New species of syringoporids from Eifelian deposits of the Subpolar Ural Mountains

A high diversity of tabulate corals in Eifelian deposits of the Syv“yu River basin (Subpolar Urals) is reported for the first time. Most of the corals are represented by colonies of syringoporids. Five new species Syringopora parva sp. nov., S. insueta sp. nov., S. indecora sp. nov., Tetraporinus syvjuensis sp. nov., and Armalites serotinus sp. nov. are described.     

Sequence stratigraphy and carbonate platform organization of the Devonian Santa Lucia Formation, Cantabrian Mountains, NW-Spain

In this paper, the sedimentology and the stratigraphic architecture of the Devonian Santa Lucia Formation in the Cantabrian Mountains of NW-Spain are described. The Santa Lucia Formation consists of 11 different facies that can be attributed to peritidal/lagoonal, intertidal and subtidal facies associations. These facies associations are arranged in small-scale sedimentary cycles. Three different settings of small-scale sedimentary cycles are recognized: intertidal/supratidal, shallow subtidal/intertidal and subtidal cycles. These cycles reflect spatial differences in the reaction of the depositional system to small-scale relative sea-level changes. Small-scale stratigraphic cycles are stacked into seven medium-scale cycles that in turn are integral parts of three larger-scale cycles. Most of the Santa Lucia Formation (sequences 2–6) forms one major large-scale cycle, whereas sequences 1 and 7 are part of an underlying and an overlying cycle, respectively. Eustatic sea-level changes exerted major control on the formation of these large-scale sequences, whereas the medium-scale cycles seem to be co-controlled by regional tectonism and eustasy. Small-scale cycles seem to be the product of high frequency, eustatic sea-level changes. During the deposition of the Santa Lucia Formation, the morphology of the carbonate platform changed from a gently south-dipping ramp to a rimmed shelf and back to a gently dipping ramp.     

长白山高山冻原生态系统的碳储量

对长白山高山冻原生态系统碳在植被-凋落物-土壤中的分布进行了研究。结果表明,在长白山高山冻原植被亚系统中,碳储量分布规律是典型高山冻原(TT)>石质高山冻原(ST)>草甸高山冻原(MT)>沼泽高山冻原(WT)>石海高山冻原(RT),长白山高山冻原的植被碳储量为3.3457×104t。而生物量分布规律是WT>TT>MT>ST>RT。在长白山高山冻原凋落物亚系统中,平均凋落物量是0.991 kg.hm-2.年-1;凋落物碳储量为1.5043×104t,碳储量分布规律是TT>ST>MT>RT>WT。长白山高山冻原土壤(0~20 cm)亚系统中,有机碳储量为3.162×105t;每年约有1.4105×104t碳通过土壤呼吸释放到大气圈,长白山高山冻原植被-土壤系统现已成为3.6471×105t碳储库。     

云南横断山区蚤类物种丰富度与区系的垂直分布格局

为探讨横断山区蚤类物种丰富度与区系垂直分布格局的基本规律以及影响它们分布的主要生态因子,本文以云南西部横断山区18个山峰为主体,对海拔高度在1000–5000m之间已知分布的9科43属142种(亚种)蚤类的垂直分布资料进行综合整理和统计分析。结果显示:(1)蚤类的属丰富度、物种丰富度、特有种丰富度和特有度以及不同区系成分物种丰富度的垂直分布都呈现随海拔先增高后降低的单峰分布格局,最大峰值出现在中山海拔2500–3800m之间;(2)东洋和古北两区系成分物种构成比的垂直分布格局截然不同,前者随着海拔梯度的升高基本递减,后者则随着海拔的升高递增,垂直分布格局反映了它们沿纬度梯度分布的一般规律;(3)聚类分析将横断山9个不同海拔带的蚤类归为6个生态类型,反映出海拔高度、气候环境和森林植被等重要因素对蚤类分布的影响以及蚤类群落的组成、分布沿海拔梯度变化的一般规律,表达了蚤类分布与环境条件的统一性;(4)β多样性沿海拔梯度呈现为双峰形分布格局,两高峰值都反映出蚤类的组成和分布在不同气候环境和植被带之间的过渡与转变,说明β多样性垂直分布格局与海拔梯度上的气候和生境的变化程度有关。研究认为,中山地段物种丰富度高峰的形成主要是由于两大动、植物区系过渡区的边缘效应和山地水湿条件的影响。影响该区域蚤类垂直分布格局的综合因素有山体海拔高度、动植物区系过渡区的边缘效应、山地雨量分配特征、气候环境条件以及人们的生产活动等。     

1987年大兴安岭特大火灾后北坡森林景观生态恢复评价

通过空间直观景观模型(LAND IS)来探讨大兴安岭北坡1987年特大森林火灾后,在目前这种恢复方案下以及完全依靠天然更新下森林景观的长期动态,通过对比研究来评价目前所采取的恢复措施是否能够有效地恢复森林资源。研究结果表明:1987年大火后所采取的恢复措施可以在很大程度上增加针叶树种在该区所占的比例,而相应地降低阔叶树种的比重。由于在目前的恢复措施下,不仅大面积地种植针叶树种,同时也采伐了大量的成、过熟林,使落叶松和樟子松的蓄积量在开始阶段不仅没有增加,反而有大幅度的下降。但最终,所更新的幼苗逐渐成材,落叶松和樟子松的蓄积量逐渐超过天然更新下的。在演替前期,白桦的蓄积量在这2种模拟方案下相差不大;而在演替后期,白桦在天然更新方案下的蓄积量要高于在目前恢复措施下的蓄积量。另外,物种在不同的区域的变化动态又有较大的差异。在重度火烧区,由于人为种植大量的针叶树种,使它们所占的面积比例明显高于完全依靠天然更新下其在重度火烧区所占的比例;而阔叶树种则相反,在完全依靠天然更新方案下所占的面积百分比明显高于在目前恢复方案下的比例。而在未火烧和轻中度火烧区,由于火后人为采伐大量的落叶松和樟子松,使这2个树种在该区所占的比例在开始100多年里要低于完全依靠天然更新下的比例,随后逐渐高于天然更新下所占的比例,但相差不大;阔叶树种则正好相反。另外,目前恢复方案不仅极大地改变了主要物种在该区所占的比例,而且还明显的影响了它们的空间分布格局。     

Toarcian and Aalenian (Jurassic) ammonites from the Shemshak Formation of the Jajarm area (eastern Alborz, Iran)

In the Jajarm area (eastern Alborz Mountains, NE Iran) the ?Upper Triassic — Lower Bajocian siliciclastic Shemshak Formation is up to 2000 m thick. Whereas the lower third of the formation is nearly exclusively non-marine, the upper two-thirds are fully marine. The middle part is characterized by several levels containing a relatively diverse and well preserved assemblage of ammonites of the Toarcian to Aalenian stages. Two sections of the ammonite-bearing strata, spaced 20 km, are presented and correlated by means of ammonite biostratigraphy. The ammonite fauna consists of 27 taxa, some of which are recorded for the first time from the Alborz Mountains. The ammonites are briefly described and their palaeobiogeographic context is reviewed. The ammonite fauna of the Shemshak Formation at Jajarm, as elsewhere in North and Central Iran, is exclusively Northwestern Tethyan in character and is closely related to the faunas of Northwestern and Central Europe.     

BASAL CAMBRIAN MICROFOSSILS FROM THE YURTUS AND XISHANBLAQ FORMATIONS (TARIM, NORTH-WEST CHINA): SYSTEMATIC REVISION AND BIOSTRATIGRAPHIC CORRELATION OF MICRHYSTRIDIUM-LIKE ACRITARCHS

Abstract:  Micrhystridium -like acritarchs are widely distributed in basal Cambrian cherts and phosphorites in South China. This paper describes similar acritarchs from the basal Cambrian Yurtus and Xishanblaq formations in Tarim, north-west China. The taxonomy of these acritarchs is revised. The basal Cambrian acritarch assemblage in Tarim and South China is characterized by three genera: Asteridium Moczydłowska, Heliosphaeridium Moczydłowska and Comasphaeridium Staplin, Jansonius and Pocock. This assemblage is named the Asteridium - Heliosphaeridium - Comasphaeridium (AHC) acritarch assemblage. In both South China and Tarim, the AHC acritarch assemblage is associated with the tubular microfossil Megathrix longus Yin L. and the small shelly fossil Kaiyangites novilis Qian and Yin G. This assemblage also occurs in the Lower Tal Formation in the Lesser Himalaya. Correlation with small shelly fossil (SSF) assemblages indicates that the AHC assemblage is restricted to the Meishucunian Stage, and possibly to the lower Meishucunian ( Anabarites trisulcatus - Protohertzina anabarica and Siphogonuchites triangularis - Paragloborilus subglobosus SSF assemblages). The AHC assemblage is broadly similar to the Asteridium tornatum - Comasphaeridium velvetum (acritarch) Zone in the East European Platform, which is considered to be Nemakit-Daldynian (and possibly Tommotian) in age.     

Rugosochonetidae (Brachiopoda, Chonetidina) from the Carboniferous of the Cantabrian Mountains (N Spain)

An overview is given of the species belonging to the family Rugosochonetidae known from the Carboniferous of the Cantabrian Mts. Their distribution is compared with other occurrences in Eurasia and elsewhere. Subfamily and generic assignments are discussed in some detail. Comments on palaeogeographic and palaeoecological aspects of the rugosochonetid faunas are presented.     

Net Primary Production and Canopy Nitrogen in a Temperate Forest Landscape: An Analysis Using Imaging Spectroscopy, Modeling and Field Data

Understanding spatial patterns of net primary production (NPP) is central to the study of terrestrial ecosystems, but efforts are frequently hampered by a lack of spatial information regarding factors such as nitrogen availability and site history. Here, we examined the degree to which canopy nitrogen can serve as an indicator of patterns of NPP at the Bartlett Experimental Forest in New Hampshire by linking canopy nitrogen estimates from two high spectral resolution remote sensing instruments with field measurements and an ecosystem model. Predicted NPP across the study area ranged from less than 700 g m⁻² year⁻¹ to greater than 1300 g m⁻² year⁻¹ with a mean of 951 g m⁻² year⁻¹. Spatial patterns corresponded with elevation, species composition and historical forest management, all of which were reflected in patterns of canopy nitrogen. The relationship between production and elevation was nonlinear, with an increase from low- to mid-elevation deciduous stands, followed by a decline in upper-elevation areas dominated by evergreens. This pattern was also evident in field measurements and mirrored an elevational trend in foliar N concentrations. The increase in production from low-to mid-elevation deciduous stands runs counter to the generally accepted pattern for the northeastern U.S. region, and suggests an importance of moisture limitations in lower-elevation forests. Field measurements of foliar N, wood production and leaf litterfall were also used to evaluate sources of error in model estimates and to determine how predictions are affected by different methods of acquiring foliar N input data. The accuracy of predictions generated from remotely sensed foliar N approached that of predictions driven by field-measured foliar N. Predictions based on the more common approach of using aggregated foliar N for individual cover types showed reasonable agreement in terms of the overall mean, but were in poor agreement on a plot-by-plot basis. Collectively, these results suggest that variation in foliar N exerts an important control on landscape-level spatial patterns and can serve as an integrator of other underlying factors that influence forest growth rates.     

C<Subscript>3</Subscript> and C<Subscript>4</Subscript> photosynthetic pathways and life form types for native species from agro-forestry region,Northeastern China

Of the total 570 species, 194 species in 116 genera and 52 families were found with C₃ photosynthesis, 24 species in 17 genera and 6 families with C₄ photosynthesis, and 2 species in 1 genera and 1 family with CAM photosynthesis. 90 % of the total species can be found in Changbai Mountain flora, more a half (69 %) in North China flora, and about 1/3 in Mongolian flora and Xinan flora, respectively. The occurrence of C₄ species was not as common as that in adjacent grasslands and deserts, but relatively more than in the adjacent forests. Of the total 24 C₄ species, 63 % C₄ species (15 of 24) was found in Gramineae. Nine life form types can be found, reflecting the moist climate in the region, especially the occurrence of epiphyte and liana forms. Relatively more geophyte life form plants suggested the winter in the region was much colder than in grasslands. These indicated that both ecological studies and land management decisions must take into account plant photosynthetic pathway and life form patterns, for both of them are closely related to climatic changes and land use.