A review on the spread of prehistoric agriculture from southern China to mainland Southeast Asia

The origins and spread of agriculture was one of the milestones in human history. When and how prehistoric agriculture spread to mainland Southeast Asia is highly concerned, which contributed to the formation of modern Austroasiatic in this region. Previous studies mainly focused on the time and route of rice agriculture's introduction into Southeast Asia while millet agriculture was not paid proper attention. Here we analyze 312 ~(14)C dating data yielded from charred seeds of rice(Oryza sativa), foxtail millet(Setaria italica) and broomcorn millet(Panicum miliaceum) from 128 archaeological sites in China and mainland Southeast Asia. The result shows that millet farming was introduced to mainland Southeast Asia in the late third millennium BC and rice farming was in the late second millennium BC. The agriculture of mainland Southeast Asia might originate from three areas, Southwest China, Guangxi-West Guangdong and coastal Fujian. The spread route of ancient agriculture in Southwest China is close to the "Southwest Silk Road" recorded in literature, which implies there was possibly a channel of cultural exchanges on the eastern margin of Tibetan Plateau already in the late Neolithic period, laying the foundation for the Southwest Silk Road later.     

南水北调中线水源区浮游植物

通过对南水北调中线水源区水体浮游植物的调查,结合理化指标的逐月测定,结果表明:该水域共有浮游植物8门40属71种(包括变种),其中以硅藻门的种类占优势,浮游植物的种类和数量随季节和水域不同而呈现差异,浮游植物对水体污染具有较好的指示作用,水体为寡污型水体.本研究为建立中线水源区长期生态研究数据信息库及库区生态环境保护政策制定提供科学依据.     

不同时间尺度青海湖沉积物总有机碳对气候变化的敏感性

湖泊沉积物总有机碳（TOC）含量通常作为表征流域和湖泊生产力的指标,在亚洲季风区也常常被当作夏季风的代用指标,被广泛应用于气候与环境变化研究.本文梳理了过去千年、全新世以及冰期-间冰期时间尺度上青海湖沉积物TOC的变化特征,并探讨了其指示气候变化的敏感性与有效性.结果表明,过去千年青海湖沉积物TOC含量与区域暖季温度和降水表现出较为一致的周期性波动.通过对比全新世区域夏季温度、基于孢粉的降水定量重建结果,以及湖泊水位、风沙活动反映的湿度状况等,发现不能简单地将青海湖沉积物TOC含量或沉积通量作为夏季风强度或者季风降水强度的代用指标.青海湖沉积物TOC含量在冰期和间冰期表现出巨大的差异,指示了冰期-间冰期时间尺度上较大的温度与降水变幅.因此,不同地域条件及不同时间尺度下,湖泊沉积物TOC对气候变化的敏感性不同,将湖泊沉积物TOC含量作为亚洲夏季风的代用指标需要特别谨慎,特别是在高寒气候区.