Phosphate-mineral interactions and potential consequences for nutrient cycling

Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution June 2008.Biogeochemical cycling of phosphate is a key component in the overall production rate of coastal ecosystems. Mineral phases in the near-shore sediments play a significant role in the return of phosphate remineralized in the upper sediments to the water column. Sequential Extraction (SEDEX) of the solid-phase associated PO4-3 yielded reservoir profiles of phosphate at three sites off of the Massachusetts coast. These extractions found Fe-associated PO4 to be the dominant phase associated with rapid porewater-solid P exchange. Additionally, a seasonal enrichment/depletion pattern of phosphate fluxes relative to total carbon was observed from the sediments. These observations established the behavior of phosphate in coastal sediments as interconnected with the ongoing Fe-cycling in the sediments as well.This work was made possible by sponsorship and funding provided by NOAA, (U.S. Department of Commerce (Grant # NA06OAR4170021, project # R/G-29)); National Science Foundation (Grant # OCE-0526389); WHOI / USGS Cooperative Agreement; and the WHOI Academic Programs Office

Life-history traits and group dynamic in black and gold howler monkeys in flooded forests of northern Argentina

Black and gold howlers (Alouatta caraya) reach the southernmost distribution of all howler species in Northern Argentina, where they are found living on islands with flooded forest along the Parana River and in gallery forests and forest fragments in the mainland. The goal of this chapter is to provide the first compilation of life-history traits coming from a long term study on black and gold howlers living in a continuous flooded forest in Northern Argentina, and compare these results to data coming from a long term study site in the mainland.Fil: Kowalewski, Miguel Martin. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia". Estación Biológica de Usos Múltiples (Sede Corrientes); ArgentinaFil: Pavé, Romina Elizabeth. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto Nacional de Limnología. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto Nacional de Limnología; ArgentinaFil: Fernandez, Vanina Alejandra. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia"; ArgentinaFil: Raño, Mariana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia". Estación Biológica de Usos Múltiples (Sede Corrientes); ArgentinaFil: Zunino, Gabriel Eduardo. Universidad Nacional de General Sarmiento. Instituto del Conurbano; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin