1,721,039 research outputs found
A new species of Pachycara Zugmayer, 1911 (Teleostei: Zoarcidae) from deep-sea chemosynthetic environments in the Caribbean Sea
No full textThis dataset contains the digitized treatments in Plazi based on the original journal article Anderson, M. Eric, Somerville, Russell, Copley, Jonathan T. (2016): A new species of Pachycara Zugmayer, 1911 (Teleostei: Zoarcidae) from deep-sea chemosynthetic environments in the Caribbean Sea. Zootaxa 4066 (1): 71-77, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4066.1.5</span
Providing evidence of impact from public engagement with research: a case study from the UK's Research Excellence Framework (REF)
No full textSocietal benefits of public engagement were recognized as 'impact' from research in the UK's recent Research Excellence Framework (REF), which determines an allocation of central government funding for universities and shapes the landscape for university researchers undertaking such activities. This paper shares experience from a successful REF Impact Case Study based on a programme of informing/inspiring-type public engagement, illustrating how engagement goals can match definitions of impact for the REF, and summarizing types of evidence used to demonstrate 'reach' and 'significance' of impact in media engagement, face-to-face engagement and online engagement, which represent common activities undertaken by many researchers
Audio and video podcasts of lectures for campus-based students: production and evaluation of student use
No full textPodcasting has become a popular medium for accessing and assimilating information and podcasts are increasingly being used to deliver audio recordings of lectures to campus-based students. This paper describes a simple, cost-effective and file-size efficient method for producing video podcasts combining lecture slides and audio without a requirement for any specialist software. The results from a pilot scheme delivering supplementary lecture materials as audio and video podcasts are also presented, including data on download patterns and responses to a survey of students on podcast use. These results reveal students' enthusiasm for podcast recordings of lecture materials and their primary use by students in revision and preparation for assessments. Survey responses also suggest little likely impact on lecture attendance as a consequence of podcasting, but indicate that podcast recordings of lectures may not be effective in facilitating m-learning
Ecology of deep-sea hydrothermal vents
No full textOur ecological knowledge of deep-sea hydrothermal vent communities, particularly in the Atlantic, is limited in comparison to what is now known of the biochemistry, physiology and biogeography of vent species. Although vent communities have provided a new insight into how ecosystems can be supplied with energy, they have not yet made a significant contribution to our understanding of how communities can be shaped by a dynamic environment. Variations in the physical characteristics of the vent environment influence the distribution of fauna in space and time, but studies of faunal microdistribution have been largely restricted to Pacific vents whilst temporal studies have mainly concentrated on interannual scales. This work seeks to address the disparity in our ecological knowledge of Mid-Atlantic vent communities compared to their eastern Pacific counterparts, by describing the microdistribution and interannual variation of fauna at the Broken Spur vent field (29oN, Mid-Atlantic Ridge) and the results of a high-resolution timeseries of observations at the TAG hydrothermal mound (26oN, Mid-Atlantic Ridge) during drilling by the Ocean Drilling Program.The Broken Spur vent field was discovered in 1993 and subsequent observations presented here refute the hypothesis that the community is recovering from a recent period of hydrothermal quiescence or other catastrophic disturbance. The availability of substratum exposed to the flow of hydrothermal effluent is proposed to control the microdistribution of the shrimp Rimicaris exoculata at Mid-Atlantic vents. Timeseries observations at TAG indicate a tidal variation in the microdistribution of shrimp on a minidiffuser chimney, while changes in the pattern of hydrothermal activity on the TAG mound over a longer timescale are rapidly matched by changes in the distribution of shrimp.Although physiological processes such as respiration have now been described for many vent species, reproductive processes are less well known at hydrothermal vents. This thesis also examines the reproduction pattern structure of the Mid-Atlantic vent shrimp Rimicaris exoculata and spatial variation in reproductive development of terebellomorph polychaetes from the Juan de Fuca Ridge. The reproductive development of Rimicaris exoculata indicates asynchronous iteroparous reproduction, while the population structure may reflect discontinuous recruitment.</p
Seasonality and zonation in the reproductive biology and population structure of the shrimp Alvinocaris stactophila (Caridea: Alvinocarididae) at a Louisiana Slope cold seep
No full textEcological patterns in deep-sea chemosynthetic environments are often considered to be independent of variations in photosynthetic primary production. This study examines spatial and temporal variation in the population structure and reproductive development of the caridean shrimp Alvinocaris stactophila at the Brine Pool cold seep on the Louisiana Slope. To assess spatial variation, samples were collected by submersible from different locations at the Brine Pool mussel bed in November 2003. The proportion of males in samples declined from the outer to the inner zone of the mussel bed, while the proportion of female shrimp carrying eggs increased. This zonation may result from congregation of large ovigerous females towards the inner zone, where sulphide flux from underlying sediments may be absent or reduced. To examine temporal variation in reproductive development, oocyte size-frequency distributions were compared between August 1997, March 2002, February 2003, November 2003 and July 2004. All oocytes in early spring samples were small and previtellogenic, while summer samples contained larger vitellogenic oocytes. The largest oocytes were found in large non-ovigerous females from the autumn, while ovigerous females from the same season contained the smallest oocytes in this study. Embryos in the autumn exhibited no differentiation, in contrast to well-developed embryos from early spring that hatched into zoea larvae. These features indicate seasonal and iteroparous reproduction in A. stactophila, with females carrying embryos from autumn to early spring and releasing planktotrophic larvae to exploit a seasonal peak in surface productivity and its export
In hot and cold water: differential life-history adaptations are key to success in contrasting thermal deep-sea environments
Full text link1.Few species of reptant decapod crustaceans thrive in the cold-stenothermal waters of the Southern Ocean. However, abundant populations of a new species of anomuran crab, Kiwa tyleri, occur at hydrothermal vent fields on the East Scotia Ridge. 2.As a result of local thermal conditions at the vents, these crabs are not restricted by the physiological limits that otherwise exclude reptant decapods south of the polar front. 3.We reveal the adult life-history of this species by piecing together variation in microdistribution, body size-frequency, sex ratio, and ovarian and embryonic development, which indicates a pattern in the distribution of female Kiwaidae in relation to their reproductive development. 4.High-density "Kiwa" assemblages observed in close proximity to sources of vent fluids are constrained by the thermal limit of elevated temperatures and the availability of resources for chemosynthetic nutrition. Although adult Kiwaidae depend on epibiotic chemosynthetic bacteria for nutrition, females move offsite after extrusion of their eggs to protect brooding embryos from the chemically harsh, thermally fluctuating vent environment. Consequently, brooding females in the periphery of the vent field are in turn restricted by low-temperature physiological boundaries of the deep-water Southern Ocean environment. Females have a high reproductive investment in few, large, yolky eggs, facilitating full lecithotrophy, with the release of larvae prolonged, and asynchronous. After embryos are released, larvae are reliant on locating isolated active areas of hydrothermal flow in order to settle and survive as chemosynthetic adults. Where the cold water restricts the ability of all adult stages to migrate over long distances, these low temperatures may facilitate the larvae in the location of vent sites by extending the larval development period through hypometabolism.5.These differential life-history adaptations to contrasting thermal environments lead to a disjunct life history among males and females of Kiwa tyleri, which is key to their success in the Southern Ocean vent environment.6.We highlight the complexity in understanding the importance of life-history biology, in combination with environmental, ecological and physiological factors contributing to the overall global distribution of vent endemic species.<br/
On the systematics and ecology of two new species of Provanna (Gastropoda: Provannidae) from deep-sea hydrothermal vents in the Caribbean Sea and Southern Ocean
Full text linkThe recent discovery and exploration of deep-sea hydrothermal vent fields in the Mid-Cayman Spreading Centre, Caribbean Sea (Beebe Vent Field, 4956–4972 m depth) and the East Scotia Ridge, Southern Ocean (E2 and E9 vent fields, 2394–2641 m depth) have yielded extensive collections of two new provannid species, Provanna beebei n. sp. and P. cooki n. sp. Morphological and molecular taxonomy (530 bp of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene) confirm P. beebei n. sp. and P. cooki n. sp. as distinct species; these species are formally described, and details are provided of their distribution, habitat and species associations. Bayesian and maximum likelihood analyses support the placement of P. beebei n. sp. and P. cooki n. sp within the genus Provanna and show that these two new deep-sea species form a well-supported clade with the abyssal West Pacific P. cingulata. Provanna beebei n. sp. and P. cooki n. sp. represent the first records of Provanna from hydrothermal vents in the Caribbean Sea and Southern Ocean, respectively, and extend the known geographic range of the genus. For the first time, intraspecific phenotypic variation in size and sculpture has been reported for Provanna. At the East Scotia Ridge, shell-size frequency distributions and median shell size of P. cooki n. sp. varied significantly between the E2 and E9 vent fields, as well as between diffuse flow and high-temperature venting habitats within each field. The variation in shell sculpture in relation to habitat was also observed in P. cooki n. sp
A new peltospirid snail (Gastropoda Neomphalida) adds to the unique biodiversity of Longqi vent field, Southwest Indian Ridge
No full textThe biodiversity of deep-sea hydrothermal vents in the Indian Ocean remains poorly characterised compared with that of their Pacific and Atlantic counterparts. Although the Longqi hydrothermal vent field is the most extensively explored vent site on the ultra-slow-spreading Southwest Indian Ridge, it is still a source of new discoveries. Here, we report and formally describe a new peltospirid snail from Longqi–Lirapex felix sp. nov. Known from only two specimens, it differs from other named Lirapex species by a depressed spire and the lack of coil loosening on the body whorl. Examinations of the external anatomy and radular characteristics agree with its placement in Lirapex, which is also supported by a molecular phylogeny reconstructed using the barcoding fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) gene. This is the fifth peltospirid snail known to inhabit the Longqi field, three of which (including Lirapex felix sp. nov.) have been found nowhere else. There is growing evidence that the Longqi field represents a biogeographically unique site among Indian Ocean vents. The discovery of Lirapex felix sp. nov. adds to the unique biodiversity of Longqi field, with implications for conservation in the light of potential deep-sea mining. This work is registered in ZooBank under: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:3B892762-2110-4A1E-A80D-1779CBEC5EB3.</p
Exploring our oceans: Using the global classroom to develop ocean literacy
No full textDeveloping the ocean literacy of individuals of all ages from all countries, cultures, and economic backgrounds is essential to inform choices for sustainable living in the future, but how we reach and represent diverse voices is a challenge. Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) offer a possible tool to achieve this goal, as they can potentially reach large numbers of people including those from lower and middle income regions. The number of MOOCs themed around ocean science and/or literacy is growing rapidly, and here we share experience of developing and delivering a MOOC entitled “Exploring Our Oceans,” which has run ten times in the past 4 years with around 40,000 participants worldwide. The “Exploring Our Oceans” MOOC incorporates a blend of online teaching techniques grounded in both instructivist and constructivist theories, thereby emphasizing contributions from a global community of learners and encouraging individual, independent action in relation to ocean citizenship. The impacts of this MOOC include evidence of changed awareness and attitudes to ocean issues; increased applications and participation in undergraduate and postgraduate programs; development of communication and outreach skills in the postgraduate community and partnership building with Nelson Mandela University, South Africa. These impacts, and vignettes of learner experiences in the course, are discussed in the context of the effectiveness of MOOCs in developing global ocean literacy
Kiwa tyleri from the East Scotia Ridge hydrothermal vents, Southern Ocean during RRS James Cook cruise JC042
No full textBiometric and reproductive data of Kiwa tyleri are recorded in five common separated value (CSV) files and described in associated metadata submission CSV files. The data results from analysis of high-definition video imagery and specimens of Kiwa tyleri which were collected from the East Scotia Ridge during six biological sampling dives. Three biological sampling dives to collect specimens were conducted at the northern E2 vent field between 20th and 25th January 2010. A further three biological sampling dives to collect specimens and record HD video imagery were conducted at the southern E9 vent field between 30th January and 2nd February 2010. The dives were undertaken during the RRS James Cook research cruise JC042 (7th January - 24th February 2010) using the remotely operated vehicle (ROV) Isis. The Isis ROV was equipped with a high-definition video camera and a suction sampler. Discrete spatial samples were targeted to investigate the fine-scale spatial variation in reproductive biology. The dataset was produced by Leigh Marsh, Jon Copley, Paul Tyler and Sven Thatje from the University of Southampton.</span
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