ALBERT

Description: Food supply is one of the main factors driving cold-water corals (CWC) distribution, which often concentrate on ridges where local near-bed turbulence/strong currents enhance food availability. However, efficiency in food capture is strongly dependent on current velocity. Moreover, seawater temperature may also affect feeding success, since polyp contraction or nematocyst function could be slower at temperatures below the natural thermal range of a species. The non-reef forming CWC Dendrophyllia cornigera occurs in areas at temperatures from 11 to 17 °C, but is apparently absent from most CWC reefs at temperatures constantly below 11 °C. This study thus aimed to assess if a reduction in feeding capacity may contribute to understand the absence of this CWC from strictly cold environments. The efficiency of D. cornigera to capture meso- and macrozooplankton was assessed under different flow speeds (2, 5 and 10 cm s − 1) and temperatures (8, 12, and 16 °C). Flow speeds did not significantly affect the capture of mesozooplankton, whereas capture of macrozooplankton was significantly enhanced with increasing flow speed. Both meso- and macrozooplankton captures were not significantly affected by temperature in D. cornigera. Overall, this CWC species is efficient in capturing zooplankton under a larger range of flow velocities than the widespread CWC Lophelia pertusa, whose capture efficiency significantly decreased from low to high flow speeds. Even if temperature does not directly affect the capture rates of D. cornigera, it may still influence the feeding capacity of this CWC since the capture rates at 8 °C were always in the lowest range of the observed values at each flow speed, and corals maintained at 8 °C required a much longer time to fully expand their polyps once they were placed in the incubation chambers, than corals maintained at 12 and 16 °C.

Description: Submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) is an important component of chemical fluxes in the coastal ocean. The composition of SGD is influenced by biogeochemical reactions that take place within the subterranean estuary (STE), the subsurface mixing zone of fresh and saline groundwaters. The STE is characterized by redox gradients that affect the speciation and mobility of redox-sensitive elements (RSEs). We examined the distributions and behavior of the RSEs Mo, U, V, and Cr within the larger redox framework of a shallow STE and evaluated the source-sink function of the STE for these elements. We found that the advection of water through the STE and the apparent respiration of organic matter drives the formation of a “classic” redox sequence typically observed in diffusion-dominated fine-grained sediments. High concentrations of dissolved organic matter (up to 2.9 mM) lead to extensive sulfide production (up to 1.8 mM) within 3 m of the surface. Both Mo and U are quantitatively removed as oxic surface waters mix into ferruginous and sulfidic zones. Molybdenum removal appears to occur where sulfide concentrations exceed ~ 11 μM, a previously reported threshold for quantitative formation of highly particle-reactive thiomolybdate species. Uranium removal apparently occurs via reduction and formation of insoluble phases or sorption to sediments. It is not clear how readily sequestered metals may be returned to solution, but SGD may be an important sink in the marine budget for both Mo and U. In contrast, both V and Cr show non-conservative addition across the salinity mixing gradient. Increases in pH appear to promote dissolution of V from minerals within the shallow aquifer, and mobilization may also be associated with dissolved organic matter. Chromium enrichment is associated with higher dissolved organic matter and is likely due to the formation of soluble Cr-organic complexes. Fluxes of these elements were constrained using SGD volume fluxes, determined using radium isotopes as well as direct discharge measurements by Lee-type seepage meters, and concentrations in directly-sampled seepage (Mo: − 0.21 to − 7.7 μmol m− 2 day− 1; U: − 0.02 to − 0.6 μmol m− 2 day− 1; V: 0.05 to 2.0 μmol m− 2 day− 1; Cr: 0.12 to 4.4 μmol m− 2 day− 1).

Description: The Neoarchean-Paleoproterozoic Transvaal Supergroup in South Africa contains the well-preserved stromatolitic Campbellrand-Malmani carbonate platform, which was deposited in shallow seawater shortly before the 2.40–2.32 Ga Great Oxidation Event (GOE). This platform is composed of alternating stromatolitic carbonates and mudstones and is a prominent candidate for (isotope-) geochemical mapping to investigate the appearance of very small amounts of free oxygen that accumulated in shallow waters preceding the GOE. Mo isotopes in sedimentary archives are widely used as a proxy for redox-changes in modern and ancient environments and recent evidence suggests that oxy-molybdate (MoO42−) is directly transferred from ocean water to inorganic carbonates with negligible fractionation, thus reflecting oceanic Mo isotope signatures. In this study we analyzed major and trace element compositions as well as Mo isotopic compositions of carbonate and mudstone samples from the KMF-5 drill core. Geochemical indicators, such as Fe and Mn concentrations and Fe-to-Mn abundance ratios reveal the preservation of some geochemical indicators despite the widespread silicification and dolomitization of the platform. Heavy δ30Si values of silicified carbonates between 0.53 and 2.35‰ point to Si precipitation from surface water during early diagenesis rather than to a later hydrothermal overprint. This assessment is supported by the frequent observation of rip-up structures of silica (chert) layers within the entire sedimentary succession. The δ98Mo values of whole rock samples throughout the Malmani-Campbellrand platform range between −0.82 and +1.40‰, similar to values reported for deeper slope carbonates from the Griqualand West area, but variations are independent from lithology or depositional water depth. These large variations in δ98Mo values indicate molybdenum redox cycling and thus the presence of free oxygen in the atmosphere-ocean system at that time, in agreement with earlier Mo isotopic studies on Campbellrand carbonates and shales. A similar range in δ98Mo values for carbonates between +0.40 and +0.87‰, however, was also found on the hand specimen scale, indicating the danger of a sample bias on the Mo isotopic stratigraphy of this carbonate platform. Results of previously unpublished adsorption experiments of Mo on CaCO3 clearly indicate that the Mo inventory of Malmani-Campbellrand carbonates was not only influenced by primary adsorption from seawater, but to a much larger degree by secondary processes during early diagenesis, which also affected the Mo isotopic composition of the samples on a local scale. Our results indicate that Mo concentrations and isotopic compositions in ancient stromatolitic carbonates were subject to redox changes within microbial mats and within the soft sediment during early diagenesis and later lithification, and as such cannot be used to quantitatively reconstruct the amount of free atmospheric oxygen or its fluctuations through Earth's history. Nevertheless, we interpret our heavy Mo isotopic signatures from carbonates as a minimum value for Neoarchean seawater and reinforce the assumption that free atmospheric oxygen built up a heavy oceanic Mo reservoir at that time.

Description: The March 13th 1888 collapse of Ritter Island in Papua New Guinea is the largest known sector collapse of an island volcano in historical times. One single event removed most of the island and its western submarine flank, and produced a landslide deposit that extends at least 70 km from the headwall of the collapse scar. We have mapped and described the deposits of the debris avalanche left by the collapse using full-coverage multibeam bathymetry, side-scan sonar backscatter intensity mapping, chirp seismic-reflection profiles, TowCam photographs of the seafloor and samples from a single dredge. Applying concepts originally developed on the 1980 Mount St. Helens collapse landslide deposits, we find that the Ritter landslide deposits show three distinct morphological facies: large block debris avalanche, matrix-rich debris avalanche and distal debris flow facies. Restoring the island's land and submarine topography we obtained a volume of 4.2 km3 for the initial collapse, about 75% of which is now forming the large block facies at distances less than 12 km from the collapse scar. The matrix-rich facies volume is unknown, but large scale erosion of the marine sediment substrate yielded a minimum total volume of 6.4 km3 in the distal debris flow and/or turbidite deposits, highlighting the efficiency of substrate erosion during the later history of the landslide movement. Although studying submarine landslide deposits we can never have the same confidence that subaerial observations provide, our analysis shows that well-exposed submarine landslide deposits can be interpreted in a similar way to subaerial volcano collapse deposits, and that they can in turn be used to interpret older, incompletely exposed submarine landslide deposits. Studying the deposits from a facies perspective provides the basis for reconstructing the kinematics of a collapse event landslide; understanding the mechanisms involved in its movement and deposition; and so providing key inputs to tsunami models.

Description: The Mediterranean mid-littoral zone is inhabited by two sympatric chthamalid barnacles: Chthamalus stellatus and Euraphia depressa, C. stellatus extends from the high midtidal zone, above the algal belt, to the supra-littoral fringe, E. depressa is restricted to the uppermost intertidal levels in wave-beaten places and to cryptic habitats lower on the shore within the belt of C. stellatus. Previous studies have suggested that the reason for the fragmented distribution pattern of E. depressa is competitive displacement by the sympatric C. stellatus, following random settlement. This hypothesis is in agreement with the common model of zonation suggested by Connell that lower distribution limits are determined by biotic factors (competition and predation), while upper limits are set by physical factors. It is hard to test the validity of this model for this barnacle pair since the early ontogenetic stages of the species are morphologically indistinguishable, hindering our ability to understand distribution processes. Using 16S mtDNA as a genetic marker in a multiplex PCR system, cyprids and spats were individually identified. Settlement and recruitment rates were assessed using settlement plates, and the effect of post-settlement processes was tested with transplantation of settlers between zones. Results showed different strategies in each species: settlement of E. depressa was habitat-specific, while settlement of C. stellatus was random. Shifting individuals of C. stellatus to the high and cryptic zones resulted in high mortality; however, exposing juveniles of E. depressa that settled in artificially cryptic low shore habitat to C. stellatus presence had no effect on their survival. These finding do not agree with the formerly suggested hypothesis that zonation is mainly determined by post-settlement factors, and that the interspecies boundary is determined by interspecific competition, implying that competition model cannot be adapted to Mediterranean intertidal zonation and that other models, dominated by physical enforcement and pre-settlement recruitment-limiting factors, may prevail in this ecosystem.

Description: We present whole rock 187Os/188Os data for the most mafic lavas along the Lesser Antilles arc (MgO = 5–17 wt.%) and for the subducting basalt and sediments. 187Os/188Os ratios vary from 0.127 to 0.202 in the arc lavas. Inverse correlations between 187Os/188Os and Os concentrations and between 187Os/188Os and indices of differentiation such as MgO suggests that assimilation, rather than source variation, is responsible for the range of Os isotopic variation observed. 87Sr/86Sr, La/Sm and Sr/Th are also modified by assimilation since they all correlate with 187Os/188Os. The assimilant is inferred to have a MORB-like 87Sr/86Sr with high Sr (〉700 ppm), low light on middle and heavy rare earth elements (L/M-HREE; La/Sm ∼2.5) and 187Os/188Os 〉 0.2. Such compositional features are likely to correspond to a plagioclase-rich early-arc cumulate. Given that assimilation affects lavas that were last stored at more than 5 kbar, assimilation must occur in the middle-lower crust. Only a high MgO picrite from Grenada escaped obvious assimilation (MgO = 17% wt.%) and could reflect mantle source composition. It has a very radiogenic 87Sr/86Sr (0.705) but a 187Os/188Os ratio that overlaps the mantle range (0.127). 187Os/188Os and 87Sr/88Sr ratios of the sediments and an altered basalt from the subducting slab vary from 0.18 to 3.52 and 0.708 to 0.714. We therefore suggest that, unlike Sr, no Os from the slab was transferred to the parental magmas. Os may be either retained in the mantle wedge or even returned to the deep mantle in the subducting slab.

Description: Seismic anisotropy is common within the Earth's solid interior, in the crust, in the mantle, and in the inner core. Elastic anisotropy leads to direction-dependent wave velocities, shear-wave splitting, and polarization anomalies in both surface waves and body waves. We review the basic theory and the latest developments in modeling methods for seismic-wave propagation in anisotropic media. From mineral alignment to fine-layering effects and from mid-oceanic ridges and subduction zones to sutured continental terranes, we summarize the seismological observations that can be related to elastic anisotropy, the mechanisms proposed to explain it, and the geodynamic constraints that it offers.

Description: The geochemical composition of foraminiferal tests is a valuable archive for the reconstruction of paleo-climatic, -oceanographic and -ecological changes. However, dissolution of biogenic calcite and precipitation of inorganic calcite (overgrowth and recrystallization) at the seafloor and in the sediment column can potentially alter the original geochemical composition of the foraminiferal test, biasing any resulting paleoenvironmental reconstruction. The δ11B of planktic foraminiferal calcite is a promising ocean pH-proxy but the effect of diagenesis is still poorly known. Here we present new δ11B, δ13C, δ18O, Sr/Ca and B/Ca data from multiple species of planktic foraminifera from time-equivalent samples for two low latitude sites: clay-rich Tanzanian Drilling Project (TDP) Site 18 from the Indian Ocean containing well-preserved (‘glassy’) foraminifera and carbonate-rich Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) Site 865 from the central Pacific Ocean hosting recrystallized (‘frosty’) foraminifera. Our approach makes the assumption that environmental conditions were initially similar at both sites so most chemical differences are attributable to diagenesis. Planktic foraminiferal δ18O and δ13C records show offsets in both relative and absolute values between the two sites consistent with earlier findings that these isotopic ratios are strongly influenced by diagenetic alteration. Sr/Ca and B/Ca ratios in planktic foraminiferal calcite are also offset between the two sites but there is little change in the relative difference between surface and deep dwelling taxa. In contrast, δ11B values indicate no large differences between well-preserved and recrystallized foraminifera suggesting that despite extensive diagenetic alteration the δ11B of biogenic calcite appears robust, potentially indicative of a lack of free exchange of boron between pore fluids and the recrystallizing CaCO3. Our finding may remove one potential source of uncertainty in δ11B based pH reconstructions and provide us with greater confidence in our ability to reconstruct pH in the ancient oceans from at least some recrystallized foraminiferal calcite. However, further investigations should extend this approach to test the robustness of our findings across a range of taphonomies, ages and burial settings.

Description: Climate models are potentially useful tools for addressing human dispersals and demographic change. The Arabian Peninsula is becoming increasingly significant in the story of human dispersals out of Africa during the Late Pleistocene. Although characterised largely by arid environments today, emerging climate records indicate that the peninsula was wetter many times in the past, suggesting that the region may have been inhabited considerably more than hitherto thought. Explaining the origins and spatial distribution of increased rainfall is challenging because palaeoenvironmental research in the region is in an early developmental stage. We address environmental oscillations by assembling and analysing an ensemble of five global climate models (CCSM3, COSMOS, HadCM3, KCM, and NorESM). We focus on precipitation, as the variable is key for the development of lakes, rivers and savannas. The climate models generated here were compared with published palaeoenvironmental data such as palaeolakes, speleothems and alluvial fan records as a means of validation. All five models showed, to varying degrees, that the Arabia Peninsula was significantly wetter than today during the Last Interglacial (130 ka and 126/125 ka timeslices), and that the main source of increased rainfall was from the North African summer monsoon rather than the Indian Ocean monsoon or from Mediterranean climate patterns. Where available, 104 ka (MIS 5c), 56 ka (early MIS 3) and 21 ka (LGM) timeslices showed rainfall was present but not as extensive as during the Last Interglacial. The results favour the hypothesis that humans potentially moved out of Africa and into Arabia on multiple occasions during pluvial phases of the Late Pleistocene.

Description: Carbonates are widespread at methane and petroleum seeps and are often precipitated as consequence of an alkalinity increase due to the anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM) or, less often reported, of higher hydrocarbons. These carbonates are taphonomic windows into Earth's history, because they excellently protect the in situ formed microbial signatures (e.g. lipid biomarkers) from diagenetic destruction. A complication for paleoreconstructions, however, is that seep carbonates also encapsulate variable amounts of allochthonous organic matter, sometimes even completely obscuring authigenic microbial signatures. Seep carbonates from the Holocene Black Sea, the Pleistocene Enza River and the Pliocene San Lorenzo (both Northern Apennines, Italy) provide hints to better understand (i) the importance of processes other than AOM for the formation of seep carbonates and (ii) the controls of allochthonous and autochthonous contribution of biomarkers to organic matter in seep carbonates. Biomarker distributions in different parts of a Black Sea carbonate clearly demonstrate that high allochthonous organic matter is entrapped if AOM carbonates are formed intrasedimentary, particularly if methane supply is relatively low and external organic matter input high. High allochthonous contributions were also found in the biomarker inventory of ancient seep carbonates from the Italian Northern Apennines (Enza River and San Lorenzo) pointing at their precipitation within the sediment. Specific and complex conditions were indicated from our data for the Enza River location. Carbonate facies and particularly biomarker compositions, with abundant signatures of sulfate reducing bacteria, suggest that sulfate reduction using alkaline, and eventually sulfate- and higher hydrocarbon-enriched fluids triggered the growth of these seep carbonates. Our and other data suggest that this process has to be more considered if interpreting seep settings, particularly where microbial processes rely on rising fluids from deep petroleum reservoirs.

Description: Highlights • We examine interplay between historical seismicity, mass failures and turbidites during sapropel S1 deposition; • We reconstruct chronology of earthquake triggered turbidites in the Ionian Sea during sapropel depostion; • We reconstruct the age of sapropel S1 in our core (6.0-10.2 kyr cal. BP) through Oxcal age modeling; • Turbidite emplacement time was deduced through age modeling. • We compiled a catalogue of mass flow events during several earthquake cycles. Abstract The recurrence of mass-flow units within sapropel S1, an organic carbon-rich lower Holocene marker bed in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, was used to study the interplay between earthquakes and sedimentation along the seismically active Calabrian Arc (Ionian Sea). Nine turbidite beds interrupt anoxic conditions during the deposition of sapropel S1. Each of these turbidites is associated with sharp grain size and geochemical elemental anomalies (high Al and Si, low Ca and coarse-grained basal part marked by Zr peaks), and with displaced foraminiferal species from different bathymetric ranges. We used these proxies to identify turbidite beds also above and below the sapropel, where turbidite signature is less clear due to the absence of major color changes. Turbidite structure and composition, as well as comparison with historical seismoturbidites, suggest a seismic triggering for such mass flow events. The peculiar color, well-known composition, geochemistry and age of sapropel S1, make this unit a key bed within which turbidites may be considered a sort of sedimentary “bar code” recording high-energy events within the background pelagic sedimentation; deciphering this code will reconstruct paleo-seismicity in this well-defined stratigraphic interval. The pelagic units bracketing turbidite beds were radiometrically dated, and the age of the sapropel S1, deduced through age modeling, is between 6.0 and 10.2 kyr cal BP. The emplacement age of each turbidite was estimated considering the average time-interval between successive turbidite beds (from pelagic sediment thickness and sedimentation rate). Subsequently these ages were further refined through age modeling. In this way, we compiled a catalogue of mass flow events during sapropel S1 deposition, a time span long enough to include several earthquake cycles and allow reliable seismic and tsunami hazard assessment in this area.

Description: To explore the transport of carbon into water masses from the surface ocean to depths of ∼1000 m∼1000 m in the southwest Pacific Ocean, we generated time series of radiocarbon (View the MathML sourceΔC14) from fish otoliths. Otoliths (carbonate earstones) from long-lived fish provide an indirect method to examine the “bomb pulse” of radiocarbon that originated in the 1950s and 1960s, allowing identification of changes to distributions of 14C that has entered and mixed within the ocean. We micro-sampled ocean perch (Helicolenus barathri ) otoliths, collected at ∼400–500 m∼400–500 m in the Tasman Sea, to obtain measurements of View the MathML sourceΔC14 for those depths. We compared our ocean perch View the MathML sourceΔC14 series to published otolith-based marine surface water View the MathML sourceΔC14 values (Australasian snapper (Chrysophrys auratus) and nannygai (Centroberyx affinis)) and to published deep-water values (800–1000 m; orange roughy (Hoplostethus atlanticus )) from the southwest Pacific to establish a mid-water View the MathML sourceΔC14 series. The otolith bomb 14C results from these different depths were consistent with previous water mass results in the upper 1500 m of the southwest Pacific Ocean (e.g. World Ocean Circulation Experiment and Geochemical Ocean Sections Study). A comparison between the initial View the MathML sourceΔC14 bomb pulse rise at 400–500 m suggested a ventilation lag of 5 to 10 yr, whereas a comparison of the surface and depths of 800–1000 m detailed a 10 to 20 yr lag in the time history of radiocarbon invasion at this depth. Pre-bomb reservoir ages derived from otolith 14C located in Tasman Sea thermocline waters were ∼530 yr∼530 yr, while reservoir ages estimated for Tasman Antarctic intermediate water were ∼730 yr∼730 yr.

Description: The present study is focused on the examination of the state of the recently activated Santorini VolcanicComplex (SVC) area, located in the Southern Aegean Sea. The seismic activity was investigated in detailand different methodologies have been applied to examine whether the SVC area approached an eruptivephase during the 2011–2012 seismic crisis period. The detailed spatiotemporal analysis for the broaderstudy area revealed two different seismic patterns: low seismic activity until 2010, mainly concentratedwithin the Anydros basin and close to the submarine volcano, Columbo, and activation during 2011 and2012 of two previously quiescent regions. The first is the Santorini Caldera, which had been active formore than one year, and the second is the area south of Christiana Islands, which was activated in January2012 with the occurrence of two major events of magnitude 5.1 and 5.2, respectively, followed by a largenumber of aftershocks.In this study, manual analysis and relocation of the 2011–2012 seismic crisis in the SVC was performed,in order to obtain a high-resolution image of the activated structures. The seismicity within the SantoriniCaldera, which is oriented approximately NE-SW, was rapidly diminished after the activation of theChristiana area. A large number of focal mechanisms were determined which mainly indicated strike-slip faulting inside the Caldera. Furthermore, the fault plane solutions of the major events in the areasouth of Christiana, derived by waveform modeling, also suggested similar type of faulting. This typediffers from the normal faults observed in the Anydros basin. However, the stress field in all cases isconsistently oriented in a NW-SE direction. Since the Santorini Volcano was seismically activated forthe first time after the 1950 eruption, changes of the physical properties of the medium were examinedusing different approaches to assess the state of the volcano. The shear-wave splitting analysis revealedthe existence of an anisotropic upper crust, while no significant temporal variations of the anisotropydirection were observed. The majority of the recorded events were classified as volcano-tectonic micro-earthquakes using spectral analysis. Nevertheless, certain cases of spasmodic bursts and LF events, whichcan be related to magma activity, have also been identified. A region of low Vsand high Vp/Vsratio hasbeen detected north of Nea Kammeni, at depths between 3 and 5 km, that is directly associated with themagmatic chamber inside the Caldera. The applied multi-method approach revealed that the SantoriniVolcano was activated, while the obtained results indicate that the Volcano did not reach a critical stateduring the 2011–2012 unrest period.

Description: The geologic framework controls on modern barrier island transgression and the relationship of these controls to subsurface structure, hydrology and island geomorphology are not well understood. Recent evidence suggests that alongshore variations in pre-Holocene geology of barrier islands modify nearshore hydrodynamic processes and sediment transport, ultimately affecting how barrier islands will respond to relative sea-level rise. Explorations of Holocene barrier island geology are usually based on cores to supplement bathymetric, onshore/offshore seismic and/or ground-penetrating radar (GPR) surveys. The advantages and limitations of these methods with respect to barrier island investigations are briefly described in this review. Alternative near-surface geophysical methods including electromagnetic induction (EMI) sensors are increasingly being used for coastal research because they are non-invasive, provide continuous subsurface information across a variety of sub-environments, and are capable of characterizing large areas in a short time. Although these EMI sensors have shown promise in coastal applications, a number of issues primarily related to subsurface hydrology need to be addressed to fully assess the limitations of this technique. This paper reviews the theory, methodology and applications of EMI in support of geologic framework studies with particular reference to barrier islands. Resolution of these issues will allow EMI sensors to complement and offer significant advantages over traditional methods in support of an improved understanding of large-scale barrier island evolution.

Description: A new algorithmto retrieve characteristics (albedo and melt pond fraction) of summer ice in the Arctic fromoptical satellite data is described. In contrast to other algorithms this algorithm does not use a priori values of the spectral albedo of the sea-ice constituents (such asmelt ponds,white ice etc.). Instead, it is based on an analytical solution for the reflection from sea ice surface. The algorithm includes the correction of the sought-for ice and ponds characteristics with the iterative procedure based on the Newton–Raphson method. Also, it accounts for the bi-directional reflection from the ice/snow surface, which is particularly important for Arctic regions where the sun is low. The algorithm includes an original procedure for the atmospheric correction, as well. This algorithm is implemented as computer code called Melt Pond Detector (MPD). The input to the current version of the MPD algorithm is the MERIS Level 1B data, including the radiance coefficients at ten wavelengths and the solar and observation angles (zenith and azimuth). Also, specific parameters describing surface and atmospheric state can be set in a configuration input file. The software output is the map of the melt ponds area fraction and the spectral albedo of sea-ice in HDF5 format. The numerical verification shows that theMPD algorithm provides more accurate results for the light ponds than for the dark ones. The spectral albedo is retrieved with high accuracy for any type of ice and ponds.

Description: Highlights • Experimental stable isotope study on trophic plasticity in adult Macoma balthica. • Contrasts in isotope signatures attributed to hydrographical and biotic settings. • Changing signatures in transplanted clams show switch in feeding in new environment. Abstract Species show varying levels of plasticity regarding morphology, physiology and behaviour in relation to their immediate environment, and several trait characteristics are habitat-dependent. Determining when and how the environmental context changes trait expression is of key importance for understanding the role of individual species for ecosystem functioning. The tellinid clam Macoma balthica can vary its feeding behaviour, shifting between deposit- and suspension-feeding. In order to study the context-dependency of this trophic plasticity in adult clams, we conducted an experiment assessing food uptake by using stable isotope signatures (δ13C and δ15N). We transplanted individuals between and within two shallow bays differing in exposure (exposed–sheltered) and sediment characteristics. Our results show that isotope signatures of clams differed between the two habitats and that clams in the exposed site showed stable isotope values linked to a diet of suspended particulate organic material, while values of individuals in the sheltered site corresponded to an uptake of sediment-bound organic material. Clams transplanted between these two environmental settings were gradually showing differing isotopic signatures from clams at their original habitat, over time mirroring the changes in clams in the site to which they were transferred. The shift in carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes of the clams provides insights into the context-dependent intraspecific feeding plasticity of this zoobenthic key species. The causes for this shift were coupled to contrasts in the hydrodynamic and biotic setting, implying that feeding plasticity may explain adaptation of organisms to changes in their surroundings.

Description: Top-down trophic cascades are well known in many autotrophic systems, yet their role in heterotrophic food webs is less clear. We collated data from 78 investigations and applied meta-analysis to evaluate the strength of detrital trophic cascades in freshwater and terrestrial food webs. Predators exerted significant, indirect controls on detrital resources, in line with theoretical predictions, whereas this was not the case for omnivores, suggesting that detritivory prevailed over predation and disrupted trophic cascades. Significant relationships were observed for both types of consumer in terms of their responses to detrital quality: specifically, unimodal curves across C:N and N:P gradients were the best fits for predators, whilst cascade strength responses to detrital quality were saddle shaped. These insights suggest that while predatory strategy is determining cascades within detrital-based systems, resource quality has bottom-up role effects on predators and on preferential consumption by omnivores. As such, these environmental responses seem to mirror some provisioning and supporting services; our findings are discussed within conceptual frameworks related to ecological stoichiometry and ecosystem services.

Description: Highlights: • Reduced taxon-richness (96%, 151–6 taxa) leads to overall reduction in function. • Functional richness remained high (66% of tot.) even at the lowest taxon richness. • Analysis of changes in trait categories showed the importance of multifunctionality. • Number of taxa per trait category gives complementary information to the FD index. • Rare species did not express unique traits. Abstract: Alterations to ecosystem function due to reductions in species richness are predicted to increase as humans continue to affect the marine environment, especially in coastal areas, which serve as the interface between land and sea. The potential functional consequences due to reductions in species diversity have attracted considerable attention recently but little is known about the consequence of such loss in natural communities. We examined how the potential for function is affected by natural reductions in taxon richness using empirical (non-simulated) coastal marine benthic macrofaunal data from the Skagerrak-Baltic Sea region (N. Europe), where taxon richness decreases 25-fold, from 151 to 6 taxa. To estimate functional changes we defined multiple traits (10 traits and 51 categories) on which trait category richness, functional diversity (FD) and number of taxa per trait category were calculated. Our results show that decrease in taxon richness leads to an overall reduction in function but functional richness remains comparatively high even at the lowest level of taxon richness. Although the taxonomic reduction was sharp, up to 96% of total taxon richness, we identified both potential thresholds in functioning and subtler changes where function was maintained along the gradient. The functional changes were not only caused by reductions in taxa per trait category, some categories were maintained or even increased. Primarily, the reduction in species richness altered trait categories related to feeding, living and movement and thus potentially could have an effect on various ecosystem processes. This highlights the importance of recognising ecosystem multifunctionality, especially at low taxonomic richness. We also found that in this system rare species (singletons) did not stand for the functional complexities and changes. Our findings were consistent with theoretical and experimental predictions and suggest that a large proportion of the information about alterations of function is found in measures such as functional diversity and number of taxa per trait category.

Description: Highlights: • Rheological evolution of the rock is influenced by its original and evolving structure. • Strain localizes at boundary between domains of different assemblages (qtz-, fsp-rich). • Strain localizes in original and recrystallized/precipitated finer-grained phases. • Formation of interconnected meso- and microshear zones deformed by diffusion creep. • The rheology of studied example is controlled by Newtonian flow. Abstract: Deformation microstructures of a quartzo-feldspathic pegmatite deformed at mid-crustal levels allow the study of the dynamics of strain localization in polymineralic rocks. Strain localization results from (i) difference in grain sizes between phases, both original and obtained during fluid present reactions and (ii) initial compositional banding. Due to original difference in grain size stress concentrates in the initially finer-grained phases resulting in their intense grain size reduction via subgrain rotation recrystallization (SGR). When the grain size is sufficiently reduced through either deformation or interphase coupled dissolution–precipitation replacement of the coarse grained feldspar, aggregates start to deform by dominantly diffusion accommodated grain boundary sliding (GBS). Phase mixing inhibits grain growth and sustains a grain size allowing GBS. Consequently, discontinuous microscale shear zones form locally within initially coarse grained areas. At the same time difference in strain rate between feldspar-rich and quartz-rich domains needs to be accommodated at domain boundaries. This results in the formation of continuous mesoscale shear zones deformed by GBS. Once these are formed, deformation in the coarse grained parts is arrested and strain is mainly accommodated in the mesoscale shear zones resulting in “superplastic” behaviour consistent with diffusion creep.

Description: Highlights: • β-glucan induces apoptosis in a time and concentration dependent manner. • ≥500 μg/ml induce apoptosis in pronephric cells in vitro. • Apoptosis is observed after 6 h of incubation. In previous studies an effect of β-glucan on apoptosis in fish was noted and in this investigation we determine the time and concentration dependency of this effect. Primary cell cultures of pronephric carp cells were incubated for 6, 24, 48 h with various concentrations ranging from 0 - 1000 μg/ml of MacroGard® β-glucan. Apoptosis was monitored via acridine orange staining. Results indicate a clear effect of time and concentration on the induction of apoptosis in vitro, with only concentration ≥ 500 μg/ml causing significantly higher percentages of apoptotic cells. Apoptosis was detected after 6 h. This concentration dependent effect has to be considered when studying apoptosis in relation to immunostimulation.

Description: Highlights: • Elemental C:N:P variations of organic matter are simulated at monitoring site BY15. • No N2 fixation needed to explain observed PO4PO4 and pCO2pCO2 levels after spring bloom. • Model features relevance of DOP production and remineralization for N2 fixation. • Model estimates of annual N2 fixation are View the MathML source297±24mmolNm-2a-1. • Model estimates of annual total production are View the MathML source14.16±0.71molCm-2a-1. Abstract: For most marine ecosystems the growth of diazotrophic cyanobacteria and the associated amount of nitrogen fixation are regulated by the availability of phosphorus. The intensity of summer blooms of nitrogen (N2) fixing algae in the Baltic Sea is assumed to be determinable from a surplus of dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP) that remains after the spring bloom has ended. But this surplus DIP concentration is observed to continuously decrease at times when no appreciable nitrogen fixation is measured. This peculiarity is currently discussed and has afforded different model interpretations for the Baltic Sea. In our study we propose a dynamical model solution that explains these observations with variations of the elemental carbon-to-nitrogen-to-phosphorus (C:N:P) ratio during distinct periods of organic matter production and remineralization. The biogeochemical model resolves seasonal C, N and P fluxes with depth at the Baltic Sea monitoring site BY15, based on three assumptions: (1) DIP is utilized by algae though not needed for immediate growth, (2) the uptake of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) is hampered when the algae׳s phosphorus (P) quota is low, and (3) carbon assimilation continues at times of nutrient depletion. Model results describe observed temporal variations of DIN, DIP and chlorophyll-a concentrations along with partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pCO2)(pCO2). In contrast to other model studies, our solution does not require N2 fixation to occur shortly after the spring bloom to explain DIP drawdown and pCO2pCO2 levels. Model estimates of annual N2 fixation are View the MathML source297±24mmolNm-2a-1. Estimates of total production are View the MathML source14200±700mmolCm-2a-1, View the MathML source1400±70mmolNm-2a-1, and View the MathML source114±5mmolPm-2a-1 for the upper 50 m. The models C, N and P fluxes disclose preferential remineralization of P and of organic N that was introduced via N2 fixation. Our results are in support of the idea that P uptake by phytoplankton during the spring bloom contributes to the consecutive availability of labile dissolved organic phosphorus (LDOP). The LDOP is retained within upper layers and its remineralization affects algal growth in summer, during periods of noticeable N2 fixation.

Description: Whilst Herpesviridae, which infect higher vertebrates, actively influence host immune responses to ensure viral replication, it is mostly unknown if Alloherpesviridae, which infect lower vertebrates, possess similar abilities. An important antiviral response is clearance of infected cells via apoptosis, which in mammals influences the outcome of infection. Here, we utilise common carp infected with CyHV-3 to determine the effect on the expression of genes encoding apoptosis-related proteins (p53, Caspase 9, Apaf-1, IAP, iNOS) in the pronephros, spleen and gills. The influence of CyHV-3 on CCB cells was also studied and compared to SVCV (a rhabdovirus) which induces apoptosis in carp cell lines. Although CyHV-3 induced iNOS expression in vivo, significant induction of the genetic apoptosis pathway was only seen in the pronephros. In vitro CyHV-3 did not induce apoptosis or apoptosis-related expression whilst SVCV did stimulate apoptosis. This suggests that CyHV-3 possesses mechanisms similar to herpesviruses of higher vertebrates to inhibit the antiviral apoptotic process.

Description: Highlights: • Different disturbance–diversity relationships in phytoplankton are still unresolved. • We modelled phytoplankton under different types of disturbance. • Diversity is increased by disturbance in comparison with a chemostat. • The disturbance–diversity relationship depends on the type of disturbance. • Disturbance increases the timescale of competitive exclusion. Abstract: The way in which disturbance shapes phytoplankton diversity is still subject to much debate. Various disturbance–diversity relationships have been proposed, with diversity increasing or decreasing with the intensity or frequency of disturbance, or peaking at intermediate levels. A key problem in this discussion is the use of different concepts of “disturbance”, which can encompass both positive and negative effects on phytoplankton. To investigate how different modes of disturbance affect phytoplankton diversity, we subject populations of modelled phytoplankton to different frequencies and intensities of three different disturbance modes: a positive, a negative and a combined positive and negative disturbance mode. A chemostat system, considered undisturbed, is used for comparison. We show that (1) disturbance increases phytoplankton coexistence, (2) the disturbance–diversity relationship depends on the type of disturbance and (3) the effect is transient and disturbances predominantly affect the timescale of competitive exclusion.

Description: The recrystallisation (dissolution–precipitation) of carbonate sediments has been successfully modelled to explain profiles of pore water Sr concentration and radiogenic Sr isotope composition at different locations of the global ocean. However, there have been few systematic studies trying to better understand the relative importance of factors influencing the variability of carbonate recrystallisation. Here we present results from a multi-component study of recrystallisation in sediments from the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) Expedition 320/321 Pacific Equatorial Age Transect (PEAT), where sediments of similar initial composition have been subjected to different diagenetic histories. The PEAT sites investigated exhibit variable pore water Sr concentrations gradients with the largest gradients in the youngest sites. Radiogenic Sr isotopes suggest recrystallisation was relative rapid, consistent with modelling of other sediment columns, as the 87Sr/86Sr ratios are indistinguishable (within 2σ uncertainties) from contemporaneous seawater 87Sr/86Sr ratios. Bulk carbonate leachates and associated pore waters of Site U1336 have lower 87Sr/86Sr ratios than contemporaneous seawater in sediments older than 20.2 Ma most likely resulting from the upward diffusion of Sr from older recrystallised carbonates. It seems that recrystallisation at Site U1336 may still be on-going at depths below 102.5 rmcd (revised metres composite depth) suggesting a late phase of recrystallisation. Furthermore, the lower Sr/Ca ratios of bulk carbonates of Site U1336 compared to the other PEAT sites suggest more extensive diagenetic alteration as less Sr is incorporated into secondary calcite. Compared to the other PEAT sites, U1336 has an inferred greater thermal gradient and a higher carbonate content. The enhanced thermal gradient seems to have made these sediments more reactive and enhanced recrystallisation. In this study we investigate stable Sr isotopes from carbonate-rich deep sea sediments for the first time. Pore water δ88/86Sr increases with depth (from 0.428‰ to values reaching up to 0.700‰) at Site U1336 documenting an isotope fractionation process during recrystallisation. Secondary calcite preferentially incorporates the lighter Sr isotope (86Sr) leaving pore waters isotopically heavy. The δ88/86Sr values of the carbonates themselves show more uniform values with no detectable change with depth. Carbonates have a much higher Sr content and total Sr inventory than the pore waters meaning pore waters are much more sensitive to fractionation processes than the carbonates. The δ88/86Sr results indicate that pore water stable Sr isotopes have the potential to indicate the recrystallisation of carbonate sediments.

Description: The southern part of the Baltic Shield hosts a series of mafic dykes and sills of Mesoproterozoic ages, including a ca. 1.53–1.46 Ga sheet-like gabbro-dolerite sills and the Salmi plateau-basalts from the Lake Ladoga region. Based on chiefly geochemical data, the region is conventionally interpreted as an intracratonic Ladoga rift (graben). We question the validity of this geodynamic interpretation by analyzing regional geophysical data (crustal structure, heat flow, Bouguer gravity anomalies, magnetic anomalies, and mantle Vs velocities). We provide a complete list of tectonic, magmatic, and geophysical characteristics typical of continental rifts in general and demonstrate that, except for magmatic and, perhaps, some gravity signature, the Lake Ladoga region lacks any other rift features. We also compare the geophysical data from the Lake Ladoga region with similar in age Midcontinent and Valday rifts, and provide alternative explanations for Mesoproterozoic geodynamic evolution of the southern Baltic Shield. We propose that Mesoproterozoic mafic intrusions in southern Fennoscandia may be associated with a complex deformation pattern during reconfiguration of (a part of) Nuna (Columbia) supercontinent, which led to magma intrusions as a series of mafic dykes along lithosphere weakness zones and ponding of small magma pockets within the cratonic lithosphere. Consequent magma cooling and its partial transition to eclogite facies could have led to the formation of a series of basement depressions, similar to intracratonic basins of North America, while spatially heterogeneous thermo-chemical subsidence, with phase transitions locally speeded by the presence of (subduction-related) fluids, could have produced a series of faults bounding graben-like structures.

Description: Some populations of brown seaweed species inhabit metal-polluted environments and can develop tolerance to metal stress, but the mechanisms by which this is accomplished are still to be elucidated. To address this, the responses of two strains of the model brown alga Ectocarpus siliculosus isolated from sites with different histories of metal contamination exposed to total copper (CuT) concentrations ranging between 0 and 2.4 μM for 10 days were investigated. The synthesis of the metal-chelator phytochelatin (PCs) and relative levels of transcripts encoding the enzymes γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase (γ-GCS), glutathione synthase (GS) and phytochelatin synthase (PCS) that participate in the PC biosynthetic pathway were measured, along with the effects on growth, and adsorption and uptake of Cu. Growth of strain LIA, from a pristine site in Scotland, was inhibited to a greater extent, and at lower concentrations, than that of Es524, isolated from a Cu-contaminated site in Chile. Concentrations of intra-cellular Cu were higher and the exchangeable fraction was lower in LIA than Es524, especially at the highest exposure levels. Total glutathione concentrations increased in both strains with Cu exposure, whereas total PCs levels were higher in Es524 than LIA; PC2 and PC3 were detected in Es524 but PC2 only was found in LIA. The greater production and levels of polymerisation of PCs in Es524 can be explained by the up-regulation of genes encoding for key enzymes involved in the synthesis of PCs. In Es524 there was an increase in the transcripts of γ-GCS, GS and PCS, particularly under high Cu exposure, whereas in LIA4 transcripts of γ-GCS1 increased only slightly, γ-GCS2 and GS decreased and PCS did not change. The consequences of higher intra-cellular concentrations of Cu, lower production of PCs, and lower expression of enzymes involved in GSH-PCs synthesis may be contributing to an induced oxidative stress condition in LIA, which explains, at least in part, the observed sensitivity of LIA to Cu. Therefore, responses to Cu exposure in E. siliculosus relate to the contamination histories of the locations from where the strains were isolated and differences in Cu exclusion and PCs production are in part responsible for the development of intra-specific resistance.

Description: Highlights: • Abyssal AUV-based microstructure measurements over rough topography. • Indications for hydraulic control downstream of a sill in a Mid-Atlantic Ridge valley. • Asymmetric distribution of dissipation rate and elevated density variability. Abstract: Diapycnal mixing in the deep ocean is known to be much stronger in the vicinity of rough topography of mid-ocean ridges than above abyssal plains. In this study a horizontally profiling microstructure probe attached to an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) is used to infer the spatial distribution of the dissipation rate of turbulent kinetic energy (ε ) in the central valley of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first successful realization of a horizontal, deep-ocean microstructure survey. More than 22 h of horizontal, near-bottom microstructure data from the Lucky Strike segment (37 °N) are presented. The study focuses on a channel with unidirectional sill overflow. Density was found to decrease along the channel following the mean northward flow of 3 to 8 cm/s. The magnitude of the rate of turbulent kinetic energy dissipation was distributed asymmetrically relative to the position of the sill. Elevated dissipation rates were present in a segment 1-4 km downstream (north) of the sill with peak values of 1⋅10−71⋅10−7 W/kg. Large flow speeds and elevated density finestructure were observed within this segment. Lowered hydrographic measurements indicated unstable stratification in the same region. The data indicate that hydraulic control is established at least temporarily. Inside the channel at wavelengths between 1 m and 250 m the slopes of AUV-inferred horizontal temperature gradient spectra were found to be consistent with turbulence in the inertial-convective subrange. Integrated temperature gradient variance in this wavelength interval is consistent with an ε2/3 dependence. The results illustrate that deep-reaching AUVs are a useful tool to study deep ocean turbulence over complex terrain where free-falling and lowered turbulence measurements are inefficient and time-consuming.

Description: Abyssal macrofaunal composition of 21 epibenthic sledge hauls from twelve stations taken in the Kuril–Kamchatka Trench (KKT) and at the adjacent abyssal plain, Northwest Pacific, is presented. Sampling with the fine meshed epibenthic sledge yielded higher abundances and species richness than was reported from previous expeditions from board of RV Vityaz. In total 84,651 invertebrates were sampled with RV Sonne between July and September of 2012 (31,854 invertebrates if standardised for 1000 m2 trawled distances) from 41 taxa of different taxonomic ranks (15 phyla, 28 classes, 7 orders) were sampled from a trawled area of 53,708 m² and have been analyzed. Few taxa were frequent and most taxa were rare in the samples, twelve taxa occurred with more than 1% frequency. Of these, the Polychaeta were most abundant followed by the benthic Copepoda and Isopoda. Total numbers of individuals varied between stations and were highest with 4238 individuals at station 2-10 close to the KKT in 4865 m depth and lowest with 374 individuals at station 6-11 in 5305 m depth. At this station also the lowest number of taxa occurred (18 taxa) while the highest number occurred with 31 taxa at station 3-9 in 4991 m depth. Numbers of individuals decreased with increasing depth between 4830 and 5780 m. Crustaceans of the superorder Peracarida were one of the dominating taxa with four orders occurring frequently in most samples. In total, Isopoda were most important and occurred with 59% of all peracarid orders sampled, followed by Amphipoda with 21%, Tanaidacea with 11%, Cumacea with 9%, and Mysidacea with 〈1%. The communities of the stations (and hauls) of the KKT abyssal area differ in terms of taxon composition from each other. A cluster analysis (nMDS) performed for all sampled stations revealed no clear pattern of community similarity between stations or hauls. All hauls close to the trench (2-9 and 2-10 close to the eastern slope of the KKT; and 3-9 and 4-3 at the western slope) were most different to the other hauls. Hauls 8-9 and 8-12 as well as 5-10 and 7-10 in the approximate centre of the overall research area were most similar (88% similarity). The non-isolated KKT area is characterized by higher abundances and higher benthic species richness than the geographically isolated and young deep-sea basin of the Sea of Japan.

Description: The isopod family Munnopsidae Lilljeborg, 1864 was the most diverse and species richest family among all macrobenthic organisms collected during the expedition KuramBio in the abyssal area off the Kuril–Kamchatka Trench (R.V. Sonne, 2012). The munnopsid genus Microcope Malyutina, 2008, represented by two species, was one of the most abundant and frequent isopod genera sampled at all stations. Microcope ovata ( Birstein, 1970), the only known Pacific species of Microcope to date, is redescribed based on the new collections, since the types of the species were lost. Descriptions of a new species from the KuramBio samples, Microcope stenopigussp. nov. and a new species from the opposite side of Pacific Ocean, from the southeastern Australian slope, Microcope justisp. nov., are presented herein. These findings increase the number of described species of Microcope to five and extended the geography of the genus from the previously known South Atlantic, Antarctic and the northwestern Pacific to the new localities from the southwestern Pacific. The depth range for the genus was also extended from 2014–7370 m, to 427–7370 m. A map of the distribution of the genus Microcope and a key to the described species of Microcope are provided.

Description: During the German–Russian expedition KuramBio (Kuril–Kamchatka Biodiversity Studies) from board of the RV Sonne to the Kuril–Kamchatka Trench and adjacent abyssal plain, benthic samples were taken by means of a camera-epibenthic sledge. Amongst one of the most diverse macrobenthic taxa, the Isopoda (Crustacea, Malacostraca), Ischnomesidae were the fifth most abundant isopod family in the Kuril–Kamchatka area and were sampled with 24 species from 5 genera in 21 hauls at 12 stations. Fortimesus occurs most frequently in the samples (36% of all Ischnomesidae sampled), followed by Stylomesus (26%), Heteromesus (23%), Ischnomesus (10%) and Gracilimesus (4%). Number of ischnomesid individuals is highest at station 10-12 with 35 specimens, followed by station 12-4 (30 ind.), station 6-12 (29 ind.), station 9-9 (28), and station 1-11 (24). At station 4-3 only 1 specimen was found. A key to all genera of Ischnomesidae is provided. Two new species from two genera: Stylomesus Wolff, 1956 and Fortimesus Kavanagh and Wilson, 2007 are described from the KuramBio material. Stylomesus malyutinae sp. nov. is distinguished by the smooth body surface, the shape of pleotelson and the length of uropods from other species of the genus from the Northwest Pacific Ocean. Fortimesus trispiculum sp. nov. is characterised by anterolateral projections of pereonites 1–3 which are forming an angle of about 45° with the longitudinal body axis decreasing in length from anterior to posterior.

Description: Individual wood fragments obtained from Agassiz trawl samples in the abyssal plain area off the Kuril–Kamchatka Trench were analysed for faunistic components. Out of seven pieces of wood collected, only five harboured fauna and each showed distinctively different colonization patterns. In total, 257 specimens, mainly belonging to the phyla Arthropoda, Nematoda, Mollusca and Annelida, were collected from the available pieces of wood. While wood-boring bivalves of the genus Xylophaga, generally seen as opportunists among wood-converting organisms, were present at nearly all stations, the overwhelming majority of taxa found were restricted to individual pieces of wood. A fresh piece of wood from a site opposite to the Tsugaru Strait, was the most heavily colonized. The presence of shallow or even putative fresh-water taxa beside truly deep-water components possibly suggests a recent sinking of that particular wood fragment and demonstrates the role of such ephemeral organic objects in deep-sea ecosystems as energy-rich feeding grounds and potential distributional stepping stones. Detailed studies of driftwood communities on single sunken wood fragments from deep oceans are limited. The present data not only demonstrate a tolerance of some taxa to changes in physical parameters, such as hydrostatic pressure, salinity and temperature, but also indicate a higher biodiversity on fresher wood pieces compared to wood which already underwent decomposition processes. It is, however, not clear whether the species diversity was linked to the type of wood, since exhaustive analyses on the wood pieces themselves were not conducted.

Description: During the German–Russian expedition KuramBio (Kuril–Kamchatka Biodiversity Studies) to the northwest Pacific Kuril–Kamchatka Trench and its adjacent abyssal plain, we found several kinds and sizes of plastic debris ranging from fishing nets and packaging to microplastic in the sediment of the deep-sea floor. Microplastics were ubiquitous in the smaller fractions of the box corer samples from every station from depths between 4869 and 5766 m. They were found on the abyssal plain and in the sediments of the trench slope on both sides. The amount of microplastics differed between the stations, with lowest concentration of 60 pieces per m2 and highest concentrations of more than 2000 pieces per m2. Around 75% of the microplastics (defined here as particles 〈1 mm) we isolated from the sediment samples were fibers. Other particles were paint chips or small cracked pieces of unknown origin. The Kuril–Kamchatka Trench area is known for its very rich marine fauna (Zenkevich, 1963). Yet we can only guess how these microplastics accumulated in the deep sea of the Kuril-Kamchatka Trench area and what consequences the microplastic itself and its adsorbed chemicals will have on this very special and rich deep-sea fauna. But we herewith present an evaluation of the different kinds of plastic debris we found, as a documentation of human impact into the deep sea of this region of the Northwest Pacific.

Description: During the German–Russian KuramBio (Kuril–Kamchatka Biodiversity Studies) expedition with the RV Sonne from July to September 2012, a 0.25 m2 box corer was used to sample the benthic fauna of the Kuril–Kamchatka area. 23 cores were deployed at 12 stations, and in total 36,648 individuals could be identified from a combined surface area of 5.75 m2. Total faunal densities ranged from 1024 to 16,592 ind. m−2, respectively, for the macrofauna from 436 to 3520 ind. m−2. The fauna was dominated by Nematoda (65%), even though this group and other meiofaunal taxa were only partially retained by the 300 µm screen that was used as the smallest screen for this study. The remaining part of the fauna was dominated by polychaetes (23%), followed by peracarid crustaceans (6%) and molluscs (3%). Most of the collected taxa occurred very patchily. Over 80% of the animals were extracted from the upper 2 centimeters of the sediment. Compared to other regions of the Pacific the density of the benthic fauna was unusually high. At the upper slope of the continental margin of the trench and at the southern part of the area the benthic fauna was most taxon rich. Station 3 from the continental slope of the trench was also most rich in terms of faunal density (total numbers of ind. m−2), followed by the station 11 and 12 from that the southernmost part of the abyss. Although the Kuril–Kamchatka area has been sampled on several expeditions during the last century, and some studies on the biomass of the benthic fauna have been published, this study offers the first quantitative community analysis of the benthic fauna in terms of abundance and taxon richness.

Description: Highlights: • Distinct rare earth element profiles across southern boundary of Antarctic Circumpolar Current • Low particle concentrations and strong vertical exchange cause homogenous vertical profiles • Pronounced deepwater Ce anomalies reflect isolation from new continental sources to seawater The concentrations of rare earth elements (REEs) in seawater display systematic variations related to weathering inputs, particle scavenging and water mass histories. Here we investigate the REE concentrations of water column profiles in the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean, a key region of the global circulation and primary production. The data reveal a pronounced contrast between the vertical profiles in the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) and those to the south of the ACC in the Weddell Gyre (WG). The ACC profiles exhibit the typical increase of REE concentrations with water depth and a change in the shape of the profiles from near linear for the light REEs to more convex for the heavy REEs. In contrast, the WG profiles exhibit high REE concentrations throughout the water column with only the near surface samples showing slightly reduced concentrations indicative of particle scavenging. Seawater normalised REE patterns reveal the strong remineralisation signal in the ACC with the light REEs preferentially removed in surface waters and the mirror image pattern of their preferential release in deep waters. In the WG the patterns are relatively homogenous reflecting the prevalence of well-mixed Lower Circumpolar Deep Water (LCDW) that follows shoaling isopycnals in the region. In the WG particle scavenging of REEs is comparatively small and limited to the summer months by light limitation and winter sea ice cover. Considering the surface water depletion compared to LCDW and that the surface waters of the WG are replaced every few years, the removal rate is estimated to be on the order of 1 nmol m- 3 yr- 1 for La and Nd. The negative cerium anomalies observed in deep waters are some of the strongest found globally with only the deepest waters in parts of the Pacific having stronger anomalies. These deep waters have been isolated from fresh continental REE inputs during their long journey through the abyssal Indo-Pacific ocean and suggests that the high REE concentrations found in the ACC and WG reflect contributions from old deep waters.

Description: Since the inception of the international GEOTRACES program, studies investigating the distribution of trace elements and their isotopes in the global ocean have significantly increased. In spite of this large-scale effort, the distribution of neodymium isotopes (143Nd/144Nd, εNd) and concentrations ([Nd]) in the high latitude South Pacific is still understudied, specifically north of the Antarctic Polar Front (APF). Here we report dissolved Nd isotopes and concentrations from 11 vertical water column profiles from the South Pacific between South America and New Zealand and across the Antarctic frontal system. Results confirm that Ross Sea Bottom Water (RSBW) is represented by an εNdvalue of ∼−7, and for the first time show that these Nd characteristics can be traced into the Southeast Pacific until progressive mixing with ambient Lower Circumpolar Deep Water (LCDW) dilutes this signal north of the APF. That is, εNdbehaves conservatively in RSBW, opening a path for studies of past RSBW behavior. Neodymium concentrations show low surface concentrations and a linear increase with depth north of the APF. South of the APF, surface [Nd] is high and increases with depth but remains almost constant below ∼1000m. This vertical and spatial [Nd] pattern follows the southward shoaling density surfaces of the Southern Ocean and hence suggests supply of Nd to the upper ocean through upwelling of Nd-rich deep water. Low particle abundance due to reduced opal production and seasonal sea ice cover likely contributes to the maintenance of the high upper ocean [Nd] south of the APF. This suggests a dominant lateral transport component on [Nd] and a reduced vertical control on Nd concentrations in the South Pacific south of the APF.

Description: Quantifying biotic feedbacks in response to environmental signals is fundamental to assess ecosystem perturbation. We analyzed the joint effects of eutrophication, derived from sewage pollution, and climate at the base of the pelagic food web in the Bahía Blanca Estuary (SW Atlantic Ocean). A two-year survey of environmental conditions and microplankton communities was conducted in two sites affected by contrasting anthropogenic eutrophication conditions. Under severe eutrophication, we found higher phytoplankton abundance consistently dominated by smaller sized, non siliceous species, while microzooplankton abundance remained lower and nutrient stoichiometry showed conspicuous deviations from the Redfield ratio. Phytoplankton growth in such conditions appeared controlled by phosphorous. In turn, microplankton biomass and phytoplankton size ratio (〈20. μm:〉20. μm) displayed a saturation relationship with nutrients in the highly eutrophic area, although mean phytoplankton growth was similar in both eutrophic systems. The strength of links within the estuarine network, quantified through path analysis, showed enhanced relationships under larger anthropogenic eutrophication, which fostered the climate influence on microplankton communities. Our results show conspicuous effects of severe sewage pollution on the ecological stoichiometry, i.e., N and P excess with respect to Si, altering nutrient ratios for microplankton communities. This warns on wide consequences on food web dynamics and ultimately in ecosystem assets of coastal pelagic environments.

Description: During the KuramBio expedition, the abyssal plain adjacent to the Kuril–Kamchatka Trench was sampled in July–August 2012. More than 5200 individuals of Polychaeta belonging to 38 families, 108 genera and about 144 species were found. Six genera have been reported for the Northwest Pacific for the first time. About 50% of the collected polychaete species are considered as new to science. One of these, Sphaerephesia lesliae sp. n., is described herein. The detailed description of the new species is presented and its differences from similar species are shown. This eighth species of the genus is characterized by the presence of macrotubercles with two paired terminal papillae. The genus Sphaerephesia Fauchald, 1972 is newly recorded in the Northwest Pacific. An updated key to the species of the genus Sphaerephesia is provided.

Description: Highlights: • Sensitivities of annual carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) flux estimates to parameter variations are determined. • Model parameters that specify annual inventories are compared with those that determine timing and magnitude of bloom events. • Seven model parameters are of primary importance, affecting C, N and P budgets simultaneously. • Nine parameters have negligible effects on annual budget estimates and on seasonal trajectories. • Parameter categorization provides important prior information for parameter optimization in the central Baltic Sea. Abstract: This study describes a sensitivity analysis that allows the parameters of a one-dimensional ecosystem model to be ranked according to their specificity in determining biochemical key fluxes. Key fluxes of interest are annual (a) total production (TP), (b) remineralization above the halocline (RM), and (c) export at 50 m (EX) at the Baltic Sea monitoring site BY15 located in the Gotland Deep basin. The model resolves mass flux of carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorous (P), while considering nitrogen fixation explicitly. Our first null hypothesis is that the variation of the value of every single model parameter affects each annual C, N, and P budget simultaneously. Our second null hypothesis states that the variation of every parameter value induces changes at least in either of the annual C, N or P budgets. Our analyses falsify both null hypotheses and reveal that 8 out of 36 parameters must be regarded redundant, as their variation neither alter annual key fluxes nor produce considerable time-shifts in model trajectories at the respective site. Seven parameters were found to induce substantial changes in annual C, N, and P flux estimates simultaneously. The assimilation efficiency of zooplankton turned out to be of vital importance. This parameter discriminates between the assimilation and destruction of algal prey during grazing. The fraction of unassimilated dead algal cells is critical for the amount of organic matter exported out of the euphotic zone. The maximum cellular N:C quota of diazotrophs and the degradation/hydrolysis rate of detrital carbon are two parameters that will likely remain unconstrained by time series data, but both affect the annual C budget considerably. Overall, our detailed specification of model sensitivities to parameter variations will facilitate the formulation of a well-posed inverse problem for the estimation of C, N and P fluxes from stock observations at the Gotland Deep.

Description: Highlights: • Coagulation efficiency of the coccolithophorid Emiliania huxleyi was determined with Couette flow devices. • Higher coagulation efficiencies of cells were observed at lower growth rates. • Coagulation efficiency increases with the extracellular polysaccharides fraction. Abstract: Coagulation of small particles results in the formation of larger aggregates that play an important role in the biological pump, moving carbon and other elements from the surface to the deep ocean and seafloor. In this study, we estimated the efficiency of particle coagulation of the coccolithophore Emiliania huxleyi at different growth rates using Couette flow devices at a natural shear rate. To determine the impacts of chemical and biological factors involved in aggregate formation, we investigated how variance in organic matter composition, and in particular the presence of extracellular polysaccharides (EP), including transparent exopolymer particles (TEP) and acidic polysaccharides attached to the coccolith surface, affect the coagulation efficiency (α). When E. huxleyi was grown in a chemostat at different growth rates, coagulation efficiency increased from ~ 0.40 to 1 as cell growth rates declined and nutrients became more limited. With declining growth rate the concentration of EP and the number of detached coccoliths increased. Overall a close correlation between coagulation efficiency of E. huxleyi and the ratio of EP to total particle volume was observed. The minimum value of α of ~ 0.4 determined during this study is higher than estimates published for other phytoplankton cells, and may be related to the presence of EP attached to coccoliths. Based on our findings, we suggest that E. huxleyi is more prone to form aggregates, particularly during the decline of blooms, when increased production of EP and enhanced shedding of coccoliths coincide. This may be one explanation for why blooms of E. huxleyi play an important role in the biological carbon pump, efficiently enhancing the vertical flux of particles, as has been suggested by sediment trap studies.

Description: Highlights: • TEPs and CSPs showed different production patterns and particle-association behaviors. • TEPs and CSPs had different vertical distributions in the Sargasso Sea. • CSP as well as TEP gels are linked by cation bridging. • FlowCAM can be used for in-situ visualization and imaging of TEPs and CSPs in parallel-stained samples. • In-situ visualization of TEPs and CSPs led to new insights about particle interaction and their role in aggregation. Abstract: The discovery of ubiquitous, abundant and transparent gel-like particles, such as the polysaccharide-containing transparent exopolymer particles (TEP) and protein-containing Coomassie stainable particles (CSP) has changed our conception of particle–organism interaction and created new questions about the origin, composition, and role of these particles in aquatic systems. Using both standard and novel staining methods, we studied these gel-like particles to determine whether CSP and TEP are sub-units of the same particle, are distinct particles with different characteristics and behaviors, or are both. Our seawater mesocosm results show that phytoplankton produce both TEP and CSP; however, their highest abundances occur at differences phases in the phytoplankton bloom. We developed a new technique for visualizing stained transparent material in unfiltered aqueous samples with the FlowCAM; this technique allows in-situ visualization and imaging of TEP and CSP in parallel stained samples. Visual examination of stained and unstained TEP and CSP from seawater microcosms, marine algal cultures, and freshwater showed that TEP and CSP have different shape, size and particle-association behavior. In a diatom-dominated microcosm, TEP concentrations were higher than CSP concentrations and unlike CSP, TEP were usually associated with diatom cells or aggregates. The cyanobacteria culture, however, showed higher CSP than TEP concentrations and aggregates of those cells appeared to be CSP-rich. Vertical and seasonal distributions of TEP and CSP in the Sargasso Sea were different. Even though both types of particles were most abundant in the upper 100 m of the water column, CSP closely followed fluorescence and total particle concentration, while the highest TEP concentration was always in the shallowest sample collected. Thus, we conclude that TEP and CSP are different particles, produced by different species at different growth phases and rates. They have different roles and are affected by different processes according to the community composition and environmental conditions.

Description: Highlights: • The distribution of particulate matter was studied using Argo float measurements. • Its spatio-temporal properties were analyzed in the eastern tropical North Atlantic. • Surface, subsurface, intermediate and bottom nepheloid layers were considered. • High correlations between particulate matter and phytoplankton were verified. • The depth of subsurface particle maxima correlated to the distance to shore. Abstract: The spatial and temporal distribution of particulate matter in the water column of the eastern tropical North Atlantic between 16.9–22.9°N and 16.6–29.3°W was investigated using optical measurements from transmissometers mounted on Argo floats. The corresponding profiles of beam attenuation coefficients measured from February 2008 to May 2009 were used to study particulate matter in different layers such as the surface nepheloid layer (SNL), subsurface nepheloid layer (SSNL), intermediate nepheloid layer (INL) and bottom nepheloid layer (BNL) as well as to investigate sinking particles (SP). The SNL were down to about 60 m water depth at thicknesses between 20 and 60 m. Our analyses verified high correlation between particulate matter and phytoplankton in the SNL. High offshore SNL extension of up to 750 km was found in the area of Cape Blanc filaments in January 2009. Their typical widths ranged from 11 to 72 km. Furthermore, float-borne observations even resolved atmospheric dust deposition into the surface water layer during a strong Saharan dust event in October 2008. The observed dust concentration in the mixed water layer was found to vary between 0.0021 and 0.0168 g m−3 depending on applied assumptions. An abrupt change from a SNL to a SSNL regime over distances of only 80 to 90 km was observed. The particulate matter in the SSNL showed lateral extensions from 420 to 1020 km offshore. A statistically significant correlation between the depth of subsurface particle maxima and the distance to shore was found. An averaged diameter of 30 km was determined for the sharply isolated patches of INL which was consistent with model simulations of other studies. The lateral transport of particulate matter in these INL features in the area of the giant Cape Blanc filaments was found to be more pronounced than reported in earlier studies. The distribution of particulate matter within the INL filaments reached up to 610 km off the shelf edge. The frequency of INL decreased with increasing distance to shore. The sinking velocity of particulate matter of one long-term observed INL was approximately 1.3 m day−1. Highly concentrated BNLs with beam attenuation coefficients of up to 4.530 m−1 were observed in the continental slope region. INLs appeared more frequently than SP events which lead to the conclusion that the lateral transport of particulate matter in INL features in the study area was more important than their passive vertical sinking.

Description: Highlights • Magmatic chlorine-excess is a highly sensitive tracer of hydrothermal contamination. • Red Sea magmas show Cl-excess more extreme than even fast spreading ridges. • High-Cl Red Sea environment produces high-Cl hydrothermally altered crust and magmatic Cl-excess. • (Ultra)slow-spreading ridge magmas can assimilate hydrothermally altered crust. • Magmatic Cl-excess can guide hydrothermal prospection in the Red Sea. Abstract Newly formed oceanic crust is initially cooled by circulating seawater, although where this occurs and over what regions fluids enter the crust is still unclear. Differences in the chlorine (Cl) concentrations between mid-ocean ridge basalt and seawater potentially make Cl a sensitive tracer for this hydrothermal circulation, allowing assimilation of hydrothermal fluids or hydrothermally altered crust by rising magma to be traced by measuring excess Cl in erupted lavas. Such excess Cl has been found in basalts from fast-spreading ridges (Cl concentrations up to 1200 ppm), but not so far on ultraslow- and slow-spreading ridges, where lower Cl values in the basalts (~ 50–200 ppm) make variations harder to measure. The Red Sea, with its relatively saline bottom water (40–42‰, cf. 35‰ salinity in open ocean water), the presence of axial brine pools (up to 270‰ salinity) and thick evaporite sequences flanking the young rift provides an ideal opportunity to study the incorporation of hydrothermal Cl at an ultraslow- to slow-spreading ridge (max. 1.6 cm/yr). Both absolute Cl concentrations (up to 1300 ppm) and ratios of Cl to elements of similar mantle incompatibility (e.g. K, Nb) are much higher in Red Sea basalts than for average ultraslow- and slow-spreading ridges. An origin of these Cl-excesses by seafloor weathering or syn-eruptive contamination can be excluded, as can mineral/melt fractionation during melting or crystallisation, based on trace element data. Instead, the incorporation of Cl at depth derived from hydrothermal circulation either by direct assimilation of hydrothermal fluids or through mixing of magma with partial melts of the hydrothermally altered crust is indicated. We see no influence of local spreading rate, the intensity of seafloor fracturing or the calculated depth of last crystal fractionation on Cl-excess. Seafloor areas with clear evidence of present or recent hydrothermal activity (brine pool temperatures above ambient, presence of hydrothermal sediments) always show Cl-excess in the local basalts and there is a positive correlation between Cl-excess and intensity of local volcanism (as determined by the percentage of local seafloor showing volcanic bathymetric forms). From this we conclude that Cl-excess in basalts is related to high crustal temperatures and hydrothermal circulation and so can be used to prospect for active or recently extinct hydrothermal systems. Samples recovered within 5 km of a seafloor evaporite outcrop show particularly high Cl-excesses, suggesting addition of Cl from the evaporites to the inflow fluids and that this may be the length scale over which hydrothermal recharge occurs.

Description: Highlights • Calcification rates are stimulated by CO2 and HCO3− and inhibited by H+. • This novel substrate–inhibitor concept is tested with experimental data. • The concept enables us to reconcile conflicting results among laboratory studies. • We illustrate how this physiological concept can be included in ecological theory. • We apply the concept to discuss coccolithophore dispersal in the oceans. Abstract Coccolithophores are a group of unicellular phytoplankton species whose ability to calcify has a profound influence on biogeochemical element cycling. Calcification rates are controlled by a large variety of biotic and abiotic factors. Among these factors, carbonate chemistry has gained considerable attention during the last years as coccolithophores have been identified to be particularly sensitive to ocean acidification. Despite intense research in this area, a general concept harmonizing the numerous and sometimes (seemingly) contradictory responses of coccolithophores to changing carbonate chemistry is still lacking to date. Here, we present the “substrate–inhibitor concept” which describes the dependence of calcification rates on carbonate chemistry speciation. It is based on observations that calcification rate scales positively with bicarbonate (HCO3−), the primary substrate for calcification, and carbon dioxide (CO2), which can limit cell growth, whereas it is inhibited by protons (H+). This concept was implemented in a model equation, tested against experimental data, and then applied to understand and reconcile the diverging responses of coccolithophorid calcification rates to ocean acidification obtained in culture experiments. Furthermore, we (i) discuss how other important calcification-influencing factors (e.g. temperature and light) could be implemented in our concept and (ii) embed it in Hutchinson’s niche theory, thereby providing a framework for how carbonate chemistry-induced changes in calcification rates could be linked with changing coccolithophore abundance in the oceans. Our results suggest that the projected increase of H+ in the near future (next couple of thousand years), paralleled by only a minor increase of inorganic carbon substrate, could impede calcification rates if coccolithophores are unable to fully adapt. However, if calcium carbonate (CaCO3) sediment dissolution and terrestrial weathering begin to increase the oceans’ HCO3− and decrease its H+ concentrations in the far future (10–100 kyears), coccolithophores could find themselves in carbonate chemistry conditions which may be more favorable for calcification than they were before the Anthropocene.

Description: Highlights • Aerosol time-series measurements on the Cape Verde reveal seasonal variations • High aerosol loadings in winter at Cape Verde related to dust transport in trade winds • Dust supply during summer originating mainly from the Sahel region • Dust supply during winter originating mainly from the North and West Saharan region • Clay dominant mineral in aerosols over Cape Verde, influencing iron solubility Abstract The North Atlantic receives the largest dust loading of any of the world’s oceans due to its proximity to North African deserts and prevailing wind patterns. The supply of biologically important trace elements and nutrients via aerosols has an important influence on biogeochemical processes and ecosystems in this ocean region. In this study we continuously sampled aerosols between July 2007 and July 2008 at the Cape Verde Atmospheric Observatory (CVAO), which is situated on an island group close to the North African continent and under the Saharan/Sahelian dust outflow path. The aim of our work was to investigate temporal variations in aerosol concentration, composition and sources in the Cape Verde region over a complete seasonal cycle, and for this purpose we undertook mineralogical and chemical (42 elements) analyses of the aerosol samples and air mass back-trajectory calculations. Aerosol samples were also collected during a research cruise in the (sub-) tropical Northeast Atlantic Ocean in January 2008. The concentration of atmospheric Al, a proxy for mineral aerosol concentration, at CVAO was in the range 0.01 – 66.9 μg.m- 3 (maximum on 28-30 January 2008) with a geometric mean of 0.76 μg.m- 3. It showed distinct seasonal variations, with enhanced Al concentrations in winter (geometric mean 1.3 μg.m- 3), and lower concentrations in summer (geometric mean 0.48 μg.m- 3). These observations have been attributed to dust transport occurring in higher altitude air layers and mainly north of the Cape Verde during summer, whilst in winter the dust transport shifts south and occurs in the lower altitude trade winds with consequent greater influence on the Cape Verde region. The elemental composition of the aerosols closely agreed with mean upper crustal abundances, with the exception of elements with pronounced anthropogenic sources (e.g. Zn and Pb) and major constituents of sea water (Na and Mg). Mineral analysis showed that clays were the most abundant mineral fraction throughout the whole sampling period, with an increase in quartz and clays during strong dust events and an associated decrease in calcite. This could have important implications for the estimation of release of for example Fe from mineral dust with clays having a higher Fe solubility than quartz. The elemental composition and mineralogy of aerosol samples collected during the cruise were indistinguishable from those collected at the CVAO during the same period, although mean atmospheric Al was 65% higher at the CVAO than those measured on the ship due to the irregular and uneven nature of dust transport. Air mass back-trajectories showed an important role for southern source regions of the North African deserts during summer, with 92.5% of the samples indicating a contribution from the Sahel. Significantly elevated ratios of V, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb with Al were present in samples originating from the Sahel compared with samples with a more northerly origin. This was likely due to enhanced anthropogenic emissions related to the greater population densities in the Sahel compared with the less developed Saharan regions further north. Ratios of other elements and trends in rare earth elements could however not be used to distinguish differences in source regions. Similar source material compositions, the mixing of dust from different regions during transport, and the pooling of samples over a 1-3 day collection period appears to have diluted specific signals from source regions.

Description: We present new major and trace element, high-precision Sr-Nd-Pb (double spike), and Oisotope data for the whole range of rocks from the Holocene Tolbachik volcanic field in the Central Kamchatka Depression (CKD). The Tolbachik rocks range from high-Mg basalts to low-Mg basaltic trachyandesites. The rocks considered in this paper represent mostly Late Holocene eruptions (using tephrochronological dating), including historic ones in 1941, 1975-1976 and 2012-2013. Major compositional features of the Tolbachik volcanic rocks include the prolonged predominance of one erupted magma type, close association of middle-K primitive and high-K evolved rocks, large variations in incompatible element abundances and ratios but narrow range in isotopic composition. We quantify the conditions of the Tolbachik magma origin and evolution and revise previously proposed models. We conclude that all Tolbachik rocks are genetically related by crystal fractionation of medium-K primary magmas with only a small range in trace element and isotope composition. The primary Tolbachik magmas contain ~14 wt% MgO and ~4% wt% H2O and originated by partial melting (~6%) of moderately depleted mantle peridotite with Indian-MORB-type isotopic composition at temperature of ~1250oC and pressure of ~2 GPa. The melting of the mantle wedge was triggered by slab-derived hydrous melts formed at ~2.8 GPa and ~725oC from a mixture of sediments and MORB- and Meiji- type altered oceanic crust. The primary magmas experienced a complex open-system evolution termed Recharge-Evacuation-Fractional Crystallization (REFC). First the original primary magmas underwent open-system crystal fractionation combined with periodic recharge of the magma chamber with more primitive magma, followed by mixing of both magma types, further fractionation and finally eruption. Evolved high-K basalts, which predominate in the Tolbachik field, and basaltic trachyandesites erupted in 2012-2013 approach steady-state REFC liquid compositions at different eruption or replenishment rates. Intermediate rocks, including high-K, high-Mg basalts, are formed by mixing of the evolved and primitive magmas. Evolution of Tolbachik magmas is associated with large fractionation between incompatible trace elements (e.g., Rb/Ba, La/Nb, Ba/Th) and is strongly controlled by the relative difference in partitioning between crystal and liquid phases. The Tolbachik volcanic field shows that open-system scenarios provide more plausible and precise descriptions of long-lived arc magmatic systems than simpler, but often geologically unrealistic, closed-system models.

Description: Highlights: • Comprehensive morphological, seismic, sedimentological, and geotechnical data sets. • Dynamic CPTU provides a powerful, time- and cost-efficient in situ technique. • Development of a regional sub-seafloor strength model offshore Nice airport. • 2D finite element slope stability assessment gives slope failure depth of 〉 50 m. Abstract: In the landslide-prone area near the Nice international airport, southeastern France, an interdisciplinary approach is applied to develop realistic lithological/geometrical profiles and geotechnical/strength sub-seafloor models. Such models are indispensable for slope stability assessments using limit equilibrium or finite element methods. Regression analyses, based on the undrained shear strength (su) of intact gassy sediments are used to generate a sub-seafloor strength model based on 37 short dynamic and eight long static piezocone penetration tests, and laboratory experiments on one Calypso piston and 10 gravity cores. Significant strength variations were detected when comparing measurements from the shelf and the shelf break, with a significant drop in su to 5.5 kPa being interpreted as a weak zone at a depth between 6.5 and 8.5 m below seafloor (mbsf). Here, a 10% reduction of the in situ total unit weight compared to the surrounding sediments is found to coincide with coarse-grained layers that turn into a weak zone and detachment plane for former and present-day gravitational, retrogressive slide events, as seen in 2D chirp profiles. The combination of high-resolution chirp profiles and comprehensive geotechnical information allows us to compute enhanced 2D finite element slope stability analysis with undrained sediment response compared to previous 2D numerical and 3D limit equilibrium assessments. Those models suggest that significant portions (detachment planes at 20 m or even 55 mbsf) of the Quaternary delta and slope apron deposits may be mobilized. Given that factors of safety are equal or less than 1 when further considering the effect of free gas, a high risk for a landslide event of considerable size off Nice international airport is identified.

Description: Highlights: • We manipulated burial levels and burial durations in a field experiment. • We found strong effects even at low burial level (5 cm) and short duration (4 weeks). • Higher shoot mortality, and delayed growth and flowering, lower carbohydrate storage. • Relative rather than absolute sediment burial levels determined plant survival. • Management implications of our findings are discussed. Seagrass meadows, one of the world's most important and productive coastal habitats, are threatened by a range of anthropogenic actions. Burial of seagrass plants due to coastal activities is one important anthropogenic pressure leading to the decline of local populations. In our study, we assessed the response of eelgrass Zostera marina to sediment burial from physiological, morphological, and population parameters. In a full factorial field experiment, burial level (5–20 cm) and burial duration (4–16 weeks) were manipulated. Negative effects were visible even at the lowest burial level (5 cm) and shortest duration (4 weeks), with increasing effects over time and burial level. Buried seagrasses showed higher shoot mortality, delayed growth and flowering and lower carbohydrate storage. The observed effects will likely have an impact on next year's survival of buried plants. Our results have implications for the management of this important coastal plant.

Description: Highlights: • We unveil regional progressive climate modifications fostering the entire plankton food web. • Hydroclimate shifts have progressively impacted the seasonality of plankton. • The profound plankton reorganization warns on the replacement of local species by cosmopolitan ones. Abstract: Growing evidence has shown a profound modification of plankton communities of the North East Atlantic and adjacent seas over the past decades. This drastic change has been attributed to a modification of the environmental conditions that regulate the dynamics and the spatial distribution of ectothermic species in the ocean. Recently, several studies have highlighted modifications of the regional climate station L4 (50° 15.00′N, 4° 13.02′W) in the Western English Channel. We here focus on the modification of the plankton community by studying the long-term, annual and seasonal changes of five zooplankton groups and eight copepod genera. We detail the main composition and the phenology of the plankton communities during four climatic periods identified at the L4 station: 1988–1994, 1995–2000, 2001–2007 and 2008–2012. Our results show that long-term environmental changes underlined by Molinero et al. (2013) drive a profound restructuration of the plankton community modifying the phenology and the dominance of key planktonic groups including fish larvae. Consequently, the slow but deep modifications detected in the plankton community highlight a climate driven ecosystem shift in the Western English Channel.

Description: Highlights • Sediment influence on hydrate dissolution was studied in the field and lab • In the field, CH4(aq) concentrations were at or below theoretical saturation • Dissolution of natural hydrate blanketed by 15 cm thick sediment was measured • This covered hydrate dissolved at a slower rate than nearby exposed hydrates • In the lab, exposed hydrate dissolved faster than covered hydrate Abstract Dissolution rates of naturally occurring gas hydrates vary by orders of magnitude across studies suggesting that environmental factors may influence hydrate dissolution. To determine the role that sediment cover plays in hydrate dissolution, we used a mini-pore fluid array sampler (mPFA) to continuously collect sediment porewater adjacent to a hydrate outcrop and maintain it at in situ pressure for later analysis. This allowed us to measure in situ dissolved hydrocarbon concentrations in the porewater over time without sample loss due to degassing. We deployed the mPFA at a hydrate outcrop at Barkley Canyon on the Cascadia Margin for nine months. This novel approach yielded concentration data that were used to determine the steady-state dissolution rate of the hydrate outcrop and test predictions of the diffusion-control model for dissolution in the field. In the lab, we conducted a series of experiments with artificial hydrate to directly compare dissolution rates between exposed and sediment-covered hydrate. The dissolution rate of the natural hydrate outcrop covered with sediment was 0.06 cm y− 1. The laboratory experiments of sediment-covered hydrate yielded dissolution rates of 0.6 ± 0.5 cm y− 1 (n = 5). In both laboratory and field observations, the dissolution rate of hydrates exposed directly to bulk water (3.9 ± 1.7 cm y− 1 and 3.5 cm y− 1 respectively) was at least an order of magnitude faster than the dissolution rate of sediment covered hydrate. These results are consistent with expectations of diffusion-control and support this model of hydrate dissolution. In nature, sediment may account for the persistence of hydrate in otherwise methane-depleted environments by increasing the diffusive boundary layer and slowing the rate of molecular diffusion via porosity/tortuosity effects. We provide a number of “Lessons Learned” for improving the instrument design and for consideration during future studies.

Description: We characterise the representation of the Southern Ocean water mass structure and sea ice within a suite of 15 global ocean-ice models run with the Coordinated Ocean-ice Reference Experiment Phase II (CORE-II) protocol. The main focus is the representation of the present (1988-2007) mode and intermediate waters, thus framing an analysis of winter and summer mixed layer depths; temperature, salinity, and potential vorticity structure; and temporal variability of sea ice distributions. We also consider the interannual variability over the same 20 year period. Comparisons are made between models as well as to observation-based analyses where available. The CORE-II models exhibit several biases relative to Southern Ocean observations, including an underestimation of the model mean mixed layer depths of mode and intermediate water masses in March (associated with greater ocean surface heat gain), and an overestimation in September (associated with greater high latitude ocean heat loss and a more northward winter sea-ice extent). In addition, the models have cold and fresh/warm and salty water column biases centred near 50 degrees S. Over the 1933-2007 period, the CORE-II models consistently simulate spatially variable trends in sea-ice concentration, surface freshwater fluxes, mixed layer depths, and 200-700 in ocean heat content. In particular, sea-ice coverage around most of the Antarctic continental shelf is reduced, leading to a cooling and freshening of the near surface waters. The shoaling of the mixed layer is associated with increased surface buoyancy gain, except in the Pacific where sea ice is also influential. The models are in disagreement, despite the common CORE-II atmospheric state, in their spatial pattern of the 20-year trends in the mixed layer depth and sea-ice

Description: Genomic sequence data have revealed the presence of a large fraction of putatively silent biosynthetic gene clusters in the genomes of actinomycetes that encode for secondary metabolites, which are not detected under standard fermentation conditions. This review focuses on the effects of biological (co-cultivation), chemical, as well as molecular elicitation on secondary metabolism in actinomycetes. Our review covers the literature until June 2014 and exemplifies the diversity of natural products that have been recovered by such approaches from the phylum Actinobacteria.

Description: Highlights: • Acoustically meaningful clustering correlating with ground truth data • Seascape scale acoustic mapping through classification per beam footprint • Bayesian approach for discriminating sedimentary units with low heterogeneity • Geo-acoustic resolution: a new measure of sedimentary acoustic class separability Modern seafloor mapping is based on high resolution MBES systems that provide detailed bathymetric and acoustic intensity (backscatter) information. We examine and validate the performance of two unsupervised MBES classification techniques for discriminating acoustic classes of sedimentary units with small grain size variability. The first technique, based on a principal components analysis (PCA), is commonly used in literature and has been applied for comparison with the more recent approach of Bayesian statistics. By applying these techniques to a MBES dataset from an estuarine area in The Netherlands, we tested their ability to discriminate fine grained sediments (at least 70% silt) holding small percentages of coarser material such as sand, shell hash or shells. We focus on the Bayesian technique as it outputs acoustically significant classes related to backscatter values. This technique utilizes backscatter values averaged over scatter pixels (projected pulse lengths) inside the footprint of each beam. The originality of our application lies in the fact that, the optimal number of classes is derived by utilizing a number of beams simultaneously. It is assumed that the backscatter values per beam vary relatively to the varying seafloor types. By treating the beams separately, across track variation in the seafloor type can also be accounted for. Thereby the classification is guided by outer, more discriminative beams. Additionally we control the optimal number of classes by employing the quantitative criterion of goodness of fit (χ2). The Bayesian acoustic classes show correlation with grain size parameters such as coarse fraction (〉500μm) percentage and mean of the grain size (〈500μm) when analyzed with multiple linear regression. In order to examine the relative scale of the acoustic classification results we compare the Bayesian acoustic classes with underwater video interpretation. Our results reveal that the Bayesian approach enhances the sedimentological interpretation of MBES high resolution data, by providing classification on seascape scale (here meters to tens of meters). Hence we suggest that backscatter processing techniques are more commonly applied to produce classes that discriminate sediments with low grain size contrast. To describe this ability we introduce the term geoacoustic resolution. We want to encourage the use of the Bayesian technique also in deep sea applications, based on AUV data, where sediments express low variability but sampling would be time consuming and costly. The advantages of this method would favor mapping of macro-habitats which appear at meter-scale and require datasets of sufficient resolution in order to be quantitatively described.

Description: High individual growth and mortality rates of herring Clupea harengus membras and goby Pomatoschistus spp. larvae were observed in the estuarine habitat of the Gulf of Riga, Baltic Sea. Both instantaneous mortality (0.76–1.05) as well as growth rate (0.41–0.82 mm day-1) of larval herring were amongst highest observed elsewhere previously. Mortality rates of goby larvae were also high (0.57–1.05), while first ever data on growth rates were provided in this study (0.23–0.35 mm day-1). Our study also evidenced that higher growth rate of marine fish larvae did not result in lower mortalities. We suggest that high growth and mortality rates primarily resulted from a rapidly increasing and high (〉 18 °C) water temperature that masked potential food-web effects. The explanation for observed patterns lies in the interactive manner temperature contributed: i) facilitating prey production, which supported high growth rate and decreased mortalities; ii) exceeding physiological thermal optimum of larvae, which resulted in decreased growth rate and generally high mortalities. Our investigation suggests that the projected climate warming may have significant effect on early life history stages of the dominating marine fish species inhabiting shallow estuaries

Description: Highlights • First study using long-term passive acoustic monitoring of methane seeps at well blowout site 22/4b. • Seep acoustic temporal variations correlated with ocean tides. • Major acoustic transient event recorded on 8 December 2011 with high temporal resolution. Abstract Marine seeps produce underwater sounds as a result of bubble formation and fragmentation upon emission from the seabed. The frequency content and sound levels of these emissions are related to bubble size distribution and emission flux, providing important information on methane release from the seafloor. Long-term passive acoustic monitoring was used to continuously record seep sounds over a 7-month period within the blowout crater at the abandoned well site, 22/4b, in the central North Sea. Also recorded were water column fluid velocities and near-seafloor water conductivity, temperature, and pressure. Acoustic signatures were primarily from ∼1 to 10 kHz. Key features were relatively broad spectral peaks at about 1.0, 1.5, 2.2, 3.1, 3.6 and 5.1 kHz. Temporal variations in spectral levels were apparently associated with tides. The recordings also documented a series of major episodic events including a large and persistent increase (∼10 dB) in overall sound levels and spectral broadening on 8 December 2011. The acoustic temporal pattern of this event was consistent with other recorded large transient events in the literature, and the major event was correlated with dramatic changes in other measurements, including increased water column fluid velocities, increased pressure and decreased salinity, indicating real changes in emission flux. Observed seabed morphology changes reported elsewhere in this special issue, also likely were related to this event. These data demonstrate the dynamic nature of marine seepage systems, show the value of monitoring systems, and provide direct supporting evidence for a violent formation mechanism of many widespread seep-associated seabed features like pockmarks.

Description: The sediments of the Santa Barbara Basin (SBB) are an important paleoecological resource since their structure reflects the oxygenation of the bottom waters and the quality and quantity of the particulate matter which is sequestered to the bottom of the basin. These properties are controlled by regional atmospheric and oceanic climate. The California Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigations (CalCOFI) program has been monitoring the bottom waters of the SBB on a regular basis since 1986. Over the last decade, properties of SBB bottom waters have undergone dramatic changes: low concentrations of nitrate were observed more frequently and concentrations of nitrite, at times, reached values of 7 µM, in contrast to maximum concentrations of 0.2 µM observed during the earlier time period. Here we study the links between regional climate and conditions at the bottom of the SBB by relating recent changes in bottom water chemistry to local and regional forcing of the basin. Varying rates of primary production of the overlying water or rates of export production were not significantly related to the observed biogeochemical changes in the basin. Rather, the frequency or rate of flushing, as inferred from phosphate concentration changes at the bottom of the basin, and decreasing concentrations of oxygen in the waters outside the basins could be related to the observed changes. The episodic more than 10-fold increases of nitrite in the bottom waters likely represent a tipping point in the biogeochemical system driven by decreasing concentrations of oxygen in the bottom waters.

Description: This study focusses on the isopod biodiversity in the abyssal area southeast of the Kuril–Kamchatka Trench. The KuramBio (Kuril–Kamchatka Biodiversity Studies) expedition in summer 2012 collected altogether 10,169 isopods from 21 C-EBS hauls at 12 stations, belonging to 19 families, 73 genera and 207 species from the depth range between 4830 and 5780 m. Munnopsidae and Desmosomatidae were the most abundant and species-rich families, Eurycope (Munnopsidae) and Macrostylis (Macrostylidae) the most abundant genera. An nMDS plot on the basis of the Cosine similarity index reveals no clear pattern and all hauls to be different from each other. We compared our data with 12 stations from the same depth range sampled by the Russian RV Vityaz about 50 years ago and were able to identify several species collected by the RV Vityaz. The identified isopod species belonged to the families Munnopsidae, Macrostylidae, Haploniscidae, Desmosomatidae, Ischnomesidae and Nannoniscidae. Of the 333 individuals collected by the RV Vityaz, Haploniscidae and Munnopsidae were the most abundant families. Desmosomatidae were only represented by 〈1% of the isopod individuals. However, the rarefaction curves of both the KuramBio and the Vityaz samples are not approaching an asymptote, indicating that even after repeated sampling just a part of the local fauna has been recorded so far.

Description: The abyssal macrobenthos of the Kuril–Kamchatka Trench (KKT) area was sampled for the first time using a fine-meshed camera-epibenthic sledge (C-EBS) during the German–Russian KuramBio expedition 2012 (RV Sonne, 223 cruise). Crustaceans of the order Isopoda were one of the dominant macrobenthic taxa, and the family Munnopsidae was the most abundant and diverse among 17 collected asellotan families, comprising about 48% of all isopods. During the KuramBio expedition no less than 80 species of 28 genera and eight subfamilies of Munnopsidae were collected with 21 EBS hauls at 12 stations. About 80% species are new to science and half of the genera and the subfamily Lipomerinae are recorded for the first time in the Northwest Pacific. The most abundant and speciose subfamily was Eurycopinae (58% of all specimens and 29 % of species), followed by Ilyarachninae (12% and 16%). Most species are rare and occur with low abundance at one or few stations. Ten most numerous species belonging to the genera Eurycope (5 species), Microcope (2), Disconectes (1), Ilyarachna (1) and Aspidarachna (1) comprised 68% of all munnopsids. The species Eurycope sp.1 and Microcope ovata ( Birstein, 1970) were the most abundant and frequent species, occurring at all stations. The highest abundance of Munnopsidae and high diversity, with 32 species, occurred at station 3–9 on the western slope of the KKT. The cluster analysis of the Bray–Curtis similarity shows a low similarity between stations. The least similar was station 1-10, with only 26% similarity with other stations. Low similarity also characterized station 3–9 (34%). The comparison with known data revealed differences in species composition of Munnopsidae of the abyssal plain of the KKT area and the fauna of adjacent bathyal and hadal zones. Similar ratios of the munnopsid subfamilies and genera and some similar species have been revealed for the KuramBio and ANDEEP areas.

Description: Highlights: • High-precision glacial–interglacial 87Sr/86Sr record from planktic foraminifera. • Major oceans yield indistinguishable 87Sr/86Sr values at ±5 ppm level of precision. • Foraminifera show no resolvable 87Sr/86Sr variation since last glacial interval. • These data accommodate a ±12% variation for the steady-state weathering flux. • A short-term weathering pulse during de-glaciation is not accommodated by the data. Abstract Existing strontium radiogenic isotope (87Sr/86Sr) measurements for foraminifera over Quaternary glacial–interglacial climate cycles provide no evidence for variations in the isotope composition of seawater at the ±9–13 ppm level of precision. However, modelling suggests that even within this level of uncertainty significant (up to 30%) variations in chemical weathering of the continents are permitted, accounting for the longer-term rise in 87Sr/86Sr over the Quaternary, and the apparent imbalance of Sr in the oceans at the present-day. This study presents very high-precision 87Sr/86Sr isotope data for modern seawater from each of the major oceans, and a glacial–interglacial seawater record preserved by planktic foraminifera from Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) Site 758 in the north-east Indian ocean. Strontium isotope 87Sr/86Sr measurements for modern seawater from the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans are indistinguishable from one another (87Sr/86Sr = 0.7091792 ± 0.0000021, n=17n=17) at the level of precision obtained in this study (±4.9 ppm 2σ). This observation is consistent with the very long residence time of Sr in seawater, and underpins the utility of this element for high precision isotope stratigraphy. The 87Sr/86Sr seawater record preserved by planktic foraminifera shows no resolvable glacial–interglacial variation (87Sr/86Sr = 0.7091784 ± 0.0000035, n=10n=10), and limits the response of seawater to variations in the chemical weathering flux and/or composition to ±4.9 ppm or less. Calculations suggest that a variation of ±12% around the steady-state weathering flux can be accommodated by the uncertainties obtained here. The new data cannot accommodate a short-term weathering pulse during de-glaciation, although a more a diffuse weathering pulse accompanying protracted ice retreat is permissible. However, these results still indicate that modern weathering fluxes are potentially higher than average over the Quaternary, and such variations through glacial cycles can also account for the longer-term rise in 87Sr/86Sr over this time interval. The very high-precision measurements made for the marine 87Sr/86Sr record in this study place clear limits on the magnitude and timing of changes in the chemical weathering flux during glacial–interglacial cycles. Further, constraints must be sought from even higher precision measurement or elements with shorter residence times in the ocean, such as osmium (Os), that have the capacity to respond to short-term variations in input.

Description: The Baltic is a semi-enclosed sea characterised by decreasing salinity in the eastern and northern direction with only the deeper parts of the southern Baltic suitable as spawning grounds for marine species like cod. Baltic cod exhibits various adaptations to brackish water conditions, yet the inflow of salty North Sea water near the bottom remains an influence on the spawning success of the Baltic cod. The eastern Baltic population has been very weakly studied in comparison with the western population. The aim of this study is to demonstrate for the first time genetic differentiation by the use of a large number of SNPs between eastern and western Baltic populations existing in differentiated salinity conditions. Two cod samples were collected from the Bay of Gdańsk, Poland and one from the Kiel Bight, Germany. Samples were genotyped using a cod derived SNP-array (Illumina) with 10 913 SNPs. A selection of diagnostic SNPs was performed. A set of 7944 validated SNPs were analysed to assess the differentiation of three samples of cod. Results indicated a clear distinctness of the Kiel Bight from the populations of the eastern Baltic. FST comparison between both eastern samples was non-significant. Clustering analysis, principal coordinates analysis and assignment test clearly indicated that the eastern samples should be considered as one subpopulation, well differentiated from the western subpopulation. With the SNP approach, no differentiation between groups containing ‘healthy’ and ‘non-healthy’ cod individuals was observed.

Description: The kinematics of swimming behavior of Atlantic herring larvae cultured under three pCO2 conditions (control - 370, medium - 1800, and high - 4200μatm) were extracted at 34days post-hatch (dph) from swim path recordings obtained using silhouette video photography. The swim paths were analyzed for move duration, speed and length, stop duration, and horizontal and vertical turn angles to determine the effects of elevated pCO2 on fish larval behavior. The swimming kinematics and occurrence of S-postures in Atlantic herring larvae that had survived to 34-dph were unaffected by extremely elevated levels of seawater pCO2, indicating that at least some larvae in the population are resilient to ocean acidification.

Description: The Harris mud crab (Rhithropanopeus harrisii) arrived to the Baltic Sea in 1936. It was not until the late 2000es when the species considerably expanded its distribution area towards the northern Baltic Sea and formed a viable and expanding population. This introduction represents an appearance of a completely new function, as such larger epibenthic predators were previously missing from north-eastern Baltic Sea. In order to assess potential impacts of the crab to the invaded ecosystem, knowledge of the crab habitat preferences is required. This study experimentally evaluated the habitat occupancy of the Harris mud crab. The crab stayed more in vegetated boulders compared to unvegetated boulders or sandy habitats. There was an interactive effect between the presence of prey and crab population density with prey availability increasing the crab's affinity towards less favored habitats when population densities were low. Increased aggression between crab individuals increased their affinity towards otherwise less occupied habitats. Less favored habitats were typically inhabited by smaller individuals and presence of prey increased occupancy of some habitats for larger crabs. The experiment demonstrated that the crab may inhabit a large variety of habitats with stronger affinity towards boulder fields covered with the brown macroalga Fucus vesiculosus. This implies stronger impact of crab in such habitats in the invaded ecosystem.

Description: The distribution and speciation of dissolved copper (Cu) was investigated in the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean in austral autumn of 2008 as part of the IPY GEOTRACES expedition ZERO & DRAKE. Distribution measurements focused on two transects across the major frontal systems along the Zero Meridian and across the Drake Passage whereas speciation work was investigated in the Drake Passage and the ice covered Weddell Sea. Along the two transects the dissolved Cu concentration exhibited a gradient in the surface with Cu values increasing poleward. Vertical profiles of Cu showed in general monotonic increases with depth, which correlated slightly with silicate but poorly with phosphate. Benthic sources of Cu were observed along the Zero Meridian transect and close to the Antarctic Peninsula for the Drake Passage. Dissolved Cu (DCu) appears to be removed from surface waters through adsorption/complexation by particulate matter. Speciation measurements on DCu indicated a relatively uniform distribution of 25-50nM of L2 (log K ~11.8) class ligands. No L1 class ligands (log K 〉13) were detected in any of the samples examined. Estimates of free Cu (pCu=13.5 to 12.5) showed only small variations in the upper water column and was generally uniform in deep waters. These findings indicate that there is insufficient free copper to account for the rapid reactivity of superoxide (O2 -) with Cu in these waters (Heller and Croot, 2010c) suggesting that the organic Cu complexes present in seawater can undergo rapid redox reactions.

Description: Highlights: • We estimated SST and SSS of the East/Japan Sea over the last 1300 yr. • East Asia monsoon variability has been reconstructed over the period. • A strengthened summer monsoon occurred for the MCA at time of negative PDO. • Asian monsoon failure started at the end of the MCA and extended to the LIA. Abstract: We have reconstructed decadally-resolved continuous sea surface temperature and seawater δ18O (hence salinity) records over the last 1300 yr from alkenone and planktonic foraminiferal oxygen isotope ratio analyses of the East Sea/Japan Sea marine sediments to investigate East Asia monsoon variability. Comparisons of the records with other paleoclimate records indicate a possible connection between changes in the mid-latitude East Asia monsoon and Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) over this period. The results show that during the Medieval Climate Anomaly (MCA) when the PDO index was negative, East Asia was characterized by surface warming with a strengthened summer monsoon. Summer monsoon-related precipitation increased and pluvials possibly dominated in the region at that time. Onset of Asia monsoon failure and severe drought occurred at the end of the MCA and extended to the Little Ice Age (LIA) when the PDO became positive.

Description: Highlights • δ44Ca was measured in bulk carbonate and barite at two sites over the PETM. • Diagenetic effects on δ44Ca are observed associated with ocean acidification. • Multiple sites and proxy archives necessary to reconstruct the past accurately. Abstract Carbonates are used extensively to reconstruct paleoclimate and paleoceanographic conditions over geologic time scales. However, these archives are susceptible to diagenetic alteration via dissolution, recrystallization and secondary precipitation, particularly during ocean acidification events when intense dissolution can occur. Despite the possible effects of diagenesis on proxy fidelity, the impacts of diagenesis on the calcium isotopic composition (δ44Ca) of carbonates are unclear. To shed light on this issue, bulk carbonate δ44Ca was measured at high resolution in two Pacific deep sea sediment cores (ODP Sites 1212 and 1221) with considerably different dissolution histories over the Paleocene–Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM, ∼55 Ma∼55 Ma). The δ44Ca of marine barite was also measured at the deeper Site 1221, which experienced severe carbonate dissolution during the PETM. Large variations (∼0.8‰∼0.8‰) in bulk carbonate δ44Ca occur in the deeper of the two sites at depths corresponding to the peak carbon isotope excursion, which correlate with a large drop in carbonate weight percent. Such an effect is not observed in either the 1221 barite record or the bulk carbonate record at the shallower Site 1212, which is also less affected by dissolution. We contend that ocean chemical changes associated with abrupt and massive carbon release into the ocean–atmosphere system and subsequent ocean acidification at the PETM affected the bulk carbonate δ44Ca record via diagenesis in the sedimentary column. Such effects are considerable, and need to be taken into account when interpreting Ca isotope data and, potentially, other geochemical proxies over extreme climatic events that drive sediment dissolution.

Description: Highlights: • We review research since 2005 on potential impacts of leakage from CO2 storage. • We consider near surface onshore and offshore impacts and those on potable groundwaters. • Low level leakage through faults or wells is likely to be limited and recovery rapid. • Effects are reduced by mixing, dispersion and buffering. • Larger leaks are possible but less likely and should be easier to detect and remedy. Abstract: This paper reviews research into the potential environmental impacts of leakage from geological storage of CO2 since the publication of the IPCC Special Report on Carbon Dioxide Capture and Storage in 2005. Possible impacts are considered on onshore (including drinking water aquifers) and offshore ecosystems. The review does not consider direct impacts on man or other land animals from elevated atmospheric CO2 levels. Improvements in our understanding of the potential impacts have come directly from CO2 storage research but have also benefitted from studies of ocean acidification and other impacts on aquifers and onshore near surface ecosystems. Research has included observations at natural CO2 sites, laboratory and field experiments and modelling. Studies to date suggest that the impacts from many lower level fault- or well-related leakage scenarios are likely to be limited spatially and temporarily and recovery may be rapid. The effects are often ameliorated by mixing and dispersion of the leakage and by buffering and other reactions; potentially harmful elements have rarely breached drinking water guidelines. Larger releases, with potentially higher impact, would be possible from open wells or major pipeline leaks but these are of lower probability and should be easier and quicker to detect and remediate.

Description: Resolving drivers of spatial synchrony in marine species is fundamental for the management and conservation of deep-sea ecosystems. Here we examine an 11-year data set of monthly catches per unit of effort (CPUE) of the red-shrimp Aristeus antennatus. These data comprise 16 locations of two population subunits in the Western Mediterranean, the Catalan coast and the Balearic archipelago. The analysis of their seasonal covariation and its space-time structure showed small-scale geographical segregation of locations linked with the seasonal fluctuations of CPUE. Results further revealed that seasonal synchrony dominates at short spatial scales (ca. 50 km), while asynchrony prevails are broader spatial scales (ca. 200-300 km). This spatial pattern, however, varied over the period examined, although it was specific for each population subunit suggesting contrasting drivers of seasonal synchrony. The Balearic Islands, a patchier population subunit, displayed a seasonal synchrony pattern mainly dependent on biological and oceanographic processes at local scales. By contrast, in the Catalan coast, the pattern appeared related with regional-scale climate, which triggers spatial differences in the phenology of primary producers and the timing of food advection to the seabed. These cascading processes depicted by our investigation shed light on underlying mechanisms shaping the temporal synchrony of broadly distributed deep-sea populations.

Description: Highlights • A way to design a grid of sensor along the seafloor, with the purpose of detecting a leak, is presented. • The method relies site characterization, on local environmental statistics and on a detection threshold. • The method quantifies the probability of detecting a leak, and through an optimization procedure finds the optimal layout. • The cost function can be extended to include other constraints, such as cost or need to cover vulnerable areas. Abstract Monitoring of the marine environment for indications of a leak, or precursors of a leak, will be an intrinsic part of any subsea CO2 storage projects. A real challenge will be quantification of the probability of a given monitoring program to detect a leak and to design the program accordingly. The task complicates by the number of pathways to the surface, difficulties to estimate probabilities of leaks and fluxes, and predicting the fluctuating footprint of a leak. The objective is to present a procedure for optimizing the layout of a fixed array of chemical sensors on the seafloor, using the probability of detecting a leak as metric. A synthetic map from the North Sea is used as a basis for probable leakage points, while the spatial footprint is based on results from a General Circulation Model. Compared to an equally spaced array the probability of detecting a leak can be nearly doubled by an optimal placement of the available sensors. It is not necessarily best to place the first in the location of the highest probable leakage point, one sensor can monitor several potential leakage points. The need for a thorough baseline in order to reduce the detection threshold is shown.

Description: Highlights • Repeated 2D seismic reflection surveys map migration of CO2 in marine sediments. • CO2 is imaged as bright spots, acoustic blanking, and by reflector terminations. • Seismic chimneys are interpreted as inter-connected micro-scale fractures. • CO2 migration is controlled by stratigraphy and total subsurface gas volume/injection rate. • CO2 changes sediment acoustic properties, including reflectivity and attenuation. Abstract Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is a key technology to potentially mitigate global warming by reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from industrial facilities and power generation that escape into the atmosphere. To broaden the usage of geological storage as a viable climate mitigation option, it is vital to understand CO2 behaviour after its injection within a storage reservoir, including its potential migration through overlying sediments, as well as biogeochemical and ecological impacts in the event of leakage. The impacts of a CO2 release were investigated by a controlled release experiment that injected CO2 at a known flux into shallow, under-consolidated marine sediments for 37 days. Repeated high-resolution 2D seismic reflection surveying, both pre-release and syn-release, allows the detection of CO2-related anomalies, including: seismic chimneys; enhanced reflectors within the subsurface; and bubbles within the water column. In addition, reflection coefficient and seismic attenuation values calculated for each repeat survey, allow the impact of CO2 flux on sediment acoustic properties to be comparatively monitored throughout the gas release. CO2 migration is interpreted as being predominantly controlled by sediment stratigraphy in the early stages of the experiment. However, either the increasing flow rate, or the total injected volume become the dominant factors determining CO2 migration later in the experiment.

Description: The surface of the solid Earth is effectively stress free in its subaerial portions, and hydrostatic beneath the oceans. Unfortunately, this type of boundary condition is difficult to treat computationally, and for computational convenience, numerical models have often used simpler approximations that do not involve a normal stress-loaded, shear-stress free top surface that is free to move. Viscous flow models with a computational free surface typically confront stability problems when the time step is bigger than the viscous relaxation time. The small time step required for stability (〈2. Kyr) makes this type of model computationally intensive, so there remains a need to develop strategies that mitigate the stability problem by making larger (at least ~10 Kyr) time steps stable and accurate. Here we present a new free-surface stabilization algorithm for finite element codes which solves the stability problem by adding to the Stokes formulation an intrinsic penalization term equivalent to a portion of the future load at the surface nodes. Our algorithm is straightforward to implement and can be used with both Eulerian or Lagrangian grids. It includes α and β parameters to respectively control both the vertical and the horizontal slope-dependent penalization terms, and uses Uzawa-like iterations to solve the resulting system at a cost comparable to a non-stress free surface formulation. Four tests were carried out in order to study the accuracy and the stability of the algorithm: (1) a decaying first-order sinusoidal topography test, (2) a decaying high-order sinusoidal topography test, (3) a Rayleigh-Taylor instability test, and (4) a steep-slope test. For these tests, we investigate which α and β parameters give the best results in terms of both accuracy and stability. We also compare the accuracy and the stability of our algorithm with a similar implicit approach recently developed by Kaus et al. (2010). We find that our algorithm is slightly more accurate and stable for steep slopes, and also conclude that, for longer time steps, the optimal α controlling factor for both approaches is ~2/3, instead of the 1/2 Crank-Nicolson parameter inferred from a linearized accuracy analysis. This more-implicit value coincides with the velocity factor for a Galerkin time discretization applied to our penalization term using linear shape functions in time.

Description: A pollen record, obtained from sediments of Lake Sokoch in mountain interior of the Kamchatka Peninsula, covers the last ca. 9600. years (all ages are given in calibrated years BP). Variations in local components, including pollen, spores and non-pollen palynomorphs, and related changes in sedimentation document the lake development from initially seepage and shallow basin to deeper lake during the mid Holocene and then to the hydrologically open system during the late Holocene. The studies of volcanic ashes from the lake sediment core show their complex depositional histories.Lake Sokoch occupies a former proglacial basin between two terminal moraines of the LGM time. The undated basal part of record before ca. 9600. year BP, however, does not reflect properly cold conditions. At that time, although shrublands and tundra dominated, stone birch and white birch forests have already settled in surroundings; the presence of alder woodland indicates wet and maritime-like climate. The subsequent forest advance suggesting warmer conditions was interrupted by the ca. 8000-7600. year BP spell of cooler climate. The following culmination of warmth is bracketed by the evidence of the first maximal forest extent between ca. 7400 and 5100. year BP. During that time, dramatic retreat of alder forest suggests a turn from maritime-like to more continental climate conditions. The cool and wet pulse after ca. 5100. year BP was pronounced as forests retreat while shrublands, meadows and bogs extended. An expansion of white birch forest since ca. 3500. year BP reflected the onset of drier climate, strengthening continentality and seasonal contrast. The second maximum of forests dominated by both stone and white birches occurred between ca. 2200 and 1700. year BP and indicated warming in association with relatively dry and increasingly continental climate. The following period was wetter and cooler, and minor outbreak of alder forest around ca. 1500. year BP suggests a short-term return of maritime-like conditions. Since ca. 1300. year BP forests retreated and replaced by shrublands, tundra and bogs, pointing to cool and wet climate and likely increased back continentality. A prominent re-advance of stone birch forest shown atop the record, most probably reflects recent warming trend.The reconstructed cool periods correlate well with Holocene glacial advances in neighboring mountain areas and with the tree ring and ice core records from the Central Kamchatka Depression. The Lake Sokoch pollen record, being consistent with the previously obtained regional paleoclimatic data, yet contributes new detailed information, especially for the late Holocene.

Description: Thirteen sediment gravity cores from the seafloor around the southern Cape Verdean islands Fogo and Brava as well as the Cadamosto seamount recovered 43 mafic and 5 phonolitic Pleistocene to Holocene primary ash layers. Twelve of these layers could be identified in several cores; they evidently cover areas of at least 6200-17,650km2 corresponding to minimum tephra volumes of ~1km3 (Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) 5), and thus are attributed to eruptions of sub-Plinian to Plinian dimensions. Provenance analyses based on geochemical compositions and geological evidence link the mafic tephras to eruptions on Fogo island. The detailed foraminiferal δ18O stratigraphy of one core yields a high-resolution age scale that can be applied to other cores via correlated ash beds and background sediment intervals. Sedimentation rates of the background sediment then constrain ages of other ash beds in the cores. The resulting temporal distribution of the marine tephras indicates that relatively large magnitude, highly explosive eruptions occurred about every 3000years on Fogo during the last 150kyrs; during the past 30kyrs the rate has increased to one in 2000years. In addition, we identified a 117kyr old thick turbidite sequence containing both mafic and phonolitic ash. We interpret this as the deposit of density currents generated by the Monte Amarelo flank collapse on Fogo and its associated tsunami.On the other hand, only a single widespread phonolitic tephra layer (145. kyrs old) could be correlated to Brava island indicating that highly explosive activity, producing deposits spread widely beyond the island's shores, did not occur anymore over the last 145. kyrs. No equivalents of the caldera filling ignimbrites on Brava could be found in the cores and therefore we infer that the caldera formed earlier than the 155. ka reached by coring. Two widespread phonolitic tephra layers, 17. ka and 40. ka old, are correlated to the Cadamosto seamount and thus derived from eruptions that occurred at 〉. 1380. m water depths where thermal granulation producing blocky glass shards was a major fragmentation process. We interpret that these eruptions produced huge submarine volcanic ash-water plumes that spread widely across the seafloor.In conclusion, our marine tephrostratigraphy provides the first evidence of frequent highly explosive volcanic eruptions at the southwestern part of the Cape Verdes during the past 155. kyrs. A somewhat surprising result is that such large eruptions occurred much more frequently from mafic alkalic magmas at Fogo than from highly evolved phonolitic magmas on Brava.

Description: The oceans are a major sink for anthropogenic atmospheric carbon dioxide, and the uptake causes changes to the marine carbonate system and has wide ranging effects on flora and fauna. It is crucial to develop analytical systems that allow us to follow the increase in oceanic pCO(2) and corresponding reduction in pH. Miniaturised sensor systems using immobilised fluorescence indicator spots are attractive for this purpose because of their simple design and low power requirements. The technology is increasingly used for oceanic dissolved oxygen measurements. We present a detailed method on the use of immobilised fluorescence indicator spots to determine pH in ocean waters across the pH range 7.6-8.2. We characterised temperature (-0.046 pH/degrees C from 5 to 25 degrees C) and salinity dependences (-0.01 pH/psu over 5-35), and performed a preliminary investigation into the influence of chlorophyll on the pH measurement. The apparent pK(a) of the sensor spots was 6.93 at 20 degrees C. A drift of 0.00014 R (ca. 0.0004 pH, at 25 degrees C, salinity 35) was observed over a 3 day period in a laboratory based drift experiment. We achieved a precision of 0.0074 pH units, and observed a drift of 0.06 pH units during a test deployment of 5 week duration in the Southern Ocean as an under way surface ocean sensor, which was corrected for using certified reference materials. The temperature and salinity dependences were accounted for with the algorithm, R = (0.00034 - 0.17.pH + 0.15.S-2 + 0.0067.T - 0.0084.S) . 1.075. This study provides a first step towards a pH optode system suitable for autonomous deployment. The use of a short duration low power illumination (LED current 0.2 mA, 5 mu s illumination time) improved the lifetime and precision of the spot. Further improvements to the pH indicator spot operations include regular application of certified reference materials for drift correction and cross-calibration against a spectrophotometric pH system. Desirable future developments should involve novel fluorescence spots with improved response time and apparent pK(a) values closer to the pH of surface ocean waters.

Description: Highlights: • We test the effect of an invasive alien species on ecological quality assessment. • We calculate Benthic Quality Index for the coastal lagoon affected by zebra mussel. • Zebra mussel may modify benthic habitats enhancing local biodiversity. • This might bias BQI by showing false improvement of ecological status. • We suggest a framework how the bias in could be minimized. Abstract: Benthic component of an ecosystem is considered in ecological status assessment of the key European Directives. Most of the metrics proposed for the benthic quality assessment are biodiversity based. Their robustness and applicability are widely discussed in many recent studies. However an impact of invasive alien species on biotic indices and environmental quality assessments has been largely overlooked by researchers so far. In the current study we assessed Benthic Quality Index (BQI) in a coastal ecosystem, highly affected by the invasive zebra mussel Dreissena polymorpha. Zebra mussel is able of modifying benthic habitats and enhancing local biodiversity. In the analyzed ecosystem it affected benthic species richness, abundance and community structure. As a result the calculated BQI values were significantly higher in the presence of zebra mussel with evident outliers in samples with particularly high zebra mussel abundances. Therefore we found that BQI determined in our study was artificially elevated providing false signal of the ecological status improvement. Based on the results presented, we suggested data correction framework that has been tested on the current dataset and proved to be effective minimizing zebra mussel impact on BQI assessment. Our experience could be applied for other coastal ecosystems invaded by the zebra mussel or any other aquatic invasive species with resembling biological traits and bioinvasion impacts.

Description: The Alboran Sea is the westernmost ecoregion of the Mediterranean Sea. It is located in the vicinity of Strait of Gibraltar, the only natural connection of the Mediterranean Sea with global circulation. This ecoregion presents steep and highly variable environmental gradients, thus acting as a natural filter for Mediterranean and Atlantic species. This study aimed to analyse spatial patterns of littoral and upper sublittoral communities and their relationship with oceanographic conditions and coastal geomorphology, and to quantify littoral and upper sublittoral rocky shore communities at landscape scale. The results suggest that oceanographic conditions are the main factor to explain landscape patterns along the studied area, while geomorphological features should be related with local-scale variability. In this sense, three biogeographic subregions, matching with oceanographic patterns, were identified: western, central and eastern. These subregions showed significant differences in the structure and the composition of the littoral and upper sublittoral community, which can be explained by regional oceanographic dynamics. Posidonia oceanica, Cystoseira ericaefolia group and Mytilus spp. were the species that most contributed to landscape dissimilarity between the three subregions identified. The central oceanographic region, where the environmental conditions were more variable, showed the poorer and less differentiated flora, suggesting the existence of a divergent boundary between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea.

Description: Only two species of crustacean Cumacea have been reported in publications for the Kuril–Kamchatka Trench area after nine expeditions on board of the RV “Vityaz”. During the KuramBio expedition 2012 to the Kuril–Kamchatka Trench and the adjacent abyssal plain at depths 4830–5780 m no less than 72 species of cumaceans from 23 genera and 6 families were sampled. Five genera were recorded for the first time in the studied region: the genera Pseudoleptostyloides and Platycuma were detected for the first time for the Pacific Ocean; Cyclaspoides, Bathylamprops and Styloptocuma were firstly sampled in North Pacific. About 90% of the sampled species appear to be new to science. Three new deep-sea cumacean species and one new genus from the Kurile Kamchatka area are described in the present paper: Abyssoleucon tzarevae gen. n., sp. n. belonging to the family Leuconidae, Cyclaspoides borisovetsi sp. n. and Bathycuma sonne sp. n. of the family Bodotriidae. A distribution map for the species of the genus Cyclaspoides is provided.

Description: Highlights • Analysis of crystallographic preferred orientations of high-pressure polymineralic rocks by time-of-flight neutron diffraction • Elastic properties of a complete set of subduction channel rocks calculated from their crystallographic preferred orientation • Vp/Vs ratio and P-wave anisotropy of eclogites and metasediments • Influence of eclogite retrogression during exhumation on their elastic properties • Evaluation of the seismic signature of both clastic and carbonate sediments in subduction channels Abstract Crystallographic preferred orientations (CPO) of rocks from an exhumed subduction channel of the Alpine orogen were determined using time-of-flight neutron diffraction. This method allows the investigation of large polymineralic samples and, more importantly, the application of full pattern fit methods to constrain CPOs of mineralogically complex rocks. Samples studied include intensely deformed fresh and retrogressed eclogites, as well as metasediments, which are interleaved with the eclogites in the subduction channel. From the CPO, seismic properties of the samples were calculated. P- wave anisotropies of the eclogite samples are fairly low, with an average of about 1.5%, and mainly constrained by pronounced omphacite CPO. Growth and deformation of retrograde amphibole in the eclogites also led to a pronounced CPO, which has a large impact on seismic anisotropies by raising them to up to 3.7% and changing the orientations of velocity maxima. Elastic anisotropies of the subducted metasediments are higher (up to 7.4%) and constrained by quartz and mica CPO in clastics and by calcite CPO in marble. VP/VS ratios may help to distinguish fresh eclogites from retrogressed ones, and both rock types from mantle peridotites of downgoing lithospheric slabs in seismic imaging. Our data also indicate that subducted terrigenous sediments are not only strongly anisotropic, but also have low VP/VS ratios. This way there may be potential to image them by seismic tomography at depth in active subduction channels.

Description: Highlights • Seawater Hf–Nd–Pb isotopic evolution in the deep Arctic Ocean of the past 7 Myr. • Climatically driven changes in weathering inputs since 4 Ma. • North American (Laurentide Ice Sheet) runoff controlled the isotopic budget in the Canada Basin. • More congruent Hf release due to glacial weathering conditions. • Past Arctic Ocean water masses show larger isotopic differences than today. Abstract We present the first continuous records of dissolved radiogenic neodymium, hafnium, and lead isotope compositions of deep waters in the western Arctic Ocean, spanning the time from the late Miocene to the present. The data were obtained from three hydrogenetic ferromanganese (Fe–Mn) crusts recovered from seamounts along the northernmost edge of the Northwind Ridge in the Canada Basin from water depths of 2200, 2400, and 3600 m. Dating the crusts using cosmogenic 10Be documents undisturbed present-day growth surfaces and yields growth rates between 27 and 2.2 mm/Myr. The Nd (Hf) isotope time series of the three crusts show similar evolutions from εNdεNd(εHf)(εHf) of −8.5 (+4) in the oldest parts to −11.5 (−4) at the surfaces and a pronounced trend to less radiogenic values starting at ∼4 Ma. This coincided with a trend of the Pb isotope evolution towards more radiogenic 206Pb/204Pb, 207Pb/204Pb, and 208Pb/204Pb. It is inferred that climatically controlled changes in weathering regime and sediment transport along the North American continent were responsible for the major change of the radiogenic isotope composition of the Arctic Deep Water (ADW) in the Canada Basin. Based on these records we conclude that weathering inputs from the North American continent linked to enhanced glacial conditions started to increase and to influence the radiogenic isotope composition of ADW ∼4 million years ago and were further intensified at ∼1 Ma. These new time series differ markedly from the radiogenic isotope evolution of Arctic Intermediate Water recorded on the Lomonosov Ridge and suggest that much larger isotopic differences between the water masses of the Arctic Ocean than today prevailed in the past.

Description: The key for understanding the trace metal inventory of currently explored VHMS deposits lies in the understanding of trace element distribution during the formation of these deposits on the seafloor. Recrystallization processes already occurring at the seafloor might liberate trace elements to later hydrothermal alteration and removement. To investigate the distribution and redistribution of trace elements we analyzed sulfide minerals from 27 black smoker samples derived from three different seafloor hydrothermal fields: the ultramafic-hosted Logatchev hydrothermal field on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, the basaltic-hosted Turtle Pits field on the mid-atlantic ridge, and the felsic-hosted PACMANUS field in the Manus basin (Papua New Guinea). The sulfide samples were analyzed by mineral liberation analyser for the modal abundances of sulfide minerals, by electron microprobe for major elements and by laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry for As, Sb, Se, Te, and Au. The samples consist predominantly of chalcopyrite, sphalerite, pyrite, galena and minor isocubanite as well as inclusions of tetrahedrite–tennantite. Laser ablation spectra were used to evaluate the solubility limits of trace elements in different sulfide minerals at different textures. The solubility of As, Sb, and Au in pyrite decreases with increasing degree of recrystallization. When solubility limits are reached these elements occur as inclusions in the different sulfide phases or they are expelled from the mineral phase. Most ancient VHMS deposits represent felsic or bimodal felsic compositions. Samples from the felsic-hosted PACMANUS hydrothermal field at the Pual ridge (Papua New Guinea) show high concentrations of Pb, As, Sb, Bi, Hg, and Te, which is likely the result of an additional trace element contribution derived from magmatic volatiles. Co-precipitating pyrite and chalcopyrite are characterized by equal contents of Te, while chalcopyrite that replaced pyrite (presumably during black smoker growth) is enriched in Te relative to pyrite. These higher Te concentrations may be related to higher fluid temperature.

Description: Highlights • Okhotsk Sea benthic foraminifera reveal analogy between two climatic cycles. • OMZ disappeared during glacial latest MIS 12 and latest MIS 2. • OMZ gradually intensified during TV and TI forced by close rises of sea level. • OMZ weakened during full interglacial times of MIS 11c and MIS 1. • Carbonate dissolution events appeared during MIS 11c only. Abstract Benthic foraminiferal assemblage compositions, foraminiferal and sedimentological proxies were analyzed in core MD01-2415 from the northern slope of the Okhotsk Sea to compare variations of productivity and oxygen minimum zone (OMZ) intensity during the latest marine isotope stage (MIS) 12–11c and latest MIS 2–1. The benthic assemblages reveal close similarity between the two climatic cycles. The absence of benthic assemblages during the latest MIS 12 and the presence of the low-productivity Angulogerina angulosa assemblage during the latest MIS 2 suggest the disappearance of the OMZ. This regime was related to almost perennial ice cover with periods of active ice rafting during the latest MIS 12, while it was attributed to prolonged seasonal ice cover, low surface productivity and enhanced formation of well-oxygenated water masses in the Okhotsk Sea during the latest MIS 2. In deglacial times, the OMZ gradually intensified, as evidenced by the high-productivity Uvigerina akitaensis assemblage during the early termination (T) TV and early TI and the low oxygen-tolerant Bolivina spissa assemblage during the late TV and late TI. The orbitally forced similar rises of the global sea level during TV and TI caused a large offshore supply of organic matter. Synchronously, nutrients from the melting sea ice and shelf erosion promoted high surface (mainly carbonate) productivity. As a result, a high and sustained flux of particulate, degraded and refractory organic matter enhanced oxygen consumption in bottom waters and sediments, leading to the similar gradual OMZ intensifications. The B. spissa assemblage also points to expansion of oxygen-depleted water mass from the North Pacific into the Okhotsk Sea, fostering the OMZ intensifications. The phytodetritus-related Islandiella norcrossi assemblage indicates weakening of the OMZ during full interglacial times of MIS 11c and MIS 1. After stabilization of the global sea level, nutrients were mainly delivered by regional upwelling and fluvial discharge, favoring increased biogenic opal and carbonate production in the surface water, similar to the present. In this way, moderate to high (although less than deglacial) and pulsed flux of predominantly particulate organic matter caused the weakening of the oxygen consumption and OMZ. Notably, during MIS 11c, the benthic assemblage with the dominance of the taxa with dissolution-resistant tests, such as Miliammina herzensteini, Karreriella baccata and Martinottiella communis, reflects carbonate dissolution events in sediments. These events might have been resulted from an interruption of the local surface carbonate production and inflow of more carbonate-corrosive water masses from the North Pacific driven by a drawdown of the global ocean carbonate saturation.

Description: In marine recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) ozone is often used in combination with biofiltration for the improvement of process water quality. Especially for disinfection purposes ozone residuals are required, that lead to a fast formation of secondary oxidants in seawater, summed up as ozone-produced oxidants (OPO). We studied the impact of OPO on nitrifying biofilter bacteria in a series of laboratory batch experiments by exposing (i) cell suspensions of the ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) Nitrosomonas marina strain 22 and the nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB) Nitrospira strain Ecomares 2.1, (ii) a pure culture of the NOB Nitrospira strain immobilized on biocarriers, as well as (iii) a heterogeneous biofilm culture settled on biocarriers from a marine RAS for 1 h to different OPO concentrations up to 0.6 mg/l chlorine equivalent. Subsequent activity tests detected a negative linear correlation between OPO concentration and nitrifying activity of suspended pure cultures. Immobilization on biocarriers increased the tolerance of AOB and NOB dramatically, suggesting the biofilm matrix to be highly protective against OPO. Furthermore, we investigated the chronic effect of moderate ozonation at OPO concentrations of 0, 0.05, 0.10 and 0.15 mg/l chlorine equivalent on biofilter performance in a 21 d exposure experiment using 12 experimental RAS, stocked with tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Chronic exposure experiments could not reveal any harmful impact on biofilter performance for OPO concentrations up to 0.15 mg/l, even at continuous exposure. Surprisingly, nitrifying activity was enhanced at all OPO concentrations compared to the control without ozonation, suggesting moderate ozonation to promote biological nitrification. It can be concluded that rather health, welfare and performance of most cultivated fish species are the limiting factors for ozone dosage than nitrification performance of biofilters. The results may further have practical implications in relation to design and operational strategy of water treatment processes in RAS and might thus contribute to the optimization of an effective and safe treatment combination of biofiltration and ozonation

Description: Vertical distributions of iron (Fe) concentrations and isotopes were determined in the total dissolvable and dissolved pools in the water column at three coastal stations located along the Peruvian margin, in the core of the Oxygen Minimum Zone (OMZ). The shallowest station 121 (161 m total water depth) was characterized by lithogenic input from the continental plateau, yielding concentrations as high as 456 nM in the total dissolvable pool. At the 2 other stations (stations 122 and 123), Fe concentrations of dissolved and total dissolvable pools exhibited maxima in both surface and deep layers. Fe isotopic composition (δ56Fe) showed a fractionation toward lighter values for both physical pools throughout the water column for all stations with minimum values observed for the surface layer (between −0.64 and −0.97‰ at 10–20 m depth) and deep layer (between −0.03 and −1.25‰ at 160–300 m depth). An Fe isotope budget was established to determine the isotopic composition of the particulate pool. We observed a range of δ56Fe values for particulate Fe from +0.02 to −0.87‰, with lightest values obtained at water depth above 50 m. Such light values in the both particulate and dissolved pools suggest sources other than atmospheric dust deposition in the surface ocean, including lateral transport of isotopically light Fe. Samples collected at station 122 closest to the sediment show the lightest isotope composition in the dissolved and the particulate pools (−1.25 and −0.53‰ respectively) and high Fe(II) concentrations (14.2 ± 2.1 nM) consistent with a major reductive benthic Fe sources that is transferred to the ocean water column. A simple isotopic model is proposed to link the extent of Fe(II) oxidation and the Fe isotope composition of both particulate and dissolved Fe pools. This study demonstrates that Fe isotopic composition in OMZ regions is not only affected by the relative contribution of reductive and non-reductive shelf sediment input but also by seawater-column processes during the transport and oxidation of Fe from the source region to open seawater.

Description: Highlights: • Microplastic fragments were found in gills, stomach and hepatopancreas of Uca rapax. • Retention was not influenced by fragment preweathering and fragment abundance. • Presence of microplastics in organs shows their potential to harm marine organisms. Abstract: Microplastics, which are accumulating in marine sediments, are assumed to pose a risk for deposit feeding invertebrates. We tested whether the fiddler crab Uca rapax ingests and retains microplastics in its body. Furthermore, we investigated whether retention rates depend on (a) the quality of the marine environment in which the plastics were pre-weathered and on (b) their abundance. For this, polystyrene pellets were submersed at a polluted and a pristine site near Niterói, Brazil, for 2 weeks. Then specimens of U. rapax were, in laboratory experiments, exposed to fragments (180–250 μm) derived from these pellets for 2 months. After this period, microplastics were observed in the gills, stomach and hepatopancreas of the animals. However, fragment retention was not influenced by the two factors that we manipulated. The presence of microplastics in different organs of the crab supports the assumption that these particles have the potential to harm marine invertebrates.

Description: Highlights: • Acclimation of Fucus vesiculosus under a highly resolved temperature gradient. • Fucus vesiculosus exhibits a broad temperature optimum for growth from 10 to 24 °C. • Upper survival temperature of Fucus vesiculosus is between 26 and 27 °C. • Optimal temperature for photosynthesis is higher compared to that for growth. • Fucus in the Baltic Sea may become a “loser” under increasing temperatures. Abstract: Seaweeds provide important ecosystem services in coastal areas, and loss of these macrophytes due to anthropogenic global change and warming is a worldwide concern. Fucus vesiculosus L. (Phaeophyceae) is the most abundant and hence ecologically most important primary producer, carbon sink and habitat provider in the western Baltic Sea. Therefore, we used this keystone species to test phenotypic acclimation of physiological performance traits (growth, photosynthesis and metabolites) of F. vesiculosus apices in a well-defined and highly resolved temperature gradient (5–29 °C), supported by highly temporally resolved measurements. Temperature requirements of growth and photosynthesis were evaluated in three weeks exposure experiments, and changing tolerance ranges for survival over time were determined. Fucus vesiculosus was able to grow and survive over a temperature range from 5 to 26 °C without any injury or visible damage of the apical growing meristem over all three weeks. However, at higher water temperatures (≥ 27 °C) growth rapidly decreased from day three onwards and progressive necrosis was observed at 28 and 29 °C. Stress-induced decrease in growth rate was already indicated by the effective quantum yield of chlorophyll fluorescence of photosystem II (PSII) several days in advance. Optimal temperature for photosynthesis (24 °C), measured as electron transport rate, was higher compared to that for growth (15–20 °C). Accordingly, the concentration of mannitol, the main product of photosynthesis, increased with higher temperatures. Understanding physiological responses of keystone macroalgae with respect to temperature and time is important, because rising global temperatures and summer heat wave frequencies and duration may affect the ecological functions of F. vesiculosus in the western Baltic Sea.

Description: Highlights: • Two new phonolitic tephra units complementing the two previously known. • First radiometric ages of the CGF. • Contemporaneously evolution of the CGF and the Tope de Coroa. • Marine correlations improve tephra volume estimations for CG I and II. Abstract: The Cão Grande Formation (CGF) on the western plateau of Santo Antão Island is part of the younger volcanic sequence that originated from both, basanitic and nephelinitic magmatic suites, respectively called COVA and COROA suites. Based on our detailed revised stratigraphy of the CGF, including two yet unknown tephra units, we can show that both suites produced multiple, highly differentiated eruptions over a contemporaneous period. Correlations of CGF tephras with marine ash layers provide distal dispersal data for Cão Grande I (CG I) and also identify two highly explosive, phonolitic eruptions that pre-date the CGF tephra deposits known on land. Within the CGF, the lowermost, 220±7 ka old unit Canudo Tephra (CT; COVA suite) comprises phonolitic fall deposits and ignimbrites; it is partly eroded and overlain by debris flow deposits marking a hiatus in highly differentiated eruptions. The phonolitic CG I Tephra (COROA suite) consists of an initial major plinian fall deposit and associated ignimbrite and terminal surge deposits. This is immediately overlain by the phonolitic to phono-tephritic Cão Grande II (CG II; COVA suite), a complex succession of numerous fallout layers and density-current deposits. CG I and CG II have radiometric ages of 106±3 ka and 107±15 ka, respectively, that are identical within their error limits. The youngest CGF unit, the Furninha Tephra (FT; COROA suite), consists of three foidic-phonolitic fall deposits interbedded with proximal scoria deposits from a different vent. The phonolitic eruptions switched to and fro between both magmatic suites, in each case with a stronger first followed by a weaker second eruption. Each eruption evolved from stable to unstable eruption columns. During their terminal phases, both magma systems also leaked evolved dome-forming lavas next to the tephras. Distal ashes increase the CG I tephra volume to ~ 10 km3, about twice the previously published estimate. The tephra volume of CG II is ~ 3 km3; CT and FT are too poorly exposed for volume estimation. The characteristics of the CGF tephra units outline hazard conditions that may be expected from future evolved explosive eruptions on the western plateau of Santo Antão.

Description: Highlights • Melt inclusions from Klyuchevskoy were homogenized at 1150 °C and PH2O=500 MPaPH2O=500 MPa. • High-P experiments can recover initial H2O and CO2 contents in dehydrated inclusions. • Isothermal (de)hydration results in linear trend of CO2 and H2O in inclusion glasses. • Parental Klyuchevskoy magmas contain ∼3800 ppm CO2 and 4–5 wt.% H2O. • At least 80% of CO2 is slab-derived in the Klyuchevskoy magmas with CO2/Nb ∼3000. Abstract Reliable evaluation of CO2 contents in parental arc magmas, which can be preserved in melt inclusions in phenocrysts, is required to verify the proposed efficiency of CO2 recycling at convergent margins. Quantification of bulk CO2 concentration in melt inclusions requires their complete homogenization. Using samples from lavas from the Bulochka vent of Klyuchevskoy Volcano (Kamchatka), we applied a novel experimental approach to homogenize and re-equilibrate naturally dehydrated (〈1 wt.% H2O) melt inclusions from high-Fo (85–91 mol.%) olivine. The experiments were performed at temperatures of 1150–1400 °C, pressures of up to 500 MPa, under dry to H2O-saturated conditions and with oxygen fugacity ranging from CCO to QFM+3.3. No homogenization was achieved at dry conditions. Complete dissolution of fluid bubbles (homogenization) in the melt inclusions was achieved at H2O pressures of 500 MPa and temperature of 1150 °C, when water content in the melt inclusions reached 4–5 wt.% H2O. The CO2 content in the homogenized inclusions is 3800±140 ppm3800±140 ppm and CO2/Nb = 3000 ± 420, which are the highest values reported so far for the typical middle-K primitive arc melts and fall within the range of values inferred from the magmatic flux and volcanic gas data for primary arc magma compositions. About 83% of the CO2 in Klyuchevskoy magmas is likely to be derived from the subducting slab and can be attributed to flux melting with a fluid having a CO2/H2O ratio of ∼0.06. The H2O and CO2 contents in the melt inclusions after hydrous experiments were found to correlate positively with each other and negatively with the volume of fluid bubble, reflecting increasing internal pressure in melt inclusions with increasing melt hydration. Therefore, similar trends observed in some natural sets of melt inclusions can be attributed to a partial dehydration of melts after entrapment, operating simultaneously with or following post-entrapment crystallization. Our study implies that the process of post-entrapment dehydration can be completely reversed under high pressure experimental conditions. If temperature, redox conditions and pressure of melt inclusion entrapment can be independently estimated, then our novel experimental approach (homogenization at high H2O pressure) can be used to reconstruct the initial CO2 content and also the entire composition of melt inclusions in olivine, including their initial H2O content, from any type of volcanic rock. With this approach volatiles in ancient lavas can also be determined, expanding our knowledge of volatile recycling further back in Earth history.

Description: Highlights: • Larval fish assemblages echo hydrographic seasons in the northern Persian Gulf. • Depth preferences separate the habitat use of dominant fish larvae family. • The Khark and Kharko marine protected area is a spawning centre in the region. Abstract: We examined the habitat use of fish larvae in the northern Persian Gulf from July 2006 to June 2007. Correspondence Analysis showed significant differences between hydrological seasons in habitat use and structure of larval fish assemblages, while no differences were found regarding abundance among coralline and non-coralline habitats. The observed configuration resulted in part from seasonal reproductive patterns of dominant fish influencing the ratio pelagic:demersal spawned larvae. The ratio increased along with temperature and chlorophyll-a concentration, which likely fostered the reproduction of pelagic spawner fish. The close covariation with temperature throughout hydrographic seasons suggests a leading role of temperature in the seasonal structure of larvae assemblages. Our results provide new insights on fish larval ecology in a traditionally sub-sampled and highly exposed zone to anthropogenic pollution, the northern Persian Gulf, and highlight the potential role of Khark and Kharko Islands in conservation and fishery management in the area.

Description: Highlights • The dynamics of leaked bubble plumes are analysed from the QICS experiment. • Bubble distribution and interaction sub-models validated against experimental data. • Interactions bring simulation results closer to that experienced in the experiment. • Improved small scale two phase model applied to simulate the full QICS experiment. • Limitations from neglecting both topography and the CO2 solution leaked from seabed. Abstract An oceanic two-phase plume model is developed to include bubble size distribution and bubble interactions, applied to the prediction of CO2 bubble plume and CO2 solution dynamics observed from the recent QICS field experiment in the Scottish sea at Ardmucknish Bay. Observations show bubbles form at between 2 and 12 mm in diameter, where the inclusion of the interactions within the simulations brings results of bubble plumes closer to that of the experiment. Under a given leakage flux, simulations show that the bubble size affects the maximum pCO2 dissolved in the water column, while the bubble interactions affect the vertical bubble distribution. The maximum modelled pCO2 increases from a background 360 μatm to 400, 427 and 443 μatm as CO2 injection rates increase from 80, 170 to 208 kg/day respectively at low tide. An increase of the leakage rate to 100% of the injection rate shows the maximum pCO2 could be 713 μatm, approaching the mean pCO2 observed of 740 μatm during the high leakage component of the experiment, suggesting that the flux may be greater than estimated due to the varied flux and activity across the pockmarks during the leakages.

Description: Highlights • Shelf sediment iron source concentrated around coastal margins. • No large iron flux from sediments on shallow submerged plateaus in the open ocean. • Horizontal advection of iron more important than upwelling of iron at ocean fronts. • Western boundary currents major supply mechanism of iron for Sub-Antarctic Zone. Abstract Primary productivity is limited by the availability of iron over large areas of the global ocean. Changes in the supply of iron to these regions could have major impacts on primary productivity and the carbon cycle. However, source regions and supply mechanisms of iron to the global oceans remain poorly constrained. Shelf sediments are considered one of the largest sources of dissolved iron to the global ocean, and a large shelf sediment iron flux is prescribed in many biogeochemical models over all areas of bathymetry shallower than 1000 m. Here, we infer the likely location of shelf sediment iron sources in the Southern Ocean, by identifying where satellite chlorophyll concentrations are enhanced over shallow bathymetry (〈1000 m). We further compare chlorophyll concentrations with the position of ocean fronts, to assess the relative role of horizontal advection and upwelling for supplying iron to the ocean surface. We show that mean annual chlorophyll concentrations are not visibly enhanced over areas of shallow bathymetry that are located more than 500 km from a coastline. Mean annual chlorophyll concentrations 〉2 mg m−3 are only found within 50 km of a continental or island coastline. These results suggest that sedimentary iron sources only exist on continental and island shelves. Large sedimentary iron fluxes do not seem present on seamounts and submerged plateaus. Large chlorophyll blooms develop where the western boundary currents detach from the continental shelves, and turn eastward into the Sub-Antarctic Zone. Chlorophyll concentrations are enhanced along contours of sea surface height extending off the continental shelves, as shown by the trajectories of virtual water parcels in satellite altimetry data. These analyses support the hypothesis that bioavailable iron from continental shelves is entrained into western boundary currents, and advected into the Sub-Antarctic Zone along the Dynamical Subtropical Front. Our results indicate that upwelling at fronts in the open ocean is unlikely to deliver iron to the ocean surface from deep sources. Finally, we hypothesise how a reduction in sea level may have altered the distribution of shelf sediment iron sources in the Southern Ocean and increased export production over the Sub-Antarctic Zone during glacial intervals.

Description: Highlights • Sub-seabed release of CO2 reduced macrofaunal diversity, abundance and biomass. • Impacts were only detectable in the area of active CO2 leakage, primarily where bubbling was observed. • Community recovery was rapid once leakage had stopped. • Natural seasonal variability was seen in reference areas with additional evidence of natural disturbances (storms). Abstract A sub-seabed release of carbon dioxide (CO2) was conducted to assess the potential impacts of leakage from sub-seabed geological CO2 Capture and Storage CCS) on benthic macrofauna. CO2 gas was released 12 m below the seabed for 37 days, causing significant disruption to sediment carbonate chemistry. Regular macrofauna samples were collected from within the area of active CO2 leakage (Zone 1) and in three additional reference areas, 25 m, 75 m and 450 m from the centre of the leakage (Zones 2, 3 and 4 respectively). Macrofaunal community structure changed significantly in all zones during the study period. However, only the changes in Zone 1 were driven by the CO2 leakage with the changes in reference zones appearing to reflect natural seasonal succession and stochastic weather events. The impacts in Zone 1 occurred rapidly (within a few days), increased in severity through the duration of the leak, and continued to worsen after the leak had stopped. Considerable macrofaunal recovery was seen 18 days after the CO2 gas injection had stopped. In summary, small short-term CCS leakage events are likely to cause highly localised impacts on macrofaunal communities and there is the potential for rapid recovery to occur, depending on the characteristics of the communities and habitats impacted.

Description: Copepods belong to the dominant marine zooplankton taxa and play an important role in particle and energy fluxes of the marine water column. Their mandibular gnathobases possess tooth-like structures, so-called teeth. In species feeding on large proportions of diatoms these teeth often contain silica, which is very probably the result of a coevolution with the siliceous diatom frustules. Detailed knowledge of the morphology and composition of the siliceous teeth is essential for understanding their functioning and their significance in the context of feeding interactions between copepods and diatoms. Based on analyses of the gnathobases of the Antarctic copepod Rhincalanus gigas, the present study clearly shows, for the first time, that the silica in the siliceous teeth features large proportions of crystalline silica that is consistent with the mineral α-cristobalite and is doped with aluminium. The siliceous structures have internal chitinous fibre networks, which are assumed to serve as scaffolds during the silicification process. The compact siliceous teeth of R. gigas are accompanied by structures with large proportions of the elastic protein resilin, likely reducing the mechanical damage of the teeth when the copepods feed on diatoms with very stable frustules. The results indicate that the coevolution with diatom frustules has resulted in gnathobases exhibiting highly sophisticated composite structures.

Description: Highlights • A unique and novel CO2 release experiment in the marine environment. • Field-scale simulated leak of CO2 gas from a carbon capture and storage facility. • Experimental design and set-up for the QICS experiment, conducted during the summer of 2012. Abstract Carbon capture and storage is a mitigation strategy that can be used to aid the reduction of anthropogenic CO2 emissions. This process aims to capture CO2 from large point-source emitters and transport it to a long-term storage site. For much of Europe, these deep storage sites are anticipated to be sited below the sea bed on continental shelves. A key operational requirement is an understanding of best practice of monitoring for potential leakage and of the environmental impact that could result from a diffusive leak from a storage complex. Here we describe a controlled CO2 release experiment beneath the seabed, which overcomes the limitations of laboratory simulations and natural analogues. The complex processes involved in setting up the experimental facility and ensuring its successful operation are discussed, including site selection, permissions, communications and facility construction. The experimental design and observational strategy are reviewed with respect to scientific outcomes along with lessons learnt in order to facilitate any similar future.

Description: Highlights • The CO2 bubbles leaked from QICS exp. are detected at diameters from 3 to 12 mm. • Velocities of leaked bubbles are at 20–45 cm/s. • Breakup and coalescence of bubbles are detected by a high-speed camera. • The dynamics of leaked bubbles are analysed in terms of Eötvös and Reynolds numbers. Abstract The dynamic characteristics of CO2 bubbles in Scottish seawater are investigated through observational data obtained from the QICS project. Images of the leaked CO2 bubble plume rising in the seawater were captured. This observation made it possible to discuss the dynamics of the CO2 bubbles in plumes leaked in seawater from the sediments. Utilising ImageJ, an image processing program, the underwater recorded videos were analysed to measure the size and velocity of the CO2 bubbles individually. It was found that most of the bubbles deform to non-spherical bubbles and the measured equivalent diameters of the CO2 bubbles observed near the sea bed are to be between 2 and 12 mm. The data processed from the videos showed that the velocities of 75% of the leaked CO2 bubbles in the plume are in the interval 25–40 cm/s with Reynolds numbers (Re) 500–3500, which are relatively higher than those of an individual bubble in quiescent water. The drag coefficient Cd is compared with numerous laboratory investigations, where agreement was found between the laboratory and the QICS experimental results with variations mainly due to the plume induced vertical velocity component of the seawater current and the interactions between the CO2 bubbles (breakup and coalescence). The breakup of the CO2 bubbles has been characterised and defined by Eötvös number, Eo, and Re.

Description: The cellular mechanisms of calcification in sea urchin larvae are still not well understood. Primary mesenchyme cells within the larval body cavity form a syncytium to secrete CaCO3 spicules from intracellular amorphous CaCO3 (ACC) stores. We studied the role of Na+K+2Cl− cotransporter (NKCC) in intracellular ACC accumulation and larval spicule formation of Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis. First, we incubated growing larvae with three different loop diuretics (azosemide, bumetanide, and furosemide) and established concentration-response curves. All loop diuretics were able to inhibit calcification already at concentrations that specifically inhibit NKCC. Calcification was most effectively inhibited by azosemide (IC50 = 6.5 μM), while larval mortality and swimming ability were not negatively impacted by the treatment. The inhibition by bumetanide (IC50 = 26.4 μM) and furosemide (IC50 = 315.4 μM) resembled the pharmacological fingerprint of the mammalian NKCC1 isoform. We further examined the effect of azosemide on the maintenance of cytoplasmic cords and on the occurrence of calcification vesicles using fluorescent dyes (calcein, FM1-43). Fifty micromolars of azosemide inhibited the maintenance of cytoplasmic cords and resulted in increased calcein fluorescence within calcification vesicles. The expression of NKCC in S. droebachiensis was verified by PCR and Western blot with a specific NKCC antibody. In summary, the pharmacological profile of loop diuretics and their specific effects on calcification in sea urchin larvae suggest that they act by inhibition of NKCC via repression of cytoplasmic cord formation and maintenance.

Description: Highlights • Field-scale sub-seabed release experiment to simulate leakage from CO2 reservoir. • CO2 induces pronounced changes in pore water geochemistry. • Dissolution of minerals as a result of increased dissolved CO2 concentrations. • Changes in pore water geochemistry are transient and spatially restricted. • Levels of released metals are low and likely to have minor impact on benthic ecosystems. Abstract The potential for leakage of CO2 from a storage reservoir into the overlying marine sediments and into the water column and the impacts on benthic ecosystems are major challenges associated with carbon capture and storage (CCS) in subseafloor reservoirs. We have conducted a field-scale controlled CO2 release experiment in shallow, unconsolidated marine sediments, and documented the changes to the chemical composition of the sediments, their pore waters and overlying water column before, during and up to 1 year after the 37-day long CO2 release. Increased levels of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) were detected in the pore waters close to the sediment-seawater interface in sediments sampled closest to the subsurface injection point within 5 weeks of the start of the CO2 release. Highest DIC concentrations (28.8 mmol L−1, compared to background levels of 2.4 mmol L−1) were observed 6 days after the injection had stopped. The high DIC pore waters have high total alkalinity, and low δ13CDIC values (−20‰, compared to a background value of −2‰), due to the dissolution of the injected CO2 (δ13C = −26.6‰). The high DIC pore waters have enhanced concentrations of metals (including Ca, Fe, Mn) and dissolved silicon, relative to non-DIC enriched pore waters, indicating that dissolution of injected CO2 promotes dissolution of carbonate and silicate minerals. However, in this experiment, the pore water metal concentrations did not exceed levels considered to be harmful to the environment. The spatial extent of the impact of the injected CO2 in the sediments and pore waters was restricted to an area within 25 m of the injection point, and no impact was observed in the overlying water column. Concentrations of all pore water constituents returned to background values within 18 days after the CO2 injection was stopped.

Description: Highlights: • We present new active and passive seismological data offshore Maule, Chile. • We discuss the outer rise seismicity and Vp, Vs and Poisson's ratio models. • We compare our results with published data available in the area and with bathymetric features. • We confirm hydration of the upper oceanic lithosphere and partial serpentinization of the upper mantle. We have studied the dependency between incoming plate structure, bending-related faulting, lithospheric hydration, and outer rise seismic activity offshore Maule, Chile. We derived a 2D Poisson's ratio distribution from P- and S-wave seismic wide angle data collected in the trench-outer rise. High values of Poisson's ratio in the uppermost mantle suggest that the oceanic lithosphere is highly hydrated due to the water infiltration through bending-related normal faults outcropping at the seafloor. This process is presumably facilitated by the presence of a seamount in the area. We conclude that water infiltrates deep into the lithosphere, when it approaches the Chile trench, producing a reduction of crustal and upper mantle velocities, supporting serpentinization of the upper mantle. Further, we observed a mantle Vp anisotropy of 8%, with the fast velocity axis running normal to the abyssal hill fabric and hence in spreading direction, indicating that outer rise processes have yet not affected anisotropy.The first weeks following the megatrust Mw = 8.8 Maule earthquake in 2010 were characterized by a sudden increase of the outer rise seismic activity, located between 34° S and 35°30' S. We concluded that this phenomenon is a result of an intensification of the water infiltration process in the outer rise, presumably triggered by the main shock, whose epicenter was located some 100 km to the south east of the cluster.