Pseudo-nitzschia and domoic acid fluxes in Santa Barbara Basin (CA) from 1993 to 2008

Blooms of domoic acid (DA) producing Pseudo-nitzschia, regularly occur off the coast of California. Although it has been hypothesized that these blooms are increasing in frequency, the lack of historical records limits our understanding of potential causal mechanisms. In this study, an 15-year time-series (1993–2008) of sediment trap samples collected from the Santa Barbara Basin (SBB) at 540 m were analyzed for Pseudo-nitzschia (n = 196, microscopy and SEM) and DA (n = 206, LC–MS/MS) concentrations and fluxes. Results suggest that there was an abrupt shift towards greater frequency and higher magnitude Pseudo-nitzschia blooms and toxic DA flux events in the SBB after the year 2000. SEM analysis of sediment trap material indicates that these events were mainly blooms of P. australis, with cell fluxes increasing by an order of magnitude from a maximum of 4.5 × 10⁶ cells m⁻² d⁻¹ pre-2000, to as high as 3.2 × 10⁸ cells m⁻² d⁻¹ thereafter. Similarly, sediment trap DA fluxes increased by an average of 13.4 μg m⁻² d⁻¹, with only one large event (>5 μg m⁻² d⁻¹) from 1993 to 1999 versus 16 large DA events from 2000 to 2008. While the causes of this abrupt shift remain ambiguous, we suggest that this shift may be related to natural climate variability associated with a change in phase of the North Pacific Gyre Oscillation (NPGO) and its potential influence on the composition and magnitude of waters that are upwelled into the SBB.     

黑犀(奇蹄目,犀科)化石在中国的首次发现

黑犀(Diceros属)的惟一现生代表D.bicornis生活在非洲。该属在新近纪时期曾广泛分布于希腊、土耳其和伊朗等地区,但从未在东亚地区发现过。新种甘肃黑犀(Diceros gan- suensis sp.nov.)是该属在中国和东亚的首次发现。化石采自甘肃临夏盆地晚中新世柳树组中部。新种以尺寸较小、头型短、枕顶高耸、枕面窄而高、枕嵴无中沟、副枕突短小、下颌上升支距m3较近、前臼齿较小、DP1无后脊、P2原脊孤立、P2和P3后脊细窄而区别于东地中海地区的Diceros neumayri。D.neumayri的分类位置一直是一个争论的焦点,曾在黑犀(Diceros属)和白犀(Ceratotherium属)之间反复变更。研究显示,甘肃黑犀和D.neumayri的一系列共同的原始特征表明它们与更进步的白犀有明显的区别,应该归入黑犀属。     

Integrated biostratigraphy based on planktonic foraminifera and dinoflagellates across the Cretaceous/Paleogene (K/Pg) transition at the Izeh section (SW Iran)

The present work is based on semi-quantitative study carried on detailed sampling (samples are spaced by 5, 10 and 15 cm close to the boundary) of an essentially continuous and expanded section crossing the Cretaceous–Paleogene (K/Pg) boundary in Iran. By this work, we attempt to detail biostratigraphy based on planktonic foraminifera biozones and correlate biozones and subzones with dinocyst events. The entire Cretaceous–Paleogene interval contains rich, diversified and well-preserved planktonic foraminifera and dinoflagellate cyst assemblages. Four planktonic foraminiferal biozones have been recognized across the Cretaceous–Paleogene transition (K/Pg): Abathomphalus mayaroensis Biozone including Plummerita hantkeninoides Subzone from the Late Maastrichtian and Guembelitria cretacea (including Hedbergella holmdelensis and Parvularugoglobigerina longiapertura subzones), Parvularugoglobigerina eugubina Biozone and Parasubbotina pseudobulloides Biozone belonging to the Early Danian. These biozones have been correlated with four dinocyst biozones: the Manumiella seelandica Biozone belonging to the Late Maastrichtian and the Alisocysta reticulata, Senoniasphaera inornata and Damassadinium californicum biozones from the Early Danian. At this section, like at the El Kef section (GSSP for the K/Pg) and the auxiliary sections, an Ir anomaly is detected indicating the K/Pg boundary. This geochemical anomaly coincides also with mass extinctions of planktonic foraminifera species. The extinct species are in particular the large, complex tropical and subtropical taxa dwelling in subsurface and lower photic water. The mass extinctions at the Izeh section occurred over a succinct period of time similar to the K/Pg type section at El Kef (Tunisia). These sudden mass extinctions indicate a catastrophic pattern event occurring at the Maastrichtian/Danian boundary. In contrast the organic-walled dinocysts were less affected by the mass extinction and most species crossed the K/Pg boundary without showing mass and sudden extinctions. Nevertheless, they showed changes in their assemblages’ structure beyond the K/Pg boundary. Especially, Manumiella seelandica and M. druggii, typical species of Antarctic Maastrichtian dinocysts assemblages, occur in coeval deposits at the Izeh section; they persist through the Lower Danian and, like in Tunisia (e.g., El Kef section, Ellès section) show an obvious increase in relative abundance.     

运城盆地洪积扇全新世时期的野火与环境变化的初步探讨

通过对运城盆地典型黄土-古土壤剖面磁化率和炭屑含量的分析,研究了洪积扇全新世野火活动的规律及其与环境变化的关系。研究结果表明,在全新世早期(11500~8500 a B.P.), 气候向温湿过渡,但仍较干旱,炭屑含量较高,野火活动比较频繁,说明气候干旱是野火发生的重要原因。而全新世中期(8500~3100 a B.P.),除夏商文化时期外,炭屑含量在整个全新世时期居于最低,野火活动最为微弱,与此时期气候温暖湿润密切相关。但在夏商文化时期(3800~3500 a B.P.)炭屑浓度出现峰值,野火活动较为频繁,是人类生产和生活活动作用的结果。全新世晚期(3100~0 a B.P.)炭屑含量大幅度增加,野火活动最为频繁,一方面与气候向干旱化发展有关,另一方面与大范围的人类活动密切相关;在干旱的气候背景条件下, 人类活动加速了野火的发生频率和活动强度。     

牙形石Histiodella Hass 四个种的讨论及地层对比意义

作者描述了产自塔里木盆地的HistiodellaHass的四个种,并探讨了它们与中国北方和北美中大陆暖水型牙形石及中国南方和北大西洋冷水型牙形石的对比关系。认为Histiodellasinuosa带对比北美中大陆牙形石动物群3的下部、中国南方Amorphognathusvariabilis带下部和中国北方Aurilobodusleptosomatus-Loxodusdissectus带下部。Histiodellaholodentata带下部相当于中国北方Aurilobodusleptosomatus-Loxodusdissectus带中部或中国南方的Amorphognathusvariabilis带至Eoplacognathussuecicus带的下部。Histiodellakristinae带对比北大西洋区的Eoplacognathussuecicus带中上部和中国北方的Tangshanodustangshanensis带。Histiodellabellburnensis带对比北大西洋区的Eoplacognathussuecicus带的上部到Eoplacognathusfoliaceus带下部。HistiodellaHass与北大西洋区和中国北方区典型牙形石的共同出现可以作为一个桥梁,建立起北美中大陆、北大西洋、塔里木盆地及华北地区牙形石的对比关系。     

Trophic network models explain instability of Early Triassic terrestrial communities

Studies of the end-Permian mass extinction have emphasized potential abiotic causes and their direct biotic effects. Less attention has been devoted to secondary extinctions resulting from ecological crises and the effect of community structure on such extinctions. Here we use a trophic network model that combines topological and dynamic approaches to simulate disruptions of primary productivity in palaeocommunities. We apply the model to Permian and Triassic communities of the Karoo Basin, South Africa, and show that while Permian communities bear no evidence of being especially susceptible to extinction, Early Triassic communities appear to have been inherently less stable. Much of the instability results from the faster post-extinction diversification of amphibian guilds relative to amniotes. The resulting communities differed fundamentally in structure from their Permian predecessors. Additionally, our results imply that changing community structures over time may explain long-term trends like declining rates of Phanerozoic background extinction.     

Diversity of plants in cocoa agroforests in the humid forest zone of Southern Cameroon

In the humid forest zone of Southern Cameroon, farmers generally associate cocoa with native and exotic trees in complex agroforestry systems. Despite the socio-economic and ecological importance of these systems, few studies have investigated their plant composition. We investigated tree composition of cocoa agroforests along a gradient of market access, population density and resource use intensity in the humid forest zone of southern Cameroon, comprising (i) the sub-region of Yaoundé, (ii) the sub-region of Mbalmayo, and (iii) the sub-region of Ebolowa. Market access, population density and resource use intensity all decreased from the first to the third sub-region. We quantified the diversity of tree species associated with cocoa within individual agroforests, among agroforests in the same region, and among the three sub-regions, and classified the tree species according to their main uses. A total of 9.1 ha belonging to 60 cocoa agroforests were inventoried in 12 villages. We encountered a total of 206 tree species with an average of 21 tree species per agroforest. In the more urbanized area around Yaoundé, agroforests were less diverse than in the other sub-regions. In all of the agroforests, food producing tree species tended to be more frequent than other species. Two thirds of the food trees were native forest species and one third was introduced. From Ebolowa to Yaoundé, the density of food producing trees doubled and the density of exotic food-producing species increased relative to native species. Some local species producing high-value non-timber forest products were found in the agroforests, but their density was far lower than that of exotic tree species. The agroforests also provide medicine, charcoal and other products for household consumption and sale. We conclude that unless there are specific efforts to promote local forest tree species in cocoa agroforests, these will progressively lose importance with increasing market access, population pressure and land use intensity.     

坡度对农田土壤动物群落结构及多样性的影响

为了研究坡度对土壤动物群落的影响,于2010年3月和9月分别对川中丘陵区坡度为5°、15°、25°的3种农田土壤动物进行了调查。共采集土壤动物11657只,隶属4门11纲21目,弹尾目、蜱螨目、颤蚓目和线虫为优势类群。土壤动物群落的类群数在3月随坡度增加无显著变化(P>0.05),9月则呈波动性上升(P<0.01)。群落密度在3月随坡度增加而显著下降(P<0.01),9月的变化趋势则相反(P<0.05)。群落多样性指数在3、9两月均随坡度增加呈显著波动性变化(P<0.05)。坡度对弹尾目、蜱螨目和线虫等主要类群的密度影响显著(P<0.05),并具季节差异。主成分分析(PCA)结果表明坡度对农田土壤动物的群落结构有明显影响,Sorenson和Morisita-Horn相似性系数进一步表明坡度在3月份主要影响土壤动物群落的类群组成,在9月主要影响优势类群的密度。研究结果表明坡度对土壤动物的群落结构、多样性及主要类群的密度有显著影响,并存在季节差异。     

Raw material selectivity in Late Pliocene Oldowan sites in the Makaamitalu Basin, Hadar, Ethiopia

We report the results of an analysis of raw material selection patterns in the assemblages from two Late Pliocene in situ archaeological localities in the Makaamitalu Basin (Hadar, Ethiopia). While the same local conglomerate was used as a raw material source for both archaeological occurrences, different selection criteria are identified. At A.L. 894, selection for quality is subtle and the clearest selection is against non-homogeneous raw materials. In the A.L. 666 assemblage, higher-quality raw materials were selected and some rare raw materials reached the locality from unknown sources. A comparison between the Makaamitalu and other Oldowan assemblages reveals an overall shift toward higher complexity of both selectivity and transport behaviors from ca. 2.0 Ma onward, contrasting a typo-technological conservatism that pertains until ∼1.6 Ma. It is hypothesized that an increase in complexity of behaviors related to raw material selection and acquisition involved changes in the intensity and fidelity of technological knowledge transmission.     

2008-2014年新疆艾比湖流域土壤水分时空分布特征

传统的土壤水分模拟研究难以从土壤水分变化的时空双向出发表达其连续演变的过程,存在时空尺度效应问题。借助SWAT模型模拟的长时间序列优势,结合高分辨率卫星影像和遥感技术,力图在时空尺度效应问题上取得突破。并利用长时间序列的模拟结果分析流域土壤水分的空间格局和不同维度时空异质性。结果表明：（1）2008-2014年间艾比湖流域土壤水分主要受气温、降水及人类活动影响,呈波动变化,总体偏低且具有逐年减小趋势。（2）受降水、地形及土地覆被影响,土壤水分分布呈现出由山区向两侧平原减少的特点,且林地 > 农用地 > 草地 > 稀疏植被。（3）近10年间土壤水分低值区由原来的北部山区及平原向东部、东南部平原区及南部山区迁移,东部减少最为明显。（4）流域四季土壤水分变化差异显著。其中,春季主要受融雪影响;夏季、秋季主要受降雨量和气温影响;冬季主要受固态降雪和气温影响;且不同年份、相同季节、相同子流域土壤水分变化趋势表现一致。