ALBERT

Beschreibung: Various stages of tropical weathering are described using a number of examples of red soil formation derived from rift basalts in Burundi and laterite bauxites from plateau basalts of South Vietnam. The phenomena of decomposition of primary minerals are comparable in the two regions. Fine-grained montmorillonites, kaolinites, halloysites and hematite were formed during an initial stage of weathering. The two generations of kaolinites, goethites and gibbsites are the main products of a more intense stage of weathering. The gradients of chemical activities in the micro-environment (surfaces of grains, pores, microfissures) seem to be the controlling factors of weathering.

Beschreibung: Megalopa larvae of a spider crab, Hyas araneus, were reared in the laboratory under constant 12°C, 32S, with diatoms (Biddulphia sinensis) given as food. Oxygen consumption, nitrogen excretion, and growth were measured in regular intervals during the moult cycle. Growth was measured as change in dry weight, carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen, protein, and lipid. Estimates of energy accumulation obtained independently from either carbon or biochemical components gave similar values of growth. The present results are compared with earlier data measured in carnivorous (Artemia-fed) larvae (ref. 10). In larvae fed with B. sinensis, accumulation of biomass amounted to only ca 8% of that in the Artemia-fed group. Energy loss by excretion increased in carnivorous larvae during the first days, then it remained stable throughout the rest of the moult cycle. It was low in larvae fed with diatoms, but increased at the end of the moult cycle, reaching similar values as in the Artemia-fed group. Energy loss by respiration was slightly reduced in larvae fed with B. sinensis, reaching 82% of the values observed in Artemia-fed larvae. Larvae fed with diatoms had high O/N ratios (86-96) at the beginning of the moult cycle, followed by decreasing values (eventually reaching 14 in premoult). This indicates that initially lipids were used as a predominant metabolic substrate, later proteins. Larvae fed with Artemia sp. showed O/N ratios varying between 20 and 40, with minimum values in the middle of the moult cycle, indicating in this group chiefly protein catabolism during the intermoult period. Energy budgets for the two different nutritional conditions were calculated. Net growth efficiency (K2) were 13.8 and 1.5 % in larvae fed with Artemia nauplii or B. sinensis, respectively.

Beschreibung: The seabed plays a key role in the marine carbon cycle as a) the terminal location of aerobic oxidation of organic matter, b) the greatest anaerobic bioreactor, and c) the greatest repository for reactive organic carbon on Earth. We compiled data on the oxygen uptake of marine sediments with the objective to understand the constraints on mineralization rates of deposited organic matter and their relation to key environmental parameters. The compiled database includes nearly 4000 O 2 uptake data and is available as supplementary material. It includes also information on bottom water O 2 concentration, O 2 penetration depth, geographic position, water depth, and full information on the data sources. We present the different in situ and ex situ approaches to measure the total oxygen uptake (TOU) and the diffusive oxygen uptake (DOU) of sediments and discuss their robustness towards methodological errors and statistical uncertainty. We discuss O 2 transport through the benthic and diffusive boundary layers, the diffusion- and fauna-mediated O 2 uptake, and the coupling of aerobic respiration to anaerobic processes. Five regional examples are presented to illustrate the diversity of the seabed: Eutrophic seas, oxygen minimum zones, abyssal plains, mid-oceanic gyres, and hadal trenches. A multiple correlation analysis shows that seabed O 2 uptake is primarily controlled by ocean depth and sea surface primary productivity. The O2 penetration depth scales with the DOU according to a power law that breaks down under the abyssal ocean gyres. The developed multiple correlation model was used to draw a global map of seabed O2 uptake rates. Respiratory coefficients, differentiated for depth regions of the ocean, were used to convert the global O 2 uptake to organic carbon oxidation. The resulting global budget shows an oxidation of 212 Tmol C yr − 1 in marine sediments with a 5-95% confidence interval of 175-260 Tmol C yr − 1 . A comparison with the global flux of particulate organic carbon (POC) from photic surface waters to the deep sea, determined from multiple sediment trap studies, suggests a deficit in the sedimentation flux at 2000 m water depth of about 70% relative to the carbon turnover in the underlying seabed. At the ocean margins, the flux of organic carbon from rivers and from vegetated coastal ecosystems contributes greatly to the budget and may even exceed the phytoplankton production on the inner continental shelf.

Beschreibung: ARTICLE INFO Keywords: Amazonia GDGT Amazon River Biomarkers Compound-specific isotopes N-Alkanes Paleoclimate proxies Plant waxes ABSTRACT Lipid biomarker proxies from terrigenous sediments have been extensively used to understand variations in paleoenvironmental conditions, but many of the mechanisms affecting these proxies during riverine transport are still poorly understood. Here, we analyze glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraether (GDGT) distributions and n-alkane isotopic compositions of soils and sediments from the Amazon River Basin. Our dataset includes suspended sediments of the Amazon River and its main tributaries, as well as soils and sediments of the Xingu River, a large clearwater tributary draining the easternmost part of the Amazon River Basin. Our sampling design aimed at understanding the processes behind spatially distinct GDGT distributions and n-alkane isotopic signatures across lowland Amazonia. Gradual changes in the fractional abundances of isoprenoid GDGTs and in 5- and 6- methyl branched GDGT ratios in suspended sediments of the Amazon River towards its mouth suggest that riverine production is an increasingly important control on the distribution of GDGTs in the lower parts of the system, while values from the western parts are more in line with a dominant soil sourcing. In the Xingu River, indices based on the fractional abundances of branched GDGTs and long-chain n-alkanes demonstrate a strong contri- bution of terrestrial organic material during the high-water season and an important aquatic component during low-water season. Meanwhile, average stable carbon (δ13C) and hydrogen (δD) isotopic signatures of long-chain n-alkanes in soils, riverbed and suspended sediments of the Xingu River are similar and reinforce the relatively conservative behaviour of these proxies within large river systems. The average compound-specific δ13C signa- tures of sediments in the Xingu River are within the expected range for C3 vegetation and do not seem to capture the signals from the nearby deforested areas. n-Alkanes δD signals in the Xingu Basin are similar to values ob- tained in the Amazon River mouth and indicate that n-alkanes sourced from easternmost Amazonian lowlands may predominate over signals from western areas.

Beschreibung: This study evaluates the dependence of simulated surface air temperatures on model resolution and orography for the mid-Holocene. Sensitivity experiments with the atmospheric general circulation model ECHAM5 are performed with low (∼3.75°, 19 vertical levels) and high (∼1.1°, 31 vertical levels) resolution. Results are compared to the respective preindustrial runs. It is found that the large-scale temperature anomalies for the mid-Holocene (compared to preindustrial) are significantly different in the low- and high-resolution versions. For boreal winter, differences are mainly related to circulation changes caused by the response to thermal forcing in conjunction with orographic resolution. For summer, shortwave cloud radiative forcing emerges as an important factor. The anomaly differences (low minus high resolution version) in the Northern Hemisphere are regionally as large as the anomalous mid-Holocene temperature signals. Furthermore, they depend on the applied surface boundary conditions. We conclude that the resolution matters for the Northern Hemisphere response in mid-Holocene simulations, which should be taken into account in model-model and data-model comparisons.

Beschreibung: Previous studies on surface temperature reconstructions for the last 2000 years (2 k) revealed a long-term cooling trend for the last millennium in comparison to the previous millennium. However, knowledge on the decadal- to centennial-scale variability in sea surface temperature and the underlying governing mechanisms throughout the period is limited. We reconstructed high-resolution continuous sea surface temperature changes over the last 2 k in the northwest Pacific margin based on the alkenone unsaturation index. Our alkenone temperature record revealed enhanced and more rapidly changing climate variability during the last millennium (approximately 1200–1850 Common Era) than during the previous millennium. Cold and hot extremes also occurred more frequently during the last millennium. The enhanced and rapidly changing climate variability appears to be associated with frequent volcanic eruptions and grand solar minima. The reconstructed surface temperature variability tends to be associated with variations in the East Asia summer monsoon and the Pacific Decadal Oscillation, implying that these variations are also enhanced in the last millennium than in the previous millennium.

Beschreibung: Historical records (1980–2018) of potentially toxic phytoplankton and phycotoxins on the Argentine Continental Shelf (35°S-56.5°S) and adjacent ocean waters were systematically reviewed from scientific literature to assess their abundance and diversity over spatial and temporal scales. Records increased from 124 in the period 1980–1992 to 638 in 2006–2018, and the scanned area expanded from coastal to offshore waters including the shelf-break front. Alexandrium was the most reported genus (54%) during 1980–1992 and Pseudo-nitzschia (52%) during 1993–2005. By 2006–2018, a higher diversity was documented: Alexandrium (20%), Dinophysis (32%), Pseudo-nitzschia (31%), and the most recently described potentially toxic dinoflagellates of the family Amphidomataceae (8%). Likewise, a wider spectrum of phycotoxins was documented in the last decade, with lipophilic (LSTs) and paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs) as the most recorded. Increased records are related to intensified monitoring, more detailed taxonomic analyses and more sensitive chemical techniques for marine biotoxin detection. This quantitative assessment brings light to the widespread occurrence of HABs along contrasting areas of the Patagonian Shelf and sets the basis for ecosystem risk evaluation. Moreover, comparison of toxic phytoplankton reported in the SW Atlantic with those in similar temperate seas in the North Atlantic and the Pacific Ocean, disclose ocean basin differences in strain toxicity of A. ostenfeldii, D. tripos and Azadinium species.

Beschreibung: Here we present dense acoustic and swath bathymetry data sets as well as geological age constraints that allow a new view on past glacial processes at the Siberian termination of Lomonosov Ridge in the Arctic Ocean between 81° and 84° 20′ N. Here, the seabed is marked by three sets of streamlined glacial lineations observed at present water depths of ~760 m to 1250 m. The shallower streamlined glacial lineations were likely formed during MIS 6 and the deeper ones during MIS 12. Other observations include recessional moraines and pockmarks on a flattened ridge crest. In the subsurface, an acoustically transparent unit above well stratified strata is interpreted as subglacial diamicton overlying pre-glacial sediments at an erosional contact. Furthermore, the diamicton is interpreted to have been deposited as lenses in glacially-eroded proximal settings. In contrast, some parts of the seafloor and subsurface show no glacial overprint in water depths as shallow as 819 m. To explain these findings, we propose that the Siberian termination of Lomonosov Ridge was covered by an ice mass of spatial and temporal variable thickness between ~780 to ~1250 m, that was likely composed of sea ice and thick icebergs calved from ice shelves.

Beschreibung: With a growing concern over rapid Antarctic ice loss in recent years, the Amundsen Sea, one of the fastest-melting areas in Antarctica, currently becomes a hotspot for the Earth sciences in the context of its linkage to global climate. As a center of strong physical and biological coupling processes, polynyas of the Amundsen Sea could act as sentinels of changes in atmosphere–ice–ocean interactions, offering a unique perspective into its sensitivity to climate variability. Here, we present a new, multiproxy-based high-resolution sedimentary record from the Amundsen Sea polynya, which provides new insights into environmental conditions of the region over the last 350 years and their linkages to climatic factors. Our results show that the polynya witnessed step-wise environmental shifts in parallel with the phases and strength of large-scale climate patterns, i.e., the Southern Annular Mode (SAM) and El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO). Notably, intersite correlation of on-shelf Circumpolar Deep Water (CDW) intrusion signals at different locals suggests that the CDW may have gained increased access to the shelves at the time of a strong coupling of positive SAM and El Niño states. We tentatively speculate that anomalous large-scale atmospheric and oceanic circulation patterns over the Southern Hemisphere, forced by increasing greenhouse gas levels, were strongly involved in the mid-20th century CDW invigoration, which may be greater in scale that goes well beyond the Amundsen Sea region. This result is relevant to the current debate on spatial heterogeneity in the timing and phasing of major climatic events in Antarctica, underscoring an unambiguous connection of the Antarctic climate state to the large-scale ocean–atmosphere reorganizations. Our study also extends a growing evidence that today's global warming trend is expected to have a severe effect on future configuration of Antarctic continental ice-shelf environment.

Beschreibung: Benthic organisms and their bioturbation activities have a profound effect on a multitude of sediment properties. While many studies have already explored benthic impacts at small temporal and spatial scales, little is known on how the small-scale effects accumulate and interactively guide large-scale (km-scale) morphological evolution. Here we firstly summarize the most important processes of benthos affecting sediment stability and then explore existing biomorphodynamic modeling studies both at small- and large-scales. In general, microbenthos (body size 〈0.1 mm) mainly stabilizes sediments while meio- (0.1–1 mm) and macrobenthos (〉1 mm) may stabilize or destabilize sediments. Among all types of sediment, fine-grained fraction (silt and clay) is most sensitive to the impact of benthos. Benthic organisms have the capability to mediate sediment transport and sedimentation patterns beyond their habitats on the long-term and over a large-scale. However, so far, numerical models evaluating benthic impact are limited to explorative studies and have not reached a stage where they can be used for predictive modeling. The barriers hindering a further development of biomorphodynamic models include not only limited understanding of fundamental biological/bio-physical processes affecting morphological development and dynamic feedback loops among them but also a shortage of data for model calibration and confirmation of simulation results. On the other hand, thriving for higher model complexity does not necessarily lead to better performance. Before conducting biomorphodynamic modeling, researchers must figure out which questions can be answered in a meaningful sense with simulation results that can be compared with observations and which level of modeling complexity is sufficient for that purpose.

Beschreibung: The 318-m long sediment record from Lake El'gygytgyn, NE Russia situated in the present-day herb tundra zone, provides a unique archive of high Arctic environmental changes since ca 3.6 million years ago (Ma). This paper focuses on pollen-derived vegetation change during the mid-Pliocene Warm Period (mPWP) and in particular during Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) M2, which is known torepresent the coldest interval ofthe Pliocene. Building on initial pollen studies, we provide a more complete record and a more detailed discussion of climaticallydriven vegetation and environmental changes in the northeastern Russian Arctic, spanning the 203-thousandyear interval between 3.383 and 3.180 Ma ago. Pine-spruce-fir-larch-Douglas fir forests dominated the area around Lake El'gygytgyn between 3.383 and 3.330 Ma (MIS MG4 - MIS MG2). Colder and drier climate caused a decrease of coniferous forests and widespread Sphagnum habitats around the lake between 3.370 and 3.357 Ma. After 3.3 Ma, the presence of spruce, fir and Douglas fir decreased again. A very pronounced cooling took place at the first half of MIS M2 (3.312–3.283 Ma), when treeless tundra- and steppe-like habitats became common in the regional vegetation. Climate conditions were similar or only slightly warmer and wetter to those of the Holocene. Numerous coprophilous fungi spores identified in the MIS M2 pollen samples suggest the presence of grazing mammals around the lake. Larch-pine forests with some spruce started to dominate the area again after ca. 3.282 Ma, thus pointing to a significant climate amelioration during the mPWP. However, the forested area decreased, while herb- and shrub-dominated vegetation spread again during MIS KM6 (especially 3.235–3.223 Ma), suggesting a noticeable climatic deterioration and relatively cold and dry conditions.

Beschreibung: This is the first study presenting temporal changes of the macrofauna biodiversity along the bathymetric gradient from the shelf to abyssal depths in the eastern Fram Striat. In this region, between 2004 and 2008, a significant increase in surface water temperature was observed due to the transport of Atlantic water from lower latitudes and was defined as a Warm Water Anomaly (WWA). Effects of the WWA in the eastern Fram Strait were observed across the entire food web, from the pelagic to the deep seafloor. The material for our study was collected before (in 2000) and after the WWA (in 2010 and 2017) at station depths ranging from 203 m to 5561 m. Samples of macrofauna and surface sediments were collected with use of a box corer to analyze species composition and functional traits, and environmental characteristics in sediments. We explore the influence of environmental changes on the structure (species composition and diversity) and functioning (functional trait composition and diversity) of macrofauna communities. An increase of primary production in surface waters during and after the WWA was reflected in a higher food availability at the seafloor from shelf to abyssal depths. Warming induced environmental changes led to an increase of macrofauna density and taxonomic diversity at all water depths. Macrofauna species composition significantly changed after the WWA. At all study sites, macrofauna functional diversity increased after the warm period. Functional trait composition changed significantly along the bathymetric transect. Despite changes in the taxonomic composition, macrofauna communities at the shallowest stations showed high functional redundancy, i.e., trait composition remained unchanged after the WWA. At water depths below 1500 m, where functional redundancy was significantly lower, functional trait composition changed significantly after the WWA. Our results suggest that macrofauna communities on the shelves are more resistant to environmental changes compared to deep-sea assemblages in the eastern Fram Strait.

Beschreibung: Microplastics (MP) have been recorded in various environments around the globe. For a better understanding of distribution patterns and for providing a basis for risk assessments, detailed data on MP concentrations and polymer compositions are required. This study investigated the effluents of two German wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) monthly over one year, in order to better understand their temporal input of MP into the receiving river systems. MP item data down to 11 μm were obtained by means of Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy under the application of an improved polymer database. Complementary mass data were obtained by pyrolysis gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) (for one WWTP). Both FTIR and Py-GC/MS analysis revealed a homogeneous polymer composition over the year, with a general dominance of polyolefins. Elevated MP item and mass concentrations (maximum: 3 × 104 items m−3 and 3.8 × 103 μg m−3) were observed during winter months and were accompanied by either heavy rainfall (increased discharge and total organic carbon) or elevated turbidity values. These observations emphasize the need for the assessment of background parameters in future MP monitoring studies. By providing monthly data over one year on MP items and masses in WWTP effluents, this study helps enhancing the understanding of temporal MP dynamics and can act as a valuable reference point for future assessments.

Beschreibung: Some of the highest microplastic concentrations in marine environments have been reported from the Fram Strait in the Arctic. This region supports a diverse ecosystem dependent on high concentrations of zooplankton at the base of the food web. Zooplankton samples were collected during research cruises using Bongo and MOCNESS nets in the boreal summers of 2018 and 2019. Using FTIR scanning spectroscopy in combination with an automated polymer identification approach, we show that all five species of Arctic zooplankton investigated had ingested microplastics. Amphipod species, found in surface waters or closely associated with sea ice, had ingested significantly more microplastic per individual (Themisto libellula: 1.8, Themisto abyssorrum: 1, Apherusa glacialis: 1) than copepod species (Calanus hyperboreus: 0.21, Calanus glacialis/finmarchicus: 0.01). The majority of microplastics ingested were below 50 μm in size, all were fragments and several different polymer types were present. We quantified microplastics in water samples collected at six of the same stations as the Calanus using an underway sampling system (inlet at 6.5 m water depth). Fragments of several polymer types and anthropogenic cellulosic fibres were present, with an average concentration of 7 microplastic particles (MP) L−1 (0–18.5 MP L−1). In comparison to the water samples, those microplastics found ingested by zooplankton were significantly smaller, highlighting that the smaller-sized microplastics were being selected for by the zooplankton. High levels of microplastic ingestion in zooplankton have been associated with negative effects on growth, development, and fecundity. As Arctic zooplankton only have a short window of biological productivity, any negative effect could have broad consequences. As global plastic consumption continues to increase and climate change continues to reduce sea ice cover, releasing ice-bound microplastics and leaving ice free areas open to exploitation, the Arctic could be exposed to further plastic pollution which could place additional strain on this fragile ecosystem.

Beschreibung: A recently published study analyzed the phylogenetic relationship between the genera Centrodinium and Alexandrium, confirming an earlier publication showing the genus Alexandrium as paraphyletic. This most recent manuscript retained the genus Alexandrium, introduced a new genus Episemicolon, resurrected two genera, Gessnerium and Protogonyaulax, and stated that: “The polyphyly [sic] of Alexandrium is solved with the split into four genera”. However, these reintroduced taxa were not based on monophyletic groups. Therefore this work, if accepted, would result in replacing a single paraphyletic taxon with several non-monophyletic ones. The morphological data presented for genus characterization also do not convincingly support taxa delimitations. The combination of weak molecular phylogenetics and the lack of diagnostic traits (i.e., autapomorphies) render the applicability of the concept of limited use. The proposal to split the genus Alexandrium on the basis of our current knowledge is rejected herein. The aim here is not to present an alternative analysis and revision, but to maintain Alexandrium. A better constructed and more phylogenetically accurate revision can and should wait until more complete evidence becomes available and there is a strong reason to revise the genus Alexandrium. The reasons are explained in detail by a review of the available molecular and morphological data for species of the genera Alexandrium and Centrodinium. In addition, cyst morphology and chemotaxonomy are discussed, and the need for integrative taxonomy is highlighted.

Beschreibung: Azaspiracids, produced by some species of the dinoflagellate genera Azadinium and Amphidoma, can cause a syndrome in humans called azaspiracid shellfish poisoning (AZP). In 1995, mussels from the Irish west coast contaminated with azaspiracids were, for the first time, linked to this human illness that has symptoms of nausea, vomiting, severe diarrhea, and stomach cramps. The only confirmed cases of AZP to date in the United States occurred in Washington State in 2008 from mussels imported from Ireland. Shortly after this case, several others involving similar gastrointestinal symptoms were reported by shellfish consumers from Washington State. However, no detectable diarrhetic shellfish toxins or Vibrio contamination were found. Cursory analysis of Solid Phase Adsorption Toxin Tracking (SPATT) samplers suggested the presence of azaspiracids in Washington State waters and motivated a study to evaluate the presence and distribution of Azadinium species in the region. During the spring and summer months of 2014–2015, quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) analyses detected the presence of the toxigenic species Azadinium poporum and A. spinosum on the outer coast and throughout the inland waters of Washington State. In 2016–2018, standard curves developed using A. poporum isolated from Puget Sound and A. spinosum isolated from the North Sea were used to quantify abundances of up to 10,525 cells L−1 of A. poporum and 156 cells L−1 of A. spinosum at shore-based sites. Abundances up to 1,206 cells L−1 of A. poporum and 30 cells L−1 of A. spinosum were measured in the coastal waters of the Pacific Northwest in 2017. Other harmful genera, including Alexandrium, Dinophysis, and Pseudo-nitzschia, were observed using light microscopy at coastal sites where A. poporum was also observed. In some samples where both A. poporum and A. spinosum were absent, an Amphidomataceae-specific qPCR assay indicated that other species of Azadinium or Amphidoma were present. The identification of Azadinium species in the PNW demonstrates the need to assess their toxicity and to incorporate their routine detection in monitoring programs to aid resource managers in mitigating risks to azaspiracid shellfish poisoning in this region.

Beschreibung: Dissolved oceanic CO2 concentrations are rising as result of increasing atmospheric partial pressure of CO2 (pCO2), which has large consequences for phytoplankton. To test how higher CO2 availability affects different traits of the toxic dinoflagellate Alexandrium ostenfeldii, we exposed three strains of the same population to 400 and 1,000 µatm CO2, and measured traits including growth rate, cell volume, elemental composition, 13C fractionation, toxin content, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Strains largely increased their growth rates and particulate organic carbon and nitrogen production with higher pCO2 and showed significant changes in their VOC profile. One strain showed a significant decrease in both PSP and cyclic imine content and thereby in cellular toxicity. Fractionation against 13C increased in response to elevated pCO2, which may point towards enhanced CO2 acquisition and/or a downscaling of the carbon concentrating mechanisms. Besides consistent responses in some traits, other traits showed large variation in both direction and strength of responses towards elevated pCO2. The observed intraspecific variation in phenotypic plasticity of important functional traits within the same population may help A. ostenfeldii to negate the effects of immediate environmental fluctuations and allow populations to adapt more quickly to changing environments.

Beschreibung: Gonyaulacales include a considerable number of harmful algae and to understand their origin and rise, knowledge of the evolutionary relationships is necessary. Many scientific names of protists introduced prior to the availability of DNA analytics are ambiguous and impede communication about biological species and their traits in the microbial world. Strains of Lingulodinium polyedra were established from its type locality in the Kiel Fjord (Germany) to clarify its taxonomy. Moreover, the phylogeny of Gonyaulacales was inferred based on 329 rRNA sequence accessions compiled in a curated sequence data base, with as much as possible type material equivalents included. Gonyaulacales were monophyletic and segregated into seven lineages at high systematic level, of which †Lingulodiniaceae constituted the first branch of the Gonyaulacales. Their type species had a plate formula APC (Po, X, cp), 3′ , 3a, 6′ ′ 6c, 6s, 6′ ′ ′ , 2′ ′ ′ ′ and is taxonomically clarified by epitypification. Recommendations for this important taxonomic tool are provided, with a focus on microorganisms. Most gonyaulacalean taxa established at generic rank are monophyletic, with Alexandrium, Coolia and Gonyaulax as notable exceptions. From an evolutionary perspective, gonyaulacalean dinophytes with quinqueform hypotheca are monophyletic and derive from a paraphyletic group showing the sexiform configuration.

Beschreibung: The European Arctic is a region of high interest for climate change. Water vapor plays a fundamental role in global warming; therefore, high-quality water vapor monitoring is essential for assimilation in forecast simulations. The seven analyzed instruments on-board satellite platforms are: Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS), Global Ozone Monitoring Instrument 2 (GOME-2), Moderate-Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI), SCanning Imaging Absorption Spectrometer for Atmospheric Carthography (SCIAMACHY) and Polarization and Directionality of the Earth's Reflectances (POLDER). The GNSS data from Ny-Ålesund are matched to satellite observations of IWV in a 30-min temporal window, and 100-km radius. Then, statistics and the distribution of satellite-ground differences under different conditions are studied. The correlation coefficient (R2) with ground-based measurements is about 0.7 for all products except OMI (R2=0.5), and MODIS NIR and POLDER (R2=0.3). OMI shows high bias and variability compared to the rest of products. RMSE values are of the order of 3 mm for all satellites, except OMI (7 mm) and POLDER (5 mm). Bias (MBE) is negligible for AIRS, close to +1.6 mm for GOME-2 and MODIS IR, +0.8 mm for MODIS NIR, +5.9 mm for OMI, −2.7 mm for POLDER and −1.2 mm for SCIAMCHY. All satellite products tend to overestimate small IWV values and underestimate large IWV values. Variability also increases with IWV. An underestimation of the satellite products and an increase on the variability is generally observed for large Solar Zenith Angle (SZA) values. Under cloudy conditions, underestimation and variability are increased. Seasonal behavior is driven by the typical cloud cover (CC), SZA, and IWV values. In summer, it is typical to find conditions with large IWV, small SZA and large CC values. Therefore, in summer months satellite products are more biased (either positively or negatively) and with more variability, but in relative terms they are less biased and exhibit less variability.

Beschreibung: The prevalence of multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria in aquatic environments has been a long withstanding health concern, namely extended-spectrumbeta-lactamase (ESBL) producing Escherichia coli. Given increasing reports on microplastic (MP) pollution in these environments, it has become crucial to better understand the role of MP particles as transport vectors for such multidrug-resistant bacteria. In this study, an incubation experiment was designed where particles of both synthetic and natural material (HDPE, tyre wear, and wood) were sequentially incubated atmultiple sites along a salinity gradient from the Lower Weser estuary (Germany) to the offshore island Helgoland (German Bight, North Sea). Following each incubation period, particle biofilms andwater samples were assessed for ESBL-producing E. coli, first by the enrichment and detection of E. coli using Fluorocult® LMX Broth followed by cultivation on CHROMAgar™ ESBL media to select for ESBLproducers. Results showed that general E. coli populations were present on the surfaces of wood particles across all sites but nonewere found to produce ESBLs. Additionally, neither HDPE nor tyrewear particles were found to harbour any E. coli. Conversely, ESBL-producing E. coli were present in surrounding waters from all sites, 64% of which conferred resistances against up to 3 other antibiotic groups, additional to the beta-lactam resistances intrinsic to ESBL-producers. This study provides a first look into the potential of MP to harbour and transport multidrug-resistant E. coli across different environments and the approach serves as an important precursor to further studies on other potentially harmful MP-colonizing species.