Variations in crab claw morphology and diet across contrasting inter‐tidal habitats

Crabs are important predators of inter‐tidal ecosystems, controlling the abundance and distribution of their prey populations. Often the same crab species occupies several habitats and, although their effects on prey have been quantified across habitats, crabs’ dietary and morphological responses to differing environmental influences have been overlooked. Here, we used the crabs Eriphia verrucosa and Pachygrapsus marmoratus as model species to examine differences in claw morphometry – size and wear – and diet between rocky shore and heterogeneous sand flat habitats. We predicted that, intra‐specifically, crabs from rocky shores would consume more hard‐shelled prey owing to their high availability and consequently, would display chelipeds with the following claw characteristics: a higher degree of claw damage, stronger musculature (higher propel height) and increased mechanical advantage (defined as the ratio of input lever length to output lever length) than crabs in the heterogeneous sand flat habitats. Sampling was performed in heterogeneous sand flat habitats and rocky shores of the Central Portuguese coast. For each crab species, carapace width, diet composition and several claw morphometric measures were recorded, revealing significant intra‐specific differences (using multivariate analysis) between shore types. We found that E. verrucosa and P. marmoratus consumed more hard prey on rocky shore than on sand flat habitats, which resulted in rocky shore crabs having more accentuated dentition wear and larger musculature than their sand flat habitat counterparts. We suggest that the strong response of crab claw morphometry to environmentally induced diet variations is an important mechanism in the successful adaptation of crab species to inhabit differing habitats. A major implication is that the impact of the same species on prey may vary largely with habitat type as a result of predation efficiency varying with claw condition.     

Organic geochemical studies of the Muthurajawela peat deposit of Sri Lanka

Organic constituents present in the Muthurajawela peat deposit of Sri Lanka, have been investigated. Here, we report the variations with depth of sitosterol and sitostane (stigmastane), which were found to be major constituents of extracts and, hence, were selected to study the process of diagenesis.These two compounds were present in anomalous concentrations in the middle horizon of the depth profile.Considering the stratigraphy and sterol concentrations, it can be concluded that the middle horizon resulted from a sudden terrestrial input, which could have been due to a Pleistocene or Quaternary environmental change.     

Biogenic Graphite as a Potential Geomarker—Application to Continental Reconstructions of Pan-African Gondwana Terrains

Graphite is present in nature in several forms. Genetically they may be broadly classified as biogenic and abiogenic. The biogenic forms are those that are clearly derived from an organic precursor while the abiogenic or inorganic forms are more complex from the point of view of their origin, nature and geological relations.As a geomarker, biogenic graphite has certain advantages. It is easily recognized and shows different degrees of crystallinity depending on the relative grades of metamorphism it had undergone. Once it attains a certain degree of crystalline order, it does not revert to a lower state even under changing metamorphic conditions, thereby making it a good mineral geothermometer. It is also found in specific, restricted geological environments and is therefore useful as a boundary marker of ancient sedimentary terrains.These special characteristics of the biogenic type of graphite can be effectively used to trace sites of sedimentary basins and subsequent ocean closures that may have resulted in geosutures. Studies of the Pan-African terrains of the Gondwana crustal fragments as exemplified by the sutures of the Mozambique Belt running through East Africa, Madagascar, Sri Lanka and Antarctica illustrate this point. A further example comes from the Mashan Group of East China, one of the most productive graphite - bearing regions of the world.     

Observations and Measurements of Planktonic Bioluminescence off the South Coast and Puttalam Lagoon of Sri Lanka

Marine bioluminescence is a unique phenomenon and widely studied around the world. However, information on bioluminescence is scarce in the Indian ocean. This study was carried out to understand the spatial and temporal variations in planktonic bioluminescence off the south coast and the Puttalm Lagoon of Sri Lanka. Planktonic bioluminescence intensity, zooplankton samples, water samples and oceanographic data were collected from sampling sites from January to December 2016 in three month intervals. Time series data were collected at a fixed sampling station, off the south coast of Sri Lanka, in order to understand the variation of bioluminescence intensity throughout the night and with respect to monsoon winds. Bioluminescence intensity was measured using the recoverable bathyphotometer and zooplankton samples were collected using WP-2 net with a 180 μm mesh size plankton net. The results revealed that most of the bioluminescence intensity peaks in the ocean were concentrated in the mixed layer depth zone. Bioluminescence and Chlorophyll profiles indicate the presence of both heterotrophic and autotrophic planktonic bioluminescence. Fixed station analysis showed variations in planktonic bioluminescence throughout the night and with respect to monsoon winds. Twenty two surface bioluminescent zooplankton species belonging to 15 families and 4 phyla were identified during this study. Variations in planktonic bioluminescence with respect to time and sampling locations were evident. The current study yielded encouraging results that should lead to further identification of planktonic distribution near Sri Lanka and key bioluminescent zooplankton in the region.

     

Adsorption kinetics of chromium(III) removal from aqueous solutions using natural red earth

Laboratory-scale-simulated experiments were carried out using Cr(III) solutions to identify the Cr(III) retention behavior of natural red earth (NRE), a natural soil available in the northwestern coastal belt of Sri Lanka. The effects of solution pH, initial Cr(III) concentration and the contact time were examined. The NRE showed almost 100 % Cr(III) adsorption within the first 90 min. [initial [Cr(III)] = 0.0092–0.192 mM; initial pH 4.0–9.0]. At pH 2 (298 K), when particle size ranged from 125 to 180 μm the Cr(III) adsorption data were modeled according to Langmuir convention assuming site homogeneity. The pH-dependent Cr(III) adsorption data were quantified by diffused layer model assuming following reaction stoichiometries: $$ \begin{aligned} 2\, {>}{\text{AlOH}}_{{({\text{s}})}} + {\text{ Cr }}\left( {\text{OH}} \right)_{{ 2\,({\text{aq}})}}^{ + } \, \to \, \left( { {>}{\text{AlO}}} \right)_{ 2} {\text{Cr}}_{{({\text{s}})}}^{ + } + {\text{ 2H}}_{ 2} {\text{O}} \quad {\text{log K 15}}. 5 6\\ 2\, {>}{\text{FeOH}}_{{({\text{s}})}} + {\text{ Cr}}\left( {\text{OH}} \right)_{{ 2\,({\text{aq}})}}^{ + } \, \to \, \left( { {>}{\text{FeO}}} \right)_{ 2} {\text{Cr}}_{{({\text{s}})}}^{ + } + {\text{ 2H}}_{ 2} {\text{O}}\quad {\text{log K 5}}.0 8.\\ \end{aligned} $$ The present data showed that NRE can effectively be used to mitigate Cr(III) from aqueous solutions and this method is found to be simple, effective, economical and environmentally benign.     

Modelled channel patterns in a schematized tidal inlet

Tidal inlets in the Dutch Wadden Sea show typical morphological features, i.e. westward oriented main inlet channel and ebb-tidal delta. The objective of this study is to find the governing physical processes of these morphological features. The study uses a 2DH process-based morphodynamic model (Delft3D) on a schematized model domain, with dimensions similar to the Ameland inlet in the Dutch Wadden Sea.Starting from a flat bed the models are forced by tides only. Short-term simulations are made to explore the hydrodynamic characteristics and initial sedimentation and erosion patterns. Long-term morphodynamic simulations are employed to investigate the governing parameters of the main inlet channel and the ebb-tidal delta evolution. Sensitivity of the evolution is described in terms of initial inlet width (1.0 km and 3.5 km), direction and asymmetry of tidal forcing (M₂, M₄), transport formulations (Van Rijn, 1993; Engelund and Hansen, 1967) and relative position of the tidal basin with respect to the inlet (East (existing), Middle, and West).The results tend to produce morphological features typical to the Ameland inlet. The direction of tidal forcing is the main governing parameter to the present orientation of the main inlet channel and the ebb-tidal delta. The model results generally prove the conceptual hypotheses that describe the orientation of the main inlet channel and the ebb-tidal delta.     

Physiological responses of juvenile and adult shore crabs Carcinus maenas (Crustacea: Decapoda) to pyrene exposure

This study measured aspects of the physiology of juvenile [(<35mm carapace width (CW)] and adult (>60mm CW) Carcinus maenas to test the hypothesis that these different life-history stages exhibit different sensitivities to environmental contamination. Newly-collected juveniles had significantly (P<0.05) lower immunocompetence (phagocytosis and cellular integrity), lower metabolic energy (haemolymph glucose) and increased scope for growth compared with adults. Seven day exposure to a sub-lethal concentration (200microgL(-1)) of pyrene significantly (P<0.01) reduced immunocompetence, elevated basal heart rate and decreased respiration (at rest) for juveniles but had no overall impact on adult crab physiology. Results confirm that physiological differences exist between juvenile and adult shore crabs, and cause juveniles to be more susceptible to the effects of pyrene exposure than adults. Such differences in sensitivity to contamination between life-cycle stages of the same species have to be taken into account during the risk assessment process.