放牧和割草等则是导致草地快速次生盐碱化的主要原因，不仅导致土壤的退化，而且引起草地群落发生次生演替过程。在典型的次生演替过程中，常常可以出现羊革(Aneurolepidium chinense)群落、羊草和一虎尾草(Aneurotepidium chinense＆Chloris virgata)群落、虎尾草(Chloris virgata)群落、碱蓬(Suaeda glauca)群落等演替阶段。 本文试图建立一个过程模型，来模拟草地的生态学过程机理以及人类过度放牧对草地生态系统的影响。本模型包括5个部分：1）主要气候因子的模拟，2)土壤水分动态的模拟，3）土壤盐碱化动态的模拟，4）草地群落生长的模拟，5)不同放牧强度对草地生态系统的影响评价。以下将对各个部分分别描述a 在气候因子模拟子模型中，给出了影响草地生态系统主要气候园子的种类，并重点介绍了如何利用解析法计算太阳辐射，包括平地和坡地的理论可照时间，天文辐射日总量以及总辐射量。利用改进后的Penman式，模拟了全国的潜在蒸散量，与900多个气象站点的水面蒸发观测资料进行了验证，模拟结果很好。 利用面向对象技术，将土壤水分动力学模型与水分平衡模型相结合，建立了土壤水分动态的物理过程模型。模型以ld为步长，可以模拟多种土壤质地的水分动态。利用松嫩平原4中典型土壤（碳酸盐草甸黑钙土、栗钙土、碱化盐土、草甸碱土）1997年土壤湿度观测资料对模型进行了验证，效果根理想。 在水盐平衡模型和动力学模型基础上建立了物理过程模型，来模拟土壤盐碱化动态。模型以ld为步长，适合于模拟异质性强的多层土壤水盐动态。模拟了1997年羊草及碱蓬群落下的土壤盐分、碱化度、pH值动态，并与实验资料进行了比较，模拟结果可以反映土壤盐分和碱化的季节变化规律。 模型将气候要素、土壤湿度、土壤盐分浓度、碱化度和pH值作为影响草地群落生长最重要的环境因子，在土壤水分动态和盐碱化动态模型基础上，建立了过程模型来模拟以羊草(A．chinense)、虎尾草(C.virgata)、星星草(Puccinellialenuiflora)和碱蓬(S. glauca)为建群种的4种植物群落的地上生物量、地下生物量以及枯死生物量变化动态。利用吉林省长岭的气候资料和实验资料，模拟了1991年土壤湿度动态，1991年4种群落土壤盐分、碱化度和pH值变化动态，以及1991年4种群落生长动态，并分另fj利用实验资料进行了验证，模拟效果非常理想。 在此基础上，利用模型对不同放牧强度对土壤水分动态、盐碱化动态的影响进行了评价，并探讨了对群落演替和生长的可能影响。模型选择不放牧、轻牧、重牧、过牧、极牧5种放牧强度，利用模型每15天将地上生物量分别去除0%. 25%、50%、75%和90%，并且相应改变了土壤导水特性来模拟不同的放牧强度。模拟结果表明，重牧、过牧、极牧下土壤湿度显著降低，但在轻牧下土壤温度略有上升。在不放牧时，土壤以脱盐、脱碱过程为主，而轻牧下脱盐、脱碱过程则会变缓：重牧、过牧、极牧下则以盐碱化为主。．不放牧时羊草群落一直占优势，而轻牧下则被羊草一虎尾草群落替代：虎尾草可以忍受轻的盐碱，因此在重牧F取代羊草群落成为优势种;在过牧和极牧下，土壤盐碱化非常迅速，最终只有碱蓬可以忍受强度的盐碱，这时草地变为碱蓬群落或光碱斑。不放牧下草地群落生长良好，生物量最大;轻牧下，草地群落生物量保持在中等水平;而重牧、过牧、极牧下草地生物量迅速减少。通过将每年收割的生物量进行累加，可以发现轻牧下收获的生物量总量是最大的，随着放牧强度的增加，收获的生物量迅速减少，如果同时考虑到适口性的问题，则可以发现轻牧下可 以收获最多的生物量，而过牧和极牧下只能收获极少的适口性非常差的碱蓬。 模拟结果表明，过牧是导致松嫩草地次生盐碱化最重要的原因，它不仅造成草地土壤的退化，而且加速了草地群落的次生演替。适宜的放牧强度对于保护草地免受退化，保持较高的草地生产力水平至关重要。而过牧不仅降低了草地的生产力，而且严重破坏了草地环境，引起草地的迅速退化。