Ocean processes at the Antarctic continental slope.

The Antarctic continental shelves and slopes occupy relatively small areas, but, nevertheless, are important for global climate, biogeochemical cycling and ecosystem functioning. Processes of water mass transformation through sea ice formation/melting and ocean-atmosphere interaction are key to the formation of deep and bottom waters as well as determining the heat flux beneath ice shelves. Climate models, however, struggle to capture these physical processes and are unable to reproduce water mass properties of the region.

THE GENETIC BASIS OF LIFE-HISTORY CHARACTERS IN A POLYCHAETE EXHIBITING PLANKTOTROPHY AND LECITHOTROPHY.

The polychaete Streblospio benedicti is unusual in that several field populations consist of individuals that exhibit either planktotrophic or lecithotrophic larval development. Planktotrophy in this species involves production of many small ova that develop into feeding larvae with a two- to three-week planktonic period. Lecithotrophy involves production of fewer, larger ova that develop into nonfeeding larvae that are brooded longer and have a brief planktonic stage.

Demographic Consequences of Larval Development Mode: Planktotrophy vs. Lecithotrophy in Streblospio Benedicti.

This paper examines the demographic consequences of planktotrophic and lecithotrophic development in an estuarine polychaete. Two strains of Streblospio benedicti (Spionidae) were reared in the laboratory from birth through death at 20°C and salinity 34%. Survivorship and reproductive data were collected weekly and were used to construct life tables and population projection matrices for each development mode.