Prehistoric Pile Dwellers within an Emergent Ecosystem: An Archaeological Case of Hunters and Gatherers at the Mouth of the Savannah River during the Mid-Holocene

Evidence of a pile-dwelling community and seral environmental conditions during the late Mid-Holocene (ca 4,000–3,000 years b.p.) is explored through archaeological data and paleoecological information from the Bilbo Site at the mouth of the Savannah River along the Georgia coast, U.S.A. It is argued that pile dwellings were a central feature of the cultural adaptive system, allowing settlements to be located in wetlands that provided optimal access to the evolving food resources of multiple, dynamic environments. It also is suggested that the adaptive strategy included residential stability and a more complex organizational structure than that exhibited by modern hunter-gatherers living in marginal environments. An erratum to this article can be found at     

Merino ewes bred for parasite resistance reduce larval contamination onto pasture during the peri-parturient period

The peri-parturient period is crucial for controlling worms as the acquired immunity of ewes is disrupted, resulting in an increase in faecal worm egg counts. Two hypotheses were tested in this experiment - that ewes bred for worm resistance would have lower faecal worm egg counts than unselected control ewes, during late pregnancy and lactation, under similar but separate grazing areas; and also that numbers of infective nematode larvae would be lower on pastures grazed by resistant ewes than pastures grazed by unselected control ewes. Faecal samples were collected from resistant and unselected ewes in late pregnancy and early lactation, during the winter rainfall season, and analysed for numbers of Trichostrongylus colubriformis and Teladorsagia circumcincta. Pasture samples were taken 1 week before and 7 weeks after lambing started and analysed for infective larvae. In all sheep, worm egg counts rose 2 weeks prior to lambing and continued into lactation. Worm egg counts were significantly lower in the resistant ewes from 1 week before lambing to 2 weeks after lambing. There were no differences in egg counts between single- and twin-bearing ewes in the resistant line. However, twin-bearing control ewes had significantly higher egg counts than single-bearing control ewes. Following lactation, plots grazed by resistant ewes had substantially less contamination with T. colubriformis larvae, but there were no differences in numbers of T. circumcincta larvae. Our results demonstrate that sheep bred for worm resistance has lower worm burdens during the peri-parturient phase and that lambs born to resistant ewes face a lower larval challenge during their introduction to grazing. In our environment, selection for low worm egg counts has produced sheep highly resistant to T. colubriformis, but has had less impact on resistance towards T. circumcincta.     

Antiprogestagen RU486 prevents the LH-dependent decrease in the serum concentrations of inhibin in the rat

Summary 1. In the rat, the LH-dependent ovarian progesterone rise mediates several actions of the primary surge of LH on the ovary. This experiment was aimed at elucidating the effects of the antiprogestagen RU486 on the LH-dependent decrease in both the serum concentrations and the ovarian content of inhibin.2. All rats in this experiment were treated with an antagonist of LHRH (1 mg/200 µl saline at 0800 h in proestrus) to supress the endogenous release of LH. One group of rats received 32 µg LH/250 µl saline at 1200 h in proestrus. Other group was given 4 mg RU486/200 µl oil at 0800 h in proestrus. The third group was injected with both RU486 and LH. Rats from the control group were injected with 250 µl saline and 200 µl oil. Animals were decapitated at 1700 h in proestrus and trunk blood and ovaries collected to determine the serum concentrations of LH, FSH, progesterone, 17ß-estradiol and inhibin as well as the ovarian content of inhibin.3. The ovulatory dose of LH in LHRHa-treated rats decreased both the serum concentrations and the ovarian content of inhibin and increased the serum concentrations of FSH. The administration of RU486 blocked the effect of LH on the serum concentrations of inhibin but not that on the ovarian content of inhibin.4. Since the antiprogestagen RU486 blocked the effect of LH on the serum concentrations of inhibin, we conclude that ovarian progesterone, besides mediating the effects of the primary LH surge on the ovulatory process and luteinization, participates in the LH-dependent drop in the serum concentrations of inhibin in proestrous afternoon.     

First report on new evidence for the occurrence of Podocarpus and possible human presence at the mouth of the Amazon during the Late-glacial

Palynological studies on late Quaternary lake sediments from the region of the Amazon estuary, 100 km north-east of Belém, Pará State, Brazil, enable reconstruction of lowland Amazonian rain forest during the Late-glacial and Holocene periods. Late-glacial forests included populations of Podocarpus which suggests a distinct climatic cooling. Ilex was abundant in the early Holocene. Records of the mangrove taxon, Rhizophora, indicate rapid Atlantic sea-level rise in the beginning of the Holocene. High charcoal representation may reflect the first arrival of Amerindians in the Amazon coastal area, probably about 10 800 B.P.     

The expected effects of climate change on wheat development

Air temperature and the atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide are expected to rise. These two factor have a great potential to affect development, growth and yield of crops, including wheat. Rising air temperature may affect wheat development more than rising atmospheric CO₂ as there is not yet evidence that elevated CO₂ concentrations can directly induce changes in wheat development. In winter wheat, temperature has a complex effect on development due to its strong interaction with vernalization and photoperiod. In this paper, potential effects of rising temperature on the development of winter wheat from sowing to heading are considered in the light of this complex controlling mechanism. Data from a large series of field trials made in Romania is analysed at first and, subsequently, the IATA-Wheat Phenology model is used to calculate the impact of air warming on wheat development under different climate change scenarios. Data from the field trials showed very clearly the occurrence of a complex temperature/photoperiod/vernalization interaction for field sown crops and demostrated that the photoperiodic and vernalization responses have a key role in controlling the duration of the emergence-heading period. Temperature plays, instead, a central role in controlling seed germination and crop emergence as well as leaf inititiation and leaf appearance rate. The results of model analysis showed very well that the impact of an even or uneven distribution of warning effects may be very different. In the first case, the model predicted that the duration of the vegetative period was at least partly reduced in some years. In the second case, the model suggested that if warming will be more pronounced in winter than in spring, as predicted for some areas of the world by General Circulation Models, we may expect an increase in the duration of the vegetative phase of growth. On the contrary, in case of a spring warming but unchanged winter temperatures, we may expect a substantial decrease in the duration of the vegetative period.     

Root to shoot ratio of crops as influenced by CO2

Crops of tomorrow are likely to grow under higher levels of atmospheric CO₂. Fundamental crop growth processes will be affected and chief among these is carbon allocation. The root to shoot ratio (R:S, defined as dry weight of root biomass divided by dry weight of shoot biomass) depends upon the partitioning of photosynthate which may be influenced by environmental stimuli. Exposure of plant canopies to high CO₂ concentration often stimulates the growth of both shoot and root, but the question remains whether elevated atmospheric CO₂ concentration will affect roots and shoots of crop plants proportionally. Since elevated CO₂ can induce changes in plant structure and function, there may be differences in allocation between root and shoot, at least under some conditions. The effect of elevated atmospheric CO₂ on carbon allocation has yet to be fully elucidated, especially in the context of changing resource availability. Herein we review root to shoot allocation as affected by increased concentrations of atmospheric CO₂ and provide recommendations for further research. Review of the available literature shows substantial variation in R:S response for crop plants. In many cases (59.5%) R:S increased, in a very few (3.0%) remained unchanged, and in others (37.5%) decreased. The explanation for these differences probably resides in crop type, resource supply, and other experimental factors. Efforts to understand allocation under CO₂ enrichment will add substantially to the global change response data base.Abbreviations R:S root to shoot ratio, dry weight basis     

Environmental drivers in mangrove establishment and early development: A review

Mangroves have a global distribution within coastal tropical and subtropical climates, and have even expanded to some temperate locales. Where they do occur, mangroves provide a plethora of goods and services, ranging from coastal protection from storms and erosion to direct income for human societies. The mangrove literature has become rather voluminous, prompting many subdisciplines within a field that earlier in the 20th century received little focus. Much of this research has become diffuse by sheer numbers, requiring detailed syntheses to make research results widely available to resource managers. In this review, we take an inclusive approach in focusing on eco-physiological and growth constraints to the establishment and early development of mangrove seedlings in the intertidal zone. This is a critical life stage for mangroves, i.e., the period between dispersal and recruitment to the sapling stage. We begin with some of the research that has set the precedent for seedling-level eco-physiological research in mangroves, and then we focus on recent advances (circa. 1995 to present) in our understanding of temperature, carbon dioxide, salinity, light, nutrient, flooding, and specific biotic influences on seedling survival and growth. As such, we take a new approach in describing seedling response to global factors (e.g., temperature) along with site-specific factors (e.g., salinity). All variables will strongly influence the future of seedling dynamics in ways perhaps not yet documented in mature forests. Furthermore, understanding how different mangrove species can respond to global factors and regional influences is useful for diagnosing observed mortality within mangrove wetlands, managed or natural. This review provides an updated eco-physiological knowledge base for future research and reforestation activity, and for understanding important links among climate change, local physico-chemical condition, and establishment and early growth of mangrove seedlings.     

气候变化影响下海岸带脆弱性评估研究进展

近百年来,全球气候系统正经历着以全球变暖为主要特征的显著变化。研究海岸带系统对气候变化的响应机制,评估气候变化对海岸带社会、经济和生态的潜在影响,提出切实可行的应对策略,是保障海岸带系统安全的重要前提。回顾了IPCC的四次评估报告,分析了全球气候变化对海岸带的影响。总结了海岸带脆弱性评估框架以及脆弱性评价指标体系,综述了国内外气候变化影响下海岸带脆弱性评估研究的进展。在综述国内外该领域研究进展的基础上,展望了气候变化影响下海岸带脆弱性评估研究。全球气候变化及其对海岸带的影响还有大量的科学技术问题需要进一步探讨,同时也需要对各种适应气候变化措施的可行性和有效性进行研究和验证。     

Integrating spatial data and shorebird nesting locations to predict the potential future impact of global warming on coastal habitats: A case study on Farasan Islands,Saudi Arabia

One of the expected effects of the global warming is changing coastal habitats by accelerating the rate of sea level rise. Coastal habitats support large number of marine and wetland species including shorebirds (plovers, sandpipers and allies). In this study, we investigate how coastal habitats may be impacted by sea level rise in the Farasan Islands, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. We use Kentish plover Charadrius alexandrinus – a common coastal breeding shorebird – as an ecological model species to predict the influence of sea level rise. We found that any rise of sea level is likely to inundate 11% of Kentish plover nests. In addition, 5% of the coastal areas of Farasan Islands, which support 26% of Kentish plover nests, will be flooded, if sea level rises by one metre. Our results are constrained by the availability of data on both elevation and bird populations. Therefore, we recommend follow-up studies to model the impacts of sea level rise using different elevation scenarios, and the establishment of a monitoring programme for breeding shorebirds and seabirds in Farasan Islands to assess the impact of climate change on their populations.     

森林凋落物分解重要影响因子及其研究进展

当前 ,森林凋落物分解被放在陆地生态系统碳平衡背景下进行研究 ,认识凋落物分解过程的影响因素和影响机理对理解地表碳平衡具有重要意义。凋落物在分解过程中 ,伴随有养分含量的变化 ,低品质凋落物在分解前期 (可达 2～ 3年 )会从环境中固定养分 ,特别是氮磷养分 ,而在后期则会释放出养分。凋落物本身的养分含量是影响分解速率的重要因素 ,高养分含量的凋落物分解快些 ,阔叶凋落物比针叶凋落物分解快些。有资料显示 ,在总分解率为2 9 4 %的构成中 ,理化因素、微生物因素与土壤动物因素对凋落物分解的贡献率分别为 7 2 %、8 0 %和 14 2 %。不同类型凋落物在分解过程中的土壤动物类群也不同 ,它也是造成凋落物分解速率不同的关键因素 ,通常阔叶树种凋落物分解过程中 ,会有更多的微节肢动物出现。CO2浓度升高将造成植物有机质含碳量与其它养分的比值升高 ,形成低品质的凋落物 ,从而间接影响凋落物分解速率 ,一般认为 ,全球CO2 浓度升高会加强土壤作为碳汇的功能。