Asynchrony among local communities stabilises ecosystem function of metacommunities

Conservation Biolog

An electrochemical evaluation of possible non-chromate conversion coating treatments for electrodeposited zinc-nickel alloys

A number of possible non-chromate conversion coating formulations have been studied to examine their efficacy as replacements for chromate-based coating treatments on electrodeposited zinc-nickel alloys. Data have been collected from both electrochemical and conventional salt fog corrosion tests. In the latter tests all the alternative non-chromate systems studied delayed the onset of the corrosion of the zinc-nickel coating itself but only the simple molybdate and the permanganate/molybdate dual treatment brought about improvements in times to red rusting of the steel substrate. The electrochemical evaluations suggested that simple molybdate-treated surfaces act as only moderate barriers to the chloride environments. Of the two dual treatments, permanganate/molybdate behaved similarly to the simple molybdate treated surfaces in the electrochemical tests, but the molybdate/permanganate was more protective, although this was not exhibited in the salt fog corrosion tests

An EXAFS investigation of molybdate-based conversion coatings

The composition of molybdate-based conversion coatings on zinc–nickel alloy electrodeposits was examined by extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS). The absorption spectra from appropriate standards showed distinct differences between the Mo(IV) and Mo(VI) oxidation states. A pre-edge peak was apparent for the various molybdate species and molybdenum trioxide, with the energy and intensity dependent on the coordination of the molybdenum. A shift in the molybdenum K-edge spectra was also evident between Mo(IV) and Mo(VI) compounds. A qualitative analysis revealed that both Mo(IV) and Mo(VI) species were present within the molybdate-based conversion coating, with a significant prevalence of hexavalent molybdenum.<br/

Range-wide population structure of 3 deepwater eteline snappers across the Indo-Pacific Basin

Deep-sea habitats may drive unique dispersal and demographic patterns for fishes, but population genetic analyses to address these questions have rarely been conducted for fishes in these environments. This study investigates the population structure of 3 tropical deepwater snappers of the genus Etelis that reside at 100-400 m depth, with broad and overlapping distributions in the Indo-Pacific. Previous studies showed little population structure within the Hawaiian Archipelago for 2 of these species: Etelis coruscans and E. carbunculus. Here we extend sampling to the entire geographic range of each species to resolve the population genetic architecture for these 2 species, as well as a recently exposed cryptic species (Etelis sp.). One goal was to determine whether deepwater snappers are more dispersive than shallow-water fishes. A second goal was to determine whether submesophotic fishes have older, more stable populations than shallow reef denizens that are subject to glacial sea-level fluctuations. Both goals are pertinent to the management of these valuable food fishes. A total of 1153 specimens of E. coruscans from 15 geographic regions were analyzed, along with 1064 specimens of E. carbunculus from 11 regions, and 590 specimens of E. sp. from 16 regions. The first 2 species were analyzed with mtDNA and 9-11 microsatellite loci, while E. sp. was analyzed with mtDNA only. Etelis coruscans had a non-significant microsatellite global F-ST, but significant global mtDNA Phi(ST) = 0.010 (P = 0.0007), with the isolation of Seychelles in the western Indian Ocean, and intermittent signals of isolation for the Hawaiian Archipelago. Etelis carbunculus had a non-significant microsatellite global F-ST, and significant global mtDNA Phi(ST) = 0.021 (P = 0.0001), with low but significant levels of isolation for Hawai'i, and divergence between Tonga and Fiji. Etelis sp. had mtDNA Phi(ST) = 0.018 (P = 0.0005), with a strong pattern of isolation for both Seychelles and Tonga. Overall, we observed low population structure, shallow mtDNA coalescence (similar to near-shore species), and isolation at the fringes of the Indo-Pacific basin in Hawai'i and the western Indian Ocean. While most shallow-water species have population structure on the scale of biogeographic provinces, deepwater snapper populations are structured on the wider scale of ocean basins, more similar to pelagic fishes than to shallow-water species. This population structure indicates the capacity for widespread dispersal throughout the Indo-Pacific region