Search

Vertically stratified day and night samples were collected from a depth of up to 1000 m during four seasons at a single station in the western subarctic Pacific. Subsequently, the abundance, biovolume, community structure and population structure of the pelagic amphipods were evaluated from the imaging analysis using ZooScan. The stable isotope ratio (δ15N) was also measured for each species. In total 10 amphipod species were identified in total, and their community structures were separated into four groups. The four communities were characterized by the upper-layer community dominated by Themisto pacifica, and the deep-water community that was characterized by the absence of T. pacifica. The other two groups were observed for the intermediate depths at night only, which was characterized by the low abundance of T. pacifica performing diel vertical migration from those depths. The deep-dwelling species displayed higher δ15N and positive relationships were detected with the habitat depth of each species. For the predominant T. pacifica, population structure (cohort) analysis was possible based on equivalent spherical diameter data from ZooScan. This study demonstrates that imaging analysis by ZooScan is applicable for analyses of minor taxonomic groups (amphipods) in zooplankton communities.

The Chukchi Sea environment changes considerably in physical and biological conditions, driven by the expanding volume of warm Pacific summer water. These environmental changes can affect the migration timing of baleen whales in the southern Chukchi Sea. However, few studies have been conducted in this area to determine the migration timing of bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus), the only baleen whale species endemic to the Arctic region. In this study, we conducted a fixed passive acoustic monitoring of bowhead whales in the southern Chukchi Sea from July 2012 to October 2015 and compared the occurrence patterns of vocalizations to physical and biological environmental factors. Bowhead whale calls were detected in fall/winter and spring during the ice-freezing and retreating periods, respectively. The fall migration timing of bowhead whales through the southern Chukchi Sea was delayed in the years when the timing of sea ice formation was late, and it formed increasingly later in the years 2013, 2014, and 2012, in that sequence. Moreover, the sea surface temperature decreased before freeze-up, which affected the timing of fall migration of bowhead whales. There was no clear relationship between the occurrence of bowhead whale calls and the abundance of prey, especially in spring, suggesting that most bowhead whales use the southern Chukchi Sea as a corridor during their spring northward migrations. However, the occurrence of bowhead whales and high abundance of zooplankton in October–November present the possibility that bowhead whales expand their feeding area in the southern Chukchi Sea.

Pelagic polychaetes are distributed from the sea surface to greater depths of the oceans worldwide, but little information is available regarding their ecology. This study investigated the vertical distribution of abundance, biomass and community structure of pelagic polychaetes at a single station in the western subarctic Pacific based on day–night vertical stratified samples collected from a 0 to 1000 m water column during four seasons covering 1 year. The polychaete abundance and biomass ranged from 0 to 757 ind. 1000 m−3 and 0–6.1 mg WW m−3, respectively. Ten pelagic polychaete species belonging to nine genera and six families were identified. From cluster analysis based on abundance, the polychaete community was divided into five communities. Each community occurred at different depth layers. Two surface groups seen at 0–200 m were dominated by two carnivorous species: Tomopteris septentrionalis and Typhloscolex muelleri. The deepest group, dominated by the particle feeder Pelagobia longicirrata, was seen at 500–1000 m. Two transition groups occurred in the intermediate depths. These vertical distributions of the pelagic polychaete communities were common throughout the season and day. Water mass, food availability and the oxygen minimum layer are put forth as environmental factors that affect the pelagic polychaete community.

Community structure and seasonal changes in the population structure of pelagic polychaetes were studied based on zooplankton samples collected by sediment traps moored at 200 m depth in the subarctic and subtropical western North Pacific throughout the year. Eight species belonging to seven genera and seven families occurred at the subarctic station, while twelve species belonging to ten genera and seven families were identified at the subtropical station. Polychaete abundance was 5.37 ± 0.44 ind. m-2 day-1 (annual mean ± standard error) at the subarctic station, and 1.36 ± 0.15 ind. m-2 day-1 at the subtropical station. Polychaete abundance at the subarctic station was high from May to August, but no seasonal patterns were observed at the subtropical station. The dominant species in the subarctic was Tomopteris septentrionalis, which accounted for 62.9% of annual mean abundance; at the subtropical station, the dominant species was Pelagobia sp. (22.8%). In the subarctic, small specimens of T. septentrionalis (

We investigated the seasonal occurrence and vertical distribution/migration of larval and juvenile northern smoothtongue,Leuroglossus schmidti(Pisces, Bathylagidae), in oceanic areas of the western subarctic Pacific. This species was the most abundant larval fish and one of the most abundant juvenile/adult fish at the study site. Larval recruitment of this species occurred in early March to mid-October. Larvae were found, however, throughout all seasons, suggesting that some had overwintered. The highest abundance (5.8 individuals m–2) of larvae was in summer. During summer and autumn, hatching mainly occurred at 100–150-m depth and larvae migrated toward the surface with growth. Once larvae reached about 20 mm in length, they moved below 100 m, and larger larvae (over 24 mm) exhibited diel vertical migration. The abundance of juveniles integrated through the water column was relatively constant (0.3 individuals m–2) throughout the study period. They were collected from below 300 m during the day, and part of the population (13–38%) swam into the epipelagic layer at night. The information on early stages ofL. schmidtipresented here provides a basis for future investigations of mesopelagic fish ecology in oceanic areas of the western subarctic North Pacific Ocean.

Time series of particulate nitrogen isotope delta (PN-δ 15N) and flux of trapped particles at 200 m were determined in the northwestern North Pacific subtropical gyre between 2010 and 2014 in order to examine temporal variations in mixed layer nitrate availability and downward particle export. Lower PN-δ 15N (50%), implying that new nitrogen supply stimulated predominantly coccolithophore growth and downward transport of coccoliths. Even in the stratified summer of 2011, a δ 15N drop associated with a spike in particulate flux was found and was attributed to the uplift of nitrate-rich deep waters due to a mesoscale cyclonic eddy passing the mooring station. Total nitrate input sustains 86–93% of annual new production in this region while nitrogen fixation accounts for the rest. Trapped particles also showed that the winter δ 15N decrease appeared earlier in the 2011–2012 blooms than those in 2013–2014, coinciding with 8% higher CaCO 3 concentrations and a 40% lower particulate organic carbon to inorganic carbon export ratio, R(POC:PIC). This reflected stronger convective mixing and hence larger nutrient supply in 2011–2012, caused by larger ocean heat loss related to winter monsoon intensity. Such interannual change of winter R(POC:PIC) can affect CO 2 uptake rate in the northwestern North Pacific subtropical gyre where anthropogenic CO 2 accumulates in subtropical mode waters.

Seasonal changes in zooplankton swimmer (ZS) abundance, biomass and community structure were evaluated based on samples collected by moored sediment traps at a depth of 200 m in the subarctic (SA) and subtropical (ST) western North Pacific. Based on these samples, we made comparisons on two topics: 1) latitudinal (subarctic vs. subtropical) changes in ZS abundance, biomass and community and 2) quantitative differences between the ZS and particle organic carbon (POC) fluxes based on data from moored or drifting sediment traps. The results showed that the ZS flux was greater in the SA (annual mean: 311 ind. m−2 day−1 or 258 mg C m−2 day−1) than in the ST (135 ind. m−2 day−1 or 38 mg C m−2 day−1). The peak ZS flux was observed from July–August in the SA and from April–May in the ST. The dominant taxa were Copepoda and Chaetognatha in the SA and Ostracoda and Mollusca in the ST. These latitudinal differences are likely related to the dominance of large-sized Copepoda in the SA, regional differences in the timing of the spring phytoplankton bloom, and the magnitude and size structure of primary producers. The percent composition of ZS to the total C flux (= ZS+POC flux) varied by region: 85–95% in the SA and 47–75% in the ST. These differences between the ZS composition and the total C flux are most likely caused by the dominance of large-sized Copepoda (Neocalanus spp. and Eucalanus bungii) in the SA.

We investigated temporal changes of the contamination of oceanic zooplankton with radiocesium (134Cs and 137Cs) derived from the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant accident one month to three years after the accident at subarctic and subtropical stations (1900 and 900–1000 km from the plant, respectively) in the western North Pacific. The maximum activity concentrations of 137Cs in zooplankton were two orders of magnitude higher than the pre-accident level. In the first four months after the accident, the activity concentrations of radiocesium in subtropical zooplankton decreased rapidly, but no similar change was observed at the subarctic station. The radiocesium derived from atmospheric deposition rapidly decreased as a result of seawater mixing. Thus, most of the subtropical zooplankton (with short lifespans) that had taken up radiocesium just after the accident were probably replaced by newly hatched zooplankton within four months of the accident, whereas subarctic zooplankton (with long lifespans) that were highly contaminated with radiocesium were still alive four months after the accident. By the end of the study, 137Cs activity concentrations in subtropical zooplankton were still high, whereas the activity concentrations in subarctic zooplankton had decreased to nearly the pre-accident level. The former concentrations were probably influenced by a secondary supply of radiocesium via advection of subtropical mode water that was highly contaminated with Fukushima-derived radiocesium. Unexpectedly, at the subarctic station, the radiocesium activity concentrations in surface zooplankton were lower than those in subsurface zooplankton, whereas the opposite relationship was observed in surface and subsurface seawater. Because carnivores predominated in the subsurface zooplankton community, we hypothesize that the higher radiocesium activity concentrations in subsurface zooplankton were influenced by bioaccumulation. We conclude that radiocesium activity concentrations in zooplankton are influenced not only by the supply of radiocesium to the environment but also by the characteristics of the zooplankton community.

To understand the seasonal dynamics of zooplankton in the southern Chukchi Sea, we use observations from a moored multi-frequency echo-sounder from July 2012 to July 2014. Zooplankton biomass, as indicated by area backscattering strength, was high during autumn and low in early spring; the seasonal peak in zooplankton biomass did not coincide with the spring phytoplankton bloom. This suggests that the seasonal zooplankton dynamics in the southern Chukchi Sea are less influenced by local growth of zooplankton during the spring phytoplankton bloom and more influenced by advection of zooplankton from the Bering Sea. The differences between volume backscattering strengths at 200 and 125 kHz suggest that the main acoustic scatterers are large zooplankton (euphausiids and Neocalanus cristatus ) in late summer and autumn and small zooplankton (other copepods) in other seasons. The decrease in acoustic backscatter from large zooplankton from winter to early summer also suggests the unsuccessful overwintering of advected Pacific zooplankton. The temporal mismatch between zooplankton and phytoplankton production suggests that there is still tight pelagic–benthic coupling in the southern Chukchi Sea.

Dinitrogen fixation, the biological reduction in N2 gas to ammonia contributes to the supply of new nitrogen in the surface ocean. To understand the diversity and abundance of potentially diazotrophic (N2 fixing) microorganisms associated with marine zooplankton, especially copepods, the nifH gene was studied using zooplankton samples collected in the Pacific Ocean. In total, 257 nifH sequences were recovered from 23 nifH‐positive DNA extracts out of 90 copepod samples. The nifH genes derived from cyanobacteria related to Trichodesmium, α‐ and γ‐subdivisions of proteobacteria, and anaerobic euryarchaeota related to Methanosaeta concilii were detected. Our results indicated that Pleuromamma, Pontella, and Euchaeta were the major copepod genera hosting dinitrogen fixers, though we found no species‐specific association between copepods and dinitrogen fixers. Also, the digital PCR provided novel data on the number of copies of the nifH gene in individual copepods, which we report the range from 30 to 1666 copies per copepod. This study is the first systematic study of zooplankton‐associated diazotrophs, covering a large area of the open ocean, which provide a clue to further study of a possible new hotspot of N2 fixation.

The annual flux of biologically produced organic carbon from surface waters is equivalent to annual net community production (NCP) at a steady state and equals the export of particulate and dissolved organic carbon (POC and DOC, respectively) to the ocean interior. NCP was estimated from carbon budgets of salinity-normalized dissolved inorganic carbon (nDIC) inventories at two time-series stations in the western subarctic (K2) and subtropical (S1) North Pacific Ocean. By using quasi-monthly biogeochemical observations from 2004 to 2013, monthly mean nDIC inventories were integrated from the surface to the annual maximum mixed layer depth and corrected for changes due to net air–sea CO2 exchange, net CaCO3 production, vertical diffusion from the upper thermocline, and horizontal advection. The annual organic carbon flux at K2 (1.49 ± 0.42 mol m−2 year−1) was lower than S1 (2.81 ± 0.53 mol m−2 year−1) (p

We examined the diel vertical migration of zooplankton by using the backscatter strength obtained from moored acoustic Doppler current profilers at mooring site S1 in the North Pacific subtropical gyre. There was seasonal variability in the vertical distribution and migration of the high-backscatter layers in that they became deeper than the euphotic zone (

Rising atmospheric CO2 contents have led to greater CO2 uptake by the oceans, lowering both pH due to increasing hydrogen ions and CaCO3 saturation states due to declining carbonate ion (CO32−). Here we used previously compiled data sets and new data collected in 2010 and 2011 to investigate ocean acidification of the North Pacific western subarctic gyre. In winter, the western subarctic gyre is a source of CO2 to the atmosphere because of convective mixing of deep waters rich in dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC). We calculated pH in winter mixed layer from DIC and total alkalinity (TA), and found that it decreased at the rate of −0.0011 ± 0.0004 yr−1 from 1997 to 2011. This decrease rate is slower than that expected under the condition of seawater/atmosphere equilibration, and it is also slower than the rate in the subtropical regions (−0.002 yr−1). The slow rate is caused by a reduction of CO2 emission in winter due to an increase in TA. Below the mixed layer, the calcite saturation horizon (~ 185 m depth) shoaled at the rate of 2.9 ± 0.9 m yr−1 as the result of the declining CO32− concentration (−0.03 ± 0.01 μmol kg−1 yr−1). Between 200 m and 300 m depth, pH decline during the study period (−0.0051 ± 0.0010 yr−1) was larger than ever reported in the open North Pacific. This enhanced acidification rate below the calcite saturation horizon reflected not only the uptake of anthropogenic CO2 but also the increase in the decomposition of organic matter evaluated from the increase in AOU, which suggests that the dissolution of CaCO3 particles increased.

The magnitude of the 9.0 Tohoku earthquake and the ensuing tsunami on 11 March 2011, inflicted heavy damage on the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant (FNPP1). Fission products were emitted, falling over a broad range in the Northern Hemisphere, and water contaminated with radionuclides leaked into the ocean. In this study, we described the horizontal distribution of the Fukushima-derived radiocesium in zooplankton and in seawater in the western North Pacific Ocean (500–2100 km from the FNPP1) 10 months after the accident. 134Cs and 137Cs were detected in zooplankton and seawater from all the stations. Because of its short half-life, the 134Cs detected in our samples could only be derived from the FNPP1 accident. The highest 137Cs activity in zooplankton was the same order of magnitude as it was one month after the accident, and average activity was one or two orders of magnitude higher than 137Cs activities observed before the accident around Japan. Horizontally, the radiocesium activity concentrations in zooplankton were high at around 25° N while those in surface seawater were high at around the transition area between the Kuroshio and the Oyashio currents (36–40° N). We observed subsurface radiocesium maxima in density range of the North Pacific Subtropical Mode Water and the occurrence of many diel vertical migratory zooplankton. These suggested that the high activity concentrations in the subtropical zooplankton at around 25° N were connected to the subsurface radiocesium and active vertical migration of zooplankton. However, the high activity concentrations of radiocesium in subsurface seawater did not necessarily correlate with the higher radiocesium activity in zooplankton. Activity concentrations of radiocesium in zooplankton might be influenced not only by the environmental radiocesium activity concentrations but also by other factors, which are still unknown.

We investigated seasonal changes in carbon demand and flux by mesozooplankton communities at subtropical (S1) and subarctic sites (K2) in the western North Pacific Ocean to compare the impact of mesozooplankton communities on the carbon budget in surface and mesopelagic layers. Fecal pellet fluxes were one order higher at K2 than at S1, and seemed to be enhanced by copepod and euphausiid egestion under high chlorophyll a concentrations. The decrease in pellet volume and the lack of any substantial change in shape composition during sink suggest a decline in fecal pellet flux due to coprorhexy and coprophagy. While respiratory and excretory carbon by diel migrants at depth (i.e., active carbon flux) was similar between the two sites, the actively transported carbon exceeded sinking fecal pellets at S1. Mesozooplankton carbon demand in surface and mesopelagic layers was higher at K2 than S1, and an excess of demand to primary production and sinking POC flux was found during some seasons at K2. We propose that this demand was met by supplementary carbon sources such as feeding on protozoans and fecal pellets at the surface and carnivory of migrants at mesopelagic depths.

Fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) undergo seasonal migration in the Arctic Sea. Because their migration and distribution is likely affected by changes in global climate, we aimed to examine the migration timing of fin whales, and the relationship with prey availability within the oceanographic environment of the Arctic Sea, using passive and active acoustic monitoring methods. Automatic Underwater Sound Monitoring Systems were deployed in the southern Chukchi Sea from July 2012 to 2014 to determine the acoustic presence of fin whales. Furthermore, water temperature and salinity were recorded by a fixed data logger. An Acoustic Zooplankton Fish Profiler was additionally deployed to estimate prey abundance through backscattering strength. Sea ice concentrations were obtained by remote sensing data. Fin whale calls were automatically detected using a custom-made software, and the per cent of half-hours containing calls were counted. Fin whale calls were detected from 4 August to 20 October 2012 (78 d) and 25 July to 1 November 2013 (100 d). The extended period of acoustic presence of fin whales during 2013 when compared with 2012 is likely related to a longer ice-free period during 2013. Furthermore, generalized linear model analyses showed that half-hour periods containing calls increased with a rise in water temperature and zooplankton abundance during the initial call presence period, while they decreased with a decrease in water temperature and salinity during the end of the call presence period. Our results suggest that the rise in water temperature and zooplankton abundance affect the timing of migration of fin whales in a way that is consistent with the expansion of their suitable habitats and the extension of their presence in the Arctic Sea.

Seasonal changes in mesozooplankton biomass and their community structures were observed at time-series stations K2 (subarctic) and S1 (subtropical) in the western North Pacific Ocean. At K2, the maximum biomass was observed during the spring when primary productivity was still low. The annual mean biomasses in the euphotic and 200- to 1000-m layers were 1.39 (day) and 2.49 (night) g C m−2 and 4.00 (day) and 3.63 (night) g C m−2, respectively. Mesozooplankton vertical distribution was bimodal and mesopelagic peak was observed in a 200- to 300-m layer; it mainly comprised dormant copepods. Copepods predominated in most sampling layers, but euphausiids were dominant at the surface during the night. At S1, the maximum biomass was observed during the spring and the peak timing of biomass followed those of chlorophyll a and primary productivity. The annual mean biomasses in the euphotic and 200- to 1000-m layers were 0.10 (day) and 0.21 (night) g C m−2 and 0.47 (day) and 0.26 (night) g C m−2, respectively. Copepods were dominant in most sampling layers, but their mean proportion was lower than that in K2. Mesozooplankton community characteristics at both sites were compared with those at other time-series stations in the North Pacific and with each other. The annual mean primary productivities and sinking POC fluxes were equivalent at both sites; however, mesozooplankton biomasses were higher at K2 than at S1. The difference of biomasses was probably caused by differences of individual carbon losses, population turnover rates, and trophic structures of communities between the two sites.

Measurements of 234Th, particulate organic carbon (POC), nutrients and net primary production were made at station K2 (47°N, 160°E) in the western subarctic North Pacific Ocean six times from 3 June to 17 July 2006. Net primary productions varied from 263 to 732 mgC m−2 d−1. 234Th was used as a tracer to estimate POC fluxes from the surface layer to 100 m depth. POC fluxes varied from 14 to 284 mgC m−2 d−1. The maximum POC flux and net primary production in this study were much higher than those observed previously at station K2 (179 mgC m−2 d−1 in July 2003 for POC flux, 552 mgC m−2 d−1 in May 2004 for net primary production). Because maximum chlorophyll a in this study (1.3 µg L−1) was also much higher than previous values at station K2 (1.0 µg L−1 in August 2004), we assumed that high-frequency observations had allowed measurement of a near annual peak of biological production and biological pump activity. The net primary productions and POC fluxes changed greatly during the study period. Biological production and export in this region varied greatly during this season. The export ratio (POC flux/net primary production) in this season (23 ± 1 %) was less than the annual export ratio in this region (29 ± 1 % in 2002–2005), although this ratio was higher than those in the other oceans (5–10 %). POC export (5.0 ± 0.1 gC m−2) in late spring–early summer was about half that of net community production (10.2 ± 0.6 gC m−2) estimated from the drawdown of phosphate during the study period. We suggest that the pathways of carbon export, other than the sinking of particles, were transport by zooplankton and so on.

We compared wintertime depth distributions of the mesozooplankton community and dominant copepods between the subtropical (S1) and subarctic (K2) Pacific Oceans to evaluate the relative importance of actively transported carbon by vertical migrants to sinking particulate organic carbon flux. Primary production was higher and the ratio of sinking particulate organic carbon flux to primary production was lower at S1 compared with those at K2. The mesozooplankton community was lower in abundance and biomass at S1 compared to K2. Copepods were the dominant group among both mesozooplankton abundance and biomass throughout the water column down to 1000 m at both sites. The depth distribution showed that diel vertical migration was obvious for the mesozooplankton abundance and biomass at S1 but was not apparent for the abundance at K2, because the dominant component was diurnally migrating species at S1 and overwintering species residing at mesopelagic depths at K2. The major components of diel migrants were copepods and euphausiids at S1 and only euphausiids at K2. Respiratory flux by the diurnally migrating mesozooplankton was estimated to be 2 mgC m −2 day −1 at S1 and 7 mgC m −2 day −1 at K2. The respiratory flux was equivalent to 131% of sedimentary fecal pellet flux at S1 and 136% of that at K2. Because pathways of downward carbon flux are facilitated by the mesozooplankton community, the actively transported carbon (respiration of dissolved inorganic carbon, excretion of dissolved organic carbon and egestion of fecal pellets at depth) might be larger during winter than the flux of sinking fecal pellets.

Intensive observations using hydrographical cruises and moored sediment trap deployments during 2010 and 2012 at station K2 in the North Pacific Western Subarctic Gyre (WSG) revealed seasonal changes in δ 15N of both suspended and settling particles. Suspended particles (SUS) were collected from depths between the surface and 200 m; settling particles by drifting sediment traps (DST; 100–200 m) and moored sediment traps (MST; 200 and 500 m). All particles showed higher δ 15N values in winter and lower in summer, contrary to the expected by isotopic fractionation during phytoplankton nitrate consumption. We suggest that these observed isotopic patterns are due to ammonium consumption via light-controlled nitrification, which could induce variations in δ 15N(SUS) of 0.4–3.1 ‰ in the euphotic zone (EZ). The δ 15N(SUS) signature was reflected by δ 15N(DST) despite modifications during biogenic transformation from suspended particles in the EZ. δ 15N enrichment (average: 3.6 ‰) and the increase in C:N ratio (by 1.6) in settling particles suggests year-round contributions of metabolites from herbivorous zooplankton as well as TEPs produced by diatoms. Accordingly, seasonal δ 15N(DST) variations of 2.4–7.0 ‰ showed a significant correlation with primary productivity (PP) at K2. By applying the observed δ 15N(DST) vs. PP regression to δ 15N(MST) of 1.9–8.0 ‰, we constructed the first annual time-series of PP changes in the WSG. This new approach to estimate productivity can be a powerful tool for further understanding of the biological pump in the WSG, even though its validity needs to be examined carefully.

海洋地球研究船「みらい」では,採水にニスキン−X採水器を取り付けたCTD採水システムを使用している. ニスキン−X採水器は蓋閉用のスプリングが採水器外側に配置され, ボトル内部へのゴムや微量金属による汚染を極力排除できる仕組みとなっている. 通常, 一次生産量測定用のサンプリングには海水サンプルへの微量金属等の汚染防止を徹底するため, 内部にテフロンコーティングを施し, ボトル内部及び部品各種を酸洗浄した採水器をクリーンニスキンとして使用している. クリーンニスキンとその他のノーマルニスキンで採水した場合に, 実際に一次生産量に差が生じるのかを確かめたところ, ノーマルニスキンで採水した場合に一次生産量測定値が激しく低下した. その差を生じる原因を把握するための追加実験を行うと, ノーマルニスキンで使用しているニトリルゴム製Oリングが一次生産を阻害していることが明らかとなった.

Based on sampling of specimens and field observations on jellyfish fisheries in Malaysia, Indonesia, and Myanmar, six trade types of edible jellyfish were identified and the proper scientific names were applied to them with synopses of their taxonomy. An identification key for the Suborder Daktyliophorae, allowing identification of edible species, is provided. Jellyfish fishing activities at various locations in Southeast Asia are reported.

To evaluate the impacts of ontogenetically (seasonally) migrating copepods on carbon transport to the mesopelagic zone, we investigated depth distribution, population structure, and feeding activity of the ontogentic copepod community in the western subarctic Pacific Ocean from day–night pairs of zooplankton samples down to 1000 m during the VERtical Transport In the Global Ocean (VERTIGO) program. Over the 31 July–16 August 2005 study period, the biomass of Neocalanus cristatus and Neocalanus plumchrus predominated in the near surface waters, while Neocalanus flemingeri was already dormant at depth. We observed a strong diel migration for Metridia pacifica, and a seasonal downward migration for Eucalanus bungii. Based on gut pigment analysis, ingestion rate of the copepod community was 214–375 mg C m−2 day−1, which was equal to 26–37% of the concurrent primary production. However, comparison of grazing estimated from gut pigments to calculated carbon demand of the copepod community indicates that phytoplankton comprised 37–59% of the ingested carbon. Thus, the copepod community appears to have also relied on detritus and microzooplankton for their nutrition, likely because primary production during this time was dominated by picophytoplankton too small to be grazed by these large copepods. Fecal pellet flux by the copepod community was estimated to account for 141–223% of the sedimentary particulate organic carbon (POC) flux at 150 m, suggesting considerable fragmentation and consumption of pellets in the upper layers. Fecal pellets alone were adequate to meet copepod carbon demand in the surface 0–150 m layer. Active carbon flux by diel migration of M. pacifica (respiration, egestion, and mortality) was 4–17 mg C m−2 day−1, equal to 6–44% of sedimentary POC flux at 150 m. Active carbon flux by N. flemingeri ontogenetic migration (i.e., respiration and mortality at depth) contributed 246 mg C m−2 year−1, equal to 9% of sedimentary POC flux at 1000 m. The imminent downward migration of N. cristatus and N. plumchrus would lead to an additional ontogenetic carbon flux on the order of 1719 mg C m−2 year−1. Copepod fecal pellet transport and active transport by diel and ontogenetic migration are thus important carbon fluxes during a season dominated by small phytoplankton, and ontogenetic migrants in the subarctic Pacific Ocean play a relatively more important role in active carbon flux compared with other open-ocean regions.

The dry mass of zooplankton and backscatter from an acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) used in Sagami Bay, Japan, from 9 to 13 April 2005 were well correlated (correlation coefficient = 0.72, root mean square dry weight = 2.5 mg m−3). The horizontal current field and zooplankton distribution were estimated from shipboard ADCP data. Although sea surface temperature and chlorophyll a concentration observed by satellite were consistent with the current field, a counterclockwise circulation associated with the Kuroshio meander, zooplankton were mainly distributed downstream of the phytoplankton population by horizontal current advection.

The peroidicity of motor disassembly for maintenance is currently determined by the durability of the sealed grease they contain. The lifetime of this grease is the shortest of all the motor's bearing parts and materials, and therefore needs to be made longer. For this purpose, therefore, the authors discussed the shape of the grease pocket, and concluded that the efficiency of lubrication depends on the shape of the pocket and the relative position between pockets and the bearing, which should be appropriately modified. In this report, the authors performed laboratory testing with full-scale grease pocket models of refined and conventional shapes to compare the service lives and determine the effects of improvement.

Environmental changes are considered to affect the migration and distribution of baleen whales in the Arctic region. We examined the seasonal acoustic presence of fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) and the relationships between acoustics and oceanographic environments in the southern Chukchi Sea from July 2012 to October 2015. Fin whale calls were detected from 4 August to 20 October 2012, from 25 July to 1 November 2013, from 26 July to 14 November 2014, and 7 June 2015, only in the ice-free (sea ice concentration = 0%) periods. In addition, from the recordings in 2012 and 2013, fin whale calls were present in the periods of high prey abundance, and there were significant positive correlations among their call presence, prey abundance, water temperature and salinity. Furthermore, the result that the calls were detected in 7 June 2015 suggests that fin whales arrive much earlier at the southern Chukchi Sea than previously reported. Our study provide valuable information to assess the impact on marine ecosystem in the Arctic region by environmental changes.

シロウリガイ類は深海から採集すると通常2, 3日しか生存せず, 飼育を試みた報告は皆無であった。本研究では, シロウリガイ類の飼育の試みとして, 良好な健康状態で採集し, かつシロウリガイ類の共生細菌のエネルギー源(泥中の硫化水素)を確保するために, 圧力以外の現場環境をできる限り維持した状態で採集する装置のMTコアを開発した。また, シロウリガイ類は高酸素濃度に弱いため, 溶存酸素濃度制御装置により低酸素濃度環境を維持する飼育システムを製作した。シロウリガイとエンセイシロウリガイをそれぞれ相模湾初島沖水深1,150m～1,160mの地点, 石垣島沖の黒島海丘の643mの地点で採集した。採集したシロウリガイは約1週間で死亡したが, 黒島海丘のエンセイシロウリガイは17日間生存した。また, エンセイシロウリガイでは2回放卵が確認された。以上のことから, エンセイシロウリガイは飼育が容易な種と考えられた。

The performance of a vapor compression heat pump system is tested using R22/R114 mixtures as the working fluid. Double pipe heat exchangers, where the refrigerant flows inside the inner tube with grooved internal surface and water flows countercurrently in the outer annulus, are used for the condenser and evaporator. Experimental results are compared with those for the same system with a smooth tube condenser and the evaporator presented before. The effect of the superheating of the refrigerant at the exit of the evaporator on COP is also discussed. A trial calculation based on the experimental results shows that the COP of the mixture becomes larger than that of the pure refrigerant in the case of a large change in the water temperature only if the heat transfer surface area is large enough and the superheating of the refrigerant is quite small at the exit of the evaporator.

A series of dives was conducted during April/May 2002 in a variety of water masses over the Japan Trench using the remotely-operated vehicle ROV HyperDolphin. The scyphomedusan fauna was catalogued, resulting in the first records of Atolla vanhoeffeni and Atolla russelli from Japanese waters. A new genus and species referable to the family Paraphyllinidae was also recognized. The ulmarid scyphomedusa Poralia rufescens is by far the most common scyphomedusa in these waters. Its distribution was determined by water mass structure and it was not present in subducted Oyashio Current-derived waters occurring within its usual depth range. Temperature and salinity affected its distribution more than dissolved oxygen concentrations. Distributional information, data on the physico-chemical parameters of the water column, and notes on biological associations with scyphomedusae are introduced.

We propose a new system to manage modalities in radiology departments. Our system introduces a novel method to accurately estimate some indexes in order to provide an analysis of resource plans within three broad categories: financial affairs, patient satisfaction, and productivity. The main idea is to simulate the operational status of modalities. Results from a preliminary hospital evaluation show that use of the system results in more efficient resource management.

2004年に, 海洋生態・環境研究部が機構の独立行政法人化に伴い, 極限環境生物圏研究センターに所属する海洋生態・環境研究プログラムとして出発して以来, 5年間を経てここで機構の第1期中期計画が終了した. この間, 海洋生物進化研究と海洋生態系変動研究の2本のプロジェクト研究を中心に様々な研究活動を行い, 数多くの成果を得ることができた. 海洋生物進化研究プロジェクトでは, 深海二枚貝であるシマイシロウリガイの共生細菌のゲノムの解読や, 比較ゲノム解析研究, さらに鯨骨生物群集に見出されたイガイ科二枚貝, ヒラノマクラの共生機構研究や, 単細胞真核生物の有孔虫の研究などが行われた. これらは化学合成共生の機構や進化を明らかにするだけではなく, 真核細胞のオルガネラの進化にも共通した問題を含んでいる. 海洋生態系変動研究プロジェクトでは, 中・深層のプランクトン解析から動物プランクトンの現存量, 昼夜での移動や, 生物ポンプとしての役割, そして中・深層に多いクラゲ類の分布や, それと相互作用する甲殻類の様子などが明らかになってきた. さらに将来のプランクトン自働計測技術をめざしてAUV (Autonomous Underwater Vehicle) を開発した. これらは今後グローバルな海洋生態系において重要な研究や技術として発展していくと思われる. 底生生物の生態学的研究では, 底生生物の分布,成長などの研究のほか, 長期ステーションによるシロウリガイの繁殖と環境要因の関係なども研究した. 深海における多様な生物の研究では深海底泥中の原生生物の非常に大きな多様性や, いろいろな分類群における新種の記載や再記載がなされた. これらの研究では地球上にはどのくらい多様な生物が居るか, という大きな問題に今後答えていくことになるであろう. 深海生物の研究は飼育が困難であることから, 深海生物の詳細な研究を行うには障害となっていたが, 生物飼育の工夫がなされるようになり, ずいぶん進展した. 鯨骨も化学合成動物の飼育における基層として大変重要で, 新しい深海動物の飼育技術として使われるようになると思われる. 深海生物については, 日本語では教科書が無かったが, 日本周辺の深海生物の写真を多く利用した深海生物のテキスト「潜水調査船が観た深海生物」を出版した. 海洋生物のデータベースがこのプログラムの最終年である今年になってスタートしたが, このテキストは, その構築にも大いに貢献している. さらに, 将来の深海生物学や海洋生物学を支えてくれるであろう子供たちを対象にした童話も出版した. 本報告では, こうした中期計画の5年間の成果についてとりまとめ, 概説すると同時に, これらのプロジェクト研究の枠を超えて行われた研究についても記述した.

非イオン性界面活性剤による分散染料の可溶化機構と,染料の化学構造との関係を知るために,数種のアントラキノン系分散染料につき,それぞれ非イオン性界面活性剤およびポリオキシエチレングリコールを分散剤とする分散液,ならびにn-ヘキサンおよびベンゼンをそれぞれ溶媒とする各染料溶液の可視吸収スペクトルを測定し,比較検討を行なった。また,これら各染料の同一分散媒または溶媒に対する溶解度よりそれぞれ親和力(溶解の際の標準自由エネルギー変化)を求め,比較検討した。その結果,(1)染料の非イオン性界面活性剤ミセルへの可溶化機構は,置換基の種類および数に依存し,例えばアミノ置換の多い誘導体は,ミセルの親水性部分に可溶化され,(2)モノ置換体の場合は,溶液内に界面活性剤ミセルが形成されると,その内部の疎水性部分に人り込むことが明らかにされたた。(3)また1,4-メチルアミノ誘導体はミセルの親水部と疎水部の両方に,あるいは両者の中間の位置に可溶化されることが明らかにされた。

Using specimens of SS41 carbon steel, authors made a test on erosion by means of resonant frequency of 22 kc/sec, and simultaneously took accurate measurements of half-value breadth both in the surface and in its innerface through Cobalt Kα radiation and of residual stress. Authors' conclusion is as follows. Both in an erosive surface and in its innerface, residual stress is attributed to compressive stress, after maximum residual stress has taken place in the surface, the weight loss of specimen remarkably increases; consequently there can be recognized a certain time rate in this test duration. The internal residual stress before starting of the weight loss of the test piece being compared with the one after starting, there occurs some change from maximum to minimum nearly at the same depth. The comparative test on half-value breadth at different amplitudes results in that in each period of operation the testing amplitudes relate not to the pressure in the collapse of each one of the bubbles but to the number of bubbles in the collapse.

Many polypeptides isolated from shallow water cnidarian species have been utilized as valuable biochemical tools in both basic and applied biological sciences. Deepwater cnidarian species might be another potential resource for novel biochemical tools. However, because of limited access to cnidarian samples from deep-sea environments, bioactive polypeptides have never before been reported from this group. In this study, we collected twelve deep-sea jellyfish species (nine hydrozoans and three scyphozoans) using a plankton net that was specially designed for collecting deep-sea organisms, and prepared water-soluble extracts, presumably containing polypeptides, of these jellyfishes. The extracts were subjected to cytotoxicity, hemolytic activity, and crustacean lethal toxicity tests. In the cytotoxicity test, six out of the nine tested hydrozoan species showed activity. In the hemolytic activity test, only three hydrozoans showed activity and none of the scyphozoan jellyfishes showed activity. In the crustacean lethality test, two hydrozoan jellyfishes and all three of the tested scyphozoan jellyfishes showed lethal activity. These results revealed a high incidence of water-soluble bioactive substances occurring in these deep-sea jellyfishes. Furthermore, all the heat-treated and the methanol-treated crude jellyfish extracts lost their bioactivities. Thus, it is likely that the bioactive compounds in the water-soluble extracts were unstable polypeptides (proteins). This is the first published report on bioactivities in extracts from deep-sea jellyfishes.

(about 85 PBq) (WHO, 1989). Large amounts of water to cool the fuel rods was supplied and this procedure increased the amount of water contaminated with radionuclides, and the contaminated water leaked onto the land and into the ocean. By early April (end of May), the estimated total amount of accidentally and deliberately emitted 137Cs was 2.6 (3.5 ± 0.7) PBq (Tsumune et al., 2011). The maximum 137Cs concentrations at the north drain outlet of the plant and at 30 km off Fukushima were 68,000 Bq L–1 (on 30 March: TEPCO, 2011a) and 186 Bq L–1 (on 15 April: MEXT, 2011), respectively. Thereafter, these concentrations have been decreasing, but the level of radioactivity in seawater is still higher than the background level due to the atmospheric nuclear weapons test before 11 March (MOE, 2009). Moreover, about 0.11 million tons of radioactivity-contaminated water (total radioactivity, 720 PBq, including 137Cs, 140 PBq) had Dispersion of artificial caesium-134 and -137 in the western North Pacific one month after the Fukushima accident