Influence of Plio-Pleistocene aridification on human evolution: evidence from paleosols of the Turkana Basin, Kenya

New stable carbon isotope measurements, coupled with paleoprecipitation estimates, both from Plio-Pleistocene paleosols of the Turkana Basin, Kenya, provide a high-resolution record of aridification and increasing C4 biomass during the past 4.3 Ma. This aridification trend is marked by several punctuations at 3.58-3.35, 2.52-2, and 1.81-1.58 Ma, during which the running mean and variance of delta13C and paleoaridity estimates increase, suggesting that the proportion of C4 biomass increases in savanna mosaics during periods of heightened aridity. Increase in C4 biomass during these aridification events not only increases the proportion of open habitats, but increases the spatial neg-entropy, or heterogeneity of the ecosystem. The aridification events identified correspond to intervals of increased turnover, but more importantly, increased diversity of bovids. Although the record of hominins from the Turkana Basin lacks the temporal resolution and diversity of the bovid record, the aridification intervals identified are marked by similar increases in the diversity and turnover of hominins. These results support the hypothesis that hominins evolved in savanna mosaics that changed through time, and suggest that the evolution of bovids and hominins was driven by shifts in climatic instability and habitat variability, both diachronic and synchronic.     

Revision of the Early Miocene Hyracoidea (Mammalia) of East Africa

Three genera of hyracoids were recorded from the Early Miocene of East Africa by Whitworth [18], but there has been considerable divergence of opinion about their status. Despite differences in cranial and dental morphology from Megalohyrax and Bunohyrax, Whitworth [18] classified two species in these genera that are recorded from much earlier deposits (Early Oligocene) in the Fayum, Egypt. One of his genera (Meroehyrax) was new. His classification has been the subject of debate, with some researchers [6,13] doubting the hyracoid status of one of his species (Bunohyrax sp), and changing the generic status of another (Megalohyrax championi). Meyer [6] recorded a fourth genus (Prohyrax) from Kenya, linking it to material from Namibia described by Stromer [16,17]. New samples of two hyracoid species collected by the Uganda Palaeontology Expedition throw light on their systematic position and taxonomy. It is concluded that there are three hyracoid genera (Afrohyrax, Brachyhyrax and Meroehyrax) in the Early Miocene deposits of East Africa, the first two of which are new. A fourth genus (Prohyrax) occurs in southern Africa, but is not reliably known from East Africa. To cite this article: M. Pickford et al., C. R. Palevol 3 (2004).

Résumé

Révision des Hyracoidea (Mammalia) du Miocène inférieur de l'Afrique de l’Est. Trois espèces d’Hyracoidea ont été signalées dans le Miocène inférieur d’Afrique orientale par Whitworth [18]. Malgré des différences importantes de la morphologie cranio-dentaire, deux des espèces kenyanes étaient classées dans Megalohyrax et Bunohyrax, genres connus dans les dépôts beaucoup plus anciens du Fayoum en Égypte. Le troisième genre décrit par Whitworth (Meroehyrax) était nouveau. La classification proposée [18] a été débattue ; certains auteurs [6,13] ont remis en cause le statut d’Hyracoïde d’une de ses espèces et ont modifié le statut générique d’une autre. Meyer [6] a signalé un quatrième genre (Prohyrax) au Kenya, sur la base des ressemblances avec le genre namibien décrit par Stromer [16,17]. De nouveaux spécimens récoltés par l’Uganda Palaeontology Expedition permettent d’éclaircir la position systématique et la taxonomie de deux des espèces. Nous concluons qu’il n’existe que trois genres d’Hyracoïdes dans les dépôts du Miocène inférieur d’Afrique orientale (Afrohyrax, Brachyhyrax et Meroehyrax), dont les deux premiers sont nouveaux. Par ailleurs, un quatrième genre (Prohyrax) est connu d’Afrique australe. Pour citer cet article : M. Pickford et al., C. R. Palevol 3 (2004).     

Acitivity measurements as a tool to characterize the microbial composition of methanogenic environments

A rapid and reliable method to assess the potential specific activity of methagenic sludge is presented. The method is based on the gas chromatographic analysis for methane in the headspace of closed vials. Gas is sampled with a pressure lock syringe, which allows quantification independent of the pressure prevailing in the vials.The influence of various parameters as substrates, pH, NaCl and NH₄ Cl concentrations on the activity of methaogenic sludge was investigated with this method. Data on the methanogenic activities on different substrate are discussed in terms of different physiological groups present in the sludge.     

中国东海海岸带地区生态系统健康评估及其尺度依赖性

维持生态系统健康是实现社会经济可持续发展的关键性工作之一。本文基于邻域变异度和人为干扰修正后的活力-组织-弹性-服务模型,从5 km至地级市设置8个评估尺度单元,定量化的评估了我国东海海岸地区（包括上海、嘉兴、宁波、温州、台州、宁德、福州、莆田、泉州、厦门和漳州共11个城市）1990—2015年的生态系统健康状况,并分析了其时序变化特征和空间分异规律,探究了生态系统健康的尺度依赖性效应,得到以下结论：1）研究时段内,研究区生态系统健康水平以2000年为节点先下降后上升,但整体呈下降趋势。自2000年起生态系统健康值分布更加离散,呈现健康的生态系统更加健康,劣化的生态系统不断劣化的分化趋势。2）生态系统健康在空间分布上具有较高的异质性特征。沿海地区、宁波以北地区的生态系统健康值较低;远离海洋部分的山地丘陵的生态系统健康值较高。小尺度下上海市中心生态健康最差,地级市尺度下嘉兴市生态健康状况最差。3）生态系统健康评估工作具有一定的空间尺度依赖性。大尺度生态系统健康评估结果趋于平均化,可用于刻画变化趋势的空间分布格局。小尺度评估结果能够更好的解释生态系统健康程度的聚类分异细节。因而,在生态系统健康评估中不存在最佳的研究尺度,多尺度的设置有助于全面解析生态系统健康的时空分异特征。     

The enigmatic molar from Gondolin, South Africa: Implications for Paranthropus paleobiology

The specific attribution of the large hominin M₂ (GDA-2) from Gondolin has significant implications for the paleobiology of Paranthropus. If it is a specimen of Paranthropus robustus it impacts that species' size range, and if it belongs to Paranthropus boisei it has important biogeographic implications. We evaluate crown size, cusp proportions and the likelihood of encountering a large-bodied mammal species in both East and South Africa in the Early Pleistocene. The tooth falls well outside the P. robustus sample range, and comfortably within that for penecontemporaneous P. boisei. Analyses of sample range, distribution and variability suggest that it is possible, albeit unlikely to find a M₂ of this size in the current P. robustus sample. However, taphonomic agents - carnivore (particularly leopard) feeding behaviors - have likely skewed the size distribution of the Swartkrans and Drimolen P. robustus assemblage. In particular, assemblages of large-bodied mammals accumulated by leopards typically display high proportions of juveniles and smaller adults. The skew in the P. robustus sample is consistent with this type of assemblage. Morphological evidence in the form of cusp proportions is congruent with GDA-2 representing P. robustus rather than P. boisei. The comparatively small number of large-bodied mammal species common to both South and East Africa in the Early Pleistocene suggests a low probability of encountering an herbivorous australopith in both. Our results are most consistent with the interpretation of the Gondolin molar as a very large specimen of P. robustus. This, in turn, suggests that large, presumptive male, specimens are rare, and that the levels of size variation (sexual dimorphism) previously ascribed to this species are likely to be gross underestimates.     

都市生态旅游区土地利用碎片化对生态系统服务价值的影响——以武汉东湖生态旅游区为例

都市生态旅游区是都市生态系统重要的组成部分,聚焦其土地利用碎片化对区域生态系统服务价值的影响,有助于促进都市生态旅游区的保护与合理开发,维护都市生态系统服务的稳定。结合RS、GIS技术量化评估2000—2015年武汉东湖生态旅游区土地生态系统服务价值,并通过景观格局指数测定土地利用碎片化程度,进而理清土地利用和生态系统服务价值的时空演化趋势,最后剖析土地利用碎片化对生态系统服务价值的影响。结果表明:(1)2000—2015年,主要地类向建设用地转换量较大;土地景观明显碎片化趋势,斑块密度由1.67升至1.96,景观多样性指数则由1.59增至1.71。(2)15年间,土地生态系统整体及各项服务价值均呈逐年下降趋势,总价值减少6248.81万元,水域占总体服务价值的80%左右。(3)草地和耕地的面积变化与部分调节性和供给性功能的价值变化呈显著正相关,水域的面积变化对部分支持性和文化性功能的价值和总体价值的下降具有显著推动作用;区域景观斑块密度指数、景观多样性指数和林地、水域的破碎度指数变化与部分支持性和文化性功能的价值变化存在显著相关;水域的碎片化成为东湖观光游憩等文化性功能的价值及生态系统服务总价值下降的关键因素。     

华东地区归化植物的组成特征、引入时间及时空分布

归化是入侵的前期阶段, 对归化植物的深入研究是科学管理外来物种的基本前提, 有助于预防外来植物造成入侵危害, 区域性归化植物的研究对地方外来植物的管理与防治对策的制定具有重要的指导意义。本文基于文献报道、标本信息和分类学考证, 特别是于2014-2019年对华东地区(安徽省、福建省、江苏省、江西省、山东省、上海市和浙江省)归化植物的全面调查, 统计分析了华东地区归化植物的物种组成和分布格局, 并对其首次引入(或发现)地、引入时间和引入途径进行综合分析。结果表明, 华东地区有归化植物62科181属299种, 总体上呈现种类丰富、以草本植物为主、原产于美洲的种类多、引入途径集中等特征。在空间尺度上, 福建省的物种多样性明显高于其他省市, 且仅分布于该省的种类也最多(达57种, 占总种数的19.1%), 其他省市之间则差别不大。对外交流程度和原产地与归化地之间的气候相似性可能是影响归化植物多样性和空间分布格局的主要因素。在时间尺度上, 1850年之后, 华东地区的归化植物呈现出指数增长的趋势, 增长速率达1.5种/年, 且当前正处于快速增长阶段; 21世纪以来, 80%以上的归化植物来自于无意引入的物种, 这提示我们需要对此特别关注。华东地区作为对外交流的重要区域, 面临着外来植物输入以及归化并造成入侵的双重压力, 因此需对该地区的热点地区如口岸、港口等地加强出入境监管, 同时构建一套行之有效的外来植物风险评估体系, 这是开展外来物种风险管理的基础, 也是预防外来物种入侵的有效手段之一。     

中国有尾两栖类地理分布格局与扩散路线

通过绘制我国有尾两栖类的地理分布图,分析该类群的地理分布格局与可能的起源和扩散路线。研究结果表明,有尾两栖类在我国的地理分布格局,有三个关键区域:1.位于长江上游的、有尾两栖类物种丰富度最高的横断山区,是有尾两栖类的分布中心,该区域很可能亦为有尾两栖类的起源中心及主要特化中心;2.三个次级分布与特化中心,大别山-淮河流域区、南岭-珠江流域区、浙闽山地-江南水乡区;3.四个小型的三级分布与特化中心,台琼海岛区、东北长白山-三江流域区、秦巴山地-汉江渭河流域区、天山-伊犁河流域区。另外,该类群可能的迁移和扩散路线可归纳为:沿着各水系,从分布中心分别向东西南北四个方向迁移和扩散,其中以向北和向东为主,向南和向西扩散的种类较少。向北扩散的主要是小鲵科(Hynobiidae)的一些种类,向东扩散的种类则以蝾螈科(Salamandridae)物种为主。广布于我国东部的隐鳃鲵科(Cryptobranchidae)种类,极可能是该类群向北和向东这两个方向扩散的结果。研究结果表明,东亚两栖动物区系具有明显的整体性,即东亚两栖动物区系是单源的、本地起源的。本项研究结果支持中国日本界假说。     

东海海樽类优势种的数量变化

本文根据1997-2000年东海23°30′-33°N、118°30′-128°E海域4个季节海洋调查资料,用生态特征指标和聚集强度测度等分析方法,分析了东海海樽类优势种的数量变化和生态适应。结果表明:东海海樽类优势种有双尾纽鳃樽东方亚种(Thaliademocraticaorientalis)、小齿海樽(Doliolumdenticulatum)、Doliolumsp.、软拟海樽(Dolioettagegenbauri)等4种。双尾纽鳃樽东方亚种和软拟海樽适温适盐范围较小,属于狭温狭盐性暖水种;Doliolumsp.和小齿海樽属于广温广盐性的暖水种。狭温狭盐性的暖水种往往具有较高的丰度、聚集强度和较低的出现频率,广温广盐性的暖水种则与之相反。冬夏季是两类不同优势种交替的季节。双尾纽鳃樽东方亚种、小齿海樽数量与水文环境因子线性关系不显著,Doliolumsp.丰度与底层温度呈正相关(F=4.17,P=0.042),软拟海樽与底层温度呈极显著的正相关(F=18.3,P<0.0001)。春季海樽类优势种在东海南部的高丰度区与黑潮表层水对陆架的入侵在时间和空间上基本一致。双尾纽鳃樽东方亚种是冬、春、夏3季黑潮暖流指示种,软拟海樽仅是春、夏季黑潮暖流指示种