Advances in Chinese and international biogeochemistry research in the western Arctic Ocean: a review

Over the past decades, the Arctic Ocean has experienced rapid warming under climate change, which has dramatically altered its physical and biogeochemical properties. Reduction in the sea-ice cover is one of the most important driving forces of biogeochemical changes in the Arctic Ocean. Between 1999 and 2016, seven Chinese National Arctic Research Expeditions have taken place in the Bering and Chukchi seas, allowing assessment of the biogeochemical response of the western Arctic Ocean to global warming. Herein, we summarize advances in Chinese and international marine biogeochemistry research in the western Arctic Ocean, reviewing results from the Chinese expeditions and highlighting future trends of biogeochemistry in the Pacific Arctic region. The findings reported in this paper contribute towards a better understanding of water masses, greenhouse gases, nutrients, ocean acidification, and organic carbon export and burial processes in this region

Bathyal megabenthic assemblages in the SE Iberian Peninsula (Western Mediterranean Sea)

The Iberian SE is an interesting transition and connectivity zone between the Alboran Sea and the Algerian-Balearic basin. It hosts important deep water fisheries targeting mostly red shrimp (Aristeus antennatus). The area comprises a complex system of tectonic canyons (Mazarron Escarpment), seamounts, knolls and hills (Palos, Planazo, Plis-Plas), and pockmark fields (Acosta et al., 2013). Few studies have been conducted on the bathyal megabenthos, unlike in the neighbouring Chella Bank (De la Torriente et al. 2018) and Balearic Islands (Massuti et al. 2022). The LIFE IP Intemares project is filling this gap

Bathyal megabenthic assemblages in the south-eastern Iberian Peninsula (Western Mediterranean)

The SE Iberian sector represents an interesting transition and connectivity zone between the Alboran Sea and the Algerian Balearic basin, and the area comprises a system of tectonic canyons (Mazarron Escarpment), seamounts and pockmarks fields. Despite this, relatively few studies have been conducted on the bathyal zone. During the LIFE IP Intemares A2.2-Mu0820 survey, the continental slope was observed by ROV Liropus-2000, between 183 and 1735m depth following bathymetric mapping using a multibeam echosounder. A combination of multivariate analysis of still imagery and video groundtruthing have been able to discriminate some megabenthic assemblages. On hard bottoms of the upper bathyal horizon: i) Neopycnodonte cochear-Mergelia truncata facies, 193-244m depth; ii) Ellisella flagellum facies, 2441-320m; iii) Antipathes dichotoma facies, 259-270m. Middle horizon: i) Demospongiae facies (Pachastrella, Phakellia, Aaptos…), 241-494m; ii) gorgonian assemblage (Callogorgia, Paramuricea, Placogorgia), 294-624m; iii) Leptometra phalangium facies 293-611m; iv) cold-water corals (Desmophyllum, Madrepora), 516-607m; Antipatharia facies (Antipathella, Leiopathes, Parantipathes), 519-624m. Lower bathyal horizon:; Dicopia antirrhinum facies, 645-1167m. On soft bottoms (mud, sandy-mud) of the upper bathyal horizon: i) Ceriantharia facies, 213-219m depth. Middle horizon: i) Pennatulacea facies (Funiculina, Kophobelemnon, Pteroeides…), 219-541m; ii) Thenea muricata facies, 418-814m; iii) Isidella elongata facies, 462-681m. Lower horizon: i) Pelosina fields, 235-1321m. The results reveals that the bathyal zone of the SE Iberian Peninsula is topographically complex and harbours diverse benthic assemblages, some of which fall within the category of Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems; and some species are listed in annex II of the RAC/SPA list of endangered or threatened species

Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems found in a bathyal zone off the SE Iberian Peninsula (Western Mediterranean)

The Spanish Intemares LIFE IP project contemplates the creation of Special Areas of Conservation within the Natura 2000 Network. During its August 2019 cruise, a series of towed sledge transects were conducted on two seamounts (“Planazo” and “Plis Plas”) and a muddy field of pockmarks, both located in areas off the SE Iberian Peninsula (Western Mediterranean), between 220 and 694m depth. The prospected area has a significant pressure from bottom trawl (directed towards Aristeus antennatus, Nephrops norvegicus, Plesionika spp.) and, to a smaller extent, of bottom longline fisheries (focused on Merluccius merluccius and Pagellus bogaraveo). Some of the observed bathyal habitats fall into the category of Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems (VME), according to FAO (2009, 2016), since they present at least one of the following characteristics: i) uniqueness or rarity; ii) functional significance of habitat; iii) fragility; iv) life history traits of component species that make recovery difficult; and/or v) structural complexity. Among them, “gorgonian gardens” (of Paramuricea hirsuta, Callogorgia verticillata, Bebryce mollis, Swiftia pallida, and Ellisella flagellum) and the yellow tree coral (Dendrophyllia cornigera) highlight rocky bottoms; while on muddy substrates, sea-pen fields (Funiculina quadrangularis and Kophobelemnon stelliferum) and “bamboo coral gardens” (Isidella elongata) do so. These habitats, along with fields of the crinoid Leptometra phalangium, are also considered Essential Habitats for target species of fishing interest. The location, mapping and characterization of these habitats are necessary to establish “no-take” zones within the future management plan for the area studied

CO2 flux variability in the Galician and Californian upwelling systems

228 páginasAlba Marina Cobo Viveros fue beneficiaria del subprograma JAE-Predoc de ayudas para el desarrollo de tesis doctorales en el marco del Programa “Junta de Ampliación de Estudios” (Resolución de 23 de Junio de 2010, REF. JAE: JAEPre042), y fue cofinanciada por el Fondo Social Europeo (FSE). Los trabajos recogidos durante esta memoria se desarrollaron dentro de los proyectos DYBAGA (Dynamics and Biogeochemical Variability on the Galician continental shelf at short-scale. Financiado por la Comisión Interministerial de Ciencia y Tecnología CYCIT a través del proyecto MAR1999-1039) y ECO (Evolution of CO2 increase using ships of Opportunity: Galicia and Bay of Biscay. Financiado por el Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología a través del proyecto REN2002-00503/MAR).Peer reviewe

Anfípodos costeros de Bahía Málaga y Bahía Buenaventura, Pacífico Oriental Tropical de Colombia

Knowledge about the diversity of coastal amphipods in the eastern tropical Pacific, including the Pacific coast of Colombia, is scarce. We characterized amphipod diversity in Bahía Málaga (intertidal and subtidal rocky shores, and sandy beaches) and Bahía Buenaventura (intertidal rocky shores, mangrove roots, and sandy beaches), two important estuaries in the central Pacific coast of Colombia. Sixteen species in eleven families were found; Hourstonius baciroa, Leptocheirus rhizophorae, Leucothoe alata, Elasmopus ocoroni, Melita bousfieldi, and Neomegamphopus heardi represent new records for Colombia.El conocimiento acerca de la diversidad de los anfípodos costeros en el Pacífico Oriental Tropical, incluyendo las costas del Pacífico de Colombia, es escaso. Por esto, caracterizamos la diversidad de anfípodos en Bahía Málaga (costas rocosas intermareales y submareales, playas arenosas) y Bahía Buenaventura (costa rocosa intermareal, raíces de manglares, playas arenosas), dos estuarios importantes de la costa central del Pacífico de Colombia. Se encontraron 16 especies en once familias, de las cuales Hourstonius baciroa, Leptocheirus rhizophorae, Leucothoe alata, Elasmopus ocoroni, Melita bousfieldi y Neomegamphopus heardi representan nuevos registros para Colombia

Bathyal megabenthic assemblages in the south-eastern Iberian Peninsula (Western Mediterranean)

The SE Iberian sector represents an interesting transition and connectivity zone between the Alboran Sea and the Algerian Balearic basin, and the area comprises a system of tectonic canyons (Mazarron Escarpment), seamounts and pockmarks fields. Despite this, relatively few studies have been conducted on the bathyal zone. During the LIFE IP Intemares A2.2-Mu0820 survey, the continental slope was observed by ROV Liropus-2000, between 183 and 1735m depth following bathymetric mapping using a multibeam echosounder. A combination of multivariate analysis of still imagery and video groundtruthing have been able to discriminate some megabenthic assemblages. On hard bottoms of the upper bathyal horizon: i) Neopycnodonte cochear-Mergelia truncata facies, 193-244m depth; ii) Ellisella flagellum facies, 2441-320m; iii) Antipathes dichotoma facies, 259-270m. Middle horizon: i) Demospongiae facies (Pachastrella, Phakellia, Aaptos…), 241-494m; ii) gorgonian assemblage (Callogorgia, Paramuricea, Placogorgia), 294-624m; iii) Leptometra phalangium facies 293-611m; iv) cold-water corals (Desmophyllum, Madrepora), 516-607m; Antipatharia facies (Antipathella, Leiopathes, Parantipathes), 519-624m. Lower bathyal horizon:; Dicopia antirrhinum facies, 645-1167m. On soft bottoms (mud, sandy-mud) of the upper bathyal horizon: i) Ceriantharia facies, 213-219m depth. Middle horizon: i) Pennatulacea facies (Funiculina, Kophobelemnon, Pteroeides…), 219-541m; ii) Thenea muricata facies, 418-814m; iii) Isidella elongata facies, 462-681m. Lower horizon: i) Pelosina fields, 235-1321m. The results reveals that the bathyal zone of the SE Iberian Peninsula is topographically complex and harbours diverse benthic assemblages, some of which fall within the category of Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems; and some species are listed in annex II of the RAC/SPA list of endangered or threatened species.INTEMARES_A_22_MProyecto INTEMARES. Subacción A 22: Mejora del conocimiento para la declaración de nuevos espacios marinos por su importancia para hábitats

Short-term variability of surface carbon dioxide and sea-air CO2 fluxes in the shelf waters of the Galician coastal upwelling system

Publicado

Catarina cruise report, 22 June-12 August 2012, on board BIO Sarmiento de Gamboa by the Group Catarina

99 páginas.-- Aida F. Ríos ... et al.The objectives of the CATARINA project are a) to quantify the Meridional Overturning Circulation and water mass ventilation changes and their effect on the changes in the anthropogenic carbon ocean uptake and storage capacity, and b) to evaluate the effect of present CO2 emissions and past atmospheric CO2 concentrations in the production and preservation of CaCO3, both in the North Atlantic To can achieve these objectives, the CATARINA cruise was organized in two phases according to the two main activities of the project: “Circulation and anthropogenic CO2”, and “Past and recent acidification impacts”. LEG 1: Section OVIDE 2012 including Labrador: 103 stations. Chief Scientist: Aida F. Ríos. LEG 2: Paleoacid: 6 areas of sampling. Chief Scientist: Guillermo Frances. This report is organized in two parts: Leg 1 (pages 2-61) and Leg 2 (pages 62-91), and finishing with a Miscellany (pages 92-98) that covers common issues on internationalization, outreach, incidences during the cruise and acknowledgements.Project funded by MICINN, Ref. CTM2010-17141 and co-funded by FEDERPeer reviewe

Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems found in a Bathyal Zone off the SE Iberian Peninsula (Western Mediterranean)

Description of VMEs (gorgonian and bamboo coral gardens) found in two seamounts during one of the INTEMARES surveys using a towed camera