ALBERT

Description: In der Zentralen Dobrogea in Ostrumänien liegen die östlichsten europäischen Vorkommen oberjurassischer Mikrobialith/Kieselschwamm-Gesteine (Spongiolithe). Im Oxfordium existierte in der Zentralen Dobrogea eine flach nach Westen geneigte Karbonatplattform (homoklinale Rampe), auf der verschiedene kieselschwamm- und korallendominierte Rifftypen auftraten. Die Entwicklung der Karbonatrampe begann mit einer raschen Transgression im unteren Oxfordium. Gegen Ende der transgressiven Phase konnten sich in Wassertiefen unterhalb ca. 25 m Schwammrasen etablieren, in der Hochstandsphase schließlich auch Kieselschwamm/Mikrobialith-Bioherme. Ein für die rumänischen Vorkommen charakteristischer ringförmiger Biohermtyp spiegelt vermutlich ein präexistierendes Relief des Untergrundes wieder. Diese Kieselschwamm/Mikrobialith-Riffe besaßen ein früh zementiertes rigides Gerüst aus mikrobiellen Automikriten, das in erster Linie von lithistiden Demospongien und von hexactinelliden Kieselschwämmen besiedelt war. Deren Skelette wurden nach ihrem Absterben ebenfalls mikrobiell zementiert und kalzifiziert. Die Reste ihrer Skelette sind in den Riffen untergeordnet überliefert, in den Biostromen dominieren sie jedoch gegenüber Mikrobialithen. Diese Mikrobialith-Kieselschwamm-Bioherme besiedelten die mittlere Rampe in Wassertiefen, die unterhalb der Schönwetter-Wellenbasis lagen und nur bei schweren Stürmen von der Sturmwellenbasis erreicht wurden. Auf der äußeren Rampe von Sturmwellen nicht erreichbar entwickelten sich gleichzeitig kleine Thrombolith-Kieselschwamm-Mudmounds, an denen vorwiegend Hexactinellida beteiligt waren. Landwärts verzahnten sich die Spongiolithe mit kalkigen Areniten. In Wassertiefen vermutlich um 10 bis 15 m traten die ersten sehr dünnplattigen hermatypen Korallen auf und bildeten weite Biostrome (Fungiiden-Biostrome). Gründe für die Ablösung der Mikrobialith-Kieselschwamm-Assoziation durch hermatype Korallen erst in so flachem Wasser sind zum einen die geringe Toleranz der Mikrobialith-Kieselschwamm-Assoziation gegenüber stärkerer Wasserbewegung mit erhöhten Sedimentations- und Sedimentumlagerungs-Raten. Zum anderen hinderte möglicherweise eine Einschränkung der euphotischen Zone durch ein zeitweise leicht erhöhtes Nährstoffangebot mit Planktonblüte und dadurch verringerter Wassertransparenz hermatype Korallen daran, in tiefere Bereiche vorzudringen. Die im oberen Oxfordium einsetzende Regression führte zur Progradation der lagunären und bioklastischen Fazies der inneren Rampe. In dieser retrograden Phase entstanden Korallen-Fleckenriffe im hochenergetischen Flachwasser und Korallen-Stromatoporen-Chaetetiden-Fleckenriffe in den flachsten Teilen der mittleren Rampe. Die Schwamm-Mikrobialith-Assoziation verschwand zuerst in der östlichen Zentralen Dobrogea. In landferner Position im Westteil der Zentralen Dobrogea wurde sie etwas später von Korallenvorkommen abgelöst.

Description: The Central Dobrogea in Eastern Romania exhibits the easternmost occurrence of Upper Jurassic microbialite/siliceous sponge facies (spongiolite facies) in Europe. The spongiolites are part of the Lower to Upper Oxfordian Casimcea Fm. which was deposited on a gently westward dipping carbonate platform (homoclinal ramp). This platform was surrounded by deep marine basins in the south, west and north, while to the east the existence of a land area with low relief is assumed. The gently sloping carbonate ramp shows an E-W facies zonation. A lagoonal belt is followed towards the open sea by a coral patch reef belt, a bioclastic-oolitic sand belt, and a spongiolitic belt. The lagoonal belt is rich in structureless to laminated microbial crusts, which occasionally exhibit prism cracks and comprise bioclasts and dark lithoclasts ("black pebbles"). Crusts are accompanied by oncoidal wackestones with Bacinella-Lithocodium oncoids. C/adocorops/s-cayeuxiid floatstones are transitional to the facies of the coral patch reef belt. Seaward of the coral patch reef belt, bioclastic and oolitic sands occupy the proximal middle ramp. The transition to deeper water is reflected by changes in sedimentary and faunal composition from moderately to poorly sorted bioclastic and intraclastic grainstones/rudstones, to oolitic sands, and eventually to fine grained bioclastic packstones. In these packstone areas, coral reef banks grew which are entirely different from coral reefs of the patch reef belt. They were constructed almost exclusively by thin laminoid fungiid corals (Microsolena sp., Comoseris sp. Thamnasteria sp.). Seaward adjacent to these packstone areas are sponge meadows with interspersed microbialite/siliceous sponge reefs. These are followed by monotonous bioclastic wackestones. Small mud mounds bearing siliceous sponge are intercalated. The different reef types occupied specific positions on the ramp. In general spongiolitic facies developed at a more distal and deeper position on the ramp than any coral-dominated facies. The development of the carbonate ramp started with a rapid transgression in Lower Oxfordian time. At the end of the transgressive phase sponge meadows could establish themselves at water depths below about 25 m. During the time of relative sea level high stand microbialite-siliceous sponge bioherms developed, interspersed into the sponge meadows. These spongiolitic reefs occasionally show peculiar ring shapes, a feature that is only observed in Romania. Their formation was most probably controlled by a preexisting uneven surface with subtle hollows. The spongiolitic bioherms had an early cemented microbialitic framework, which was settled by lithistid demosponges and hexactinellid sponges. After the death of the sponges, their skeletons were also calcified and microbially cemented. The ring-shaped bioherms developed on the distal middle ramp below fair weather wave base, where only during heavy storms waves could touch the bottom. On the outer ramp below storm wave base small thrombolitic mud mounds dominated by hexactinellid sponges developed at the same time. Landwards, on the middle ramp, the spongiolitic belt interfingered with bioclastic sands. In water depths of about 1 0 to 1 5 m very thin platy corals appeared forming wide biostromes (fungiid biostromes). One important reason why hermatypic corals did not substitute the siliceous sponge facies in deeper water as well might have been pulses of slightly elevated nutrient concentrations. These elevated nutrient concentrations stimulated growth of plankton, which reduced water transparency, limiting depth range of hermatypic corals and calcareous algae. On the other hand high water turbulence together with elevated rates of sediment input and sediment movement prevented siliceous sponges from growing in areas where fair weather waves influenced the sea-bottom. Regression started in late Oxfordian time and lagoonal and bioclastic facies of the inner ramp prograded to the west. During this phase coral patch reefs developed in very shallow and turbulent water and coral-stromatoporoid patch reefs grew on the proximal middle ramp. The microbialite-siliceous sponge association first disappeared in the eastern part of the Central Dobrogea. In the western part the spongiolitic association was substituted by coral-dominated associations only during the latest Oxfordian. All reef types bearing microbialites (all spongiolitic buildups and fungiid biostromes) developed during transgression or relative sea level highstand. Coral patch reefs in shallow water did establish themselves during the regressive phase. Two basic types of microbialite crusts are recognized in Central Dobrogea: Fenestral automicritic crusts and peloidal automicritic crusts. In fenestral automicritic crusts lamination is often indistinct and defined by dense intervals alternating with losely packed intervals where small linear arranged spar-cemented areas (fenestrae) occur. This crust type is exclusively observed in the spongiolitic belt on the outer ramp where it forms the primary 'framework' in the thrombolitic mudmounds and participates in the hexactinellid-dominated biostromes. In a slightly shallower position within the ring-shaped bioherms they play only a minor role. Peloidal automicritic crusts show a rhythmical lamination which originates from the alternation of spar-cemented peloidal intervals and thin micritic layers. The peloidal intervals have integrated a varying amount of detrital grains. A fine-grained variety of this crust type forms the rigid primary framework of the ring-shaped bioherms. Coarse-grained varieties, locally with an ooid portion, developed in somewhat shallower and more turbulent water in the fungiid biostromes and in the coral-stromatoporoid patch reefs. Like the formation of the different crust types, the early diagenesis of sponge skeletons together with their organic tissue is another example for a microbially induced formation of automicrites. In general two modes of cementation are distinguished, a dense aphanitic and a peloidal one. It is assumed that the mode of cementation of the siliceous sponges (lithistid demosponges and hexactinellids) depends on the taxonomic affiliation of the sponges and on the physical and chemical conditions of the environment where they lived and died. Lithistid demosponges always show a peloidal mode of preservation. Hexactinellids, from deep and very low energy settings, however, exhibit dense aphanitic cementation and complete preservation. In shallower, more turbulent zones (ring-shaped bioherms) they have a low preservation potential and are in general incompletely preserved with a coarse grained peloidal mode of cementation.

Description: thesis

Description: DFG, SUB Göttingen

Description: Baron-Szabo, R.C. & Steuber, T.: Korallen und Rudisten aus dem Apt im tertiären Flysch des Pamass-Gebirges bei Delphi-Arachowa (Mittelgriechenland) … 3 ; Fechner, G.G.: Septarienton und Stettiner Sand als Fazieseinheiten im Rupelium der östl. Mark Brandenburg: Palynologisch-fazielle Untersuchungen bei Bad Freienwalde ... 77 ; Fischer, K.: Das Mammut (Mammuthus primigenius Blumenbach, 1799) von Klinge bei Cottbus in der Niederlausitz (Land Brandenburg) ... 121 ; Frydas, D. & Keupp, H.: Biostratigraphical results in Late Neogene deposits of NW Crete, Greece, based on calcareous nannofossils ... 169 ; Kohring, R.: Structure and Biomineralization of Eggshell of Elaphe guttata (Linnö 1766) (Serpentes: Colubridae) ... 191 ; Kriiger, F.J.: Parietale Modifikationen bei Echinocorys obliqua (Nilssohn 1828) (Echinoidea, Holasterida) und ihre Beziehungen zur Weichkörper-Organisation ... 201 ; May, A. & Becker, R.T.: Ein Korallen-Horizont im Unteren Bänderschiefer (höchstes Mitteldevon) von Hohenlimburg-Elsey im Nordsauerland (Rheinisches Schiefergebirge) ... 209 ; Mehl, D. & Reitner, J.: Observations on Astraeospongium meniscum (Roemer, 1848) from the Silurian of western Tennessee: Constructional morphology and palaeobiology of the Astraeospongiidae (Calcarea, Heteractinellidae) 243 ; Neumann, C.: The mode of life and paleobiogeography of the genus Douvillaster Lambert (Echinoidea: Spatangoida) as first recorded in the Lower Cretaceous (Albian) of Spain ... 257 ; Niebuhr, B.: Die Scaphiten (Ammonoidea, Ancyloceratina) des höheren Obercampan der Lehrter Westmulde östlich Hannover (N-Deutschland) ... 267 ; Rehfeld, U.: Der Ausgangschemismus fossiler peloidaler und aphanitischer Zemente - eine geochemische Analyse an jurassischen und kretazischen Karbonatgesteinen ... 289 ; Rehfeld, U.: Steuerungsfaktoren bei der Dissoziierung des Skelettes und der Zementation des Gewebes bei jurassischen und kretazischen Kieselschwämmen ... 303 ; Rehfeld, U.: Paläoredoxpotential während der Diagenese von jurassischen und kretazischen spongiolithischen Biokonstruktionen ... 321 ; Werner, C. & Bardet, N.: New record of elasmosaurs (Reptilia, Plesiosauria) in the Maastrichtian of the Western Desert of Egypt ... 335 ; Wiese, F.: Preliminary Data on the Turanian Ammonite Biostratigraphy of the Liencres Area (Province Cantabria, Northern Spain) ... 343 ; Wilmsen, M.: Flecken-Riffe in den Kalken der „Formaciön de Altamira“ (Cenoman, Cobreces/Tofianes-Gebiet, Prov. Kantabrien, Nord-Spanien): Stratigraphische Position, fazielle Rahmenbedingungen und Sequenzstratigraphie ... 353 ; Rauhut, O.W.M.: Bibliographie 1995, Institut für Paläontologie, Freie Universität Berlin ... 375 ;

Description: research

Description: DFG, SUB Göttingen

Description: The natural feeding of the two most abundant ommastrephid squid (Cephalopoda: Ommastrephidae) in Galician waters was studied and compared. A sample of 334 stomach contents of Todaropsis eblanae (34–222 mm ML) and 267 stomach contents of Illex coindetii (50–379 mm ML) caught by commercial trawlers was examined. A total of 21 (T. eblanae) and 23 (I. coindetii) different prey items, belonging to three zoological groups (Teleostei, Crustacea and Cephalopoda), were taken by these cephalopods. However, 43% of the T. eblanae diet comprised only one fish species, Micromesistius poutassou. The diet of these squid species was significantly influenced by the geographical area (both species), size (T. eblanae) and maturation (I. coindetii). Feeding rate of both species decreased with size, but the percentage of stomachs with food remains increased in maturing and mature females. Weight of prey captured was dependent on available prey sizes and, in small individuals, maximum prey weight was very close to the squid weight. Both squid species are mainly neritic nekto-benthic predators, but I. coindetii seems to have a broader and more pelagic diet.

Description: A predictive model of carbon isotope fractionation (sigma p) and abundance (delta13C phyto) is presented under circumstances where photosynthesis is strictly based on CO2(aq) that passively diffuses into marine phytoplankton cells. Similar to other recent models, the one presented here is based on a formulation where the expression of intracellular enzymatic isotope fractionation relative to that imposed by CO2(aq) transport is scaled by the ratio of intracellular to external [CO2(aq)], ci/ce. Unlike previous models, an explicit calculation of ci is made that is dependent on ce as well as cell radius, cell growth rate, cell membrane permeability to CO2(aq), temperature, and, to a limited extent, pH and salinity. This allows direct scaling of ci/ce to each of these factors, and thus a direct prediction of sigma p and delta13C phyto responses to changes in each of these variables. These responses are described, and, where possible, compared to recent experimental and previous modeling results.

Description: A mineralogical and 4OAr/39Ar study of 13 amphibole samples in the Kamila Amphibolite Belt and Kamila Shear Zone in northern Pakistan has found a correlation between the degree of greenschist facies alteration and quantity of excess 40Ar. Additionally, there is a north–south divide with amphibole samples from the northern region showing larger degrees of gree schist facies alteration, brittle deformation, and excess 40Ar incorporation compared to the predominantly plastically deformed, less altered, amphibole samples from the Kamila Shear Zone in the south. Acid leaching of two amphiboles from the Kamila Amphibolite Belt indicates that a large proportion of the excess 40Ar is correlated with later greenschist facies alteration hases, and can be easily removed by acid etching, thus revealing acceptable regional 40Ar/39Ar plateau ages.

Description: The size distribution of benthic nematodes was investigated along different gradients of food availability in various regions of the north-eastern Atlantic: I, across the continental margin and II, with increasing distance from the continental rise. An overall trend for miniaturization with increasing distance from the food source was found. Moreover, our results indicate that seasonally varying food supply or a periodically pulsed input of organic matter to the sea floor affects nematode size spectra. The hypothesis is proposed that the life cycle of deep-sea nematode species and hence the size structure of their populations are related to seasonal energy availability. This dependence might result in one year life spans of deep-sea nematodes and probably other meiofauna.

Description: Nutrient competition experiments were performed with periphytic microalgae from the Kiel Fjord, western Baltic Sea. Diatoms were dominant competitors at high Si:N ratios (under N-limited conditions) and high Si:P ratios (under P-limited conditions). Under low silicate supply, cyanobacteria became dominant at low N:P ratios and chlorophytes at high ones. Changes in light intensity influenced the outcome of competition at the species level but not at the level of higher taxa. The nitrogen source (ammonium or nitrate) had no impact on the outcome of competition.

Description: Cod larvae from laboratory rearing experiments aged from 1 to 12 d after hatching, both fed and deprived of food, were analysed. The number of increments on the otolith and the width of these increments were determined together with the RNA/DNA ratios on the same individual larva. Alizarin marking of the otoliths was performed to confirm the formation of daily increments. Cod larvae reared at 6*C formed the first ring right after hatching and deposited increments on a daily basis. A comparison of the measurements between the right and the left lapillus showed that these can differ, if the radius is taken. The lapillae core showed especially high individual variability, whereas the sum of the increments did not differ between both lapilli. Until Day 10 after hatching, while the larvae were still feeding on their yolk, the external food situation did not affect the increment width of the lapilli or the RNA/DNA ratios. In larvae older than 10 d the width of the daily increments was dependent on the nutritional situation and RNA/DNA ratios decreased in starving larvae in comparison to feeding larvae. RNA/DNA ratios and increment widths were correlated.

Description: Mixed cultures of 4 polar diatoms regularly found in Antarctic pack ice were grown over 20 d in closed bottles at high light (200 to 250 umol photons m-2 s-1) and at 0*C in order to investigate growth physiology and biomass production under conditions simulating the sea ice habitat during summer. Species tested were: Chaetoceros cf. neogracile, Fragilariopsiscylindrus, Thalassiosiraantarctica and Porosira pseudodenticulata. Initially, all species grew exponentially, but exponential growth ceased for P. pseudodenticulata and T.antarctica after 6 d, for F.cylindrus after 8 d, and for C. cf. neogracile after 10 d. Slight increases in cell number were observed for all species 2 d later. Peak biomass amounted to 140 ug chl a (850 umol particulate organic carbon, POC) l-1. At the same time, concentrations of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) were reduced by 1000 uM, oxygen concentrations increased to 1400 uM, and pH increased to 10.5. At this stage, a substantial decline in plasma-containing cells was recorded for F.cylindrus. C. cf. neogracile accounted for 80%, and C. cf. neogracile and F.cylindrus accounted for 〉95% of total carbon biomass. The carbon isotope composition of POC (expressed as delta13C) increased from -24 to -9 during the experiment. Model calculations showed that diffusive uptake of dissolved CO2 satisfied cellular carbon demand for all species except P. pseudodenticulata at CO2(aq) concentrations 〉0.5 uM, whereas direct HCO3- utilization was observed for C. cf. neogracile below this concentration. Our data confirm that intense photosynthetic carbon assimilation may lead to profound chemical changes in isolated interstitial brine solutions, with significant consequences for sea ice biota. We propose that the capacity to efficiently utilize ambient DIC, possibly mediated by virtue of favorable surface to volume ratios as well as active pathways of inorganic carbon acquisition, favors growth of small diatoms, and may be an important factor driving ice algal species succession during summer blooms. Since only 2 species continued to grow in fresh medium following experimental incubation (C. cf. neogracile and P. pseudodenticulata), differential tolerance to chemical variations may influence the seeding potential of ice algae following release into the open water.

Description: Epibiosis is one of the closest interspecies associations. The presence of epibionts potentially causes a multitude of beneficial or detrimental effects for the basibiont. It has been shown previously that large epibionts may increase the risk of dislodgement of bivalves. In this study, sublethal effects of epibiont-induced drag increase are investigated. I assessed (1) the effects of common epibiont species (Balanus improvisus, Enteromorpha intestinalis, Ectocarpus sp.) on drag properties of the host (the periwinkle Littorina littorea), and (2) the long-term consequences of drag increase on growth rates of snails living in steady flow. All epibiont species increase drag on the host snail. They do so to unequal extents. This may be due to morphological and hydrodynamic differences among the epibionts. Thus, per unit volume of epibiont, the filamentous alga Ectocarpus sp, has a substantially stronger effect than the barnacles. Synergistic effects on drag increase can be observed in a mixed aufwuchs community. As compared to clean conspecifics, snails bearing artificial epibionts grow 35% more slowly when exposed to moderate, steady flow (8 cm s(-1)) for 5 mo. This difference in growth rates is enhanced when food is limited. I hypothesize that fouled snails coping with higher drag invest more energy into foot activities (muscles and mucus). As a consequence, when food is limited, growth rates decrease in fouled snails.

Description: The dynamics of methane production and oxidation in the sediments of Kiel Harbour (Baltic Sea) were studied over a period of 2 yr. Experimentally determined rates of methanogenesis varied between 13 and 82 mu mol CH4 m(-2) h(-1) integrated over the top 30 cm of sediment. The zone of maximum production was between 20 and 30 cm depth. High potential rates could be induced in sulfate-containing surface layers by the addition of molybdate, acetate or methanol, indicating competition with sulfate-reducing bacteria. The methane content in the sediment pore water increased from the surface to a seasonally varying depth of between 5 and 20 cm, where sulfate concentrations approached zero and methane concentrations of 3 to 4 mM were recorded. Aerobic methane oxidation rates in the surface sediment layer were in most cases higher than the methane flux expected to reach the sediment surface. Oxygen-depleted or anoxic conditions in the deep water, which frequently occurred during stratification periods in summer, resulted in methane gradients with increasing concentrations from the chemocline to the sediment. After recirculation of the water column in autumn in both years, unexpectedly high methane concentrations were also measured in the oxic water column of Kiel Harbour. This coincided with very reduced conditions in the surface sediment that allowed measurable methane production in the 0 to 10 cm layer.

Description: Density-dependent effects of Anguillicola crassus larval infections in the copepod intermediate host were examined experimentally. Three species of copepods (Cyclops vicinus, C. viridis and C. fuscus) were subjected to a range of doses of larval A. crassus within infection arenas. Prevalence, intensity and parasite dispersion (variance: mean abundance) values increase and then approach an asymptote as infection dose increases. Infection parameters differ between species of copepod. Increasing temperature has a negative effect on the establishment of the parasite population within the intermediate host. Parasite-induced host mortality increases with dose. These mechanisms have the potential to regulate populations of A. crassus larvae within the copepod population and hence the whole suprapopulation.

Description: It has often been suggested that, given their large food requirements, sperm whale Physeter macrocephalus distributions should reflect the distribution of productive ocean environments, and it seems therefore that chlorophyll concentration might be a good indicator of sperm whale distribution. To examine the existence of such a relationship, and to determine over which sclaes it occurs, sperm whale density was correlated with phytoplankton pigment concentration over a range of spatial and temporal scales. Sperm whale distribution was detrmined using records of kills from 19th century Yankee whaling, and the distribution of pigment concentration from satellite colour observations averaged over 8yr interval. These measures were compared over scales of 220km square to 1780km square. The distribution of sperm whales in the temperature and tropical Pacific Ocean was associated with distributions of phytoplankton pigment over every spatial scale considered, and the coefficient of correlation increased with increasing spatial scale. However, a few exceptions to this scheme were found, implying that other factors would be of importance in some regions. This study confirmed the existence of space lag and a time lag between a peak in chlorophyll concentration and a peak in sperm whale density. It also demonstrated that over large spatial scales, and when the data are averaged over large temporal scales, chlorophyll concentration is a good indicator of sperm whale distribution and that over these scales ocean colour recorded from space could help predict areas of high or low sperm whale density.

Description: The size of fish and squid prey of Loligo forbesi was investigated using otoliths, beaks and statoliths collected from stomach contents analysis of samples obtained from Scottish and Irish waters between 1990 and 1993. Loligo forbesi was found to consume a large range of prey sizes, but prey size was always less than the predator size. Season was shown to significantly influence the predator size-prey size relationship for sprat and sandeel prey, but this itself could be influenced by seasonal changes in the size of prey. Fish prey size increased with increased predator size up to a mantle length (ML) of 200 mm. Loligo forbesi of mantle length 〉200 mm consumed a range of prey sizes, with no clear increase in the size of prey. For most prey taxa the relationship between prey size and squid size was similar, the exceptions being dragonets and silvery pout. Cannibalism by L. forbesi was mostly limited to larger L. forbesi (〉150 mm ML) feeding on smaller (20–50 mm ML) conspecifics.

Description: Statolith microstructure was studied in 162 specimens of Illex coindetii (mantle length ranging from 48 to 300 mm) captured on the shelves of Sierra Leone and Western Sahara between May and November 1987. Growth increments were revealed in all statoliths studied, but they were not well-resolved as in other congeneric species Illex illecebrosus and Illex argentinus . Age and growth rates were estimated assuming that growth increments within statoliths were produced. In both regions, differences in growth rates between sexes (females become larger than males) occurred first in length and then in weight. Geographical differences in sex-specific growth (Western Sahara squid grow faster and attain larger sizes than Sierra Leone squid) was apparent after 150 d in females and 120 d in males. Illex coindetii in Sierra Leone started maturing at smaller sizes but at approximately the same age as the Western Sahara squid. Small sized early maturing groups of I. coindetii with a life span of ~0.5 y occurred in both regions. However, large sized late maturing squid with a life span of ~1 y were encountered only in the Western Sahara. In waters of the west African shelf, I. coindetii spawn throughout the year.

Description: Metazoan meiofauna were studied in replicated multiple-corer samples obtained at a bathyal site (1320–1360 m depth) in the Porcupine Seabight (51°36′N 13°00′W) before (April) and after (July) the delivery to the seafloor of a phytodetrital pulse originating from the 1982 spring bloom. In all samples the metazoan meiofauna was dominated by nematodes; harpacticoid copepods and their nauplii were the second most abundant taxon. Population densities and biomass were very similar in both sample sets, the only significant differences being in the numbers of ostracods (higher in April) and nauplii (higher in July). Furthermore, vertical distribution patterns in the top 5 cm of sediment indicate that the meiofauna did not migrate towards the sediment surface following the phytodetrital pulse. The lack of a metazoan meiofaunal response contrasts with published evidence, based on the same samples, for a substantial increase in the foraminiferal abundance following the sedimentation event. Thus our results suggest that metazoans (as a whole) fail to exploit and utilize phytodetritus as rapidly as foraminifera. This probably reflects the energetic expense of egg production coupled with frequently slower rates of somatic growth among metazoans. In addition, foraminifera may outcompete metazoans for detrital food because they possess extremely efficient food-gathering organelles (granuloreticulate pseudopodia) and are able to raise their levels of metabolic activity very rapidly. However, metazoan responses at the species level, or over longer time periods (〉3 months), would not have been detected and so remain a possibility.

Description: Predator data and exploratory fishing in the Scotia Sea have revealed the presence of cephalopod stocks in the Antarctic Polar Frontal Zone (PFZ). This is a vast, remote region where large epipelagic cephalopods aggregate into highly mobile schools making them difficult to locate and sample. We used satellite tagged predators and shipboard acoustics for coarse and fine scale location of cephalopods concentrations, and sampled them with commercial and scientific nets to determine the relationship between cephalopod distribution and mesoscale oceanographic features at the PFZ. Saltellite tags were attached to 9 grey-headed albatrosses Diomedea chrysostoma, breeding at Bird Island, South Georgia, to monitor foraging at sea in January-March 1994. A foraging area at the PFZ, north of South Georgia, was located, an acoustic survey undertaken and a fixed situation established where gular midwater trawl 25m² (RTM25), a horizontal multiple plankton sampler and a neuston net. Acoustic layers were targeted and the RMT25 sampled 200m layers to 1000m in daylight and darkness. Cephalopods were simultaneously recovered from food samples fed to D. chrysostoma chicks at Bird Island. Two CTD transects, approximately normal to the major current flow, were undertaken across the PFZ and remote-sensed-sea-surface temperature images from NOAA polar orbiting satellites that exploited by D. chrysostoma. The largest and most conspicious species was the ommastrphid squid Martialia hyadesi which is the most important cephalopod prey species. Net-sampled M. hyadesi had been feeding on crustaceans and mesopelagic fish. The cephalopod community was sampled in a feature, interpreted as a warm core ring, in an area characterised by mesoscale features associated with the bathymetry of the northern end of the Northeast Georgia Rise and near a gap in the Falkland Ridge. The association of these mesoscale features with the bathymetry suggests that they may be predictable foraging locations for the cephalopods and their predators.

Description: Squid (Lolliguncula brevis) were exercised in a tunnel respirometer during a stepwise increase in water velocity in order to evaluate the anaerobic treshold, i.e. the critical swimming speed above which anaerobic metabolism contributes to energy production. The average anaerobic treshold was found at speeds of 1.5-2 mantle lenghts s-1. Above this velocity, α-glycerophosphate, succinate and levels fell and phospho-L-arginine was progressively depleted, while the levels of glucose 6-phosphate and inorganic phosphate rose. The finding of a simultaneous onset of anaerobic metabolism in the cytosol and the mitochondria indicates that a limited oxygen supply to the mitochondria elicits anaerobic energy production. This finding is opposite to the situation found in many other vertebrate and invertebrate species, in which energy covered by anaerobic energy production. This finding is opposite to the situation found in many other vertebrate and invertebrate species, in which energy requirements in exvess of aerobic energy production are covered by anaerobic metabolism, with mitochondira remaining aerobic. In L. brevis, swimming at higher speeds is associated with a small factorial increase in metabolic rate based on a high resting rate of oxygen cnsumption. Pressure recordings in the mantle cavity support this finding, indicating a high basal level of spontaneous activity at rest and a small rise in mean pressure at higher swimming velocity. Bursts of higher pressures from the jet support elevated swiming speeds and may explain the early transition to anaerobic energy production which occurs when pressure rises above 0.22-0.25kPa. The finding f mitochondrial hypoxia at a low critical speed in these squid is interpreted to be related to their life in shallow coastal and bay waters, which limits the necessity to maintain high swimming velocities. At increased swimming velocities, the animals oscilliate between periods of high and lo muscular activity. This behaviour is interpreted to reduce transport cost and to permit a longer-term net use of anaerobic resources when speed exceeds the critical value or when the squid dive into toxic waters. The simultaneous onset of anaerobic metabolism in the cytosol and the mitochondria emphasizes that squid generally make maximal use of available requirements are the highest among marine invertebrates.