ALBERT

Description: The Q10 temperature coefficient, which is widely used in scientific literature, is a measure of the temperature sensitivity of chemical reaction rates or biological processes. However, the conclusions drawn from applying this coefficient to experimental data obtained from biological processes are not universal. In many biological processes, Q10 values are often discordant with the results predicted by the Arrhenius law. The hypothesis tested in the present study is that this problem arises mainly from the fact that the Q10 coefficient is defined by the ratio between rates described by exponential laws instead of power laws. Considering this hypothesis and the need to review the mathematical laws and models currently used to describe rates and Q10 coefficients, we propose a model beyond the usual Arrhenius theory or exponential decay law herein. The proposed mathematical model is based on the theory of deformed exponential functions, with the ordinary Q10 model representing the conventional exponential function. Therefore, all results following the standard model remain valid. Moreover, we include a Q10 free open-source code, written in Python, and compatible with Windows, Linux and macOS platforms. The validation of the proposed model and confirmation of the given hypothesis were performed based on the following temperature-dependent biological processes: soil organic carbon (SOC) decomposition (which is essential to forecast the impact of climate change on terrestrial ecosystems); the metabolism of Arctic zooplankton; physiological processes of the respiratory and cardiovascular systems; rate of oxygen consumption in mitochondria of the eurythermal killifish Fundulus heteroclitus, and leaf respiration.

Description: Since 2010, the Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity (SMOS) satellite mission monitors the earth emission at L-Band. It provides the longest time series of Sea Surface Salinity (SSS) from space over the global ocean. However, the SSS retrieval at high latitudes is a challenge because of the low sensitivity L-Band radiometric measurements to SSS in cold waters and to the contamination of SMOS measurements by the vicinity of continents, of sea ice and of Radio Frequency Interferences. In this paper, we assess the quality of weekly SSS fields derived from swath-ordered instantaneous SMOS SSS (so called Level 2) distributed by the European Space Agency. These products are filtered according to new criteria. We use the pseudo-dielectric constant retrieved from SMOS brightness temperatures to filter SSS pixels polluted by sea ice. We identify that the dielectric constant model and the sea surface temperature auxiliary parameter used as prior information in the SMOS SSS retrieval induce significant systematic errors at low temperatures. We propose a novel empirical correction to mitigate those sources of errors at high latitudes. Comparisons with in-situ measurements ranging from 1 to 11 m depths spotlight huge vertical stratification in fresh regions. This emphasizes the need to consider in-situ salinity as close as possible to the sea surface when validating L-band radiometric SSS which are representative of the first top centimeter. SSS Standard deviation of differences (STDD) between weekly SMOS SSS and in-situ near surface salinity significantly decrease after applying the SSS correction, from 1.46 pss to 1.28 pss. The correlation between new SMOS SSS and in-situ near surface salinity reaches 0.94. SMOS estimates better capture SSS variability in the Arctic Ocean in comparison to TOPAZ reanalysis (STDD between TOPAZ and in-situ SSS = 1.86 pss), particularly in river plumes with very large SSS spatial gradients.

Description: The exhumation of peridotite rocks in oceanic transform zones passes by the rheological transition between the ductile and brittle deformation until the complete emplacement in the oceanic lithosphere. The São Pedro and São Paulo Archipelago (SPSPA), in the Equatorial Atlantic, records the deformational products of ductile, brittle and the rocks/fluid interaction generating specific structures in each domain. The deformational stages are related to the transpressional and transtensional geodynamics of São Paulo Transform Fault. Firstly, during transpression, exhumation occurs associated with the ductile domain causing intense mylonitization in temperatures between ~700° and 800 °C, defined by olivine and orthopyroxene recrystallization. The interaction with fluids initially originated from the mantle generates amphibole and oxide-rich layers marking the passage to a semi-brittle deformation. The continuation of peridotite exhumation, associated with an NW-SE shortening and transpressional led to a higher availability of hydrothermal fluids. As a consequence, four serpentinization episodes are recorded, which are associated with semi-brittle to brittle transition under temperatures between 300° and 400 °C. Finally, the complete exhumation and establishment of brittle mechanisms led to carbonatation phase near the surface, with temperatures ranging from 300° to 150 °C. The active NW-SE tectonic stress generated E-W strike-slip faults that were filled by carbonates recording the final exhumation stage.

Description: The present state of constantly increasing plastic pollution is the major concern of scientific researchers. The conventional techniques applied (i.e., burning and landfilling) to get plastic degraded from the environment are inadequate due to harmful byproducts and limited to its recycling. In this review, we have recapitulated recent biotechnological approaches, including synthetic microbial consortia, systems biology tools, and genetic engineering techniques which can pave the path towards the plastic bioremediation and degradation. Moreover, potential plastic degrader microbes and their degradation pathways are also summarized. Lastly, this review focuses on enhancing the understanding of the degradation ability of microorganisms using contemporary biotechnological tools.

Description: Atmospheric deposition of aerosols to the ocean provides an important pathway for the supply of vital micronutrients, including trace metals. These trace metals are essential for phytoplankton growth, and therefore their delivery to marine ecosystems can strongly influence the ocean carbon cycle. The solubility of trace metals in aerosols is a key parameter to better constrain their potential impact on phytoplankton growth. To date, a wide range of experimental approaches and nomenclature have been used to define aerosol trace metal solubility, making data comparison between studies difficult. Here we investigate and discuss several laboratory leaching protocols to determine the solubility of key trace metals in aerosol samples, namely iron, cobalt, manganese, copper, lead, vanadium, titanium and aluminium. Commonly used techniques and tools are also considered such as enrichment factor calculations and air mass back-trajectory projections and recommendations are given for aerosol field sampling, laboratory processing (including leaching and digestion) and analytical measurements. Finally, a simple 3-step leaching protocol combining commonly used protocols is proposed to operationally define trace metal solubility in aerosols. The need for standard guidelines and protocols to study the biogeochemical impact of atmospheric trace metal deposition to the ocean has been increasingly emphasised by both the atmospheric and oceanographic communities. This lack of standardisation currently limits our understanding and ability to predict ocean and climate interactions under changing environmental conditions.

Description: Highlights • Regional brain iron concentrations are heterogenous. • Regional distribution of iron is most consistent with ferritin mRNA expression. • SEC-ICP-MS reveals the protein masses that cytosolic iron is associated with. • More than 50 % of cytosolic iron is associated with ferritin. Iron is essential for brain development and health where its redox properties are used for a number of neurological processes. However, iron is also a major driver of oxidative stress if not properly controlled. Brain iron distribution is highly compartmentalised and regulated by a number of proteins and small biomolecules. Here, we examine heterogeneity in regional iron levels in 10 anatomical structures from seven post-mortem human brains with no apparent neuropathology. Putamen contained the highest levels, and most case-to-case variability, of iron compared with the other regions examined. Partitioning of iron between cytosolic and membrane-bound iron was generally consistent in each region, with a slightly higher proportion (55 %) in the ‘insoluble’ phase. We expand on this using the Allen Human Brain Atlas to examine patterns between iron levels and transcriptomic expression of iron regulatory proteins and using quantitative size exclusion chromatography-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry to assess regional differences in the molecular masses to which cytosolic iron predominantly binds. Approximately 60 % was associated with ferritin, equating to approximately 25 % of total tissue iron essentially in storage. This study is the first of its kind in human brain tissue, providing a valuable resource and new insight for iron biologists and neuroscientists, alike.

Description: The aim of this study was to investigate the syntrophic methanogenesis from the perspective of energy transfer and competition. Effects of redox materials and redox potential on direct interspecies electron transfer (DIET) were examined through thermodynamic analysis based on the energy distribution principle. Types of redox materials could affect the efficiency of DIET via changing the total energy supply of the syntrophic methanogenesis. Decreasing system redox potential could facilitate DIET through increasing the total available energy. The competition between hydrogenotrophic methanogens and DIET methanogens might be the reason for the low proportion of the DIET pathway in the syntrophic methanogenesis. A facilitation mechanism of DIET was proposed based on the energy distribution. Providing sufficient electrons, inhibiting hydrogenotrophic methanogens and adding more competitive redox couples to avoid hydrogen generation might be beneficial for the facilitation of DIET.

Description: Highlights • NH4NO3, Tris-HCl, and NH4CH3COO are optimal buffers for use in SEC-ICP-MS metalloprotein analyses. • Optimal range of buffer concentration is 50–200 mM in SEC-ICP-MS. • 100 mM concentration reduces both protein column interactions and ICP-MS maintenance. • Dextran-based columns are best suited for the analysis of apo-copper proteins. The correct identification of the metalloproteins present in human tissues and fluids is essential to our understanding of the cellular mechanisms underpinning a host of health disorders. Separation and analysis of biological samples are typically done via size exclusion chromatography hyphenated with inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (SEC-ICP-MS). Although this technique can be extremely effective in identification of potential metalloproteins, the choice of mobile phase may have a marked effect on results, results by adversely affecting metal-protein bonds of the metalloproteins of interest. To assess the choice of mobile phase on SEC-ICP-MS resolution and the resulting metalloproteome pattern, we analysed several different sample types (brain homogenate; Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD1); a molecular weight standard mix containing ferritin (Ft), ceruloplasmin (Cp), cytochrome c (CytC), vitamin B12 (B12) and thyroglobulin (Tg) using six different mobile phase conditions (200 mM, pH 7.5 solutions of ammonium salts nitrate, acetate, and sulfate; HEPES, MOPS and Tris-HCl). Our findings suggest that ammonium nitrate, ammonium acetate and Tris-HCl are optimal choices for the mobile phase, with the specific choice being dependent on both the number of samples and method of detection that is hyphenated with separation. Furthermore, we found that MOPS, HEPES and ammonium sulfate mobile phases all caused significant changes to peak resolution, retention time and overall profile shape. MOPS and HEPES, in particular, produced additional Fe peaks that were not detected with any of the other mobile phases that were investigated. As well as this, MOPS and HEPES both caused significant concentration dependent matrix suppression of the internal standard.

Description: Symbiotic relationships range from parasitic to mutualistic, yet all endosymbionts face similar challenges, including evasion of host immunity. Many symbiotic organisms have evolved similar mechanisms to face these challenges, including manipulation of the host's transforming growth factor-beta (TGFβ) pathway. Here we investigate the TGFβ pathway in scelaractinian corals which are dependent on symbioses with dinoflagellates from the family Symbiodiniaceae. Using the Caribbean coral, Orbicella faveolata, we explore the effects of enhancement and inhibition of the TGFβ pathway on host gene expression. Following transcriptomic analyses, we demonstrated limited effects of pathway manipulation in absence of immune stimulation. However, manipulation of the TGFβ pathway significantly affects the subsequent ability of host corals to mount an immune response. Enhancement of the TGFβ pathway eliminates transcriptomic signatures of host coral immune response, while inhibition of the pathway maintains the response. This is, to our knowledge, the first evidence of an immunomodulatory role for TGFβ in a scelaractinian coral. These findings suggest variation in TGFβ signaling may have implications in the face of increasing disease prevelance. Our results suggest that the TGFβ pathway can modulate tradeoffs between symbiosis and immunity. Further study of links between symbiosis, TGFβ, and immunity is needed to better understand the ecological implications of these findings.

Description: Highlights • Microplastics act as anthropogenic vectors of trace metals in freshwaters. • Adsorption capacity of microplastics is enhanced by biofilms but is not strong as natural substrates. • Biofilms alter the adsorption kinetics and mechanisms of trace metals onto microplastics. • Microplastics enhance exchange rates of trace metals between water and solid materials. • Anthropogenic substrate is necessary in evaluation of migration and fate of trace metals. Microplastics (MPs) are ubiquitous in freshwater environments, and represent an emerging anthropogenic vector for contaminants, such as trace metals. In this study, virgin expanded polystyrene (PS) particles were placed in a eutrophic urban lake and a reservoir serving as the resource of domestic water for 4 weeks, to develop biofilms on the surface. For comparison, natural adsorbents in the form of suspended particles and surficial sediment were also sampled from these waterbodies. The trace metal adsorption properties of anthropogenic (virgin and biofilm covered microplastics) and natural substrates were investigated and compared via batch adsorption experiments. The adsorption isotherms fitted the Langmuir model, revealed that biofilms could enhance the trace metal adsorption capacity of MPs. However, natural substrates still had a greater adsorption capacity. Biofilms also alter the adsorption kinetics of trace metals onto MPs. The process of adsorption onto virgin MPs was dominated by intraparticle diffusion, whereas film diffusion governed adsorption onto biofilm covered microplastics and natural substrates. The trace metal adsorption of all the substrates was significantly dependent on pH and ionic strength. The adsorption mechanisms were further analyzed by SEM-EDS and FT-IR. The enhancement of adsorption was mainly attributed to complexation with functional groups contained in the biofilms, including carboxyl, amino, and phenyl-OH. Collectively, biofilm development intensifies the role of MPs in the migration and fate of trace metals in freshwater, since it does not give MPs an edge over natural substrates in adsorption.

Description: Highlights • New insights of CH4 and CO2 hydrates are explored using MD strategy. • The bubble evolution appears to be important over dissociation process. • RDF, MSD, AOP, and diffusion coefficient can be used to examine hydrate stability. • The most stable structure of CH4 and CO2 molecules in the gas hydrate is found. • A promising match is noticed between the MD and literature findings. A comprehensive knowledge and precise estimation of the dynamic, structural, and thermodynamic characteristics of hydrates are needed to assess the stability of gas hydrates. Thermodynamic model and experimental studies can be utilized to compute the physical and dynamic properties of hydrate structures. The use of molecular dynamic (MD) simulation is a well-established approach in gas hydrate studies at the atomic level where the properties of interest are obtained from the numerical solution of Newtonian equations. The present work uses MD simulations by employing the constant temperature-constant pressure (NPT), constant temperature-constant volume (NVT) conditions, and the consistent valence force field (CVFF) to monitor the stability and decomposition of methane and carbon dioxide gas hydrates with different compositions. The effects of temperature and composition on the hydrate stability are investigated. In this study, we also compute the radial distribution function, mean square displacement, diffusion coefficient, lattice parameter, potential energy, dissociation enthalpy as well as the density of methane and carbon dioxide under various thermodynamic and process conditions. The formation of methane and carbon dioxide bubbles is studied to investigate bubble evolution during hydrate dissociation. The sizes of methane and carbon dioxide bubbles are not the same due to different solubility conditions of methane and carbon dioxide in liquid water. In addition, the influences of pressure and temperature on the lattice parameter and density of clathrate hydrates are discussed. The obtained results are consistent with previous theoretical and experimental findings, implying that the methodology followed in this work is reliable. The most stable arrangement of methane and carbon dioxide molecules in the gas hydrate is found. The insights/findings of this study might be useful to further understand detailed transport phenomena (e.g., molecular interactions, gas production rate, carbon dioxide replacement, and carbon dioxide capture) involved in the process of carbon dioxide injection into gas hydrate reservoirs.

Description: Deep-ocean islands have long been associated with the generation of oceanic eddies in their wakes. However, their interaction with incoming eddies has seldom been considered. This study focuses on the characterization of background and locally generated mesoscale eddies in the Cabo Verde archipelago between 2003 and 2014. Special attention is given to the interaction of incoming eddies with the bathymetry of the islands, along with their impacts on the local generation of eddies. Island-induced wind-shear effects are also considered. In addition, some examples of the biological response to background and locally generated eddies are discussed. This is achieved by combining remote-sensing satellite observations for wind, sea surface height, and chlorophyll-a (Chla) surface concentrations. The results show that the interaction between incoming background eddies and the archipelago is a recurrent phenomenon, which results in eddy deflection, splitting, merging, intensification, and termination (sorted by highest to lowest number of occurrences). Local island-induced disturbances are also significant, mainly due to atmospheric effects. Such processes result in the generation of island-induced eddies and in wind-mediated eddy intensification and confinement, more often observed in the leeward group. Nonetheless, it is strongly suggested that many of the locally generated eddies are a direct product or by-product of the interaction of background eddies with the islands. With respect to the biological realm, a locally generated cyclonic eddy is observed to originate a pronounced phytoplankton bloom in the vicinity of the tallest island. Nonetheless, background eddies generated off the African coast are often associated with enhanced Chla concentrations when they intersect the archipelago. Such observations challenge the idea that local biological productivity in deep oceanic islands is exclusively driven by island-induced mechanisms.

Description: In an era of electronics, recovering the precious metal such as gold from ever increasing piles of electronic-wastes and metal-ion infested soil has become one of the prime concerns for researchers worldwide. Biological mining is an attractive, economical and non-hazardous to recover gold from the low-grade auriferous ore containing waste or soil. This review represents the recent major biological gold retrieval methods used to bio-mine gold. The biomining methods discussed in this review include, bioleaching, bio-oxidation, bio-precipitation, bio-flotation, bio-flocculation, bio-sorption, bio-reduction, bio-electrometallurgical technologies and bioaccumulation. The mechanism of gold biorecovery by microbes is explained in detail to explore its intracellular mechanistic, which help it withstand high concentrations of gold without causing any fatal consequences. Major challenges and future opportunities associated with each method and how they will dictate the fate of gold bio-metallurgy from metal wastes or metal infested soil bioremediation in the coming future are also discussed. With the help of concurrent advancements in high-throughput technologies, the gold bio-exploratory methods will speed up our ways to ensure maximum gold retrieval out of such low-grade ores containing sources, while keeping the gold mining clean and more sustainable.

Description: Rho.do.mi.cro' bi.um. Gr. neut. n. rhodon the rose; Gr. masc. adj. micros small; Gr. masc. n. bios life; N.L. neut. n. Rhodomicrobium red microbe. Proteobacteria / Alphaproteobacteria / Rhizobiales / Hyphomicrobiaceae / Rhodomicrobium Most characteristic for Rhodomicrobium species is the polar cell growth and the characteristic vegetative growth cycle which includes the formation of peritrichously flagellated swarmer cells and nonmotile “mother cells,” which form prosthecae from one to several times the length of the mother cell. Daughter cells originate as spherical buds at the end of the prosthecae and may undergo differentiation in various ways. They are Gram-negative ovoid to elongate-ovoid bacteria belonging to the Alphaproteobacteria. Internal photosynthetic membranes are of the lamellar type. Photosynthetic pigments are bacteriochlorophyll a and carotenoids of the spirilloxanthin series. The predominant cellular fatty acid is C18:1, which comprises more than 80% of the membrane-bound fatty acids. Ubiquinone and rhodoquinone with 10 isoprene units are present, and the lipopolysaccharides are characterized by a glucosamine-containing, phosphate-free lipid A with amide-bound C16:0 3 OH. DNA G + C content (mol%): 61.8–63.8. Type species: Rhodomicrobium vannielii Duchow and Douglas 1949.

Description: Proteobacteria Alphaproteobacteria Rhizobiales Hyphomicrobiaceae Blas.to.chlo'ris. Gr. masc. n. blastos bud shoot; Gr. masc. adj. chloros green; N.L. fem. n. Blastochloris green bud shoot. Proteobacteria / Alphaproteobacteria / Rhizobiales / Hyphomicrobiaceae / Blastochloris Blastochloris species are anoxygenic phototrophic Alphaproteobacteria that have bacteriochlorophyll b in their photosynthetic reaction centers. Crystals of the photosynthetic reaction centers of Blastochloris viridis were the first that have been studied in high-resolution structure analysis at 3 Å resolution. Internal photosynthetic membranes are present as lamellae underlying and parallel to the cytoplasmic membrane. Cells are rod shaped to ovoid and exhibit polar growth, budding, and asymmetric cell division and form rosette-like cell aggregates. They are motile by means of subpolar flagella and stain Gram-negative. Straight-chain monounsaturated C18:1 is the predominant component of cellular fatty acids. Ubiquinones and menaquinones are present, and the lipopolysaccharides are characterized by a 2,3-diamino-2,3-deoxy-d-glucose (DAG)-containing, phosphate-free lipid A with amide-bound C14:0 3OH. DNA G + C content (mol%): 63.8–68.3. Type species: Blastochloris viridis (Drews and Giesbrecht 1966) Hiraishi 1997 (Rhodopseudomonas viridis Drews and Giesbrecht 1966).

Description: Rho.do.mi.cro' bi.um. Gr. neut. n. rhodon the rose; Gr. masc. adj. micros small; Gr. masc. n. bios life; N.L. neut. n. Rhodomicrobium red microbe. Proteobacteria / Alphaproteobacteria / Rhizobiales / Hyphomicrobiaceae / Rhodomicrobium Most characteristic for Rhodomicrobium species is the polar cell growth and the characteristic vegetative growth cycle which includes the formation of peritrichously flagellated swarmer cells and nonmotile “mother cells,” which form prosthecae from one to several times the length of the mother cell. Daughter cells originate as spherical buds at the end of the prosthecae and may undergo differentiation in various ways. They are Gram‐negative ovoid to elongate‐ovoid bacteria belonging to the Alphaproteobacteria. Internal photosynthetic membranes are of the lamellar type. Photosynthetic pigments are bacteriochlorophyll a and carotenoids of the spirilloxanthin series. The predominant cellular fatty acid is C18:1, which comprises more than 80% of the membrane‐bound fatty acids. Ubiquinone and rhodoquinone with 10 isoprene units are present, and the lipopolysaccharides are characterized by a glucosamine‐containing, phosphate‐free lipid A with amide‐bound C16:0 3 OH. DNA G + C content (mol%): 61.8–63.8. Type species: Rhodomicrobium vannielii Duchow and Douglas 1949.

Description: One of the best-known greenhouse gases, CO2, has been increasing in the last decade of about 1.7%. To overcome the well-known global problems related to this gas, researchers of all over the world are working very hard in order to develop any strategies to seriously solve this issue. In this chapter, the authors focus their attention on one of the possible solutions to the problem: bacteria that are CO2 capture cells which have carried out this task since ancient times. In our work we make an excursus on all the biochemical processes of CO2 capture carried out by bacteria, ending with a detailed comparison of the most studied enzymes. One of the alternatives will be to genetically modify the organisms known to date to speed up their conversion process.

Description: The availability of dissolved iron (dFe) exerts an important control on primary production. Recent ocean observation programs have provided information on dFe in many parts of the ocean, but knowledge is still limited concerning the rates of processes that control the concentrations and cycling of dFe in the ocean and hence the role of dFe as a determinant of global primary production. We constructed a three-dimensional gridded dataset of oceanic dFe concentrations by using both observations and a simple model of the iron cycle, and estimated the difference of processes among the ocean basins in controlling the dFe distributions. A Green's function approach was used to integrate the observations and the model. The reproduced three-dimensional dFe distribution indicated that iron influx from aeolian dust and from shelf sediment were 7.6 Gmol yr and 4.4 Gmol yr in the Atlantic Ocean and 0.4 Gmol yr and 4.1 Gmol yr in the Pacific Ocean. The residence times were estimated to be 12.2 years in the Atlantic and 80.4 years in the Pacific. These estimates imply large differences in the cycling of dFe between the two ocean basins that would need to be taken into consideration when projecting future iron biogeochemical cycling under different climate change scenarios. Although there is some uncertainty in our estimates, global estimates of iron cycle characteristics based on this approach can be expected to enhance our understanding of the material cycle and hence of the current and future rates of marine primary production.

Description: Using the fault plane mechanisms of the shallow earthquakes occurring along the Hellenic arc and the extent of the intermediate seismic belt, we make a quantitative estimate of the relative motion occurring between the Hellenic arc and the adjacent sea floor. This estimate is then used to evaluate the deformation in the Aegean area and to reconstruct the pattern of motion over the Eastern Mediterranean region for the last 13 m.y. It is shown that this pattern is compatible with the neotectonic and seismicity studies in Aegea. We then discuss the dynamics of the area and propose that, since Serravallian-Tortonian time, Aegea has been spreading gravitationally in front of the southwestward advancing Turkey. The reasons for this gravitational spreading are discussed.

Description: Data gathered by recent “Islas Orcadas” cruises reveal the seafloor spreading pattern for a region south of the Agulhas/Falkland fracture zone system. The presence of a magnetic anomaly bight about the Agulhas Plateau indicates that the Agulhas Plateau may have developed at the site of a tectonic plate triple junction during the Late Cretaceous. A westward jump in the seafloor spreading center during the Late Maestrichtian (anomaly 34−31) reduced the offset across the Falkland/Agulhas fracture zone system and resulted in the formation of two conjugate aseismic ridges here described as the Meteor and Islas Orcadas Rises. The magnetic lineation pattern in the Agulhas Basin suggests that a tectonic plate (Malvinas Plate) existed during Campanian to Maestrichtian times. Relative rates of motion are calculated for Antarctica, South America, and Africa for the Late Cretaceous.

Description: This chapter discusses the carbon turnover, calcification, and growth in coral reefs. Carbon turnover within a total reef community is a function of two distinct, biochemically interacting cycles. The first is the metabolic cycle consisting of the photosynthetic fixation of CO2 and the release of CO2 by respiration and decomposition processes. Superimposed on this are the direct incorporation of organic compounds (dissolved or particulate; living or non-living) originating outside the reef systems (in the adjacent ocean waters), and the loss of organic compounds from the reef system into the out-flowing water. The second is the inorganic carbonate cycle involving the biological and non-biological precipitation and dissolution of carbonates. Superimposed on this is the loss of particulate carbonates in suspension in the out-flowing water. The main chemical component of a coral-reef system is calcium carbonate, which occurs either as high-Mg calcite, aragonite, or low-Mg calcite. The mean calcification values in various environments at One Tree Reef are presented in the chapter. These data may be converted to an implied vertical growth rate potential assuming that accrual is dominantly aragonite (density = 2.89 g cm–3) and that there is 50% porosity after normal compaction.

Description: Microbial decomposition of organic matter in recent sediments of the Landsort Deep—an anoxic basin of the central Baltic Sea—resulted in the formation of a characteristic assemblage of authigenic mineral precipitates of carbonates, sulfides. phosphates and amorphous silica, The dominant crystalline phases are a mixed Mn-carbonate [(Mn0.85Ca0.10Mg0.05)CO3]. Mn-sulfide [MnS] and Fecarbonate [FeCO3]. Amorphous Fe-sulfide [FeS]. Mn-phosphate [Mn3(PO4)2] and a mixed Fe-Ca-phosphate [(Fe0.86Ca0.14)3(PO4)2] were identified by their chemical compositions only. The variability in composition of these solid phases and their mode of occurrence as a co-existing assemblage constrains the conditions and solution composition from which they precipitated. Estimates of activities for dissolved Fe. Mn. PO4, CO3 and S in equilibrium with such an assemblage are close to those found in recent anoxic interstitial water-sediment systems. It is important to have detailed knowledge of the composition and stability conditions of these solid precipitates in order to refine stoichiometric models of interstitial nutrient regeneration in anoxic sediments.

Description: Goban Spur lies on the continental margin of northwest Europe, southwest of Ireland. It is a marginal plateau underlain by Hercynian granites and Palaeozoic sediments, which form large horsts, grabens and tilted fault blocks with a trend that is approximately parallel to the main Celtic/Armorican Shelf edge. The spur is thought to be a westward continuation of the buoyant Cornubian Ridge, and is bounded to the north and south by large fault lines which probably represent reactivation of Hercynian structural trends. The continental basement is further divided longitudinally into a low-lying outer zone (Intermediate Zone) and a high inner region (Goban Spur proper). The ocean/continent boundary is thought to lie at the outer edge of the Intermediate Zone, Sea-floor spreading anomalies immediately west of the Intermediate Zone suggest that the adjacent ocean crust was created prior to anomaly 33 (say at ca. 90 m.y. B.P.). The sedimentary sequence on Goban Spur can be subdivided into four layers which can be tentatively correlated with the stratigraphic succession on the Meriadzek Terrace (IPOD sites). Such a correlation suggests that the lowermost sediment layer (?Jurassic-Albian) represents a tectono-sedimentary rift infill, and that Layers 2–4 (Upper Cretaceous to Quaternary) were deposited during slow epeirogenic downwarping of the plateau and that the sedimentary processes involved both draping and strong current moulding. The relatively buoyant nature of Inner Goban Spur has inhibited the accumulation of a thick post-rifting sedimentary sequence (700–1000 m), and has shielded the Intermediate Zone from downslope mass movements of material. This has resulted in the accumulation of an anomalously thin post-rift stage outer margin sediment prism (ca. 1000 m) compared to most continent rises (up to 10 km).

Description: A bathymetric map of the deep-sea floor off southeastern Africa shows the Agulhas Plateau to be separated from the continental margin of southeastern Africa by a narrow (50 km) elongate depression, the Agulhas Passage, which acts as a deep-water connection between the Agulhas and Transkei basins. Three regionally developed sediment layers occur in the deep (〉 4500 m) Transkei Basin/Agulhas Passage area. With the aid of a simple ocean crust sinking/carbonate compensation level (CCL) model these layers are related to the sedimentation history of the area. The model suggests that acoustic basement (Horizon X) represents Lower Cretaceous limestones draped over oceanic basement, and that this is overlain by an acoustically transparent sequence of pelagic/terrigenous material (Horizon A) that was deposited during a lengthy period (95 m.y.) beneath the carbonate compensation level. Post-Late Miocene sedimentation (Horizons B and C) has probably taken place above the CCL. Local sedimentation has always been influenced by strong sea-floor currents, but since middle Palaeogene times these currents have operated on a regional scale and have generated numerous large ridge and billow-like bed forms.

Description: The ratio of compressional wavevelocityV p to shear wavevelocityV s , and Poisson’s ratio in marine sediments and rocks are important in modeling the sea floor for underwater acoustics,geophysics, and foundation engineering. V p and V s versus depth information was linked at common depths in terrigenous sediments (to 1000 m) and in sands (to 20 m) to yield data on V p vs V s , and V p /V s and Poisson’s ratios versus depth. Soft, terrigenous sediments usually grade with depth into mudstones and shales; V p /V s ratios vary from about 13 or more at the sea floor to about 2.6 at 1000 m. Poisson’s ratios vary from above 0.49 at the sea floor to about 0.41 at 1000 m. In sands, V p , V s , and V p /V s have very high gradients in the first few meters; below about 5 m, V p /V s ratios decrease from about 9 to about 6 at 20 m; Poisson’s ratios vary from above 0.49 at the surface to above 0.48 at 20 m. The mean value of V p /V s in 30 laboratory samples of chalk and limestone is 1.90 (standard error: 0.03); mean Poisson’s ratio is 0.31. Literature data on basalts from the sea floor are reviewed. Equations relating V p to V s are given for terrigenous sediments, sands, and basalts.

Description: An estimate of average river particulate matter (RPM) composition was bàsed on analyses of more than 40 elements in the Amazon, Congo, Ganges, Magdalena, Mekong, Parana and Orinoco rivers, to which were added literature data for 13 other major world rivers, covering the whole spectrum of morphoclimatic features. Geographic variations of major elements in RPM are mostly linked to weathering types and to the balance between weathering rate and river transport. As a result of chemical erosion, Al, Fe and Ti are enriched in RPM with respect to the average parent rock, while Na, Ca, Mg and Sr are strongly depleted. These figures are directly related to the relative importance of dissolved and particulate transport in rivers; this has been computed for each of 40 elements. In order to study weathering on a global scale, the total observed elemental fluxes (dissolved + particulate) have been computed and compared to theoretical ones. The latter were derived from the elemental content in the average parent rock and the total quantity of weathered material, computed from the Al ratio in RPM and in parent rock. Observed and theoretical fluxes are balanced for the less mobilized elements (rare earths, Co, Cr, Cs, Fe, Mn, Rb, Si, Th, Ti, U and V) for which no enrichment relative to Al is noted in RPM, and for B, Ba, Ca, K, Mg, Na, Sr which are relatively depleted in RPM due to their high dissolved transport. Additional fluxes have been found for Br, Sb, Pb, Cu, Mo, Zn and are possible also for Ni and P. This is reflected by marked enrichments in RPM relative to Al for the poorly or moderately dissolved transports (Pb, Cu, Zn). Several hypotheses involving either the natural origin (volcanic dust, marine aerosols, geochemical fractionation) or the artificial origin (worldwide pollution) are discussed to explain these discrepancies, assuming river transport and weathering either to be in a steady state on a global scale or not. However, none of them can fully account for these additional fluxes. It is most likely that these excesses have multiple origins, anthropogenic or natural or both. The comparison between RPM and deep-sea clay compositions emphasizes the prime influence of river input on oceanic sedimentation of Si, Al, Fe, Ti, lanthanides, Sc, Rb, V, etc. A few elements such as Zn, Sb, occur in excess in RPM as compared to deep-sea clays; in order to balance this excess, a remobilization of these elements out of the sediment can be considered. Finally, the enrichment of Co, Cu, Mn and Ni in deep-sea clays compared to RPM is discussed and attributed to several sources and processes.