Microendolithic Structures from the Fort Payne Formation (Lower

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Microendolithic Structures from the Fort Payne Formation (Lower Microendolithic structures from the Fort Payne Formation (Lower Mississippian), Kentucky and Tennessee: Implications for the paleoenvironment of carbonate mud- mounds A thesis submitted to the Graduate School of the University of Cincinnati in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in the Department of Geology of the College of Arts and Sciences by Jeffrey Hannon B.A. University of Cincinnati June 2010 Committee Chair: D.L. Meyer, Ph.D. i ABSTRACT: Resin cast embedment and naturally occurring internal molds have revealed for the first time an assemblage of microendoliths from the Early Mississippian Fort Payne Formation. Heterotrophic microendoliths Orthogonum lineare, O. giganteum, and Saccomorpha clava dominate this unit, as well as the phototrophic traces Ichnoreticulina elegans and Fascichnus dactylus, a chlorophyte (Ostreobium quekettii) and cyanobacteria (Hyella caespitosa), respectively, that were found within a variety of fossil substrates, including solitary corals, bryozoans, brachiopods, and gastropods, with a notable absence in all echinoderms. The Fort Payne from the Lake Cumberland/Dale Hollow region of southern Kentucky-northern Tennessee contains a suite of fossiliferous green shale deposits with isolated locations of enigmatic carbonate mud-mounds. The latter, commonly referred to as ‘Waulsortian’ mounds, have been the center of much speculation in the past few decades. Paleoenvironmental parameters in which formation occurred have only been indirectly inferred. Using the aforementioned microendoliths, a sense of the light availability within the Illinois Basin can be determined. The ichnofaunal assemblage uncovered is representative of light conditions spanning from dysphotic to aphotic. Using previously constrained depth parameters that indicate a depth of no more than 100m, a dysphotic environment suggests that the water column was eutrophic, presumably due to high productivity within the Illinois Basin. This would seem to corroborate several other inferences about the Early Mississippian, including the growing number of suspension feeding echinoderms, in addition to the restructuring of phytoplanktonic communities and increased nutrient flux from a developing terrigenous floral weathering regime in the Early Mississippian. ii iii TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTION PAGE TITLE…………………………………………….. .............................................................................................................. i ABSTRACT ...................................................................................................................................................... ii TABLE OF CONTENTS....................................................................................................................................iv LIST OF TABLES/FIGURES ............................................................................................................................. iii CHAPTERS CHAPTER 1 – Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 1 CHAPTER 2 – Method .................................................................................................................................... 6 CHAPTER 3 – Results ................................................................................................................................... 12 CHAPTER 4 – Discussion .............................................................................................................................. 17 CHAPTER 5 – Conclusion ............................................................................................................................. 21 REFERENCES ................................................................................................................................................ 22 82 iv List of Tables and Figures FIGURE 1- Locality map of field area…………….………………..…………………………….2 FIGURE 2- Block diagram of reconstructed geology…………………………….………………3 FIGURE 3- Cross section of local geology……………………………………..………………...4 FIGURE 4- SEM photographs of natural microendolith structures……………………………,.10 FIGURE 5- SEM photographs of resin embedment microendolith structures…………….…….11 FIGURE 6- SEM photograph of Fascichnus dactylus…………………………………………..13 FIGURE 7- Infestation frequency based on substrate within natural mold..……………………15 FIGURE 8- Infestation frequency on natural bryozoans molds……………………..…………..16 TABLE 1- Total microendolithic inventory……………………………………………………..12 v CHAPTER 1- INTRODUCTION The Lower Carboniferous (Mississippian) is known worldwide for an abundance of shallow- to deep-water limestone mounds, referred to as bioherms, carbonate buildups, mud-mounds, or even reefs (Bosence and Bridges, 1995). They are unlike typical reefs formed by biogenic skeletal intergrowth or framework, and instead contain carbonate mud with varying amounts of interstitial bioclasts, large skeletal material, or peloids (Meyer et al., 1995; Monty, 1995). Similar carbonate mounds occur in the Lower Carboniferous globally, and are typically referred to as Waulsortian mounds (Lees and Miller, 1995), after a locality in Belgium. In south-central Kentucky and north-central Tennessee (Fig. 1), the Lower Mississippian Fort Payne Formation is represented in a suite of naturally exposed outcrops and highway road cuts. Carbonate buildups are commonly present in the area and are characterized by the presumed growth of autochthonous carbonate mud in the form of large mounds, subsequently colonized by vast communities of benthic organisms such as filter feeding crinoids and fenestrate bryozoans, brachiopods, corals, mollusks, and other, less common taxa (Meyer et al., 1995; Krause, 2004). An important and unresolved aspect of the carbonate buildups is the environment of formation. The water depths of the mounds within the Illinois Basin have been constrained based on rare occurrences of photoautotrophs and the lack of storm influenced sedimentary features. Dasycladacean algae have been detected, but are rare (less than 1% of constituents) (Ausich and Meyer, 1990) and only indicate a depth somewhere in the photic zone, up to ~60 m (maximum depth range of dascylads), assuming the algae were autochthonous to the mound. To provide further, perhaps more detailed evidence to constrain water depth, microendolithic structures, intricate networks of borings produced by microscopic organisms of various trophic lifestyles that colonized stable carbonate structures, can be used as depth indicators for ancient basin analyses (Gektidis, 1999). The Fort Payne Formation provides an opportunity to use microendoliths to analyze water depth. In particular, a detailed analysis of Fort Payne microendoliths in the light of information available on a published microendolith photic zonation chart (Glaub, 1994) can clarify the photic levels within the Ft. Payne and, in conjunction with independently derived estimates, can help demonstrate the eutrophy of the ancient water column. An analysis of the microendolithic communities throughout the green shale facies immediately 1 surrounding carbonate mud-mounds will help clarify the environmental conditions of carbonate mud deposition. Geologic setting In the study area, the Fort Payne Formation is a suite of dolosiltstones, shales and carbonates deposited during the Early Osagean Stage of the Mississippian (Lewis and Potter, 1978). It represents the siliciclastic progradational infilling of the Illinois Basin comprising the Borden Delta within the Mississippian epeiric sea (Krause, 2004). The Borden Delta is known Fig. 1. Locality map with approximate geographical location of for its extensive deposits Mississippian Borden Delta Front. Proximity of each sampling locality of siliciclastics (siltstones to the delta front is shown. 61N=Renox Creek; BF9=Blacks Ferry; DH=Dale Hollow; OB=Owens Branch. and shales) and its location shifted during the Mississippian away from the study area (Ausich and Meyer, 1990; Krause, 2004). Underlying and surrounding the carbonate mounds is a succession of fossiliferous green shales with interbedded tabular packstones, the result of storm influenced, periodic reworking of the Borden Delta siliciclastics (Fig. 2). During the early Osagean (Fig. 3) local portions of the Borden Delta were abandoned as it moved northwards, resulting in episodic deposition from storm-influenced reworking of the Borden siliciclastics. Areas of exceptional fossil preservation within the shale, due to rapid burial events further support this theory (Krause, 2004). Lowstand 2 Fig. 2. Block diagram of the Fort Payne Formation facies from the Illinois Basin slope. DHW/E=Dale Hollow West/East; LC=Lake Cumberland. Modified from Terry 1990. effects on pre-existing highstand deposits included channeling and deformation from slope reorganization, resulting in isolated areas of mounding within the green shale. The carbonate buildups were initiated and built up during a marine transgression, nucleating on the topographic highs of green shale mounds, and terminating at the maximum flooding surface during the early highstand. Green shale deposition resumed during the ensuing highstand, blanketing the mound and repeating the process during another sea level oscillation cycle (Fig. 3; Krause, 2004) . The composition of the atmosphere was changing dramatically during this time. Levels of atmospheric O2 and CO2 were changing drastically, with the largest and most abrupt decline in CO2 and rise in O2 seen
Recommended publications
  • Tennessee Reservoir Fisheries Management Report 2001
    TENNESSEE RESERVOIR FISHERIES 18-03 STATEWIDE MANAGEMENT REPORT 2016 Tim Broadbent, Michael Clark, John Hammonds, Mike Jolley, Lyle Mason , Jim Pipas, and Wm. Patrick Black Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency Fisheries Management Division P.O. Box 40747 Nashville, Tennessee 37204 TENNESSEE RESERVOIR FISHERIES MANAGEMENT REPORT 2016 TWRA Fisheries Report No. 18-03 By Tim Broadbent, Michael Clark John Hammonds, Mike Jolley, Lyle Mason, Jim Pipas, and Wm. Patrick Black Development of this report was financed in part by funds from Federal Aid in Fish and Wildlife Restoration (Public Law 91-503) as documented in Federal Aid Project FW-6 ( TWRA Projects 1311, 1312, 1313, 2310, 2311, 3310, 3311, 3312, 3313, 3341, 4310, 4311, 4312, 4313, 7305, 7311, 7315, and 7397). This program receives Federal Aid in Fish and Wildlife Restoration. Under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the U. S. Department of the Interior prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, or disability. If you believe you have been discriminated against in any program, activity, or facility as described above, or if you desire further information, please write to: Office of Equal Opportunity U. S. Department of the Interior Washington, D.C. 20240 Table of Contents Page Regional Biologists…………………………………………………………………….……………….. 2 Introduction……………………………………………………………………………….………………. 3 Table of Reservoir Acreage……………………………………………………….…………………… 5 Methods…………………………………………………………………………………………………… 6 Region 1 Barkley…….………………………………………………………………………………………
    [Show full text]
  • The Distributions Of, and Relationship Between, 3He and Nitrate in Eddies
    ARTICLE IN PRESS Deep-Sea Research II 55 (2008) 1389– 1397 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Deep-Sea Research II journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/dsr2 The distributions of, and relationship between, 3He and nitrate in eddies W.J. Jenkins Ã, D.J. McGillicuddy Jr., D.E. Lott III Department of Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA article info abstract Article history: We present and discuss the distribution of 3He and its relationship to nutrients in two eddies (cyclone Accepted 4 February 2008 C1 and anticyclone A4) with a view towards examining eddy-related mechanisms whereby nutrients Available online 9 May 2008 are transported from the upper 200–300 m into the euphotic zone of the Sargasso Sea. The different Keywords: behavior of these tracers in the euphotic zone results in changes in their distributions and relationships Biogeochemical tracers that may provide important clues as to the nature of physical and biological processes involved. Tracer techniques The cyclonic eddy (C1) is characterized by substantial 3He excesses within the euphotic zone. The 3 He distribution of this excess 3He is strongly suggestive of both past and recent ongoing deep-water Eddies injection into the euphotic zone. Crude mass balance calculations suggest that an average of Atlantic Ocean approximately 1.470.7 mol mÀ2 of nitrate has been introduced into the euphotic zone of eddy C1, Sargasso Sea consistent with the integrated apparent oxygen utilization anomaly in the aphotic zone below. The 3 He–NO3 relationship within the eddy deviates substantially from the linear thermocline trend, suggestive of incomplete drawdown of nutrients and/or substantial mixing between euphotic and aphotic zone waters.
    [Show full text]
  • Grade 3 Unit 2 Overview Open Ocean Habitats Introduction
    G3 U2 OVR GRADE 3 UNIT 2 OVERVIEW Open Ocean Habitats Introduction The open ocean has always played a vital role in the culture, subsistence, and economic well-being of Hawai‘i’s inhabitants. The Hawaiian Islands lie in the Pacifi c Ocean, a body of water covering more than one-third of the Earth’s surface. In the following four lessons, students learn about open ocean habitats, from the ocean’s lighter surface to the darker bottom fl oor thousands of feet below the surface. Although organisms are scarce in the deep sea, there is a large diversity of organisms in addition to bottom fi sh such as polycheate worms, crustaceans, and bivalve mollusks. They come to realize that few things in the open ocean have adapted to cope with the increased pressure from the weight of the water column at that depth, in complete darkness and frigid temperatures. Students fi nd out, through instruction, presentations, and website research, that the vast open ocean is divided into zones. The pelagic zone consists of the open ocean habitat that begins at the edge of the continental shelf and extends from the surface to the ocean bottom. This zone is further sub-divided into the photic (sunlight) and disphotic (twilight) zones where most ocean organisms live. Below these two sub-zones is the aphotic (darkness) zone. In this unit, students learn about each of the ocean zones, and identify and note animals living in each zone. They also research and keep records of the evolutionary physical features and functions that animals they study have acquired to survive in harsh open ocean habitats.
    [Show full text]
  • Respiration in the Mesopelagic and Bathypelagic Zones of the Oceans
    CHAPTER 10 Respiration in the mesopelagic and bathypelagic zones of the oceans Javier Arístegui1, Susana Agustí2, Jack J. Middelburg3, and Carlos M. Duarte2 1 Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Universidad de las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain 2 IMEDEA (CSIC–UIB), Spain 3 Netherlands Institute of Ecology, The Netherlands Outline In this chapter the mechanisms of transport and remineralization of organic matter in the dark water-column and sediments of the oceans are reviewed. We compare the different approaches to estimate respiration rates, and discuss the discrepancies obtained by the different methodologies. Finally, a respiratory carbon budget is produced for the dark ocean, which includes vertical and lateral fluxes of organic matter. In spite of the uncertainties inherent in the different approaches to estimate carbon fluxes and oxygen consumption in the dark ocean, estimates vary only by a factor of 1.5. Overall, direct measurements of respiration, as well as − indirect approaches, converge to suggest a total dark ocean respiration of 1.5–1.7 Pmol C a 1. Carbon mass − balances in the dark ocean suggest that the dark ocean receives 1.5–1.6 Pmol C a 1, similar to the estimated respiration, of which >70% is in the form of sinking particles. Almost all the organic matter (∼92%) is remineralized in the water column, the burial in sediments accounts for <1%. Mesopelagic (150–1000 m) − − respiration accounts for ∼70% of dark ocean respiration, with average integrated rates of 3–4 mol C m 2 a 1, − − 6–8 times greater than in the bathypelagic zone (∼0.5 mol C m 2 a 1).
    [Show full text]
  • Read Book // Articles on Reservoirs in Tennessee, Including: List Of
    RCWFANOBAC > Articles On Reservoirs In Tennessee, including: List Of Dams And Reservoirs Of... \ Book A rticles On Reservoirs In Tennessee, including: List Of Dams A nd Reservoirs Of Th e Tennessee River, Lake Barkley, W atts Bar Lake, Dale Hollow Reservoir, Center Hill Lake, Old Hickory Lake, Percy Pries By Books, Hephaestus To get Articles On Reservoirs In Tennessee, including: List Of Dams And Reservoirs Of The Tennessee River, Lake Barkley, Watts Bar Lake, Dale Hollow Reservoir, Center Hill Lake, Old Hickory Lake, Percy Pries PDF, remember to refer to the hyperlink below and download the document or have accessibility to additional information which are highly relevant to ARTICLES ON RESERVOIRS IN TENNESSEE, INCLUDING: LIST OF DAMS AND RESERVOIRS OF THE TENNESSEE RIVER, LAKE BARKLEY, WATTS BAR LAKE, DALE HOLLOW RESERVOIR, CENTER HILL LAKE, OLD HICKORY LAKE, PERCY PRIES book. Our solutions was released having a wish to function as a full on the web digital local library that provides usage of large number of PDF file document collection. You will probably find many dierent types of e-book and also other literatures from the papers data bank. Particular well- known subject areas that distribute on our catalog are trending books, answer key, assessment test question and solution, guide paper, skill information, test trial, consumer handbook, consumer guidance, support instruction, restoration manual, etc. READ ONLINE [ 3.02 MB ] Reviews This book is worth getting. Yes, it really is enjoy, continue to an amazing and interesting literature. You can expect to like how the author publish this book. -- Prof. Cindy Paucek I It is fantastic and great.
    [Show full text]
  • Skeletonized Microfossils from the Lower–Middle Cambrian Transition of the Cantabrian Mountains, Northern Spain
    Skeletonized microfossils from the Lower–Middle Cambrian transition of the Cantabrian Mountains, northern Spain SÉBASTIEN CLAUSEN and J. JAVIER ÁLVARO Clausen, S. and Álvaro, J.J. 2006. Skeletonized microfossils from the Lower–Middle Cambrian transition of the Cantabrian Mountains, northern Spain. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 51 (2): 223–238. Two different assemblages of skeletonized microfossils are recorded in bioclastic shoals that cross the Lower–Middle Cambrian boundary in the Esla nappe, Cantabrian Mountains. The uppermost Lower Cambrian sedimentary rocks repre− sent a ramp with ooid−bioclastic shoals that allowed development of protected archaeocyathan−microbial reefs. The shoals yield abundant debris of tube−shelled microfossils, such as hyoliths and hyolithelminths (Torellella), and trilobites. The overlying erosive unconformity marks the disappearance of archaeocyaths and the Iberian Lower–Middle Cambrian boundary. A different assemblage occurs in the overlying glauconitic limestone associated with development of widespread low−relief bioclastic shoals. Their lowermost part is rich in hyoliths, hexactinellid, and heteractinid sponge spicules (Eiffelia), chancelloriid sclerites (at least six form species of Allonnia, Archiasterella, and Chancelloria), cambroclaves (Parazhijinites), probable eoconchariids (Cantabria labyrinthica gen. et sp. nov.), sclerites of uncertain af− finity (Holoplicatella margarita gen. et sp. nov.), echinoderm ossicles and trilobites. Although both bioclastic shoal com− plexes represent similar high−energy conditions, the unconformity at the Lower–Middle Cambrian boundary marks a drastic replacement of microfossil assemblages. This change may represent a real community replacement from hyolithelminth−phosphatic tubular shells to CES (chancelloriid−echinoderm−sponge) meadows. This replacement coin− cides with the immigration event based on trilobites previously reported across the boundary, although the partial infor− mation available from originally carbonate skeletons is also affected by taphonomic bias.
    [Show full text]
  • MICROFILMED 1990 INFORMATION to USERS the Most Advanced Technology Has Been Used to Photo­ Graph and Reproduce This Manuscript from the Microfilm Master
    ■ V . • r MICROFILMED 1990 INFORMATION TO USERS The most advanced technology has been used to photo­ graph and reproduce this manuscript from the microfilm master. UMI films the text directly from the original or copy submitted. Thus, some thesis and dissertation copies are in typewriter face, while others may be from any type of computer printer. The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. Broken or indistinct print, colored or poor quality illustrations and photographs, print bleedthrough, substandard margins, and improper alignment can adversely affect reproduction. In the unlikely event that the author did not send UMI a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if unauthorized copyright material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. Oversize materials (e.g., maps, drawings, charts) are re­ produced by sectioning the original, beginning at the upper left-hand corner and continuing from left to right in equal sections with small overlaps. Each original is also photographed in one exposure and is included in reduced form at the back of the book. These are also available as one exposure on a standard 35mm slide or as a 17" x 23" black and white photographic print for an additional charge. Photographs included in the original manuscript have been reproduced xerographically in this copy. Higher quality 6" x 9" black and white photographic prints are available for any photographs or illustrations appearing in this copy for an additional charge. Contact UMI directly to order. University Microtilms International A Bell & Howell Information Company 300 North Z eeb Road.
    [Show full text]
  • Ocean Depths: the Mesopelagic and Implications for Global Warming
    Current Biology Dispatches Ocean Depths: The Mesopelagic and Implications for Global Warming Mark J. Costello1,* and Sean Breyer2 1Institute of Marine Science, University of Auckland, Auckland, 1142, New Zealand 2ESRI, Redlands, CA 92373, USA *Correspondence: [email protected] http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2016.11.042 The mesopelagic or ‘twilight zone’ of the oceans occurs too deep for photosynthesis, but is a major part of the world’s carbon cycle. Depth boundaries for the mesopelagic have now been shown on a global scale using the distribution of pelagic animals detected by compiling echo-soundings from ships around the world, and been used to predict the effect of global warming on regional fish production. Depth Zonation Analyses were at 5 m depth intervals to However, it remains to be clearly shown The classical concepts for depth zonation 1,000 m deep, and a spatial resolution of whether the abyssal zone is ecologically [1] in the ocean begin at the seashore 300 km2. distinct from the bathyal. (Table 1). Distinct communities are visible The environment changes less as we The data shown in Figure 1 are global on the rocky seashore, and reflect the go deeper (Figure 1), so we expect the averages, and local exceptions will occur, adaptations of their animals and plants vertical extent of ecological zones to particularly in more enclosed waters such to exposure to air and wave action, increase with depth. While the rocky as the Mediterranean and Black Seas [6]. as well as the effects of grazing and seashore may have distinct habitats only The seabed-resident fauna (benthos) will predation [2].
    [Show full text]
  • Biological Oceanography - Legendre, Louis and Rassoulzadegan, Fereidoun
    OCEANOGRAPHY – Vol.II - Biological Oceanography - Legendre, Louis and Rassoulzadegan, Fereidoun BIOLOGICAL OCEANOGRAPHY Legendre, Louis and Rassoulzadegan, Fereidoun Laboratoire d'Océanographie de Villefranche, France. Keywords: Algae, allochthonous nutrient, aphotic zone, autochthonous nutrient, Auxotrophs, bacteria, bacterioplankton, benthos, carbon dioxide, carnivory, chelator, chemoautotrophs, ciliates, coastal eutrophication, coccolithophores, convection, crustaceans, cyanobacteria, detritus, diatoms, dinoflagellates, disphotic zone, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), dissolved organic matter (DOM), ecosystem, eukaryotes, euphotic zone, eutrophic, excretion, exoenzymes, exudation, fecal pellet, femtoplankton, fish, fish lavae, flagellates, food web, foraminifers, fungi, harmful algal blooms (HABs), herbivorous food web, herbivory, heterotrophs, holoplankton, ichthyoplankton, irradiance, labile, large planktonic microphages, lysis, macroplankton, marine snow, megaplankton, meroplankton, mesoplankton, metazoan, metazooplankton, microbial food web, microbial loop, microheterotrophs, microplankton, mixotrophs, mollusks, multivorous food web, mutualism, mycoplankton, nanoplankton, nekton, net community production (NCP), neuston, new production, nutrient limitation, nutrient (macro-, micro-, inorganic, organic), oligotrophic, omnivory, osmotrophs, particulate organic carbon (POC), particulate organic matter (POM), pelagic, phagocytosis, phagotrophs, photoautotorphs, photosynthesis, phytoplankton, phytoplankton bloom, picoplankton, plankton,
    [Show full text]
  • Articles on Reservoirs in Kentucky, Including: List of Dams and Reservoirs Of
    APM7V91KSUTO » Doc » Articles On Reservoirs In Kentucky, including: List Of Dams And Reservoirs Of... Read eBook ARTICLES ON RESERVOIRS IN KENTUCKY, INCLUDING: LIST OF DAMS AND RESERVOIRS OF THE TENNESSEE RIVER, LAKE CUMBERLAND, LAKE BARKLEY, NOLIN RIVER LAKE, DALE HOLLOW RESERVOIR, BARREN RIVER LAKE, BOLTZ LAKE To read Articles On Reservoirs In Kentucky, including: List Of Dams And Reservoirs Of The Tennessee River, Lake Cumberland, Lake Barkley, Nolin River Lake, Dale Hollow Reservoir, Barren River Lake, Boltz Lake eBook, you should access the link under and download the document or have accessibility to other information which might be in conjuction with ARTICLES ON RESERVOIRS IN KENTUCKY, INCLUDING: LIST OF DAMS AND RESERVOIRS OF THE TENNESSEE RIVER, LAKE CUMBERLAND, LAKE BARKLEY, NOLIN RIVER LAKE, DALE HOLLOW RESERVOIR, BARREN RIVER LAKE, BOLTZ LAKE ebook. Read PDF Articles On Reservoirs In Kentucky, including: List Of Dams And Reservoirs Of The Tennessee River, Lake Cumberland, Lake Barkley, Nolin River Lake, Dale Hollow Reservoir, Barren River Lake, Boltz Lake Authored by Books, Hephaestus Released at 2016 Filesize: 9.56 MB Reviews The publication is easy in read better to understand. It is writter in basic words and phrases rather than hard to understand. You wont truly feel monotony at anytime of your respective time (that's what catalogues are for about if you question me). -- Kaya Rippin Absolutely among the nest publication I actually have actually go through. It really is rally fascinating throgh reading time. I am easily could possibly get a pleasure of looking at a composed ebook. -- Prof. Rick Romaguera Extensive manual for publication fans.
    [Show full text]
  • Communities of Baltic Lower Circalittoral Soft Sediments (Mud and Sand)
    European Red List of Habitats - Marine: Baltic Sea Habitat Group Communities of Baltic lower circalittoral soft sediments (mud and sand) Summary This is a Baltic Sea benthic habitat in the aphotic zone, comprising areas of soft sediment, predominantly mud, below the halocline, typically at depths below 70-100m. The strong permanent halocline and seasonal thermocline in summer limits vertical mixing of the water column leading to the formation of oxygen-depleted zones in the deep areas of the central Baltic. The environmental conditions of the deep zone of the Baltic are not uniform but vary widely in terms of salinity (14-21 ppt) and oxygenation (3-80% saturation). During periods of stagnation, this separation by the halocline gives rise to an oxygen deficit and periodically to complete oxygen depletion and formation of hydrogen sulphide (H2S). In places there is a continuously oxygen poor zone which is virtually devoid of macrofauna and has an extremely impoverished meiofauna generally consisting of a few thousand nematodes per square meter only. Although this habitat is naturally periodically affected by oxygen depletion, eutrophication is believed to be responsible for increasing the affected area and the duration of these episodes. Bottom trawling which, even on a single year of data, has been reported to potentially impact more than 30% of the area of this habitat, can also affect benthic communities directly and influence the recovery time. Climate change effects, such as modification of hydrographic conditions is likely to be another pressure. Measures to reduce eutrophication can reduce the impact and longevity of naturally occuring anoxic periods which affect this habitat and limiting bottom trawling can contribute to allowing recovery of this habitat .
    [Show full text]
  • Photosynthetically-Competent Phytoplankton from the Aphotic Zone of the Deep Ocean
    MARINE ECOLOGY - PROGRESS SERIES Published January 3 Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 1 I Photosynthetically-Competent Phytoplankton from the Aphotic Zone of the Deep Ocean T. Platt, D. V. Subba Rao, J. C. Smith, W. K. Li., B. Irwin, E. P. W. Horne and D. D. Sameoto Marine Ecology Laboratory, Bedford Institute of Oceanography. Dartmouth, Nova Scotia B2Y 4A2, Canada ABSTRACT: Comparison of 2 water samples, one collected from 10 m, the other from the aphotic zone (1000 m) on the Costa Rica Dome in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean, revealed the presence in both samples of pigmented cells of several diatoms, dinoflagellates and coccoid organisms. Measurements of carbon assimilation rates in temperature-controlled incubators across a light gradlent demonstrated that the assimilation number (mg C [mg Chl a]-' h-') of the 1000 m sample was about 0.8, slmilar to that of the 10 m sample. The ratios of RuBP carboxylase to other carboxylating enzymes were also similar between 10 m and the aphotic zone. However, the initial slope a and the inhlbltion parameter P were considerably higher for the deep sample than for the 10 m sample. Possible mechanisms by which these viable algae reached the aphotic zone are discussed. INTRODUCTION depth 3200 m. Samples were taken on 27 March from 10 m uslng a submersible pumping system (Herman, The existence of chlorophyll-containing microorgan- unpubl.) and from 1000 m using a 30-1 Niskin bottle. isms has been reported at various times in samples The possibility that the deep sample bottle had closed from the aphotic zone of the oceans (Wood, 1956; prematurely in the surface layer could be discounted Kimball et.
    [Show full text]