ALBERT

Description: Inhaltsübersicht : Helmut Keupp & Daria Ivanova: Calcareous dinoflagellate cysts from the Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous of the Western Forebalkan, Bulgaria … 3-31 ; Helmut Keupp & Rolf Kohring: Kalkige Dinoflagellatenzysten aus dem Obermiozän (NN 11 ) W von Rethimnon (Kreta) … 33-53 ; Dimitris Frydas, Helmut Keupp & Spyridon M. Bellas: Biostratigraphical research in Late Neogene marine deposits of the Chania Province, western Crete, Greece … 55-67 ; Glenn Fechner: "Microforaminiferal" lining taphonomy: A cautionary note … 69-81 ; Uwe Gloy & Rolf Kohring: Py-GC-Analysen an einem fossilen Harz aus dem Oberen Jura (Grube Guimarota/Portugal) … 83-88 ; Joachim Gründel: Truncatelloidea (Littorinimorpha, Gastropoda) aus dem Lias und Dogger Deutschlands und Nordpolens … 89-119 ; Helmut Keupp, Martin Röper & Adolf Seilacher: Paläobiologische Aspekte von syn vivo-besiedelten Ammonoideen im Plattenkalk des Ober-Kimmeridgiums von Brunn in Ostbayern … 121-145 ; Nikolaus Malchus: Identification of larval bivalve shells by means of simple statistics … 147-160 ; Carsten Helm, John W.M. Jagt & Manfred Kutscher: Early Campanian ophiuroids from the Hannover area (Lower Saxony, Northern Germany) … 161-173 ; Christian Neumann: New spatangoid echinoids (Echinodermata) from the Upper Cretaceous of Jordan: taxonomy and phylogenetic importance … 175-189 ; Oldrich Fejfar und Daniela C. Kalthoff: Aberrant cricetids (Platacanthomyines, Rodentia, Mammalia) from the Miocene of Eurasia … 191-206 ; Thekla Pfeiffer: Sexualdimorphismus, Ontogenie und innerartliche Variabilität der pleistozänen Cervidenpopulationen von Dama dama geiselana Pfeiffer 1998 und Cervus elaphus L. (Cervidae, Mammalia) aus Neumark-Nord (Sachsen-Anhalt, Deutschland) … 207-313 ; Beiträge zur Baikal-Rift-Forschung : MJ. Kuzmin et al.: Climatic events in Siberia during upper Brunhes according to the Lake Baikal sedimentary record … 315-323 ; S. K. Krivonogov et al.: The prospects of GIS use in investigation of the Baikal area … 325-328 ; Y. Masuda et al.: Perspective Studies of Freshwater Sponges in Lake Baikal … 329-332 ; Oleg A. Timoshkin: Biology of Lake Baikal: „White Spots“ and Progress in Research … 333-348 ; Bibliographie : Uwe Gloy: Bibliographie 1997, Institut für Paläontologie, FU Berlin … 349-352 ;

Description: thesis

Description: DFG, SUB Göttingen

Description: Die vorliegende Arbeit behandelt die Kalkdinoflagellaten-Floren aus dem Alb der Forschungsbohrung Kirchrode II (Niedersächsisches Becken). Im Vordergrund stand die Frage nach der bisher wenig bekannten Ökologie dieser Phytoplankton-Gruppe zur Zeit ihrer maximalen Blüte. Dazu wurden die Zysten-Vergesellschaftungen qualitativ und halb-quantitativ untersucht und Diversitätsanalysen durchgeführt. Die Ergebnisse wurden mit lithologischen und paläontologischen Daten der an der Untersuchung des Bohrkerns beteiligten Arbeitsgruppen verglichen. Es konnten 37 Morphospezies kalkiger Dinoflagellaten-Zysten nachgewiesen werden. Gemeinsam mit den Morphospezies des Profils Kirchrode I erhöht sich damit die Gesamtzahl der im Alb des Niedersächsischen Beckens nachgewiesenen Taxa auf 45. Das weltweit früheste Auftreten der Unterordnung Pithonelloideae konnte für das frühe Mittel-Alb (Hoplites dentatus-Zone) belegt werden. Außerdem konnte erstmals die Verbreitung der Fuettererelloideae für die Unterkreide sicher dokumentiert werden. Aufgrund unterschiedlicher ökologischer Umweltansprüche konnten 4 typische Kalkdinoflagellaten-Gesellschaften unterschieden werden. Die Zusammensetzung der Zystenvergesellschaftungen wird in erster Linie von Nährstoffreichtum, Salinität und Temperatur des Oberflächenwassers kontrolliert. Gemeinsam mit den neu interpretierten Kalkdinoflagellaten-Vergesellschaftungen des Profils Kirchrode I (KEUPP 1995) reflektieren die Vergesellschaftungen für das Unter- und Mittel-Alb einen Meeresspiegelanstieg bei gleichzeitiger Nährstoffverarmung und Erwärmung. Für das Ober-Alb kann ein Meeresspiegelhöchststand (maximale Pelagizität) und anschließende rasche Regression postuliert werden. Daten anderer Fossilgruppen (Coccolithophoriden, Foraminiferen, Radiolarien) untermauern diese Interpretation. Die Palökologie der Unterkretazischen Orthopithonelloideae wird neu interpretiert. In der späten Unterkreide sind sie nicht, wie bisher angenommen, pelagisch, sondern im Gegenteil an trophische, neritische und vermutlich auch kühlere Oberflächenwasser-Bedingungen gebunden. Innerhalb der grobkristallinen Vertreter der Pirumella loeblichi-Gruppe nimmt P. loeblichi aufgrund abweichender ökologischer Ansprüche (Präferenz für stagnierende und nährstoffreichere Beckenbedingungen) eine Sonderstellung ein. Es konnten 6 Migrationsereignisse tethyaler Zysten nachgewiesen werden, die vermutlich transgressive Impulse widerspiegeln. Die auf diese Fossilgruppe erstmals angewendeten Methoden der Diversitäts- und Häufigkeitsanalysen haben sich als geeignet erwiesen, Wechselwirkungen zwischen fossilen Kalkdinoflagellatenzysten und ihrer Umwelt aufzuzeigen.

Description: Subject of this study are the calcareous dinoflagellates cysts of the drilling core Kirchrode II (Albian, central Lower Saxony Basin, Northwest Germany). The purpose of this investigation is to give answers to the question of the poorly understood palaeoecology of this important phytopankton group at the time of its maximum radiation. Cyst assemblages were examined qualitatively and semi-quantitatively. Diversity analyses of the cyst assemblages were carried out as well. The results were compared with other lithological and palaeontological data of the drilling core. 37 morphotaxa were identified. Together with the morphospecies recorded from the uppermost Upper Albian of the drilling core Kirchrode I (KEUPP 1995), the number of documented taxa in the Albian of the Lower Saxonian Basin increases to 45 taxa. The first appearance date of the suborder Pithonelloidae is recognised in the lower Middle-Albian (Hoplites dentatus-zone). Moreover, the distribution of the Fuettererelloideae in the Lower Cretaceous is documented for the first time. The taxonomic compositions of the cyst assemblages change through time. Due to their different ecological preferences, 4 typical cysts-assemblages were recognised. The composition of the assemblages was controlled chiefly by nutrient availability, salinity and temperature of the surface water-masses. Together with the re-examined cyst-assemblages of the drilling-core Kirchrode I, the assemblages reflect a sea level rise during the Early and Middle Albian, together with simultaneous warming and nutrient decrease. A postulated sea level highstand (maximum pelagicity) in the Late Albian is followed by a rapid regression in the upper dispar-zone. Data from other plankton groups (coccolithophorids, foraminiferes and radiolarians) support this interpretation. The palaeoecology of the Early Cretaceous Orthopithonelloideae is newly interpreted. They were not, as supposed until now, components of the pelagic realm. On the contrary, their distribution reflects neritic, nutrient-rich and probably cool surface-water masses. Within the Obliquipithonelloids with coarse-crystalline body walls, Pirumella loeblichi holds an exceptional position with respect to its deviating ecology (preference for stagnant and nutrient-rich basin conditions). 6 distinct migration-events of cysts with tethyal origin were recognised. These events are probably related to transgressive pulses. The methods of community and diversity analyses, used for the first time for this little known phytoplankton group, are a powerful tool for the analyses of paleoecological distribution patterns of the group and can be used for paleooceanic basin interpretation.

Description: thesis

Description: DFG, SUB Göttingen

Description: Den eigentlichen Anwendungen geophysikalischer Modelliertechniken und Bearbeitungsmethoden geht im Verlauf dieser Arbeit eine umfassende Evaluierung und Kompilierung einer Flächendeckenden Datenbasis zwischen 20° und 26°S sowie 62° und 74°W aus gravimetrischen Daten voran. Untersuchungen des Magnetfeldes beschränken sich auf den Bereich der Nazca-Platte. Dabei werden alle verfügbaren Datensätze einbezogen, wozu neben Satelliten-altimetrisch gewonnenen Schweredaten auch Datensätze südamerikanischer Partner-Institutionen gehören. Ziel dieser Vorarbeiten ist die Erstellung eines homogenen nach Qualitätsmerkmalen unterschiedenen Schweredatensatzes, welcher den ozeanischen und den kontinentalen Bereich des Meßgebietes zwischen 20° und 26°S des Arbeitsgebietes beinhaltet. Im folgenden dient die gravimetrische und magnetische Datenbasis als Vergleichsdatensatz für die Modellierung von Dichteinhomogenitäten und Magnetisierungskontrasten. Randbedingungen aus anderen geowissenschaftlichen Teilbereichen wie der Seismik (grenzt die Geometrie- und Dichtevariationen ein), der Petrologie (Phasenübergänge, Gesteinsmetamorphosen) und Geologie (Strukturelle Grenzen) dienen der maximalen Einschränkung von Dichtedomänen und magnetisierten Bereichen. Das lokale 3D-Modell des Kontinentalrandes mit angrenzender Nazca-Platte erklärt die im Magnet-und Schwerefeld beobachteten Anomalien und zeigt die besondere Bedeutung der subduzierten Lithosphäre der Nazca-Platte auf. Neben dieser statischen Modellierung werden im Schwerefeld enthaltene Informationen über die Rigidität der aneinander grenzenden ozeanischen und kontinentalen Lithosphärenplatten extrahiert. Mit einem 3D-Kohärenzverfahren, welches erstmalig in den Zentralen Anden angewendet wird, werden Bereiche mit unterschiedlicher Festigkeit abgegrenzt. Durch die Einbeziehung von ’’Surface- und Subsurface Load” wird die hochauflösende Kohärenz-Analyse verbessert, gegenüber 2D- Verfahren ohne Berücksichtigung von ’’Subsurface Loads”. Eine Vergleichsstudie der Rigiditätsverteilung mit ähnlich regionalen Charakteristika der Lithosphärenplatten, wie etwa dem geothermischen Gradienten führt zu vergleichbaren Aussagen und bestätigt den großen Einfluß der subduzierten Nazca-Platte auf das gesamte aktive System in Bezug auf das Schwerefeld, das Thermische- und das Spannungsregime. Bereiche mit hohem Oberflächen-Wärmefluß korrelieren mit geringer Rigidität. Demzufolge finden sich die höchsten Rigiditätswerte im Forearc und östlichen Backarc und die niedrigsten in der Westkordillere. Schließlich wird auf der Basis der Analyse isostatischer Restfelder mit und ohne Berücksichtigung des Schweresignals der Nazca-Platte, der isostatische Zustand der kontinentalen Lithosphäre untersucht. Dabei werden zusätzlich, neben Modellgeometrien, Dichten und Rigiditäten auch geotektonische Regionen unterschieden. Isostatische Unterkompensation wird demnach in der Küstenkordillere und der Ostkordillere beobachtet. Der Bereich des Hochplateaus der Zentralen Anden befindet sich in isostatischem Gleichgewicht.

Description: The actual application of geophysical modelling and processing techniques in this thesis is preceded by a comprehensive evaluation and compilation of a Database covering the area from 20° and 26°S to 62° and 74°W with gravimetric and magnetic data. Research of the magnetic field is constrained to the Nazca-Plate oceanic area. In addition to altimétrie satellite gravity data all other available gravity data has been included in the database, e.g. datasets provided by our south american partner institutions. The aim of these preparatory works is the preparation of a uniform dataset which distinguishes data according to quality features. In further progress, this gravimetric and magnetic database is utilized to compare the Signals caused by density inhomogeneities and magnetization contrasts to measured data. Boundary conditions from other geophysical disciplines like seismics (restricting geometry and density variations), petrology (Phasetransitions, Metamorphic reactions) and geology (structural boundaries) lead to a maximum limitation of density and magnetic domains. The local 3D-model of the continent-ocean transition zone with the boundaring Nazca-plate explains the observed anomalies and highlights the particular meaning of the subducting Nazca-plate. Beside this static modelling information about the rigidity of the contacting oceanic and continental lithospheres which is contained in the gravity field is extracted. The utilization of a new 3D-coherence method, which is applied for the first time in the central Andes, enables to divide regions of different rigidity. The incorporation of surface and subsurface loads implies a higher spacial resolution in opposition to 2D-methods not regarding subsurface loads. A comparative study of the distribution of rigidity and similar more regional parameters controlling the rigidity of the lithosphere leads to compareable results and confirms the importance of the subducting Nazca-plate on the active system, in terms of the gravity field, the geothermal- and stress regime. Regions characterized by high surface heatflow correspond to low rigidity. The highest values for flexural rigidity are to be found in the forarc and eastern backarc, the lowest in the active volcanic front, the western cordillera. Finally an analysis of isostatic residual fields, again taking into account the gravity signal of the subducting Nazca-plate reveals different isostatic conditions for different parts of the surveyed continental lithosphere. Apart from model geometries, densities and rigidities geotectonic regions are distinguished. Isostatic undercompensation is observed in the coastal and eastern cordillera; whereas the andean plateaus in the central Andes can be considered as isostatically compensated.

Description: thesis

Description: DFG, SUB Göttingen

Description: Eine für die Zentralanden erstellte geowissenschaftliche Datenbank erfaßt die umfangreichen Forschungsergebnisse des SFB 267 wie auch externe Datensätze in Form eines zentral verwalteten Dateisystems. Ein Datenkatalog, welcher seit Mitte 1996 auch im World Wide Web (WWW, URL: http://userpage.fu-berlin.de/~data) verfügbar ist, bietet einen Überblick über die aktuelle Datenbasis und erleichtert den allgemeinen Zugriff auf die einzelnen Datensätze. Vorgestellt werden ferner verschiedene Methoden zur Analyse raumbezogener Daten aus Bereichen der Statistik (streifen-gemittelte Topographieprofile, Standardabweichung, Korrelationen, Fraktale) , Bildverarbeitung (direktionale Richtungsfilter) , Geomorphometrie (Neigung und Vertikalwölbung) und Numerik (Horizontalgradienten, FFT). Die Anwendung dieser Verfahren bezüglich einer regionalen Strukturierung wird am Beispiel der für die Zentralanden flächendeckend vorliegenden Topographie und Schwerefelder getestet und mit den aus langjährigen Untersuchungen in den Anden zur Verfügung stehenden Forschungsergebnissen verglichen. Endogene und exogene Prozesse spiegeln sich in den topographischen Erscheinungsformen wider. Insbesondere mit Hilfe der geomorphometrischen Analyse und der FFT-Filterung lassen sich für die morphostrukturellen Einheiten typische Merkmale sehr gut herausarbeiten. Auch mit einer einfachen Statistik (streifen-gemittelte Topographieprofile, Berechnung von Minimum, Mittelwert, Maximum und Standardabweichung einzelner Untersuchungsgebiete) können für die ausgewählten Gebiete charakteristische Unterschiede ermittelt werden. Im Hinblick auf die Topographie unterscheidet sich bei allen Untersuchungsmethoden am Westrand der Zentralanden der hyperaride Norden im Bereich der Atacama Wüste deutlich vom weniger trockenen Süden. Studien zur fraktalen Geometrie der Geländeoberfläche zeigen, daß sich die andine Topographie skaleninvariant verhält und tektonische wie klimatische Einflüsse sich in der geometrischen Variation der Geländeoberfläche widerspiegeln. Morphologisch zergliederte Zonen, wie das durch starke Verkürzungen gekennzeichnete Subandin oder der Südwestrand der Zentralanden, weisen im Vergleich zur fraktalen Dimension des Gesamtgebietes eine höhere fraktale Dimension auf, während das hyperaride Gebiet im Bereich der Atacama Wüste durch einen vergleichsweise niedrigen Wert gekennzeichnet ist. Mit der direktionalen Lineamentverstärkung, z.T. aber auch mit anderen Methoden wie etwa der Darstellung der Neigungsrichtung, werden die wichtigsten Störungszonen (z.B. das Atacama- oder das Präkordilleren-Störungssystem) weitestgehend erfaßt. Auf dem Pazifik bilden sich - sowohl bei der geomorphometrischen Untersuchung wie auch bei der Lineamenterkennung - entlang der Peru-Chile-Tiefseerinne die im CINCA Experiment beobachteten morphologisch-tektonischen Charakteristika (Reichert et al., 1997), wie z.B. die Blocktektonik innerhalb einer ca. 50 km breiten, westlich der Tiefseerinne verlaufenden Zone, ab. Gravimetrische Lineamente, die aus den maximalen Horizontalgradienten im Schwerefeld abgeleitet werden, weisen auf abrupte, laterale Dichteänderungen hin, sind jedoch in den Zentralanden nur in Einzelfällen mit den an der Oberfläche anstehenden lithologischen Einheiten oder Störungszonen korrelierbar. Die zweidimensionale Korrelation im moving window Verfahren hat sich als nützliches Instrument zur Analyse von sich gegenseitig beeinflussenden, raumverteilten Datensätzen erwiesen. Die Wahl der Fenstergröße erlaubt, zwischen einer regionalen und einer eher lokalen Analyse zu differenzieren; mit Hilfe einer geeigneten Visualisierung lassen sich die Beziehungen zwischen den Variablen schnell erfassen. Die räumlich differenzierte, quantitative Analyse der Korrelation zwischen Schwerefeld und Topographie in den Zentralanden zeigt, daß nicht nur die Bouguer-Anomalie sondern auch das isostatische Restfeld stark negativ mit der Geländehöhe korreliert.

Description: A geoscientific database was established for the area of the Central Andes, which includes information about past and current research conducted within the frame of the ’SFB 267 - Deformation Processes in the Andes’ (Berlin, Potsdam) as well as data from external sources. The catalogue, which since 1996 is also available on the Web (WWW, URL: http://userpage.fu-berlin.de/~data/ provides a general view of the database architecture and contents, and facilitates common and easy access to singular sets of data. In addition, various methods for the analysis of spatial data from disciplines such as statistics (swath-averaged topographic profiles, standard deviation, correlation, fractals), digital image processing (directional filtering), geomorphometry (inclination and vertical doming) and numerical methods (horizontal gradient, Fast Fourier Transformation [FFT]) are presented in this thesis. Application of these techniques for structural analysis on a regional scale was tested for the Central Andes, for which topographic coverage is complete, as well as for associated gravity fields, and compared with information generated during long term investigations in the Andes. Endogenous and exogenous processes are mirrored in topographic forms and landscapes. Characteristic features of morphostructural units are particularly well characterized when employing geomorphometric analyses and FFT filter techniques. Even simple statistical methods (swath-averaged topographic profiles, calculation of minimum, mean, maximum and standard deviation) for selected areas allow recognition of specific features and characteristic variations. As far as topography is concerned, distinct differences between the hyperarid northern portion of the western Central Andes (Atacama Desert) and lesser arid southern sectors are evident for all methods employed. Studies of the surface fractal geometry show an invariance of scale of the Andean topography. Structural and climatic influences are mirrored in geometric variations of the landscape. Morphologically intensely structured portions, like the Subandean ranges, characterized by pronounced crustal shortening, or the southwestern margin of the Central Andes are marked by a higher fractal dimension, when compared to the entire area studied, whereas the hyperarid portion of the Atacama Desert is characterized by a lower fractal dimension. Directional lineament enhancement, but other methods such as areal inclination detection as well, allow to accentuate major zones of structural weakness, such as the Atacama and Precordilleran fault systems. Both, geomorphometric investigations and lineament recognition, enhance morpho-structural features such as block-faulting of oceanic lithosphere along the Peru-Chile deep sea trench in a 50 km wide sector to the west of the subduction zone, and verify results gathered during the CINCA experiment (Reichert et al., 1997). Gravimetric lineaments, derived from maximum horizontal gradients in gravity fields of the Central Andes, point to abrupt lateral density variations, but can only occasionally be correlated with outcropping lithologic units or fault zones. The two dimensional correlation using the moving average technique has proven to be useful for analysis of mutually influencing and spatially arranged data sets. Selection of a proper window size allows to differentiate between analyses on regional resp. local scales. Employing proper visualization, relations between variables are easily detectable. A spatially differentiated and quantitative analysis of the relationship between gravity field and topography in the Central Andes shows a strong negative correlation of altitude with Bouguer anomaly and isostatic residual field.

Description: http://www.cms.fu-berlin.de/sfb/sfb267/results/data_catalogue/index.html

Description: thesis

Description: DFG, SUB Göttingen

Description: Schweremessungen im Hochgebirge erfordern eine genaue Bestimmung der topographischen Reduktion für die Berechnung der Bouguer-Anomalie. Von besonderer Wichtigkeit ist hierbei die optimale Approximation der Erdoberfläche durch geometrisch einfache Geländemodelle und die Kenntnis der Gesteinsdichteverteilung im Untersuchungsgebiet. Mit modernen Reduktionsverfahren ist es möglich, topographische Effekte zu verringern oder zu eliminieren und somit die Genauigkeit der Bouguer-Anomalie zu erhöhen. Anhand der verfügbaren Literatur wird eine Übersicht über bislang entwickelte Verfahren zur Berechnung der topographischen Reduktion gegeben. Hierbei handelt es sich um Verfahren, bei denen die Gestalt des Geländes zumeist durch unterschiedliche Modellvorstellungen (Quader, Kreisringsegmente) approximiert wird. Ein weiteres Problem ist die korrekte Berücksichtigung der Reduktionsdichte innerhalb des Untersuchungsgebietes. Darauf aufbauend wird ein Reduktionsverfahren entwickelt, das eine optimale Anpassung der Topographie durch die Triangulation aller Höheninformationen erlaubt bei gleichzeitiger Berücksichtigung von lateral variierenden Gesteinsdichteverteilungen, sog. Dichteprovinzen im Vergleich zum Standarddichteansatz. Die Höheninformationen bestehen aus einer Kombination von exakten Punkthöhen der Gravimeterstationen, den Höhenwerten aus hochauflösenden digitalen Höhenmodellen (DHM) und sonstigen Höhendaten. Durch eine Dreiecksvermaschung aller Höhenpunkte entsteht eine triangulierte irreguläre Netzwerk-Struktur (TIN). Die Geländereduktion für eine Station erhält man durch Summierung der Schwerewirkung aller Polyeder, deren Grundfläche aus ebenen Dreiecken im Stationsniveau und deren Deckflächen aus geneigten Flächen der Geländeapproximation bestehen. Die Berechnung der Schwerewirkung erfolgt durch eine analytische Lösung des auftretenden Volumenintegrals des Polyeders. Bei dieser Polyeder-Methode entfällt außerdem die klassische Einteilung des Geländes in unterschiedliche Entfernungszonen. Aufgrund des Rechenalgorithmus gehört das Polyeder- Verfahren zu den stationsunabhängigen Reduktions verfahren. Die Anwendung des Verfahrens erfolgt an Schweremessungen aus den Zentralen Anden in Südamerika zwischen 19°-29° S und 60°-71° W. Als Datengrundlage dienen ca. 15 000 Schwerestationen und das hochauflösende 30”x30” Höhenmodell ’GTOPO30’ des USGS. Mit einem modifizierten Nettleton-Verfahren werden erstmalig mittlere Reduktionsdichtewerte aus Bouguer-Schwerewerten für den zentralen Andenbereich bestimmt. Die Verwendung von diesen Dichtemodellen stellt den Versuch dar, die Schweredaten mit einer lateral variierenden DichteVerteilung neu zu interpretieren. Es ist deshalb nur als ein erster Ansatz zu verstehen, weil die derzeit verfügbare Dichtedatenbasis im Untersuchungsgebiet noch nicht ausreichend gut ist. Mit dem Polyeder- Verfahren steht ein moderner und flexibler Rechenalgorithmus zur Verfügung, der in idealer Weise alle notwendigen Höhen- und Gesteinsdichteinformationen zur optimalen Berechnung der topographischen Reduktion in der Gravimetrie verwendet.

Description: Gravimetric measurements in high mountains need an exact determination of the topographic reduction for the calculation of the Bouguer-Anomaly. The optimum representation of the shape of the earth’s relief by simple geometric ground models and the knowledge of the rock density distribution in the examined area is very important. It is possible to reduce or eliminate topographic effects by modern reduction procedures and to increase the exactness of the Bouguer- Anomaly. The available literature so far about this topic gives a survey about the developed procedure of calculating the topographic reduction. These procedures deal with the approximation of the ground condition by different model proceedings. Another problem is the correct consideration of the reduction density in the explored area. Based on this a new method for calculating the topographic reduction at each gravity station with a simultaneous consideration of variable rock density distribution, which are called density provinces, is developed. This method bases on the approximation of the terrain by polyhedrons. The source of the terrain model consists of digital elevation models (DEM), the heights of the gravity station themselves and perhaps other heights. Next step is the triangulation of the data and the result of it is a network of triangulation facets (TIN). The triangulated topography and the reference surface of the gravity surface built a polyhedron by which gravity attraction can be calcuated immediately and exactly and in an analytical form to each gravity station in the area. This procedure is called polyhedron-method and it belongs to the station-independent reduction procedures. The approximation of the topography in the triangulation facets avoids a classical division of the surroundings into different distance zones. The application of this procedure is carried out in gravity measurements of the Central Andes in South America between 19°-29°S and 60°-71°W. The data source includes 15 000 gravity stations and a 30-arc second digital elevation model ’GTOPO30’ of South America from the USGS. The first medium reduction density values taken from the Bouguer gravity values are fixed for the Central Andes by a modified Nettleton-procedure. That is only to understand as the first attempt. The momentary available density data basis in the explored area is still not satisfying. A new modern and flexible polyhedron method which ideally uses all necessary elevation information about the topography to provide higher accuracy for the terrain reduction process than it was possible before is now available.

Description: thesis

Description: DFG, SUB Göttingen

Description: Subduktionszonen gehören zu den geologisch aktivsten Regionen der Erde. Viele der Prozesse in diesen Zonen laufen unter der Beteiligung von Fluiden ab und führen zu Aufschmelzung und Vulkanismus. Der Parameter der Absorption seismischer Wellen in der Erde (Kruste, Mantel) wird entscheidend von Größen wie der Temperatur, der Porosität, dem Umgebungsdruck oder der Sättigung mit wässrigen Fluiden oder (partiellen) Schmelzen gesteuert. Er eignet sich demnach hervorragend zur Untersuchung des Zustandes von Kruste und Erdmantel und den Prozessen in einer Subduktionszone. Für die Absorptionsuntersuchungen in der Subduktionszone in den westlichen Zentralen Anden standen die Daten der beiden seismologischen Experimente PISCO ’94 und ANCORP ’96 zur Verfügung. Diese Projekte wurden vom Sonderforschungsbereich 267 ’’Deformationsprozesse in den Anden”, der Freien Universität Berlin und dem GeoForschungsZentrum Potsdam finanziert und gemeinsam mit südamerikanischen Partnern durchgeführt. So wurden in den Jahren 1994 und 1996/97 für jeweils rund 3 Monate seismologische Stationsnetze in Nord-Chile und Süd-Bolivien betrieben, die weite Bereiche des forearc und des magmatischen Bogens sowie Teile des Altiplano zwischen 21° und 24° S umfaßten. Sie registrierten eine große Anzahl überwiegend lokaler Ereignisse aus der Wadati-Benioff-Zone. Für die Absorptionsuntersuchungen konnten insgesamt 904 Ereignisse mit 11.738 P-Phasen des PISCO ’94-Experiments bzw. 686 Ereignisse mit 10.544 P-Phasen des ANCORP ’96- Experiments verwendet werden. Die Berechnung der Absorption der einzelnen Strahlen erfolgte (automatisch) aus den Amplitudenspektren der P-Wellen Einsätze. Es wurde ein Frequenzband von 3 bis maximal 30 Hz analysiert, in dem ein frequenzunabhängiger Qualitätsfaktor Q angenommen wurde. Dabei kamen zwei unterschiedliche Methoden, Spektralverhältnisse und Spektralinversion, zur Anwendung, um der prinzipiellen Schwierigkeit der Trennung von Quell- und Weg-Effekten zu begegnen und Annahmen beispielsweise über die Quellfunktion zu überprüfen. Eine Spektralinversion nach individuellen t*-Operatoren und Plateauwerten und einer für ein Beben gemeinsamen Eckfrequenz konnte erfolgreich angewendet werden. Die so bestimmten Absorptionswerte (t*-Operatoren) wurden für eine damped least squares-Inversion zur Berechnung der dreidimensionalen Absorptionsstruktur im Untergrund verwendet. Das raytracing wurde dabei in den dreidimensionalen Geschwindigkeitsmodellen durchgeführt, um den genauen Strahlverlauf zu berücksichtigen. Die errechneten Modelle erlauben einen detaillierten Einblick in die Subduktionszone der Zentralen Anden. Der Bereich unterhalb des arcs zwischen 21,5° und 24° S ist geprägt von einer prominenten Anomalie geringer Q-Werte, die von der Kruste bis in den oberen Mantel reicht. Große Stationskorrekturen der Stationen im arc und dem Altiplano deuten auf eine Erstreckung bis an die Oberfläche hin. Die krustale Absorption verläuft deckungsgleich mit der Verbreitung des rezenten Vulkanismus. Südlich von 22° S verläuft die Absorptionsanomalie bis in eine Tiefe von 250 km genau oberhalb der abtauchenden Nazca-Platte. Nördlich von 22° S scheint die starke Absorption auf den Bereich oberhalb von ca. 100 km begrenzt. In diesem nördlichen Bereich, in dem generell eine geringere Absorption verzeichnet wird, korrespondiert diese Zone mit dem dort angesiedelten Beben-cluster in ca. 100 km Tiefe; nördlich von 21° S verliert sie sich. Der forearc zeigt sich als relativ homogene, gering absorbierende Struktur mit Q-Werten um 1000; die abtauchende Platte weist ebenfalls hohe Q-Werte auf. Bedingt durch die Lage der Absorptionsanomalien relativ zu den seismologischen Netzen und die damit verbundene geringere Durchstrahlung war eine detaillierte Untersuchung der Auflösung der Modelle notwendig. Dazu wurden die aus der Modellresolutionsmatrix abgeleiteten Größen wie die spread-function berücksichtigt, aber auch synthetische Tests an Modellen mit oszillierenden Strukturen (Schachbrettmustern) und ’’realistischen” Untergrundmodellen vorgenommen. Sie zeigen, daß große Bereiche des forearcs und arcs in den Modellen sehr gut aufgelöst werden. Die gefundenen Anomalien lassen sich unter verschiedenen Gesichtspunkten diskutieren. Die ausgeprägte krustale Absorption unter großen Teilen der Westkordillere läßt sich mit der schon früher abgeleiteten Präsenz partieller Schmelzen erklären. Sie korreliert sehr gut mit der Verteilung des rezenten Vulkanismus, erniedrigten Durchschnittsgeschwindigkeiten, einem erhöhten vp/vs-Verhältnis, z.T. extrem erhöhten elektrischen Leitfähigkeiten und Bereichen, für die anomale Geschwindigkeits-Dichte Relationen angenommen werden müssen. Variationen innerhalb dieser krustalen Anomalien weisen auf eine unterschiedlich ausgeprägte Durchdringung mit partiellen Schmelzen hin. Die Anomalien im oberen Mantel deuten auf ein unterschiedliches Vordringen der heißen Asthenosphäre unter den magmatischen Bogen hin. Darüber hinaus können sie als Bereiche partieller Schmelzen und Fluide interpretiert werden, die Dehydratisierungs- und Hydratisierungsprozesse in dieser Subduktionszone widerspiegeln.

Description: Subduction zones are among the geologically most active regions of the world. Many processes in these zones take place under the influence of fluids and lead to the generation of melts and volcanism. Attenuation of seismic waves in crust and mantle depends strongly on parameters like temperature, porosity, confining pressure or saturation with hydrous fluids or partial melts. Therefore, this parameter is perfectly suited to examine the state of the crust and mantle in subduction zones. For the attenuation studies in the subduction zone of the western Central Andes datasets of two seismological experiments, PISCO ’94 and ANCORP ’96, were used. These projects were financed by the Collaborative Research Center 267 ’’Deformation Processes in the Andes”, the GeoForschungsZentrum Potsdam and the Department of Geophysics of the Free University of Berlin and were executed in cooperation with partners from South America. In 1994 and 1996/97 two temporary seismological networks were installed in northern Chile and southern Bolivia covering large areas of the forearc, the magmatic arc and the Altiplano between 21° and 24° S. They monitored a large number of earthquakes predominantly situated in the Wadati-Benioff zone. From the PISCO ’94 and ANCORP ’96 datasets 904 events with 11.738 attenuation values respectively 686 events with 10.544 values could be used for the tomography. Whole-path attenuation was (automatically) determined from the amplitude spectra of the F- waves. In a frequency-band between 3 and 30 Hz a frequency-independent Quality-factor Qp was assumed. In order to separate source- and path-effects two different methods were applied, spectral inversion, and spectral ratios relative to a constant reference station. The spectral inversion for individual C-operators and plateau-values and a single source corner frequency for all observations of an event was applied successfully. In a damped least squares approach the t*-operators were inverted for the three-dimensional attenuation structure. To account for the spatial distribution of both velocity and attenuation raytracing was performed in the three-dimensional velocity structure previously derived by simultaneous inversions of travel-time data. The obtained models allow a detailed insight into the subduction zone of the Central Andes. Crust and mantle of the forearc and subducting slab are generally characterized by low attenuation (Qp 〉 1000). Beneath the Western Cordillera, the recent magmatic arc, a prominent attenuation anomaly is found (Qp 〈 100). This anomaly reaches from the uppermost crust down to the upper mantle at a depth of 250 km. North-South variations can be seen: The western flank of the crustal attenuation anomaly is congruent to the curved course of the volcanic front. North of 21° S the attenuation is less developed and dies out north of 20° S. A deeper zone of high attenuation is resolved between 22° and 24° S directly above the subducting slab. In the northern part of the study area the low-Qp-zone penetrates westwards in the forearc-mantle. Due to the irregular ray-coverage of the model a detailed analysis of the resolution was necessary. Both, formal analysis of the model resolution matrix (e.g. via spread-function) and tests with synthetic models including checkerboard and ’’realistic” attenuation models were executed. They show that large areas of the models beneath forearc and arc are well resolved. The anomalies found in the tomographic models can be interpreted in several ways. The prominent crustal attenuation beneath the Western Cordillera can be explained by partial melts previously proposed by others. The anomaly correlates well with the distribution of recent volcanism, reduced seismic velocities, reduced electrical resistivity and regions for which anomalous velocity-density relations must be assumed. Variations within the anomaly point towards the irregular distribution of partial melting beneath the volcanic arc. The anomalies within the upper mantle may map the distribution of hot asthenosphere material. Furthermore, they may be interpreted in terms of subduction-related dehydration- and hydration processes.

Description: thesis

Description: DFG, SUB Göttingen

Description: Five hormone-treated female Japanese silver eels Anguilla japonica were tagged with ultrasonic transmitters and released by submersible in the West Pacific at seamounts of the West Mariana Ridge, their supposed spawning grounds. Four eels were tracked for 60 to 423 min in the vicinity of the seamounts. They did not settle at the seamounts but swam at a mean speed of 0.37 m s-1 into open water above deep ground. Their mean swimming depth ranged from 81 to 172 m. Experiments suggest that pre-matured A. japonica migrate to their spawning grounds in temperate warm water and at shallow depths.

Description: Phosphatase (P-ase) activity was determined together with other extracellular enzyme activities, bacterial abundance and production rates during the 2 SW Monsoon process studies of the German JGOFS Arabian Sea Program. Water samples were collected along the cruise tracks from the equator to the upwelling region at the shelf edge off Oman. Depth profiles of P-ase activity were strikingly different from those of the other enzymes. While values of aminopeptidase and β-glucosidase generally decreased below the euphotic zone, P-ase increased by factors of 1 to 7. The relation between peptidase- and P-ase activity was from 4 to 21 at the surface and from 3 to 5 at 800 m depth. Because P-ase production (dissolved and cell-bound) in deep waters is mainly dependent on bacteria, P-ase activities per bacterial cell were calculated: these were, on average, 37 times higher at 800 m than at the surface. We also observed a positive correlation of P-ase activity with phosphate concentrations in the depth profiles below the euphotic zone, while this relationship was much more variable in the mixed surface layer. These observations suggest that C-limited bacteria in the deep strata did not primarily focus on the phosphate generated by their P-ase activity but on the organic C compounds which were simultaneously produced and which could probably not be taken up prior to the hydrolytic detachment of phosphate. It is hypothesised that a considerable part of the measured P-ase activity was dissolved (though it might have originated from bacteria). These enzymes may be important for the slow, but steady regeneration of phosphate and organic C in mesopelagic waters.

Description: Stomach contents of 17 sperm whales Physeter macrocephalus stranded in Scotland and Denmark during 1990-96 were analysed. All were sub-adult or adult males and stranded between November and March. They had presumably entered the North Sea during their southward migration from feeding grounds in Arctic waters. Other studies indicate that the majority of the whales were apparently healthy. The diet of these whales was found to consist almost entirely of cephalopods, principally squid of the genus Gonatus (hereafter 'Gonatus', but probably G. fabricii, an oceanic species characteristic of Arctic waters). The other prey species identified were also mostly oceanic cephalopods: the squids Histioteuthis bonnellii, Teuthowenia megalops and Todarodes sagittatus and the octopus Haliphron atlanticus. Although these results are consistent with other recent studies in the area based on single stranded whales, they differ from results of work on whales caught during commercial whaling operations in Icelandic waters (1960s to 1980s) in that little evidence of predation on fish was found in the present study. Remains of single individuals of the veined squid Loligo forbesi, the northern octopus Eledone cirrhosa and the saithe Pollachius virens provided the only possible evidence of feeding in the North Sea. We infer that sperm whales do not enter the North Sea to feed. The timing, and large and uniform sizes of the Gonatus species eaten (most had mantle lengths in the range 195 to 245 mm), as estimated from measurements of the lower beaks, and the seasonality of the strandings is consistent with the whales having fed on mature squid, possibly spawning concentrations--as has recently been reported for bottlenose whales. Assuming that the diet recorded in this study was representative of sperm whales during the feeding season, as much as 500000 t of Gonatus could be removed by sperm whales in Norwegian waters each year and up to 3 times that figure from the eastern North Atlantic as a whole. Evidence from other studies indicates that Gonatus is an important food resource for a wide range of marine predators in Arctic waters.

Description: Interpretation of diving profiles of aquatic animals would be considerably enhanced by additional behavioural information. A new sensor is presented here which records animal movements. This sensor was tested on a captive loggerhead turtle Caretta caretta which showed similar activity patterns to free-living green turtles Chelonia mydas. A computer program with user-selectable options was developed to analyse the data consistently and rapidly. Using our sensor we calculated the total resting time, which differed by less than 5% from the real resting time when the sampling interval was 2 s. The method was additionally tested for different sampling intervals to find out its applicability for field studies.

Description: Nematodes of the family Stilbonematinae are known for their highly specific association with ectosymbiotic bacteria. These worms are members of the meiofauna in marine, sulfide-rich sediments, where they migrate around the redox boundary layer. In this study, bacterial ectosymbionts of 2 species of marine nematodes, Stilbonema sp. and Laxus oneistus, were shown to be capable of the respiratory reduction of nitrate and nitrite (denitrification). The use of these alternative electron acceptors to oxygen by the bacteria allows the animals to migrate into the deeper, anoxic sediments, where they can exploit the sulfide-rich patches of the deeper sediment layers. The accumulation of thiols (sulfide, thiosulfate, sulfate and glutathione) in body tissues of the worms was determined following incubation in the presence of various electron donors (sulfide, thiosulfate) and acceptors (nitrate). In their chemoautotrophic metabolic potential, the ectosymbionts of the 2 nematode species were found to resemble the phylogenetically related, intracellular symbionts of macrofaunal hosts of deep-sea hydrothermal vents and other sulfide-rich habitats.

Description: The role of tetrathionate in the sulfur cycle of Baltic Sea sediments was investigated in different habitats and under a variety of environmental conditions. Sediment profiles were recorded with regard to numbers of thiosulfate oxidizing bacteria, concentrations of sulfur compounds, and potential rates of thiosulfate oxidation. Products of thiosulfate oxidation were quantified in incubated sediment samples and in pure cultures. Evidence was found that tetrathionate is formed within these sediments, that sulfur oxidizing bacteria are present in considerable numbers, that these bacteria are of major importance in the oxidation of reduced sulfur compounds in their habitat, and that tetrathionate is an important oxidation product of these bacteria. Thiosulfate is oxidized by bacteria isolated from these sediments to varying proportions of tetrathionate, sulfate, and also elemental sulfur. In highly sulfidic sediments and in the presence of large amounts of organic matter, tetrathionate was present in sediment horizons in which thiosulfate and elemental sulfur also accumulated. A tetrathionate cycle is proposed to be active in natural marine and brackish water sediments in which, due to combined bacterial action and chemical reactions, a net oxidation of sulfide to elemental sulfur occurs in the presence of catalytic amounts of thiosulfate and tetrathionate.

Description: Seabirds, like all marine endotherms, have to compensate for the extensive cooling effect of water when diving. Alone among them, cormorants (Phalacrocoracidae) have a wettable plumage and are predicted to require disproportionately large amounts of food to balance heat losses. These piscivorous birds are thus thought to have a detrimental impact on fish stocks. However, we show here that even in great cormorants from Greenland, which dive in water at 3 to 7°C, daily food intake is lower than for well-insulated European seabirds. Despite their wettable plumage, cormorants thus appear to manage their energy budgets in a remarkably efficient way. Nevertheless, the specific foraging strategies which enable this performance make cormorants dependent on high prey density areas, a feature that should be taken into account by future management plans.

Description: In Eckernförde Bay (western Baltic Sea) pockmark structures are induced by groundwater seeping out of the sediment. On 3 occasions in winter and spring 1993-94 we investigated the influence of groundwater on the reduction of salinity, on porewater chemistry, and on bacterial activities (methane oxidation and sulphate reduction). In 2 out of 3 sampling campaigns groundwater discharge could be detected. The concentration gradients of Cl- and SO4= are moved towards the sediment surface by the vertical advection of groundwater during seep times. Without groundwater discharge the porewater chemistry resembled the control site. Compared to the control site, the methane oxidation and sulphate reduction rates were elevated at the pockmark site, reaching maximum values of 49 and 269 µmol l-1 d-1 respectively. The groundwater venting from the pockmark had an end member composition of 80 mM Na+, 1.0 mM Ca++ and was depleted in Mg++. Due to mixing of these major cations along the groundwater/seawater interface, no CaCO3 precipitation was found around the pockmark site.

Description: Sinking velocities of more than 300 Nitzschia closterium aggregates were determined during roller table incubation using digital image analysis. To examine the influence of transparent exopolymer particles (TEP) on aggregate settling speed, 3 experiments with different ratios of TEP to cell volume concentration were conducted. The results showed that, for N. closterium aggregates without TEP, sinking velocity (U) was significantly related to the equivalent spherical diameter (ESD) of the aggregates, yielding U (cm s-1) = 1.89 (ESD, cm)0.55. The higher was the specific TEP content of an aggregate, the lower was the sinking velocity and the less pronounced was the size versus velocity relationship. Excess densities (Δρ) of aggregates were derived from velocity measurements and 3-dimensional fractal dimensions (D3) of aggregates were calculated from scaling properties of Δρ. Values for D3 never exceeded 2 and fit well to values of the 2-dimensional fractal dimension (D2) attained from image analysis.

Description: Stable carbon isotope fractionation (ε p) of 7 marine phytoplankton species grown in different irradiance cycles was measured under nutrient-replete conditions at a high light intensity in batch cultures. Compared to experiments under continuous light, all species exhibited a significantly higher instantaneous growth rate (μi), defined as the rate of carbon fixation during the photoperiod, when cultivated at 12:12 h, 16:8 h, or 18:6 h light:dark (L/D) cycles. Isotopic fractionation by the diatoms Skeletonema costatum, Asterionella glacialis, Thalassiosira punctigera, and Coscinodiscus wailesii (Group I) was 4 to 6o/oo lower in a 16:8 h L/D cycle than under continuous light, which we attribute to differences in μi. In contrast, ε p in Phaeodactylum tricornutum, Thalassiosira weissflogii, and in the dinoflagellate Scrippsiella trochoidea (Group II) was largely insensitive to daylength-related differences in instantaneous growth rate. Since other studies have reported growth-rate dependent fractionation under N-limited conditions in P. tricornutum, μi-related effects on fractionation apparently depend on the factor controlling growth rate. We suggest that a general relationship between εi and μi/[CO2,aq] may not exist. For 1 species of each group we tested the effect of variable CO2 concentration, [CO2,aq], on isotopic fractionation. A decrease in [CO2,aq] from ca 26 to 3 µmol kg-1 caused a decrease in ε p by less than 3o/oo. This indicates that variation in μi in response to changes in daylength has a similar or even greater effect on isotopic fractionation than [CO2,aq] in some of the species tested. In both groups ε p tended to be higher in smaller species at comparable growth rates. In 24 and 48 h time series the algal cells became progressively enriched in 13C during the day and the first hours of the dark period, followed by 13C depletion in the 2 h before beginning of the following light period. The daily amplitude of the algal isotopic composition (δ13C), however, was 〈=1.5o/oo, which demonstrates that diurnal variation in δ13C is relatively small.

Description: The El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phenomenon is the strongest natural interannual climate fluctuation1. ENSO originates in the tropical Pacific Ocean and has large effects on the ecology of the region, but it also influences the entire global climate system and affects the societies and economies of manycountries2. ENSO can be understood as an irregular low-frequency oscillation between a warm (El Niño) and a cold (La Niña) state. The strong El Niños of 1982/1983 and 1997/1998, along with the more frequent occurrences of El Niños during the past few decades, raise the question of whether human-induced 'greenhouse' warming affects, or will affect, ENSO3. Several global climate models have been applied to transient greenhouse-gas-induced warming simulations to address this question4, 6, but the results have been debated owing to the inability of the models to fully simulate ENSO (because of their coarse equatorial resolution)7. Here we present results from a global climate model with sufficient resolution in the tropics to adequately represent the narrow equatorial upwelling and low-frequency waves. When the model is forced by a realistic future scenario of increasing greenhouse-gas concentrations, more frequent El-Niño-like conditions and stronger cold events in the tropical Pacific Ocean result

Description: Diverse coastal seaweed communities dominated by perennial fucoids become replaced by species-poor turfs of annual algae throughout the Baltic Sea. A large-scale field survey and factorial field experiments indicated that grazers maintain the fucoid community through selective consumption of annual algae. Interactive effects between grazers and dormant propagules of annual algae, stored in a 'marine seed bank', determine the response of this system to anthropogenic nutrient loading. Nutrients override grazer control and accelerate the loss of algal diversity in the presence but not in the absence of a propagule bank. This implies a novel role of propagule banks for community regulation and ecosystem response to marine eutrophication.

Description: An experimental laboratory set-up was used to study the influence of different grain size compositions and temperatures on the growth of benthic cyanobacteria and diatoms, and on the competition between these 2 groups. Monospecific cultures of 3 species of cyanobacteria (Merismopedia punctata, Microcoleus chthonoplastes, Oscillatoria limosa), and of 2 species of benthic diatoms (Phaeodactylum tricornutum and Nitzschia sp.) were used. The organisms were cultured in 100 ml flasks filled with medium and 3 different kinds of sediment: (1) Sand (fine sand, 63 to 200 µm), (2) Mud-I (mixed fine sand and mud 〈63 µm in the ratio 80:20 wt %), (3) Mud-II (mixed fine sand and mud in the ratio 50:50 wt %). Experimental temperatures were 10, 15 and 25°C. At 10°C and 15°C, both diatom species achieved the highest biomass on the sediments of the finest grain size (50 wt % 〈 63 µm) while cyanobacteria achieved low biomass levels. Coarsening of sediments at the same temperature levels revealed a gradually lower biomass of the diatoms. Particularly on sand, the diatoms never reached the same concentrations of chlorophyll a as on mud. The cyanobacteria, on the other hand, had the highest biomass on sand at 15°C. In the competition experiments the benthic diatom species Nitzschia sp. dominated all types of sediments at 10°C and 15°C. The experiments at 25°C were dominated by the filamentous cyanobacterium M. chthonoplastes. This indicates the importance of abiotic conditions for the distribution and abundance of benthic phototrophic micro-organisms.

Description: The multivariate patterns resulting from analyses of macrobenthic abundance data at different taxonomic levels are compared to the pattern derived from various measurements obtained through sediment profiling imagery (SPI). A time-series data set from 1 station in Kiel Bay (Western Baltic) at 22 m depth including macrobenthic and SPI replicates covering 8 yr (1989 to 1996) was analyzed by means of multidimensional scaling (MDS) ordination. The macrobenthos data showed similar patterns, and there was little information loss, with decreasing taxonomic resolution from species to phylum level. The multivariate pattern in the SPI data was not significantly correlated to any of the macrofaunal patterns. However, macrofaunal and SPI patterns seemed to be complementary since they emphasized different aspects of the long-term succession in the Southern Baltic Sea. While macrofaunal patterns were sensitive to anoxia events, changes of SPI-recorded seabed characteristics were primarily related to physical disturbances possibly due to variations in fishing intensity.

Description: Diving seabirds should evolve a variety of foraging characteristics which enable them to minimize energy expenditure and to maximize net energy gain while searching for prey underwater. In order to assess the related ecological adaptations in a marine predator, we studied the at-sea distribution and the diving behaviour of 23 cormorants Phalacrocorax carbo (Linnaeus) breeding at the Chausey Islands (France) using VHF-telemetry and data loggers recording hydrostatic pressure. Birds foraged within an area of approximately 1131 km2 situated north-east of the breeding colony. This zone represents only 25% of the maximal potentially available area that the birds may utilize considering their maximum foraging range of 35 km. Individual birds remained within restricted individual foraging areas (on average 18 and 10% of the total utilized area in 1994 and 1995, respectively) throughout the study period. Moreover, the cormorants studied conducted an average of 42 dives per foraging trip, lasting for an average of 40 s (maximum 152 s), and reached an average maximum dive depth of 6.1 m (maximum 32 m) with median descent and ascent angles calculated to be 18.7° and 20.3°, respectively. Overall, 64% of all dives were U-shaped dives and 36% V-shaped dives. We use these results to demonstrate how both specialization and opportunism may support the remarkably high foraging efficiency of this marine predator.

Description: Cephalopods play an important role in the trophic web of the Southern Ocean, but little information is available on their biology. The 2 largest sub-Antarctic seabirds, the king penguin Aptenodytes patagonicus and the wandering albatross Diomedea exulans, feed primarily on squids during the austral winter at the Crozet Islands. We examined a large number of accumulated cephalopod beaks in the stomach of these birds together with some undigested items; first, to understand how these 2 predators share the squid resource during winter, a period of supposed low food availability, and, second, to use a diving and a flying seabird as biological samplers of Southern Ocean cephalopods. Individuals of the family Onychoteuthidae formed the bulk of the squid diet, accounting for 72.6 and 57.0% of the number of lower beaks in samples from king penguins and wandering albatrosses, respectively. Seven different species were identified, the 3 main squids being Kondakovia longimana (38.8 and 28.0% by number for penguins and albatrosses, respectively), Moroteuthis ingens (13.5 and 26.2%) and M. knipovitchi (20.1 and 2.3%). Both seabirds preyed upon the same cephalopod species, but penguins primarily took small- to medium-sized juveniles (99.0% of the onychoteuthids) and albatrosses preyed on larger adult specimens (96.0%). Fresh remains indicated that adult K. longimana and M. ingens were mature individuals which, as shown by satellite tracking of albatrosses, were taken over the slope and nearby oceanic waters surrounding the archipelago. The present study indicates that mating/spawning of K. longimana and M. ingens occurs in Crozet waters during the winter months. It also extends the biogeography of K. longimana to north of the Antarctic Polar Front, in the Polar Frontal Zone, where it has not previously been recorded.

Description: The marine habitat exploited by black-browed Diomedea melanophrys and grey-headed albatrosses D. chrysostoma breeding at Campbell Island, New Zealand, was studied using satellite telemetry. Data were analysed in relation to the bathymetry and sea-surface temperature of the foraging zones. Black-browed albatrosses spent 55% of their time on the Campbell Plateau but also carried out long foraging trips to the Polar Front and Antarctic Zone at a distance of over 2000 km. They relied heavily on juvenile Micromesistius australis, a schooling fish, during foraging trips to the shelf but over oceanic waters the squid Martialia hyadesi was the main prey taken. Grey-headed albatrosses spent 71% of their time foraging over the deep waters of the Polar Frontal Zone where M. hyadesi comprised over 90% of the mass of prey taken. No satellite-tracked birds fed over the shelf, but data from the duration of foraging trips and dietary analysis suggests that shelf-feeding is important for this species. Significant inter-species differences in the time spent in neritic and oceanic zones show that black-browed albatrosses are reliant primarily on shelf resources while grey-headed albatrosses are primarily oceanic feeders. In addition, the 2 species overlapped little in the zones used over oceanic waters, with black-browed albatrosses feeding in more southerly waters than grey-headed albatrosses. However, both species feed on M. hyadesi when foraging in association with the Polar Front.

Description: The fishery for Illex argentinus in the Southwest Atlantic is subject to large inter-annual variability in recruitment strength. In this paper we attempt to build a predictive model using sea surface temperature (SST) to examine links between recruitment to the Falkland Islands fishery and environmental variability during the juvenile and adult life history stages. SST data from the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) were found to be comparable with near-surface data derived from in situ expendable bathy-thermograph (XBT) profiles in the southern Patagonian shelf. Variation in SST during the early life stages appears to be important in determining recruitment of I. argentinus. SST in the hatching grounds of the northern Patagonian shelf during the period of hatching (particularly June and July) was negatively correlated with catches in the fishery in the following season. SST anomaly data from positions in the Pacific and Southwest Atlantic were used to examine teleconnections between these areas. Links were seen at a lag of 2 yr between the Pacific and southern Patagonian shelf, and at about 5 yr between the Pacific and northern Patagonian shelf. This is consistent with SST anomalies associated with El Niño in the Pacific propagating around the globe via the Antarctic Circumpolar Wave (ACW). Predicting cold events via teleconnections between SST anomalies in the Pacific and Atlantic would appear to have the potential to predict the recruitment strength of I. argentinus in the Southwest Atlantic.

Description: Levels of genetic diversity and population differentiation were examined in temporally (1990 to 1997) and geographically separated samples of the argentine short-finned squid Illex argentinus using 7 microsatellite loci. Number of alleles (mean number of alleles per locus over all samples = 24.1) and heterozygosity (mean observed heterozygosity per sample = 0.84) were high for all samples, indicating that these loci have a greater potential utility for investigating population genetic structure than allozyme markers used in previous studies. Genetic diversity did not differ significantly between samples taken 5 yr after commencement of the fishery (1990) and those collected during a period of progressively intense fishing pressure (1994 and 1997). Several small but significant differences in between-sample genetic variation (FST) were observed, but these could not confirm the previous suggestion of cryptic species or several well-defined stocks within the fished population.

Description: The overflow and descent of cold dense water from the Denmark Strait sill-a submarine passage between Greenland and Iceland-is a principal means by which the deep ocean is ventilated, and is an important element in the global thermohaline circulation. Previous investigations of its variability-in particular, direct current measurements(1,2) in the overflow core since 1986-have shown surprisingly little evidence of long-term changes in now speed. Here we report significant changes in the overflow characteristics during the winter of 1996-97, measured using two current-meter moorings and an inverted echo sounder located at different depths in the fastest part of the now. The overflow warmed to the highest monthly value yet recorded (2.4 degrees C), and showed a pronounced slowing and thinning at its lower margin. We believe that the extreme warmth of the overflow caused it to run higher on the continental slope off east Greenland, so that the lower current meters and the echo sounder were temporarily outside and deeper than the fast-flowing core; model simulations appear to confirm this interpretation, We suggest that the extreme warmth of the overflow is a lagged response to a warming upstream in the Fram Strait three years earlier (caused by an exceptional amplification of the winter North Atlantic Oscillation). If this is so, over-now characteristics may be predictable.

Description: Epibiosis is a spatially close association between 2 or more organisms belonging to the same or different species. Through direct and indirect interactions, this association has major effects on the species involved and on community dynamics. When the effects are predominantly beneficial for epibiont and basibiont, coevolution can be expected to lead to associational specificity. Circumstantial evidence, however, suggests that many epibionts are non-specific substratum-generalists. In this arti-cle, we investigate the commonness of specificity in epibiotic associations. In a first approach, we inves-tigated the in situ recruitment preferences of potential epibionts when choosing between artificial and living substrata. After exposure for 3 wk in early summer, an early successional community had estab-lished, comprising cyanobacteria, diatoms, sesslle colonial ciliates and red algae. All species recruited on almost all substrata available. However, artificial substrata were usually preferred over living sur-faces. Consequently, the species studied are class~fied as facultative epibionts. An analysis of a list of over 2000 epibiotic associations corroborated these results, the majority of described 'epibionts' are not basibiont-specific and generally occur on non-living substrata as well. Also, basibiont species usually bear more than 1 epibiont species. Relative to each other, epibionts and basibionts are characterised by a typical set of life history traits. We conclude that specific and obligate epibionts are rare. Their scarcity is discussed in view of multilevel antifouling defences and presumptive evolutionary transi-tions from epibiosis towards endoparasitism or endosymbiosis.

Description: Diving reptiles, unlike most diving birds and mammals, return infrequently to the surface to breathe. Spending the bulk of their lives underwater, they are likely to have developed a large variety of specific behavioural patterns different from those of their warm-blooded counterparts. However, for technical reasons, underwater behaviour of these aquatic reptiles remains poorly understood. In this study green turtles Chelonia mydas nesting on Cyprus (Eastern Mediterranean) were equipped with multi-channel data loggers monitoring diving behaviour and activity (via a logger-integrated 3-D compass which served as an activity sensor) during the inter-nesting interval. Data from 2 turtles for 2 consecutive inter-nesting intervals were available for detailed dive analysis. Both turtles showed highly variable dive patterns ranging from travelling subsurface dives to specific dive types such as U- (mainly resting and foraging dives), S- (a form of energy saving swimming) and V-dives. The green turtles stayed near the coast throughout the study, dived no deeper than ca 25 m, but remained underwater for up to ca 40 min. The recordings of the activity sensor revealed high activity levels (less than 20% resting d-1) during the whole inter-nesting period which was attributed to extensive foraging. The combination of both the activity data and the dive data showed that the turtles were engaged in travelling movements for 46% of the inter-nesting time spent underwater, foraged for 34% and rested for 12% of the time. We discuss the physiological, ecological and conservation implications of these results.

Description: Serial dilution experiments were conducted on JGOFS-North Atlantic cruise of RV 'Meteor' M36/2 at a 20° W transect in June and July 1996 to assess the role of microzooplankton grazing and nitrogen supply in controlling phytoplankton stocks in the subtropical and temperate northeast Atlantic. Rates of microzooplankton grazing ranged from 0.08 d-1 at 54° N to 0.53 d-1 at 40° N and mean growth rates of phytoplankton ranged from 0.19 d-1 at 54° N to 0.75 d-1 at 40° N. Both rates were positively related to seawater temperature, whereas the apparent growth yield of phytoplankton declined with increasing temperature from 0.19 µg chl a dm-3 d-1 at 54° N to 0.01 µg chl a dm-3 d-1 at 33° N. Complete nitrogen saturation of phytoplankton growth indicated light or non-nitrogenous limitation at the nitracline at 47° N and in the deep chlorophyll maximum at 33° N, whereas in the mixed layer at 47° N and 54° N the ambient nitrogen supply was sub-saturated and yielded 63 and 39% of nitrogen- saturated growth. Nitrogen supply of phytoplankton growth was dominated by external and cellular sources in nitrate-rich waters of the mixed layer at 54° N and at the nitracline at 47° N, whereas nitrogen regeneration dominated at the nitrate-depleted surface waters at 47° N. However, in the deep chlorophyll maxima at 33° N and 40° N phytoplankton growth was primarily maintained by nitrogen regeneration, although external nitrogen was sufficiently available. The recycling efficiency of the microbial community was defined as the ratio of regenerated growth yield to herbivorous grazing loss. Efficiencies of ~100% under post-bloom situations indicated tight coupling of predation, nitrogen supply and phytoplankton growth. We suggest that microzooplankton grazing has a high potential for nitrogen supply and biomass control of phytoplankton communities during summer in the temperate and subtropical northeast Atlantic.

Description: Es wurden verschiedene nichtlineare Optimierungsverfahren auf die Geometrieparameter von Dichtemodellen angewendet. Dabei waren diese mit Randbedingungen versehen. Ein Vergleich zeigte die Vor- und Nachteile der einzelnen Algorithmen. Anhand von zwei synthetischen Testfunktionen wurde das Verfahren Downhill-Simplex mit der (1,10)-CMA-ES verglichen. Das Simplexverfahren zeigte bei weniger als zehn Parametern ein besseres Konvergenz verhalten als die Evolutionsstrategie. Bei höheren Dimensionen konvergierte die Evolutionsstrategie deutlich besser, während Simplex bei mehr als 40 Parametern nicht mehr konvergierte. Die Evolutionsstrategie zeigt unabhängig von der Anzahl der Parameter logarithmische Konvergenzgeschwindigkeit. Die Evolutionsstrategie, genetische Algorithmen. Simulated-Annealing. Threshold-Accepting und der Deluge- Algorithm wurden danach anhand eines zweidimensionalen Salzstockmodells untersucht. Dabei wurden die Geometrieparameter optimiert und die Dichten des Modells konstant gehalten. Die 52 zu optimierenden Parameter wurden mit Randbedingungen versehen. Die (1,10)-CMA-ES benötigte im Durchschnitt die wenigsten Funktionsaufrufe und erreichte die besten Qualitäten. Ausgehend von verschiedenen Startmodellen konnten ähnliche Lösungen, welche alle sehr gute Qualitätswerte hatten, gefunden werden. Rekombination verbesserte die Konvergenzeigenschaften immer. Evolutionsstrategie war stabil gegenüber numerischen Variationen. Genetische Algorithmen konvergierten zu Beginn des Optimierungsprozesses schneller als alle anderen Verfahren, erreichten aber nie die von der Evolutionsstrategie gefundenen besten durchschnittlichen Qualitätswerte. Downhill-Simplex. Simulated-Annealing. Threshold-Accepting und der Deluge-Algorithm zeigten insgesamt schlechteres Konvergenzverhalten als die Evolutionsstrategie und die genetischen Algorithmen. Eine Anwendung der Evolutionsstrategie auf ein Salzstockmodell zeigte die Probleme der Optimierung in drei Dimensionen. Dennoch konnte das Modell in Hinblick auf die gravimetrische Anpassung deutlich verbessert werden.

Description: Various non-linear optimization techniques were applied to constrained geometry parameters of density models. A comparison showed advantages and disadvantages of each method. By means of synthetical test-functions the downhill-simplex-method has been compared to the (1,10)-CMA-ES. For numbers of parameters smaller ten. better convergence behaviour was achieved with the simplex-method. However, at higher dimensions evolution-strategy converges better than the simplex- met hod. Simplex does not converge for dimensions greater than 40. Independent of the number of parameters, the evolution-strategy showed a logarithmic convergence speed. The evolution-strategy, genetic algorithms, simulated annealing, threshold accepting and the deluge algorithm were investigated using a two-dimensional salt dome model. Here only the geometry of the model was optimized, the densities were held constant. The 52 parameters were constrained. In average the (1,10)-CMA-ES required the less function evaluations and gained the best qualities. Independent of the start configuration evolution-strategy found similar solutions, whose qualities were fairly good. Recombination always improved the results in terms of convergence behaviour. The evolution-strategy was stable against numerical variations. At the beginning of the optimization process genetic algorithms converge faster than all other methods, but they never reach the average quality values which were gained by evolution-strategy. In summary the simplex-method, genetic algorithms, simulated annealing, threshold accepting and the deluge algorithm showed worse convergence behaviour than evolution-strategy and genetic algorithms. An application of evolution-strategy to a three dimensional salt dome model showed the problems encountered in three dimensions. Despite this, in terms of gravity fit. the model could be improved noticeable.

Description: thesis

Description: DFG, SUB Göttingen

Description: Mit dem Ziel, aktuelle Arbeitshypothesen zum geologischen Aufbau der Südural-Lithosphäre zu überprüfen, wird das Schwerefeld im Bereich des Südurals mit folgenden gravimetrischen Methoden untersucht: • Numerische Analyse des Schwerefeldes mit Hilfe von Tiefenabschätzungen, Wellenlängenfilterungen und des Parker- Algorithmus sowie • zwei- und dreidimensionale Dichtemodellierungen. Im Vergleich mit dem hauptsächlich eingesetzten Verfahren zur Dichtemodellierung kann festgestellt werden, daß direkte gravimetrische Auswerteverfahren, wie z.B. die Wellenlängenfilterung, für komplizierte geologische Strukturen dem indirekten Auswerteverfahren mittels Dichtemodellierung weit unterlegen sind. So ist es z.B. mit der Wellenlängenfilterung nicht möglich, langwellige negative Schwerewirkungen der paläozoischen Sedimente von den bivergenten Unterkrustenstrukturen zu trennen. Auch mit variablen Dichtekontrasten bezüglich des Krusten-Mantel-Übergangs bei der Anwendung des Parker-Algorithmus ist es nicht möglich, die Schwerewirkung dieser Grenzfläche im gesamten Untersuchungsgebiet abzuschätzen. Die Verbindung und Interpretation aller verfügbaren Randbedingungen aus der Reflexions- und Refraktionsseismik sowie den zur Verfügung stehenden Datensätzen zur Sedimentbedeckung und Moho-Tiefe führt zu komplexen dreidimensionalen Dichtemodellen der Südural-Lithosphäre. Diese führen mit den derzeit verfügbaren Ergebnissen über die strukturellen und physikalischen Eigenschaften der Südural-Lithosphäre im Bereich von 52° - 65° O und 50° - 55,5° N auf zwei gleichberechtigt nebeneinanderstehende Dichtemodelle: 1. Das Dichtemodell 1 beruht auf einer bis in 90 km Tiefe subduzierten osteuropäischen Unterkruste, die massiv eklogitisiert wurde (Dichte 3,55 g /cm3 ). Die Ursache für diese Dichteinterpretation sind geringe Dichten im Bereich der bivergenten geologischen Strukturen der Unterkruste in 24 bis 42 km Tiefe. Diese bivergenten Strukturen sind ebenso die Folgen einer fossilen Subduktion. 2. Im Dichtemodell 2 bildet eine unter dem Orogen liegende osteuropäische Unterkruste eine Krustenverdickung, in deren Folge die Krustenmächtigkeit bis zu 60 km erreicht. Während der Delamination der Unterkruste muß ebenfalls eine Eklogitisierung stattgefunden haben. Das Dichtemodell 2 basiert auf höheren Dichten der bivergenten geologischen Strukturen innerhalb der Unterkruste als im Dichtemodell 1. Eine Gebirgswurzel mit einem deutlichen Kontrast zwischen Kruste und Mantel existiert nicht im Südural. Es wird eine Übergangszone mit Dichtegradienten modelliert. Dieser Dichtegradient kann auf Eklogitisierung des Unterkrustenmaterials beruhen und könnte somit auch die Ursache für das Ausbleiben von seismischen Reflektoren sein. Mit beiden Dichtemodellen werden auch Geoidundulation und Magnetfeld berechnet und deren Wirkung mit der Geoidundulation und dem aeromagnetischen Residualfeld verglichen. Der Vergleich ergibt für die Geoidundulation und das aeromagnetische Residualfeld im langwelligen Anomalienbereich em befriedigendes Ergebnis. Die auf der Interpretation der Bouguer-Schwere beruhenden Dichtemodelle 1 und 2 lassen folgende Schlußfolgerungen zum Aufbau der Lithosphäre im Südural zu: • Die bivergenten Strukturen vor allem im unteren Krustenbereich der Südural-Lithosphäre verursachen langwellige negative Schwereanteile. Zu diesen Strukturen gehören: - die nach Osten einfällende osteuropäische Kruste, - der Falten- und Überschiebungsgürtel im Westural, - die nach Westen einfällenden Strukturen des Ost- und Transurals sowie des kasachischen Terrans. • Eine durch Obduktion in der Oberkruste eingelagerte ozeanische Kruste erzeugt in der Magnitogorsk Zone eine positive kurzwellige Schwereanomalie, die die negativen Schwerewirkungen der darunter befindlichen Strukturen überlagert. • Die negative! Schwerewirkung im Bereich der Voruralsenke ist auf die Schwerewirkung der paläozoischen Sedimentbedeckungen zurückzuführen. Die Untersuchungen zum isostatischen Verhalten der Südural-Lithosphäre zeigen, daß keine klassischen isostatischen Modelle den isostatischen Zustand des Gebirges erklären können, da eine gering ausgeprägte Topographie im Bereich des West- und Zentralurals um 50 bis 100 km nach Westen versetzt ist gegenüber der Krustenverdickung im Bereich der Magnitogorsk und Osturalzone. Mit einem modifizierten Verfahren werden Airy-, Pratt- und Vening-Memesz-Modell miteinander kombiniert. Zunächst wird der lokale isostatische Ausgleich mit Hilfe der Auflastverteilung und -kompensation aus den komplexen Dichtemodellen der Südural-Lithosphäre abgeleitet (Airy- und Pratt-Modell). Um die von den Dichtemodellen nicht mehr kompensierten Masseninhomogenitäten im Zusammenhang mit der Rigidität der Lithosphäre betrachten zu können, werden sie in eine ’’topographische” Auflast zurückgerechnet. Anschließend wird in einem Vening-Meinesz-Modell der regionale isostatische Ausgleich für diese zurückgerechnete ’’topographische” Auflast berechnet. Nur unter Berücksichtigung einer hohen Rigidität der Lithosphäre (3,8 • 1024 Nm) befinden sich beide vorgestellten Dichtemodelle im isostatischen Gleichgewicht. Dies ist offensichtlich auch ein wesentlicher Grund dafür, daß sich die geologischen Strukturen in ihrer vertikalen Position seit der Unteren Trias nicht mehr geändert haben.

Description: I investigate the gravity field in the southern Urals in order to test current hypotheses on the lithospheric structure in this area. My approach to this problem includes the following gravimetric methods: • numerical analyses of the gravity field by means of depth estimations, wavelength filtering and application of the Parker algorithm • two- and three-dimensional density modelling. In contrast to the mainly used density modelling, inverse gravity methods (e.g. wavelength filtering) are not successful at resolving the complex geological structures in this area. For example, I am not able to separate the long-wavelength components of the gravity field from Paleozoic sediments and bi-vergent structures in the lower crust. Estimating the gravity effect of the crust-mantle boundary in the study area, using the Parker-algorithm, is not possible due to its variable density contrast. Data from seismic reflection and refraction surveys and other information relating to the sedimentary cover and Moho depth have been used in the construction of complex three-dimensional density models for the southern Urals’ lithosphere. Incorporating the available details on the structural and physical properties of the southern Urals’ lithosphere in the region between 52° - 65° E and 50° - 55, 5° N, two alternative density models are derived: 1. The density model 1 is based on an East European lower crust which could have been subducted to 90 km depth and eclogitized to a density value of 3.55 g/cm3 . The low density values in the bi-vergent geological structures of the lower crust (from 24 till 42 km depth) overlie a high density body in the upper mantle. These bi-vergent geological structures may be remnants of a fossil subduction setting. 2. In the density model 2, crustal thickening is caused by the East European crust underlying the orogen. The crustal thickness is 60 km. During delamination, the East European lower crust may have been eclogitized. The density model 2 is based on higher density values for the bi-vergent geological structures within the lower crust than in the density model 1. A crustal root, having a significant density contrast between crust and mantle, does not exist in the southern Urals. Using a density gradient, a transition zone is modelled. This density gradient is inferred to be due to eclogitized material in the lower crust. The increasing density could be the cause for the lack of seismic reflectors. The geoid undulation and the magnetic field are calculated for both density models. The results compare satisfactorily with the long- wavelength components of the observed geoid undulation and aeromagnetic residual field. Based on the interpretation of the Bouguer gravity, density models 1 and 2 reveal implications concerning the lithospheric fabric of the southern Urals: • The bi-vergent structures, particularly in the lower crust of the southern Urals’ lithosphere, cause long-wavelength gravity lows. There are following structures: ─ the East European crust dipping to the east, ─ the foreland fold and thrust belt located in the western Urals, ─ the westward-dipping structures of the eastern and Trans-Urals as well as the Kazakhstan terrain. • The obducted oceanic crust in the upper crust of the Magnitogorsk zone causes positive short-wavelength gravity anomalies which are superimposed on the long-wavelength negative gravity effects of the structures located beneath. • Negative gravity anomalies in the area of the Pre-Uralian Foredeep are associated with the gravity effects of the paleozoic sedimentary cover. The investigations into the isostatic behaviour of the southern Urals’ lithosphere show that no classic isostatic model is able to explain the isostatic state of the orogen. The moderate topography in the area of the West and Central Urals is shifted by 50 to 100 km to the west, relative to the largest crustal thickness beneath the Magnitogorsk and East Uralian Zone. A modified method combines the Airy-, the Pratt- and the Vening-Meinsz models. Firstly the local isostatic balance is inferred from the load distribution and the load compensation using the complex density models of the southern Urals’ lithosphere (Airy- and Pratt-model). In order to consider the non-compensated mass inhomogeneities of the density models according to the flexural rigidity of the lithosphere, the non-compensated mass inhomogeneities are recalculated to a ’’topographic” load. Next, the regional isostatic balance as a Vening-Meinesz-model is calculated for the recalculated ’’topographic” load. When allowance is made for the high flexural rigidity of the lithosphere (3.8 • 1024 Nm), both density models presented here are in isostatic balance. Obviously this is the main reason why the geological structures have not changed their vertical position since the Lower Triassic time.

Description: Целью данной работы является проверка существующих моделей строения литосферы Южного Урала по гравиметрическим данным. Для этого исрользуются методы численного анализа гравитационного поля, основанные на: • эмпирической оценке глубин источников аномалий, частотной фильтрации, методе Паркера и • прямом гравитационном моделировании литосферы (двух- и трехмерном). В отличие от обычно используемой технологии гравитационного моделирования, такие методы, как, например, частотная фильтрация не могут быть использованы в данном случае. Невозможно разделить влияние длинноволновых компонент гравитационного поля, обусловленных влиянием палеозойских осадочных отложений и наклоненных слоев нижней коры ц обеих сторон Урала. Также неправомерно использовать алгоритм Паркера для оценки влияния границы между корой мантией вследствие переменного перепада плотности на ней. Включение в анализ доступных опорных данных, основанных на результатах сейсмических методов с использованием отраженных и преломленных волн, данных об осадочном чехле и положении границы Мохо приводит к созданию комплексной плотностной модели литосферы Южного Урала. Использование всех существующих данных о структуре и физических свойствах литосферы Южного Урала в пределах 52° - 65° Е и 50° - 55,5° N позволило построить две эквивалентные плотностные модели: 1. Первая плотностная модель основана на представлении о том, что нижняя кора Восточно-Европейской платформы погружается на глубину 90 кт, при этом происходит эклогитизация её вещества с увеличением плотности до 3,55 g/cm3. Таким образом, наклоненные с обеих сторон блоки нижней коры ответственны за существование высокоплотного тела в верхней мантии. На глубинах 24 - 42 km они характеризуются сравнительно низкими значениями плотностей. Существование этих блоков может быть объяснено также как результат обычной субдукции. 2. Согласно второй модели, утолщение коры объясняется поддвигом под ороген коры Восточно-Европейской платформы. Толщина коры достигает 60 кт. Вследствие деламинации, часть её также должна быть эклогитизирована. Во второй модели значения плотностей наклоненных блоков нижней коры существенно больше, чем в пербой. Копень коры с существенным перепадом плотности под Южным Уралом отсутствует. Вместо этого мы используем при моделировании переходную зону с некоторым градиентом плотности. Этот градиент может быть оценен в предположении об эклогитизации нижней коры. Непрерывное увеличение плотности может быть связано с отсутствием отражающих горизонтов на этих глубинах. Ундуляции геоида и вариации магнитного поля были рассчитаны для обоих моделей и сопоставлены с наблюденными значениями геоида и аэромагнитными измерениями. Оказалось, что удовлетворительное соответствие наблюдается только для длинноволновых аномалий. Таким образом, основанные на интерпретации аномалий Буге плотностые модели 1 и 2 позволяют сформулировать следующие выводы о строении литосферы Южного Урала: • наклоненные в сторону Урала структуры коры, в особенности нижней, ответственны за существование длинноволнового гравитационного минимума. К ним можно отнести: ─ погружающуюся на Восток Восточно-Европейскую платформу, ─ предгорный складчатый пояс Южного Урала, ─ заглубленные в западном напрвлении структуры Восточный зоны, Трансуральской зоны и Казахстанского террэйна. • Фрагмент океанической коры, находящийся вблизи от поверхности в Магнитогорской зоне, вызывает сравнительно коротковолновую положительную аномалию гравитационного поля, которая наложена на длинноволновую отрицательную аномалию, обусловленную структурами, располагающимися ниже. • Отрицательная аномалия в районе Предуральского прогиба может быть объяснена за счёт гравитационного эффекта палеозойского осадочного чехла. Исследование изостатического состояния литосферы Южного Урала показывает, что классические изостатические модели не позволяют объяснить изостазию этого горного массива. Современная топография Западного и Центрального Урала смещена на 50 - 100 кт к западу по отношению к самому глубокому корню коры. Модифицированный метод соединяет изостатические модели Эри, Пратта и Вейнинг-Мейнеса. Первоначально, локальный изостатический баланс оценивается на основании данных о нагрузке и её компенсации в соответствие с построенной комплексной моделью литосферы Южного Урала (модели Эри и Пратта). Для того, чтобы оценить сумму нескомпенсированных плотностных неоднородностей, поддерживаемых за счёт жесткости литосферы, эти неоднородности пересчитываются в ” топографическую” нагрузку. Затем, для этой нагрузки рассчитывается региональная изостатическая компенсация в соответствие со схемой Вейнинг-Мейнеса. Обе рассмотренные плотностные модели могут считаться изостатически сбалансированы только в предположении о высокой эффективной жесткости литосферы (3,8 • 1024 Nm). Очевидно, это является также основной причиной того, что эти геологические структуры не претерпели существенных вертикальных движений со времени позднего Триаса.

Description: thesis

Description: DFG, SUB Göttingen

Description: Die Ordnungen Cerithiimorpha und Littorinimorpha stellen umfangreiche systematische Gruppen innerhalb der basalen Caenogastropoda mit einfachen konisch-orthostrophen Protoconchen dar. Diese Großgruppen lassen sich seit der späten Trias differenzieren und lassen seit der Kreidezeit eine zunehmende Diversität erkennen. Im folgenden werden ausgewählte Vertreter aus fünf Überfamilien und 20 Familien unter besonderer Berücksichtigung ihrer frühontogenetischen Schalen beschrieben und ihre Entwicklungsgeschichte wird seit der Kreide belegt. Die Überfamilie Cerithioidea stellt die Kerngruppe der Cerithiimorpha und war mit der Familie Procerithiidae seit dem Jura weltweit im Flachmarin verbreitet. Form und Skulptur der Larvalschale ermöglichte es, die Gattung Schroederium n.g. von den Gattungen Procerithium und Cryptaulax zu trennen. In der Oberkreide lassen sich die nahe verwandten Familien Cassiopidae, Potamididae, Melanopsidae und Scaliolidae über ihre Protoconchmorphologie sicher von den Procerithiidae differenzieren. Die Familien Batillariidae und Modulidae sind durch ihre charakteristische Embryonalschalenskulptur als Schwestergruppen ausgewiesen. Ihre nahe Verwandtschaft wird auch durch anatomische Daten gestützt. Innerhalb der seit dem Eozän in Protoconcherhaltung dokumentierten Familie Cerithiidae, Unterfamilie Cerithiinae, treten abhängig vom besiedelten Habitat zwei Protoconchtypen auf, die mit zu unterscheidenden Radulatypen korrelieren. Die Unterfamilie Bittiinae konnte über Details der Larvalschalenskulptur seit dem Eozän belegt und von den Cerithiinae differenziert werden. Die Adelphotaxa Planaxidae und Thiaridae mit dem gemeinsamen Merkmal einer Bruttasche im Kopffußbereich sind ebenfalls seit dem Eozän bekannt. Larvalschalen fossiler und rezenter Planaxinae werden vergleichend dargestellt. Larvalschalen der hinsichtlich der Morphologie des Teleoconches abweichenden Unterfamilie Fossarinae belegen die Nähe zur Nominatunterfamilie und ermöglichten eine sichere Abgrenzung von gehäusekonvergenten Vertretern der Littorinimorpha. Über die Formation der frühontogenetischen Schale, die eine charakteristische Embryogenese widerspiegelt, war es möglich, die Brackwasser und limnische Biotope besiedelnden Thiaridae bis in das mittlere Eozän zu belegen, was auch Anlaß zu neuen paläobiogeographischen Interpretationen gab. Pseudamauridae konnten über ihre Protoconche von der Oberkreide bis in das Eozän belegt und von gehäusekonvergenten Naticoidea (Neomesogastropoda) und Amphibolidae innerhalb der Archaeopulmonata (Heterostropha) abgegrenzt werden. Die Phylogenese der Überfamilien Vermetoidea und Turritelloidea wurde von der Unterkreide bis rezent dokumentiert, wobei konvergente Gruppen über ihre Protoconche differenziert wurden. Innerhalb der Littorinimorpha konnten charakteristische Merkmale der Embryonal- und Larvalschalen herausgearbeitet und zur Untergliederung der Littorinoidea und Rissooidea herangezogen werden. Pickworthiidae mit alloisostroph abgewinkelten Protoconchen konnten bis in das Danium belegt werden. Der direkte Vergleich mit Protoconchen der triassischen Protstyliferidae mit detaillierten Übereinstimmungen dokumentiert die unabhängige Evolution dieser Linie. Die konvergenten Vanikoridae ließen sich über ihre Protoconchmorphologie trennen, wobei auch signifikante Unterschiede zu den übrigen Littorinimorpha dargestellt werden. Micromphalina peyrerensis und Megalomphalus (M.) antwerpensis werden neu beschrieben und den Vanikoridae eingegliedert.

Description: The orders Cerithiimorpha and Littorinimorpha represent large systematic units within the stem of Caenogastropoda with simple conical-orthostrophic protoconchs. These groups are separated since the Upper Triassic showing increasing diversity since the Upper Cretaceous. Representatives of five superfamilies and 20 families are described with special reference to their early ontogenetic shells. The family Procerithiidae within the superfamily Cerithioidea has been distributed worldwide since Jurassic times as a faunal element in shallow marine environments. Regarding the shape and sculpture of its larval shell the procerithiid Schroederium n.g. could be differentiated from the genera Procerithium and Cryptaulax. Since the Upper Cretaceous brackish-water Cassiopidae, Potamididae and Melanopsidae can be differentiated from Procerithiidae by their protoconch-morphology. The families Batillariidae and Modulidae represent Adelphotaxa. This relation is proven by the uniting character of embryonic tuberculated sculpture and data concerning their anatomy. The Cerithiidae, subfamily Cerithiinae, are documented since the Eocene with preserved protoconchs. Two types of larval sculpture are present depending on the settled habitat, correlated with two different types of radulae. The subfamily Bittiinae is also documented and distinguished from the Cerithiinae by their protoconch-morphology since the Eocene. The Adelphotaxa Planaxidae and Thiaridae with the uniting character of a brood pouch within the head-foot are present since the Eocene. Larval shells of fossil and Recent Planaxinae are compared. Protoconchs of representatives of the subfamily Fossarinae with different teleoconch-morphology proved the close relation to the Planaxinae and also made a differentiation from convergent littorinimorphs feasible. The analysis of early ontogenetic shells of brackish water and limnic Thiaridae enabled to trace them back to the Middle Eocene and made new interpretations concerning their palaeobiogeography possible. Pseudamauridae could be documented from the Upper Cretaceous to the Middle Eocene with the aid of preserved protoconchs and could be discriminated from convergent Naticoidea and Archaeopulmonata. The phylogenetic history of Vermetoidea and Turritelloidea could be reconstructed since the Early Cretaceous and convergent groups could be differentiated. Within the Littorinimorpha characters regarding the early shell could be worked out to subdivide Littorinoidea and Rissooidea. Pickworthiidae with alloisostrophic protoconchs are documented since the Danian. Comparison with protoconchs of Triassic Prostyliferidae yielded detailed accordance and documents the independent history of this lineage. The convergent Vanikoridae could be discriminated by their protoconch-morphology and significant differences to the other Littorinimorpha are presented. Micromphalina peyrerensis and Megalomphalus (M.) antwerpensis are described as new species and are included within the Vanikoridae.

Description: thesis

Description: DFG, SUB Göttingen

Description: In dieser Arbeit wird die elektrische Leitfähigkeit von Krustengesteinen während des partiellen Schmelzens mit der Verteilung der Schmelze im Gestein und dem Schmelzanteil als Funktion der Temperatur verglichen. Es wurden impedanzspektroskopische Messungen der elektrischen Leitfähigkeit bei Temperaturen zwischen 600 und 1200°C durchgeführt. Die Messungen erfolgten bei Normaldruck und verschiedenen Sauerstoffugazitäten. Diese Messungen wurden mit den Ergebnissen von Schmelzexperimenten verglichen. Aus den Schmelzexperimenten wurden Informationen zur Verteilung der Schmelze im Gestein und zum Schmelzanteil in Abhängigkeit von der Temperatur gewonnen. Alle Untersuchungen wurden am gleichen Gestein unter den selben experimentellen Bedingungen durchgeführt. Während des partiellen Schmelzens gibt es einen sprunghaften Anstieg der elektrischen Leitfähigkeit um ein bis zwei Größenordnungen. Dieser sprunghafte Anstieg kann mit der Bildung eines vollständigen Netzwerkes an Schmelze erklärt werden, wobei die Schmelzfilme als Leitungspfade wirken. Es konnte festgestellt werden, daß zur Ausbildung der Gleichgewichtsmorphologie während des partiellen Schmelzens sehr lange Zeiten erforderlich sind. Wird die elektrische Leitfähigkeit am Beginn des Schmelzens bei konstanter Temperatur als Funktion der Zeit gemessen, so treten erst nach mehr als 200 h keine Änderungen der Leitfähigkeit mehr auf. Mit Hilfe eines modifizierten Brick-Layer-Modells (MBLM) kann die elektrische Leitfähigkeit als Funktion des Schmelzanteils berechnet werden. Dieses Modell gilt für den Fall, daß die Schmelze ein vollständiges Netzwerk entlang von Komgrenzen bildet. Mit dem Modell und den Ergebnissen aus den Schmelzexperimenten konnten theoretische Kurven der elektrischen Leitfähigkeit berechnet werden, die mit den gemessenen Kurven der elektrischen Leitfähigkeit verglichen werden können. Obwohl bereits bei Beginn des Schmelzens die Komgrenzen von Schmelze benetzt werden, wird eine vollständige Vernetzung der Schmelze erst bei höheren Temperaturen und größeren Schmelzanteilen erreicht. Dies kann durch Abweichungen vom morphologischen Gleichgewicht in den partiell geschmolzenen Proben gedeutet werden. Die Ergebnisse stützen die Annahme, daß eine Zone hoher Leitfähigkeit unter den zentralen Anden durch große Mengen an Magma verursacht wird. Mit dem MBLM konnte abgeschätzt werden, daß ca. 20% Schmelze notwendig sind, um die im Gelände mit der Magnetotellurik gemessenen Leitfähigkeiten zu erklären.

Description: The purpose of the present work is to achieve a better understanding of rocks during partial melting. Therefore the electrical conductivity of crustal rocks during partial melting was compared to the distribution of melt in the rock sample and to the melt fraction as a function of temperature. Impedance spectroscopic investigations of the electrical conductivity were conducted at temperatures between 600 and 1200°C, normal pressure and at different oxygen fugacities. These measurements were compared with the results of melting experiments. The melting experiments were performed under the same experimental conditions and the same rock sample was used. The rock samples were equilibrated at the desired temperatures, quenched and investigated using thin sections. These melting experiments provide information about the distribution of melt in the rock sample and yield the melt fraction as a function of temperature. A strong increase in electrical conductivity of about two orders of magnitude is observed during partial melting. This increase could be explained by assuming the formation of an interconnected network of melt. The charge transport follows the network forming melt films at the grain boundaries. It could be established that the formation of steady state of a partially molten rock requires a long time. The conductivity was measured as a function of time at temperatures little above the solidus. Under these conditions constant conductivity values are found after 200 h.

Description: thesis

Description: DFG, SUB Göttingen

Description: In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurden weitwinkelseismische Daten aus dem Land-See-kombinierten Projekt CINCA 95 ausgewertet. Die Daten wurden auf drei EW-streichenden Profilen bei 21°S, 22°S und 23.25°S registriert. Die Linien umfassen das Gebiet zwischen Peru-Chile- Trench und Westkordillere, also den Forearc-Bereich der nord-chilenischen erosiven Subduktionszone. Der Hauptteil der Daten besteht aus einer Anregerlinie auf See und einer Empfängerlinie auf Land. Ergänzend wurden Sprengungen am westlichen und östlichen Ende der Empfängerlinie durchgeführt. Aus dem Datensatz wurden in der ersten Bearbeitungsstufe mit den Methoden der Refraktionsseismik drei vp-Geschwindigkeitsmodelle erstellt, die ihre Aussage im äußeren Forearc, also dem Gebiet zwischen Rinne und Küste haben. Dabei kann folgendes festgehalten werden: • Sie zeigen die Nazca-Platte mit einem sich versteilenden Subduktionswinkel von 10° direkt nach der Subduktion auf 23-25° vor der Küste Nord-Chiles. Die subduzierte Platte zeigt, was ihren Abtauchwinkel anbelangt, keine NS-Variation. • In der Geschwindigkeitszunahme an der Oberkante der subduzierten Platte zeigt sich durchaus eine Differenz in NS-Richtung: im Norden nimmt die Geschwindigkeit von 4.5 km/s direkt nach dem Untertauchen unter die südamerikanische Platte auf 6.5 km/s auf einer Distanz von 70 km zu, während sie im Süden dazu nur noch 30 km benötigt. Diese Struktur wird als Lage erodierten und subduzierten Gesteinsmaterials zwischen den Platten interpretiert. • Bereits im westlichsten Krustenblock, also dem Teil, der heute an der Rinne zur Erosion ansteht, zeigt sich eine hohe vp-Geschwindigkeit von 5.8 km/s. Sie nimmt zur Küste hin noch auf 6.0 km/s direkt an der Oberfläche zu. Die Kruste ist im Norden deutlich differenziert. Auch dies nimmt nach Süden hin ab und so sind auf dem südlichsten Profil keine Krustenstrukturen mehr in Tiefen unterhalb von 11 km modelliert worden. • Auf den Profilen bei 21°S und 22°S wurde eine platten-parallele Diskontinuität, die die Oberkante zu einer Zone erhöhter Geschwindigkeit bildet (7.1 km/s), modelliert. Sie hat eine Neigung von 15°. Diese Diskontinuität wird im Zusammenhang mit bereits existierenden Modellen für den landseitigen Forearc als Paläo-Moho interpretiert. Das darunterliegende Gestein mit einer Geschwindigkeit von 7.0 km/s wird entsprechend als serpentinisierter oberster Mantel verstanden. • Unterhalb schließt sich eine Zone stark erniedrigter Geschwindigkeit an, die zwischen der abtauchenden Platte und der Oberplatte einen Keil bildet. Sie hat eine Geschwindigkeit von 6.4 km/s und wird als Anlagerungsort des erodierten und subduzierten Gesteins interpretiert. • Die östlich der Küste in den vp -Schnitten als Moho modellierte Diskontinuität wurde durch die vorherigen Arbeiten bestätigt und als die heutige, geophysikalische Moho interpretiert. Zur Erosion am Kontinentalrand kann folgendes festgestellt werden: • Eine Varianz im Ablauf der Erosion wird nahegelegt, kann aber nicht bewiesen werden. • Nach der hier vorgelegten Interpretation findet die Erosion in der Hauptsache frontal statt. In einem zweiten Bearbeitungsschritt wurde die seeseitige Spurdichte von 160 m zu einer CMP-Stapelung der Weitwinkeldaten ausgenutzt. Bei der Bearbeitung der Daten wurden ausschließlich Tools der Standard-Reflexionsseismik verwendet. Dabei sollte ein Strukturabbild ähnlich dem aus der Standard-Reflexionsseismik bekannten entstehen. Diese Art des Prozessierens von Daten wurde bisher auf einen Datensatz mit so großer Apertur noch nicht angewandt. Es konnte gezeigt werden, daß mit einem unkonventionellen Ansatz durchaus Zusatzinformationen aus den Daten gewonnen werden können: die Oberkante der Niedergeschwindigkeitszone sowie die ozeanische Moho konnten auf dem nördlichsten Profil bestätigt werden, die platten-parallel liegende Struktur sowie die ozeanische Moho konnten auf dem mittleren Profil bestätigt werden und auf dem südlichsten zeigte sich, dass die Unterkante der ozeanischen Kruste weiter nach Osten hin detektiert werden konnte, als durch die refraktionsseismische Bearbeitung möglich war.

Description: In this thesis wide-angle seismic data from the on-shore/off-shore CINCA 95project were analysed. The data set was recorded on three E-W profiles at 21°S, 22°S und 23.25°S. These profiles cover the region between the Peru-Chile trench and the Western Cordillera, i.e. the forearc of the north-Chile subduction zone. The north-Chile margin is an example of a non-accreting, eroding continental margin. The data set mainly consists of three off-shore lines of airgun shots and on-shore receiver lines. Additional chemical shots were performed at the ends of the receiver lines. A vp-velocity model was derived for each profile using seismic refraction interpretation methods. The models are well constrained in the outer forearc, i.e. the region between the trench and the coast line. Major results are summarized as follows. • The models show the Nazca plate subducting at an angle of 10°near the trench, increasing to 23-25° near the coast. There is no N-S variation in the behaviour of the subduction angle. • However, a N-S variation in the lateral velocity increase at the top of the subducted plate can be derived. On the northernmost profile the velocity increases from 4.5 km/s at the trench to 6.5 km/s, 70 km E of the trench, whereas on the southernmost profile, this velocity increase occurs over a distance of only 30 km. This structure is interpreted as a layer of eroded and subducted material. • In the westernmost portion of the continental crust, where erosion occurs, a high vp-velocity of 5.8 km/s is found. It increases to 6.0 km/s towards the coast. In the north the crust is more differentiated. This differentiation weakens southwards and on the southernmost profile no additional crustal structure in the upper plate was modelled beneath 11 km depth. • On the profiles at 21°S and 22°S a discontinuity parallel to the subducting plate was modelled, representing the top of a high velocity (7.1 km/s) zone. The discontinuity dips at an angle of 15°. On the basis of an existing model for the on-shore part of the forearc this discontinuity is interpreted as a paleo-Moho. The high velocity zone is thus interpreted to be serpentinized uppermost mantle. • The high velocity zone is followed by a low velocity zone, which forms a wedge between the subducting plate and the overriding plate. It has a velocity of 6.4 km/s and is interpreted as a depot for the eroded and subducted material. • The Moho east of the coast is confirmed by former studies in the area and interpreted as the recent geophysical Moho of the South American continent. Concerning erosion at a continental margin the following can be noted. • An episodical character of erosion is implied by the models but cannot be proven. • The interpretation presented in this thesis implies frontal erosion along the Peru-Chile trench in this region. For further interpretation the dense shot line off-shore (160 m shot interval) was utilized for a CMP-stack of the wide-angle data. This was achieved with standards tools used in the processing of near- vertical incidence reflection data. The goal was to achieve a structural image similar to that which can be obtained from standard near-vertical incidence data. So far, this kind of processing has not been used for data with such a large aperture. Using this non-conventional approach some further information could be drawn from the data set. On the profile at 21°S the upper boundary of the low velocity wedge between the plates could be confirmed as well as the oceanic Moho. On the profile at 22°S the plate parallel structure as well as the oceanic Moho could be confirmed. On the profile at 23.25°S, with the help of the CMP processing, the subducting oceanic Moho could be traced further east than in the velocity model which was derived using standard seismic refraction interpretation methods.

Description: thesis

Description: DFG, SUB Göttingen

Description: In der vorliegenden Arbeit werden die Ergebnisse des refraktionsseismischen Experimentes PISCO'94 [Proyecto de Investigaciones Sismológicas de la Cordillera Occidental 1994] präsentiert, das 1994 vom Sonderforschungsbereich 267 "Deformationsprozesse in den Anden" im Andensegment 21-24°SZ 67-70°W durchgeführt wurde. Das Experiment knüpfte an ein in den 80er-Jahren vermessenes Netz refraktionsseismischer Profile an. Das Ziel der neuen Messungen war die Bestimmung der Lithosphärenstruktur im Bereich des magmatischen Bogens und seiner Nachbargebiete. Zu diesem Zweck wurde ein 300 km langes N-S streichendes Profil mit 4 Schußpunkten am westlichen Rand des magmatischen Bogens, der Westkordillere, vermessen. Weiterhin wurde ein neues W-E streichendes Profil, welches bei 23°30'S von der Krustenkordillere bis zur Westkordillere reicht, beobachtet. Bereits früher vermessene Profile in der Präkordillere wurden durch Gegenbeobachtungen bzw. weitere Schußpunkte ergänzt. Aus den abgeleiteten ein- und zweidimensionalen Modellierungen wurde ein dreidimensionales Übersichtsmodell für das Untersuchungsgebiet erstellt. Im Forearc-Bereich bestätigt es im wesentlichen die Ergebnisse früherer refraktionsseismischer Untersuchugen: Die Durchschnittsgeschwindigkeit der Kruste nimmt von 6.6 km/s unter der Küstenkordillere auf 6.2 km/s unter der Präkordillere ab. Die Moho der subduzierten ozeanischen Platte wird in ca. 40 km Tiefe unter der Küstenkordillere beobachtet. Die ursprüngliche kontinentale Moho wurde stark überarbeitet und ist seismisch nicht eindeutig zu bestimmen. Eine Diskontinuität in 10-12 km Tiefe unter der Küstenkordillere, die unter der Präkordillere bei ca. 20 km Tiefe liegt, wird als Grenze zwischen Ober- und Unterkruste angesehen. In 20 km Tiefe unter der Küstenkordillere befindet sich ein Bereich hoher Geschwindigkeit, der als Basis der kontinentalen Kruste interpretiert wird. Dieser Bereich läßt sich in die Präkordillere hinein verfolgen, wo er bei ca. 35-40 km Tiefe liegt. Der Bereich darunter weist bis in ca. 60 km Tiefe Krustengeschwindigkeiten (vp 〈 7.5 km/s) auf. Dies könnte durch hydratisiertes Material des peridotitischen Mantelkeils erklärt werden. Die Natur einer markanten, in 60-70 km Tiefe liegenden Diskontinuität, an der die Geschwindigkeit regional auf über 7.9 km/s zunimmt und die als "Moho" bezeichnet wird, ist unklar. Vermutlich handelt es sich um die Oberkante einer Übergangszone zwischen Asthenosphäre und Lithosphäre. Die für die magmatischen Bogen aus seismologischen und gravimetrischen Untersuchungen abgeleitete Krustendicke von ca. 70 km wird durch die neuen refraktionsseismischen Daten nicht bestätigt Bis in eine Tiefe von 60 km wurden keine Mohoreflexionen beobachtet. Jedoch können die seismischen Diskontinuitäten der Präkordillere, insbesondere die Grenze zwischen Ober- und Unterkruste in ca. 20 km Tiefe, in die Westkordillere hinein verfolgt werden. Bis in 45-60 km Tiefe überschreitet die Geschwindigkeit der beobachteten seismischen Diskontinuitäten 7.5 km/s nicht Die Durchschnittsgeschwindigkeit ist mit 5.9-6.0 km/s gering. Im Streichen des magmatischen Bogens ändern sich Krustenstruktur und Geschwindigkeitsverteilung im Übergangsbereich von steiler zu flacher Subduktion. Im Norden des Untersuchungsgebietes wird eine stark strukturierte Kruste mit z.T. extremen Niedriggeschwindigkeitszonen und starker Dämpfung seismischer Wellen beobachtet. Eine plausible Erklärung dafür ist die Existenz partieller Schmelzen in der Kruste. Als Quelle des extremen Schwerehochs, das von Calama südöstlich streicht, wurde Material mit Geschwindigkeiten von 〉 6.4 km/s in 2-10 sowie 15-20 km Tiefe bestimmt. Im südlichen Teil des Untersuchungsgebietes dagegen ist die Kruste des magmatischen Bogens relativ unstrukturiert und weist keine erhöhte Dämpfung mehr auf. Als Ursache für diese Differenzen sowie das Zurückversetzen des magmatischen Bogens südlich von 23°S wird eine (prä-neogene) dünne und harte Kruste im südlichen Teil des Untersuchungsgebietes angesehen.

Description: The object of this paper is the presentation of the results of the seismic refraction experiment PISCO'94 [Proyecto de Investigaciones Sismológicas de la Cordillera Occidental 1994], carried out in 1994 by the Collaborative Research Center 267 "Deformation Processes in the Andes" in the Andean segment 21-24°S/ 67-70°N. The experiment continued a net of seismic refraction profiles measured in the 80s. The aim of the new measurements was to investigate the crustal structure of the magmatic arc region and its vicinity. A N-S-running profile, 300 km long with 4 shotpoints, was measured along the western margin of the magmatic arc, the Western Cordillera. Furthermore a new W-E profile at 23°30'S was observed, which reaches from the Coastal Cordillera to the Western Cordillera. Complementary shotpoints and reversed observations to earlier profiles in the Precordillera were realized. From the derived 1- and 2- dimensional models a generalized three dimensional model was produced. In the forearc region it confirms essentially the results of earlier seismic refraction studies. The average P-wave velocity of the crust decreases from 6.6 km/s beneath the Coastal Cordillera to 6.2 km/s beneath the Precordillera. The Moho of the downgoing oceanic plate is observed at about 40 km depth beneath the Coastal Cordillera. The original continental Moho was strongly modified and cannot be clearly determined by seismic data. The discontinuity in 10-12 km depth beneath the Coastal Cordillera, downgoing to about 20 km depth beneath the Precordillera, is interpreted as boundary between upper and lower crust. A high velocity zone at about 20 km depth beneath the Coastal Cordillera is interpreted as base of the continental crust This zone can be continued to a depth of 35-40 km beneath the Precordillera. The region below is characterized down to about 60 km depth by crustal velocities (vp 〈7.5 km/s). One explanation could be hydrated material of the peridotitic mantle wedge. In 60-70 km depth the velocity increases regionally to values above 7.9 km/s. The nature of this prominent discontinuity, called "Moho", is unclear. It indicates probably the top of a lithosphere/asthenosphere transition zone. A crustal thickness of 70 km for the magmatic arc, derived from seismological and gravimetric investigations, is not confirmed by the new seismic refraction datas. There are no Moho observations down to 60 km, but the seismic discontinuities of the Precordillera can be traced into the Western Cordillera. A discontinuitiy at about 20 km depth is interpreted as top of the lower crust, which reaches to about 40 km depth. Down to 45-60 km the velocities of the observed seismic discontinuities do not exceed 7.5 km/s. The average velocity is low (5.9-6.0 km/s). Along the strike of the magmatic arc crustal structure and velocity are changing in the transition zone from steep to flat subduction. In the north of the area under investigation a strongly structured crust with zones of extremely low velocities and strong attenuation of seismic waves is observed. This could be explained by partial melts in the crust. As source of the gravity high SE of Calama material with velocities 〉 6.4 km/s in 2-10 and 15-20 km depth was determined. In contrary, the crust of the southern part of the area is relatively uniform without high attenuation. These differences as well as the rebound of the magmatic arc south of 23°S could be caused by a pre-neogene thin and hard crust in the southern part of the area under investigation.

Description: thesis

Description: DFG, SUB Göttingen

Description: The only known population of coelacanths, in the Comores, western Indian Ocean, is endangered by human predation. Historical catch data from Grande Comore reveal that annual catch rates increased steadily from 1954 until the 1970s. This trend was temporarily interrupted due to an international policy introducing motorized boats and promoting offshore fishing techniques. Coelacanths are only caught from traditional unmotorized outrigger canoes as an incidental by-catch of deep water line fishing. A complete survey of all motorized and unmotorized vessels in 1995 at Grande Comore in comparison to earlier years indicated that a recent decreased use of motors and increase of unmotorized canoe fishing has led to an increase in coelacanth catches. Conservation measures and strategies for reducing the fishing pressure exerted on coelacanths are discussed. The southwest coast of Grande Comore should be designated as a nature reserve and protected area where immediate protection measures should be taken, an opinion which is supported by Comorian authorities.

Description: VHF telemetry was used in November and December 1995 on 8 Humboldt penguins Spheniscus humboldti breeding at Pan de Azúcar Island (26°S, 70°W), Northern Chile, to determine at-sea behaviour of the birds. We obtained 2710 locations, 90% of which were within a radius of 20 km around the island. Mean travelling speed of the birds was 0.92 m s-1 and speed distribution showed peaks at 1.6 and 3 m s-1. Penguins travelling between foraging areas remained submerged for an average of 8.4 s between surfacings, whereas foraging dives lasted on average 61 s. The analysis of 79 complete foraging trips showed that tracks deviated from a straight course, and range (maximum distance from island) was only 0.37 times total horizontal distance swum. Birds did not forage synchronously or in the same foraging areas. However, foraging ranges were correlated between birds, indicating similar search strategies during periods of low food availability. The results obtained here via VHF telemetry agreed well with those of previous studies employing satellite transmitters and data loggers.

Description: The stable carbon isotope composition (δ13C) of particulate organic carbon (POC) was measured in 3 size fractions (POCtotal, POC〉20 µm, POC〈20 µm) during a phytoplankton spring bloom dominated by the diatom Skeletonema costatum in Lindåspollene, a land-locked fjord in southern Norway. In addition to standard parameters for characterizing the phytoplankton bloom (chlorophyll, nutrient, and POC concentrations, and species composition), simultaneous measurements of δ13C of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), total alkalinity and DIC concentration were obtained to determine temporal trends in dissolved carbon dioxide concentration and in carbon isotope fractionation (ε p) of the POC size fractions. The carbon isotope composition of the 〉20 µm size fraction, which was dominated by diatoms, was ca 2o/oo heavier than that of the 〈20 µm fraction, which was mainly composed of flagellates. δ13C of both size fractions increased by about 3o/oo over the course of the bloom. A 5o/oo increase in δ13C-PO Ctotal during the bloom resulted partly from a shift in the phytoplankton community from a flagellate- to a diatom-dominated one. Carbon isotope fractionation of all fractions decreased with declining CO2(aq) concentration (14 to 〉6 µmol l-1). A positive correlation between ε p and [CO2(aq)] in the diatom size fraction was obtained for the period of exponential growth. Deviation from this correlation occurred after the peak in cell density and chlorphyll a (chl a) concentration, when POC still continued to increase, and may be related to changing phytoplankton growth rates or to possible effects of nutrient (nitrate) limitation on ε p. Comparison of these results with those of previous field studies shows that, while an inverse relationship is consistently observed between ε p and the ratio of instantaneous growth rate and CO2 concentration {µi/[CO2(aq)]}, considerable scatter exists in this relationship. While this scatter may have partly resulted from inconsistencies between the different studies in estimating phytoplankton growth rate, it could also reflect that factors other than growth rate and CO2 concentration significantly contribute to determining isotope fractionation by marine phytoplankton in the natural environment

Description: A total of 354 adult European smelts Osmerus eperlanus (L.) were tested for their ability to survive the screen system of the cooling water inflow of a power plant. With increasing number of musculature parasitic third-stage larvae of Pseudoterranova decipiens, the survival rate of O. eperlanus decreased while the total number of externally visible injuries as well as the number of seriously injured specimens increased. The results indicate that even a single specimen of P. decipiens influences resistance and stamina and affects overall mortality of 7 to 20 cm long smelts. The initial effect of the parasites is to reduce swimming speed of infested fish, which leads to more frequent contact of these fish with the fine meshed screen of the cooling water inlet before they are removed by the automatic cleaning system. If the separated fishes are returned to the main stream, it becomes apparent that the cooling water inflow selectively reduces the number of living parasitised smelt in the area. Thus, the number of parasitic third-stage P. decipiens larvae in the local smelt population which are able to complete their life-cycle is also reduced. P. decipiens makes infested smelt more susceptible to negative anthropogenic influences such as cooling water intake or trawl fisheries.

Description: During a transition period from oxic to anoxic conditions in the bottom water, rates of sulfate reduction and methane production, methane fluxes, as well as concentration profiles of sulfate, sulfide and methane were measured in sediments at a central site of the Gotland Deep (Stn AL 93, 241 m depth), which is regarded as representative for the deepest part of this basin. During this period from 1993 to 1996 oxic conditions in the bottom water prevailed from spring 1994 until summer 1995 with oxygen concentrations decreasing progressively with time. In the sediments methane production occurred primarily in layers below 1 m depth and flux rates of methane to the sediment surface were characterized by a steep concentration gradient from approx. 5 mM at 4 m depth to values close to 30 μM at the surface, determined by diffusion processes and anaerobic oxidation of methane. Both processes were independent of changes at the sediment surface. Differences in the flux rates of methane between the deeper part with a mean value of 259 μmol m-2 d-1 and the upper layers with a mean of 47.7 μmol m-2 d-1 indicate that a considerable proportion of the methane is oxidized within the anoxic horizon of the sediment (71 to 86% in the layer from 40 to 70 cm). Low rates of methane production found within the top 20 cm of the sediment during periods of oxic bottom water increased after depletion of oxygen and resulted in a clear maximum of the methane concentration in the top 2 cm. Sulfate concentrations declined exponentially from values of 11.5 mM in June 1994 and 8.5 mM in October 1995 at the sediment surface to values of 2.5 mM at 20 cm depth and of less than 0.5 mM at 50 to 60 cm depth. High sulfate reduction rates (150 to 250 nmol cm-3 d-1) in the upper part of the sediment (8 to 13 cm) coincided with maxima of sulfide concentrations. During the time period of this investigation an increase of maximum sulfide concentrations in the sediment from 1 to 10 mM was measured together with decreasing oxygen concentrations in the deep water. At the same time sulfate reduction established a small but distinct maximum at the top layer of the sediment (0 to 2 cm). The relative importance of sulfate reduction and methanogenesis in the carbon budget of the Gotland Deep sediments is calculated on the basis of the actual measurements.

Description: In steady state, the export of photosynthetically fixed organic matter to the deep ocean has to be balanced by an upward flux of nutrients into the euphotic zone1. Indirect geochemical estimates2 of the nutrient supply to surface waters have been substantially higher than direct biological and physical measurements3, particularly in subtropical regions. A possible explanation for the apparent discrepancy is that the sampling strategy of the direct measurements has under-represented episodic nutrient injections forced by mesoscale eddy dynamics, whereas geochemical tracer budgets integrate fluxes over longer time and space scales. Here we investigate the eddy-induced nutrient supply by combining two methods potentially capable of delivering synoptic descriptions of the ocean's state on a basin scale. Remotely sensed sea-surface height data from the simultaneous TOPEX/Poseidon and ERS-1 satellite missions are assimilated into a numerical eddy-resolving coupled ecosystem–circulation model of the North Atlantic Ocean. Our results indicate that mesoscale eddy activity accounts for about one-third of the total flux of nitrate into the euphotic zone (taken to represent new production) in the subtropics and at mid-latitudes. This contribution is not sufficient to maintain the observed primary production in parts of the subtropical gyre, where alternative routes of nitrogen supply will have to be considered.

Description: Contents ; List of Contributors ; Introduction ; I. General Problems of Sponge Biology. S. M. Efremova: Once more on the position among Metazoa - Gastrulation and germinal layers of sponges ; N. N. Marfenin: Sponges viewed in the light of up-to-date conception on coloniality ; A. V. Ereskovsky & G. P. Korotkova: The reasons of sponge sexual morphogenesis peculiarities II. Developmental Biology of Sponges. O. M. Ivanova-Kazas: Analysis of the sponges ontogeny at sexual reproduction ; R. P. Anakina: The cleavage specifity in embryos of the Barents Sea sponge Leucosolenia complicata Montagu (Calcispongiae, Calcaronea) ; L. V. Ivanova: New data about morphology and metamorphosis of the spongillid larvae (Porifera, Spongillidae). 1. Morphology of the free-swimming larvae ; L. V. Ivanova: New data about morphology and metamorphosis of the spongillid larvae (Porifera, Spongillidae). 2. The metamorphosis of the spongillid larvae ; L. V. Ivanova & V. V. Semenov: Feeding habits of the larvae of sponges ; N. A. Sizova & A. V. Ereskovsky: Ultrastructural peculiarities of the early embryogenesis in a White Sea sponge Halisarca dujardini (Demospongiae, Dendroceratida) ; III. Ecology of Sponges. R. P. Anakina & E. I. Slepian: Spiculas' malformations of freshwater sponges as indicators of water environment in St. Petersburg City ; A. S. Plotkin & A. V. Ereskovsky: Ecological aspects of asexual reproduction of the White Sea sponge Polymastia mammillaris (Demospongiae, Tetractinomorpha) in Kandalaksha Bay ; I. S. Smirnov & V. M. Koltun: Symbiosis of the antarctic sponge genus lophon (Porifera) and ophiuroid genus Ophiurolepis (Ophiuroidea, Echinodermata) ; IV. Palaeontology and Systematics. L. V. Bolshakova: Stromatoporoids - the fossil sponges ; E. V. Veinberg, 0. M. Khlystov, S. S. Vorobyova, E. G. Kornakova, 0. V. Levina, S. M. Efremova, & M. A. Grachev: Distribution of sponge spicules in sediments of the underwater Akademichesky ridge of Lake Baikal ; K. R. Tabachnik & C. Levi: Amphidiscophoran Hexasterophora (Part I & II) ;

Description: conference

Description: DFG, SUB Göttingen

Description: Von den bisher weitgehend unbearbeiteten, Oberkretazischen Gesteinsfolgen im Raum Santander (Provinz Kantabrien, Spanien) wurde der Zeitabschnitt Turon bis Unter-Coniac lithologisch, sedimentologisch sowie stratigraphisch (Bio-, Event-, Sequenzstratigraphie) detailliert bearbeitet. Die Sedimente eines gemischten, siliziklastisch/karbonatischen Systemes wurden in einem, durch starke synsedimentäre Tektonik geprägten, E-W-streichenden Meeresraum abgelagert, der nach Westen graduell in die flachmarine Asturianische Kreide überging und im Süden durch den, aus paläozoischem Basement bestehendenden Cabuemiga Rücken begrenzt war. Im Norden markierte das Liencres Hoch die Grenze. Dieser Sedimentationsraum repräsentierte einen eigenständigen Beckenbereich, für den die Bezeichnung Nordkantabrisches Becken (NKB) eingeführt wird. Das NKB entstand in der Unterkreide (Valangin/Hauterive) durch Blockrotation an E-W-streichenden Lineamenten. Strukturell trennt die N-S-streichende Rio Miera-Flexur im Osten das NKB vom Basko-Kantabrischen Becken. Proximale Sedimente sind durch das Auftreten von (glaukonitischen) Knollenkalken charakterisiert. Die eher distalen Ablagerungsräume zeichnen sich durch zyklische Kalk/Mergel-Wechselfolgen aus. Während regressiver Phasen treten Allochthonite auf (Calciturbidite). Im bearbeiteten Zeitraum Turon und Unter-Coniac führen möglicherweise fünf Phasen verstärkter differentieller Subsidenz (tektonische Aktivitätsphasen ?) zu Reliefakzentuierung und, damit einhergehend, zur Umgestaltung des Sedimentationsraumes. Besonders ein Ereignis im Unter-Coniac (deformis-Zone) kann offensichtlich in weiten Teilen Europas erkannt werden. Die biostratigraphische Gliederung wird mit Ammoniten und im höheren Ober-Turon und Unter-Coniac mit Inoceramen durchgeführt. Das basale Unter-Turon fehlt. Die Sedimentation setzt vermutlich erst in der höchsten devonense-Zvne des unteren Unter-Turon ein. Das obere Unter-Turon ist durch die Zone des Mammites nodosoides gekennzeichnet. Das Mittel-Turon kann in die Zonen des Kamerunoceras turoniense, Romaniceras kallesi, Romaniceras ornatissimum und Romaniceras deverianum untergliedert werden. Im Ober-Turon werden Faunenzonen ausgehalten (Assemblage Zones). Es können (in aufsteigender Reihenfolge) die AZ des Subprionocyclus neptuni/ Romaniceras deverianum, die AZ des Mytiloides incertus/Subprionocyclus neptuni und die AZ des Mytiloides scupini/Prionocyclus germari erkannt werden. Das Unter-Coniac wird in eine untere Zone des Cremnoceramus rotundatus und eine obere Zone des Cremnoceramus deformis unterteilt. Zehn Bio-Events und Akmen werden erkannt und auf ihr Potential für die regionale wie überregionale Korrelation geprüft. Dies sind das Mytiloides-Akme [Unter-Turon (?)]; das K. turoniense/Mytiloides-Event (turoniense-Zone), das R. kallesi-Event (kallesi-Zone), das R. ornatissimum-Event (ornatissimum-Zone), das R. Deverianum-Event (neptuni/deverianum- AZ), das Mytiloides incertus/Mieraster leskei (klein)-Event (incertus/neptuni-AZ), das M. Leskei (groß)-Event (scupini/germari-AZ), das Sternotaxis plana-Event (scupini/ germari- AZ), das Didymotis I-Event (scupini/ germari-AZ) und das Didymotis II-Event (Turon/Coniac-Grenze). Für eine Korrelation nach Deutschland oder England eignen sich besonders das turoniense/ Mytiloides-Event, das deverianum-Event sowie das incertus/leskei (klein)- und leskei (groß)-Event. Das plana-Event kann vermutlich nach Norddeutschland korreliert werden. Sechs sedimentäre Sequenzgrenzen (SB) werden im Zeitraum Turon bis Unter-Coniac erkannt und datiert. SB Tu 1 liegt vermutlich im Unter-Turon und kann wegen eines ausgeprägten Hiatus im Cenoman/Turon-Grenzbereich datiert werden. Die stratigraphischen Positionen der folgenden Sequenzgrenzen können wie folgt datiert werden: SB Tu 2: obere turoniense-Zone (Mittel-Turon), SB Tu 3: deverianum-Zont (höchstes Mittel-Turon), SB Tu 4: Top neptuni/deverianum- AZ (Ober-Turon), SB Tu 5: untere scupini/ germari-AZ (Ober-Turon), SB Co 1: höhere deformis-Zone des Unter-Coniac. Die Sedimentationszyklen werden als "3rd order cycles" sensu Haq et al. (1988) interpretiert. Die stratigraphische Position der Sequenzen werden unter kurzer Diskussion der jeweiligen regionalen Biostratigraphie mit sequentiellen Gliederungen für Tunesien, Spanien, Frankreich, Südengland und Deutschland (Westfalen, Niedersachsen, Sachsen) mit nur mäßigem Erfolg verglichen. Die "global cycle chart" erweist sich als Standard für untauglich. Schlüsselwörter: Nordkantabrien, Spanien, Nordkantabrisches Becken, Turon, Unter-Coniac, tektono-sedimentäre Entwicklung, Biostratigraphie, Eventstratigraphie, Sequenzstratigraphie, überregionaler Vergleich.

Description: The Lower Turonian to Lower Coniacian succession of the Upper Cretaceous series from the Santander area (Cantabria, Spain) was investigated in detail by means of lithology, bio-, event and sequence stratigraphy. The sediments of a mixed, siliciclastic/calcareous system were deposited in an E-W trending basin that was bordered to the South by the palaeozoic Cabuemiga High. The northern boundary formed the Liencres High, a palaeo-structure that had its position in the Bay of Biscay not far away from the present day shoreline. Towards the West, a connection to the shallower, Asturian Cretaceous basins existed. For this individual basin the term "North Cantabrian Basin" is suggested herein. It developed during the Early Cretaceous (Valanginian/Hauterivian) as a result of block rotation along E-W trending major faults. The NCB is structurally separated from the Basco-Cantabrian Basin by the N-S trending Rio Miera Flexure in the East. Proximal sediments are characterized by (glauconitic) nodular to massively bedded limestones. In distal environments, marl/limestone alternations accumulated. During phases of regression, allochthonites with only limited geographic extent were shed into the basin. Within the Turonian to Early Coniacian, five phases of accelerated, differential subsidence (tectonic phases ?) were recognized. Especially the Early Coniacian movement (deformis Zone) can be observed in wide parts of Europe. Biostratigraphic subdivision is mainly based on ammonites, and, in the Late Turonian and Early Coniacian, on inoceramids. Lower Lower Turonian strata are missing and sedimentation started presumably in the upper part of the Watinoceras devonense Zone of the early Early Turonian. The late Early Turonian is represented by the Mammites nodosoides Zone. The Middle Turonian can be subdivided into the zones of (in ascending order) Kamerunoceras turoniense, Romaniceras kallesi, Romaniceras ornatissimum, and Romaniceras deverianum. The Late Turonian is subdivided into assemblage zones (AZ). These are (in ascending order) the AZ of Subprionocyclus neptuni/Romaniceras deverianum, the AZ of Mytiloides incertus/Subprionocyclus neptuni and the AZ of Mytiloides scupini/Prionocyclus germari. The latter correlates with the scupini Zone of Germany. The Early Coniacian is characterized by a zone of Cremnoceramus rotundatus and a higher zone of Cremnoceramus deformis. Ten events are recognized and dated. These are the Mytiloides-acme [Lower Turonian (?)], the Kamerunoceras turoniense/Mytiloides event (turoniense Zone), the Romaniceras kallesi event (kallesi Zone), the Romaniceras ornatissimum event (ornatissimum Zone), the Romaniceras deverianum event (neptuni/deverianum AZ), the Mytiloides incertus/Micraster leskei (small) event (incertus/neptuni the Micraster leskei (large) event (scupini/germari AZ), the Sternotaxis plana event (scupini/germari AZ), the Didymotis I event (scupini/germari KL) and the Didymotis II event (Turonian/Coniacian boundary). These events can, to some extent, be used for interbasinal correlation. Especially the turoniense/Mytiloides, the deverianum, the plana and the Didymotis events can be correlated to northern Germany. The incertus/leskei (small) and the leskei (large) events can be traced to England. Six sedimentary sequence boundaries (SB) were recognized and dated. These are: SB Tu I : Lower Turonan, SB Tu 2: late turoniense Zone, SB Tu 3: deverianum Zone, SB Tu 4: top neptuni/deverianum KL, SB Tu 5: early scupini/germari AZ, SB Co 1: late deformis Zone. The sedimentary sequencec, delimited by the SBs, are interpreted to represent 3rd order cycles sensu Haq et al. (1988). The position of the sequences is (based on a brief discussion of the reginal biostratigraphic subdivisions) compared with cycle charts from Tunisia, Spain, France, southern England, and Germany (Westphalia, Lower Saxony, Saxony) with only limited results. The "global" cycle chart appears to be not helpful for detailed sequence correlation and should be abandoned as a standard.

Description: thesis

Description: DFG, SUB Göttingen

Description: At the beginning of Late Jurassic both the Lochen (LA) and the Cracow areas (CA) were palaeotopographic highs in an epicontinental basin located at the stable northern margin of the Tethyan Ocean. The topographically high position of the LA was probably caused by intensive carbonate production which proceeded on a small sea-floor bulge located close to the boundary between middle and lower parts of the low-angle carbonate ramp. Lack of deep structural control of this rise caused prograding facial unification during the Oxfordian and Kimmeridgian and led to gradual disappearance of the LA individuality in relation to the neighbouring areas. The topographical high of the CA resulted from anomalously low subsidence rate in comparison to the adjacent areas which has lasted at least for the whole Oxfordian. Low subsidence directly gave rise to the development of a barrier (so-called Cracovian Platform) which separated the interior basin in the north from the deeper parts of the basin in the south. Topography of the Polish part of epicontinental basin along the Czestochowa-Cracow line corresponds to the low-gradient rimmed carbonate shelf which graded laterally (to the northeast and east) into the low-angle carbonate ramp. Stratigraphic subdivision of Upper Jurassic strata is very precise in the LA and rather poor in the CA due to scarcity of ammonites in the massive facies which predominates in the latter area. However, ammonite fauna from both areas belongs to the same German-Polish Submediterranean Subprovince which allows to attempt the correlation of lithologies and determination of factors which controlled deposition. Both the studied areas show distinct differences in the development of carbonate buildups. In the LA the main components of carbonate buildups during whole Oxfordian and the Early Kimmeridgian were siliceous sponges and microbolites whilst in the CA the flourishing growth of microbolites and gradual decline of siliceous sponges domination took place during the Late Oxfordian. The sediment was initially diversified into the two varieties: that formed by siliceous sponges and the microbolites incipient rigid framework, and the soft mud. In such carbonate buildups stromatactis cavities might have developed even in early diagenesis due to internal erosion of the soft mud. The principal reason of the internal erosion was turbulent water flow through the sediment. However, in generally low-energy sedimentary environments such flow could be triggered by submarine gravity flows or strong bottom currents. Pseudonodular textures encountered in carbonate buildups in both the areas resulted from shallow-burial diagenesis. During the burial diagenesis some parts of the sediment has been disintegrated under the pressure of overlying strata owing to the existing open spaces and different susceptibility to compaction showed by the incipient rigid framework and the soft sediment. Deposition in the LA was controlled mainly by sea-level pulses and ecological factors. In the CA principal control was provided by subsidence rate supported by synsedimentary tectonics, sea-level changes and ecological factors. All these controlling factors were variable in time which provoked changes in carbonate production rates from intensive, aggradational growth of the buildups to drowning of the carbonate ramp and rimmed shelf. The drowning of carbonate ramp on which the LA was located took place at the Oxfordian/Kimmeridgian break. It is documented by spectacular development of redeposited pelagites of skeletal-calciturbidites type with abundant fragments of Saccocoma sp. which have appeared for the first time in mass quantities in the Upper Jurassic. By analogy, it can be inferred that in the CA similar Saccocoma-calciturbidites prove the drowning of rimmed shelf related to the same trangressive event at the Oxfordian/Kimmeridgian break.

Description: Zu Beginn des Ober-Jura waren das Lochengebiet (Schwäbische Alb) und der Raum Krakau (Südpolen) übereinstimmend Hochgebiete eines epikontinentalen Beckens auf dem passiven nördlichen Schelf der Tethys. Die topographische Hochposition des Lochengebietes war vermutlich durch eine hohe Karbonat-Produktion bedingt, welche auf einer schmalen submarinen Schwelle nahe dem Übergangsbereich zwischen unterem und mittlerem Abschnitt einer flach geneigten Karbonatrampe erfolgte. Während des Oxfordiums und Kimmeridgiums war die Lochenschwelle tektonisch inaktiv und ermöglichte einen zunehmenden Faziesausgleich mit den benachbarten Gebieten und führte dadurch zu einer successiven Aufgabe ihrer individuellen Entwicklung. Die Hochposition der Krakau-Region resultierte aus ihrer im Vergleich zur Umgebung ungewöhnlich geringen Subsidenzrate, welche mindestens während des gesamten Oxfordiums anhielt. Die geringe Subsidenz war unmittelbare Ursache für die Entwicklung einer Barriere (die sogenannte Krakau-Plattform), welche das seichtere Innenschelf-Becken im Norden von den tieferen Beckenanteilen im Süden trennte. Die Topographie des polnischen Anteils dieses epikontinentalen Beckens entsprach entlang der Czestochowa-Krakau-Linie einem „low-gradient rimmed carbonate shelf, der nach Nordosten und Osten lateral in eine flache Karbonatrampe überging. Die stratigraphische Gliederungsmöglichkeit der Ober-Jura-Schichfolge ist im Lochengebiet gut und feinauflösend, in der Krakau-Region dagegen, in der die Massenfazies vorherrscht, aufgrund der selteneren Ammonitenfunde zum Teil problematisch. Ungeachtet dessen, gehören die Ammoniten-Vergesellschaftungen beider Regionen derselben deutsch-polnischen, submediterranen Faunensubprovinz an und ermutigen zu einer Korrelation beider lithologischer Abfolgen und einer vergleichenden Abstraktion der Steuermechanismen für die Sedimentation. Beide Gebiete zeigen deutliche Unterschiede in der Entwicklung von karbonatischen Buildups. Im Lochen-Gebiet stellen während des Oxfordiums und Unter-Kimmeridgiums Kieselschwämme und Mikrobolithe die Hauptkomponenten der Riffstrukturen, während in der Krakau-Region die Bedeutung der Mikrobolithe und Kieselschwämme während des Ober-Oxfordiums successive abnimmt. Ursprünglich erfolgte eine Differenzierung der Riffstrukturen in einen autochthonen Hartsubstrat-Anteil, in dem Kieselschwämme und Mikrobolithe eine rigides Gerüst stellten, und in schlammiges Weichsubstrat. Innerhalb der Riffkörper konnten sich wohl frühdiagenetisch durch die interne Erosion der Schlamm-Anteile Stromatactis-Gefüge bilden. Grundsätzlich kann eine solche interne Erosion auf turbulente Porenwasserströme zurückgeführt werden. In den vorliegenden sedimentären Stillwasser-Milieus könnte ein solcher Porenwasserstrom durch submarine Schuttströme oder starke Bodenströmungen ausgelöst worden sein. Pseudonodulare Strukturen, wie sie in den Buildups beider Untersuchungsgebiete angetroffen wurden, werden durch eine flache Versenkungsdiagenese erklärt. Während dieser Vorgänge wurden unter dem Druck der Sedimentauflast aufgrund des vorhandenen, offenen Porenraumes und der unterschiedlichen Kompaktion von primär zementierten Riffkalken und des mergeligen Weichsubstrates Karbonatanteile gelöst. Das Sedimentationsgeschehen wurde in der Lochen-Region vor allem durch Meeresspiegel-Schwankungen und ökologische Parameter beeinflußt. In der Krakau-Region konnte als hauptsächlicher Kontrollfaktor die Subsidenzrate erkannt werden, in deren Gefolge synsedimentäre Tektonik, Änderungen von Meeresspiegel und der ökologischen Faktoren einhergingen. Veränderungen dieser Steuerfaktoren in der Zeit beeinflußten jeweils die Rate der Karbonatproduktion von intensiv (Aggradation der Buildups) bis zum Ertrinken der Karbonatrampe bzw. des Schelfrandes. Das Abtauchen der Karbonatrampe setzte in der Lochen-Region an der Oxfordium-Kimmeridgium-Wende ein. Es wird durch eine auffällige sedimentäre Entwicklung dokumentiert: Resedimentation pelagischer Kalke (skeletal calciturbidites), die häufig Saccocoma-Reste enthalten. Erste Massenvorkommen von Saccocoma treten in der Erdgeschichte im Oberjura auf. Ähnliche Saccoco/na-Kalkturbidite an der Oxfordium-Kimmeridgium-Grenze markieren in der Krakau-Region das Abtauchen des „rimmed shelf. Sie können auf dasselbe transgressive Ereignis zurückgeführt werden.

Description: thesis

Description: DFG, SUB Göttingen

Description: The present study considered calcareous nannofossils from material represented by outcrops of Flysch successions of the External Hellenides belt in the area of the Ionian Zone (I.Z.), northwestern Greece. The studied outcrops are located in Epirus mainland and the Ionian island Korfu. Three subdivisions have been traditionally in literature distinguished in the I.Z., the Internal, Middle and External (moving from east to the west), each of which was subsequently recognized in the Flysch deposits as well. Aim of the study was, a refinement of the current biostratigraphic resolution of the area through detailed taxonomic descriptions and consequently, a reliably better correlation of the investigated sedimentary deposits with the help of calcareous nannofossils. The biostratigraphic data were also processed semiquentitatively (frequency variations and distributions), in order to accurately determine important biohorizons. For this purpose, the nannofossils were studied under the LM and the SEM, from ten closely sampled sections representing clastic sequences of all the three subdivisions of the I.Z. The investigated sections are situated at about 39° northern mid latitudes, a fact which resulted to mixed nannoflora assemblages of low and high latitudes character. The sections are namely: Elatos, Korfovouni (Internal I.Z. subdivision), Kato Despotiko, Strouga Goumenou and Ekklisia (Middle I.Z. subdivision), lower and upper Argyrotopos, National Road, Monos and Anacharavi (External I.Z. subdivision). They were found to range in age from the latest Eocene to the Early Miocene. Based on the systematic palaeontology, 107 species of calcareous nannofossils were observed and documented in the studied material. Among them, a new species Rhabdosphaera epirotica sp. nov. was described, and four recombinations were proposed. Moreover, two calcareous dinoflagellate cysts, Cervisiella saxea and Obliquipithonella sp. were reported for the first time from the I.Z. in Greece. Despite the mid latitude palaeogeographic position of the sections, all the conventional calcareous nannofossil zonal markers for the Oligocene and Early Miocene were recorded, although some in fewer abundances than in low latitudes. Improving the biostratigraphic reliability, a new zonational scheme was here developed and proposed for the Oligocene to Early Miocene interval. It was mainly established on use of redefined biohorizons and composed of five zones and five subzones following below: 1. Latest Eocene: Ericsonia formosa Partial-range Zone, 2. Oligocene: llselithina fusa / Ericsonia formosa Concurrent-range Zone, Ericsonia formosa-Reticulofenestra umbilicus/R. hillae Interval Zone, Cyclicargolithus abisectus Partial-range Zone, including the subzones: Rhabdosphaera spp. Interval Subzone, and Sphenolithus predistentus Interval Subzone, Reticulofenestra scissura Interval Zone, including the Sphenolithus delphix Abundance Subzone, and 3. Earliest Miocene: Triquetrorhabdulus spp. Partial-range Subzone Sphenolithus conicus Interval Subzone. Based on a new biohorizon of the absolute First Occurrence (FO) of llselithina fusa, the Eocene/Oligocene (E/O) boundary was identified in the lower part of the Argyrotopos section. On the absence of disc-shaped discoasters, the I. fusa biohorizon represented a better approximation of the boundary, which was clearly correlated with the other studied sections of the three subdivisions of the I.Z. The Oligocene/Miocene (O/M) boundary was identified in the Monos section located in the Plataria syncline (External I.Z.), but Early Miocene strata were recorded in the Middle I.Z. as well. This boundary was placed at the Last Common Occurrence (LCO) biohorizon of the Reticulofenestra scissura. Moreover, six associate bioevents were reported near the O/M boundary, among them the highest occurrence of I. fusa, located above the boundary, in the Anacharavi section of Korfu island (western part of the External I.Z.). For the first time were evaluated reworked together with „autochton“ taxa of calcareous nannofossils in Greece. Maximum diversity values along each of the studied sections, have shown increased reworking and erosional processes in the Internal subdivision of the I.Z. than in the Middle and the External ones. This is interpreted to be connected with the higher tectonic instability along the Pindos thrust to the east, in relation to the central and western parts of the Ionian basin mainly during the Oligocene.

Description: Die der vorliegenden Arbeit zugrundeliegenden kalkigen Nannofossilien stammen von Flyschabfolgen der Externen Helleniden (Ionische Zone) Nordwest-Griechenlands.So wurden in die Untersuchung Aufschlüsse des Festlandes in Epirus und der Ionischen Insel Korfu aus dem stratigraphischen Intervall vom obersten Eozän bis zum untersten Miozän einbezogen. Die Ionische Zone (I.Z.) wird traditionell von Osten nach Westen in die Interne, Mittlere und Externe Subzone unterteilt. Diese Einteilung läßt sich auch auf die Flyschablagerungen übertragen. Ziel der Arbeit ist eine Verfeinerung der bestehenden Biostratigraphie durch detaillierte taxonomische Beschreibungen, um damit eine bessere Korrelation der untersuchten Ablagerungen mit Hilfe der kalkigen Nannofossilien zu erreichen. Mit einer halbquantitativen Erfassung der biostratigraphischen Daten (Häufigkeitsvariation und -Verteilung) gelingt es darüberhinaus, einzelne Biohorizonte genauer zu definieren. Zu diesem Zwecke wurde das kalkige Nannoplankton von zehn eng-beprobten Profilen aus klastischen Abfolgen aller drei Subzonen der I. Z. unter dem Licht- und Elektronenmikroskop (REM) untersucht. Die Profile im einzelnen sind: Elatos und Korfovouni (Interne Subzone), Kato Despotiko, Strouga Goumenou und Ekklisia (Mittlere Subzone), Unter bzw. Ober Argyrotopos, National Road, Monos und Anacharavi (Externe Subzone). Zur Ablagerungszeit befanden sich die untersuchten Profile in einer nördlichen Paläobreite um 39°, was zu einer gemischten Nannoflora aus charakteristischen Vertretern niedriger und höherer Breiten führte. In dem untersuchten Material konnten insgesamt 107 Spezies von kalkigem Nannoplankton gefunden und dokumentiert werden. Die Art Rhabdosphaera epirotica nov. sp.wird neu beschrieben und vier Rekombinationen werden vorgeschlagen. Darüberhinaus konnten zwei kalkige Dinoflagellatenzysten Cervisiella saxea und Obliquipithonella sp. zum ersten Mal in der I.Z. nachgewiesen werden. Trotz der paläogeographischen Position der Profile in mittleren Paläobreitenbereich konnten alle konventionellen Zonenleitformen des kalkigen Nannoplanktons für das Oligozän und das Untermiozän gefunden werden, einige davon jedoch in geringerer Häufigkeit als in den niedrigeren Breiten. Durch die Verbesserung der biostratigraphischen Genauigkeit wird hier ein neues mediterranes Zonenschema für das Oligozän und das Untermiozän entwickelt, das im wesentlichen auf neu definierten Biohorizonten basiert. Es enthält fünf Zonen und fünf Subzonen: 1. Jüngstes Eozän: Ericsonia formosa Partial-range Zone, 2. Oligozän: llselithina fusa/Ericsonia formosa Concurrent-range Zone, Ericsonia formosa-Reticulofenestra umbilicus/R. hillae Interval Zone, Cyclicargolithus abisectus Partial-range Zone, gegliedert in den Subzonen: Rhabdosphaera spp. Interval Subzone, und Sphenolithus predistentus Interval Subzone, Reticulofenestra scissura Interval Zone, die eine Subzone enthält: Sphenolithus delphix Abundance Subzone, und 3. Ältestes Miozän: Triquetrorhabdulus spp. Partial-range Subzone Sphenolithus conicus Interval Subzone. Mit dem ersten Auftreten (FO) von llselithina fusa wird ein neuer Biohorizont definiert, mit dem die Grenze Eozän/Oligozän (E/O) in dem unteren Teil des Argyrotopos-Profils nachgewiesen wird. Trotz der Abwesenheit von scheibenförmigen Discoasteriden läßt sich nun diese Grenze mit dem I. fusa-Biohorizont besser fassen und kann eindeutig mit den Profilen in den beiden anderen Subzonen der I.Z. korreliert werden. Die Oligozän/Miozän-Grenze (O/M) konnte im Monos-Profil der Plataria-Synklinale (Externe I.Z.) charakterisiert werden. Untermiozän ließ sich aber auch in der Mittleren Subzone nachweisen. Die Grenze O/M ist durch das letzte Vorkommen (LCO) von Reticulofenestra scissura bestimmt. Sechs assoziierte Bioevents fallen in diesen Grenzbereich, darunter im Anacharavi-Profil der Insel Korfu (Westteil der Externen Subzone) das jüngste Vorkommen von I. fusa, unmittelbar über der Grenze O/M. Zum erstem Mal für Griechenland konnten aufgearbeitete Taxa von kalkigen Nannofossilien zusammen mit den autochthonen Taxa nachgewiesen werden. Ein Vergleich der maximalen Diversitätswerte in den untersuchten Profilen zeigt eine signifikant höhere Aufarbeitungsrate in der Internen Subzone gegenüber der Mittleren und Externen Subzonen. Dieser Umstand dürfte mit der höheren tektonischen Instabilität entlang der Pindos-Decken-Front im Osten des Arbeitsgebietes Zusammenhängen.

Description: thesis

Description: DFG, SUB Göttingen

Description: Mit einer dreidimensionalen Vorwärtsmodellierung von Dichtestrukturen der Kruste und des oberen Mantels im Gebiet von 12°-35°S und 57°-79°W wird der regionale Trend des Schwerefelds und gleichzeitig das Geoid am aktiven Kontinentalrand Südamerikas zwischen 20° S und 29°S erklärt. Das Dichtemodell umfaßt die abtauchende Nazca-Platte, Teile des südamerikanischen Kratons, den Asthenosphärenkeil zwischen Unter- und Oberplatte und die Kruste der Zentralanden. Eine Vielzahl externer geowissenschaftlicher Randbedingungen schränkt die Dichteverteilung ein. Die Strukturierung der zentralandinen Kruste im Modell orientiert sich hauptsächlich an den Ergebnissen der Refraktionsseismik. Zur Ermittlung der Krustendichten wird eine druck- und temperaturabhängige Geschwindigkeits-Dichte-Beziehung (S. Sobolev) zur Anwendung gebracht. Neben der bekannten Berechnung der Schwerewirkung dreidimensionaler Dichteverteilungen erlaubt eine neuentwickelte Berechnung des Schwerepotentials nun auch die Modellierung des Geoids. Das Einbeziehen eines Referenzdichtemodells ermöglicht die Anpassung der berechneten Felder an die beobachteten Felder bei gleichzeitiger Verwendung von Absolutdichten. Verschiedene Dichtekontraste der abtauchenden Nazca-Platte gegenüber dem umgebenden Mantel sowie mögliche Dichtekontraste innerhalb des Slab, die sich aus Phasenumwandlungen der gesteinsbildenden Minerale ergeben, werden behandelt und ihre einzelnen Beiträge zum Schwerefeld und Geoid der zentralen Anden berechnet. Mit dem fertigen Gesamtmodell wird die Zusammensetzung des Schwerefeldes und des Geoids am aktiven Kontinentalrand Südamerikas analysiert und ihre Hauptbeiträge dargestellt. Die im Modell enthaltenen Strukturen erklären das regionale Schwerefeld und das Geoid vollständig. Daraus folgt, daß aus tieferliegenden Dichteinhomogenitäten, beispielsweise an der Grenze vom oberen zum unteren Mantel oder im unteren Mantel aufgrund einer möglichen isostatischen “in situ”-Kompensation keine weiteren Beiträge zu erwarten sind. Das Schwereminimum wird hauptsächlich durch eine bis auf 65km verdickte Kruste erklärt. Die Schweremaxima in der Küstenkordillere werden durch den Beitrag des Slab und eine Zone erhöhter Dichte in mittlerer Krustentiefe verursacht. Eine anomale VΡ-ρ-Beziehung unter dem rezenten Arc läßt dort partielle Aufschmelzung vermuten. Eine Untersuchung des Schwimmgleichgewichts des Modells ergibt isostatische Unterkompensation (= Massenüberschuß) im Bereich der Küstenkordillere und der Ostkordillere sowie isostatischen Ausgleich bis leichte Überkompensation im Bereich der Westkordillere und des Altiplano bzw. der Puna.

Description: A three-dimensional foreward modelling of the density structures of the crust and the upper mantle in the region between 12°-35°S and 57°-79°W explains both the regional trend of the gravity field and the geoid at the active continental margin of South America from 20°S to 29°S. The density model comprises the downgoing Nazca plate, parts of the South American craton, the asthenospheric wedge between lower and upper plate, and the crust of the Central Andes. A large number of external geoscientific boundary conditions constrains the density distribution. The Central Andean crust of the model is structured according to the results of refraction seismic studies. A pressure and temperature dependent velocity- density relation (S. Sobolev) is applied to determine densities within the crust. Apart from the well known calculation of the gravity effect of three-dimensional density distributions, a recently developped calculation of the gravity potential now allows the modelling of the geoid. Using absolute densities, the fitting of the calculated fields to the observed fields is realized by the application of a reference density model. Several density contrasts of the subducting Nazca plate against the surrounding mantle and possible density contrasts inside the slab resulting from mineral phase transitions are discussed and their particular contributions to the Central Andean gravity field and the geoid are calculated. Using the complete model, the composition of the gravity field and the geoid at the active continental margin of South America is analyzed and the main contributions are visualized. The model structures explain both regional gravity field and geoid completely. This implies that density inhomogeneities at greater depth than presented in the model, e. g. at the interface between the upper and the lower mantle or in the lower mantle are not expected to have effects at the surface due to possible isostatic “in situ” compensation. The gravity minimum is generally explained by a crust thickened to 65 km maximum. The gravity highs in the Coastal Cordillera are caused by the contribution of the slab and a zone of increased density in mid crustal layers. An anomalous VΡ-ρ- relation beneath the recent arc implies partial melt. The investigation of the isostatic state of the density model results in isostatic undercompensation (= mass surplus) in the region of the Coastal Cordillera und the Eastern Cordillera, and isostatic equilibrium to slight overcompensation in the Altiplano/Puna region.

Description: thesis

Description: DFG, SUB Göttingen

Description: Im nördlichen Bereich der Provinz Kantabrien (Nordspanien) wurden Sedimente der "Mittelkreide" (Oberalb und Cenoman) unter stratigraphischen, faziellen und sedimentologi sehen Gesichtspunkten bearbeitet. Strukturell gehört die Region zum Nordkantabrischen Becken (NCB), dessen Einsenkung mit tektonischen Bewegungen im mittleren Valangin beginnt. Das NCB ist eines der zahlreichen Sedimentbecken, die sich infolge des mesozoischen Riftings und Spreadings in der Biscaya auf dem iberischen Nordschelf bilden. Strukturgeologisch zeigt das NCB eine E/W-Ausrichtung zwischen zwei Hochgebieten im S und N (Cabuemiga-Rücken und Liencres-Hoch), die als "Santillana-Achse" bezeichnet wird. Im W grenzt das NCB an das Paläozoikum des Asturischen Massivs. Östlich Santander wird es strukturell und faziell durch die N/S-streichende Rio-Miera-Flexur vom hochsubs identen Basko-Kantabrischen Becken abgetrennt. Die Sedimentation im NCB wird stark von tektonischen Ereignissen im sich bildenden Biscaya-Ozeans beeinflußt, durch welche die Strukturierung der Schichtenfolge in sedimentäre Megasequenzen erfolgt. Im Alb und Cenoman können folgende Megasequenz-Grenzen erkannt werden, durch welche die Megasequenzen des Alb und Cenoman definiert werden: • Santander-Tectoevent (Cenoman/Turon-Grenzbereich) • Vraconian Tectoevent (hohes Oberalb) • "Mittelalb-Ereignis" ("break-up unconformity", [?hohes] Unteralb). Das Mittelalb-Ereignis fuhrt im Arbeitsgebiet zum Zerbrechen der faziell wenig differenzierten Urgon-Karbonatplattformen des Clansay (Oberapt/Unteralb) in ostvergente Kippschollen. In den entstehenden N/S-orientierten Halbgräben werden im Mittelaib fluvio-deltaische Klastika abgelagert, während auf den Hochschollen eine Verkarstung erfolgt. Im tiefen Oberalb initiiert ein transgressiver Puls die weit verbreitete Ablagerung mariner Sedimente im NCB. Dieses transgressive Ereignis ist in ganz Iberien nachzuweisen. Im Laufe des Oberalb kommt es zu einem Onlap mariner Sedimente auch auf den ehemals emergenten Hochschollen und zu einem Ausgleich des durch das Mittelalb-Ereignis erzeugten Paläoreliefs. Durch weit verbreitete Emersion des NCB's infolge tektonischer Bewegungen im oberen Oberalb (Vraconian Tectoevent) wird die sedimentäre Megasequenz des Alb beendet. Die sedimentäre Megasequenz des Cenoman beginnt im Alb/Cenoman-Grenzbereich mit der Progradation deltaischer Klastika. Die im NCB der Santillana-Achse folgend von W nach E kanalisiert werden. Dieses "Santillana-Delta" mündet im Bereich Galizano/Langre östlich Santander in das Basko-Kantabrische Becken und verzahnt sich dort mit den Prodelta-Sedimenten des Valmaseda-Deltas ("Schwarzer Flysch" der Bilbao-Region). Die differentielle Subsidenz im NCB in Folge des Vraconian Tectoevents wird von den Delta-Sedimenten ausgeglichen. Im tiefen Untercenoman (untere Mantelliceras mantelli-Zone) gestaltet eine bedeutende transgressive Faziesentwicklung das gesamte NCB in einen vollmarinen, karbonatisch dominierten Ablagerungsraum um. Dieser transgressive Puls dürfte mit der "Untercenoman-Transgression" sensu lato korrelieren. Im Cenoman können folgende Ammoniten-Biozonen erkannt werden: • Obercenoman: Eucalycoceras pentagonum-Zone, und Metoicoceras geslinianum-Zone [pars] • Mittel cenoman: [Cunningtoniceras inerme-Zone], Acanthoceras rhotomagense-Zone und A. jukesbrownei-Zone • Untercenoman: Mantelliceras mantelli-Zone und M. dixoni-Zone. Das höchste Obercenoman (oberer Teil der geslinianum-Zone und die Neocardioceras juddii-Zone) fehlt im NCB. In der oberen mantelli-Zonc des NCB etabliert sich in weiten Bereichen die flachmarine Karbonat-Fazies der Altamira-Plattform, die sich östlich der Rio-Miera-Flexur mit mächtigen Beckensedimenten (Mergel, Knollenkalke, Kalk/Mergel-Rhythmite) verzahnt. Im Mittel- bis unteren Obercenoman wird die Altamira-Plattform in drei Schritten von E nach W "ertränkt". Die prominenten Drowning-Unconformities (mineralisierte Hartgründe mit Ammoniten) werden dabei stufenweise nach W jünger. Im Obercenoman (pentagonum-Zono) ist die gesamte Altamira-Plattform ertränkt und weite Teile des NCB werden in die Beckensedimentation einbezogen. Die Ablagerungsgeschichte des Cenoman wird durch das Santander-Tectoevent in der oberen geslinianum-Zonc beendet, infolgedessen weite Teile des NCB trockenfallen. Selbst in hochsubsidenten Beckenprofilen ist der Cenoman/Turon-Grenzbereich durch eine Schicht lücke gekennzeichnet. Die fazielle Entwicklung der cenomanen Megasequenz ist durch die schubweise voranschreitende ("pulsierende") Cenoman-Transgression geprägt. Insgesamt können im Cenoman sechs Sequenzgrenzen (SB's) erkannt werden, durch die die Ablagerungssequenzen DS Ce I bis VI definiert werden. Ihre stratigraphischen Positionen sind: • SB Ce VI = obere geslinianum-Zonc • SB Ce V = Wende Mittel/Obercenoman • SB Ce IV = basale jukesbrownei-Zone • SB Ce III = hohe dixoni-Zone • SB Ce II = obere mantelli-Zone • SB Ce I = untere mantelli-Zone. Im regionalen Vergleich zeigt sich für das Cenoman eine gute Übereinstimmung mit sequentiellen Gliederungen aus dem Basko-Kantabrischen Raum. Überregionale Vergleiche dokumentieren, daß viele der Meeresspiegel-Bewegungen im Cenoman (z.B. SB Ce III, mfz in der rhotomagense-Zone, SB Ce IV, HST in der pentagonum-Zone) über weite Entfernungen korreliert werden können und wahrscheinlich eustatische Signale darstellen. Die Korrelation mit der "globalen Meeresspiegel-Kurve" (Exxon Chart) ist schlecht. Betrachtet man die im Cenoman im NCB abgelagerten Sedimente als "2nd-order cycle", so zeigt sich ein übergeordneter transgressiver Trend mit einem maximalen Onlap im Obercenoman innerhalb der mfz von DS Ce VI (pentagonum-Zone). Das NCB zeigt im Oberalb und Cenoman im biogeographischen Vergleich starke tethyale Einflüsse. Das Turrilites scheuchzerianus/Neohibolites ultimus-Evert. im tiefen Mittelcenoman des NCB korreliert in bio-, sequenz- und Isotopen-stratigraphischer Hinsicht mit dem Actinocamax primus-Event NW-Europas, womit eine eventstratigraphische Anbindung an das "temperierte" Cenoman erreicht werden kann.

Description: Mid-Cretaceous (Upper Albian and Cenomanian) sediments in the northern part of the province of Cantabria (northern Spain) were investigated with the emphasis on stratigraphical and sedimentological aspects. Structurally, the area belongs to the North Cantabrian Basin (NCB), the depositional history of which started with distensional tectonic movements in the Mid-Valanginian. The NCB is one of the numerous sedimentary basins which developed on the north Iberian continental margin in consequence of the rifting and spreading in the Bay of Biscay during Mesozoic times. It is a gulf-like basin with an E/W-elongation ("Santillana axis"). In the south and in the north the NCB is bordered by the Cabuemiga Ridge and the Liencres High, respectively. To the west, the NCB is bordered by the Palaeozoic Asturian Massif; in the east, the N/S-trending Rio Miera Flexure forms a structural boundary to the strongly subsiding Basco-Cantabrian Basin. The depositional history of the NCB was strongly influenced by tectonic events which can be related to the evolving Biscay Ocean. These tectoevents give rise to a gross subdivison of the succession into sedimentary megasequences. Three tectonically induced megasequence boundaries can be recognized in the Albian and Cenomanian, defining the Albian and Cenomanian megasequences: • Santander-Tectoevent (Cenomanian/Turonian boundary interval) • Vraconian Tectoevent (late Late Albian) • "Middle Albian event" (break-up unconformity, [?late] Early Albian). The "Middle Albian event" caused a disintegration of the widespread Urgonian Clansay platforms (Late Aptian/Early Albian) into a palaeo-relief of eastward-dipping tilted blocks. In the N/S trending halfgrabens, fluvio-deltaic clastics were deposited during the Middle Albian, whereas the exposed tilted block crests were karstified. A strong transgressive pulse flooded the NCB in the early part of the Late Albian, giving rise to the widespread deposition of marine Upper Albian sediments. This transgressive event can also be recognised in southern Iberia and Portugal. During the later part of the Late Albian, the emergent crestal areas of the tilted blocks were onlapped by marine sediments, resulting in the filling-up of the Middle Albian palaeo-relief. Tectonic movements in the latest Albian (Vraconian tectoevent), causing emergence in wide parts of the NCB, terminated the Albian Megasequence. The Cenomanian megasequence started in the Albian/Cenomanian boundary interval with progradation of deltaic clastics, which were channelized (following the Santi liana-axis) into an eastward direction. This "Santillana Delta" flowed into the Basco-Cantabrian Basin east of Santander, where an interfingering with the prodeltaic sediments of the Valmaseda Delta ("Black Flysch" of the Bilbao area) took place. The differential subsidence in the NCB due to the Vraconian tectoevent was compensated by the deltaic sedimentation. In the lower part of the Mantelliceras mantelli Zone, a transgressive pulse flooded the NCB and led to the deposition of marine, predominantly calcareous sediments. This transgressive event is thought to correlate with the "Early Cenomanian transgression" sensu lato. In the Cenomanian succession of the NCB, the following ammonite zones can be recognized: • Late Cenomanian: Eucalycoceras pentagonum Zone and Metoicoceras geslinianum Zone [pars] • Middle Cenomanian: [Cunningtoniceras inerme Zone], Acanthoceras rhotomagense Zone and A. jukesbrownei Zone • Early Cenomanian: Mantelliceras mantelli Zone and M. dixoni-Zone. The upper part of the Upper Cenomanian (upper part of the geslinianum Zone and the Neocardioceras juddii Zone) is missing in the NCB. In the upper part of the mantelli Zone, deposition of the shallow marine carbonate sediments of the Altamira Platform became established over large areas of the NCB. In the strongly subsiding area east of the Rio Miera Flexure, thick successions of basinal sediments (marls, nodular limestones, marl/limestone rhythmites) were deposited contemporaneously. During the Middle to early Late Cenomanian, the Altamira Platform was drowned in three successive steps from east to west. The developing drowning unconformities (condensed, mineralized hardgrounds with ammonites) young towards the west, resulting in a backstepping of the Altamira Platform. In the Late Cenomanian (pentagonum Zone), all former sites of shallow marine carbonate deposition were drowned. The depositional history of the Cenomanian was terminated in the higher part of the geslinianum Zone when tectonic movements of the Santander tectoevent caused widespread emersion of the NCB. The resulting Cenomanian/Turonian boundary hiatus can be recognized both in the condensation horizons on top of the submerged platform as well as in the basinal successions. The facies development of the Cenomanian Megasequence is dominated by the pulsatory nature of the "Cenomanian transgression". Within the Cenomanian succession of northern Cantabria, six sequence boundaries can be recognized, which define six depositional (3rd-order) sequences (DS Ce I - VI). The stratigraphic positions of the sequence boundaries (SB) are as follows: • SB Ce VI = upper geslinianum Zone • SB Ce V = Middle/Late Cenomanian boundary interval • SB Ce IV = basal jukesbrownei Zone • SB Ce III = upper dixoni Zone • SB Ce II = upper mantelli Zone • SB Ce I = lower mantelli Zone. Comparison of this sequential subdivision with regional cycle charts from the Basco-Cantabrian area reveals good agreement, whereas correlation with the "global sea-level curve" (Exxon Chart) is poor. The extent to which many of the sea-level events in the Cenomanian (e.g. SB Ce III, mfz within the rhotomagense Zone, SB Ce IV, HST in the pentagonum Zone) can be correlated between basins elsewhere in Europe and Tunisia suggests that they were probably of eustatic nature. Considering the Cenomanian Megasequence as a "2nd-order cycle", an overall transgressive trend occurs throughout the Cenomanian; maximum coastal onlap was reached during the maximum flooding of DS Ce VI (pentagonum Zone). Palaeobiogeographically, the NCB shows strong tethyan affinities in the Late Albian and Cenomanian. The Turrilites scheuchzerianus/Neohibolites ultimus event in the early Middle Cenomanian permits a correlation with the Actinocamax primus event of the temperate Cenomanian of northern Europe by means of bio-, sequence and isotope stratigraphy.

Description: Los sedimentos del Cretácico medio (Albiense superior/Cenomaniense) en la parte septentrional de la Provincia de Cantabria han sido estudiados, centrándose en aspectos estratigráficos y sedimentolögicos. El área de estudio pertenece estructural mente a la Cuenca Norcantábrica (NCB), cuya historia depositional comenzó con movimientos tectónicos distensivos en el Valanginiense medio. La NCB es una de las numerosas cuencas sedimentarias que se desarrollaron en el margen continental norteibérico como consecuencia del "rifting" y apertura del golfo de Vizcaya durante el Mesozoico. Es una cuenca con forma de golfo con una elongatión E/W ("Eje de Santillana"). Los límites septentrional y meridional de la NCB son el "Liencres High" y el Escudo de Cabuemiga respectivamente. Hacia el Oeste, la NCB queda confinada por el Macizo Paleozoico Asturiano; en el Este, el límite estructural conocido como Flexión del Río Miera de dirección N/S, la separa de la Cuenca Vasco-cantábrica mucho más subsidente. La historia deposicional de la NCB estuvo fuertemente influenciada por eventos tectónicos que pueden ser relacionados con la evolution del oceano de Vizcaya. Estos tectoeventos dieron lugar a una gruesa subdivision de la sucesión en megasecuencias sedimentarias. Tres límites de megasecuencias, que están inducidos por la tectónica, pueden ser reconocidos en el Albiense y Cenomaniense, definiendo respectivamente las megasecuencias albienses y cenomanienses: • Tectoevento de Santander (intervalo límite del Cenomaniense/Turoniense) • Tectoevento Vraconiense (Albiense superior tardío) • "Evento del Albiense medio" (discordancia de ruptura, Albiense inferior [?tardio]). El "Evento del Albiense medio" causo una desintegración de las plataformas urgonianas clansayenses (Aptiense superior/Albiense inferior), que estaban muy extendidas en paleorelieves de bloques basculados hacia el Este. Se produjo durante el Albiense medio una sedimentatión clástica fluvio-deltaica en los semi-grabenes, de dirección N/S, mientras que las cimas expuestas de los bloques basculados sufrieron procesos de karstificatión. Un fuerte pulso transgresivo inundó la NCB al comienzo del Albiense superior, dando lugar al depósito de sedimentos marinos en el Albiense superior due alcanzaron una muy amplia extensión. Durante la parte superior del Albiense superior las crestas de los bloques basculados fueron recubiertas por sedimentos marinos, indicando el equilibrio del paleorelieve en el Albiense medio. Los procesos tectónicos al final del Albiense superior (Tectoevento Vraconiense), que causaron la emersión de amplias zonas de la NCB, terminan la megasecuencia albiense. La megasecuencia cenomaniense comenzó en el limite Albiense/Cenomaniense con la progradatión de material clástico deltaico que fue canalizado (siguiendo el Eje de Santillana) hacia el Este. Dicho delta ("Delta de Santillana") discurria al Este de Santander hacia la Cuenca Vasco-cantabrica, interfiriendo con los sedimentos de prodelta del Delta de Valmaseda ("Flysch Negro"). En la parte inferior de la zona de Mantelliceras mantelli, un pulso transgresivo inundó la NCB y permitió el depósito de sedimentos marinos, predominantemente calcáreos. Este evento transgresivo puede ser correlacionado con la "transgresión del Cenomaniense initial" sensu lato. En la sucesion Cenomaniense de la NCB pueden ser reconocidas las siguientes zonas: • Cenomaniense superior: Zona de Eucalycoceras pentagonum y la Zona de Metoicoceras geslinianum [pars] • Cenomaniense medio: [Zona de Cunningtoniceras inerme], Zona de Acanthoceras rhotomagense y Zona de A. jukesbrownei • Cenomaniense inferior: Zona de Mantelliceras mantelli y Zona de M. dixoni. La parte superior del Cenomaniense superior (parte superior de la zona de M. geslinianum y la Zona de Neocardioceras judii) está ausente en la NCB. Los sedimentos marino-someros de naturaleza carbonatada de la "Plataforma de Altamira" comenzaron a depositarse en amplias zonas de la NCB en la parte superior de la zona de mantelli. Al Este de la Flexión de Río Miera, en un área fuertemente subsidente, fueron depositadas contemporáneamente potentes sucesiones de sedimentos de cuenca (margas, calizas nodulares y ritmitas de marga/caliza). Durante el Cenomaniense medio hasta la base del Cenomaniense superior, la Plataforma de Altamira fue inundada desde el Este al Oeste en tres intervalos sucesivos. El desarrollo de discordancias de inundatión ("drowning unconformities" = series condensadas, "hardgrounds" mineralizados con ammonites) resultan más recientes hacia el Oeste, concluyendo en un basculamiento hacia atrás de la Plataforma de Altamira. En el Cenomaniense superior (Zona de pentagonum) todos los anteriores lugares caracterizados por el depósito de carbonates marino-someros fueron anegados. La historia deposicional del Cenomaniense acabó en la parte alta de la zona de geslinianum, cuando movimientos tectonicos del Tectoevento de Santander causaron la emersión generalizada de la NCB. El hiato resultante puede ser reconocido en los horizontes condensados a techo de las plataformas sumergidas e igualmente en las sucesiones de cuenca. El desarrollo de facies del Cenomaniense está dominado por el carácter de pulsos que tuvo la "transgresión cenomaniense". Seis límites de secuencia pueden reconocerse dentro de la sucesión cenomaniense del norte de Cantabria, los cuales definen seis secuencias deposicional es de tercer orden (DS Ce I-VI). La positión estratigráfica de los límites de secuencia (SB) son los siguientes: • SB Ce VI = parte superior de la Zona de geslinianum • SB Ce V = intervalo límite del Cenomaniense medio/superior • SB Ce IV = base de la Zona de jukesbrawnei • SB Ce III = parte superior de la Zona de dixoni • SB Ce II = parte superior de la Zona de mantelli • SB Ce I = parte inferior de la Zona de mantelli. Una comparación de esta subdivisión secuencial con las tablas de ciclos regionales del reino vasco-cantábrico revela una buena correlatión, mientras que la correlatión con la "tabla global" ("Exxon chart") es pobre. La correlatión entre varias cuencas sugiere una causa eustática para los numerosos eventos de cambios del nivel del mar en el Cenomaniense (por ejemplo SB Ce III, mfz dentro de la Zona de rhotomagense, SB Ce IV, HST en la Zona de pentagonum). Considerando la megasecuencia del Cenomaniense como un "ciclo de segundo orden", una tendencia transgresiva general ocurrió a lo largo del Cenomaniense, el máxirno "onlap" costero fue alcanzado durante la máxima inundatión de la DS Ce VI (Zona de pentagonum). Desde el punto de vista paleobiogeográfico, la NCB muestra fuertes afinidades tethyales en el Albiense superior y el Cenomaniense. El "Evento de Turrilites scheuchzerianus/Neohibolites ultimus" al comienzo del Cenomaniense medio permite una correlation con el "Evento de Actinocamax primus" del Cenomaniense de la Provincia templada norteuropea.

Description: thesis

Description: DFG, SUB Göttingen

Description: Die Stammesgeschichte der Ordnung Ptenoglossa (Gastropoda, Caenogastropoda) wird anhand von 179 rezenten und fossilen Arten bis ins Paläozoikum zurückverfolgt. Ihre rezenten Überfamilien, die Cerithiopsoidea, Triphoroidea und Janthinoidea ernähren sich karnivor. Eine kollabral berippte Larvalschale stellt in den rezenten Überfamilien den ursprünglichen Zustand dar und ist die aussagekräftigste schalenmorphologische Symplesiomorphie. Dies erweist sich durch Radulauntersuchungen und den Fossilbericht. Cerithiopsoidea und Triphoroidea fressen Schwämme und bilden gemeinsam mit den mesozoischen Protorculidae ein Monophylum. Die Janthinoidea fressen Coelenteraten. Sie sind nahe mit den mesozoischen Zygopleuridae verwandt. Die Stammlinien der Schwamm- und Coelenteratenfresser waren schon in der Trias getrennt. Die Zygopleuroidea (Zygopleuridae, Pseudozygopleuridae und Protorculidae) sind folglich ein Parataxon. In allen drei Familien der Zygopleuroidea kommt die kollabral berippte Larvalschale vor und repräsentiert den ursprünglichen Zustand. Die paläozoischen Pseudozygopleuridae stellen wahrscheinlich die Schwestergruppe der rezenten und mesozoischen Ptenoglossa dar. Arten der Pseudozygopleuridae mit planktotropher und nicht planktotropher Frühontogenese können biometrisch getrennt werden. Die Abgrenzung nicht planktotropher Pseudozygopleuridae von den devonischen bis karbonischen Palaeozygopleuridae ist schwierig, weil letztere anhand eines nicht planktotrophen Protoconchs definiert wurden. Mit Hilfe von Protoconchvermessungen ist es jedoch meist möglich, beide Gruppen zu trennen. Die Außengruppe der Ptenoglossa sind die Cerithimorpha, die im Paläozoikum durch die Acanthonematidae und die Murchisoniidae repräsentiert werden. Die paläozoischen Acanthonematidae werden neu gefaßt und enthalten nun unter anderem die Gattungen Orthonema, Palaeostylus, Cerithioides und Knightella. Sie zeichnen sich durch einen heliciformen Protoconch aus, der sich grundsätzlich von dem der Pseudozygopleuridae (Ptenoglossa) unterscheidet. Mithin ist der Protoconch der Pseudozygopleuridae die wesentliche schalenmorphologische Apomorphie der Ptenoglossa. 30 Arten werden neu beschrieben (siehe Anhang A), davon 2 rezente, 8 aus dem Tertiär, 1 aus der Kreide, 13 aus der Trias, 1 aus dem Perm und 5 aus dem Karbon. Turritella hybrida MONSTER non DESHAYES erhält den neuen Namen Zygopleura hybridissima nom. nov. 5 neue Gattungen werden errichtet: Antiphora n. Gen. (Triphoroidea, Tertiär), Eorex n. gen. (Triphoroidea, Tertiär), Atorcula n. gen. (Protorculidae, Trias), Azyga n. gen. (Zygopleuridae, Trias) und Stiazyga n. gen. (Zygopleuridae, Trias). Ampezzopleurinae n. subfam. wird als Unterfamilie der Zygopleuridae WENZ errichtet. Nystiellinae CLENCH & TURNER erhält Familienstatus (Nystiellidae). Die Untergattung Cerithiopsis (Vatopsis) GRÜNDEL wird zur Gattung erhoben und von den Cerithiopsidae zu den Eumetulidae transferiert. Tembrockia GRÜNDEL wird von den Cerithiopsidae zu den Eumetulidae transferiert. Variseila DOCKERY wird von den Triforidae JOUSSEAUME zu den Eumetulidae GOLIKOV & STAROBOGATOV transferiert. Ampezzopleura BANDEL wird von den Protorculidae BANDEL zu den Zygopleuridae WENZ transferiert. Zygopleura tenuis (MÜNSTER) sensu Zardini wird als neue nominelle Art Ampezzopleura tenuis BANDEL betrachtet, für die ein Lectotyp hinterlegt wird. Teutonica SCHRÖDER wird von den Cerithiopsidae zu den Zygopleuridae transferiert. Orthonema MEEK & WORTHEN wird von den Turritellidae LOVÉN zu den Acanthonematidae WENZ zurücktransferiert. Palaeostylus MANSUY wird von den Procerithiidae COSSMANN zu den Acanthonematidae transferiert. Knightella LONGSTAFF wird von den Pseudozygopleuridae KNIGHT zu den Acanthonematidae transferiert. Cerithioides HAUGHTON wird von den Murchisoniidae zu den Acanthonematidae WENZ transferiert. Die systematische Stellung einiger weiterer Taxa wird kritisch hinterfragt. Etliche Arten werden anderen Gattungen zugeordnet (siehe Anhang A "comb. nov.").

Description: The phylogeny of the order Ptenoglossa (Gastropoda, Caenogastropoda) is traced back into the Paleozoic by studying 179 Recent and fossil species. The Recent superfamilies Cerithiopsoidea, Triphoroidea und Janthinoidea are carnivorous. A larval shell with collabral ribs represents the plesiomorphic state in the Recent superfamilies and it is the most informative symplesiomorphy that concerns to the shell morphology. Evidence for that is given by the radula morphology and the fossil record. Cerithiopsoidea and Triphoroidea feed on sponges and form a clade with the Mesozoic family Protorculidae. The Janthinoidea feed on coelenterates. They are closely related to the Mesozoic family Zygopleuridae. The stem lines of sponge eaters and coelenterate eaters have been separated from each other at least since the Triassic. Thus, the superfamily Zygopleuroidea (Zygopleuridae, Pseudozygopleuridae and Protorculidae) is a parataxon. In all three families of the Zygopleuroidea a larval shell with collabral ribs occurs and represents the plesiomorphic state. The Paleozoic Pseudozygopleuridae are presumably the sister-group of the Recent and the Mesozoic Ptenoglossa. Species of the Pseudozygopleuridae with planktotrophic and non-planktotrophic larval development can be separated from each other by measuring their protoconchs. The separation of non-planktotrophic Pseudozygopleuridae from Devonian and Carboniferous species of the Palaeozygopleuridae is difficult because Palaeozygopleuridae were defined by a non-planktotrophic protoconch, whereas Pseudozygopleuridae were defined by a larval shell of the planktotrophic type. But in most cases it is possible to identify the species by protoconch measurements. The outgroup of the Ptenoglossa are the Cerithimorpha which are represented in the Paleozoic by the families Acanthonematidae and Murchisoniidae. The Paleozoic Acanthonematidae are newly defined and contain genera like Orthonema, Palaeostylus, Cerithioides and Knightella. They have a heliciform protoconch which is fundamentally different from the protoconch of the pseudozygopleurids (Ptenoglossa). The protoconch of the Pseudozygopleuridae is the essential apomorphy concerning the shell of the Ptenoglossa. 30 species are described as new (see Anhang A), 2 of which are Recent, 8 are from the Tertiary, 1 from the Cretacous, 13 from the Triassic, 1 from the Permian and 5 from the Carboniferous. Turritella hybrida MÜNSTER non DESHAYES gets the new name Zygopleura hybridissima nom. nov. 5 new genera are erected: Antiphora n. gen. (Triphoroidea, Tertiary), Eorex n. gen. (Triphoroidea, Tertiary), Atorcula n. gen. (Protorculidae, Triassic), Azyga n. gen. (Zygopleuridae, Triassic) and Striazyga n. gen. (Zygopleuridae, Triassic). Ampezzopleurinae n. subfam. is erected as subfamily of the Zygopleuridae. Nystiellinae CLENCH & TURNER is raised on family level (Nystiellidae). The subgenus Cerithiopsis (Vatopsis) GRÜNDEL is raised on genus level and is transferred from Cerithiopsidae H. & A. ADAMS to Eumetulidae GOLIKOV & STAROBOGATOV. Tembrockia GRÜNDEL is transferred from Cerithiopsidae to Eumetulidae. Variseila DOCKERY is transferred from Triforidae JOUSSEAUME to Eumetulidae. Ampezzopleura BANDEL is transferred from Protorculidae BANDEL to Zygopleuridae WENZ. Zygopleura tenuis (MÜNSTER) sensu Zardini is deemed to be the new nominal species Ampezzopleura tenuis BANDEL (type species of Ampezzopleura) for which a lectotype is designated. Teutonica SCHRÖDER is transferred from Cerithiopsidae to Zygopleuridae. Orthonema MEEK & WORTHEN is retransferred from Turritellidae LOVÉN to Acanthonematidae WENZ. Palaeostylus MANSUY is transferred from Procerithiidae COSSMANN to Acanthonematidae. Knightella LONGSTAFF is transferred from Pseudozygopleuridae KNIGHT to Acanthonematidae. Cerithioides HAUGHTON is transferred from Murchisoniidae KOKEN to Acanthonematidae WENZ. The systematic position of several other taxa has been critically revised. The generic position of several species is changed (see Anhang A "comb. nov.").

Description: thesis

Description: DFG, SUB Göttingen

Description: Klaus Bandel & Thorsten Kowalke: Systematic value of the larval shell of fossil and modern Vanikoridae, Pickworthiidae and the genus Fossarus (Caenogastropoda, Mollusca) … 3 ; R. Thomas Becker: Eine neue und älteste Glatziella (Clymeniida) aus dem höheren Oberdevon des Nordsauerlandes (Rheinisches Schiefergebirge) … 31 ; Glenn G. Rechner: Eine Dinoflagellaten-Zysten-Vergesellschaftung des tieferen Rupelium (Unter-Oligozän) aus transgressiven Ablagerungen nördlich von Altenhausen in Sachsen-Anhalt (Blatt 3733, Erxleben) … 43 ; Joachim Gründel: Zur Kenntis einiger Gastropoden-Gattungen aus dem französischen Jura und allgemeine Bemerkungen zur Gastropodenfauna aus dem Dogger Mittel- und Westeuropas … 69 ; Joachim Gründel: Heterostropha (Gastropoda) aus dem Dogger Norddeutschlands und Nordpolens. I. Mathildoidea (Mathildidae) … 131 ; Joachim Gründel: Heterostropha (Gastropoda) aus dem Dogger Norddeutschlands und Nordpolens. III. Opisthobranchia … 177 ; C. M. Hampton & J. E. Rae: Genesis of the fossiliferous Pleistocene Hima Limestone, western Uganda, as indicated by its isotopic composition … 225 ; Helmut Keupp: Anomal kiellose Hildoceratidae (= „Subfamilie Monestierinae SAPUNOV 1965“): Ursache taxonomischer Konfusionen (Ammonoidea, Toarcium) … 233 ; Helmut Keupp: Paläopathologische Analyse einer „Population“ von Dactylioceras athleticum (SIMPSON) aus dem Unter-Toarcium von Schlaifhausen/Oberfranken … 243 ; Rolf Kohring: Eischalen neognather Vögel aus dem mitteleozänen Geiseltal (Deutschland) … 269 ; Rolf Kohring: Eggshell Structure as Evidence in Avian Systematics - Preliminary Results … 281 ; Jürgen Kriwet: Beitrag zur Kenntnis der Fischfauna des Oberjura (unteres Kimmeridgium) der Kohlengrube Guimarota bei Leiria, Mittel-Portugal: 2. Neoselachii (Pisces, Elasmobranchii) ... 293 ; Thomas Schlüter: Validity of the Paratrichoptera - an extinct Insect Order related to the Mecoptera, Diptera, Trichoptera or Lepidoptera? Suggestions based on discoveries in the Upper Triassic Molteno Formation of South Africa … 303 ; Rolf Kohring: Bibliographie 1996, Institut für Paläontologie, Freie Universität Berlin … 313 ;

Description: thesis

Description: DFG, SUB Göttingen

Description: The ability to monitor the heat content of oceans over long distances is becoming increasingly important for understanding the role of oceans in climate change, for determining the variability of the state of the oceans, for operational ocean observing systems, and for studying large-scale ocean processes such as water-mass formation. Although the properties of the upper layers of the ocean can be routinely measured on large scales by satellite remote sensing (providing altimetric and infrared data) and with expendable probes dropped from commercial vessels, the deep interior of the ocean is more difficult to monitor. Ocean acoustic tomography1 is a promising technique for such applications, as it has the potential to provide systematic, instantaneous and repeated measurements of the ocean interior over large parts of an ocean basin. Here we demonstrate the capability of this technique for measuring the heat content across an entire (albeit small) ocean basin—the western Mediterranean Sea.

Description: The effect of variable CO2 concentrations on the elemental composition (C:N:P) of marine diatoms was investigated in 2 strains of Skeletonema costatum (Grev.) Cleve. Five or 6 concentrations of dissolved molecular carbon dioxide [CO2 (aq)], ranging from 0.5 to 39 µmol l-1, were applied in dilute batch cultures. In both strains, elemental ratios were clearly dependent on [CO2 (aq)]. With decreasing CO2 concentrations, a decline in C:P and N:P and an increase in C:N was observed. The close correlation between C:P or N:P and [CO2 (aq)] corresponded to a ca 45 to 65% decrease in elemental ratios from highest (〉=30 µmol l-1) to lowest (ca 1 µmol l-1) CO2 concentrations. C:N at low [CO2 (aq)] was up to 24% higher than at high [CO2 (aq)]. To date, the elemental composition of marine phytoplankton has been considered to be independent of CO2 availability. If dependency of the C:N:P ratio on [CO2 (aq)] proves to be a general phenomenon in marine phytoplankton, changes in the elemental composition may be expected in response to the currently observed increase in partial pressure of atmospheric CO2.

Description: The ocean stores and transports vast quantities of heat, fresh water, carbon and other materials, and its circulation plays an important role in determining both the Earth's climate and fundamental processes in the biosphere. Understanding the development of climate and important biological cycles therefore requires detailed knowledge of ocean circulation and its transport properties. This cannot be achieved solely through modelling, but must involve accurate observations of the spatio-temporal evolution of the global oceanic flow field. Estimates of oceanic flow are currently made on the basis of space-borne measurements of the sea surface, and monitoring of the ocean interior. Satellite altimetry and acoustic tomography are complementary for this purpose1, as the former provides detailed horizontal coverage of the surface, and the latter the requisite vertical sampling of the interior. High-quality acoustic-tomographic2 and altimetric3 data are now available to test the combined power of these technologies for estimating oceanic flows. Here we demonstrate that, with the aid of state-of-the-art numerical models, it is possible to recover from these data a detailed spatio-temporal record of flow over basin-scale volumes of fluid. Our present results are restricted to the Mediterranean Sea, but the method described here provides a powerful tool for studying oceanic circulation worldwide.

Description: The response of epilithic microphytobenthos to in situ nutrient enrichments was studied in the Kiel Fjord, Western Baltic Sea. For this purpose an experimental setup with continuous nutrient supply was designed and installed. Experiments followed the colonization of artificial substrates and the responses of benthic algae to different concentrations and combinations of nitrogen and phosphate. They revealed nitrogen limitation of epilithic microflora from late spring to autumn, such that there was higher biovolume with increasing nitrogen concentrations. Diatoms became dominant in all experiments except one in which the rhodophyte Ceramium strictum prevailed. Species composition was altered by nutrient treatments; one to several species were highly favoured by nutrient enrichment. Consequently, diversity was negatively correlated with final yield. These findings support the hypothesis that competition is an important factor structuring microphytobenthic communities.

Description: Snails Littorina littorea with and without artificial epibionts were exposed in situ for nearly 1 mo. Measurement of individual shell length increase over this period revealed that clean snails grew 3 times faster than fouled snails. These results compare well with previously conducted flume experiments (Wahl 1996). This epibiosis effect is thought to be due to increased drag-the only feature distinguishing the 2 treatment groups-caused by the presence of epibionts on the shell. Increased drag probably entails higher energy expenditure for pedal activities (attachment and locomotion) and a reduced allocation of resources towards growth and, possibly, reproduction

Description: Stomach contents from 30 long-finned pilot whales Globicephala melas captured incidentally in the Distant Water Fleet (DWF) mackerel fishery off the northeastern United States were examined. Several methods of assessing prey importance were used in order to construct a true representation of the pilot whale diet. Separate analyses of trace (free, durable body parts from well-digested prey) and non-trace (relatively intact prey) food materials were conducted to address biases caused by differential rates of digestion and passage. Squids dominated the diet and long-finned squid Loligo pealei was the most important prey, but we noted large yearly fluctuations in prey importance. Metric multidimensional scaling analyses of trace and non-trace stomach contents of individual whales suggest that many animals were cuaght while feeding opportunistically near fishing operations, resulting in a bias of non-trace (intact) stomach contents. The diversity of prey in this study was greater than previous reports of the food habits of western North Atlantic non-finned pilot whales.

Description: Recent captures of two female giant squid ( Architeuthis ) off southern Australia have provided the first record of a mated female specimen of these almost mythical deepsea creatures. We found sperm packages (spermatophores) embedded within the skin of both ventral arms of the larger of the two specimens. It seems that male giant squids may use their muscular elongate penis to ‘inject’ sperm packages under pressure directly into the arms of females.

Description: We investigated the foraging location, diving behaviour, dietary composition, feeding rates and foraging trip durations of emperor penguins Aptenodytes forsteri raising chicks at the Auster and Taylor Glacier colonies on the Mawson Coast of Antarctica in the winter, spring and early summer of 1993, to examine seasonal changes in the penguins' foraging ecology. As day-length increased after winter, the penguins' daily swimming time increased from 7.83 ± 1.50 h in August to 12.23 ± 1.25 h in September and 12.95 ± 1.24 h in October. Accordingly, the penguins' dive rate increased from 92.7 ± 28.5 to 149.4 ± 23.4 and 161.6 ± 19.3 dives d-1 in the respective months. The birds targeted prey in the vicinity of the continental slope mainly at depths 〈100 m, although some individuals frequently hunted at depths 〉200 m, and the maximum depth achieved was 438 m. Antarctic krill Euphausia superba were the most common prey taken overall, 41% of the diet by mass, and dominated the diets between August and October. The contribution of Antarctic krill to the diet reduced over time from 68% in August to 1% in early December. In November, the glacier squid Psychroteuthis glacialis dominated the diet (47 to 63%), and in early December the diet comprised various species of fish, Trematomus species (27%), Pagothenia borchgrevinki (24%), and Pleuragramma antarcticum (8%), and squid, P. glacialis (13%) and Alluroteuthis antarcticus (9%). The birds' prey consumption rates more than doubled between late winter and early summer, from 4.0 ± 1.0 to 8.7 ± 1.7 kg d-1 spent foraging; these values are equivalent to metabolisable energy intakes of 628 ± 134 and 1422 ± 308 kJ kg-1 d-1, respectively. During brooding (late winter to early spring), females spent less time at sea than males (8.7 ± 2.7 vs 17.7 ± 3.8 d); thereafter trip durations of both sexes were similar and declined from 15-19 d in spring to 〈10 d in early summer. Between hatching and about 1 wk prior to fledging each parent fed its chick 7 or 8 times. To raise a chick, females and males consumed approximately 410 and 470 kg of prey respectively, or 880 kg for each breeding pair. Seasonal variations in the penguins' foraging were probably influenced by fluctuating sea-ice conditions, differences in the prey types available, changes in day-length toward summer, and increasing demands of the growing chicks.

Description: The nitrogen-isotope record preserved in Southern Ocean sediments, along with several geochemical tracers for the settling fluxes of biogenic matter, reveals patterns of past nutrient supply to phytoplankton and surface-water stratification in this oceanic region. Areal averaging of these spatial patterns indicates that reduction of the CO2 'leak' from ocean to atmosphere by increased surface-water stratification south of the Polar Front made a greater contribution to the lowering of atmospheric CO2 concentration during the Last Glacial Maximum than did the increased export of organic carbon from surface to deep waters occurring further north.

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

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

Description: thesis

Description: DFG, SUB Göttingen

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

Description: research

Description: DFG, SUB Göttingen

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

Description: The conventional model whereby plume volcanism forms linear age-progressive volcanic chains, with the youngest activity occurring nearest a spreading axis (at a 'hotspot'), has been challenged for the Easter seamount chain1–4. Whereas early work suggested the existence of a linear melting anomaly (a 'hotline')1,2, more recent studies3,4 have proposed a hotspot near Salas y Gomez island, connected with the Easter microplate spreading system by an ~800-km-long, volcanically active plume channel. Here we use geochemical, geological and geochronological data to argue that the hotspot lies close to Easter Island. Moreover, new isotopic data for lavas from the seamount chain provide evidence for bidirectional flow between the spreading axis and the plume, thus supporting geophysical and fluid-dynamical models of mantle flow in a plume/spreading axis system5–7. Material balance and flux considerations show the Easter plume to be weak and cool compared with those beneath larger features such as Iceland, Hawaii and the Galápagos islands.

Description: A knowledge of past changes in the biological productivity of the oceans is important for understanding the interactions between carbon cycling and climate. Phytoplankton productivity in today's oceans can be estimated from the concentrations of chlorophyll in sea water1, but chlorophyll is not preserved in the sediments. Existing proxies for past algal productivity do not represent total productivity; for example, biogenic opal2 reflects the contribution of only part of the phytoplankton community, and the organic carbon record can be subject to contamination from terrestrial inputs2,3. Although chlorins, the pigment-transformation products of chlorophyll, are widespread in Quaternary marine sediments, their potential as proxy measures of past variations in primary productivity has not been convincingly demonstrated. Here we report a high-resolution molecular stratigraphic record of chlorin concentrations over the past 350,000 years in a sediment core from the subtropical Atlantic continental margin. Maxima in the chlorin accumulation rate coincide with significant peaks in the accumulation rates of biogenic opal (at the end of glacial terminations) and organic carbon (between terminations). These results suggest that chlorins, unlike other proxies, can serve as a measure of total primary productivity variations.

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

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

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

Description: A fundamental issue in marine science is the identification of the factors controlling biological uptake of CO2, in high-nitrate, low-chlorophyll regions. A recent in situ iron fertilization experiment demonstrated that iron limitation is responsible for low phytoplankton stocks in the equatorial Pacific4. Here we show that flavodoxin, a biochemical marker of iron limitation, can be used to map the degree of iron stress in natural populations. Flavodoxin assays along a 900-km east-west transect in the northeastern subarctic Pacific revealed a pronounced increase in iron stress in the region west of the 135° W meridian. Addition of dissolved iron alleviated this stress. Immunostaining of single cells from the most western station showed that flavodoxin is present specifically within the chloroplasts of diatoms. Our approach provides a rapid means of defining the extent of iron stress in the ocean5 and supports the hypothesis that diatoms are iron stressed in the northeast Pacific.

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

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

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

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

Description: REITNER, Joachim & KOHRING, Rolf: Prof. Dr. Gundolf ERNST zum 65. Geburtstag. Eine kritische Würdigung des Jubilars ... 5 ; VOIGT, Ehrhard & GORDON, Dennis P.: Ascancestor and Confusocella - two new genera of cheilostomate Bryozoa from the Upper Cretaceous with transitional frontal-shield morphologies ... 15 ; KENNEDY, William J. & KAPLAN, Ulrich: Pseudojacobites farmeryi (CRICK, 1905), ein seltener Ammonit des westfälischen und englischen Ober-Turon ... 25 ; SEIBERTZ, Ekbert & SPAETH, Christian: Die Kreide-Belemniten von Mexiko II. Belemniten des Turon Nord-Mexikos ... 45 ; WIESE, Frank & WILMSEN, Markus: Erstnachweis aus Europa von Litophragmatoceras incomptum (Ammonoidea, Kreide) aus dem Mittel-Cenoman von Liencres (Kantabrien, Nordspanien) ... 53 ; WIESE, Frank: Das mittelturone Romaniceras kallesi-Event im Raum Santander (Nordspanien): Lithologie, Stratigraphie, laterale Veränderung der Ammonitenassoziationen und Paläobiogeographie ... 61 ; KRÜGER, Fritz J.: Leere Oberkretazische Echiniden-Coronen als Habitat benthonischer Organismen ... 79 ; MEHL, Dorte & NIEBUHR, Birgit: Diversität und Wachstumsformen bei Coeloptychium (Hexactinellida, Lychniskosa) der Meiner Mulde (Untercampan, NW-Deutschland) und die Palökologie der Coeloptychidae ... 91 ; REHFELD, Ursula & OTTO, Armin: Distribution and preservation of siliceous sponges of the rhythmically bedded spongiolitic rocks in the Lower Campanian of northern Spain (Cantabria, Santander area): Response to autecology and sea level development ... 109 ; FECHNER, Glenn G.: Phytoplankton und Sporomorphen aus dem Cenoman-Basiskonglomerat von Bochum (Nordrheinwestfalen, Deutschland) ... 129 ; KEUPP, Helmut: Die kalkigen Dinoflagellaten-Zysten aus dem Ober-Alb der Bohrung Kirchrode 1/91 (zentrales Niedersächsisches Becken, NW-Deutschland) ... 155 ; VOIGT, Silke: Verbreitung humider und arider Klimate der nördlichen Hemisphäre während der Oberkreide ... 201 ; HORNA, Frank: Komplexer Nachweis einer Tufflage im Turon von Hoppenstedt ... 207 ; WRAY, David S. & WOOD, Christopher J.: Geochemical identification and correlation of tuff layers in Lower Saxony, Germany ... 215 ; MUTTERLOSE, Jörg & WIEDENROTH, Kurt: Die Bio- und Lithofazies der Unterkreide (Hauterive bis Apt) in NW-Deutschland ... 227 ; TRÖGER, Karl-Armin & VOIGT, Thomas: Event-und Sequenzstratigraphie in der Sächsischen Kreide... 255 ; SEIBERTZ, Ekbert: Towards the single-species boundary definition - a concept proposal with application to the Turonian-Coniacian stage boundary (Upper Cretaceous) ... 269 ; WOOD, Christopher J. & MORTIMORE, Rory N.: An anomalous Black Band succession (Cenomanian - Turonian boundary interval) at Melton Ross, Lincolnshire, eastern England and its international significance ... 277 ; KUTZ, Andreas: Kalk-Mergel-Rhythmite der Oberkreide (Campan und Maastricht) am Massiv von Oroz Betelu (N-Spanien, Provinz Navarra). Ein Exkursionsführer ... 289 ; WOLF, Ernst-Otto.: Sedimentologie, Paläogeographie und Faziesentwicklung der Allochthonite des Campan von Beckum/Zentrales Münsterland ... 305 ; KRIWET, Jürgen & GLOY, Uwe: Zwei mesopelagische Raubfische (Actinopterygii: Euteleostei) aus dem Unterturon der Kronsberg-Mulde bei Hannover / Misburg (NW-Deutschland) ... 335 ; RAUHUT, Oliver W.M.: Zur systematischen Stellung der afrikanischen Theropoden Carcharodontosaurus STROMER 1931 und Bahariasaurus STROMER 1934 ... 357 ; WERNER, Christa: Neue Funde von mesozoischen Wirbeltieren in Äthiopien... 377 ;

Description: commemorativepublication

Description: DFG, SUB Göttingen

Description: SCHUDACK, Michael E.: Neue mikropaläontologische Beiträge (Ostracoda, Charophyta) zum Morrison-Ökosystem (Oberjura des Western Interior, USA) ... 389 ; BARTHOLDY, Jan, BELLAS, Spyridon M., MERTMANN, Dorothee, MACHANIEC, Elsbieta & MANUTSOGLU, Emmanuil: Fazies- Entwicklung und Biostratigraphie einer Sequenz eozäner Sedimente im Steinbruch Pod Capkami, Tatra-Gebirge, Polen ... 409 ; SCHULZ, Eberhard: Palynologische Untersuchungen des marinen Mittelrhäts im Creuzburger Graben bei Eisenach (W-Thüringen) ... 427 ; KRUTZSCH, Wilfried: Verbreitung der Trockenzonen im Kainophytikum - Eine Skizze ... 439 ; KOHRING, Rolf & SCHLÜTER, Thomas: Erhaltungsmechanismen känozoischer Insekten in fossilen Harzen und Sedimenten ... 457 ; ZILS, Wolfgang, WERNER, Christa, MORITZ, Andrea & SAANANE, Charles: Orientierende Tendaguru-Expedition 1994 ... 483 ; KIENEL, Ulrike, REHFELD, Ursula & BELLAS, Spyridon M.: The Miocene Blue Clay Formation of the Maltese Islands: Sequence-stratigraphic and palaeoceanographic implications based on calcareous nannofossil stratigraphy ... 533 ; SOUJON, Andr6, MANUTSOGLU, Emmanuil, REITNER, Joachim & JACOBSHAGEN, Volker: Lithistide Demospongiae aus der metamorphen Plattenkalk-Serie der Trypali Ori (Kreta/Griechenland) … 559 ; BARON-SZABO, Rosemarie C.: Taxonomy and Palaeoecology of Late Miocene corals of NW-Crete (Gramvoüssa, Roka- and Koukounaras- Fms.) ... 569 ; MANUTSOGLU, Emmanuil, MERTMANN, Dorothee, SoujON, Andre, DORNSIEPEN, Ulrich Friedrich & JACOBSHAGEN, Volker: Zur Nomenklatur der Metamorphite auf der Insel Kreta, Griechenland ... 579 ; FRYDAS, D., KONTOPOULOS, N., STAMATOPOULOS, L., GUERNET, C. & VOLTAGGIO, M.: Middle-Late Pleistocene sediments in the northwestern Peloponnesus, Greece. A combined study of biostratigraphical, radiochronological and sedimentological results ... 589 ; BECKER, R. Thomas: Taxonomy and Evolution of Late Famennian Tornocerataceae (Ammonoidea) ... 607 ; GRÖSCHKE, Manfred & KAPILIMA, Saldi: Ammoniten aus dem Septarienmergel (Kimmeridgium) des Mandawa-Mahokondo-Gebietes bei Nchia, Südtansania ... 645 ; KEUPP, Helmut & RIEDEL, Frank: Nautilus pompilius in captivity: a case study of abnormal shell growth ... 663 ; KRIWET, Jürgen: Beitrag zur Kenntnis der Fisch-Fauna des Ober-Jura (unteres Kimmeridge) der Kohlengrube Guimarota bei Leiria, Mittel-Portugal: 1 . Asteracanthus biformatus n. sp. (Chondrichthyes: Hybodontoidea) ... 683 ; MARTIN, Thomas: Incisor enamel microstructure and phylogenetic interrelationships of Pedetidae and Ctenodactyloidea (Rodentia) ... 693 ; ERESKOVSKY, Alexander V.: Materials to the Faunistic Study of the White and Barents seas sponges. 5. Quantitative Distribution ... 709 ; ERESKOVSKY, Alexander V.: Materials to the Faunistic Study of the White and Barents seas sponges. 6. The origin of the White and Barents seas sponge faunas ... 715 ; WÖRHEIDE, Gert: Bi- und multivariate Analyse borealer und mediterraner Populationen der Echinocardium cordatum - Gruppe (Echinoidea; Spatangoida) ... 731 ; HILBRECHT, Heinz: Computergestützte Methoden in der Morphometrie ... 765 ; CLAUSING, Andreas: Some critical notes on qualitative versus quantitative analysis in terrestrial palaeoecology ... 781 ; GLOY, Uwe: Bibliographie 1994, Institut für Paläontologie, Freie Universität Berlin ... 787 ;

Description: commemorativepublication

Description: DFG, SUB Göttingen

Description: Am Westrand des Basko-Kantabrischen Beckens (Soba-Region, Prov. Cantabria, Nordspanien) sind die Plattform/Becken-Übergangszonen des Apt und Alb in nahezu ungestörtem Verband erhalten. Entlang dieser Randzonen befinden sich großdimensionierte Mud Mound-Strukturen mit einer Basisbreite bis 150 m und einer Höhe bis zu 70 m. Diese Arbeit zielt auf die Erarbeitung der Prozesse, die die Bildung der Mounds begleiten, beeinflussen oder steuern. Das Intervall Oberapt (Clansay) bis Mittelaib besteht aus sechs sedimentär-diagenetischen Zyklen (asymmetrische Trans-, Regressionszyklen), die in Kombination mit Markerhorizonten eine stratigraphische Kontrolle über den Plattform/Becken-Transekt ermöglichen. Meeresspiegelschwankungen (Paläokarst) sind im Apt/Alb-Grenzintervall und hohen Unteralb (Ammonitenzone: Douvilleiceras mammilatum) nachweisbar. Die Vorkommen der Mud Mounds sind an transgressive Faziesdiskontinuitäten gebunden. Ihre Position entspricht dem zu Strömungen exponierten Hang und dem oberen Plattformrand. Die Biofazies reicht von einer aphotischen Gemeinschaft aus “Lithistida“, Hexactinellida, krustosen Foraminiferen, Polychaeten, Thecideen und Acanthochaeteten zu der photischen Biofazies mit Scleractinia, Lithophyllum und Bacinella/Lithocodium. Die Strukturbildung erfolgt durch eine autochthone Mikritproduktion (Automikrit). Akkretionäre Automikrite bilden Stromatolithe, Thrombolithe und massive Gefügetypen. Container-Automikrit befindet sich in geschützten und geschlossen Räumen. Kieselschwamm Container-Automikrite sind aphanitisch, peloidal und peloidal-bakterioform. Unabhängig von Kieselschwämmen treten Container-Automikrite in Kleinhöhlen, Taschen und im Interpartikelvolumen auf. Sie bestehen aus in-situ Peloiden und in-situ Ooiden mit massivem und/oder stromatolithischem Gefüge. Die verschiedenen Automikrittypen besetzen zwischen 50 und 80 Vol.-% der Mud Mounds. Anbohrungen durch lithophage Bivalven und Aka sowie die ausschließliche Produktion angularer Mound-Lithoklasten belegen eine Lithifizierung in statu nascendi. Die Primärmineralogie der Automikrite ist Hoch-Mg-Calcit; die Residualgehalte an MgCOa liegen zwischen 1 ,2 und 3,6 Mol-%. Die Zusammensetzung der stabilen Isotope S13C und S18O (vs PDB) ist analog zu anorganisch gebildeten, marinen Zementen (513C von 2,9 bis 3,8 und S18O von -1,5 bis -4). Die vergleichende Aminosäuren-Analyse ergibt ein relatives Maximum bei Glu und Asp, Pyruvaten und Glycin, resp. Tyrosin. Das Spektrum ist analog zu den Literaturdaten von modernen Automikriten aus Riffhöhlen von Lizard Island (GBR) und unterscheidet sich grundlegend von den strukturgebundenen Skelett-Automikriten von Bacinella/Lithocodium. Die Biomarker-Analyse akkretionärer Automikrite ergab ein spezifisches n-Alkan Muster, ebenfalls vergleichbar mit Spektren rezenter Thrombolithe (Lizard Island) und Beispielen der oberjurassischen Spongiolith-Fazies. Die Grundvoraussetzung der Mud Mound-Genese ist daher die Bereitstellung saurer Makromoleküle (Organomikrit) und eine anhaltend ungestörte Wechselwirkung mit dem umgebenden Medium. Die chemische Randbedingung ist eine erhöhte Karbonatalkalinität. Nach mikrofaziellen Kriterien ist Organomikrit ein faziesbrechendes Element der unterkretazischen Plattformränder. Beispiele reichen von karbonatischen Barrensanden mit Organomikrit-Rindenkörnern, über deltaische Sandsteine (Organomikrit um Quarz) bis zu Kondensationshorizonten auf Paläokarst sowie Drowning-Sequenzen auf Korallenpflastern (Sclercatinia zu Kalkalgen zu Thrombolith). Die Bildung der Mud Mounds (Organomikrit-Riffe) der Soba-Region ist korreliert mit einer regional extrem herabgesetzten Karbonatproduktion. Diese durch terrigenen Input und mögliche Eutrophierungen verursachten Produktionskrisen setzten die relativ uneffektive Organomikritproduktion in Vorteil gegenüber den stenoöken Gemeinschaften der euphotischen Zone. Die erhöhte Karbonatalkalinität kann von der Zufuhr der Verwitterungslösungen (regional) und dem Abau organischer Substanzen abgeleitet werden (lokal, Sulfatreduktion). Möglicherweise bestand ein Zusammenhang mit der Auslaugung von Keuperdiapiren.

Description: At the western margin of the Vasco-Cantabrian Basin (Soba-Region, Prov. Cantabria, N-Spain) the primary facies architecture of the Aptian-Albian platform/basin transition is well preserved. Along these zones large-scaled mud mounds reach 70 meters in height with a basal diameter of up to 150 meters. Aim of this work is to point out processes that are limited to coexistance and such that influence or even control mud mound formation. The Upper Aptian (Clansayesian) to Middle Albian interval consists of six sedimentary-diagenetic cycles that represent asymmetric transgressive/regressive facies sequences. In combination with marker horizons these cycles provide a stratigraphic control across the platform/basin transition. Sea-level changes recorded as paleokarst are documented in the Aptian/Albian boundary interval and within the upper parts of the Lower Albian (ammonite zone: Douvilleiceras mammilatum). Mud Mounds follow transgressive discontinuities of facies. These structures are both located at slopes facing wave-induced current systems and at the upper platform margin. The involved biofacies include an aphotic community with lithistid demosponges, hexactinellids, encrusting foraminifera, polychaetes, thecidean brachiopods and acanthochaetetids as well as a photic community with scleractinian corals, calcareous algae such as Lithophyllum and the problematic structure of Bacinella/ Lithocodium. Mud mounds are constructed by autochthonous production of micrite (automicrite). Accretionary automicrites form stromatolites and thrombolites as well as massive fabrics. Container-automicrite is restricted to protected and closed spaces. Container-automicrites of siliceous sponges reveal aphanic, peloidal and peloidal-bacterioform microfabrics. However, container-automicrite may also occur within minicaves, pockets and the interstitial space of rudstones lacking any sponge evidence. These automicrites consist of in-situ peloids and in-situ ooids forming massive and/or stromatolitic microfabrics. All automicrites, variously developed, hold 50 to 80 % of the total mud mound volume. Borings by lithopagous bivalves and sponges (Aka) and additionally the exclusive occurrence of angular mound lithoclasts provide evidence for lithification in statu nascendi. The primary mineralogy of the automicrites is high Mg-calcite with residual MgCOa-contents between 1.2 and 3.6 mole-%. The composition of stable isotopes (S13C and S18O vs. PDB) goes along with inorganically precipitated marine cements (813C: 2.9 to 3.8, S18O: -1,5 to -4). The comparative analysis of amino acid quantity reveals relative maxima of glutamin and asparagin, pyruvates and glycin as well as tyrosin. The relative amounts of amino acids are very similar to those obtained from modern automicrites of Lizard Island reef caves (GBR) and are clearly seperated from skeletal automicrites of Bacinella/ Lithocodium. In addition, biomarker analysis of accretionary automicrites resulted in a specific n-alkane pattern comparable to literature data of modern marine thrombolites (Lizard Island) and Upper Jurassic spongiolites. According to these results, the basic neccessity for mud mound genesis is the occurrence of acidic macromolecules producing a specific automicrite (organomicrite) and their persistent interaction with thesurrounding medium. Chemically, an increased carbonate alkalinity is required. Thin section analysis provides evidence that organomicrite is a widespread element of Lower Cretaceous platform margins overlapping different facies zones. These include carbonate shoal sediments with organomicrite-coated grains and deltaic sandstones with organomicrite-coated quartz grains. Further examples are intervals of stratigraphic condensation overlaying paleokarst or drowning sequences following a succession from scleractinian corals towards calcareous algae and thrombolites. On the regional scale mud mounds (organomicrite reefs) of the Soba-Region correlate with times of drastically reduced carbonate production. This, potentially caused by terrigenous input and episodes of eutrophism, leads to a dominance of the relatively ineffective production of organomicrite over the highly productive stenotopic (euphotic) communities. An increase of carbonate alkalinity can be deduced from regional scale continental weathering and from sulfate reduction on local scale. Possibly, a correlation between brines of subsoluted diapirs (Keuper) and the formation of automicrites might have existed.

Description: thesis

Description: DFG, SUB Göttingen

Description: In der vorliegenden Arbeit wird die Krustenstruktur im östlichen Andenvorland untersucht. Das Gebiet umfaßt den Nordwesten Argentiniens, zwischen dem 22° und 25° südlichen Breitengrad und dem 66° und 62° westlichen Längengrad. Aus morphologischer Sicht befindet sich das Untersuchungsgebiet im Übergang zwischen dem Subandin (Sierras Subandinas) und der südlichen Ostkordillere zum Chaco Vorland (Llanura Chaqueña). Im Untersuchungsgebiet zeichnet sich ein Wechsel in den tektonischen Strukturen ab, welcher als Interaktion zwischen der tertiären Andenorogenese und kretazischen Riftbildungen gedeutet wird. Dieser als Inversionstektonik bekannte tektonischer Stil hat nicht nur oberflächennahe Strukturen hervorgerufen, sondern auch tiefgreifende Massenveränderungen verursacht. Teile dieser Modifikationen sind in der Signatur des Schwerefeldes erhalten geblieben, und somit ist die Interpretation gravimetrischer Meßergebnisse zusammen mit den geologischen Randbedingungen eine Grundvorraussetzung zur Untersuchung dieser tektonischen Interaktion. Zum Verständnis dieser Strukturen war es notwendig, sowohl den Teil des Beckens zu untersuchen, welcher nicht von der andinen Orogenese betroffen ist, als auch jenen der direkt in die letztere miteinbezogen wurde. Aus gravimetrischer Sicht ist die Bougueranomalie des Gebietes stark vom Effekt der Andenwurzel geprägt. Jedoch deuten einige Abweichungen auf die Existenz lokalerer Störkörper hin, die Ziel der Modellierung waren. Ein solcher Störkörper wurde am südöstlichen Rand des kretazischen Rifts identifiziert. Die Modellierung wurde einerseits zweidimensional durchgeführt um einen Überblick über das Gebiet zu bekommen. Eine regionale 3D Modellierung führte dann zu einer präziseren Interpretation des Gebietes. Insbesondere wurde dabei der Effekt überschobener Riftschollen am Ostrand des Beckens untersucht. Diese Überschiebungen drücken sich im gravimetrischen Restfeld als deutliche positive Anomalie aus. Allerdings kann diese Anomalie nicht direkt mit einem Astenosphärenanstieg, welcher durch Riftbildung entstanden sein könnte, in Einklang gebracht werden - wie von einigen Autoren vermutet wurde. Eine weitere modellierte Struktur bildete die Vortiefe, welche durch die Auflast der andinen Überschiebung enstanden ist. Die dadurch hervorgerufenen negativen Anomalien bilden einen deutlichen Kontrast zu der beschriebenen positiven Anomalie im Vorland, der sich auch im Restfeld als starker Gradient äußert. Die 2D Modellierung erbrachte folgende Ergebnisse: im anorogenen Breich des Untersuchungsgebietes wurde die Existenz einer deutliche Asymmetrie des Beckens bestätigt, mit einer nach Südosten geneigten Riftabscherungsfläche. Die Orogenese hinterließ deutliche Spuren in der Reaktivierung der Abscherungen wobei entlang der südostvergenten Störungen tieferes Krustenmaterial emporgeschoben wurde. Mit einer größeren Dichte wird dieser Vorgang als Ursache der positiven Anomalie intepretiert. Westvergente Störungen scheinen nur oberflächennahe Bereiche miteinbezogen haben. Im regionalen 3D Modell wurde ein Ansteigen der Unterkruste unterhalb des Beckens angenommen. Die asymmetrische Anordnung dieses Anstiegs deutet eher auf einen kompressive tektonischen Effekt hin als auf eine residuale Krustenverdünnung. Zusammenfassend kann gesagt werden, daß sich in diesem Breich im Schwerefeld die Effekte des Andengradienten mit denen der überschobenen Basement-Tektonik und der Vorlandtief kombinieren und als solche fur einen starken lokalen Gradienten am Rande des Effekts der Andenwurzel verantwortlich sind.

Description: In the present study, the structure of the crust beneath the eastern Andean foreland is analyzed. The area comprises part of northwest Argentina, between 22° and 25° S and 66° and 62° W. In terms of morphotectonics, the area studied covers the transition between the Sierras Subandinas (Subandean Ranges) and the southern part of the Cordillera Oriental (Eastern Cordillera) to the Chaco plains (Llanura Chaqueña). In the area, a pervasive change controls the tectonic features, which is interpreted as a consequence of the interaction between the Andean orogeny and preexistent Cretaceous rifting. This inversion tectonics did not only result in a particular suite of near to surface structures but also modified deeply the mass distribution within the crust. This changes in mass distributions and hence density contrasts is evidenced by the gravity field. As such, a careful analysis of gravity data together with the geological boundary conditions are the basis for an analysis of this tectonic interaction. Understanding these structures implied to analyse not only the part of the rift involved in the Andean compressive orogenesis but also that part where original extensional features are still preserved. From a gravimetrical point of view, the Bouguer-anomaly of the area shows a strong overprint related with the Andean root. Some smaller changes in the field however indicate the existence of local sources, which where the target of the modelling. Such a change had been indentified at the southeastern edge of the Cretaceous rift. Modelling was performed towfold. As such, a 2D model was made in order to get an insight into the regional aspects of the area. A more detailed 3D model led to a more precise interpretation of the area. In particular, the effect of the inverted rift tectonics at the eastern edge of the basin was studied. These upthrusts correlate with a readily identifiable positive anomaly within the residual field. The anomaly neverthless cannot be directly related with an astenospheric uprise, preserved since the rifting stage, as suggested by some authors. In addition, the foredeep related with the tectonic load of the Andean overthurst, was modelled. The negative anomalies generated during this process, show a strong contrast in comparison with the positive anomaly described above, depicted also by a prominent gradient in the residual field. 2D modelling led to the following results. In the region, where Creataceous rifting structures were not overprinted by the Andean orogeny an obvious asymmetry of the basin was defined, being the master detachment dipping to the northeast. The orogeny left evidences of reactivation, where the structures of the southeastern edge were the pathways of the uplift if deeper crustal material with a higher density. This process may be responsible for a part of the positive anomaly mentioned. Structures located at the western and northwestern edge of the basin seem to have only involved nearer-to surface structures. The 3D model assumed a slight uprise of the lower crust beneath the basin. The asymmetry in goemetty seem to stand more for a tectonic effect than for a remanent thinned crust. As a summary, the gravity field in this area shows the combined effects of the regional Andean gradient with the more local effects of the basement tectonics (inverted rifting) and the overthrusted foredeep. Hence, at least these three factors seem to be responsible for the strong local gradient in a lateral position of the Andean root.

Description: thesis

Description: DFG, SUB Göttingen

Description: In dieser Arbeit wurden Laborexperimente im Ultraschallfrequenzbereich und begleitende theoretische Untersuchungen durchgeführt, um zu klären, welche Absorptionsmechanismen in fluidhaltigen Sandsteinen bei geringem einaxialen (26 MPa) und bei erhöhtem hydrostatischen Druck (bis 200 Mpa) wirksam sind. Die Kenntnis der Absorptionsmechanismen ist notwendig, um die Zusammenhänge von lithologischen und seismischen Gesteinsparametern zu verstehen und für die Interpretation von seismischen Feldmessungen zu nutzen. Bekannt war bislang, daß unter geringem einaxialen Druck frequenzabhängige lokale Flüssigkeitsströmungen den wesentlichen Absorptionsmechanismus in fluidhaltigem Gestein darstellen. Im Rahmen der vorliegenden Arbeit wurde gezeigt, daß die Kompressionswellengeschwindigkeit in fluidhaltigem Gestein bei höheren Sättigungsgraden zusätzlich von einem partiellen Gesteinsversteifungseffekt beeinflußt wird. Damit gelang eine vollständige Erklärung des sättigungsabhängigen elastischen und anelastischen Gesteinsverhaltens bei geringem einaxialen Druck. Um die Bedeutung der Gesteinsmikrostruktur (z.B. Rißdichte, Kornkontakte) für die seismischen Gesteinsparameter (Geschwindigkeit, Absorption) direkt nachzuweisen, wurde diese bei einem Gestein künstlich, thermisch verändert. Die Änderung der Mikrostruktur führt bei gleichzeitiger vernachlässigbarer Änderung der makroskopischen Gesteinsparameter (Porosität, Permeabilität) zu einer Vergrößerung der Fluideffekte. Mechanismen und Modelle, in welche ausschließlich makroskopische Gesteinsparameter ein- gehen, erfassen nicht die beobachteten Änderungen im Gesteinsverhalten. Nur mit dem auf die Gesteinsmikrostruktur bezogenen Mechanismus lokaler Flüssigkeitsströmungen konnten die Änderungen der Fluidwirkungen erklärt werden. Diese Ergebnisse an verändertem Gestein bieten somit einen direkten Beweis für den grundlegenden Einfluß der Mikrostruktur auf die seismischen Gesteinsparameter. Bislang war nicht geklärt, ob der Mechanismus lokaler Flüssigkeitsströmungen, welcher von der Existenz feiner Spalten im Gestein abhängt, auch unter erhöhtem hydrostatischen Druck das Gesteinsverhalten bestimmt. Zur Untersuchung der Absorptionsmechanismen in Gestein unter erhöhtem Druck wurden Experimente an Sandstein mit verschiedenen Saturanden und Sättigungsgraden durchgeführt. Die experimentellen Ergebnisse zeigen, dass auch unter erhöhtem Druck fluidbedingte Absorptionsmechanismen wirksam sind und auch hier polare Fluide im gesamten Druckbereich eine Modulerniedrigung verursachen. Der Vergleich der experimentellen Ergebnisse mit Modellvorhersagen ergab, daß lokale Flüssigkeitsströmungen den Einfluß unterschiedlicher Fluide auf Geschwindigkeit und Absorption erklären und auch unter hohem hydrostatischen Druck von wesentlicher Bedeutung für die elastischen und anelastischen Gesteinseigenschaften sind. Folglich existieren trotz einer partiellen Rißschließung auch unter hohem hydrostatischen Druck noch Risse und Spalten im Gestein. Die thermische Veränderung der Mikrostruktur eines Gesteins bewirkt eine Geschwindigkeitserniedrigung im trockenen Gestein, welche auch bei hohem hydrostatischen Druck erhalten bleibt, sowie eine Vergrößerung der Fluideffekte. Die Erklärung des geänderten Verhaltens des fluidhaltigen Gesteins gelang mit dem Mechanismus lokaler Flüssigkeitsströmungen. Die Ergebnisse an verändertem Gestein zeigen direkt, daß die Mikrostruktur auch bei hohem hydrostatischen Druck grundlegend für die seismischen Gesteinsparameter ist. Da auch unter erhöhtem hydrostatischem Druck, also unter ’in-situ’-Bedingungen, der frequenzabhängige Mechanismus lokaler Flüssigkeitsströmungen die seismischen Gesteinsparameterwesentlich beeinflußt, muß diese Frequenzabhängigkeit bei der Übertragung von Laborergebnissen auf die Feld- und Bohrlochseismik beachtet werden.

Description: Laboratory experiments in the ultrasonic frequency range and accompanying theoretical investigations were performed with the aim to clarify which absorption mechanisms are effective in fluid-containing sandstones at low uniaxial pressure (26 MPa) and at elevated hydrostatic pressure (up to 200 MPa). The knowledge of the effective absorption mechanisms is necessary to understand the relation of lithological and seismic rock parameters and to use it for the interpretation of seismic field measurements. Preceding investigations at the TU-Berlin had revealed that at low uniaxial pressure frequency dependent local-fluid-flow is the dominating absorption mechanism in fluid-containing rock and that polar fluids lead to a modulus reduction. Within the scope of the present study the investigations of the seismic rock parameters (velocity, attenuation) at low uniaxial pressure were continued. It was shown that the compressional wave velocity in fluid-containing rock is additionally influenced by a partial rock stiffening effect at higher saturations. With this result a complete explanation of the saturation dependent elastic and anelastic rock behaviour at low uniaxial pressure was achieved. To prove the significance of the rock microstructure (e.g. crack density, crack aspect ratios, grain contact properties) for the seismic rock parameters directly, the microstructure of a sandstone was artificially changed by thermal cracking. With negligible changes of the macroscopic rock parameters (porosity, permeability) the alteration of the microstructure leads to an increase of the fluid effects on the elastic and anelastic rock properties. Mechanisms and models which are solely based on macroscopic rock parameters do not cover the observed changes in the rock behaviour. Only by applying the mechanism of local-fuid-flow related to microstructure the changes in the fluid effects can be explained. Thus these results obtained on thermally changed rock are a direct prove of the fundamental influence of the microstructure on the seismic rock parameters. Until now it has not yet been clarified whether the mechanism of local-fluid-flow which depends on the existence of narrow cracks in rock also determines the rock behaviour under elevated hydrostatic pressure. To investigate the absorption mechanisms in rock under elevated pressure ultrasonic measurements were performed on sandstone with different saturands and degrees of saturation. The experimental results reveal that under elevated pressure fluid dependent attenuation mechanisms are effective too and polar fluids cause a modulus reduction in the entire pressure range. The comparison of the experimental results with model predictions reveals that local-fluid-flow explains the influence of different fluids on the velocity and attenuation and that this mechanism is of essential significance for the elastic and anelastic rock properties even under high hydrostatic pressure. Consequently despite a partial crack closure sufficient fine cracks exist even under high hydrostatic pressure. The thermal alteration of the microstructure of a rock leads to a velocity decrease in the dry rock which is preserved at high hydrostatic pressure, as well as to an increase of the fluid effects. The explanation of the changed behaviour of the fluid-containing rock was achieved by means of the mechanism of local-fluid-flow. The results obtained on altered rock directly demonstrate that the microstructure is of fundamental significance for the seismic rock parameters at high hydrostatic pressure too. Depending on the rock microstructure the mechanism of local-fluid-flow may cause attenuation and dispersion in all frequency ranges. Since it has been shown in this study that also under elevated hydrostatic pressure, i.e. under ’in-situ’conditions, this frequency dependent mechanism essentially influences the seismic rock parameters, the frequency dependence must be taken into account by extrapolating laboratory results to field and borehole seismic.

Description: thesis

Description: DFG, SUB Göttingen

Description: The tissue of 31 demosponge and 7 hexachnelhd species was analyzed for its composition of organic and lnorganic matter With one excephon (Hahclona cf gausaana) inorganic matter i e n~ostly the siliceous skeleton, accounted for most of the dry weight, varying between about 60 and 95%dry wt There were no general trends in the ratio of organic to inorganic matter within sponge orders or genera, and within one species, the ratio could vary between stations For one of the hexactinellids Bathydorus spmosus, several size classes were analyzed and there was no systematic change in the organic inorganic matter ratio w t h specimen size For some species the results from the Weddell Sea sponges are in good agreement with earlier data from McMurdo Sound The low organic matter content in Weddell Sea sponges mphes that sponge biomasses are much lower than hitherto assumed on the basis of then high abundances and large sizes In consequence Antarctic sponges despite their ubiquitousness, may only channel a m n o r fractlon of the general bentho-pelagic flow of matter and energy and their maln role in the ecosystem is likely structural rather than dynamic

Description: During 5 consecutive summer seasons (1990 to 1994) both Aureliaaurita medusa and mesozooplankton abundances were investigated at 2 stations in the Kiel Bight (western Baltic Sea). Stocks of medusae varied considerably between the years, with median abundance of 1 and 0.3 ind. 100 m-3 in 1990 and 1991, 3 and 4 ind. 100 m-3 in 1992 and 1994, but 9 ind. 100 m-3 in 1993. Significant differences in the mesozooplankton stock and community composition were observed in 1993 when compared with the year of rather low Aurelia abundance (1991). Total zooplankton and copepod numbers both exhibited an inverse relationship with the abundance of medusae and were thus considerably lower in 1993 than in 1991. However, not all copepod species were affected by A. aurita. Pseudo- and Paracalanus spp. and Oithonasimilis showed dramatically reduced stocks in the bloom year when compared with the medusa-poor situation, but no significant changes were found for Centropageshamatus and Acartia spp. Also other zooplankton groups with the exception of bivalve larvae were reduced by the medusae. The differential response of zooplankton to varying abundance of medusae led to a shift in the trophic structure of the zooplankton community. Fine-filter feeders and raptorial feeders were much more important in years when medusae occurred in low densities, whereas coarse-filter feeders dominated in the opposite situation.

Description: From the Gulf of Aden along a transect to the central-northern Red Sea the abundance and taxonomic composition of metazoan plankton was studied during the southwest monsoon period (summer 1987). Samples were taken with 0.055 mm mesh nets down to a maximum depth of 1050 m. In the epipelagic zone, a distinct decrease in total plankton abundance was observed from south to north, which was much more pronounced in biomass (by a factor of up to 10) as compared to numbers (by a factor of 2). This could partly be explained by differences in the taxonomic and/or size composition of the planktonic fauna. Among non-calanoid copepods, 40 out of 75 species or taxa investigated decreased in abundance from south to north. Sixteen of these species were completely absent in the central-northern area. Nineteen species or taxa, however, showed the opposite feature of a higher abundance in the central-northern Red Sea. The stations were grouped according to similarities in the taxonomic composition of non-calanoid copepods in the epipelagic zone. The following 3 geographical regions could be separated: (1) Gulf of Aden and Strait of Bab al Mandab; (2) southern Red Sea; and (3) central-northern Red Sea. In the meso- and bathypelagic zones, regional differences were not evident. The results are discussed in relation to hydrographic conditions during summer 1987.

Description: A spring investigation of the phytoplankton in the western Alboran Sea (Mediterranean) was undertaken using chlorophyll and carotenoid biomarkers to characterize the community in the water column and in drifting sediment traps set at 100 and 200 m. During 2 drifter experiments, calm and sunny conditions induced a progressive thermal stratification that reduced pigment sedimentation into deeper water and confined the phytoplankton to the surface layer, resulting in an increase in chlorophyll biomass. 19'-Hexanoyloxyfucoxanthin (prymnesiophytes) and chlorophyll b (chlorophytes, prasinophytes, prochlorophytes) were the major accessory pigments, while fucoxanthin, alloxanthin and peridinin indicated the presence of diatoms, cryptophytes and dinoflagellates, respectively. The proportional contribution of each algal group to the chlorophyll a (chl a) biomass, as derived from multiple regression analysis, revealed that prymnesiophytes, cryptophytes and the green algal group collectively accounted for at least 75% in the upper 100 m, emphasizing the importance of the nanophytoplankton. Phaeopigments, dominated by phaeophorbide a2, were the main pigments observed in sediment traps, although chl a, fucoxanthin and 19'-hexanoyloxyfucoxanthin were detected in smaller concentrations as well as traces of chlorophyll b (chl b). In deep water, fucoxanthin and 19'-hexanoyloxyfucoxanthin were the only accessory pigments present while total phaeopigment/chl a molar ratios 〉1 reflected the active transformation of fine phytogenic material at depth. High particulate organic carbon (POC)/chl a ratios (〉100 in surface water; 〉1000 in deep water) suggested that phytoplankton was a relatively small component of the total carbon biomass down the water column. Using simple budget calculations, we determined that 58 to 65% of the chl a produced in the upper 100 m accumulated in the water column over both experiments. During Expt 1, 29% of the chl a sedimented out, mostly as phaeopigment, at 100 m (24%), and 6% was degraded to colourless residues in the water column. In contrast, only 12% of the chl a sedimented in Expt 2, while 20% was degraded to colourless residues.

Description: Sediment cores of 20 cm diameter contaning the natural benthic fauna were subjected to low oxygen conditions in a laboratory microcosm system. After several days of oxic conditions ('oxic stage') the oxygen content of the water was reduced to 25% saturation for 15 d ('hypoxic stage'), followed by a 'reoxygenation stage'. Effective solute transport rates were calculated using measurements with the conservative tracer ion bromide. Profiles of oxygen and ΣCO2 were measured and molecular diffusive as well as effective fluxes, account mg for effective solute exchange, were calculated. The overall response of the benthic community was to compensate for low oxygen content of the overlying water by increased pumping activity. On average, effective diffusion coefficients (Den} were 3 times higher in hypoxia than under oxic conditions. D eff reached 1.5 x 10^-4 cm2 s^-1, a value 30 times that of molecular diffusion. During hypoxia we observed low molecular diffusive O2 flux, higher effective O2 flux, as well as an increase in ΣCO2 within the sediment. We interpret this as a shift of transport away from diffusion within the bulk sediment interstices (oxic conditions) to the advective transport pathways along burrows during hypoxia. This facilitates fast transport of oxygen and bromide along burrows and contrasts with the slower transport of CO2 from the interstices governed by molecular diffusion. In this transient situation calulations based on gradients result in an unrealistic molar ratio of fluxes(CO2/O2)as high as 11.

Description: This experimental study investigated the vertical migratory response of benthic forammifera in sediments that were initially oxygenated, to variations in dissolved-oxygen concentrations ranging from well-oxygenated to dysaerobic conditions. Two box cores, with a carpet of polychaete tubes extending above the sediment-seawater interface, were recovered from 71 m water depth in Oslofjord, southern Norway. The seawater oxygen concentration of one box core was decreased every 4 wk, to a minimum value of 〈0.2 ml 0; 1'. Aerated seawater circulation was maintained in the other (control) box core. In a time course, 2 subcores were taken from each mesocosm every 4 wk and sectioned in 0 5 cm mtervals to depths of 2.0 cm, and 1.0 cm intervals from 2.0 to 4.0 cm. The portion of the polychaete tubes extending into the overlymg water was collected and treated as an additional sample. Live foramimferal distributions were examined in the 〉 63 pm fraction of each interval shallower than 2 cm using both an ATP assay and a rose Bengal staining method, while only rose Bengal was used to assess distributions from 2 to 4 cm. Results indicate that larger numbers of live and stained forammifera are found on the polychaete tubes and in the superficial 0.5 cm of sediment after exposure to dysaerobic conditions compared to original and control abundances. After re-oxygenation for 4 mo, the foraminifera re-migrated into the sediments, exhibiting distributions similar to those of the control mesocosm. These observations suggest that some species actively migrate to a microenvironment with a particular oxygen concentration, rather than maintaining a stable position with respect to the sediment-water interface.

Description: Seismic tomography and the isotope geochemistry of Cenozoic volcanic rocks suggest the existence of a large, sheet-like region of upwelling in the upper mantle which extends from the eastern Atlantic Ocean to central Europe and the western Mediterranean. A belt of extension and rifting in the latter two areas appears to lie above the intersection of the centre of the upwelling region with the base of the lithosphere. Lead, strontium and neodymium isotope data for all three regions converge on a restricted composition, inferred to be that of the upwelling mantle.

Description: A survey of parasites in 600 short-finned squid Illex coindetii (Vérany, 1839) taken from 2 locations (north and south Galicia) off the northwesterb Iberian Peninsula revealed the presence of numerous somatoxenous helminths. Three genera of Tetraphyllidean plerocercoids were represented (prevalences: Phyllobothrium sp., 45,7%; Dinobothrium sp., 0.8%; and Pelichnibothrium speciosum, 0.001%); 1 Trypanorhynchidean metacestode was also present (Nybelinia yamagutii, 0.4%). In addition, larval nematodes of Anisakis simplex (L3) were recorded (10.6%). Abundance of infection was examined in relation to squid sex, standard length, maturity and locality. This analysis indicated that parasite infection was lower in the southern squids than in the northern squid group. Over the entire survey area, parasite infection showed a positive correlation with host life.cycle, often with the greatest number of parasites among the largest and highest maturity individuals (〉18 to 20cm; maturity stage V).

Description: THE hydrothermal circulation of sea water through permeable ocean crust results in rock–water interactions that lead to the formation of massive sulphide deposits. These are the modern analogues of many ancient ophiolite-hosted deposits1–4, such as those exposed in Cyprus. Here we report results obtained from drilling a series of holes into an actively forming sulphide deposit on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. A complex assemblage of sulphide–anhydrite–silica breccias provides striking evidence that such hydrothermal mounds do not grow simply by the accumulation of sulphides on the sea floor. Indeed, the deposit grows largely as an in situ breccia pile, as successive episodes of hydrothermal activity each form new hydrothermal precipitates and cement earlier deposits. During inactive periods, the collapse of sulphide chimneys, dissolution of anhydrite, and disruption by faulting cause brecciation of the deposit. The abundance of anhydrite beneath the present region of focused hydrothermal venting reflects the high temperatures ( 〉 150 °C) currently maintained within the mound, and implies substantial entrainment of cold sea water into the interior of the deposit. These observations demonstrate the important role of anhydrite in the growth of massive sulphide deposits, despite its absence in those preserved on land.