Marine flora and fauna of the eastern United States Mollusca: Cephalopoda

The cephalopods found in neritic waters of the northeastern United States include myopsid and oegopsid squids, sepiolid squids, and octopods. A key with diagnostic illustrations is provided to aid in identification of the eleven species common in the neritic waters between Cape Hatteras and Nova Scotia; included also is information on two oceanic species that occur over the continental shelf in this area and that can be confused with similar-looking neritic species. Other sections comprise a glossary of taxonomic characters used for identification of these species, an annotated systematic checklist, and checklists of the 89 other oceanic species and 18 Carolinian and subtropical neritic species that might occur occasionally off the northeastern United States. (PDF file contains 30 pages.

Distribution, relative abundance and developmental morphology of paralarval cephalopods in the Western North Atlantic Ocean

Paralarval and juvenile cephalopods collected in plankton samples on 21 western North Atlantic cruises were identified and enumerated. The 3731 specimens were assigned to 44 generic and specific taxa. This paper describes their spatial and temporal distributions and their developmental morphology. The smallest paralarvae recognized for a number of species are identified and illustrated. The two most abundant and most frequently collected taxa were identifiable to species based on known systematic characters of young, as well as on distribution of the adults. These were the neritic squids Loligo pealeii and Illex illecebrosus collected north of Cape Hatteras, both valuable fishery resources. Other abundant taxa included two morphotypes of ommastrephids, at least five species of enoploteuthids, two species of onychoteuthids, and unidentified octopods. Most taxa were distributed widely both in time and in space, although some seasonal and mesoscale-spatial patterns were indicated. The taxa that appeared to have distinct seasonal distribution included most of the neritic species and, surprisingly, the young of the bathypelagic cranchiids. In eight seasonal cruises over the continental shelf of the middle U.S. Atlantic states, neritic taxa demonstrated approximately the same seasonal patterns during two consecutive years. Interannual differences in the oceanic taxa collected on the shelf were extreme. The highest abundance and diversity of planktonic cephalopods in the oceanic samples were consistently found in the vicinity of the Gulf Stream. Only eight of the oceanic taxa appeared to have limited areal distributions, compared with twelve taxa that were found throughout the western North Atlantic regions sampled in this study. Many taxa, however, were not collected frequently enough to describe seasonal or spatial patterns. Comparisons with published accounts of other cephalopod surveys indicate both strengths and weaknesses in various sampling techniques for capturing the young of oceanic cephalopods. Enoploteuthids were abundant both in our study and in other studies using midwater trawls in several areas of the North Atlantic. Thus, this family probably is adequately sampled over its developmental range. In contrast, octopoteuthids and chtenopterygiids are rare in collections made by small to medium-sized midwater trawls but are comparatively common in plankton samples. For families that are relatively common in plankton samples, paralarval abundance, derived similarly to the familiar ichthyoplankton surveys of fisheries science, may be the most reliable method of gathering data on distribution and abundance. (PDF file contains 58 pages.

Cephalopods of the southern ocean region: potential resdurces and bibliography

Cephalopods (squids and octopuses) are known tobe extremely important organisms in the trophic structure of the Antarctic ecosystems, constituting significant portions of the diets of sperm whales, seals, penguins; pelagic birds and fish. The southern hemisphere population of 500 000 sperm whales, for example, consumes about 50 million tonnes of cephalopods a year, according to Clarke's calculations (Voss 1973. p. 61 ). This value approximates to three-quarter of the world's current annual fisheries production. The highly evolved nervous system of cephalopods allows them to be aggressive, fastswimming predators. This characteristic, unique among invertebrates, makes them comparable in behaviour to many !arge predatory vertebrates. As predators, for example, cephalopods are estimated to consume about 100 million tonnes of Antarctic krill a year (Everson- this volume, paper 4). Knowledge of the biology and species composition of the cephalopod fauna is almost completely lacking, making an assessment of the resource potential of cephalopods in the Antarctic extremely difficult. This Iack of knowledge is due primarily to the strong swimming and net-avoidance capabilities of cephalopods, which have prohibited adequate sampling. Special sampling efforts are required therefore to elucidate their biology and resource potential. Cephalopods inhabit both pelagic and benthic habitats in the Southern Ocean. The squids are primarily pelagic and constitute the major resource potential in terms ofnumbers of species and biomass. The octopuses are primarily benthic dwellers and their biomass and consequent contribution to energy flow are relatively minor in comparison to pelagic cephalopods. This is especially the case in the shelf waters of the Antarctic continent, whereas sub-Antarctic islands appear to support !arger populations of octopuses

A monograph of the Cephalopoda of the North Atlantic: The Family Cycloteuthidae

A new family of oegopsid cephalopods, Cycloteuthidae, is erected as a result of the elevation of Naef's subfamily Cycloteuthinae. Cycloteuthis sirventi Joubin, 1919, is redescribed based on new material from the Atlantic Ocean. A new genus, Discoteuthis, and two new species, D. discus and D. laciniosa, are described from the Atlantic Ocean. Larvae of C. sirventi and D. laciniosa are described. The distributions of the species of cycloteuthids in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans are presented. The relationships of the family, genera, and species are discussed

Four-D global reference atmosphere users manual and programmers manual, part 2

For abstract, see N74-33021

Four-D global reference atmosphere technical description, part 1

An empirical atmospheric model was developed which generates values for pressure, density, temperature, and winds from surface levels to orbital altitudes. The output parameters consist of components for: (1) latitude, longitude, and altitude dependent monthly and annual means; (2) quasi-biennial oscillations; and (3) random perturbations to simulate partially the variability due to synoptic, diurnal, planetary wave, and gravity wave variations. Quasi-biennial and random variation perturbations are computed from parameters determined from various empirical studies and are added to the monthly mean values. This model has been developed as a computer program called PROFILE which can be used to generate altitude profiles of atmospheric parameters along any simulated trajectory through the atmosphere. The PROFILE program was developed for design applications in the space shuttle program. Other applications of the model are discussed, such as for global circulation and diffusion studies, and for generating profiles for comparison with other atmospheric measurement techniques, (e.g. satellite measured temperature profiles)

Family life cycle disruption in rural communities: The case of the Lake Shelbyville reservoir

This project assessed on an ex post facto basis selected impacts upon families and individuals due to the land acquisition program associated with the construction of the Shelbyville Reservoir in east-central Illinois begun in 1962. Research focused on Okaw Township, which borders Lake Shelbyville to the west in Shelby County. The in-depth, individual and family case studies indicated that farm family businesses are not the products of a single generation, or a single family. They are intimately tied to the intergenerational land transfer process which occurs among interconnected families living in close proximity. Thus, the time perspective in examining changes brought about by land acquisition and relocation must be extended on the generational level if the full range of impacts on the local cultural ecology is to be represented. Areawide changes in the availability and price of land made the difficult task of reestablishing a family farm even harder for selected families. The Corps' land acquisition policies in 1962 did not consider the generations involved in the establishment of family farms. Furthermore, local residents were critical of the Corps' policies and personnel during the land acquisition process. That historical complaint summarized by the quote, "the Corps is not a good neighbor," has even today hindered the Corps' ability to manage its relations with area residents and local government units. An understanding of the personal and family lifecycle perspectives on local cultural ecology, coupled with an appreciation of the degree to which rural social processes are bound in time, can strengthen State of Illinois comprehensive planning, decision-making, and review procedures for water and related resource development.U.S. Department of the InteriorU.S. Geological SurveyOpe