Benthic response to sedimentation events during autumn to spring at a shallow-water station in the Western Kiel Bight

The response of the benthos to the break up of anoxia in the Kiel Bight (Western Baltic Sea), and to three succeeding events of “external” food supply, consisting of a settled autumn plankton bloom, resuspended matter and macrophyte input during winter, and of a sedimented spring phytoplankton bloom, is described on a community level. The first input of oxygen broke up anoxic conditions and made stored food resources available to decomposition. This “internal” food supply, mainly consisting of protein (folin positive matter), was followed by a drastic increase in heat production and ATP-biomass and caused a period of low redox potential, which lasted for several weeks. During this phase, a plankton bloom (dinoflagellates and diatoms) settled to the sea floor. Although there was an immediate response of benthic activity, this food input was not completely consumed by the strongly disturbed benthic community. During winter resuspended matter and the input of macrophyte debris caused another maximum in benthic activity and biomass despite the low temperature. The response to sedimentation of cells from a diatom bloom during mid March was also without any time lag and was consumed within 5–6 wk. A comparison of the amount of particles collected in a sediment trap with the increase of organic matter in the sediment demonstrated that the sediment collected four times (autumn) and seven to eight times (spring) more than measured by the sediment trap. Strong indications of food limitation of benthic activity were found. During autumn and winter these indications were caused more by physical than by biological processes. The three events of “external” food supply caused a temporary shift in the type of metabolism towards fermentation processes and reduced the redox potential. In spring the development of the benthic community was still being strongly influenced by the events of the preceding summer and autumn

An unexpected nitrate distribution in the tropical North Atlantic at 18°N, 30°W—implications for new production

During a R.V. Meteor JGOFS-NABE cruise to a tropical site in the northeast Atlantic in spring 1989, three different vertical regimes with respect to nitrate distribution and availability within the euphotic zone were observed. Besides dramatic variations in the depth of the nitracline, a previously undescribed nose-like nitrate maximum within the euphotic zone was the most prominent feature during this study. Both the vertical structure of phytoplankton biomass and the degree of absolute and relative new production were related to the depth of the nitracline, which in turn was dependent on the occurrence/non-occurrence of the subsurface subtropical salinity maximum (S(max)). The mesoscale variability of the nitracline depth, as indicated from a pre-survey grid, and published data on the frequent occurrence of the S(max) in tropical waters suggest higher variability of new production and F-ratio than usually expected for oligotrophic oceans. The importance of salt fingering and double diffusion for nitrate transport into the euphotic zone is discussed

Fluxes of biogenic components from sediment trap deployment in circumpolar waters of the Drake Passage

Circumpolar surface waters dominate the circulation of the Southern Ocean and sustain one of the ocean's largest standing stocks of biomass thereby producing a significant output of biogenic components, mainly diatoms, to the bottom sediments. Generally transit of biogenic matter from the sea surface to the sea floor affects nutrient regeneration fuels benthic life and transfers signals to the sediment record1–5. Reliable quantification of the relationship between biological production, fractionation of skeletal and tissue components and bottom sediment accumulation depends on direct vertical flux measurements from sediment trap deployments6–9, which have proved to be most scientifically productive10–13. We now present data on vertical mass fluxes from the Southern Ocean and evidence for strong biogeochemical fractionation between organic carbon-, nitrogen- and phosphorus-containing compounds, siliceous and calcareous skeletal remains, and refractory aluminosilicates

The comorbidity and co-medication profile of patients with progressive supranuclear palsy

Background Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is usually diagnosed in elderly. Currently, little is known about comorbidities and the co-medication in these patients. Objectives To explore the pattern of comorbidities and co-medication in PSP patients according to the known different phenotypes and in comparison with patients without neurodegenerative disease. Methods Cross-sectional data of PSP and patients without neurodegenerative diseases (non-ND) were collected from three German multicenter observational studies (DescribePSP, ProPSP and DANCER). The prevalence of comorbidities according to WHO ICD-10 classification and the prevalence of drugs administered according to WHO ATC system were analyzed. Potential drug–drug interactions were evaluated using AiDKlinik®. Results In total, 335 PSP and 275 non-ND patients were included in this analysis. The prevalence of diseases of the circulatory and the nervous system was higher in PSP at first level of ICD-10. Dorsopathies, diabetes mellitus, other nutritional deficiencies and polyneuropathies were more frequent in PSP at second level of ICD-10. In particular, the summed prevalence of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases was higher in PSP patients. More drugs were administered in the PSP group leading to a greater percentage of patients with polypharmacy. Accordingly, the prevalence of potential drug–drug interactions was higher in PSP patients, especially severe and moderate interactions. Conclusions PSP patients possess a characteristic profile of comorbidities, particularly diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. The eminent burden of comorbidities and resulting polypharmacy should be carefully considered when treating PSP patients

Storm induced convective transport of suspended matter during a spring bloom in the northeast Atlantic Ocean

Observations during a spring phytoplankton bloom in the northeast Atlantic between March and May 1992 in the Biotrans region at 47°N, 20°W, are presented. During most of the observation period there was a positive heat flux into the ocean, winds were weak, and the mixed layer depth was shallow (<40 m). Phytoplankton growth conditions were favourable during this time. Phytoplankton biomass roughly doubled within the euphotic zone over the course of about 7 days during mid-April, and rapidly increased towards the end of the study until silicate was depleted. However, the stratification of the water column was transient, and the spring bloom development was repeatedly interrupted by gales. During two storms, in late March and late April, the mixed-layer depth increased to 250 and 175 m, respectively. After the storm events significant amounts of chlorophyll-a, particulate organic carbon and biogenic silica were found well below the euphotic zone. It is estimated that between 56% and 65% of the seasonal new production between winter and early May was exported from the euphotic zone by convective mixing, in particular, during the two storm events. Data from the NABE 47°N study during spring 1989 are re-evaluated. It is found that convective particle export was of importance during the early part of that bloom too, but negligible during the height of the bloom in May 1989. The overall impact of convective particle export during spring 1989 was equivalent to about 36% of new production. In view of these and previously published findings it is concluded that convective transport during spring is a significant process for the export of particulate matter from the euphotic zone in the temperate North Atlantic

Trends fuer eintragsrelevante Faktoren und fuer die Naehrsalzkonzentrationen im Wasser der Kieler Bucht Ein Beitrag zur Erforschung der Eutrophierung der Nord- und Ostsee

TIB: RN 3292 (148) / FIZ - Fachinformationszzentrum Karlsruhe / TIB - Technische InformationsbibliothekSIGLEDEGerman

JGOFS Arabian Sea Process Study: Cruise report Sonne 120, 12 June - 12 July 1997

On the final cruise of the JGOFS process study in the Arabian Sea special emphasis was put upon the seasonal evolution of biogeochemical processes with the upswing of the SW-Monsoon. The cruise leg SO 120 departed out of Muscat, Oman, on 12 June 1997 and sailed into Djibouti on 11 July 1997. Onboard there were an international team of scientists led by Prof. Dr. B. Zeitzschel. Scientific work started close to the coast of Oman (18 N, 57 E) in an area of coastal upwelling. Hydrographic investigations enabled a detailed description of the physical environment in this area and were therefore a substantial precondition for a variety of biochemical studies. To accomplish the seasonal evolution of biogeochemical processes a satellite tracked drifting array with a sediment trap below the productive zone was deployed in this freshly upwelled water for 19 days. The drifter has been followed for 15 days meanwhile extensive water column sampling has been carried out. The research included the biochemical level one parameters which were designed for the documentation of nutrient conditions, biological stock parameters, fluxes in the epipelagial and the export production in the Arabian Sea during the SW-Monsoon. The first results of the biochemical investigations were different to the situation expected. Despite the cold, nutrient rich water, phytoplankton concentrations remained surprisingly low. Small phytoplankton (<2#mu#m) generally predominated with occasional patches of larger species (>20#mu#m). This could be explained by the high abundance of mesozooplankton which would suggest that the studied system is controlled through top-down food web processes. (orig.)SIGLEAvailable from TIB Hannover: F99B924 / FIZ - Fachinformationszzentrum Karlsruhe / TIB - Technische InformationsbibliothekBundesministerium fuer Bildung, Wissenschaft, Forschung und Technologie, Bonn (Germany)DEGerman