Middle Paleolithic occupation on a Marine Isotope Stage 5 lakeshore in the Nefud Desert,Saudi Arabia

Major hydrological variations associated with glacial and interglacial climates in North Africa and the Levant have been related to Middle Paleolithic occupations and dispersals, but suitable archaeological sites to explore such relationships are rare on the Arabian Peninsula. Here we report the discovery of Middle Paleolithic assemblages in the Nefud Desert of northern Arabia associated with stratified deposits dated to 75,000 years ago. The site is located in close proximity to a substantial relict lake and indicates that Middle Paleolithic hominins penetrated deeply into the Arabian Peninsula to inhabit landscapes vegetated by grasses and some trees. Our discovery supports the hypothesis of range expansion by Middle Paleolithic populations into Arabia during the final humid phase of Marine Isotope Stage 5, when environmental conditions were still favorable.     

The impact of extreme turbidity events on the nursery function of a temperate European estuary with regulated freshwater inflow

Estuaries are used as nursery grounds by numerous marine species despite being usually subject to strong anthropogenic disturbances. Abundances of marine recruits (fish and crustacean decapods) and their main prey (mysids) were monitored by monthly sampling, from June 1997 to February 2009, in the lower reaches of the Guadalquivir estuary (SW Spain). During that period, unusually high and persistent turbidity events (HPTEs) were observed twice. Both HPTEs started with strong and sudden freshwater discharges after relatively long periods of very low freshwater inflow. Data from this time-series were used to test the hypothesis that HPTEs may negatively impact the nursery function of estuaries either by decreasing prey availability or by decreasing survival/arrival of marine recruits. During HPTEs, the commonest mysid (Mesopodopsis slabberi), a key species in the estuarine food web, showed a significant decrease in abundance. Likewise, some marine recruits that prey on M. slabberi and whose peaks of abundance within the estuary occur in summer–autumn (Engraulis encrasicolus and Pomadasys incisus) were less abundant during HPTEs. It is also suggested that HPTEs might have triggered a shift in the distribution of the most euryhaline prey (Neomysis integer) and predator (Dicentrarchus punctatus and Crangon crangon) species, towards more saline waters. This could have contributed to an increase in the inter-specific competition (for food/habitat) within the estuarine nursery area. The results discussed in this study call attention to the need to reduce as much as possible the anthropogenic pressures that may stimulate the occurrence of high and persistent turbidity events (HPTEs) in order to preserve the nursery function of temperate estuaries.     

A helping hand: artificial nest site provisioning increases breeding success of a tropical seabird

Common white terns Gygis alba lay a single egg balanced on rocks or branches and consequently are at risk of low nesting success. A novel technique of hollowing out coconut husks and providing artificial nest sites was developed on Cousine Island, Seychelles. Our study aimed to critically assess whether common white tern nesting success differed between artificial and natural nest sites. For natural nest sites, nesting success and the stage of nest failure were also compared between seasons, nest heights, and tree species. Finally, we compared results from our study to those of a study conducted 10 years ago on the same island. Nesting success differed significantly between artificial nests and natural nests, with the success of artificial nests nearly double that of natural nests. Hatching success was similar for artificial and natural nests (65% and 52% respectively), suggesting coconut husks do not reduce egg losses, but rather provide secure perches for young chicks. Most natural nest failures occurred during the egg phase (70%), followed by the youngest chick phase (21%). Of the eggs that hatched in natural nests, 61% fledged successfully. Tree species and season significantly influenced nesting success for natural nests and nest height varied significantly between tree species. Higher nesting success was observed during the mixed seasonal period (50%) followed by the cooler, windier and drier South-East Monsoon season (33%). The hotter and more humid North-West Monsoon period had the lowest nesting success (20%). Comparisons of nesting success at natural and artificial nest sites with the earlier study did not differ significantly, despite a smaller population of common white terns being present on the island at that stage. Our results support the use of artificial nest sites to improve nesting success for this species and serve as a model for similar species currently under threat.     

Dynamics and role of the Durban cyclonic eddy in the KwaZulu-Natal Bight ecosystem

The semi-permanent Durban Eddy is a mesoscale, lee-trapped, cold-core cyclonic circulation that occurs off the east coast of South Africa between Durban in the north and Sezela, some 70 km to the south. When present, strong north-eastward countercurrents reaching 100 cm s^–1 are found inshore. It is hypothesised that the cyclone is driven by the strong south-westward flowing Agulhas Current offshore of the regressing shelf edge near Durban. Analysis of ADCP data and satellite imagery shows the eddy to be present off Durban approximately 55% of the time, with an average lifespan of 8.6 days, and inter-eddy periods of 4 to 8 days. After spin-up the eddy breaks loose from its lee position and propagates downstream on the inshore boundary of the Agulhas Current. The eddy is highly variable in occurrence, strength and downstream propagation speeds. There is no detectable seasonal cycle in eddy occurrence, with the Natal Pulse causing more variability than any seasonal signal. A thermistor array deployed in the eddy centre, together with ship CTD data, indicates upward doming of the thermal structure in the eddy core associated with cooler water and nutrients being moved higher in the water column, stimulating primary production. Together with the use of satellite imagery, our findings indicate a second mechanism of upwelling, viz. divergent upwelling in the northern limb of the eddy. Satellite-tracked surface drifters released in the eddy demonstrated the potential for nutrient-rich eddy water to be transported northwards along the inshore regions of the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Bight, thus contributing to the functioning of the bight ecosystem, as well as southwards along the KZN and Transkei coasts – both by the eddy migrating downstream and by eddy water being recirculated into the inshore boundary of the Agulhas Current itself.     

那曲地区植被NDVI时空变化及成因分析

利用GIS和遥感技术方法分析了2000—2014年那曲地区植被归一化指数(NDVI)的时空分布特征和变化趋势,探讨了NDVI与几种气象因子的关系。结果表明:空间上,研究区植被NDVI在空间上呈自西向东、自南向北逐步增大,高海拔地区小于低海拔地区的分布特点;时间上,近15a的NDVI总体上呈不显著性下降趋势,NDVI变化可以分为3个阶段,分别为2000—2005年较好,2006—2008年略差,2009—2014年好转。植被面积变化趋势表现为西北部植被处于稳定状态的面积居多,变化较明显的区域集中在中部和东南部地区的人口密集区,改善和退化区域呈现交错出现的特点。那曲地区植被变化的主要影响因素为降水量和热量因素引起的,人类活动在较短时间尺度上对植被也有较大影响。     

Long‐term effects of revegetation on soil hydrological processes in vegetation‐stabilized desert ecosystems

Planting of sand‐binding vegetation in the Shapotou region on the southeastern edge of the Tengger Desert began in 1956. The revegetation programme successfully stabilized formerly mobile dunes in northern China, permitting the operation of the Baotou‐Lanzhou railway. Long‐term monitoring has shown that the revegetation programme produced various ecological changes, including the formation of biological soil crusts (BSCs). To gain insight into the role of BSCs in both past ecological change and current ecological evolution at the revegetation sites, we used field measurements and HYDRUS‐1D model simulations to investigate the effects of BSCs on soil hydrological processes at revegetated sites planted in 1956 and 1964 and at an unplanted mobile dune site. The results demonstrate that the formation of BSCs has altered patterns of soil water storage, increasing the moisture content near the surface (0–5 cm) while decreasing the moisture content in deeper layers (5–120 cm). Soil evaporation at BSC sites is elevated relative to unplanted sites during periods when canopy coverage is low. Rainfall infiltration was not affected by BSCs during the very dry period that was studied (30 April to 30 September 2005); during periods with higher rainfall intensity, differences in infiltration may be expected due to runoff at BSC sites. The simulated changes in soil moisture storage and hydrological processes are consistent with ongoing plant community succession at the revegetated sites, from deep‐rooted shrubs to more shallow‐rooted herbaceous species. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Diagenetic K-feldspar pseudomorphs in the Triassic Buntsandstein sandstones of the Iberian Range, Spain

Early diagenetic K-feldspar in the Triassic Buntsandstein of the Iberian Range (Spain) occurs as pseudomorphs after detrital K-feldspar (Or<93) and plagioclase (Ab<96). These pseudomorphs are chemically pure (Or>99), untwinned, commonly heavily clouded by vacuoles and tiny inclusions, dark-luminescing and are composed of numerous fine euhedral crystals of K-feldspar. The latter property suggests that the pseudomorphs form via dissolution of detrital K-feldspar and plagioclase and precipitation of authigenic K-feldspar. X-ray diffraction analysis shows that the authigenic K-feldspar is intermediate microcline.     

The vertical distribution of macro-insects migrating in the nocturnal boundary layer: A radar study

A special-purpose radar has been used to observe the vertical distribution of large, strong-flying insects migrating in the nocturnal boundary layer over the central-western plains region of New South Wales. During the period of take-off flight at dusk, the density of insects decreased monotonically with height, and a distribution of this type persisted for much of the night in the zone of steady temperature lapse extending from the top of the inversion layer to the flight ceiling at about 1 km. Later in the night, the insects often became concentrated in the warm air at the top of the inversion layer. The lower boundary of this concentration sometimes became sharply defined, but above the zone of maximum insect density there was usually a smooth decrease of insect numbers with altitude. When the boundary layer was disturbed by an atmospheric density current, the direction and vertical distribution of the migration was permanently changed; solitary wave disturbances, however, had only a transient effect.     

Geochemistry of tin, tungsten and molybdenum in Swedish proterozoic granitoids: Their potential use in regional mineral exploration

The primary aim of this broad regional study is to statistically determine the Li-Sn-W-Mo-bearing potential of various granitoids using geochemical criteria. Computer based, univariate and multivariate statistical methods are applied to major- and trace-element data from about 660 granitic rock samples and over 800 major element analyses, selected from the Swedish geological literature. The granitoids are subdivided following earlier geotectonic chronologic and newer geochemical-statistical principles.Most granite types occurring in known Sn-W mineralized areas, except the granites around the W deposit of Baggetorp, were identified as potentially W-Sn-bearing. That is, they show significantly high mean and variance values for W and/or Sn as well as promising values of the probability parameters for these elements, compared to corresponding statistics for a calculated Swedish average granitoid (SAG).Evidence of very high total variability of Li, Sn and W within the individual granite types suggests the need for further tests, to control the variability errors due to sampling and preparation and errors of chemical analysis. These sources of error may obscure natural elemental heterogeneity of the granite type that is of interest in geochemical prospecting.Interpretations of Sn, W and Li frequency distribution patterns, petrochemical trends and multivariate similarity tests suggest that the primary chemistry of the granitoids is overprinted by (a) postmagmatic processes of broad regional nature, which have similarly affected the individual granite types, and (b) a wide variety of secondary alterations of local character. These conclusions imply that potential Sn and W deposits may be sought within all Swedish Proterozoic granitoids and their within all Swedish Proterozoic granitoids and their immediate sorroundings, where susch processes have redistributed and concentrated these where such processes have redistributed and concentrated these elements. However, the granites which are highly differentiated, Sn-W-Li-U-Th-F-enriched, and strongly and strongly magnetic are particularly promising target areas for further, extensive rock-geochemical prospecting and other exploration surveys. rock-geochemical prospecting and other exploration surveys.