Macrofaunal zonation and sediment properties on a low-energy, mesotidal sandy beach (Ria de Aveiro) (northwestern Portugal)

We present the results of a study on faunal zonation and sediment properties on a low-energy, mesotidal sandy beach located on Ria de Aveiro (northwestern Portugal). The topography of the sampling area was mapped and five strata were defined in situ according to their macroscopic characteristics. A stratified random design was used to sample the fauna and environmental parameters. Anova (for environmental parameters) and multivariate analysis (for faunal data) showed that significant differences occurred across the shoreline. The beach is of an intermediate morphodynamic type, with a reflective, more physically controlled upper shore, and a dissipative, more chemically controlled lower shore. Although our multivariate analysis of the fauna fits in with the classical tripartite zonation of sandy beaches, the variation we found in faunal distribution makes it possible to further subdivide the two lower areas, resulting in a total of five valid faunal zones, matching the strata defined a priori.Se han investigado la zonación faunística y las propiedades del sedimento en una playa arenosa, mesotidal y de baja energía, situada en la ría de Aveiro (noroeste de Portugal). Se determinó la topografía de la playa y se definieron cinco estratos en relación a sus características macroscópicas. La significatividad de las diferencias entre las subáreas fue evaluada utilizando un muestreo estratificado aleatorio, que abarcaba las características faunísticas y ambientales, y aplicando a los datos obtenidos los análisis anova y multivariante. La playa estudiada es de tipo morfodinámica intermedia, más reflectiva en la zona alta, donde se efectuó un control preferentemente de tipo físico, y más disipativa en la zona baja, más controlada químicamente. El análisis multivariante de la fauna concuerda con la clásica zonación tripartita de las playas arenosas. No obstante, la variación en la distribución de la fauna permite hacer otra subdivisión de las dos áreas más bajas, resultando, en total, cinco zonas faunísticas válidas, coincidientes con los estratos de muestreo definidos a priori.Instituto Español de Oceanografí

Estructura de la macrofauna y propiedades sedimentarias en una playa arenosa mesotidal de baja energía de la ría de Aveiro (noroeste de Portugal)

We present the results of a study on faunal zonation and sediment properties on a low-energy, mesotidal sandy beach located on Ria de Aveiro (northwestern Portugal). The topography of the sampling area was mapped and five strata were defined in situ according to their macroscopic characteristics. A stratified random design was used to sample the fauna and environmental parameters. Anova (for environmental parameters) and multivariate analysis (for faunal data) showed that significant differences occurred across the shoreline. The beach is of an intermediate morphodynamic type, with a reflective, more physically controlled upper shore, and a dissipative, more chemically controlled lower shore. Although our multivariate analysis of the fauna fits in with the classical tripartite zonation of sandy beaches, the variation we found in faunal distribution makes it possible to further subdivide the two lower areas, resulting in a total of five valid faunal zones, matching the strata defined a priori.Se han investigado la zonación faunística y las propiedades del sedimento en una playa arenosa, mesotidal y de baja energía, situada en la ría de Aveiro (noroeste de Portugal). Se determinó la topografía de la playa y se definieron cinco estratos en relación a sus características macroscópicas. La significatividad de las diferencias entre las subáreas fue evaluada utilizando un muestreo estratificado aleatorio, que abarcaba las características faunísticas y ambientales, y aplicando a los datos obtenidos los análisis anova y multivariante. La playa estudiada es de tipo morfodinámica intermedia, más reflectiva en la zona alta, donde se efectuó un control preferentemente de tipo físico, y más disipativa en la zona baja, más controlada químicamente. El análisis multivariante de la fauna concuerda con la clásica zonación tripartita de las playas arenosas. No obstante, la variación en la distribución de la fauna permite hacer otra subdivisión de las dos áreas más bajas, resultando, en total, cinco zonas faunísticas válidas, coincidientes con los estratos de muestreo definidos a priori.publishe

Amphitrite fauveli sp.n. (Polychaeta: Terebellidae) из Бискайского и Кадисского заливов (Северо-Восточная Атлантика)

A new species of Amphitrite is described from two different regions in the NE Atlantic: the Bay of Biscay and the Gulf of Cadiz. Amphitrite fauveli sp.n. differs from other Amphitrite species with cirriform branchiae mainly by having a smaller number of nephridial papillae (four pairs) and by lacking eyespots. In the Bay of Biscay, the new species occurred on the slope of two submarine canyons — Saint Nazaire (1105 m depth) and the head of a Cap Breton canyon tributary (214 m depth), associated with coral framework (Madrepora oculata Linnaeus, 1758 and Lophelia pertusa (Linnaeus, 1758) in Saint Nazaire canyon, Dendrophyllia cornigera (Lamarck, 1816) in the Cap Breton tributary). In the Gulf of Cadiz the species was collected from the crater of two mud volcanoes (Darwin and Captain Arutyunov), at depths between 1100 and 1317 m.Описан новый вид Amphitrite из двух районов Северо-Восточной Атлан- тики: Бискайского и Кадисского заливов. Amphitrite fauveli sp.n. отличается от других видов Amphitrite с усиковидными жабрами в основном меньшим числом нефриди- альных папилл (четыре пары) и отсутствием глаз. В Бискайском заливе вид встреча- ется на склонах двух подводных каньонов — Сен-Назер (на 1105 м) и в вершине притока каньона Кейп-Бретон (214 м), в ассоциации коралловых рифов (Madrepora oculata Linnaeus, 1758 и Lophelia pertusa (Linnaeus, 1758) в каньоне Сен-Назер и Dendrophyllia cornigera (Lamarck, 1816) в каньоне Кейп-Бретон). В Кадисском заливе вид собран в кратере двух иловых вулканов (Дарвин и Капитан Арутюнов), на глубине 1100–1317 м.publishe

Macrobenthic community characterisation of an estuary from the western coast of Portugal (Sado estuary) prior to dredging operations

The present work is part of an environmental assessment undertaken in the Sado estuary (Southern Channel and Mitrena Peninsula), western coast of Portugal, on February 1999 prior to maintenance dredging works. The macrofauna communities in the study area are generally rich and abundant. A single exception was found: a sampling site in the Mitrena area, with extreme impoverishment, probably related to sediment characteristics, i.e., fluid mud, unfavourable to the establishment of individuals. A comparative analysis of these macrofauna results to previous data from 1986 showed that this biological component had suffered no significant changes, especially as far as the most characteristic species. Although the Southern Channel had been dredged in 1995, no clear signs of such operation were apparent in the present survey. The main differences between both periods (1986-1999) was an increase in the abundance and presence of some common species of organic enriched areas, such as Tharyx sp., Corbula gibba, Spiochaetopterus costarum and Ampelisca spp., which might be related to organic enrichment in the Southern Channel. The joint consideration of our results on benthic macrofauna and those regarding sediment contamination and sediment bioassays, performed at the same time by other researchers, does not indicate the necessity of any particular constraints on the dredging operations.El presente trabajo forma parte de un estudio de impacto ambiental que fue llevado a cabo en el estuario del río Sado (canal sur y península de Mitrena), costa oeste de Portugal, en febrero de 1999, previa a la realización de operaciones de dragados. Los resultados de las comunidades macrobentónicas obtenidos muestran que, en general, el área estudiada es rica en especies y abundante en individuos excepto una estación de la zona del Mitrena, cuya pobreza biológica puede estar asociada con las características del sedimento, fango fluido, que no posibilita el establecimiento de los individuos. La comparación entre los datos biológicos recolectados en 1986 y 1999 ha revelado la semejanza entre las comunidades de macrofauna bentónica de los dos periodos, especialmente en relación con las especies características, y que el canal sur (dragado en 1995) no presenta señales del efecto de dragado. Las principales diferencias entre los dos periodos son un incremento en la abundancia y presencia de determinadas especies asociadas con áreas orgánicamente enriquecidas, como Tharyx sp., Corbula gibba (prácticamente ausentes del canal sur en 1986), Spiochaetopterus costarum y Ampelisca spp., que pueden estar relacionados con el incremento de la materia orgánica en el área estudiada. El conjunto de la información obtenida en el presente trabajo (comunidades macrobentónicas) y en otros estudios -contaminación de zona y bioensayos- hechos al mismo tiempo por otros investigadores, no evidencian inconveniente para el dragado del área seleccionada.Instituto Español de Oceanografí

Macrofaunal assemblages from mud volcanoes in the Gulf of Cadiz: abundance, biodiversity and diversity partitioning across spatial scales

The Gulf of Cadiz is an extensive seepage area in the south Iberian margin (NE Atlantic) encompassing over 40 mud volcanoes (MVs) at depths ranging from 200 to 4000 m. The area has a long geologic history and a central biogeographic location with a complex circulation ensuring oceanographic connectivity with the Mediterranean Sea, equatorial and North Atlantic regions. The geodynamics of the region promotes a notorious diversity in the seep regime despite the relatively low fluxes of hydrocarbon-rich gases. We analyse quantitative samples taken during the cruises TTR14, TTR15 and MSM01-03 in seven mud volcanoes grouped into Shallow MVs (Mercator: 350 m, Kidd: 500 m, Meknes: 700 m) and Deep MVs (Captain Arutyunov: 1300 m, Carlos Ribeiro: 2200 m, Bonjardim: 3000 m, Porto: 3900 m) and two additional Reference sites (ca. 550 m). Macrofauna (retained by a 500 mu m sieve) was identified to species level whenever possible. The samples yielded modest abundances (70-1567 individuals per 0.25m(2)), but the local and regional number of species is among the highest ever reported for cold seeps. Among the 366 recorded species, 22 were symbiont-hosting bivalves (Thyasiridae, Vesicomyidae, Solemyidae) and tubeworms (Siboglinidae). The multivariate analyses supported the significant differences between Shallow and Deep MVs: The environmental conditions at the Shallow MVs make them highly permeable to the penetration of background fauna leading to high diversity of the attendant assemblages (H': 2.92-3.94; ES(100): 28.3-45.0; J': 0.685-0.881). The Deep MV assemblages showed, in general, contrasting features but were more heterogeneous (H': 1.41-3.06; ES(100): 10.5-30.5; J': 0.340-0.852) and often dominated by one or more siboglinid species. The rarefaction curves confirmed the differences in biodiversity of Deep and Shallow MVs as well as the convergence of the latter to the Reference sites. The Bray-Curtis dissimilarity demonstrated the high beta-diversity of the assemblages, especially in pairwise comparisons involving samples from the Deep MVs. Diversity partitioning assessed for species richness, Hurlbert's expected number of species and Shannon-Wiener index confirmed the high beta-diversity across different spatial scales (within MVs, between MVs, between Deep and Shallow MVs). We suggest that historical and contemporary factors with differential synergies at different depths contribute to the high alpha-, beta- and gamma-diversity of the mud volcano faunal assemblages in the Gulf of Cadiz

Are organic falls bridging reduced environments in the deep sea?: Results from colonization experiments in the Gulf of Cadiz

Organic falls create localised patches of organic enrichment and disturbance where enhanced degradation is mediated by diversified microbial assemblages and specialized fauna. The view of organic falls as “stepping stones” for the colonization of deep-sea reducing environments has been often loosely used, but much remains to be proven concerning their capability to bridge dispersal among such environments. Aiming the clarification of this issue, we used an experimental approach to answer the following questions: Are relatively small organic falls in the deep sea capable of sustaining taxonomically and trophically diverse assemblages over demographically relevant temporal scales Are there important depth- or site-related sources of variability for the composition and structure of these assemblages? Is the proximity of other reducing environments influential for their colonization? We analysed the taxonomical and trophic diversity patterns and partitioning (α- and β-diversity) of the macrofaunal assemblages recruited in small colonization devices with organic and inorganic substrata after 1-2 years of deployment on mud volcanoes of the Gulf of Cádiz. Our results show that small organic falls can sustain highly diverse and trophically coherent assemblages for time periods allowing growth to reproductive maturity, and successive generations of dominant species. The composition and structure of the assemblages showed variability consistent with their biogeographic and bathymetric contexts. However, the proximity of cold seeps had limited influence on the similarity between the assemblages of these two habitats and organic falls sustained a distinctive fauna with dominant substrate-specific taxa. We conclude that it is unlikely that small organic falls may regularly ensure population connectivity among cold seeps and vents. They may be a recurrent source of evolutionary candidates for the colonization of such ecosystems. However, there may be a critical size of organic fall to create the necessary intense and persistent reducing conditions for sustaining typical chemosymbiotic vent and seep organisms

Paramytha ossicola sp. nov. (Polychaeta, Ampharetidae) from mammal bones: Reproductive biology and population structure

Sunken whale carcasses, known as “whale falls”, deliver large, but relatively ephemeral pulses of organic material to the seafloor and serve as habitat for unique assemblages of deep-sea fauna that include generalist-scavenging species, chemosynthetic fauna and bone-specialist species. Despite the great deal of interest that fauna associated with whale falls have attracted, very little is known about this fauna in the deep Atlantic Ocean. Here we describe a new species of Ampharetidae that was found in an experiment using cow carcasses in the Setúbal Canyon (NE Atlantic), as a surrogate of a whale fall. Further, we analyse the size and structure of the population at two different times and use histological analyses to investigate the reproductive biology of this new species. We propose that Paramytha ossicola sp. nov. is a bone-specialist adapted for life in ephemeral habitats. Reproductive traits include rapid maturation, continuous and non-synchronous gametogenesis. Recruitment seems to be controlled by habitat availability and biological interactions that result in post-settlement mortality.publishe

Ocular Toxoplasmosis Reactivation During Pregnancy – A Case Report

Introduction: Toxoplasmosis is caused by Toxoplasma gondii and may be acquired from food or water contaminated with cat feces or by vertical transmission. Severe fetal complications can overcome during pregnancy. There are also rare case-reports of congenital toxoplasmosis from previously immunized pregnant women; usually these women being had prior retinal toxoplasmic lesions. Immunosuppresion is one of the risk factors which accounts for some of these cases. Case report: 30 year-old pregnant woman, OI 2002, brazilian, previously healthy, admitted in Ophtalmology Department because of sudden left eye amaurosis in June, 2010. The fundoscopy revealed retinal scars suggesting previous infections; she was treated with corticoids and spiramycin for ocular toxoplasmosis reactivation. Previous serum analysis (2008) showed immunity to T. Gondii, but in July the IgM was negative and high levels of specific IgG were found (1227UI/mL). The serologic findings were later confirmed by a more accurate laboratory technique which found the IgM to be also positive. An amniocentesis was performed and it was negative for fetal transmission. Clinical and ultrasound follow-up throughout the rest of the gestational period was normal; daily spiramycin intake was maintained. An uneventful term delivery was performed. Neither the newborn’s serum analysis nor the histopathological study of the placenta were positive for congenital infection. Conclusion: Toxoplasmosis reactivation in pregnant women without immunosuppression is rare but is more likely to occur if previous post-infectious retinal scars are present. T. gondii infection is endemic in Brazil, so the geographical origin is important. If risk factors are present, fundoscopy should be performed every three months during pregnancy and one should always be aware of any visual symptoms. If you suspect reactivation, start medical prophylaxis for fetal transmission, perform amniocentesis and regular ultrasound follow-up

Static Safety for an Actor Dedicated Process Calculus by Abstract Interpretation

The actor model eases the definition of concurrent programs with non uniform behaviors. Static analysis of such a model was previously done in a data-flow oriented way, with type systems. This approach was based on constraint set resolution and was not able to deal with precise properties for communications of behaviors. We present here a new approach, control-flow oriented, based on the abstract interpretation framework, able to deal with communication of behaviors. Within our new analyses, we are able to verify most of the previous properties we observed as well as new ones, principally based on occurrence counting