安徽繁昌癞痢山东裂隙堆积新发现的早更新世鼠科化石*

1962 年, M. J. Copeland 报道了加拿大北极梅尔维尔岛中–上泥盆统梅尔维尔岛组的叶肢介化石。2014 年秋, 作者对馆藏在加拿大地质调查所的模式标本进行了观察、照相, 发现了一些新的重要的分类特征, 在此予以补充修订。1、壳瓣具有 3–5 条放射脊的翼李氏叶肢介属(Pteroleaia)是梅尔维尔岛泥盆纪最具特色的类型, 与其保存在同一层面上还发现有另一类个体十分微小的棒叶肢介属(Rhabdostichus), 该属与美国中北部及加拿大艾伯塔地区同时代的叶肢介可以对比, 之前这一类型的标本仅见于该地区中–晚泥盆世地层, 其在北极地区的出现为首次报道。同时对归于棒叶肢介科(Rhabdostichidae)的另外两属(Rhabdostichops 和 Archaeositum)的含义进行了甄别, 认为前者建属特征不成立, 后者不应属于该科。2、产于梅尔维尔岛 Dundas 半岛的叶肢介, 个体数量多且密集堆积, 曾被鉴定为 Asmussia canadensis 的那些个体的壳顶都发育有一个细小的、凸起的卵形瘤状构造, 依据这一重要鉴定特征, 其分类位置应属于锥顶叶肢介亚科(Vertexiinae)的犄叶肢介属(Cornia), 从而使这一属的地质历程从石炭纪追溯到中泥盆世。这些化石的修订, 丰富了我们对加拿大北极地区泥盆纪叶肢介面貌的认识, 为研究相关类群的起源、演化提供了新的信息。文中也讨论了李氏叶肢介亚目(Leaiina)三个早期叶肢介类群之间的相互关系, 认为 Pteroleaia (Rostroleaiidae)代表了形态特殊的一个演化分枝, 早仅见于泥盆纪并很快灭绝。壳瓣具有两条放射脊的叶肢介科(如: Leaiidae)被认为是李氏叶肢介亚目的演化主干, 兴盛于石炭纪和二叠纪。广东中泥盆世早期(Givetian)桂头群中的叶肢介组合以 Hepuleaia (Praeleaiidae)为主, 并包含壳瓣具两条放射脊的种类, 该组合是迄今已知李氏叶肢介亚目的最早代表, 这表明该亚目应起源于中国而非欧洲。     

Sesame Utilization in China: New Archaeobotanical Evidence from Xinjiang

Sesame Utilization in China: New Archaeobotanical Evidence from Xinjiang. A cache of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) seeds, discovered in the Thousand Buddha Grottoes at Boziklik, Turpan, China, dating to ca. 700 years before present (BP), is hard evidence of their use in China since that time. Morphological and anatomical features suggest a white sesame cultivar. The sizeable quantity unearthed implies that sesame was a valued commodity that could provision the monks and enrich the diet of ancient inhabitants as an oil source.     

The Material Culture of Steamboat Passengers: Archaeological Evidence from the Missouri River

The Material Culture of Steamboat Passengers: Archaeological Evidence from the Missouri River. Annalies Corbin. New York: Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers, 2000. 237 pp.     

Brief communication: The human humerus from the Broken Hill Mine, Kabwe, Zambia

The distal half of a right human humerus (E.898), recovered ex situ in 1925 by Hrdli?ka at the Broken Hill Mine, Kabwe, Zambia, has figured prominently in assessments of Middle Pleistocene Homo postcranial variation and of the phylogenetic polarity and functional anatomy of Pleistocene Homo upper limb morphology. Reassessment of distal humeral features that distinguish modern human and some archaic Homo humeri, especially relative olecranon breadth and medial and lateral pillar thicknesses, confirm previous studies placing it morphologically close to recent humans, as well as possibly to Early Pleistocene Homo. However, it completely lacks stratigraphic context, and there is faunal and archeological evidence for human activity at Broken Hill from the Middle Pleistocene to the Holocene. Given its uncertain geological age and modern human morphology, the Broken Hill E.898 humerus should not be used in analyses of Pleistocene humans until it is securely dated. Am J Phys Anthropol 149:312–317, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Political violence and child health: Results from Zimbabwe

This paper examines how the health of Zimbabwean children was affected by political and election-related violence and land reform in Zimbabwe during the period from 2000 to 2005. These events impacted Zimbabwean livelihoods and increased food insecurity in the country. Our study combines individual child data from the Demographic and Health Surveys that bracket these violent events with information on the location and date of violence from the Armed Conflict Location and Event dataset. To understand how the increase in violence impacted children’s health, the empirical analysis exploits temporal and spatial variation in child height across birth cohorts. Children born after the spike in violence in 2000 had lower height-for-age z-scores than children from earlier cohorts. The results are robust to a placebo test for parallel trends, alternative control groups, selective mortality, and migration. The paper adds to the literature on election-related violence, armed conflict, and land reform. Additionally, it provides guidance on differentiating between timing of violence during multiple political and electoral events, and estimating the impact on rural communities.     

Wildlife control,access and utilisation: Lessons from legislation,policy evolution and implementation in Zimbabwe

This paper retraces: (1) the promulgation of protectionist wildlife policies by colonial administrators at the turn of the 19th Century in Zimbabwe, and their evolutionary trajectory over distinct time periods, (2) the paradigmatic shift and the extent of evolution of wildlife policies with respect to the devolution thrust and local community participation to date. The aim is to re-ignite and keep alive the debate for the improvement of local community livelihoods by meeting their aspirations and addressing poverty. Another section explores the robustness of local community institutional framework following decades of research on their efficacy in the face of internal weaknesses and external pressures. This is discussed in the context of contested devolution and decentralisation concepts which not in the distant past became fashionable rhetoric in the field of local community empowerment in natural resource management. Areas of contests have been explored using a case study approach. Extensive literature consultation and gleaning of 127 published and relevant sources cutting across national, regional and global realms reveal that Zimbabwe and most southern African countries have evolved progressive policies. However, consistent with most literature, the implementation of these otherwise progressive policies remains problematic. Hence, the question, ‘when will community-based wildlife conservation initiatives like communal areas management programme for indigenous resources (CAMPFIRE) achieve their initially intended goals of devolution?’ remains largely unaddressed.     

BOTANICAL BRIEFING Fire, Forest Regeneration and Links with Early Human Habitation: Evidence from New Zealand

New Zealand forests burn less frequently than tussock grasslands,heath or shrublands. Species composition, past disturbance andstand condition determine inflammability and fuel load, andconsequent fire intensity and spatial extent. Before peoplearrived, fires were ignited by lightning during drought yearson the eastern sides of both islands. Volcanism occurring every300–600 years was associated with fires in the centralNorth Island. A review of radiocarbon-dated charcoal from theeastern South Island, and of evidence for fire in pollen profilesfrom the North Island, provide the basis for an assessment offire frequency. Forest fires have occurred on both New Zealand'sislands throughout the Holocene at least every few centuries,until the last millennium when frequency increased. The ‘returntime’ of fire at any one place in the forested landscapewas probably one or two millennia. Burned areas usually succeededto forest again before the next inflagration. Consequently fireadaptation is infrequent in the New Zealand flora, and Polynesianforest clearance was rapid and largely permanent. There is anindication of an increase in fire frequency in the late Holocene,and a clear signal associated with people approx. 700 yearsBP. Separating the earliest anthropogenic fires from the backgroundlevel of natural burning will be difficult without additionalevidence.Copyright 1998 Annals of Botany Comapny Fire history, New Zealand, palynology, Maori, climate, volcanism.     

Two New Species of Liuixalus (Rhacophoridae,Anura): Evidence from Morphological and Molecular Analyses

Due to small body sizes, superficial similarities in morphologies, and obscure activity behaviors, the phylogeny and taxonomy of species in the genus Liuixalus were very troublesome. Some species might comprise a complex of cryptic species. To investigate the species of group, we constructed the matrilineal genealogy of the genus using 16s rRNA mitochondrial DNA sequences. Analyses recovered six well supported matrilines that involved L. romeri, L. ocellatus, L. hainanus, L. calcarius, Liuixalus shiwandashansp. nov. and Liuixalus jinxiuensissp. nov., though the historical relationships among them remained unresolved. Currently, Liuixalus included 4 species, distributed eastwards from northern Vietnam to Hong Kong, China. Based on genealogical and morphological distinctiveness, we described Liuixalus jinxiuensissp. nov. from the type locality Mt. Dayao, Jinxiu, China and Liuixalus shiwandashansp. nov. from the type locality Mt. Shiwanda, China. A combination of morphological measurements, genetic, bioacoustic and osteological analysis was served to diagnose the new taxa.     

A New Species of Coronilla (Loteae, Fabaceae) from Southeastern Spain: Evidence from Morphological and Molecular Data

Currently, there are nine species classified within the genus Coronilla (Loteae, Fabaceae); however, some populations discovered in the province of Almería, SE Spain, have features that are not present, as a whole, in the other known species. These plants are related to Coronilla juncea and C. minima, although several features of branches, leaves, flowers and seeds (zigzag branches; fleshy, deciduous leaves without hyaline margin; connate reddish stipules; very narrow seeds with fluted foveolae) are usually recognized as belonging to distinct species. To clarify the taxonomic status of these populations, morphological and genetic studies have been performed. The results obtained suggest that their separate classification is appropriate. Accordingly, a new species, Coronilla talaverae, whose currently recorded range is restricted to three populations in southeastern Spain is described here. Regarding its risk of extinction, the IUCN red list criteria have been followed to assess its category, proposing the status EN B1ab(i,ii,iii,v)+2ab(i,ii,iii,v). In addition, an identification key is provided for the species of the genus Coronilla.     

Site of bicarbonate effect in Hill reaction. Evidence from the use of artificial electron acceptors and donors

Using artificial electron donors and acceptors, it is shown here that the major HCO₃^? effect in the Hill reaction is after the “primary” electron acceptor (Q) of Photosystem II and before the site of action of 2,5-dibromo-3-methyl-6-isopropyl-p-benzoquinone (at the plastoquinone pool). Chloroplasts in the presence of both 3-(3′,4′-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea, which blocks electron flow from the reduced primary acceptor Q^? to the plastoquinone pool, and silicomolybdate, which accepts electrons from Q^?, show no significant bicarbonate stimulation of electron flow. However, a 6–7-fold stimulation is clearly observed when oxidized diaminodurene, as an electron acceptor, and dibromothymoquinone, as an inhibitor of electron flow beyond the plastoquinone pool, are used. In the same chloroplast preparation no measurable effect of bicarbonate is observed in a Photosystem I reaction as monitored by electron flow from reduced diaminodurene to methyl viologen in the presence of 3-(3′,4′-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea. The insensitivity of the bicarbonate effect to uncouplers of photophosphorylation and the dependence of this effect on the presence of a weak acid anion and on external pH are also reported.