Controls on dissolved and particulate iron distribution in surface waters of the Western Antarctic Peninsula shelf

The Western Antarctic Peninsula (WAP) displays high but variable productivity and is also undergoing rapid change. Long-term studies of phytoplankton communities and primary production have suggested transient limitation by the micronutrient iron (Fe), but to date no data have been available to test this hypothesis. Here, we present the first spatially extensive, multi-year measurements of dissolved and particulate trace metals in surface waters to investigate the key sources and sinks of Fe in the central WAP shelf. Surface samples of dissolved and particulate metals were collected throughout the 700 × 200 km grid of the Palmer Long-Term Ecological Research program in three consecutive austral summers (2010 − 2012). Iron concentrations varied widely. Both dissolved and particulate Fe were high in coastal waters (up to 8 nmol kg− 1 and 42 nmol kg− 1, respectively). In contrast, very low Fe concentrations (< 0.1 nmol kg− 1) were widespread in mid- to outer-shelf surface waters, especially in the northern half of the sampling grid, suggesting possible Fe limitation of primary production on the shelf. Sea ice and dust inputs of Fe were minor, although their relative importance increased with distance from shore due to the larger near-shore sources. Sedimentary inputs were inferred from manganese distributions; these were more significant in the northern portion of the grid, and showed interannual variation in intensity. Overall, the interannual distribution of Fe was most closely correlated to that of meteoric water (glacial melt and precipitation). Although the Fe concentrations and relative contributions of dissolved and particulate Fe attributed to meltwater were variable throughout the sampling region, increasing glacial meltwater flux can be expected to increase the delivery of Fe to surface waters of the coastal WAP in the future

How to Blend a Robot within a Group of Zebrafish: Achieving Social Acceptance through Real-time Calibration of a Multi-level Behavioural Model

We have previously shown how to socially integrate a fish robot into a group of zebrafish thanks to biomimetic behavioural models. The models have to be calibrated on experimental data to present correct behavioural features. This calibration is essential to enhance the social integration of the robot into the group. When calibrated, the behavioural model of fish behaviour is implemented to drive a robot with closed-loop control of social interactions into a group of zebrafish. This approach can be useful to form mixed-groups, and study animal individual and collective behaviour by using biomimetic autonomous robots capable of responding to the animals in long-standing experiments. Here, we show a methodology for continuous real-time calibration and refinement of multi-level behavioural model. The real-time calibration, by an evolutionary algorithm, is based on simulation of the model to correspond to the observed fish behaviour in real-time. The calibrated model is updated on the robot and tested during the experiments. This method allows to cope with changes of dynamics in fish behaviour. Moreover, each fish presents individual behavioural differences. Thus, each trial is done with naive fish groups that display behavioural variability. This real-time calibration methodology can optimise the robot behaviours during the experiments. Our implementation of this methodology runs on three different computers that perform individual tracking, data-analysis, multi-objective evolutionary algorithms, simulation of the fish robot and adaptation of the robot behavioural models, all in real-time.Comment: 9 pages, 3 figure

Fractional solubility of aerosol iron : synthesis of a global-scale data set

Aerosol deposition provides a major input of the essential micronutrient iron to the open ocean. A critical parameter with respect to bioavailability is the proportion of aerosol iron that enters the oceanic dissolved iron pool – the so-called fractional solubility of aerosol iron (%FeS). Here we present a global-scale compilation of total aerosol iron loading (FeT) and %FeS values for ~1100 samples collected over the open ocean, the coastal ocean, and some continental sites, including new data from the Atlantic Ocean. The global-scale compilation reveals a remarkably consistent trend in the fractional solubility of aerosol iron as a function of total aerosol iron loading, with the great bulk of the data falling along an inverse hyperbolic trend. The large dynamic range in %FeS (0-95%) varies with FeT in a manner similar to that identified for aerosols collected in the Sargasso Sea by Sedwick et al. (2007), who posit that the trend reflects near-conservative mixing between air masses that carry lithogenic mineral dust (with high FeT and low %FeS) and non-soil-dust aerosols such as anthropogenic combustion emissions (with low FeT and high %FeS), respectively. An increasing body of empirical evidence points to the importance of aerosol source and composition in determining the fractional solubility of aerosol iron, such that anthropogenic combustion emissions appear to play a critical role in determining this parameter in the bulk marine aerosol. The robust global-scale relationship between %FeS and FeT may provide a simple heuristic method for estimating aerosol iron solubility at the regional to global scale

Stress-induced changes in group behaviour

Testing animals in groups can provide valuable data for investigating behavioural stress responses. However, conventional measures typically focus on the behaviour of individual animals or on dyadic interactions. Here, we aimed to determine metrics describing the behaviour of grouping animals that can reveal differences in stress responses. Using zebrafish (Danio rerio) as a model, we observed replicated shoals both immediately and 24 hours after exposure to a novel environment, as an assessment of temporal change in response to an acute stressor. We quantified various standard behavioural measures in combination with metrics describing group structure, including different proximity, social, and spatial metrics. Firstly, we showed a high collinearity between most of the analysed metrics, suggesting that they describe similar aspects of the group dynamics. After metric selection, we found that under acute stress shoals had significantly higher shoal densities, a lower variation in nearest neighbour distances and were in closer proximity to the walls compared to the same groups tested 24 hours later, indicating a reduction in acute stress over time. Thus, the use of group metrics could allow for the refinement of behavioural protocols carried out in a range of research areas, by providing sensitive and rich data in a more relevant social context

Controls on the shuttling of manganese over the northwestern Black Sea shelf and its fate in the euxinic deep basin

Manganese (Mn) is an essential micronutrient for phytoplankton and its cycling interacts with that of iron (Fe). Continental shelf sediments are a key but poorly quantified source of Mn to marine waters. In this study, we investigate Mn release from shelf sediments, its lateral transport (“shuttling”) in the oxic water column over the northwestern Black Sea shelf and its fate in the adjacent euxinic deep basin. We find a high release of Mn from organic-rich, bioirrigated coastal sediments, but negligible mobilization and release of Mn from sediments in offshore shelf regions, because of a low input of organic matter. Most Mn in the water column is present in dissolved form. We suggest that this dissolved Mn is released from coastal sediments and subsequently transported offshore through physical processes. Surface sediments at open shelf and shelf edge stations are highly enriched in Mn when compared to coastal and deep basin stations. Only part of the surface enrichment can be explained by oxidation of porewater Mn. The remainder of this enrichment is likely the result of oxidative removal of dissolved Mn from the water column and deposition as Mn oxides. Using X-ray spectroscopy we show that Mn in surface sediments in this area predominately consists of Mn(IV) oxides (phyllo- and/or tectomanganates). A key difference between Mn versus Fe shuttling is the form in which the metal is transported: while dissolved Mn dominates in the water column over the shelf, most Fe is present in particulate form. Sediment trap data indicate that the vertical transport of both Mn and Fe through the euxinic water column is correlated and is associated with the sinking flux of biogenic particulate matter following the spring and fall phytoplankton blooms. In the sediments of the euxinic basin, Mn is enriched when compared to a detrital Mn background and its burial correlates with that of Fe. This suggests that Mn could be incorporated in pyrite in the euxinic water column. Our results highlight the critical role of organic matter input as a driver of Mn and Fe shuttling over the Black Sea continental shelf and particulate matter as the carrier of Mn and Fe into the euxinic basin

Influence of mineral dust transport on the chemical composition and physical properties of the Eastern Mediterranean aerosol

Bulk aerosol samples were collected from three different coastal rural sites located around the Eastern Mediterranean, (i) Erdemli (ER), Turkey, (ii) Heraklion (HR), Crete, Greece, and (iii) Tel Shikmona (TS), Israel, during two distinct mineral dust periods (October, 2007 and April, 2008) in order to explore the temporal and geographical variability in the aerosol chemical composition. Samples were analyzed for trace elements (Al, Fe, Mn, Ca, Cr, Zn, Cu, V, Ni, Cd, Pb) and water-soluble ions (Cl -, NO 3 -, SO 4 2-, C 2O 4 2-, Na +, NH 4 +, K +, Mg 2+ and Ca 2+). The dust events were categorized on the basis of Al concentrations &amp;gt;1000 ng m -3, SKIRON dust forecast model and 3-day back trajectories into three groups namely, Middle East, Mixed and Saharan desert. ER and TS were substantially affected by dust events originating from the Middle East, particularly in October, whilst HR was not influenced by dust transport from the Middle East. Higher AOT values were particularly associated with higher Al concentrations. Contrary to the highest Al concentration: 6300 ng m -3, TS showed relatively lower AI and AOT. Al concentrations at ER were similar for October and April, whilst OMI-AI and AOT values were ∼2 times higher in April. This might be attributed to the weak sensitivity of the TOMS instrument to absorbing aerosols near the ground and optical difference between Middle East and Saharan desert dusts. The lowest enhancement of anthropogenic aerosol species was observed at HR during dust events (nssSO 4 2-/nssCa 2+ ∼ 0.13). These species were particularly enhanced when mineral dust arrived at sites after passing through populated and industrialized urban areas. © 2012

Controls on the shuttling of manganese over the northwestern Black Sea shelf and its fate in the euxinic deep basin

Manganese (Mn) is an essential micronutrient for phytoplankton and its cycling interacts with that of iron (Fe). Continental shelf sediments are a key but poorly quantified source of Mn to marine waters. In this study, we investigate Mn release from shelf sediments, its lateral transport (“shuttling”) in the oxic water column over the northwestern Black Sea shelf and its fate in the adjacent euxinic deep basin. We find a high release of Mn from organic-rich, bioirrigated coastal sediments, but negligible mobilization and release of Mn from sediments in offshore shelf regions, because of a low input of organic matter. Most Mn in the water column is present in dissolved form. We suggest that this dissolved Mn is released from coastal sediments and subsequently transported offshore through physical processes. Surface sediments at open shelf and shelf edge stations are highly enriched in Mn when compared to coastal and deep basin stations. Only part of the surface enrichment can be explained by oxidation of porewater Mn. The remainder of this enrichment is likely the result of oxidative removal of dissolved Mn from the water column and deposition as Mn oxides. Using X-ray spectroscopy we show that Mn in surface sediments in this area predominately consists of Mn(IV) oxides (phyllo- and/or tectomanganates). A key difference between Mn versus Fe shuttling is the form in which the metal is transported: while dissolved Mn dominates in the water column over the shelf, most Fe is present in particulate form. Sediment trap data indicate that the vertical transport of both Mn and Fe through the euxinic water column is correlated and is associated with the sinking flux of biogenic particulate matter following the spring and fall phytoplankton blooms. In the sediments of the euxinic basin, Mn is enriched when compared to a detrital Mn background and its burial correlates with that of Fe. This suggests that Mn could be incorporated in pyrite in the euxinic water column. Our results highlight the critical role of organic matter input as a driver of Mn and Fe shuttling over the Black Sea continental shelf and particulate matter as the carrier of Mn and Fe into the euxinic basin