Dispersal and population connectivity in the deep North Atlantic estimated from physical transport processes

Author Posting. © The Author(s), 2015. This is the author's version of the work. It is posted here by permission of Elsevier for personal use, not for redistribution. The definitive version was published in Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers 104 (2015): 159-172, doi:10.1016/j.dsr.2015.06.009.Little is known about how larvae disperse in deep ocean currents despite how critical estimates of population connectivity are for ecology, evolution and conservation. Estimates of connectivity can provide important insights about the mechanisms that shape patterns of genetic variation. Strong population genetic divergence above and below about 3000m has been documented for multiple protobranch bivalves in the western North Atlantic. One possible explanation for this congruent divergence is that the Deep Western Boundary Current (DWBC), which flows southwestward along the slope in this region, entrains larvae and impedes dispersal between the upper/middle slope and the lower slope or abyss. We used Lagrangian particle trajectories based on an eddy-resolving ocean general circulation model (specifically FLAME - Family of Linked Atlantic Model Experiments) to estimate the nature and scale of dispersal of passive larvae released near the sea floor at 4 depths across the continental slope (1500, 2000, 2500 and 3200 m) in the western North Atlantic and to test the potential role of the DWBC in explaining patterns of genetic variation on the continental margin. Passive particles released into the model DWBC followed highly complex trajectories that led to both onshore and offshore transport. Transport averaged about 1 km d-1 with dispersal kernels skewed strongly right indicating that some larvae dispersed much greater distances. Offshore transport was more likely than onshore and, despite a prevailing southwestward flow, some particles drifted north and east. Dispersal trajectories and estimates of population connectivity suggested that the DWBC is unlikely to prevent dispersal among depths, in part because of strong cross-slope forces induced by interactions between the DWBC and the deeper flows of the Gulf Stream. The strong genetic divergence we find in this region of the Northwest Atlantic is therefore likely driven by larval behaviors and/or mortality that limit dispersal, or local selective processes (both pre and post-settlement) that limit recruitment of immigrants from some depths.ASB was supported by Grant No. OCE-0926656 to WHOI by the U.S. National Science Foundation and RJE was supported by NSF Grants OCE0726382 and OCE1130541

Wind-Modulated Western Maine Coastal Current and Its Connectivity With the Eastern Maine Coastal Current

Using a high-resolution circulation model and an offline particle tracking model, we investigated variations of the Western Maine Coastal Current (WMCC) and its connectivity with the Eastern Maine Coastal Current (EMCC). The models showed that the weak, broad, and sinuous WMCC is generally southwestward with an offshore and a nearshore core, fed by the extension of the EMCC and runoff from the Penobscot and Kennebec–Androscoggin Rivers, respectively. A sea-level dome can form offshore of Casco Bay in late fall and early winter as the northeastward alongshore wind sets up a seaward sea-level gradient from the coast to meet the shoreward sea-level gradient from Wilkinson Basin. Consequently, northeastward flows (i.e., the counter-WMCC) emerge on the inshore side of the dome. Both the circulation and particle tracking models suggested that the connectivity generally peaks twice annually, highest in winter and then secondarily in late spring or early summer. The former is concurrent with the most southwest offshore veering of the EMCC, while the latter is concurrent with the strongest EMCC. Moreover, the counter-WMCC can reduce the connectivity and result in year-to-year variations

A strategy for the conservation of biodiversity on mid-ocean ridges from deep-sea mining

Mineral exploitation has spread from land to shallow coastal waters and is now planned for the offshore, deep seabed. Large seafloor areas are being approved for exploration for seafloor mineral deposits, creating an urgent need for regional environmental management plans. Networks of areas where mining and mining impacts are prohibited are key elements of these plans. We adapt marine reserve design principles to the distinctive biophysical environment of mid-ocean ridges, offer a framework for design and evaluation of these networks to support conservation of benthic ecosystems on mid-ocean ridges, and introduce projected climate-induced changes in the deep sea to the evaluation of reserve design. We enumerate a suite of metrics to measure network performance against conservation targets and network design criteria promulgated by the Convention on Biological Diversity. We apply these metrics to network scenarios on the northern and equatorial Mid-Atlantic Ridge, where contractors are exploring for seafloor massive sulfide (SMS) deposits. A latitudinally distributed network of areas performs well at (i) capturing ecologically important areas and 30 to 50% of the spreading ridge areas, (ii) replicating representative areas, (iii) maintaining along-ridge population connectivity, and (iv) protecting areas potentially less affected by climate-related changes. Critically, the network design is adaptive, allowing for refinement based on new knowledge and the location of mining sites, provided that design principles and conservation targets are maintained. This framework can be applied along the global mid-ocean ridge system as a precautionary measure to protect biodiversity and ecosystem function from impacts of SMS mining

Elemental fingerprints of larval, juvenile, and settler Mytilus collected in the Gulf of Maine between 2015 and 2017

Dataset: Mytilus Elemental FingerprintsElemental fingerprints of larval, juvenile, and settler Mytilus collected in the Gulf of Maine between 2015 and 2017. For a complete list of measurements, refer to the full dataset description in the supplemental file 'Dataset_description.pdf'. The most current version of this dataset is available at: https://www.bco-dmo.org/dataset/752530NSF Division of Ocean Sciences (NSF OCE) OCE-1334022, NSF Division of Ocean Sciences (NSF OCE) OCE-145815

GenBank accession numbers for sequences from deep-sea protobranch bivalves collected on R/V Endeavor cruise EN447 in the Western North Atlantic (34-39N, 68-70W) in 2008 (Ev Deep Sea Molluscs II project)

Dataset: sequence accession numbersThis dataset is comprised of GenBank accession numbers for sequences from deep-sea protobranch bivalves collected on R/V Endeavor cruise EN447 in the Western North Atlantic (34-39N, 68-70W) in 2008. For a complete list of measurements, refer to the full dataset description in the supplemental file 'Dataset_description.pdf'. The most current version of this dataset is available at: https://www.bco-dmo.org/dataset/542665NSF Division of Ocean Sciences (NSF OCE) OCE-113054

Elemental fingerprints of larval, juvenile, and settler Mytilus collected in the Gulf of Maine between 2015 and 2016

Dataset: Mytilus Elemental FingerprintsElemental fingerprints of larval, juvenile, and settler Mytilus collected in the Gulf of Maine between 2015 and 2016. For a complete list of measurements, refer to the full dataset description in the supplemental file 'Dataset_description.pdf'. The most current version of this dataset is available at: https://www.bco-dmo.org/dataset/752530NSF Division of Ocean Sciences (NSF OCE) OCE-1334022, NSF Division of Ocean Sciences (NSF OCE) OCE-145815

Counts of Protobranch bivalves collected in a series of epibenthic sled samples taken on R/V Endeavor cruise EN447 in the Western North Atlantic (34-39N, 68-70W) in 2008 (ENAB project)

Dataset: ENAB 2008 ProtobranchsThis dataset includes counts of Protobranch bivalves collected in a series of epibenthic sled samples taken on R/V Endeavor cruise EN447 in the Western North Atlantic (34-39N, 68-70W) in 2008. For a complete list of measurements, refer to the full dataset description in the supplemental file 'Dataset_description.pdf'. The most current version of this dataset is available at: https://www.bco-dmo.org/dataset/542513NSF Division of Ocean Sciences (NSF OCE) OCE-072638

Yksityisen päiväkodin perustaminen

Tutkimuksen päätavoitteena on tarkastella yksityistä päiväkotiyrittäjyyttä Suomessa. Erityisen tarkastelun kohteena ovat yksityisen päiväkotien perustajat ja heidän kokemuksensa yrittäjänä toimimisesta. Tutkimukseni on jaettu kolmeen osaan. Tutkimuksen ensimmäisessä osassa selvitetään, lähtökohdat yksityisen päiväkodin perustamiselle. Ensimmäisessä osassa käydään yksityiskohtaisesti läpi kaikki lain vaatimat asiat, mitä pitää ottaa huomioon perustettaessa yksityistä päiväkotia. Tämän jälkeen selvitetään se, mitä yksityisen päiväkodin perustaminen maksaa riippumatta siitä, mihin se perustetaan. Tutkimuksen toisessa osassa aineistona käytetään kyselytutkimusta, jossa tutkitaan kuinka paljon kunnat maksavat yksityisille päiväkodeille tukea. Tutkimuksen yhteyteen liitettiin myös tilastokeskukselta saadut tiedot kuntien asukasmääristä, ennusteet lasten lukumääristä sekä keskimääräiset vuokrat. Tämän kyselyn avulla saadaan selvitettyä mihin perustuu kunnissa maksettu yksityisen hoidon tuki. Tutkimuksen kolmannessa osassa aineistona käytetään teemahaastattelua. Tutkimuksessa haastateltiin kahdeksaa eri päiväkotiyrittäjää eripuolilta Suomea. Tavoitteena on kuvailla päiväkotiyrittäjyyttä ammattina ja selventää millaista on perustaa ja toimia yksityisessä päiväkodissa. Kokonaisuutena yksityinen päiväkoti on hyvä yritys onnistuessaan. Kovin suuria voittoja sillä ei voi havitella, koska kunta valvoo yksityisiä päiväkoteja ja maksavat yksityisen hoidon tuen omien kriteeristöjen mukaan. Onnistuessaan omalla päiväkodilla yrittäjä elättää itsensä. Yrittäjä saa myös toteuttaa omassa päiväkodissaan, sitä mitä haluaa. Tämä ei ole kunnallisessa päivähoidossa mahdollista. Yksityisen päiväkodin perustaminen on haaste yrittäjälle.fi=Opinnäytetyö kokotekstinä PDF-muodossa.|en=Thesis fulltext in PDF format.|sv=Lärdomsprov tillgängligt som fulltext i PDF-format