Macrofaunal assemblages from mud volcanoes in the Gulf of Cadiz

Desde a descoberta em 1999 do primeiro vulcão de lama no Golfo de Cádis, cerca de 40 locais, de profundidade variável entre os 200 e os 3900 m, com diferentes graus de emissão de hidrocarbonetos foram localizados e amostrados dentro do programa IOC-UNESCO “Training Through Research (TTR) “ e mais recentemente dentro do projecto europeu HERMES. Neste estudo investigamos as comunidades da macrofauna dos vulcões de lama do Golfo de Cádis utilizando uma diversidade de equipamento de amostragem quantitativo e não quantitativo. Mais de 14550 espécimes foram examinados e incluídos nos diferentes grupos taxonómicos, sendo fornecida uma lista taxonómica detalhada com o menor nível taxonómico possível. A biodiversidade, distribuição dos principais taxa, as espécies quimiossintéticas e a biodiversidade regional e substituição de espécies são apresentados e discutidos. Dentro da macrofauna, os bivalves (nomeadamente super-familia Thyasiroidea, espécies quimisimbióticos e comunidade de bivalves) e os ofiurideos são estudados em pormenor. Os Thyasiroidea colhidos nos vulcões de lama do Golfo de Cádis são revistos. Das sete espécies identificadas, apenas uma Thyasira vulcolutre. sp. nov se encontra associada a um ambiente quimiossintético. Esta espécie é restrita a locais activos, mas não se verificam padrões de distribuição para as outras espécies. Os bivalves quimiosimbióticos amostrados são revistos. Das 10 espécies fortemente associadas a ambientes quimiossintéticos duas Solemyidae, Petrasma elarraichensis sp. nov. e Acharax gadirae sp. nov., uma Lucinidae, Lucinoma asapheus sp. nov., e uma Vesicomyidae, Isorropodon megadesmus sp. nov. são descritas e comparadas com similares das respectivas famílias. As comunidades de bivalves foram analisadas em detalhe e do estudo de 759 espécimes (49 espécies em 21 familias) descreve-se a diversidade e padrões de distribuição. Os Ophiuroidea amostrados nos vulcões de lama e ambientes batiais adjacentes são revistos. Treze espécies são incluídas em 4 famílias, Ophiacanthidae, Ophiactidae, Amphiuridae e Ophiuridae e são identificadas, tendo sido descrita uma nova espécie Ophiopristis cadiza sp. nov. Rácios isotópicos (δ13C, δ15N, δ34S) foram determinados em várias espécies no intuito de investigar a ecologia trófica das comunidades bênticas dos vulcões do Golfo de Cádis. Os valores de δ13C para os bivalves Solemyidae, Lucinidae e Thyasiridae estão de acordo com os valores para outros bivalves conhecidos por possuírem simbiontes tiotróficos. Por outro lado os valores de δ13C e δ34S para Bathymodiolus mauritanicus sugerem a ocorrência de metanotrofia. A análise da fauna heterotrófica indica igualmente que as espécies habitantes da cratera dos vulcões de lama derivam a sua nutrição de fontes quimiossintéticas. A indicação pela análise isotópica que as bactérias autotróficas contribuem substancialmente para a nutrição dos bivalves hospedeiros, levou-nos a investigar os endossimbiontes e as suas relações filogenéticas relativamente a outros bivalves através da análise comparativa de análises de sequências de 16S ribossomal RNS. Análises moleculares PCR-DGGE (Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis) e clonagem de genes de bacterias 16S rRNA confirmaram a presença de simbiontes oxidantes de enxofre e colocam a possibilidade de uma simbiose dupla para o B. mauritanicus. A diversidade microbiana dentro dos Frenulata foi igualmente estudada recorrendo a métodos moleculares e revelou a não existência de padrão entre espécies, vulcões, profundidade e idade do animal sugerindo assim a não procura de simbiontes específicos.

Bauxite residue (Red mud) as a pulverised fuel ash substitute in the manufacture of lightweight aggregate

This study looked at the potential of bauxite residue or red mud to be used in the manufacture of lightweight aggregate in replacement of pulverised fuel ash (PFA), commonly used as a way of recycling problematic wastes. The percentage replacements of red mud with PFA were as follows: 25, 31, 38, 44 and 50%. These were blended in a mix with waste excavated clay and sewage sludge – all from the Chongqing municipality in China. Lightweight pellets were produced using a Trefoil rotary kiln and were sintered to 1200 °C. Results showed that 44 % bauxite residue replacement produced lightweight pellets with the highest compressive strength, highest density and largest water holding capacity. This would be expected in materials with a low level of silicates, which causes insufficient glass phase viscosity and therefore poor bloating during firing; producing an aggregate with a higher density but with open pores that allowed for larger water absorption. All ratios of red mud aggregates were significantly reduced in pH after firing to around pH 8, and this reduced the leachability of the aggregates to levels below those set by the European landfill directive (2003/33/EC).

Texture, composition and provinance of innershelf sediments between Narakkal and Purakkad, Kerala with special reference to the formation of Mud Banks

The continental shelf of southwest coast of India (Kerala) is broader and . flatter compared to that of the east coast. The unique characteristic feature of the study area (innershelf between Narakkal and Purakkad) is the intermittent appearance of 'mud banks' at certain locations during southwest monsoon. The strong seasonality manifests significant changes in the wind, waves, currents, rainfall, drainage etc., along this area. Peculiar geomorphological variation with high, mid and lowlands in the narrow strip of the hinterland, the geological formations mainly consisting of rocks of metamorphic origin and the humid tropical weathering conditions play significant role in regulating the shelf sedimentation. A complementary pattern of distri bution is observed for clay that shows an abundance in the nearshore. Silt, to a major extent, depicts semblance with clay distribution . Summation of the total asymmetry of grain size distribution are inferred from the variation of skewness and kurtosis.Factor I implies a low energy regime where the transportation and deposition phases are controlled mostly by pelagic suspension process as the factor loadings are dominant on finer phi sizes. The second Factor is inferred to be the result of a high energy regime which gives higher loadings on coarser size fractions. The third Factor which might be a transition phase (medium energy regime) representing the resultant flux of coastal circulation of the re-suspension/deposition and an onshoreoffshore advection by reworking and co-deposition of relict and modern sediments. The spatial variations of the energy regime based on the three end-member factor model exhibits high energy zone in the seaward portion transcending to a low energy one towards the coast.From the combined analysis of granulometry and SEM studies, it is concluded that the sandy patches beyond 20 m depth are of relict nature. They are the resultant responses of beach activity during the lower stand of sea level in the Holocene. Re-crystallisation features on the quartz grains indicate that they were exposed to subaerial weathering process subsequent to thei r deposition

Studies on the, Physical Aspects of the Mud Banks along the Kerala Coast

A detailed survey of the present knowledge on the physical aspects of the mud banks has been presented in chapter 1.The physical geographical and geological aspects of the kerala coast, the shore-line and the sea bed and the various views on the formation,movements and dissipation of the mud banks have been discussed.The scope of the present work and a description of the area of study have also been given in this chapter. The horizontal and vertical distribution and the seasonal variations of the concentration of suspended matter in the mud bank region are discussed in chapter 3.it is seen that the mud bank reses above the bottom in the form of a ridged ,irregular,solid come with a flat top. Chapter vi deals with waves and currents in the region of the mud bank. The orientation of the breakers on either side of the mud bank suggests the possibility of formation of opposing alongshore currents and convergence of energy caused by wave refraction.The distribution of currents during the formative nature and dissipating stages of the mud bank show that the converging alongshore currents give rise to offshore flows

Studies on the benthose of the mud bank regions of the Kerala coast

There is very little information on the subtidal bottom fauna of the shelf regions in the seas around India. What little is known is restricted to macro benthos. The paucity of the work on bottom fauna and the importance of mud banks in the fishery of the South West Coast of India has initiated the present study. Attempts have been made to obtain a picture of the bottom fauna of a mud bank region of the Kerala Coast. The difficulties involved in the sampling and analysis, especially the availability of a suitable vessel during the S.W. Monsoon, resulted in the work being restricted mainly to the Narakal mud bank region 6 Km. north of Cochin Detailed sampling is conducted using grab, dredge and to a small extent beam trawl, to assess the qualitative and quantitative nature of the macro benthos. Important species contributing to the fauna are identified and the standing crop estimated for different seasons. The meiobenthos was studied using core samples taken from the grab. Animals were identified to the major taxa. Standing crop of meiobenthos and the quantitative importance of different groups were also studied. The data collected have been interpreted and discussed. As an understanding of the physico-chemical aspects of the environment is essential in order to obtain a true picture of the benthos, attempts were made in this direction. Environmental parameters such as temperature of the sediment, salinity, temperature, and dissolved oxygen in the overlying water were studied .during the period of benthos investigation. Monthly observations on the dissolved inorganic and organic phosphorus in the area of investigation have been made. The physico-chemical nature of the sediment was also studied. Influence of these ecological variables on the bottom fauna is discussed.

Provenance, Sedimentation and Geochemistry' of the Modern Sediments of time Mud Banks Off the Centrai Keraia Coast, India

This thesis is an attempt to Provenence, Sedimentetion and Geochemistry of the Modern Sediments of the Mud Banks off the Central Kerela Coast, India. In the present doctoral work, an attempt has been made to study in detail the mud banks of central Kerala, i.e. of Narakkal, Saudi and Purakkad areas which are reported as permanent mud banks, since olden days. The studies have been conducted during the years 1985 and 1986. The important findings of the study is stated as clay mineralogical studies of the rivers, lake and mud bank sediments reveal that the dominant clay mineral is kaolinite followed by montmorillonite, illite and gibbsite. Geochemical analysis of the Vembanad lake and mud bank sediments show that the iron and manganese are widely distributed both in the lake and mud bank sediments

‘Studies on the fishery and culture prospects of mud crabs (Genus Scylla de Haan) along the Kerala coast

Kerala has been one of the leading maritime states in India for the exploitation and export of mud crabs (Raj, 1992). Many brackishwater systems like the Ashtamudi lake, Vembanad lake, Cochin backwaters and Korapuzha estuary are well known for their rich population of mud crabs. Realizing the imperative need to build up a strong scientific base for proper management and conservation of the resource and also to develop proper technologiesfor seed production and farming of mud crabs, a detailed study was undertaken on the mud crabs of Kerala coast and the results are described in the thesis. The thesis is presented in four chapters

Meteorological aspects of mud bank formation along south west coast of India

The study mainly intends to investigate the meteorological aspects associated with the formation of mud banks along southwest coast of India. During the formation of mud bank, the prominent monsoon organized convection is located in the equatorial region and relatively low clouding over Indian mainland. The wind core of the low level jet stream passes through the monsoon organized convection. When the monsoon organized convection is in the equatorial region, the low level wind over the southwest coast of India is parallel to the coastline and toward south. This wind along the coast gives rise to Ekman mass transport away from the coastline and subsequently formation of mud bank, if the high wind stress persists continuously for three or more days. As a result of the increased alongshore wind stress, the coastal upwelling increases. An increase in chlorophyll-a concentration and total chlorophyll can also be seen associated with mudbank formation

Disseny de mini unitats (MUD) de l'àrea de coneixement del medi social i cultural. 'Diseño de mini unidades (MUD) del área de conocimiento del medio social y cultural'.

Se han elaborado diez unidades didácticas que se subdividen en 41 mini unidades didácticas (MUD), con las que el alumnado de ciclo superior de primaria podrá trabajar objetivos curriculares del área del medio social y cultural.

El arte mud??jar en las provincias de Castilla y Le??n : Segovia, Valladolid y Palencia

El trabajo no ha sido publicado

Ruta y cat??logo audiovisual del arte mud??jar en la Comunidad de Villa y Tierra de Cu??llar

Registro con c??digo de documento duplicado y modificado posteriormente

The breeding biology of the White-faced Storm Petrel (Pelagodroma marina) on Mud Islands, Port Phillip Bay, Victoria

The White-faced Storm Petrel (Pelagodroma marina) is restricted to three breeding colonies within Victoria: Mud Islands and South Channel Fort in Port Phillip Bay, and Tullaberga Island off Mallacoota. Numbers of these storm petrels breeding on Mud Islands have declined considerably since early last century. White-faced Storm Petrels were recorded on Mud Islands from early September 2002 until mid-March 2003 when the last chicks fledged. Eggs were laid from late October to early December, with chicks hatching in the later half of December. The mean incubation period was 51.7 days (± 3.2 days (s.d.), range = 38–53, n = 13), and may have been extended by periods of egg neglect. The mean nestling period was 54.8 days (± 4.4 days (s.d.), range 50–70, n = 21). Chick growth is described. Hatching success was 54% and fledging success was 77.8%, with overall breeding success being 42%. Burrow densities were found to be influenced by plant species, vegetation height and soil moisture. The position of the burrow within the colony was shown to influence breeding success, with those nearer the edge of the storm petrel colony, closer to the marsh, and further from a colony of Australian White (Threskiornis molucca) and Straw-necked (T. spinicollis) Ibis recording higher success.