ALBERT

Description: Radiocarbon (14C) ages cannot provide absolutely dated chronologies for archaeological or paleoenvironmental studies directly but must be converted to calendar age equivalents using a calibration curve compensating for fluctuations in atmospheric 14C concentration. Although calibration curves are constructed from independently dated archives, they invariably require revision as new data become available and our understanding of the Earth system improves. In this volume the international 14C calibration curves for both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, as well as for the ocean surface layer, have been updated to include a wealth of new data and extended to 55,000 cal BP. Based on tree rings, IntCal20 now extends as a fully atmospheric record to ca. 13,900 cal BP. For the older part of the timescale, IntCal20 comprises statistically integrated evidence from floating tree-ring chronologies, lacustrine and marine sediments, speleothems, and corals. We utilized improved evaluation of the timescales and location variable 14C offsets from the atmosphere (reservoir age, dead carbon fraction) for each dataset. New statistical methods have refined the structure of the calibration curves while maintaining a robust treatment of uncertainties in the 14C ages, the calendar ages and other corrections. The inclusion of modeled marine reservoir ages derived from a three-dimensional ocean circulation model has allowed us to apply more appropriate reservoir corrections to the marine 14C data rather than the previous use of constant regional offsets from the atmosphere. Here we provide an overview of the new and revised datasets and the associated methods used for the construction of the IntCal20 curve and explore potential regional offsets for tree-ring data. We discuss the main differences with respect to the previous calibration curve, IntCal13, and some of the implications for archaeology and geosciences ranging from the recent past to the time of the extinction of the Neanderthals.

Description: The concentration of radiocarbon (14C) differs between ocean and atmosphere. Radiocarbon determinations from samples which obtained their 14C in the marine environment therefore need a marine-specific calibration curve and cannot be calibrated directly against the atmospheric-based IntCal20 curve. This paper presents Marine20, an update to the internationally agreed marine radiocarbon age calibration curve that provides a non-polar global-average marine record of radiocarbon from 0–55 cal kBP and serves as a baseline for regional oceanic variation. Marine20 is intended for calibration of marine radiocarbon samples from non-polar regions; it is not suitable for calibration in polar regions where variability in sea ice extent, ocean upwelling and air-sea gas exchange may have caused larger changes to concentrations of marine radiocarbon. The Marine20 curve is based upon 500 simulations with an ocean/atmosphere/biosphere box-model of the global carbon cycle that has been forced by posterior realizations of our Northern Hemispheric atmospheric IntCal20 14C curve and reconstructed changes in CO2 obtained from ice core data. These forcings enable us to incorporate carbon cycle dynamics and temporal changes in the atmospheric 14C level. The box-model simulations of the global-average marine radiocarbon reservoir age are similar to those of a more complex three-dimensional ocean general circulation model. However, simplicity and speed of the box model allow us to use a Monte Carlo approach to rigorously propagate the uncertainty in both the historic concentration of atmospheric 14C and other key parameters of the carbon cycle through to our final Marine20 calibration curve. This robust propagation of uncertainty is fundamental to providing reliable precision for the radiocarbon age calibration of marine based samples. We make a first step towards deconvolving the contributions of different processes to the total uncertainty; discuss the main differences of Marine20 from the previous age calibration curve Marine13; and identify the limitations of our approach together with key areas for further work. The updated values for ΔR, the regional marine radiocarbon reservoir age corrections required to calibrate against Marine20, can be found at the data base http://calib.org/marine/.

Description: Sensitivity of marine crustaceans to anthropogenic CO2 emissions and the associated acidification of the oceans may be less than that of other, especially lower, invertebrates. However, effects on critical transition phases or carry-over effects between life stages have not comprehensively been explored. Here we report the impact of elevated seawater PCO2 values (3100 µatm) on Hyas araneus during the last 2 weeks of their embryonic development (pre-hatching phase) and during development while in the consecutive zoea I and zoea II larval stages (post-hatching phase). We measured oxygen consumption, dry weight, developmental time and mortality in zoea I to assess changes in performance. Feeding rates and survival under starvation were investigated at different temperatures to detect differences in thermal sensitivities of zoea I and zoea II larvae depending on pre-hatch history. When embryos were pre-exposed to elevated PCO2 during maternal care, mortality increased about 60% under continued CO2 exposure during the zoea I phase. The larvae that moulted into zoea II, displayed a developmental delay by about 20 days compared to larvae exposed to control PCO2 during embryonic and zoeal phases. Elevated PCO2 caused a reduction in zoea I dry weight and feeding rates, while survival of the starved larvae was not affected by the seawater CO2 concentration. In conclusion, CO2 effects on egg masses under maternal care carried over to the first larval stages of crustaceans and reduced their survival and development to levels below those previously reported in studies exclusively focussing on acute PCO2 effects on the larval stages.

Description: In complex ecosystem models, relationships between species include a large number of direct interactions and indirect effects. In order to unveil some simple and better understandable relationships, it is useful to study the asymmetry of inter-specific effects. We present a simple approach for this based on stochastic food web simulations from previous studies. We refer to the Prince William Sound (Gulf of Alaska) marine ecosystem model for illustration. Real data were used to parameterize a dynamical food web model. Through simulations and sensitivity analysis, we determined the strength of the effects between all species. We calculated the asymmetry between the mutual effects species have on each other, and selected the top 5% most asymmetrical interactions. The set of these highly asymmetrical relationships is illustrated by a separate graph in which we calculated the positional importance of the species and correlated this to other independent properties such as population size and trophic position. Results suggest that halibut is the key species dominating this system of asymmetrical interactions, but sablefish and adult arrowtooth flounder also seem to be of high importance. Nearshore demersals display the highest number of connections in the graph of asymmetrical links, suggesting that this trophic group regulates the dynamics of many species in the food web. This approach identifies key interactions and most asymmetrical relationships, potentially increasing the efficiency of management efforts and aiding conservation efforts.

Description: Simultaneous analysis of carbon, nitrogen and sulphur stable isotope ratios was applied in this pilot study to examine the food web of a Zostera marina L. system in the western Baltic Sea. Samples of three potential food sources: eelgrass, epiphytic algae and seston, as well as 69 consumer species were collected during the growing season of Z. marina from March to September 2011. The measured δ13C values of epiphytes (-14.1‰ ± 1.8 SD) were close to δ13C values of eelgrass (-11.6‰ ± 1.8 SD), impeding a clear distinction of those two carbon sources, whereas seston δ13C values (-20.9‰ ± 3.5 SD) were clearly different. This frequently encountered problem was solved by the additional use of δ34S, which resulted in easily distinguishable values for sediment and seawater derived sulphur. Values of primary producer δ34S ranged from 5.6‰ (± 2.3 SD) for Z. marina leaves to 14.2‰ (± 1.6 SD) for epiphytes and 11.9‰ (± 3.3 SD) for seston. The combination of δ34S and δ13C values made a separation of carbon sources possible and enabled the allocation of potential food sources to consumers and a description of their trophic relationships. The data of stable isotope ratio analysis of this eelgrass community strongly indicate a food web based on epiphyte and seston production. δ15N values show a food web consisting of large numbers of generalists and a high degree of omnivory amongst the consumer species analysed. This implies an occupation of every trophic position possible, which is supported by a continuous distribution of δ15N values. Previously described eelgrass food webs may have to be re-evaluated to include sulfur in order to provide a clear picture on primary carbon sources.

Description: Simultaneous triple stable isotope analysis of carbon, nitrogen and sulphur was employed to study the temporal variation in the food web of a subtidal eelgrass Zostera marina bed in the western Baltic Sea. Samples of 3 potential food sources (eelgrass, epiphytes and seston) and consumer species were collected biweekly from March through September 2011. Temporal variation of stable isotope compositions was observed in primary producers and consumer species. However, variation between replicates, particularly omnivores, often exceeded variation over time. The high degree of omnivory among the generalist feeders in this eelgrass community allows for generalist feeders to flexibly switch food sources, thus enhancing food-web stability. As coastal systems are subject to seasonal changes, as well as alterations related to human disturbance and climate, these food webs may retain a certain resilience due to their plentiful omnivores.

Description: No published information is available on the foraging ecology and choice of feeding habitat of New Zealand’s rarest breeding bird: the New Zealand Fairy Tern (NZFT) Sternula nereis davisae. To address this gap, we conducted an assessment of the largest remaining breeding population at Mangawhai Harbour, Northland, New Zealand, during the chick-rearing period of the 2010/2011 breeding season. We combined visual tracking of birds with prey surveys and stable isotope analyses, and we present the first quantitative assessment of NZFT foraging. We recorded 405 foraging dives that show NZFT foraging habitat includes the water edges, shallow channels, and pools on the tidal flats of mangrove-lined (Avicennia marina var. resinifera) parts of the estuary; tidal pools on mud- and sandflats in the mid-estuary and lower harbour; the shallow margins of the dredged main channel in the lower harbour; the oxbow lagoons on the sand spit; and coastal shallows. Our study identifies the mangrove-lined highly tidal and shallow mid-estuary and the lagoon on the sand spit as foraging hotspots for the Mangawhai breeding population of the NZFT. The prey survey employed a seine-net sampling method at identified NZFT foraging sites and yielded 4,367 prey-sized fish of 11 species, two of which had not previously been reported in Mangawhai Harbour, as well as numerous shrimps. The most abundant fish were gobies of the genus Favonigobius. Our stable isotope results highlight gobies as the most important prey for NZFT chick rearing, also indicating that flounder Rhombosolea sp. contribute to NZFT diet. We raise the possibility that shrimps may also constitute a substantial diet component for NZFT, potentially providing up to 21% of diet mass for adult birds. While our results provide a first basis to understanding the feeding ecology of NZFT during their breeding season in order to facilitate conservation planning, further research is required to address inter-annual variation and to identify key foraging grounds for this Critically Endangered bird at other breeding sites.

Description: Cyprinid herpesvirus 3 (CyHV-3) is the aetiological agent of a highly virulent and lethal disease of common carp Cyprinus carpio and its ornamental koi varieties. However, specific knowledge about immune mechanisms behind the infection process is very limited. We aimed to evaluate the effect of the CyHV-3 infection on the profile of 2 major components of the common carp immune acute phase response: the C-reactive protein (CRP) and the complement system. Common carp were infected with CyHV-3 by bath immersion. Fish were sampled before the infection and at 6, 12, 24, 72, 120 and 336 h post-infection for serum and head kidney, liver, gill and spleen tissues. CRP levels and complement activity were determined from the serum, whereas CRP- and complement-related genes (crp1, crp2, c1rs, bf/c2, c3, masp2) expression profiles were analysed in the tissues by quantitative PCR. Both CRP levels and complement activity increased significantly up to 10- and 3-fold, respectively, in the serum of infected fish during the challenge. Analysis revealed distinct organ- and time-dependent expression profile patterns for all selected genes. These results suggest that CRP and complement behave as acute phase reactants to CyHV-3 infection in common carp with an organ- and time-dependent response.

Description: Since the Industrial Revolution, the partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pCO2) has been increasing and global ocean surface waters have absorbed 30% of the anthropogenic CO2 released into the atmosphere. An increase in pCO2 in surface ocean waters causes an increase in bicarbonate ions (HCO3-) and protons (H+) and a decrease in carbonate ions (CO32-), thereby decreasing the pH and the saturation state of the seawater with respect to CO32-. These changes in ocean chemistry (termed ocean acidification) are expected to have negative impacts on marine calcifying organisms. Because calcifying marine primary producers are important to the carbon cycle and rocky shore habitat structure and stability, investigating how they will respond to future oceanic pCO2 levels is a relevant and important topic of research. Due to a recent strong increase in the number of studies investigating the responses of calcifying marine macroalgae to elevated pCO2, this review aims to present the state of knowledge on the response of calcifying macroalgae to ocean acidification alone and in combination with global and local stressors. We discuss the physiological responses of calcifying macroalgae to elevated pCO2 within the contexts biogeography, taxonomy, and calcification mechanisms. Generally, coralline algae that deposit high-Mg calcite are most susceptible to high pCO2, and polar species are particularly at risk. However, some dolomite-depositing species may be able to acclimate to high pCO2. Calcifiers generally show sensitivity to overgrowth and outcompetition by noncalcifying algae when grown under elevated CO2 conditions, and this trend could be amplified under conditions of high inorganic nutrients. However, it still remains unknown whether or not calcifiers will be able to adapt to their rapidly changing environments. We discuss the lack of research on this topic, and provide some suggestions for how this knowledge gap can be filled by future research.

Description: Ocean acidification has the potential to affect growth and calcification of benthic marine invertebrates, particularly during their early life history. We exposed field-collected juveniles of Asterias rubens from Kiel Fjord (western Baltic Sea) to 3 seawater CO2 partial pressure (pCO2) levels (ranging from around 650 to 3500 µatm) in a long-term (39 wk) and a short-term (6 wk) experiment. In both experiments, survival and calcification were not affected by elevated pCO2. However, feeding rates decreased strongly with increasing pCO2, while aerobic metabolism and NH4+ excretion were not significantly affected by CO2 exposure. Consequently, high pCO2 reduced the scope for growth in A. rubens. Growth rates decreased substantially with increasing pCO2 and were reduced even at pCO2 levels occurring in the habitat today (e.g. during upwelling events). Sea stars were not able to acclimate to higher pCO2, and growth performance did not recover during the long-term experiment. Therefore, the top-down control exerted by this keystone species may be diminished during periods of high environmental pCO2 that already occur occasionally and will be even higher in the future. However, some individuals were able to grow at high rates even at high pCO2, indicating potential for rapid adaption. The selection of adapted specimens of A. rubens in this seasonally acidified habitat may lead to higher CO2 tolerance in adult sea stars of this population compared to the juvenile stage. Future studies need to address the synergistic effects of multiple stressors such as acidification, warming and reduced salinity, which will simultaneously impact the performance of sea stars in this habitat.

Description: Effects of CO2 concentration on elemental composition of the coccolithophore Emiliania huxleyi were studied in phosphorus-limited, continuous cultures that were acclimated to experimental conditions for 30 d prior to the first sampling. We determined phytoplankton and bacterial cell numbers, nutrients, particulate components like organic carbon (POC), inorganic carbon (PIC), nitrogen (PN), organic phosphorus (POP), transparent exopolymer particles (TEP), as well as dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and nitrogen (DON), in addition to carbonate system parameters at CO2 levels of 180, 380 and 750 µatm. No significant difference between treatments was observed for any of the measured variables during repeated sampling over a 14 d period. We considered several factors that might lead to these results, i.e. light, nutrients, carbon overconsumption and transient versus steady-state growth. We suggest that the absence of a clear CO2 effect during this study does not necessarily imply the absence of an effect in nature. Instead, the sensitivity of the cell towards environmental stressors such as CO2 may vary depending on whether growth conditions are transient or sufficiently stable to allow for optimal allocation of energy and resources. We tested this idea on previously published data sets where PIC and POC divided by the corresponding cell abundance of E. huxleyi at various pCO2 levels and growth rates were available.

Description: The spatio-temporal origin of surviving juvenile Baltic cod Gadus morhua was investigated by coupling age information from otolith microstructure analysis and hydrodynamic modeling, which allowed backtracking of drift routes in time and space. The suitability of hydrodynamic modeling for drift simulations of early life stages of Baltic cod up to the pelagic juvenile stage was validated by comparing model simulations with the catch distribution from a survey targeting pelagic juveniles, and mortality rates and hatch date distributions of pelagic and demersal juveniles were estimated. Hatch dates and hatch locations of juvenile survivors showed distinct patterns which did not agree well with the abundance and spatial distribution of eggs, suggesting marked spatio-temporal differences in larval survival. The good agreement of the spatio-temporal origin of survivors from this field investigation with previous modeling studies on the survival chances of early-stage larvae and with general spatio-temporal patterns of larval prey availability suggests that differences in survival are related to food availability during the early larval stage. Results are discussed in relation to the recruitment process of Baltic cod, in particular with respect to the critical period and match-mismatch hypotheses, and to possible implications for the placement of a Marine Protected Area which was established to ensure undisturbed spawning of Baltic cod.

Description: We investigated potential connections over the past 2 decades between mesoscale circulation regimes in the Ionian Sea and newly-observed species and the concurrent rise in sea temperature in the Adriatic Sea. Analyses of plankton samples from 1993 to 2011 in the southern Adriatic revealed marked changes in the non-crustacean zooplankton community. Eleven species were recorded for the first time in the Adriatic, while 3 species reappeared after years of absence. We found that pluriannual changes in the zooplankton community tracked the continuum of circulation regimes in the Northern Ionian Gyre (NIG). The occurrence of Atlantic/Western Mediterranean species coincided with anti-cyclonic circulation in the NIG, probably due to the advection of Modified Atlantic Water into the Adriatic, while the presence of Lessepsian species coincided with the cyclonic pattern, which governs the entry of Eastern Mediterranean waters. The impact has been that newcomers now make a significant contribution to the zooplankton community in the southern Adriatic and, in certain cases, have replaced native species. Our results provide new evidence of the influence of teleconnection processes between the North Atlantic and Eastern Mediterranean on the dynamics of water masses in the southern Adriatic. The synergistic effects of these processes, together with warmer Mediterranean waters, raise concerns over dramatic changes in the marine biodiversity of the Adriatic.

Description: During the past few decades, the green crab Carcinus maenas, a native to Europe, has invaded the North American Pacific coast. In this new habitat, C. maenas encounters North American periwinkles of the genus Littorina that differ from European Littorina spp. in size, shape and shell strength. We hypothesize that the ability to handle prey never encountered previously is a prerequisite for successful invasion of novel habitats. In a first approach to testing our hypothesis, we compared European (native) to Canadian (invaded) C. maenas in feeding trials with Littorina spp. from Europe as well as Canada. Canadian crabs had significantly larger crusher claws than European crabs of the same size. Prey handling by Baltic crabs, but not by North Sea crabs, significantly depended on shell morphometry and strength of European periwinkles. By contrast, neither European nor Canadian crabs were affected by shell characteristics of the relatively soft-shelled Canadian periwinkles. Baltic and Canadian crabs did not differ in terms of handling time for, and handling success of, different periwinkle species, but North Sea crabs needed more time for, and were less successful in, crushing periwinkles. We conclude that C. maenas exhibits plasticity in both claw morphometry and feeding behaviour that enables this predator to handle novel prey organisms, and contributes to its success as an invader.

Description: Climate change has the potential to profoundly influence the community structure and function of marine ecosystems. Prior to testing the consequences of altered environmental conditions on ecosystem functioning, it is first necessary to better understand how the functioning of an ecosystem is affected by its structure. Using phytoplankton communities with 4 naturally co‑occurring coccolithophores including species of Emiliania, Gephyrocapsa, and Calcidiscus collected off the Azores, we experimentally tested whether varying initial dominance leads to different competitive outcomes and consequently affects community functioning, such as biomass and carbon accumulation. We manipulated initial community structure by creating 5 different dominance scenarios: (1) all species contributing evenly to total initial biomass, and (2–5) one of each species contributing 4× that of the remaining 3 species to total initial biomass. All 4 species were simultaneously grown in monocultures starting with the same total initial biomass as the communities. Monocultures differed significantly in total final biomass, particulate inorganic carbon, and particulate organic carbon content. Priority effects in the communities caused the initially dominant species to remain dominant during the stationary phase in 3 out of 4 cases. However, despite varying dominant species and different outcomes in the monocultures, community functioning was unaffected. We suggest that selective and facilitative effects are responsible for the equalization of community functioning. We conclude that monoculture experiments are not sufficient to predict whole-community responses, since species interactions can significantly alter the expected functional outcome.

Description: Droop’s cell-quota model is the most successful description of phytoplankton growth in laboratory cultures and is increasingly being introduced into the ecosystem components of biogeochemical models. Although the Droop model’s parameters can be easily interpreted in biological terms, it was nevertheless derived empirically and lacks a sound mechanistic foundation. Here we derive Droop’s model from a simple optimality condition which maximises net growth rate. Our approach links the maximum cell quota to the cost of nutrient acquisition and suggests that respiration is influenced more strongly by C fixation than by N assimilation.

Description: The growth and development of the aragonitic CaCO3 otoliths of teleost fish could be vulnerable to processes resulting from ocean acidification. The potential effects of an increase in atmospheric CO2 on the calcification of the otoliths were investigated by rearing Atlantic cod Gadus morhua L. larvae in 3 pCO2 concentrations—control (370 µatm), medium (1800 µatm) and high (4200 µatm)—from March to May 2010. Increased otolith growth was observed in 7 to 46 d post hatch (dph) cod larvae at elevated pCO2 concentrations. The sagittae and lapilli were usually largest in the high pCO2 treatment followed by the medium and control treatments. The greatest difference in mean otolith surface area (normalized to fish length) was for sagittae at 11 dph, with medium and high treatments being 46 and 43% larger than the control group, respectively. There was no significant pCO2 effect on the shape of the otoliths nor were there any trends in the fluctuating asymmetry, defined as the difference between the right and left sides, in relation to the increase in otolith growth from elevated pCO2.

Description: Differences with respect to anti-herbivore defense were investigated in invasive and native populations of the seaweed Gracilaria vermiculophylla. Specimens from 6 native populations in East Asia and from 8 populations invasive in Europe and the Mexican Pacific coast were maintained under identical conditions and offered to herbivorous snails from both the native range (Littorina brevicula) and Europe (L. littorea) in no-choice feeding assays. L. brevicula consumed in total significantly larger amounts of G. vermiculophylla tissue than did L. littorea. Further, both snail species least consumed the seaweed specimens originating from either non-native populations or from populations native to the Korean East Sea/Sea of Japan. The Korean East Sea/Sea of Japan had previously been identified as putative donor region of all the invasive populations of G. vermiculophylla. Thus, populations in the donor region as well as non-native populations in different invaded realms feature an increased capacity to resist feeding pressure. Differences in nutrient content did not account for the observed patterns of consumption, as palatability and carbon to nitrogen (C:N) ratio were not significantly correlated. Thus, mechanical or chemical defenses or the content of feeding cues influenced the behavior of the snails. We suggest that low palatability contributed to the invasion success of the species.

Description: Repeated invasions of European waters by the ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi offer a unique opportunity to study population dynamics and dispersal in gelatinous zooplankton. Here we followed population establishment in two recently invaded areas, the North and Baltic Sea, and analysed changes in population structure during a 3-yr interval using 7 highly polymorphic microsatellites (representing 191 alleles). A second goal was to reconstruct routes of recent invasive range expansion into the Mediterranean Sea During the study period (2008-2010) populations in North Sea and Western Baltic Sea maintained their allelic composition with virtually unchanged levels of genetic diversity and between-population differentiation. This demonstrates that gene flow between the two regions was limited and indicates successful reproduction in both areas. In contrast, at the eastern distribution limit in the central Baltic (Bornholm Basin) the same measures fluctuated between years and genetic diversity decreased from 2008-2010. In concordance with prior ecological observations, this supports the view that here M. leidyi formed a sink population. In the area of recent range expansion (Mediterranean Sea) we observed high population differentiation for a holoplanktonic species. Among Mediterranean samples collected at sites in Spain, France and Israel pairwise differentiation was between Fst = 0.04-0.16. Despite such differentiation, Bayesian clustering and phylogeographic analysis support the hypothesis that all Mediterranean M. leidyi result from a secondary introduction originating in the Black Sea. Our study contributes to growing evidence that multiple invasions of the same species can vary in their degree of genetic diversity and demonstrates how genetic markers can help to resolve whether gelatinous plankton species form self-sustaining populations.

Description: Changing seawater chemistry towards reduced pH as a result of increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) is affecting oceanic organisms, particularly calcifying species. Responses of non-calcifying consumers are highly variable and mainly mediated through indirect ocean acidification effects induced by changing the biochemical content of their prey, as shown within single species and simple 2-trophic level systems. However, it can be expected that indirect CO2 impacts observed at the single species level are compensated at the ecosystem level by species richness and complex trophic interactions. A dampening of CO2-effects can be further expected for coastal communities adapted to strong natural fluctuations in pCO2, typical for productive coastal habitats. Here we show that a plankton community of the Kiel Fjord was tolerant to CO2 partial pressure (pCO2) levels projected for the end of this century (〈1400 µatm), and only subtle differences were observed at the extremely high value of 4000 µatm. We found similar phyto- and microzooplankton biomass and copepod abundance and egg production across all CO2 treatment levels. Stoichiometric phytoplankton food quality was minimally different at the highest pCO2 treatment, but was far from being potentially limiting for copepods. These results are in contrast to studies that include only a single species, which observe strong indirect CO2 effects for herbivores and suggest limitations of biological responses at the level of organism to community. Although this coastal plankton community was highly tolerant to high fluctuations in pCO2, increase in hypoxia and CO2 uptake by the ocean can aggravate acidification and may lead to pH changes outside the range presently experienced by coastal organisms.

Description: The notion that excess phosphorus (P) and high irradiance favour pelagic diazotrophy is difficult to reconcile with diazotroph behaviour in laboratory experiments and also with the observed distribution of N2-fixing Trichodesmium, e.g. in the relatively nitrogen (N)-rich North Atlantic Ocean. Nevertheless, this view currently provides the state-of-the-art framework to understand both past dynamics and future evolution of the oceanic fixed N inventory. In an attempt to provide a consistent theoretical underpinning for marine autotrophic N2 fixation we derive controls of diazotrophy from an optimality-based model that accounts for phytoplankton growth and N2 fixation. Our approach differs from existing work in that conditions favourable for diazotrophy are not prescribed but emerge, indirectly, from trade-offs among energy and cellular resource requirements for the acquisition of P, N, and carbon. Our model reproduces laboratory data for a range of ordinary phytoplankton species and Trichodesmium. The model predicts that (1) the optimal strategy for facultative diazotrophy is switching between N2 fixation and using dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) at a threshold DIN concentration; (2) oligotrophy, especially in P and under high light, favours diazotrophy; (3) diazotrophy is compatible with DIN:DIP supply ratios well above Redfield proportions; and (4) communities of diazotrophs competing with ordinary phytoplankton decouple emerging ambient and supply DIN:DIP ratios. Our model predictions appear in line with major observed patterns of diazotrophy in the ocean. The predicted importance of oligotrophy in P extends the present view of N2 fixation beyond a simple control by excess P in the surface ocean.

Description: Species identification based on morphological characteristics has caused misidentifications and led to twisted views of abundances and roles of ctenophores. Based on extensive field studies from 2007 to 2010, the occurrence of the arctic ctenophore Mertensia ovum was genetically verified in the southern, central and northern Baltic Sea, and its egg production, distribution and abundance were studied in relation to physical factors. Genetic analyses indicate that M. ovum is by far the most abundant small ctenophore in the Baltic Sea. Specimens from a 20 yr old ctenophore collection were also genetically identified as M. ovum, contrary to their previous morphological identification as another ctenophore species, Pleurobrachia pileus. Thus, earlier reports on P. pileus in the Baltic Sea may actually refer to M. ovum. The abundance of M. ovum was regulated by both salinity and temperature, with highest abundances found in sea areas and water layers at temperatures 〈7°C, salinities 〉5.5 and oxygen levels 〉4 ml l-1. During summer, the highest abundances of ctenophores and their eggs were found near the halocline, while the distribution was more uniform throughout the water column during winter. Only ctenophores 〉3.5 mm (oral-aboral length) produced eggs in the experiments, with an average rate of 2.2 eggs ind.-1 d-1. Finally, comparison with published data from the 1980s (assuming that those data refer to M. ovum) indicates that the present-day ctenophore abundance is ~80% lower in the north and ~55% higher in the southern parts of the Baltic Sea, due to reasons yet to be established.

Description: Coral reefs are under threat, exerted by a number of interacting effects inherent to the present climate change, including ocean acidification and global warming. Bioerosion drives reef degradation by recycling carbonate skeletal material and is an important but understudied factor in this context. Twelve different combinations of pCO2 and temperature were applied to elucidate the consequences of ocean acidification and global warming on the physiological response and bioerosion rates of the zooxanthellate sponge Cliona orientalis—one of the most abundant and effective bioeroders on the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Our results confirm a significant amplification of the sponges’ bioerosion capacity with increasing pCO2, which is expressed by more carbonate being chemically dissolved by etching. The health of the sponges and their photosymbionts was not affected by changes in pCO2, in contrast to temperature, which had significant negative impacts at higher levels. However, we could not conclusively explain the relationship between temperature and bioerosion rates, which were slightly reduced at both colder as well as warmer temperatures than ambient. The present findings on the effects of ocean acidification on chemical bioerosion, however, will have significant implications for predicting future reef carbonate budgets, as sponges often contribute the lion’s share of internal bioerosion on coral reefs.

Description: El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) in the Pacific and the analogous Atlantic Niño mode are generated by processes involving coupled ocean–atmosphere interactions known as the Bjerknes feedback. It has been argued that the Atlantic Niño mode is more strongly damped than ENSO, which is presumed to be closer to neutrally stable. In this study the stability of ENSO and the Atlantic Niño mode is compared via an analysis of the Bjerknes stability index. This index is based on recharge oscillator theory and can be interpreted as the growth rate for coupled modes of ocean–atmosphere variability. Using observational data, an ocean reanalysis product, and output from an ocean general circulation model, the individual terms of the Bjerknes index are calculated for the first time for the Atlantic and then compared to results for the Pacific. Positive thermocline feedbacks in response to wind stress forcing favor anomaly growth in both basins, but they are twice as large in the Pacific compared to the Atlantic. Thermocline feedback is related to the fetch of the zonal winds, which is much greater in the equatorial Pacific than in the equatorial Atlantic due to larger basin size. Negative feedbacks are dominated by thermal damping of sea surface temperature anomalies in both basins. Overall, it is found that both ENSO and the Atlantic Niño mode are damped oscillators, but the Atlantic is more strongly damped than the Pacific primarily because of the weaker thermocline feedback.

Description: Pelagic zooplankton were monitored from 2000 to 2012 at a permanent location near the Svalbard archipelago, at the boundary between the central Arctic Ocean and the Greenland Sea in the eastern Fram Strait. The temporal results reveal the first evidence of successful reproduction in Arctic waters by an Atlantic pelagic crustacean from temperate waters. The Atlantic hyperid amphipod Themisto compressa is shown to have expanded its range from more southerly and warmer waters from 2004 onwards. Successful reproductive activity by T. compressa in Arctic waters was confirmed in 2011, indicated by the presence of a complete temporal series of developmental stages including ovigerous females and recently hatched juveniles. The Arctic amphipod community is currently in transition and a continuing northward spread of southern invaders could cause a biodiversity shift from large Arctic to smaller Atlantic species.

Description: To accurately assess community composition of invertebrates, both active and dormant life stages should be considered. Dormant stages are typically produced as a strategy to overcome inhospitable environmental conditions and can also facilitate species dispersal. While they often sink and accumulate in sediment of natural habitats forming ‘egg banks,’ dormant stages are also found in the sediments accumulated in ships’ ballast tanks. Recent studies have used 2 different methods to separate dormant stages from ballast sediment to assess invasion risk associated with ballast tanks: the colloidal silica sol Ludox HS 40 and sugar flotation (i.e. the Onbé-Marcus method). It has been assumed that the Ludox HS 40 method is most effective for separation but reduces dormant stage viability whereas sugar flotation has lower separation efficacy but higher resulting viability. We conducted a comparative assessment of the 2 methods by separating dormant stages from 160 ballast sediments and examining resulting abundance counts, hatching results, DNA extractions and PCR amplifications. We found no difference in the results between the methods. The financial cost of sugar flotation is lower than that of Ludox HS 40, and costs can be further reduced by using only 1 method instead of both due to lower labour costs, particularly for a large number of samples.

Description: The Kasatochi volcanic eruption that occurred in the central Aleutian Islands in Alaska, USA, in August 2008 is thought to have induced a massive diatom bloom in the iron-limited waters of the Gulf of Alaska, which potentially affected the oceanic food web by increasing the abundance of zooplankton and sockeye salmon Oncorhynchus nerka in the northeast Pacific Ocean. We report the first seawater experiments involving volcanic ash ejected from the Kasatochi eruption, showing that the ash released 61 to 83 nmol Fe, 374 to 410 nmol NO3-, 5 to 6 nmol PO43- and 170 to 585 nmol SiO2 when it contacted seawater. Our study suggests that the amount of iron released from Kasatochi ash (an increase of 2.0 to 2.8 nM Fe) was indeed sufficient to cause the observed phytoplankton bloom in the northeastern Pacific Gyre, while the impact of macronutrient release was minimal. We further evaluated the multiple, interdependent processes in the oceanic food web related to the diatom bloom, involving the ocean survival of juvenile salmon that entered the northeast Pacific Ocean in the summer of 2008.

Description: Concentrations of heme b, the ironcontaining prosthetic group of many hemoproteins, were measured in 6 species of marine phytoplankton (Dunaliella tertiolecta, Emiliania huxleyi, Thalassio - sira weissflogii, T. oceanica, Phaeodactylum tricor - nutum and Synechococcus sp. WH7803) that were subjected to variations in iron concentration. Changes in heme b in response to reduced light and nitrate were also ex amined for E. huxleyi and T. oceanica. Results from laboratory cultures were compared with heme b determined in particulate material in the North Atlantic. In cultures, heme b made up 18 ± 14% (SE) of the total iron pool. Reduced iron and nitrate concentrations resulted in a decreased intracellular heme b concentration, expressed as per mole carbon. Chlorophyll a (chl a) to heme b ratios in E. huxleyi and D. tertiolecta in creased in response to limited light and nutrient availability, but slightly decreased or did not change in the diatoms and the cyanophyte Synechococcus sp. WH7803. The heme b:particulate organic carbon (POC) and chl a:heme b ratios in the North Atlantic were within the range observed in phytoplankton cultures. In the surface mixed layer, decreases in heme b:POC ratios were linked to decreases in nutrient concentrations. Chl a:heme b ratios increased with depth and were thus primarily affected by light availability. Relative relationships between heme b, chl a and POC in the North Atlantic likely represented a change in the ability of cells to undertake cellular processes driven by chl a (light harvesting) and heme b (e.g. electron transport) according to ambient light and nutrient conditions.

Description: Recent studies have discussed the consequences of ocean acidification for bacterial processes and diversity. However, the decomposition of complex substrates in marine environments, a key part of the flow of energy in ecosystems, is largely mediated by marine fungi. Although marine fungi have frequently been reported to prefer low pH levels, this group has been neglected in ocean acidification research. We present the first investigation of direct pH effects on marine fungal abundance and community structure. In microcosm experiments repeated in 2 consecutive years, we incubated natural North Sea water for 4 wk at in situ seawater pH (8.10 and 8.26), pH 7.82 and pH 7.67. Fungal abundance was determined by colony forming unit (cfu) counts, and fungal community structure was investigated by the culture-independent fingerprint method Fungal Automated Ribosomal Intergenic Spacer Analysis (F-ARISA). Furthermore, pH at the study site was determined over a yearly cycle. Fungal cfu were on average 9 times higher at pH 7.82 and 34 times higher at pH 7.67 compared to in situ seawater pH, and we observed fungal community shifts predominantly at pH 7.67. Currently, surface seawater pH at Helgoland Roads remains 〉8.0 throughout the year; thus we cannot exclude that fungal responses may differ in regions regularly experiencing lower pH values. However, our results suggest that under realistic levels of ocean acidification, marine fungi will reach greater importance in marine biogeochemical cycles. The rise of this group of organisms will affect a variety of biotic interactions in the sea.

Description: The feeding habits of the pelagic stingray ( Pteroplatytrygon violacea ) were studied using 84 stomachs of specimens caught in the northern Adriatic Sea in the period from April 2004 to October 2005. Percentage of empty stomachs found was overall very low, being a bit bigger in smaller specimens. The diet consisted of two main taxonomic groups such as teleost fish and cephalopods, but few specimens of crustaceans were recorded as well. The main food item was represented by anchovy, while cuttlefish and red band fish represented the alternative preys. Prey size was positively correlated with the size of predator. The proportion of anchovies in the diet grew with size of predator, while the one for red band fish decreased. The stingray was confirmed to be a top predator of pelagic fish species, although the presence of benthic prey shows that it feeds also at the bottom.

Description: The schooling behaviour of the oval squid Sepioteuthis lessoniana was observed over 4 summers at 3 observation sites in the coastal waters of Okinawa Island, Ryukyu Archipelago, Japan. During this field study, 3 static appearances (belt, ball and sheet shape) and 2 transitional appearances (high and low density) were noted, recorded and described. In addition to formations, a member of S. lessoniana schools also displayed particular and repeated behavioural patterns such as vanguard and intimidating display. The 3 observation sites were tropical coral reefs near the coastline at a depth of 1 to 15 m on an average. All participating observers snorkelled and were equipped with various underwater digital video and photographic cameras. The schools observed consisted of 8 to over 100 members with a wide range of body sizes. Despite these biological and locational differences, both static and transitional appearances were consistently observed with equally consistent individual behavioural patterns. There have been studies on related species, Sepioteuthis sepioidea, at the San Blas Islands along the Caribbean coast of eastern Panama, and the same species, S. lessoniana, at a different geographical location, Casuarina Beach on Lizard Island, Australia. The findings of this study are consistent with those reported previously, with some notable differences.

Description: Age structure and hatchling dates of the squid Illex argentinus collected by bottom-trawl fishery in southern Brazilian waters were assessed by the analysis of statolith growth increments. Catches occurred between 2001 and 2002, from 23° to 32°S at depths of 100–700 m. Squid from juvenile to post-spawning stages were collected year round, with age estimated from 98 to 320 days and mantle lengths ranging from 112 to 376 mm. Duration of life cycle events based on statolith growth zones revealed that squids can spend about 14% of their lifespan as paralarva (~30 days), 70% as juvenile (~130 days), leaving maturity and spawning condition to the terminal 10–20% (~30–60 days). The results suggest that, unlike estimates available for Patagonian populations, a general 0.5 year lifespan is predicted for I. argentinus off Brazil. The wide range of size-at-ages implied that catches of shortfin squid off southern Brazil probably include squid hatched throughout the year. Mature and spawning squid caught in summer months hatched in winter and spring, while winter catches revealed mature-spawning individuals hatched both in summer/autumn (~6 months of age) and winter/spring periods (~10–11 months of age). It has been argued that such groups may combine both squid resident of Brazilian outer shelf and slope (22°–34°S) with a six months' lifespan and migrating squid originated from the northern Patagonian shelf (~42°S) with 10–11 months' lifespan.

Description: We report on a novel sponge disease, hereafter termed 'sponge white patch' (SWP), affecting the Caribbean sponge species Amphimedon compressa. SWP is characterized by distinctive white patches of variable size that are found irregularly on the branches of diseased sponges. Nearly 20% of the population of A. compressa at Dry Rocks Reef, Florida, USA, showed symptoms of SWP at the time of investigation (November 2007-July 2010). Approximately 21% of the biomass of SWP individuals was bleached, as determined by volume displacement. Scanning electron microscopy analysis showed severe degradation of bleached tissues. Transmission electron microscopy of the same tissues revealed the presence of a spongin-boring bacterial morphotype that had previously been implicated in sponge disease (Webster et al. 2002; Mar Ecol Prog Ser 232:305-309). This particular morphotype was identified in 8 of 9 diseased A. compressa individuals investigated in this study. A close relative of the aforementioned disease-causing alphaproteobacterium was also isolated from bleached tissues of A. compressa. However, whether the spongin-boring bacteria are true pathogens or merely opportunistic colonizers remains to be investigated. Molecular fingerprinting by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) demonstrated a distinct shift from the microbiota of healthy A. compressa to a heterogeneous mixture of environmental bacteria, including several phylotypes previously implicated in sponge stress or coral disease. Nevertheless, tissue transplantation experiments conducted in the field failed to demonstrate infectivity from diseased to healthy sponges, leaving the cause of SWP in A. compressa to be identified.

Description: Microchemical otolith analyses have been shown to provide valuable information on the life history, dispersal and stock characteristics of teleost fish. In the present study, the suitability of this technique for identifying the origin and distribution of Atlantic cod Gadus morhua L. from the Baltic Sea was examined using laser ablation-ICPMS. The capacity to distinguish individuals from different Baltic Sea stocks and from the adjacent North Sea stock based on incoporation of stock-specific elemental fingerprints along otolith growth axes was investigated. It was further tested if different origins led to spawning-site specific element concentrations in otolith cores. The results indicate that microchemical analyses of Baltic cod otoliths are applicable for differentiating individuals of different stocks. Analyses of similarities including 12 element/calcium ratios resulted in significant differences between individuals from the eastern and the western Baltic Sea and between North Sea and Baltic Sea samples. Sr/Ca, Ba/Ca, Y/Ca, Mg/Ca, Zr/Ca and Mn/Ca ratios had the strongest discriminatory power. A further separation of individuals caught in 3 different spawning grounds of the eastern Baltic, however, was not possible. Elemental compositions from the core regions of otoliths from young of the year cod caught in eastern and western Baltic Sea spawning grounds showed significant differences in Sr/Ca, Ba/Ca and Mg/Ca concentrations. Analyses of similarities again showed significant differences between these areas for juveniles. This study demonstrates the potential of otolith microchemical analyses to provide important information about the stock structure and connectivity of G. morhua in the Baltic Sea.

Description: The present study investigated the effect of temperature on male and female swimming activity of the calanoid copepod Temora longicornis, sampled during winter (February) and summer (August) in the English Channel coastal ecosystem. Video recordings were conducted at 3 temperatures representative of those to which these organisms are normally exposed (13, 16 and 20 degrees C) and one extreme-event temperature (24 degrees C). Examinations of instantaneous velocity and symbolic analysis (i.e. dynamics of swimming states discretized from time series of instantaneous velocity) showed that T. longicornis changed its behaviour when confronted with environmental temperature variations. Swimming speed increased as temperature increased. In warmer water, this copepod displayed higher swimming activity, break periods were less frequent, and the frequency of jumps increased. This phenomenon was amplified when the environmental temperature was increased to 24 degrees C. These observations revealed a considerable tolerance to high temperatures and an ability to adjust to environmental temperature changes. The 'summer population' was less active in the low temperature range, but the swimming speed reached a higher value at higher temperatures than that shown by the 'winter population'. The results of the present study highlighted changes in the individual behaviour of this copepod in response to changing seasonal conditions in the form of swimming activity, and thus its ability to maintain biological processes throughout the year, even in a restrictive environment.

Description: The conspicuous retreat of the key species Fucus vesiculosus from the deeper parts of its former distribution area in the Baltic Sea has triggered extensive research on the factors that control its growth. Based on recently obtained knowledge on a large number of potential drivers, we developed a numerical model incorporating effects of abiotic factors on the physiological functions of photosynthesis, respiration, and reproduction and the ecological processes of competition, grazing, and epibiosis. For all input combinations, the model delivers the monthly net growth rate near the bladder wrack’s depth limit and the maximum depth of its vertical distribution. The use of data corresponding to conditions presently observed in the western Baltic Sea sets the year’s maximum algal net growth rate in late spring and 2 minima in early spring and autumn. The depth limit of the wrack’s distribution is set at ~9 m. Light and its absorption by phytoplankton represent by far the most important factors controlling the modeled net growth rate and depth penetration, with the role of epibiosis requiring further investigation. Lacking findings on population dynamics and biotic interactions restrict the generated model to an exploratory rather than a predictive tool.

Description: The impact of seawater acidification on calcifying organisms varies at the species level. If the impact differs between predator and prey in strength and/or sign, trophic interactions may be altered. In the present study, we investigated the impact of 3 different seawater pCO2 levels (650, 1250 and 3500 µatm) on the acid–base status or the growth of 2 predatory species, the common sea star Asterias rubens and the shore crab Carcinus maenas, and tested whether the quantity or size of prey consumed is affected. We exposed both the predators and their prey, the blue mussel Mytilus edulis, over a time span of 10 wk and subsequently performed feeding experiments. Intermediate acidification levels had no significant effect on growth or consumption in either predator species. The highest acidification level reduced feeding and growth rates in sea stars by 56%, while in crabs a 41% decrease in consumption rates of mussels could be demonstrated over the 10 wk experimental period but not in the subsequent shorter feeding assays. Because only a few crabs moulted in the experiment, acidification effects on crab growth could not be investigated. Active extracellular pH compensation by means of bicarbonate accumulation was observed in C. maenas, whereas the coelomic fluid pH in A. rubens remained uncompensated. Acidification did not provoke a measurable shift in prey size preferred by either predator. Mussels exposed to elevated pCO2 were preferred by previously untreated A. rubens but not by C. maenas. The observed effects on species interactions were weak even at the high acidification levels expected in the future in marginal marine habitats such as the Baltic Sea. Our results indicate that when stress effects are similar (and weak) on interacting species, biotic interactions may remain unaffected.

Description: Pseudomonas strains were shown to be regularly associated with the brown macroalga Saccharina latissima from the Baltic Sea, studied over several years, and were identified as producers of the antimicrobially active compound 2,4-diacetylphloroglucinol. These findings support the assumption of a stable association between the Pseudomonas spp. strains and S. latissima in the Baltic Sea. The metabolite profile of the Pseudomonas spp. comprised monoacetylphloroglucinol, 2,4-diacetylphloroglucinol, pyoluteorin and several rhizoxins, which exhibited broad-spectrum antibiotic activities against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria as well as against fungi. Because the antibiotic activities included the inhibition of the 2 algal pathogens Pseudoalteromonas elyakovii and Algicola bacteriolytica, we propose a beneficial effect of these marine pseudomonads on their host S. latissima.

Description: Phytoplankton experience strong and abrupt variations in light intensity. How cells cope with these changes influences their competitiveness in a highly dynamical environment. While a considerable amount of work has focused on photoacclimation, it is still unknown whether processes specific of phytoplankton groups (e.g. calcification and silicification) influence their response to changing light. Here we show that the diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum and the coccolithophore Emiliania huxleyi respond to an abrupt increase in irradiance by increasing carbon fixation rates, decreasing light absorption through the decrease of light-harvesting pigments and increasing energy dissipation through the xanthophyll cycle. In addition, E. huxleyi rapidly increases calcium carbonate precipitation in response to elevated light intensity, thereby providing an additional sink for excess energy. Differences between the 2 species also emerge with regard to the magnitude and timing of their individual responses. While E. huxleyi show a pronounced decrease in chlorophyll a and fucoxanthin cellular contents following increased light intensity, P. tricornutum has a faster increase in diadinoxanthin quota, a slower decrease in Fv/Fm (ratio of variable to maximum fluorescence) and a stronger increase in organic carbon fixation rate during the first 10 min. Our findings provide further evidence of species-specific responses to abrupt changes in light intensity, which may partly depend on the phytoplankton functional groups, with coccolithophores having a supplementary path (calcification) for the rapid dissipation of excess energy produced after an abrupt increase in light intensity. These differences might influence competition between coexisting species and may therefore have consequences at the community level.

Description: Rising atmospheric CO2 concentrations will have profound effects on atmospheric and hydrographic processes, which will ultimately modify the supply and chemistry of trace metals in the ocean. In addition to an increase in sea surface temperatures, higher CO2 also results in a decrease of seawater pH, known as ocean acidification, with implications for inorganic trace metal chemistry. Furthermore, direct or indirect effects of ocean acidification and ocean warming on marine biota will also affect trace metal biogeochemistry via alteration of biological trace metal uptake rates and metal binding to organic ligands. Currently, we still lack a holistic understanding of the impacts of decreasing seawater pH and rinsing temperatures on different trace metals and marine biota, which complicates projections into the future. Here, we outline how ocean acidification and ocean warming will influence the inputs and cycling of Fe and other biologically relevant trace metals globally, and regionally in high and low latitudes of the future ocean, discuss uncertainties, and highlight essential future research fields.

Description: Three bioassay experiments were performed to study the effects of nutrient and Saharan dust additions on natural diazotrophic communities in the tropical North Atlantic Ocean. Samples for nucleic acid analysis were collected at the beginning and end of 48 h incubations. TaqMan probes specific to 7 diazotrophic phylotypes, viz. filamentous cyanobacteria (Trichodesmium spp.), unicellular cyanobacterial (UCYN) Groups A, B, and C, Gamma A and P Proteobacteria, and Cluster III, were used to quantify nifH DNA abundances. N-2 fixation rates were measured in the same experiments using the N-15(2) gas bubble injection method. N-2 fixation was co-limited by P and Fe. Total nifH abundances increased relative to the control with additions of either Fe or P or both in combination. Additions of dissolved N, alone or in combination with phosphate, induced increases in UCYN-A and Gamma A nifH compared with the control. Saharan dust additions significantly stimulated fixation rates. Abundances of all cyanobacterial and Gamma A nifH phylotypes at least doubled after Saharan dust additions where surface water dissolved Fe concentrations were 〈2 nmol l(-1). Laboratory experiments with cultures of T. erythraeum demonstrated that dust addition promoted colony formation and the persistence of T. erythraeum biomass relative to cultures to which no Fe was added. Our results with both field and laboratory experiments indicate that Saharan dust positively affects diazotrophic phylotype abundances and changes T. erythraeum colony morphology.

Description: Through the use of mesocosm experiments, we show that an unusually early spring phytoplankton bloom can be induced by intermittent high-light periods. We performed mesocosm experiments where plankton assemblages from Kiel Bight (Western Baltic Sea) received a light regime based on the natural seasonal irradiance dimmed to 43% of surface irradiance of cloudless days, starting with irradiance levels of mid-January (6 mesocosms) and mid-February (6 mesocosms). After 6 d, half of the mesocosms received a ca. 2-fold increase in irradiance. In the January mesocosms, a phytoplankton bloom developed only in the treatments with the high-light episode, whereas in the February mesocosms a phytoplankton bloom also developed in the controls. Phytoplankton net growth rates, production:biomass ratios and biomass at the end of the high irradiance episodes were positively correlated to the daily light dose. The relative biomass of diatoms increased with increasing light, whereas the relative biomass of cryptophytes decreased. A bottom-up transmission to mesozooplankton (mainly copepods of the genera Acartia and Oithona) was evident by increased densities of copepod nauplii and egg production under higher light conditions, whereas copepodids and adults showed no responses during the experimental period. The taxonomic composition of the nauplii was shifted to the advantage of Acartia/Centropages (not distinguished at the naupliar stage) under higher light conditions.

Description: In an effort to identify the key mechanisms controlling biological productivity and food web structure in the Chesapeake Bay estuarine turbidity maxima (ETM), we measured plankton community metabolism on a series of surveys in the upper Chesapeake Bay during the winter and spring of 2007 and 2008. Measured quantities included primary production, bacterial production, planktonic community respiration, and algal pigment concentrations. These measurements revealed a classic minimum in photosynthesis in the vicinity of the ETM. Temporal variability in plankton community metabolism, primary production, respiration, and bacterial production, were highest in the southern oligohaline region down-estuary of the ETM, and appeared to be driven by dynamic bio-physical interactions. Elevated primary production and community respiration in this region were often associated with the presence of mixotrophic dinoflagellates. The dinoflagellate contribution to primary production and respiration appeared to be particularly large as a result of their mixotrophic capabilities, which allow them to obtain energy both autotrophically and heterotrophically. This study suggests that mixotrophic dinoflagellates play a key role in pelagic food web in the oligohaline region of Chesapeake Bay supplying most of the labile organic matter during late winter and spring and also providing a vector for transferring microbial production to mesozooplankton.

Description: A model, composed of coupled particle tracking and benthic response modules, for predicting waste solids flux and benthic impacts of gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata L.) and sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.) aquaculture, was tested at six sites with different hydrodynamics, bathymetries and biomasses in the Aegean and Ionian Seas, Eastern Mediterranean with observations of sediment trap flux and benthic impact indicators. Seven sediment trap validation studies were conducted that varied in design with traps deployed either on the sea bed, attached to nets or in the water column. Model predictions of flux to traps spaced 5 m apart up to 50 m from the cages over a 13 d period were statistically significant (r2 = 0.61, n = 57, p ≤ 0.05). However, the model could not predict adequately the flux to traps spaced 2 m apart in the high-flux zone underneath cages where variability between trap observations was high. In this high-flux zone underneath cages, the averaged model flux predictions resulted in a performance of ± 49%. Statistically significant relationships were established at four sites; between modelled flux and either benthic fauna impact indicator species (S), abundance (A), A/S ratio, Shannon Wiener Index or Biomass Fractionation Index (BFI), (r2 = 0.82, 0.60, 0.57, 0.67 and 0.48, respectively; n = 24, p ≤ 0.05). Two other sites, which did not exhibit an abundance peak in enriched zones, did not fit these relationships. Using relative abundance of taxonomic groups, a modelled flux of 4.1 g m-2 d-1 was a useful boundary; on either side of this boundary, clear trends occurred in pollutant tolerant and intolerant species.

Description: Both ocean warming and acidification have been demonstrated to affect the growth, performance and reproductive success of calcifying invertebrates. However, relatively little is known regarding how such environmental change may affect interspecific interactions. We separately treated green crabs Carcinus maenas and periwinkles Littorina littorea under conditions that mimicked either ambient conditions (control) or warming and acidification, both separately and in combination, for 5 mo. After 5 mo, the predators, prey and predator-prey interactions were screened for changes in response to environmental change. Acidification negatively affected the closer-muscle length of the crusher chela and correspondingly the claw-strength increment in C. maenas. The effects of warming and/or acidification on L. littorea were less consistent but indicated weaker shells in response to acidification. On the community level, however, we found no evidence that predator-prey interactions will change in the future. Further experiments exploring the impacts of warming and acidification on key ecological interactions are needed instead of basing predictions of ecosystem change solely on species-specific responses to environmental change.

Description: Stress often induces metabolically expensive countermeasures. Bivalve shell production is costly and can thus be indirectly impacted by environmental stress. Suboptimal salinity and temperature may constitute stressors that allocate energy away from shell production to cellular processes such as osmoregulation or to the repair of cellular damage. In the course of climate change, water temperatures of the Baltic Sea are predicted to increase, and salinity is predicted to regionally decrease. These shifts may lead to increased stress for temperate marine species adapted to relatively cool water temperatures and high salinity conditions. To better understand the importance of climate change-related stress, we assessed the isolated and interactive effects of salinity and temperature on shell increment (cumulative growth: shell), cellular oxidative stress (accumulation of oxidized lipids and proteins: lipofuscin), instantaneous physiological condition (condition index: CI), and mortality of young Mytilus edulis and Arctica islandica from the western Baltic Sea. Temperature and salinity interactively affected shell increment, lipofuscin accumulation, and mortality of M. edulis as well as shell increment of A. islandica. Shell increment of M. edulis was less affected by hyposalinity than shell increment of A. islandica. In both species the CI decreased and lipofuscin accumulation increased with increasing temperature. Lipofuscin accumulation negatively correlated with shell increment in M. edulis. We conclude that Baltic Sea populations of ecologically relevant bivalve species may experience severe stress by the predicted regional scenario of warming and desalination if evolutionary adaptation does not happen at a similar rate.

Description: Intraspecific variation in characters such as arm sucker and gill lamellae counts in octopodids is yet to be thoroughly investigated, potentially hampering our ability to recognize species. In this study, data from 13 specimens of Muusoctopus hydrothermalis collected at four hydrothermal vents on the East Pacific Rise between 8°38′N and 12°48′N are considered. Although the northern and southern octopuses differ minimally in size, mean sucker count by arm in the northern group is 11.7 to 22.8% higher than it is in the southern group; in addition these octopuses typically have an additional gill lamella and bulkier funnel organs. The arms of each individual carry a different number of suckers. The difference is significant on nonadjacent arms, a pattern that merits examination in a broader taxonomic context. Why these differences exist among conspecifics remains unknown, the incidence of parasitic copepods is not different between the groups and the between-group variation in arm suckers seen here compares well with a previous report of variation among 18 specimens from the type locality. Increases in meristic characters (counts) in fish are attributed to lower temperatures during embryonic development following Jordan's rule. Northern and southern vents offer the octopuses a wide temperature range, but vent fluid chemistry differs. Northern vent fluids may be more toxic; if so, developing octopus embryos may survive only minimal vent fluid exposure and therefore develop at low temperatures. At the less toxic southern vents, eggs may survive greater exposure to vent fluids and thus develop at higher temperatures.

Description: Mesopelagic fishes occur in all the world’s oceans, but their abundance and consequently their ecological significance remains uncertain. The current global estimate based on net sampling prior to 1980 suggests a global abundance of one gigatonne (109 t) wet weight. Here we report novel evidence of efficient avoidance of such sampling by the most common myctophid fish in the Northern Atlantic, i.e. Benthosema glaciale. We reason that similar avoidance of nets may explain consistently higher acoustic abundance estimates of mesopelagic fish from different parts of the world’s oceans. It appears that mesopelagic fish abundance may be underestimated by one order of magnitude, suggesting that the role of mesopelagic fish in the oceans might need to be revised.

Description: Seagrasses worldwide are commonly infected by endophytic protists of the genus Labyrinthula. To date, the nature of interaction of endophyte and host is not well understood. In eelgrass (Zostera marina) Labyrinthula zosterae may become virulent (pathogenic) and lead to the loss of entire sea grass beds. One of the best known examples of any marine epidemic were outbreaks of the ´wasting disease´ on both sides of the Atlantic in the 1930s, but smaller infestations have been reported until recently. Up to now, detection of infection by Labyrinthula was based on the wasting index, i.e. the relative area of leaf lesions or microscopy, while genetic data are virtually absent. We characterized a ~1400 base pair portion of the 18S small subunit rDNA in L. zosterae isolates (N=41) from six northern European sites and one southern location (Adriatic Sea) in order to assess identity and potential diversity of endophytic protists. Because there are indications that low salinity impedes Labyrinthula growth, sampling sites included a wide range of salinities from 5-34 psu. A search against the non-redundant GENBANK data base revealed that most isolates are 99% similar to the only L. zosterae 18S sequence available from the data base at all but the Finish site (salinity values 5-7 psu). At the latter site, a different Labyrinthula species occurred, which was also found in fully marine Wadden Sea cultures. A third species was detected in Skagerrak, south-western Baltic and North Sea samples (20-25 psu). We conclude that L. zosterae is widespread among northern European eelgrass sites across wide ranges of salinity.

Description: Growth rates of the cold-water corals (CWC) Madrepora oculata, Lophelia pertusa, Desmophyllum dianthus and Dendrophyllia cornigera were measured over 8 mo under controlled conditions (12°C in the dark, fed 5 times a week) by means of the buoyant weight technique. Additionally, linear growth rates were measured in M. oculata and L. pertusa for 2 and 1 yr, respectively. The weight measurements revealed growth rates, expressed as percent growth per day (mean ± SD), of 0.11 ± 0.04 for M. oculata, 0.02 ± 0.01 for L. pertusa, 0.06 ± 0.03 for D. dianthus and 0.04 ± 0.02 % d–1 for D. cornigera. Growth in M. oculata was significantly higher (p 〈 0.0001) than in the other 3 CWC species. For M. oculata and L. pertusa, also linear growth was recorded. These values (mean ± SD) were 0.014 ± 0.007 and 0.024 ± 0.018 mm d–1 for M. oculata and L. pertusa, respectively. This is the first study that compares the growth rates of 4 different CWC species under the same experimental conditions of water flow, temperature, salinity and food supply. These corals have different growth rates, both in terms of total weight increase and linear increase, and these growth rates can be related to interspecific physiological differences. Data on growth rates are essential to understand the population dynamics of CWC as well as the recovery capacity of these communities after disturbance.

Description: The Cycladic blueschist belt, Greece, is mostly submerged below sea level and regional correlations are difficult to establish. Marbles are widespread within the belt and locally used as marker horizons to subdivide monotonous schist sequences. However, owing to the lack of distinctive petrographic characteristics, the marbles have not been used for island-to-island correlations. This study aims to investigate the potential of Sr-, C- and O-isotope compositions of marbles as a tool for unravelling the litho- and/or tectonostratigraphic relationships across the Cycladic islands, and as a proxy for the time of sediment formation. For this purpose, we have studied metamorphic carbonate rocks from the islands of Tinos, Andros, Syros, Sifnos and Naxos. Identical 87Sr/86Sr values for certain marble horizons occurring on Tinos, Andros and Sifnos are interpreted to document coeval regional carbonate precipitation. The 87Sr/86Sr values of the apparently least altered samples intersect the seawater curve multiple times within the most likely time interval of original carbonate precipitation (〈 240 Ma; as indicated by previously published ion probe U–Pb zircon data) and thus an unequivocal age assignment is not possible. Very broad temporal correlations are possible, but more subtle distinctions are not feasible. On Andros, the overlapping Sr-isotope values of marbles representing the lowest and highest parts of the metamorphic succession are in accordance with a model suggesting isoclinal folding or thrusting of a single horizon, or very fast sedimentation. In contrast, distinct 87Sr/86Sr values for samples from Tinos, representing different levels of the metamorphic succession, suggest that these rocks represent a temporal succession and not the tectonic repetition of a single horizon. Based on Sr-,O- and C-isotope characteristics alone the time equivalence ofmarbles occurring on different islands could not be documented unambiguously. However, by using various combinations of these parameters, some occurrences can be discriminated from the overall sample population. The new data further accentuate the general potential of coupled Sr-, C- and O-isotope characteristics for identification of archaeological provenance and complement existing datasets for Aegean marbles.

Description: The focus of this study was the 11.55 m long sediment core 303700-7, which was retrieved from the Gdansk Basin during a cruise of RV ‘Poseidon’ within the frame of the Russian–German Project GISEB. The core was analysed for grain size, elemental chemical composition, organic carbon and palynological spectra. The age control was based on palynostratigraphy and 7 radiocarbon datings of bulk sedimentary organic matter. These data provide a high-resolution record of climatic and marine palaeoenvironments in the Gdansk Basin for the last ca. 13 kyr, from the Bølling to late Holocene time. Sedimentation rates were estimated to vary between 0.37 and 1.62 mm yr–1. Major variations in palaeosalinity were estimated from bromine concentrations in the sediment. This method allows the first quantitative reconstruction of palaeosalinity changes in the Baltic Sea, especially profound during the Littorina and Postlittorina periods (middle to late Holocene). In addition, grain size data indicated several Littorina transgressive–regressive stages and a few episodes of increased near-bottom current activity. Our results from the Gdansk Basin are consistent with palaeoceanographic data from other deep basins of the Baltic Sea and provide new insights into the regional Holocene history.

Description: We assessed the effects of light limitation and temperature shift on palatability and induced antiherbivore defense in the brown alga Fucus vesiculosus L. Incubation for 2 wk at light intensities above the compensation point of photosynthesis and in the absence of grazers increased the palatability of F. vesiculosus and its subsequent consumption by the omnivorous isopod Idotea baltica Pallas. This effect correlated with an increased C:N ratio and mannitol content in the algal tissue, presumably due to increased photosynthetic carbon fixation. Mannitol, the primary product of photosynthesis in F. vesiculosus, proved to be a feeding cue for I. baltica, and depletion of the mannitol pool may therefore account for the reduced palatability during light limitation. At light intensities above the compensation point of photosynthesis, F. vesiculosus responded with decreasing palatability when it was exposed to I. baltica grazing. Irrespective of the preceding light regime, such defense induction was prevented during incubation under light limitation. Thus, under low light, defense induction is not only inhibited, but also less necessary due to the relative absence of feeding cues. Upward or downward shifts in water temperature by approximately 10°C also inhibited inducible defense in F. vesiculosus. However, such shifts did not affect algal growth and were therefore the consequence of an impairment of specific defense-related components rather than of resource limitation, unless compensatory growth was given priority over defense.

Description: The synergistic effects of fishing, climate and internal dynamics on population fluctuations are poorly understood due to the complexity of these interactions. In this paper, we combine time series analysis and simulations to investigate the long-term dynamics of an overexploited population in the Mediterranean Sea, and its link with both fishing-induced demographic changes and hydroclimatic variability. We show that the cyclicity of the catch per unit of effort (CPUE) of European hake Merluccius merluccius (EH) vanished in the 1980s, while the correlation between the CPUE and a local environmental index increased. Using simulations, we then show that the cyclicity observed in the EH biomass before the 1980s can have an internal origin, while that its disappearance could be due to the fishing-induced erosion of the age structure. Our results suggest that fishing can trigger a switch from internally generated to externally forced population fluctuations, the latter being characterised by an increasing dependency of the population on recruitment and ultimately on environmental variability. Hydroclimatic modifications occurring in the Mediterranean in the early 1980s could have enhanced these changes by leading to a mismatch between early life stages of EH and favorable environmental conditions. Our conclusions underline the key effect of the interaction between exploitation and climate on the dynamics of EH and its important consequences for management and conservation.

Description: The warming trend for the entire globe (1850 to 2005) is 0.04°C decade–1. A specific warming period started around 1980 and continues until the present. This warming also occurred in the Baltic Sea catchment, which lies between maritime temperate and continental subarctic climate zones. A detailed study of climate variability and the associated impact on the Baltic Sea area for the period 1958 to 2009 revealed that the recent changes in the warming trend are associated with changes in large-scale atmospheric circulation over the North Atlantic. The number and pathways of deep cyclones changed considerably in line with an eastward shift of the North Atlantic Oscillation centers of action. There is a seasonal shift of strong wind events from autumn to winter and early spring. Since the late 1980s, the winter season (DJFM, i.e. December to March) of the Baltic Sea area has tended to be warmer, with less ice coverage and warmer sea surface temperatures, especially pronounced in the northern parts of the Baltic Sea. There is a tendency for increased cloud cover and precipitation in regions that are exposed to westerlies and less cloud coverage at the leeward side of the Scandinavian Mountains and over the Baltic Sea Basin.

Description: We assessed the seasonal change in trophic interactions at the mesograzer and small predator level in a temperate eelgrass system. This was done through stable isotope (δ13C and δ15N) and fatty acid analyses of eelgrass Zostera marina, attached epiphytes, sand microflora, the red alga Delesseria sanguinea, and the 4 most common mesograzer and predator species. Sampling took place monthly in the western part of the Baltic Sea during a whole year (April 2002 to February 2003). The trophic importance of microalgae was corroborated in all studied species. Red algae were consumed to a lesser extent and eelgrass was of minor importance. The degree of dependence on the main carbon sources was species-specific and varied with time. The small gastropod, Rissoa membranacea, mostly grazed epiphytes (73% on average), whereas the fractions of epiphytes and sand microflora showed a more balanced pattern in the other mesograzer species. Stable carbon data and fatty acid composition strongly suggested that epiphytic algae were the primary source of organic matter for mesograzers in late spring and autumn. In summer, sand microflora were of greater importance as carbon sources, except for the amphipod Gammarus oceanicus for which red algae was the most important. Stable nitrogen values indicated that the degree of carnivory was size-dependent in both omnivorous crustacean species studied; larger individuals generally occupied a higher trophic position than did smaller ones. Furthermore, the isopod Idotea baltica was more herbivorous in summer than in the other seasons. Our results confirm the importance of species-specific and temporal variability for the effect of mesograzers in eelgrass systems. The significance of mesograzers as determinants of food-web structure via the reduction of epiphytes is further corroborated by our study, and the observed high plasticity of mesograzers concerning food sources may promote the stability of eelgrass food webs despite strong seasonal variations in the biomass of primary producers.

Description: Culturing experiments were performed with the benthic foraminifer Ammonia aomoriensis from Flensburg Fjord, western Baltic Sea. The experiments simulated a projected rise in atmospheric CO2 concentrations. We exposed specimens to 5 seawater pCO2 levels ranging from 618 µatm (pH 7.9) to 3130 µatm (pH 7.2) for 6 wk. Growth rates and mortality differed significantly among pCO2 treatments. The highest increase of mean test diameter (19%) was observed at 618 µatm. At partial pressures 〉1829 µatm, the mean test diameter was observed to decrease, by up to 22% at 3130 µatm. At pCO2 levels of 618 and 751 µatm, A. aomoriensis tests were found intact after the experiment. The outer chambers of specimens incubated at 929 and 1829 µatm were severely damaged by corrosion. Visual inspection of specimens incubated at 3130 µatm revealed wall dissolution of all outer chambers, only their inner organic lining stayed intact. Our results demonstrate that pCO2 values of ≥929 µatm in Baltic Sea waters cause reduced growth of A. aomoriensis and lead to shell dissolution. The bottom waters in Flensburg Fjord and adjacent areas regularly experience pCO2 levels in this range during summer and fall. Increasing atmospheric CO2 concentrations are likely to extend and intensify these periods of undersaturation. This may eventually slow down calcification in A. aomoriensis to the extent that net carbonate precipitation terminates. The possible disappearance of this species from the Baltic Sea and other areas prone to seasonal undersaturation would likely cause significant shifts in shallow-water benthic ecosystems in the near future.

Description: Climate models predict increases in frequency of summer heat waves. In Europe, such events have already caused declines in seagrass meadows, highlighting the importance of short-term responses of local communities to climate stress. Understanding the variability among populations along the European thermal gradient in response to heat waves is crucial for seagrass conservation and management. Using a mesocosm we compared effects of a simulated heat wave on the photophysiology of Zostera marina populations coming from low (43° N, Adriatic Sea) and high latitudes (56° N, North and Baltic Seas). Measurements before, during and up to 4 wk after the heat wave included photophysiological parameters derived from light response curves generated by PAM fluorometry and gene expression using qRT-PCR. In all 3 populations, initial exposures to thermal stress were characterized by increases in dark adapted effective quantum yield (Y0), maximum electron transfer rate of PSII (ETRmax) and slope of the light response curve (α), coinciding with upregulations of the gene superoxidase dismutase [Mn]. With continuation of the heat wave these initial effects disappeared, demonstrated by declines in Y0, ETRmax and α relative to controls. Z. marina from the Adriatic suffered from the simulated heat wave as much as its high-latitude counterparts. However, we also demonstrate slight photophysiological differences between the populations during the recovery phase, where performance of high-latitude populations continued declining even after water temperatures returned to control levels, while photochemical activity fully recovered in the Adriatic population. These results might draw the attention of future studies and seagrass conservation efforts.

Description: At 2 modern deep-water cold-seep sites, the North Alex Mud Volcano (eastern Mediterranean Sea, water depth ~500 m) and the Concepción Methane Seep Area (south-east Pacific Ocean, water depth ~700 m), we found abundant catshark (Chondrichthyes: Scylio - rhinidae) and skate (Chondrichthyes: Rajidae) egg capsules, respectively, associated with carbonates and tubeworms. Fossilized catshark egg capsules were found at the 35 million year old Bear River Cold-Seep Deposit (Washington State, USA) closely associated with remains of tubeworms and sponges. We suggest that cold-seep ecosystems have served as nurseries for predatory elasmobranch fishes since at least late Eocene time and therewith possibly play an important role for the functioning of deep-water ecosystems.

Description: In 1956, the shallow-water grouper Cephalopholis argus was introduced from Moorea (French Polynesia), where grouper diversity (14 species) is high, to the Main Hawaiian Islands (MHI), where only 2 rare native deep-water groupers occur. In this non-native environment, the species has flourished and has become the dominant apex predator on many reefs. In the present study, a comparison of non-native populations of C. argus in the MHI with native populations in Moorea showed that mean total length (32.0 vs. 26.9 cm), mass (722 vs. 326 g), growth, and body condition were each significantly elevated in the MHI. In addition, while an ontogenetic shift towards larger prey occurred in both locations, it was faster and more consistent in Moorea than in the MHI. As a result, while small C. argus of comparable size in the 2 locations consumed similar-sized prey, large C. argus in Moorea consumed significantly longer and deeper-bodied prey than their counterparts in the MHI. This pattern was unrelated to the size distributions of available prey and may thus reflect stronger intra- and interspecific competition for small prey in Moorea. Although ecological release in a broader sense (i.e. a combination of predator release, parasite release, and competitive release) may play a role, the most direct explanation for the observed differences between C. argus in native habitats in Moorea (with many competing grouper species) and non-native habitats in the MHI (few competitors) would be competitive release (here used in the sense of benefits resulting from the reduction of interspecific competition).

Description: We analysed carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) isotope ratios of organisms and biogenic tissues from Comau Fjord (southern Chile) to characterise benthic food webs and spatial isotope variability in this ecosystem. These values were intended to serve as a baseline for detecting anthropogenic impacts on Patagonian marine fjord ecosystems in later studies. Benthic macro algae and invertebrate suspension feeders were primarily considered, with some supplementary data from cyanobacteria, plankton, fish, and coastal vertebrates. Six depth transects typified the lateral salinity gradients from the innermost part of the fjord to its mouth, as well as the vertical density gradients caused by freshwater inflow. Carbon isotope signatures indicated predominant consumption of either CO2 or HCO3– for benthic macroalgal. All CO2 users belonged to rhodophytes. The δ15N values of benthic macrophytes decreased with decreasing salinity, both vertically and along the fjord axis. This implies the influence of 15N-poor terrestrial dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) at these sites. Enhanced influence of freshwater influx also lowered N contents and increased C/N ratios in algal tissues. Exceptionally high macroalgae δ15N values at the seabird and sealion colony Isla Liliguapi point to animal faeces as an additional source of 15N-enriched DIN. Thus, DIN sources not originating from the open sea are additionally utilised by the benthic macroalgae in the fjord. In contrast, mussel tissue from the same locations was much less influenced by varying DIN sources. Among benthic suspension feeders, mytilids (Mytilus chilensis, Aulacomya ater) had the lowest and scleractinian corals (Desmophyllum dianthus) had the highest δ15N values, and Balanidae (Elminius kingii) and gorgonians (Primnoella sp.) showed values in between. The preference for specific size classes of marine particulate organic matter (seston) as food serves as an explanation for the δ15N variability observed between the different benthic suspension feeders.

Description: The cod Gadus morhua stock in the eastern Baltic Sea has seen a recent miraculous recovery, mainly due to a drastic decrease in fishing mortality (F). Here we explore 3 options for rebuilding the stock to the size (biomass that can produce the maximum sustainable yield, or Bmsy) that is required by international law and that can support high long-term yields. The first option implements a fishing mortality of F = 0.3, as is aimed for under the current European Commission management plan. The second option implements in addition the current constraint of a maximum annual increase of 15% in total allowable catches until a catch corresponding to F = 0.3 is reached. The third option freezes the 2010 catch for 2 yr before allowing a linear increase with spawning stock biomass towards 90% of the maximum sustainable yield. We show that the first option provides the highest catches for the first 3 yr, but fails to rebuild the biomass to the level of Bmsy. The second option rebuilds the biomass above Bmsy only temporarily and results in the lowest catches over a 10 yr period. The third option rebuilds the biomass above Bmsy and provides high catches and the highest profit within 10 yr. Within a decade, all 3 options provide several-fold higher biomasses, catches, and profits compared to the current situation, underlining the benefits that can be obtained from proper fisheries management. In comparison, the so-called precautionary management approach (F = 0.6) implemented until 2006 would perform worse in every respect.

Description: Rising atmospheric CO2 concentrations could cause a calcium carbonate subsaturation of Arctic surface waters in the next 20 yr, making these waters corrosive for calcareous organisms. It is presently unknown what effects this will have on Arctic calcifying organisms and the ecosystems of which they are integral components. So far, acidification effects on crustose coralline red algae (CCA) have only been studied in tropical and Mediterranean species. In this work, we investigated calcification rates of the CCA Lithothamnion glaciale collected in northwest Svalbard in laboratory experiments under future atmospheric CO2 concentrations. The algae were exposed to simulated Arctic summer and winter light conditions in 2 separate experiments at optimum growth temperatures. We found a significant negative effect of increased CO2 levels on the net calcification rates of L. glaciale in both experiments. Annual mean net dissolution of L. glaciale was estimated to start at an aragonite saturation state between 1.1 and 0.9 which is projected to occur in parts of the Arctic surface ocean between 2030 and 2050 if emissions follow ‘business as usual’ scenarios (SRES A2; IPCC 2007). The massive skeleton of CCA, which consist of more than 80% calcium carbonate, is considered crucial to withstanding natural stresses such as water movement, overgrowth or grazing. The observed strong negative response of this Arctic CCA to increased CO2 levels suggests severe threats of the projected ocean acidification for an important habitat provider in the Arctic coastal ocean.

Description: As part of the PeECE II mesocosm project, we investigated the effects of pCO2 levels on the initial step of heterotrophic carbon cycling in the surface ocean. The activities of microbial extracellular enzymes hydrolyzing 4 polysaccharides were measured during the development of a natural phytoplankton bloom under pCO2 conditions representing glacial (190 µatm) and future (750 µatm) atmospheric pCO2. We observed that (1) chondroitin hydrolysis was variable throughout the pre-, early- and late-bloom phases, (2) fucoidanase activity was measurable only in the glacial mesocosm as the bloom developed, (3) laminarinase activity was low and constant, and (4) xylanase activity declined as the bloom progressed. Concurrent measurements of microbial community composition, using denaturing-gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE), showed that the 2 mesocosms diverged temporally, and from one another, especially in the late-bloom phase. Enzyme activities correlated with bloom phase and pCO2, suggesting functional as well as compositional changes in microbial communities in the different pCO2 environments. These changes, however, may be a response to temporal changes in the development of phytoplankton communities that differed with the pCO2 environment. We hypothesize that the phytoplankton communities produced dissolved organic carbon (DOC) differing in composition, a hypothesis supported by changing amino acid composition of the DOC, and that enzyme activities responded to changes in substrates. Enzyme activities observed under different pCO2 conditions likely reflect both genetic and population-level responses to changes occurring among multiple components of the microbial loop.

Description: The midwater scorpionfish Ectreposebastes imus (Scorpaeniformes: Setarchidae) is distributed in tropical and subtropical waters of the worldwide oceans, at depths of 150–800 m. It has previously been recorded from the Gulf of Guinea in the eastern Atlantic. The present work extends the northern limit for the distribution of E. imus in the Atlantic Ocean to the area of the Canary Islands.

Description: Morphologic analyses of a large collection of coleoid cephalopods from the Lebanese Upper Cretaceous yielded a much higher diversity than previously assumed and revealed numerous extraordinarily well-preserved, soft-part characters. An analysis of the Prototeuthidina, a gladius-bearing group with a slender torpedo-shaped body, revealed two species: Dorateuthis syriaca and Boreopeltis smithi n. sp. Previously unknown soft-part characters, such as the digestive tract, the gills, and the cephalic cartilage considerably improved our knowledge of D. syriaca. Since none of the investigated specimens show more than eight arms, similarities with modern squids are regarded as superficial. Boreopeltis smithi n. sp. is erected on the basis of its comparatively wide Paraplesioteuthis- like gladius. The latter species represents the first unambiguous record of this genus in Upper Cretaceous deposits. Phylogenetic analyses indicate that the prototeuthidid clade consists of two lineages. The plesioteuthidid lineage originates from early Jurassic Paraplesioteuthis and leads to Plesioteuthis and Dorateuthis. The other lineage is morphologically more conservative and leads to Boreopeltis.

Description: Mucus, a complex composed primarily of carbohydrates, is released in similar quantities by scleractinian warm- and cold-water reef corals, and can function as an important carrier of organic material from corals to a range of consumers, microbes in particular. However, information about mucus chemical composition is rare for warm-water corals and non-existent for cold-water corals. This study therefore presents comparative carbohydrate composition analyses of mucus released by the dominant and cosmopolitan warm- and cold-water coral genera. Arabinose was the major mucus carbohydrate component for the genus Acropora, but was not found in cold-water coral mucus. Mucus derived from corals of the genus Fungia contained significantly more fucose than the mucus of all other coral genera. However, comparison of mucus carbohydrate composition for the warm- and cold-water corals in the present study and in the literature revealed no significant differences. This indicates use of similar carbohydrate components (with the exception of arabinose) during mucus synthesis by scleractinian corals, largely irrespective of zooxanthellate or azooxanthellate carbon supply mechanisms.