Benthic palaeoecology of Danian deep-shelf bryozoan mounds in the Danish Basin

Early Danian cool-water bryozoan mounds exposed in the coastal cliff Stevns Klint in Denmark were formed shortly after the Cretaceous–Tertiary mass extinction. They represent a relatively deep-water, highly diverse benthic ecosystem within the epeiric seaway that covered the Danish Basin. The mounds are 50–110 m long and reached a height of about 5–10 m above the seafloor; they are asymmetrical with a steep southern and a gentle northern flank, and were dominated by small suspension feeders. The benthic elements generally occur as fragments set in a carbonate mud matrix. The main skeletal contributors are delicate branching bryozoans with minor contributions of bryozoan sheets, and nodular/arborescent bryozoans. Locally abundant octocorals occur on the mound crests and upper parts of the steep flanks. Echinoids are present in minor amounts, but are locally abundant. Serpulids, crinoids, asteroids, brachiopods, bivalves, massive calcareous sponges, and benthic foraminifers are generally minor contributors to the benthic mound fauna. Influx of planktonic foraminifers, coccoliths and other planktonic organisms was high and was probably a major source of nutrient supply to the mainly suspension-feeding benthic fauna.

The faunal association reflects a relatively low energy environment with a high, possibly seasonal influx of particulate nutrients. The best growth conditions with respect to nutrient influx were on the mound crest and upper steep flank reflected by the diverse and relatively largest benthic faunal elements. Periodic reworking and winnowing occurred across the entire mound structure but most prominent on the gentle northern flanks limiting the benthic growth and notably the colony density and size of delicate branching bryozoans. Vagile benthic faunas were also adapted to different areas on the mound. Irregular echinoids preferred the intermound areas within fine-grained wackestone–packstone facies where they ploughed through the sediment, whereas regular echinoids were epifaunal and preferred the upper parts of the mounds, possibly feeding mainly on bryozoans. Skeletons of both groups became concentrated at the toe of the steep flanks and in the intermound areas by physical reworking during major storms.

Changes in faunal composition on the mound crests occurred rhythmically on both small and large scale during mound growth. Rhythmically recurring faunal assemblages reflect alternating hydrodynamic conditions on the seafloor with respect to nutrient influx and energy, which probably were linked to short-term seasonal and long-term climatic variations; the long-term alternation may be within the Milankovitch frequency band. Blooming events of bryozoan sheets resulted from relatively short periods with large amounts of available food and suitable substrate. Successful colonisation by octocorals on the other hand reflected longer-term favourable conditions on the mounds possibly associated with overall higher energy levels.

A possible Pleistocene analogue to the bryozoan-dominated Danian mounds occurs at the shelf-slope break of the Great Australian Bight. Both of these cool-water mound systems deviate from most other biogenic mounds known from the fossil record in their non-cemented nature, regular geometry and a lack of core and flank facies.     

A high‐stress shelly fauna associated with sponge mud‐mounds in the Coniacian Arnager Limestone of Bornholm,Denmark

The benthic macrofaunas of the Upper Cretaceous chalk of NW Europe show characteristically high species‐richnesses and commonly high densities. They are predominated by bivalves, brachiopods, polychaetes, echinoids, crinoids, asteroids, sponges and towards the end of the Cretaceous also by bryozoans. The mound‐bedded chalk of the Coniacian Arnager Limestone on the island of Bornholm in the Baltic Sea, Denmark, differs from this general picture. It was deposited on a small fault block adjacent to the main Bornholm block, which was emerged during much of the Mesozoic and thus occupied a much more proximal position than most other Upper Cretaceous chalks in NW Europe. The Arnager Limestone contains a unique, exceptionally rich and well‐preserved fauna of mainly hexactinellid, lyssacinosan sponges. The low mud‐mounds are interpreted as formed by baffling and trapping of fine sediment particles by the dense sponge thickets. In contrast, the associated shelly fauna is unusually sparse, of very low richness and extremely low density, except for inoceramid bivalves. It represents a strongly depauparated version of the shelly faunas of contemporaneous chalks in NW Europe. The rare specimens of non‐inoceramid shelly species are interpreted to represent occasional successful spatfalls of benthic species from the deeper‐water chalk farther offshore in the Baltic area. The sponge mud‐mounds of the Arnager Limestone show remarkable resemblances with modern sponge mounds recently discovered on the continental shelf of western Canada. They form an important link between the well‐known older Mesozoic sponge mud‐mounds or ‘reefs’ and the modern mounds and are among the youngest examples of Mesozoic sponge mounds.     

A close look at late carboniferous algal mounds: Schulterkofel,Carnic Alps,Austria

Summary During the uppermost Carboniferous and lowermost Permian algal mounds were formed in inner shelf settings of the Carnic Alps (Austria/Italy). A specific mound type, characterized by the dominance of the dasyclad green alga Anthracoporella was studied in detail with regard to geometry, relationship between mound and intermound rocks, composition of the sediment, biota and diagenetic criteria. The two meter-sized mounds studied, occur within depositional sequences of transgressive systems tracts in the Lower Pseudoschwagerina Limestones (uppermost Gzhelian) at the flank of the Schulterkofel. The mounds consist of an Anthracoporella core facies with a spongecrust boundstone facies at the base and at the top. The massive limestones of the Anthracoporella core facies exhibit abundant algal tufts and bushes, frequently in life position. The limestones of the intermound facies represented by thin-bedded bioclastic wackestones and packstones with abundant phylloid algae underlie and overlie the mounds. Intercalations of intermound beds within the mound facies indicate sporadic disruption of mound growth. Onlapping of intermound beds on steep mound flanks indicate rapid stabilization and lithification of mound flanks and the existence of a positive paleorelief. Asymmetrical shape of the mounds may be current controlled. Mound and intermound biota differ in the prevailing algae but are relatively similar with regard to associated foraminifera. Conspicuous differences concern bioerosion and biogenic encrustations. Bothare, high in intermound areas but low in the Anthracoporella core facies. The mounds show no ecological zonation. The mounds grew by in-place accumulation of disintegrated algal material and trapped bioclastic material between erect algal thalli. The comparison of the various Anthracoporella mounds demonstrates that almost each mound had ist own history. Establishing a general model for these mounds is a hazardous venture.     

From sediment to rock: diagenetic processes of hardground formation in deep-water carbonate mounds of the NE Atlantic

Modern cool-water carbonate mounds topped by corals form an extended reef belt along the NW European continental margin at 200–1200 m water depth. An essential element of mound growth are hardgrounds which provide a stable substratum for mound-building invertebrate colonisation and stabilise the inclined mound flanks. Evaluating the degree of lithification and the slope stability against erosion represents an important task within the ESF programme MOUNDFORCE under the umbrella of EUROMARGINS. Sampling of hardgrounds during RV Meteor cruises M61-1 and -3 in 2004 by means of the IFM-GEOMAR TV-grab and the Bremen ROV QUEST focused on carbonate mounds of the Porcupine Seabight and northwestern Rockall Bank off Ireland. Lithified carbonates of mid-Pleistocene age were exhumed during the Holocene and are now exposed on the top and flanks of numerous carbonate mounds showing a patchy to dense colonisation by living corals and associated invertebrates. The sediments, composed of foraminiferal–nannoplankton oozes and admixed mound-derived invertebrate skeletons, range from partly lithified chalks to dense micritic limestones. These wackestones to packstones clearly differ from bacterially induced authigenic carbonate crusts typical of hydrocarbon seep settings by showing current-induced sedimentary structures, a non-luminescing matrix indicating oxic pore fluids, and a marine isotopic signature lacking any depleted carbon regime which is typical of anaerobic methane oxidation. The carbonate lithification is driven by carbonate ion diffusion from supersaturated seawater into the pore fluids in the studied areas. Vigorous bottom currents were the ultimate control not only of carbonate cementation by enhancing the diffusion process and supporting a pumping mechanism, but also of hardground formation and mound shaping by exhuming lithified carbonates and preventing fine-grained sediment accumulation at the downslope mound flanks.     

Paleoecology of Middle Ordovician stromatoporoid mounds in Vermont

Fossiliferous mounds of carbonate mud are a distinctive facies in the middle Chazy Group (Crown Point Formation) at Isle La Motte, Lake Champlain. The mounds are surrounded by bedded calcarenite of spar-cemented pelmatozoan debris. Channels which cut into the mounds during mound growth are filled with the same calcarenite. The mud-free intermound rocks and the mound biota suggest agitated, normal marine shallow-water environments. The principal lime-secreting organisms within the mounds are stromatoporoids, calcareous algae, tabulate corals, sponges, and bryozoans. Each mound is dominated in terms of biomass by one of three groups: stromatoporoids, calcareous algae, and bryozoans. Most of the mound biota first appear at the base of the Crown Point Formation. In the lower Crown Point Formation the organisms increase in number and species. Both changes in the biota are related to periods of shallowing of the Chazy sea which are also reflected in the character of the carbonate sands.     

BRYOZOAN MUD-MOUNDS FROM THE UPPER ORDOVICIAN JIFARAH (DJEFFARA) FORMATION OF TRIPOLITANIA, NORTH-WEST LIBYA

Abstract:  A bryozoan fauna from carbonate mud-mounds is described from subsurface well cores from the Upper Ordovician (Lower Ashgill) Jifarah (Djeffara) Formation of Tripolitania, north-west Libya. Among a diverse assemblage dominated by trepostomes, nine species of bryozoans are identified, including Jifarahpora libyensis gen. et sp. nov. Delicate and robust branching, encrusting and nodular bryozoan growth forms are all common. The bryozoan-rich limestones are mostly mudstones and wackestones, with bafflestone and floatstone textures, but the mounds apparently lack organic framework and microbial fabrics. Regional geophysical data indicate rapid thickness changes between wells, where mound complexes locally up to 100 m thick had limited topographic relief over the surrounding sea floor. The mounds formed in a high-latitude, cool-water carbonate belt that extended widely across the northern margin of Gondwana. Quaternary analogues from the Great Australian Bight suggest that these early Ashgill mounds may have developed in slope environments during an episode of glacial lowstand that preceded the late Ashgill, Hirnantian glacial event.     

Abundance and Impact on Soil Properties of Cathedral and Lenticular Termite Mounds in Southern Indian Woodlands

Despite the acknowledged roles of termites in tropical ecosystems, the majority of published studies of epigeal mounds still address the African fauna and are principally concerned with spatial patterns and putative inter-colony competition, rather than the links between parent soil properties and mound establishment. Further, information about the effects of habitat disturbance, and especially fragmentation, is lacking. This study assessed the abundance and distribution of the cathedral- and lenticular-type aboveground mounds of fungus-growing termites (Macrotermitinae), which are a common feature of South Indian woodlands, in relation to soil properties (vertisol vs. ferralsol) and habitat fragmentation (forest vs. highway margins). Mound abundance averaged 3.5 (standard error, SE 0.8) ha^?1 (cathedral) and 12.9 (SE 2.1) ha^?1 (lenticular), but was not influenced either by soil properties or disturbance. However, the volume of soil stored in the mounds varied between 27 (SE 8) m³ ha^?1 (ferralsol) and 47 (SE 6) m³ ha^?1 (vertisol). At the watershed scale, such volumes are equivalent to a 3.1-mm layer of soil if spread evenly across the landscape, roughly the same as the estimated erosion over the life of a typical mound. Significantly more nutrients were stored in lenticular mounds, especially on the vertisol, but the significance of these at the ecosystem level was considered small. In conclusion, this study suggests that termite mounds, and especially lenticular mounds, have a significant impact on soil dynamics at the watershed scale but a limited impact on the distribution of C and nutrients.     

Danian cold‐water corals from the Baunekule facies,Faxe Formation,Denmark: a rare taphonomic window of a coral mound flank habitat

Well‐preserved cold‐water corals are comparatively rare in the fossil record. This is partly due to the very low fossilization potential of the predominantly aragonitic corals but also due to the fact that coral ecosystems of deep water are a geologically young development. A Middle Danian cold‐water coral mound complex is well exposed in Faxe Quarry, Denmark. The coral mounds are intercalated with bryozoan mounds of various sizes and form the Faxe Formation. The coral limestone displays large variations in diagenesis, and this complicates the palaeoecological reconstructions. However, the Baunekule facies from the Faxe Formation contain a well‐preserved originally aragonitic and calcitic fauna. The aragonitic skeletons have been recrystallized to calcite during early diagenesis and the excellent preservation makes taxonomic identifications straightforward. A diverse fauna of ten scleractinian coral species, nine stylasterine coral species and seven octocoral species has been described from the Baunekule facies. The fossil fauna represents an ecological niche between the dead coral framework and coral rubble on a flank of a growing Dendrophyllia coral mound with multiple colonization events. The diversity and relative abundance of the fossil scleractinian corals are comparable to the modern settings in the NE Atlantic and Mediterranean. The distribution and diversity of the octocorals and the stylasterine corals are suggested to represent coral gardens as described from modern setting in the NE Pacific. The presence of a diverse and abundant stylasterine fauna suggests a stable palaeoenvironment, probably in a bathymetric depth range of 200–400 metre.     

Mulga log mounds: Fertile patches in the semi-arid woodlands of eastern Australia

In the semi-arid woodland of eastern Australia, soil mounds are often associated with fallen mulga (Acacia aneura) trees. Measurements of the physical and chemical properties of the soils in these mounds compared with surrounding soils, together with differences in herbage growth responses, indicate that these mounds are fertile patches, with possible importance as habitats for soil fauna and as refugia for a range of organisms during drought. The mound soil material may accumulate by fluvial, aeolian or rain-splash deposition about the fallen log, however, some of the mound material was derived from termite feeding gallery structures. The surface feeding gallery material may be comprised of soil particles from within the mound or from tunnels and storage galleries below the mound, and probably depends on the termite species.     

Morphology and sedimentology of (clustered) cold-water coral mounds at the south Rockall Trough margins,NE Atlantic Ocean

Cold-water coral mounds on both margins of the Rockall Trough (NE Atlantic Ocean) have a strongly different morphology. Single, isolated mounds occur on the SE margin and are mainly found on the upper slope between 900 and 650 m water depth, while large mound clusters are found on the SW margin in water depths between 600 and 1,000 m, in a narrow zone almost parallel to the slope. Sedimentation rates on the mounds are higher than on the surrounding seabed as a result of baffling of biogenic carbonate debris and siliciclastic particles by the coral framework covering the mounds. This is confirmed by ²¹⁰Pb measurements. The individual coral growth rate can be three times higher then the vertical growth rate of the coral cover (±10 mm year⁻¹) which in turn is more than an order of magnitude higher then the present-day overall mound growth rate (±0.25 mm year⁻¹). The presence of extensive hardgrounds and firmgrounds and the three-dimensional coral framework are considered to be responsible for the stability of the relatively steep slopes of the mounds. High current velocities in the intramound areas result in local non-sedimentation and erosion, as is shown by the presence of IRD (ice-rafted debris) lag deposits on the seabed and moats around some of the mounds. The morphology and sedimentology of cold-water coral-covered (mainly Lophelia pertusa and Madrepora oculata) mounds on the southern Rockall Trough margins (NE Atlantic Ocean) is discussed and a model describing the development of these mounds is presented.     

Franken Mound: facies and biocoenoses on a newly-discovered “carbonate mound” on the western Rockall Bank,NE Atlantic

Cold-water coral carbonate mounds are widespread along the Irish continental margin. Whereas the Porcupine Seabight and the Rockall Trough are relatively well studied with regard to mound topography, coral coverage, and benthic life diversity, the situation on the western Rockall Bank is rather unknown. Detailed facies and biocoenoses mapping based on video footage analyses was conducted on the newly-discovered Franken Mound. Facies were identified ranging between cliff-like to planar hardgrounds and soft sediments that are partly rippled. A variety of biocoenoses are associated with these facies comprising discrete live coral colonies, dense live and dead coral framework coverage, abundant to scattered coral debris, and a soft sediment faunal community, whereas the latter is three times less speciose as biocoenoses containing live framework-building corals. The facies and biocoenosis classes are supplemented by exposed dropstones, lost fishery nets, and rubbish. The distribution of the classes clearly indicates a close relationship with local current effects and current intensification. Due to the dominance of dead coral framework and the partially exposed internal sediment sequences on the mound flanks, it is assumed that Franken Mound is approaching the “mound retirement” mound growth state.     

Interaction between the non-myrmecochorous herb Galium aparine and the ant Formica polyctena

Non-myrmecochorous plant species are able to colonize Formica polyctena mounds. Galium aparine has been chosen as a model to study this kind of ant-plant association. In order to understand benefits to ants and plants, we have studied removal rates of fruits by ant workers, and compared soil seed material, seedling pattern and development of plants of the nest versus forest.Ant workers remove fruits at very low rates; removal time for half of the sample of 10 seeds was on average 5 h. Removed fruits were usually lost within 20–30 cm distance of the ant route. The soil samples from the nests contained a higher number of fruits, than those from randomly chosen sites in the forest. Seeds start to germinate in late August; on the F. polyctena mounds significantly earlier than at surrounding places. The seedling density was higher within experimental quadrats located on mound sites especially in late September–early October. The highest density of seedlings was on the slope of the mound. Plants from mounds are significantly longer, have a higher number of nodes during all stages of development and a higher mortality rate than that at surrounding places.The interactions between G. aparine and F. polyctena ants are asymmetrical. In spite of higher mortality rate of seedlings on mounds, ants provide some benefits to the plant. Firstly, workers are additional dispersal agents for G. aparine fruits. Furthermore, the soil peculiarities of ant mounds are beneficial for seed germination and seedling growth. G. aparine does not provide ants with energetically valuable food like plants with elaiosome-bearing seeds. Moreover, the high density of seedlings and plants on the mounds shades the nest.     

Spatial variability and abiotic determinants of termite mounds throughout a savanna catchment

Termite mounds contribute to the spatial heterogeneity of ecological processes in many savannas, but the underlying patterns and determinants of mound distributions remain poorly understood. Using the Carnegie Airborne Observatory (CAO), we mapped the distribution of termite mounds across a rainfall gradient within a river catchment (～ 27 000 ha) of the Kruger National Park, South Africa. We assessed how different factors were associated with the distribution and height of termite mounds at three spatial scales: the entire catchment, among three broad vegetation types, and on individual hillslope crests. Abiotic factors such as the underlying geology and mean annual precipitation shaped mound densities at broad scales, while local hillslope morphology strongly influenced mound distribution at finer scales, emphasising the importance of spatial scale when assessing mound densities. Fire return period had no apparent association with mound densities or height. Mound density averaged 0.46 mounds ha^?1, and exhibited a clustered pattern throughout the landscape, occurring at relatively high densities (up to 2 mounds ha^?1) on crests, which are nutrient‐poor elements of the landscape. Mounds exhibited significant over‐dispersion (even spacing) at scales below 60 m so that evenly spaced aggregations of termite mounds are embedded within a landscape of varying mound densities. The tallest mounds were found in dry savanna (500 mm yr^?1) and were positively correlated with mound density, suggesting that dry granitic savannas are ideal habitat for mound‐building termites. Mound activity status also varied significantly across the rainfall gradient, with a higher proportion of active (live) mounds in the drier sites. The differential spacing of mounds across landscapes provides essential nutrient hotspots in crest locations, potentially sustaining species that would otherwise not persist. The contribution to biodiversity and ecosystem functioning that mounds provide is not uniform throughout landscapes, but varies considerably with spatial scale and context.     

Middle paleozoic waulsortian-type mud mounds in Southern Fergana (Southern Tien-Shan,commonwealth of independent states): The shallow-water atoll model

Summary Several Waulsortian-type mud mounds nearly 500 m thick and about 5 km long occur in the Middle Paleozoic carbonate section of the Aktur nappe in the mountains on the right bank of Isfara river. These buildups form a well developed barrier system that stretches along the South Ferganian carbonate platform margin and divides the carbonate complex into a fore-reef and a back-reef part. The time of the mounds' most active growth was from the Late Silurian (Ludlow) to the Middle Devonian (Eifel). Three main facies types can be recognized in the mud mounds: 1. micritic core facies, 2. sparitic flank facies and 3. loferitic capping facies. The central massive or crudely bedded part of the mounds consists of white or light grey clotted micrite. Macrofossils are rare. The sparitic flank facies in contrast consists of coarse and densely packed crinoidal wackestone-floatstones with some brachiopod shell debris. Solitary rugose corals, tabulate corals, stromato-poroids and fragments of mollusks are also abundant. The tops of the mounds are usually covered with loferitic pelmicrites or oolitic grainstone caps. Stromatactis-like structures are very rare and poorly developed in the South Ferganian mud mounds. However, almostin all such mounds horizons of calcitic breccias can be found. In order to explain all the features found in the Fergana mounds an ‘atoll-like’ model has been proposed which starts the evolution of the mud mounds with a small nucleus bioherm. The main stage of the evolution corresponds to an atoll-like structure developing on the surface of shallow water platforms. White clotted micrite of the mound core facies is interpreted as a accumulation of fine-grained sediment in an inner lagoon flanked by crinoidal bar deposits. The mound flank facies represents the atoll rim deposits from where the carbonate mud is derived. The capping loferitic facies is considered as tidal flat deposit that developed on top of the buildups during the last stage of its evolution. The knoll shape of the mounds is explained by the retreat of the atoll flanking crinoidal bars back into the inner lagoon during the rise in sea level. Stromatactis-like structures of small cavities filled with sparry calcite owe their existence to burrowing organisms. Calcitic breccias are interpreted as paleokarst collapse breccias. They indicate that the tops of the mud mound became subaerially exposed. Other evidence for a subaerial exposure can be seen in the occurrence of Variscian ‘black and white’ limestone gravel on the tops of some mud mounds. According toWard et al. (1970) these sediments were produced above the sea level at the edge of hypersaline lakes situated on islands.     

沙丘微地形生境蚁丘分布特征及其对恢复过程的响应

为了阐明沙丘微地形生境蚁丘特征及分布规律对沙丘固定过程的响应规律,以科尔沁沙地为研究区,选择不同固沙阶段沙丘的4个方位（西北、东南、西南、东北）布设调查样地,测定了不同样地的蚁丘密度、直径和高度,分析了不同样地蚁丘特征及空间分布规律。结果表明：（1）流动沙丘背风向（即东南方位）蚁丘密度显著高于其他方位,但从流动沙丘到半流动沙丘,背风向（即东南方位）蚁丘密度显著低于其他方位;从半固定沙丘开始,半固定和固定沙丘微地形对蚁丘密度分布的影响较小。（2）在流动沙丘、半流动沙丘、半固定沙丘,不同微地形生境中蚁丘直径和高度均呈现出相似的分布规律,即东南方位均小于其他方位。在固定沙丘,蚁丘高度表现为东南方位亦较低,但蚁丘直径表现为西南和东北方位显著小于西北方位。（3）在流动沙丘,西北、西南和东南方位上蚁丘空间分布均表现为均匀分布型,而在半流动、半固定和固定沙丘,4个方位上蚁丘空间分布均表现为聚集分布型。（4）相关性分析表明,不同固沙阶段不同微生境下蚁丘密度、高度、直径与植物密度、多样性间的相关性不同。随着固沙阶段演替,不同微生境下蚁丘特征与植物密度、多样性的相关性增强。研究表明,在科尔沁沙地,随着流动沙丘固定和生境逐渐恢复,沙丘不同空间方位上蚁丘密度分布差异缩小,而蚁丘直径和高度仍存在沙丘微地形间显著差异性,并且蚁丘空间方位上均呈现聚集分布状态。     

Megafaunal community structure of Andaman seamounts including the Back-arc Basin--a quantitative exploration from the Indian Ocean

Species rich benthic communities have been reported from some seamounts, predominantly from the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, but the fauna and habitats on Indian Ocean seamounts are still poorly known. This study focuses on two seamounts, a submarine volcano (cratered seamount--CSM) and a non-volcano (SM2) in the Andaman Back-arc Basin (ABB), and the basin itself. The main purpose was to explore and generate regional biodiversity data from summit and flank (upper slope) of the Andaman seamounts for comparison with other seamounts worldwide. We also investigated how substratum types affect the megafaunal community structure along the ABB. Underwater video recordings from TeleVision guided Gripper (TVG) lowerings were used to describe the benthic community structure along the ABB and both seamounts. We found 13 varieties of substratum in the study area. The CSM has hard substratum, such as boulders and cobbles, whereas the SM2 was dominated by cobbles and fine sediment. The highest abundance of megabenthic communities was recorded on the flank of the CSM. Species richness and diversity were higher at the flank of the CSM than other are of ABB. Non-metric multi-dimensional scaling (nMDS) analysis of substratum types showed 50% similarity between the flanks of both seamounts, because both sites have a component of cobbles mixed with fine sediments in their substratum. Further, nMDS of faunal abundance revealed two groups, each restricted to one of the seamounts, suggesting faunal distinctness between them. The sessile fauna corals and poriferans showed a significant positive relation with cobbles and fine sediments substratum, while the mobile categories echinoderms and arthropods showed a significant positive relation with fine sediments only.     

热带森林不同演替阶段蚂蚁巢穴的分布特征及其影响因素

为探明热带森林蚂蚁巢穴的分布特征及其影响因素, 采用样方法研究了西双版纳不同演替阶段热带森林定居巢穴蚂蚁的种类及其巢穴的密度、盖度和空间分布特征, 并分析了土壤理化环境与蚂蚁种类总数、巢穴密度及盖度的相关性。结果表明, 不同演替阶段热带森林蚂蚁种类总数、巢穴的密度及盖度大小顺序为: 小果野芭蕉 (Musa acuminata)群落>白背桐(Mallotus paniculatus)群落>思茅崖豆(Mellettia leptobotrya)群落, 并且热带森林的演替类型显著影响蚂蚁种类总数及巢穴密度, 而对巢穴盖度的影响未达到显著水平; 蚂蚁种类总数、巢穴密度与土壤总有机碳和水解氮显著正相关, 与土壤容重和土壤含水率显著负相关, 但所选择的土壤理化指标与巢穴盖度的相关性均未达到显著水平; 蚂蚁巢穴的空间分布呈随机分布格局。我们的数据表明, 不同演替阶段热带森林所形成的植被类型及土壤环境状况共同影响定居的蚂蚁种类总数与筑巢密度。     

Anthracoporella mounds in the Late Carboniferous Auernig Group,Carnic Alps (Austria)

Summary A heretofore undocumented example of skeletal mounds formed by the dasycladacean algaAnthracoporella spectabilis is described from mixed carbonate-clastic cycles (Auernig cyclothems) of the Late Carboniferous (Gzhelian) Auernig Group of the central Carnic Alps in southern Austria. The massive mound facies forms biostromal reef mounds that are up to several m thick and extend laterally over more than 100 m. The mound facies is developed in the middle of bedded limestones, which are up to 16 m thick. These limestones formed during relative sea-level highstands when clastic influx was near zero. The mound facies is characterized by well developed baffler and binder guilds and does not show any horizontal or vertical zonation. Within the massive mound faciesAnthracoporella is frequently found in growth position forming bafflestones and wackestones composed of abundantAnthracoporella skeletons which toppled in situ or drifted slightly.Anthracoporella grew in such profusion that it dominated the available sea bottom living space, forming ‘algal meadows’ which acted as efficient sediment producers and bafflers. BecauseAnthracoporella could not provide a substantial reef framework, and could not withstand high water turbulence, the biostromal skeletal mounds accumulated in shallow, quiet water below the active wave base in water depths less than 30 m. The massive mound facies is under- and overlain by, and laterally grades into bedded, fossiliferous limestones of the intermound facies, composed mainly of different types of wackestones and packstones. Individual beds containAnthracoporella andArchaeolithophyllum missouriense in growth position, forming “micromounds’. Two stages of mound formation are recognized: (1) the stabilization stage when bioclastic wackestones accumulated, and (2) the skeletal mound stage when the sea-bottom was colonized byAnthracoporella and other members of the baffler and binder guilds, formingAnthracoporella bafflestones and wackestones of the mound facies. A slight drop in sea-level led to the termination of the mound growth and accumulation of organic debris, particularly calcareous algae, fusulinids, crinoids and bryozoans, forming well bedded limestones, which overlie the mound facies     

高原鼢鼠土丘对矮嵩草草甸植被演替及土壤营养元素的作用

本文研究了矮蒿草草甸上高原酚鼠土丘的出现率及其对植被的覆盖状况,土丘高度的下降及其直径的变化,土丘植物地上生物量和土丘营养元素含量。高原鼢鼠土丘出现率为242个/只/年,合土壤干重为1023.82公斤/只/年,对植被的覆盖面积高达22.53平方米/只/年。土丘在地表滞留时间约1年,处于不同演替阶段植被区域内出现的土丘,其植物地上生物量间的差异显著。5月前,在原生植被区出现的土丘,经4个月后,土丘边缘形成环状富草区,士丘边缘至中心区形成环状贫草区,而土丘中心仍处于无草状况。在次生植被区上的土丘则无此现象。新土丘除速效钾的含量与对照区无显著差异外,速效氮、磷的含量显著地高于对照区。旧土丘土壤中的速效氮、磷、钾含量均低于新土丘,但氮、磷的含量仍高于对照区。