West Coast Of Scotland Research Articles

Estimation of absorption and backscattering coefficients from in situ radiometric measurements: theory and validation in case II waters.

A model that relates the coefficients of absorption (a) and backscattering (b(b)) to diffuse attenuation (K(d)), radiance reflectance (R(L)), and the mean cosine for downward irradiance (mu(d)) is presented. Radiance transfer simulations are used to verify the physical validity of the model for a wide range of water column conditions. Analysis of thee radiance transfer simulations suggest that absorption and backscattering can be estimated with average errors of 1% and 3%, respectively, if the value of mu(d) is known with depth. If the input data set is restricted to variables that can be derived from measurements of upward radiance (L(u)) and downward irradiance (E(d)), it is necessary to use approximate values of mu(d). Examination of three different approximation schemes for mu(d) shows that the average error for estimating a and b(b) increases to approximately 13%. We tested the model by using measurements of L(u) and E(d) collected from case II waters off the west coast of Scotland. The resulting estimates of a and b(b) were compared with independent in situ measurements of these parameters. Average errors for the data set were of the order of 10% for both absorption and backscattering.

Macro-infaunal biodiversity and analysis of associated feeding guilds in the Greater Minch area, Scottish west coast

Survey work was carried out in the Greater Minch area on the west coast of Scotland in 1997. The survey covered an area of 17,000 km2, extending from Kinlochbervie in the north-east to the Stanton Banks in the south-west. Acoustic and ground-truth surveys were conducted using the seabed discrimination system RoxAnn© and underwater television cameras. This paper examines the macro infaunal component of the benthic community from 28 stations sampled throughout the region. From these, 198 taxa were identified, while species per station ranged from 11 to 69 with a maximum abundance of 2100 individuals per m2. Biomass ranged from 2·3 g m−2 to 103·1 g m−2, with a mean value of 21·0 g m−2. Multivariate statistical analysis of the infaunal data revealed the presence of three benthic assemblages, which were closely related to habitat type. An investigation into the dominant feeding guilds or isotrophic groups from each assemblage revealed that surface deposit feeding dominated the very fine sand habitats while both surface and subsurface deposit feeding were very common in the silt communities. A combination of feeding types (namely carnivorous, suspension and surface-deposit feeding) was associated with the sand habitats. The findings of this study are discussed in relation to those in similar habitat types.

Q & A

What turned you on to biology in the first place? Long summer holidays on the West Coast of Scotland. I loved investigating the wildlife on the shore and spent ages watching the creatures I scooped out of ponds and streams. Why cell biology? I originally wanted to be a marine biologist, but then I realised I'd have to spend hours and hours soaking wet and freezing cold; by then the Cambridge cell biology lectures had me hooked. Do you have a ‘favourite’ paper? No, but I have two favourite lectures. The pure theatre surrounding each still gives me a thrill to recall. The first was at a conference when Elaine Fuchs revealed that keratin mutations were the underlying cause of certain skin fragility disorders. The session chairman was very hostile and laid into her the moment the talk ended, but the audience were just blown away by the data and gave her a standing ovation (something I've never seen before or since). The second was here at the CR-UK LRI when it turned out that Peter Goodfellow had identified SRY, the sex determination gene. A year or two before it seemed that Peter had been beaten to the discovery. Although this must have been an incredible blow, he continued his research and so realised that the first report was incorrect. Peter's postdoc presented the data and I remember Peter sitting with his head in his hands throughout the seminar. The sense of drama and emotion in the room were palpable. Do you have a ‘scientific hero’ – if so, who and why? Dr Frank-N-Furter (‘Come up to the lab and see what's on the slab’). He wins hands down for fearlessness, enthusiasm and presentation style. Not that I'm an advocate of human cloning, of course. What is the best advice you have been given? From Bruce Spiegelman at Harvard: “Never turn down a job that you haven't actually been offered” and “You always have space for a really great postdoc”. Any advice for someone wondering whether to start a career in biology? If you love the science, do it. Young women are often plagued with feelings of inadequacy. But if it's what you really want to do, give it a go; you can always bale out later on. What has been your biggest mistake? Setting myself up as a role model. A PhD student once came to talk to me because she didn't see how she could combine a life in the lab with any kind of personal life. “Of course you can, I do” was my reply. To which she responded, without hesitation or malice “But I don't want a life like yours”! Any strong views on journals and the peer review system? Yes. I hate the fact that publishing companies make enormous profits from the need of scientists to publish their work. I hate the fact that most journal editors are not active in research and so are unaccountable to the scientific community. Napster and other web sites for free downloading of music have shaken up the music industry; I would love the same thing to happen in science publishing. What is your greatest ambition in research? I care deeply about research as a community activity and would love to create a really special environment in which scientists at all stages of their careers can flourish. What is the next big thing in biology? There have been enormous advances in developmental biology over the last 20 years. Now the challenge is to understand how tissues are maintained in adult life – what controls self-renewal, differentiation and repair? The answers to these questions will give us new approaches to cancer prevention and treatment. How have coped since the birth of your twins? I don't worry about the children when I'm in the lab and I don't worry about the lab while I'm at home. Fiona Watt is at the London Research Institute of Cancer Research UK. She grew up in Edinburgh and obtained her first degree from Cambridge University. She obtained her DPhil in Oxford, working with Henry Harris on cell fusion. She was a postdoc at MIT in Howard Green's laboratory and it was there that she first became interested in epithelial differentiation. She returned to Britain to set up a lab at the Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology in London. She has been at the CR-UK LRI (formerly known as ICRF) since 1987. She has been Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Cell Science since 1992, and is currently President of the British Society for Cell Biology. She is married with three children.

The Influence of Wind Direction upon Flow along the West Coast of Britain and in the North Channel of the Irish Sea

Abstract This paper briefly describes the development of a three-dimensional nonlinear hydrodynamic model of the sea region off the west coast of Scotland, the North Channel, and the Irish Sea. The model uses a sigma coordinate in the vertical, and subgrid-scale mixing of momentum is parameterized by a vertical eddy viscosity computed using a turbulence energy submodel. Numerical calculations illustrate the importance of wind direction and topography in determining flow pathways along the west coast of Scotland, through the North Channel, and within the Irish Sea. The role of a northward flow into the Irish Sea through St. George's Channel, arising from wind events over the Celtic Sea, in controlling the flow in the North Channel and deep regions of the Irish Sea is also considered. The series of calculations presented here helps to explain the spatial and temporal variability of the observed flows (from both direct measurements and tracer studies) found off the west cost of Scotland and in the North Chan...

Leverage, Leaks and Liabilities : Holy Loch and the «Special» Anglo-American Nuclear Relationship, 1960-65

In March 1960, Macmillan and Eisenhower agreed on the sale of Skybolt missiles to Britain in return for the provision of facilities for US nuclear submarines on the West coast of Scotland. How Britain performed regarding Holy Loch is instructive of what the Anglo-American “special” nuclear relationship actually meant, not only in terms of the British government’s willingness to sacrifice power and interests but also for Westminster’s readiness to use location as a bartering token with scant disregard for local sensibilities. These were critical decisions made at a critical juncture in world affairs which temporarily put the little-known Scottish inlet of Holy Loch at the forefront of the Cold War.

An experimental study of the ecological impacts of hydraulic bivalve dredging on maerl

AbstractA short-term experiment to assess the ecological impact of a hydraulic blade dredge on a maerl community was carried out during November 2001 in the Clyde Sea area on the west coast of Scotland. A fluorescent sediment tracer was used to label dead maerl, which was then spread out on the surface of sediment to act as a proxy for living maerl. The fauna collected by the dredge was dominated by the bivalves Dosinia exoleta and Tapes rhomboides, which were found to be intact. The target razor clams Ensis spp. were caught in low numbers, which reflected the low abundance of this genus within the maerl habitat. The hydraulic dredge removed, dispersed and buried the fluorescent maerl at a rate of 5.2 kg m−2 and suspended a large cloud of sediment into the water column, which settled out and blanketed the seabed to a distance of at least 8 m either side of the dredge track. The likely ecological consequences of hydraulic dredging on maerl grounds are discussed, and a case is made for protecting all maerl grounds from hydraulic dredging and establishing them as reservoirs to allow for the recruitment of commercial bivalve populations at adjacent fished sites.

Mink (Mustela vison) eradication to protect ground‐nesting birds in the Western Isles, Scotland, United Kingdom

Feral American mink are perceived as a growing threat to native biodiversity in Europe. We describe the planning and early stages of a campaign to eradicate American mink from part of a 2800 km2 archipelago off the west coast of Scotland. The present programme will last 5 years and cost GB£1.65 million, funded by EU LIFE. It aims to protect ground‐nesting birds, which are vulnerable to mink predation, and has been successful to date (>220 mink caught). Non‐native feral ferrets are also being culled. This paper summarises early results of the campaign, and discusses its implications for full eradication on the archipelago and more widely in Europe.

Factors affecting the performance of the acoustic ground discrimination system RoxAnn™

Abstract The resolution, temporal variability and survey vessel speed dependence of the acoustic ground discrimination system RoxAnn™ was assessed over a 1 km2 area in Loch Linnhe on the west coast of Scotland. The resolution of the system was relatively poor and of the sediment parameters quantified (stone cover and sediment texture), only stone cover was consistently and significantly related to the RoxAnn™ output. The output showed considerable variability over the same ground when sampled within the same day and between days and months. The effect of survey vessel speed on the output was also significant but highly variable during all surveys. The apparent magnitude and unpredictable nature of the variation in the RoxAnn™ output have implications for the use of such systems in habitat mapping, particularly when surveying biological communities where there are only small differences in the physical properties of the seabed and also where monitoring temporal change. These aspects are discussed.

Radar Investigation of the Structure of Wind Waves

Radar data from three experiments are analysed. Scatter characteristics of 50 cm wind-generated waves have been investigated with a C-band radar in a large wind-wave tank. Evidence of wave groups in sea clutter from the west coast of Scotland in the Sound of Sleat is also presented. The spectrum of the waves in the sound is narrow-banded and the waves are young, like the wind-wave spectrum in the laboratory. Clutter measurements, collected on the English south coast at Portland, of more ocean-like waves with broad band spectra also suggest the presence of wave groups. Evidence of the presence of wave groups is demonstrated in range-time images, as well as in the Fourier domain. Some ad hoc processing schemes, the normalised variance and binary threshold techniques, were successfully applied to enhance the appearance of the wave groups. The wind waves change frequency with fetch in the wave tank and the downshifting process is investigated using range-frequency maps of the radar data. The waves appear to change frequency in discrete steps that are associated with wave breaking events. The difference in wave period before and after breaking could be measured, and a wave crest was shown to be lost to compensate for the change in period, as expected. Some downshifting could also be measured in the Sound of Sleat. The ratio of wave group frequency and wave frequency is inaccordance with Benjamin-Fier sideband instability theory, as it is for the data measured at Portland.

Sea lice infestations on farmed Atlantic salmon in Scotland and the use of ectoparasitic treatments

A recently compiled national database on sea lice infestations on farmed Atlantic salmon, contains detailed records for the period 1996 to 2000 from over 30 commercial sites on the west...

Seasonal and interannual variation in fish assemblages of northern temperate rocky subtidal habitats

Fish assemblages on two inshore rocky subtidal sites on the west coast of Scotland, were studied using diver visual surveys on a monthly basis between September 1995 and December 1999. A total of 17 689 fishes and 26 species were recorded from the two sites, Saulmore Point (056°27′N; 005°24′W) near Oban and Davy's Rock (055°46′N; 004°53′W) on the Isle of Great Cumbrae. The gobiid Thorogobius eppiphiatus, dominated the Saulmore Point site; six fish species accounted for >93% of total abundance at that site. At Davy's Rock four species contributed at least 93% of total fish abundance, and the dominant species was the labrid Ctenolabrus rupestris. Total abundance of the dominant species displayed a clear seasonal trend, and this was significantly related to recorded daily average seawater temperature. A maximum abundance of 4.9 fishes m−2 was recorded in November 1998 at Davy's Rock and 2.5 fishes m−2 at Saulmore Point in October 1998. Multivariate analysis indicated a degree of variation in assemblage structure between winter and summer at both sites. A number of species showed some degree of interannual variation, in particular the gobiid Gobiusculus flavescens whose abundance increased by over 300 times over a 5 month period in 1998. Correlation analysis showed that variation in annual winter seawater temperature could act as an indicator of interannual variation in abundance of some of the dominant species utilizing rocky subtidal habitats.

Seasonal and interannual variation in fish assemblages of northern temperate rocky subtidal habitats

Fish assemblages on two inshore rocky subtidal sites on the west coast of Scotland, were studied using diver visual surveys on a monthly basis between September 1995 and December 1999. A total of 17 689 fishes and 26 species were recorded from the two sites, Saulmore Point (056°27′N; 005°24′W) near Oban and Davy's Rock (055°46′N; 004°53′W) on the Isle of Great Cumbrae. The gobiid Thorogobius eppiphiatus, dominated the Saulmore Point site; six fish species accounted for >93% of total abundance at that site. At Davy's Rock four species contributed at least 93% of total fish abundance, and the dominant species was the labrid Ctenolabrus rupestris. Total abundance of the dominant species displayed a clear seasonal trend, and this was significantly related to recorded daily average seawater temperature. A maximum abundance of 4.9 fishes m−2 was recorded in November 1998 at Davy's Rock and 2.5 fishes m−2 at Saulmore Point in October 1998. Multivariate analysis indicated a degree of variation in assemblage structure between winter and summer at both sites. A number of species showed some degree of interannual variation, in particular the gobiid Gobiusculus flavescens whose abundance increased by over 300 times over a 5 month period in 1998. Correlation analysis showed that variation in annual winter seawater temperature could act as an indicator of interannual variation in abundance of some of the dominant species utilizing rocky subtidal habitats.

TAXONOMY AND ECOLOGY OF TOXISARCON ALBA, SP. NOV. FROM LOCH LINNHE, WEST COAST OF SCOTLAND, UK

Toxisarcon alba n. sp., is a giant, naked marine foraminiferan recorded at two locations on the west coast of Scotland, UK. Individuals were found buried or semi-buried in well-oxygenated silty sand at 10 to 30 m water depth. A distinctive, slightly raised mound of 18–40 mm diameter, through which there were many perforations, indicated the presence of an individual on the seabed. Partial removal of the overlying sediment revealed the naked opaque, white, sticky cell body. Toxisarcon alba exists in three distinct forms. In the most commonly occurring form (and the only form observed in the field), the central portion of the cytoplasm extends peripherally into numerous large cytoplasmic extensions and reticulopodia (branched form). In aquaria, some individuals transformed into a consolidated form (spheroid form) by retracting most or all of the reticulopods resulting in a cell with a very well defined edge. On four occasions a third very diffuse form, resembling a fungal mycelium, was observed where reticulopodia were spread over the sediment surface. The closest related species, based on analysis of ribosomal DNA sequences, is the newly described Toxisarcon synsuicidica .

A comparison of the bacterial microflora between coastal sites in Qingdao, P. R. China and Loch Fyne, Scotland

Aerobic, heterotrophic bacteria, recovered from two sites located on the west coast of Scotland, were compared to cultures obtained in a similar way from industrial, aquacultural and clean sites in the vicinity of Qingdao, Shandong, P. R. China. Gram-negative bacterial cultures were examined by BIOLOG-GN, and the data analysed by the simple matching (SSM) and Jaccard coefficients (SJ) and unweighted average linkage clustering using NTSys. The output revealed that 20% of the bacteria, namely, Acinetobacter johnsonii, Aquaspirillum dispar, Pseudomonas spp. (two groups), Sphingobacterium sp., Vibrio, sp., V. campbellii, V. mimicus and V. hollisae, were common between the two geographical locations. However, the study revealed shortcomings with the BIOLOG-GN system for the study of coastal Gram-negative bacteria.

Planning, licensing, and stakeholder consultation in an artificial reef development: the Loch Linnhe reef, a case study

In the UK, artificial reefs are sometimes perceived by the public as an excuse for dumping of waste materials. This negative perception, combined with the increased role (and statutory requirement) for public consultation in the granting of licences, means that artificial reef projects are greatly assisted by a structured approach to planning and consultation early in the developmental process. At present, a statutory framework governing reef construction within Europe has not been agreed, but new guidelines were issued in 1998 under the auspices of the Oslo Paris Commission. The Loch Linnhe Artificial Reef is a large-scale reef complex being constructed on the west coast of Scotland and intended for research purposes. It was the first artificial reef application to be successful under the new guidelines and therefore has particular relevance to any reef development occurring within Europe and, more generically, worldwide. The licensing process was assisted by open dialogue with a range of user groups and local bodies. Early and constructive consultation within a formal management structure impressed local government and licensing agencies, facilitated informed debate, and greatly enhanced the public's understanding of complex issues related to artificial reef construction. The whole process was considered by many as being beneficial in obtaining the final permission for deployment. Copyright 2002 International Council for the Exploration of the Sea. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Processes influencing suspended sediment movement on the Malin–Hebrides shelf

A three-dimensional baroclinic model, including suspended sediment transport, is used in cross-sectional form to examine processes (tidal, along-shelf current, wind-waves, and wind) influencing suspended sediment transport off the west coast of Scotland. Sub-grid scale processes are parameterized using a turbulence energy model. Calculations using appropriate sediment types and tidal forcing for the region, show that the barotropic tide alone essentially cannot suspend bottom sediment in the area. However, when an along-shelf flow is added some sediment is suspended. An off-shelf net transport of sediment occurs in the bottom layer, with a weaker on-shelf transport in the surface region. This is consistent with recent measurements in the area which show the lack of tidal resuspension, and the importance of an along-shelf flow in sediment suspension. Observations reveal a weak off-shelf flow in the bottom boundary layer. The magnitude of this transport is increased by the presence of wind-waves, or by a reduction in the sediment settling velocity. Observations during a storm clearly show the importance of wind-waves in causing sediment resuspension particularly close to the shore. When density stratification was included, internal tides were generated with associated regions of enhanced bottom friction velocity u * and hence increased sediment resuspension. Although the dominant feature of the flow is similar to that found with the barotropic tide, this is modified by smaller scale currents due to the presence of the internal tide. Summer observations indicate that strong internal waves can enhance sediment suspension. However from the limited number of observations and the high spatial variability of the internal tide found in the model, the importance of the internal tide is difficult to assess from the measurements. When an upwelling favourable wind is added, the vertical density gradient in the near-bed region increases, which changes the internal tide and hence its effect upon sediment suspension and transport. The presence of an along-shelf flow induced by the wind significantly increases the bed stress leading to enhanced sediment resuspension. Sediment transport is dominated by the wind-driven flow, with coastal upwelling moving sediment from the bottom boundary layer to the surface layer where it is advected off-shelf. Observations made during upwelling favourable winds, confirm this off-shelf advection of sediment in the upper part of the water column. Conversely with a downwelling favourable wind, the thickness of the bottom boundary layer is increased, and in the shelf edge region sediment is suspended to a greater height in the water column. In the near-coastal area, under downwelling conditions, the sediment is confined to the bottom boundary layer and is advected away from the shore in the near-bed region.

The systematics of Seminavis (Bacillariophyta) : the lost identities of Amphora angusta, A. ventricosa and A. macilenta

Amphora angusta Gregory, Amphora ventricosa Gregory and Amphora macilenta Gregory have been misunderstood for the last 140 years. Gregory described these species from sublittoral sediments off the west coast of Scotland. Although the illustrations were excellent for their time (1857), it is impossible to be confident of identification using Gregory's paper, and subsequent authors have created such confusion that records of these taxa must be regarded as untrustworthy unless backed by photographic evidence. In this paper, the first to describe in detail the recently established genus Seminavis, we show that A. angusta is in fact a species of Amphora Ehrenberg, whereas A. ventricosa sensu Gregory represents two independent species of the genus Seminavis D. G. Mann, namely Seminavis ventricosa (Gregory) Garcia-Baptista (non S. ventricosa sensu Garcia-Baptista 1993) and Seminavis arranensis Danielidis & D. G. Mann, sp. nov. The form usually known as A. ventricosa is neither of these and requires a new name, Seminavis robusta Danielidis & D. G. Mann, sp. nov. The long forgotten and misclassified species A. macilenta Gregory is shown to be yet another Seminavis species, requiring a new combination as S. macilenta (Gregory) Danielidis & D. G. Mann, comb. nov.; contrary to previous claims, it is separate from A. ergadensis Gregory, which is a true Amphora. Valve and girdle ultrastructure, plastid arrangement and auxosporulation are described for Seminavis and resemble those in the Naviculaceae sensu stricto.

The Wet, the Wild and the Domesticated: the Mesolithic-- Neolithic Transition On the West Coast of Scotland

Models of the Mesolithic—Neolithic transition in Britain in recent years have tended to downplay the role of changes in the subsistence economy, emphasizing a very gradual adoption of new domesticated resources. This view has been particularly pervasive for the west coast of Scotland, which in the context of Britain presents a relatively marginal environment for farming. In this article, we challenge this too-quickly emerging orthodoxy through the presentation and discussion of both new and previously published stable isotope data and AMS dates. The palaeodietary information, while limited, strongly suggests a very rapid and complete change in the subsistence economy coincident with the earliest manifestations of the Neolithic on the west coast of Scotland early in the fourth millennium cal. BC. Whatever explanation is invoked to account for the transition needs to engage with the isotopic data. The possibility of colonization at some level needs to be seriously reconsidered.

Sea louse control in Scotland, past and present.

Methods for farming the Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L) in Scotland were developed at the Unilever Research Laboratory facility at Lochailort on the west coast of Scotland in the late 1960s. By the spring of 1972 a fledgling commercial company had been set up and Marine Harvest, as it was known, received its first year class of smolts at Lochailort. Sea lice (Lepeophtheirus salmonis Krøyer) from passing wild fish infected the smolts but did not cause any significant damage until the summer of 1976 when intervention was required. The Scottish industry has since grown to become a vital source of employment for fragile rural economies and produced about 130,000 tonnes of salmon in 2000. This paper gives an overview of how fish welfare has been maintained by the development of treatments and management strategies aimed at minimising the impact of sea lice.

Wild salmonids and sea louse infestations on the west coast of Scotland: sources of infection and implications for the management of marine salmon farms.

The sea louse (Lepeophtheirus salmonis Krøyer) is a major health problem for both farmed and wild salmonids. This paper investigates louse epidemiology and management in the salmon-farming zone of western Scotland. Based on a review of the marine ecology of wild salmon (Salmo salar L) and sea trout (Salmo trutta L), and catch and farm production statistics, best estimates were made for numbers of wild and farm hosts present in coastal waters in March-June 2000. Applying data for ovigerous female louse infections and fecundity, the sources and risks of larval transmission to wild salmon and sea trout were modelled. Farm salmon in the second spring of production were the primary host group (98% of fish), while numbers of wild salmonids (< 1%) and escaped farm salmon (2%) were relatively insignificant. Farm salmon produced 97% of louse eggs at high levels (eight ovigerous lice per fish), and 78% at low levels (one per fish). Wild salmonids produced < 1% of eggs under both scenarios, but escaped farm salmon produced 3% and 21%, respectively. All hosts potentially cross-infect one another, but farm salmon are more likely to infect wild and farm smolts, and also other farm salmon. Monitoring of lice on sea trout in June 1998-2000 by the Association of West Coast Fisheries Trusts corroborated the model's conclusions. Localised epizootics occurred every year and coincided with the presence of ovigerous lice on local farms. In areas of mixed-year class production on farms, epizootics were evident every spring, but occurred every second spring in areas of single-year class production. In 1998-2000 at least 14-40% of sea trout were infected with potentially lethal infestations of lice. Ovigerous louse levels of < 0.005 per fish were required on farm salmon in the spring of 2000 to produce less eggs than those emitted by wild salmonids. With the industry's continued expansion, and thus increased numbers of farm salmon, a target of zero ovigerous lice will be required on farms to minimise impacts on wild salmonids. Due to the limited long-term efficacy and availability of louse medicines, management strategies are discussed which will improve control, including single-year class production over large areas, alternate S1-S1/2 smolt inputs, and 11-month production cycles.