Synthèse Océanographique 2014

This oceanographic synthesis focuses on the main results of the INRH's oceanographic surveys along the Atlantic and Mediterranean coast of Morocco and the follow-up resulting from the treatment of satellite products for the year 2014. The objective of this study is to establish a system of operational oceanographic observations and, ultimately, numerical simulations capable of continuously monitoring trends and hydroclimatic variations at the level of the two Atlantic and Mediterranean seaboards. This document is divided into three parts: The physical oceanography component, biological oceanography component and remote sensing space component

Cork : properties, capabilities and applications

Cork is a natural, renewable, sustainable raw material that has been used for many centuries. As a result of this very long term interest, the scientific literature on cork is extensive. The present review focuses on the chemical composition, physical and mechanical properties of cork and on its products and sub-products. The substantial efforts to fully characterise cork, as well as new developments and evolving research, are reviewed, beginning with its histology, growth and morphology (at macro- and microscales). The chemical structure is analysed in detail, covering both the materials that form the wall structure and the low molecular weight, extractable components. The unique properties of cork are discussed and correlated with current knowledge on morphology and chemical structure. Finally, the important industrial applications of cork are reviewed, in the context of research to provide cork with novel, high added-value applications

Evidence for rangewide panmixia despite multiple barriers to dispersal in a marine mussel

Oceanographic features shape the distributional and genetic patterns of marine species by interrupting or promoting connections among populations. Although general patterns commonly arise, distributional ranges and genetic structure are species-specific and do not always comply with the expected trends. By applying a multimarker genetic approach combined with Lagrangian particle simulations (LPS) we tested the hypothesis that oceanographic features along northeastern Atlantic and Mediterranean shores influence dispersal potential and genetic structure of the intertidal mussel Perna perna. Additionally, by performing environmental niche modelling we assessed the potential and realized niche of P. perna along its entire native distributional range and the environmental factors that best explain its realized distribution. Perna perna showed evidence of panmixia across > 4,000 km despite several oceanographic breaking points detected by LPS. This is probably the result of a combination of life history traits, continuous habitat availability and stepping-stone dynamics. Moreover, the niche modelling framework depicted minimum sea surface temperatures (SST) as the major factor shaping P. perna distributional range limits along its native areas. Forthcoming warming SST is expected to further change these limits and allow the species to expand its range polewards though this may be accompanied by retreat from warmer areas.Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia (FCT-MEC, Portugal) [UID/Multi/04326/2013, IF/01413/2014/CP1217/CT0004]; South African Research Chairs Initiative (SARChI) of the Department of Science and Technology; National Research Foundation; South African National Research Foundation (NRF); Portuguese Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia (FCT) [SFRH/BPD/85040/2012, SFRH/BPD/111003/2015]info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Population Structure of Pseudomonas aeruginosa from Five Mediterranean Countries: Evidence for Frequent Recombination and Epidemic Occurrence of CC235

Several studies in recent years have provided evidence that Pseudomonas aeruginosa has a non-clonal population structure punctuated by highly successful epidemic clones or clonal complexes. The role of recombination in the diversification of P. aeruginosa clones has been suggested, but not yet demonstrated using multi-locus sequence typing (MLST). Isolates of P. aeruginosa from five Mediterranean countries (n = 141) were subjected to pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), serotyping and PCR targeting the virulence genes exoS and exoU. The occurrence of multi-resistance (≥3 antipseudomonal drugs) was analyzed with disk diffusion according to EUCAST. MLST was performed on a subset of strains (n = 110) most of them had a distinct PFGE variant. MLST data were analyzed with Bionumerics 6.0, using minimal spanning tree (MST) as well as eBURST. Measurement of clonality was assessed by the standardized index of association (IAS). Evidence of recombination was estimated by ClonalFrame as well as SplitsTree4.0. The MST analysis connected 70 sequence types, among which ST235 was by far the most common. ST235 was very frequently associated with the O11 serotype, and frequently displayed multi-resistance and the virulence genotype exoS−/exoU+. ClonalFrame linked several groups previously identified by eBURST and MST, and provided insight to the evolutionary events occurring in the population; the recombination/mutation ratio was found to be 8.4. A Neighbor-Net analysis based on the concatenated sequences revealed a complex network, providing evidence of frequent recombination. The index of association when all the strains were considered indicated a freely recombining population. P. aeruginosa isolates from the Mediterranean countries display an epidemic population structure, particularly dominated by ST235-O11, which has earlier also been coupled to the spread of ß-lactamases in many countries

Biogeochemical signatures of the Mediterranean Outflow

Trabajo presentado en el 2nd Scientific Workshop PERSEUS, celebrado en Marrakesh del 2 al 4 de diciembre de 2014.Biogeochemical properties of the deep Mediterranean Outflow (MOW) crossing the Strait of Gibraltar have been monitored for almost one decade at the ocean time series GIFT. The content of nutrients, carbon (both natural and anthropogenic), alkalinity, oxygen and non CO2 -greenhouse gases, such as methane and nitrous oxide, has been measured in the MOW and comparisons with surface Atlantic waters have been made in order to compute biogeochemical exchanges through the Strait. In addition, pCO2 and pH in the Mediterranean water are being continuously recorded through autonomous sensors installed in a mooring line that was deployed in November 2011. Here we present an overview of the biogeochemistry in the Mediterranean tongue using data collected by this monitoring program.N

The structure of planktonic communities under variable coastal upwelling conditions off Cape Ghir (31 degrees N) in the Canary Current System (NW Africa)

Cape Ghir (similar to 31 degrees N), in the Canary Current System, is an area of permanent coastal upwelling with maximum intensity in summer-autumn, when a strong across-shore thermal gradient and increased mesoscale activity are present. The effects of spatial (cross-shore transect with 7 stations) and temporal (5 dates: from December 2008 to October 2009) variations in upwelling conditions on the structure of planktonic communities (functional groups, size and taxa composition, abundance and carbon biomass) were investigated. Multivariate analysis of the environmental variables enabled both spatial separation of the stations, based primarily on differences in nutrient concentration, and a temporal distinction of upwelling phases, based mostly on differences in sea surface temperature and number of days favourable to upwelling. These clusters were also representative of the time-space variability in the planktonic communities, suggesting that upwelling conditions directly influence their structure. For most of the cruises, the microplankton (mainly diatoms and auto/mixotrophic dinoflagellates) made the highest contributions to photoautotrophic carbon (C) biomass but the nanoplankton (mainly flagellates and dinoflagellates) made the largest contributions to total chlorophyll-a (Chl-a). Mean heterotrophic: autotrophic biomass ratios (from pico-to microplankton during three cruises) were mostly <= 1 (normal pyramid), as expected for productive coastal areas, only when the contribution of mixotrophy was considered. A mixed composition of functional groups of autotrophs/mixotrophs in the coastal and coastal transition zones off C. Ghir is probably the result of the nutrient contents in the upwelled waters since potential silicate or nitrate limitation together with a relatively high C:Chl-a in the micro-phytoplankton were detected during some of the cruises. Temporal changes in diatom taxa with different nutrient requirements also suggested a strong influence of nutrients. The comparatively lower nutrient contents in the upwelled waters off Cape Ghir are linked to the regional circulation patterns, a relatively narrow shelf (lower residence time of the upwelled waters), a higher level of rnesoscale activity, and with weak to moderate wind intensities for most part of the year. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved