FTEs: Theory, Simulation, and Observations

Flux transfer events (FTEs) are ropes of interconnected magnetosheath and magnetospheric magnetic field lines generated by bursty reconnection at the dayside magnetopause. Theory predicts that the combined pressure gradient and magnetic curvature forces should determine the speed at which the events move and the locations where they can be observed. We present results indicating that events form on the dayside magnetopause for both northward and southward IMF orientations, but that the events for northward IMF orientations exhibit far weaker signatures until they reach the magnetospheric flanks and argue that this is consistent with observations indicating that events on the dayside tend to occur for southward IMF orientations, but those on the flank do not. We show that the component and antiparallel reconnection models predict events in strikingly different quadrants outside the flanks of the magnetotail.Observations of events in all four quadrants indicate that both models are required. The motion of events inferred from multispacecraft timing during periods of northward IMF orientation is generally consistent with the component reconnection model

Marine probiotics: increasing coral resistance to bleaching through microbiome manipulation

Although the early coral reef-bleaching warning system (NOAA/USA) is established, there is no feasible treatment that can minimize temperature bleaching and/or disease impacts on corals in the field. Here, we present the first attempts to extrapolate the widespread and well-established use of bacterial consortia to protect or improve health in other organisms (e.g., humans and plants) to corals. Manipulation of the coral-associated microbiome was facilitated through addition of a consortium of native (isolated from Pocillopora damicornis and surrounding seawater) putatively beneficial microorganisms for corals (pBMCs), including five Pseudoalteromonas sp., a Halomonas taeanensis and a Cobetia marina-related species strains. The results from a controlled aquarium experiment in two temperature regimes (26 °C and 30 °C) and four treatments (pBMC; pBMC with pathogen challenge – Vibrio coralliilyticus, VC; pathogen challenge, VC; and control) revealed the ability of the pBMC consortium to partially mitigate coral bleaching. Significantly reduced coral-bleaching metrics were observed in pBMC-inoculated corals, in contrast to controls without pBMC addition, especially challenged corals, which displayed strong bleaching signs as indicated by significantly lower photopigment contents and Fv/Fm ratios. The structure of the coral microbiome community also differed between treatments and specific bioindicators were correlated with corals inoculated with pBMC (e.g., Cobetia sp.) or VC (e.g., Ruegeria sp.). Our results indicate that the microbiome in corals can be manipulated to lessen the effect of bleaching, thus helping to alleviate pathogen and temperature stresses, with the addition of BMCs representing a promising novel approach for minimizing coral mortality in the face of increasing environmental impacts

Vertical migration of Mysis relicta Lovén

This review discusses the known features of diurnal vertical migration in the opossum shrimp Mysis relicta . Field observations describe a noctural pattern which is correlated to changing patterns of illumination. Hypothesis that offer evolutionary origins of vertical migration are presented which link trophic interactions of the migrator to their predators and prey. These couplings are examined for the case of Mysis relicta . All of the hypotheses are partially supported by Mysis behavior.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/42914/1/10750_2004_Article_BF00008098.pd