Growth history and inshore migration of the tropical eel, Anguilla marmorata, in the Pacific

A comparative study of the otolith microstructure and microchemistry of Anguilla marmorata glass eels in the western North Pacific (Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines, Indonesia) determined the timing of metamorphosis and age at recruitment to freshwater habitats with a view to learning about the early life history and recruitment of this species of tropical anguillid eel, which has a wide range throughout much of the western Pacific and parts of the Indian Ocean. Three new samples (from Japan, Taiwan, Indonesia) were analyzed and statistically compared along with two other previously published samples that were analyzed using the same techniques. Ages at metamorphosis and recruitment, respectively, were 123ᆡ.4 days (mean-SD) and 154ᆥ.0 days in specimens from Japan, 116ᆢ.6 days and 145ᆣ.6 days in those from Taiwan, 120ᆡ.0 days and 154ᆡ.5 days in the Philippines stock and 132Nj.7 days and 159ᆟ.7 days, and 120ᆣ.6 days and 152ᆣ.2 days in the Indonesian stock. The average duration of the period of metamorphosis estimated from otolith microstructure was very similar (15-17 days) in the specimens from all locations. A close linear relationship was found between the ages at metamorphosis and recruitment at all locations, suggesting that individuals that metamorphosed earlier were recruited to freshwater habitats at a younger age. Back-calculated hatching dates ranged over about 6 months of the year, suggesting that this species may spawn throughout much of the year. It is hypothesized that specimens from all four sites are from the same spawning population originating in a spawning area in the North Equatorial Current of the western North Pacific.     

Numerical investigation concerning the impact of CO2 geologic storage on regional groundwater flow

Large-scale storage of carbon dioxide in saline aquifers may cause considerable pressure perturbation and brine migration in deep rock formations, which may have a significant influence on the regional groundwater system. With the help of parallel computing techniques, we conducted a comprehensive, large-scale numerical simulation of CO₂ geologic storage that predicts not only CO₂ migration, but also its impact on regional groundwater flow. As a case study, a hypothetical industrial-scale CO₂ injection in Tokyo Bay, which is surrounded by the most heavily industrialized area in Japan, was considered, and the impact of CO₂ injection on near-surface aquifers was investigated, assuming relatively high seal-layer permeability (higher than 10 microdarcy). A regional hydrogeological model with an area of about 60 km × 70 km around Tokyo Bay was discretized into about 10 million gridblocks. To solve the high-resolution model efficiently, we used a parallelized multiphase flow simulator TOUGH2-MP/ECO2N on a world-class high performance supercomputer in Japan, the Earth Simulator. In this simulation, CO₂ was injected into a storage aquifer at about 1 km depth under Tokyo Bay from 10 wells, at a total rate of 10 million tons/year for 100 years. Through the model, we can examine regional groundwater pressure buildup and groundwater migration to the land surface. The results suggest that even if containment of CO₂ plume is ensured, pressure buildup on the order of a few bars can occur in the shallow confined aquifers over extensive regions, including urban inlands.     

Morphological and physiological studies on the olfactory organ of the striped eel catfish,Plotosus lineatus

The olfactory organ of the striped eel catfish,Plotosus lineatus (Thunberg), obtained off Kyushu Island, Japan, was examined both morphologically and electrophysiologically. The olfactory organ ofP. lineatus differs from that of most other catfishes, possessing a small olfactory rosette containing only relatively few lamellae, a well-developed olfactory ventilation sac used as the primary means of propelling water through the olfactory chamber, and olfactory sensory epithelia lying in discrete patches rather than continuously distributed across the lamellae. Although morphological differences in the olfactory organ betweenP. lineatus and other catfishes are significant, the physiological characteristics are remarkably similar. Response thresholds for amino acids (L-cysteine and L-glutamine) were ca. 10^–9 M, and the relative effectiveness of 16 amino-acid stimuli differed little from those reported for other catfishes.