Atlantic surfclams (Spisula solidissima), among the largest extant non-symbiotic clam species in the world, live in dense aggregations along the Middle Atlantic Bight (MAB) continental shelf. The food resources that support these populations are poorly understood. An individual-based model that simulates the growth of post-settlement surfclams was used to investigate the quantity of food needed...

BACKGROUND Coastal sediments in the northern Gulf of Mexico have a high potential of being contaminated by petroleum hydrocarbons, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), due to extensive petroleum exploration and transportation activities. In this study we evaluated the spatial distribution and contamination sources of PAHs, as well as the bioavailable fraction in the bulk PAH pool, i...

Melt water from the floating ice shelves at the margins of the southeastern Weddell Sea makes a significant contribution to the fresh water budget of the region. In February 2005 a multi-institution team conducted an oceanographic campaign at Fimbul Ice Shelf on the Greenwich Meridian as part of the Autosub Under Ice programme. This included a mission of the autonomous submarine Autosub 25 km i...

Coastal tides are influenced by several factors and one of the most important of these is the character of the adjacent continental shelf. A continental margin theory is derived and used to discuss several different aspects of the effect " 'smooth" continental shelves have on tides. The main results are as follows. (a) The theory suggests, in accordance with observations, that semi-diurnal tide...

demonstration of the geomorphological factors in setting the legal regime of the caspian seaintroduction:the caspian sea is the largest water basin which enclosed by land within eurasia continent. the caspian sea is unique in many reasons: the large deposits of oil and gas, valuable fishery resources; including 90% of the world’s stock of sturgeon, important transportation routes; connecting th...

BACKGROUND In contrast to the well-studied continental shelf region of the Gulf of Maine, fundamental questions regarding the diversity, distribution, and abundance of species living in deep-sea habitats along the adjacent continental margin remain unanswered. Lack of such knowledge precludes a greater understanding of the Gulf of Maine ecosystem and limits development of alternatives for conse...