Polychaetes as indicators of environmental disturbance on subarctic tidal flats, Iqaluit, Baffin Island, Nunavut Territory

The polychaetes of the tidal flats near the town of Iqaluit, Baffin Island were analysed along gradients of environmental disturbance resulting from human activity. Sources of environmental disturbance include a sewage lagoon, garbage sites; and an area of the tidal flat that is cleared by bulldozer. Sampling of the tidal flats included 300 biological sediment cores taken from 75 sites along seven transects. Environmental disturbance has resulted in four zones of polychaete communities with increasing distance. The heavily disturbed zone is closest to the disturbances and is devoid of polychaetes. The disturbed zone follows and is characterized by low diversity the result of increased densities of a few opportunistic species such as, Capitella 'capitata' sp. The moderately disturbed zone is characterized by increased species diversity due to organic enrichment from the disturbances. The undisturbed zone, located the furthest from the sources of disturbance, is characterized by moderate levels of diversity compared to the other three zones.     

Sustainable impact of mussel farming in the Adriatic Sea (Mediterranean Sea): evidence from biochemical, microbial and meiofaunal indicators

We have investigated the impact of a large mussel farm on the benthic environment using a battery of benthic indicators of environmental quality (including biochemical, microbial and meiofaunal parameters). These were analysed through a multi-control sampling strategy over one year. The differences across the seasons are typically higher than those between the impacted and the control stations. No effects are seen in terms of the sediment oxygen penetration and the downward fluxes (as the total mass, organic and phytopigment fluxes). The indicators based on the biochemical compositions of the sediment organic matter and the microbial parameters also show no evidence of the eutrophication process, except as a slight increase in the bacterial density in the sediments beneath the long-lines of the farm during the period of highest mussel stocks. Finally, no effects are observed in terms of the benthic faunal indicators, as the meiofaunal abundance, the community structure and the taxa richness are all indistinguishable between the farm sediments and the controls. These results show that mussel farming in the investigated system is eco-sustainable and does not significantly alter the coastal marine ecosystem, both in terms of the functioning and the trophic state. The battery of indicators selected in this study represents a useful tool for the monitoring of the potential ecological impact of mussel farms, towards guaranteeing the sustainable development of aquacultures in shallow coastal environments.     

Evidence for X-Ray Emission from a Large-Scale Filament of Galaxies?

The large-scale ( approximately 100 kpc) environments of Seyfert galaxies are not significantly different from those of non-Seyfert galaxies. In the context of the interaction model of the formation of active galactic nuclei (AGNs), it has thus been proposed that AGNs form via "minor mergers" of large disk galaxies with smaller companions. We test this hypothesis by comparing the nuclear spectra of 105 bright nearby galaxies with measurements of their R- or r-band morphological asymmetries at three successive radii. We find no significant differences between these asymmetries among the 13 Seyfert galaxies in the sample and galaxies having other nuclear spectral types (absorption, H ii region-like, LINER), nor is there strong qualitative evidence that such mergers have occurred among any of the Seyfert galaxies or LINERs. Thus, either any minor mergers began greater, similar1 Gyr ago and are essentially complete, or they did not occur at all, and AGNs form independently of any type of interaction. Support for the latter interpretation is provided by the growing evidence that supermassive black holes exist in the cores of most elliptical and early-type spiral galaxies, which in turn suggests that nuclear activity represents a normal phase in the evolution of the bulges of massive galaxies. Galaxy mergers may increase the luminosity of Seyfert nuclei to the level of QSOs, which could explain why the latter objects appear to be found in rich environments and in interacting systems.     

Space-time visualization and analysis in the Cancer Atlas Viewer

This article describes the Cancer Atlas Viewer: free, downloadable software for the exploration of United States cancer mortality data. We demonstrate the software by exploring spatio-temporal patterns in colon cancer mortality rates for African-American and white females and males in the southeastern United States over the period 1970–1995. We compare the results of two cluster statistics: the local Moran and the local G*, through time. Overall, the two statistics reach similar conclusions for most locations. Where they disagree reveals functional differences in the kinds of local spatial variation to which the statistics are sensitive and identifies some interesting patterns in the data. There are only two persistent clusters of colon cancer mortality through time, and these are clusters of low values.This project was funded by grant CA92669 from the National Cancer Institute to BioMedware, Inc. The perspectives stated in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the National Cancer Institute. Constructive criticism from Heidi Durbeck of BioMedware, Peter Rogerson of SUNY-Buffalo, and three anonymous reviewers helped us improve the interpretation and presentation of these results.     

把握学科动向 争创世界知名的区域性地学大刊

首先,我代表中国地质学会、代表朱立新秘书长和第三主办单位对《地质学刊》正式更名和第六届编委会的隆重召开表示热烈的祝贺!对上级主管单位江苏省新闻出版局、江苏省科协、江苏省国土资源厅批准成立《地质学刊》这个刊物表示衷心的感谢,并借此机会向与会的《地质学刊》全体编委和协办单位的领导、同志们表示由衷的感谢!     

Detecting a field gradient of PAH exposure in decapod crustacea using a novel urinary biomarker

Norwegian coastal waters are subject to PAH contamination from electrochemical industries such as aluminium smelters. Evidence of PAH exposure has been established in fish and bivalves. The present study tests the applicability of a novel crustacean PAH exposure biomarker to a PAH contamination gradient in the field (Karmsund Strait, SW Norway). Fluorescence analysis of urine samples collected from crabs at each site revealed 1-OH pyrene "equivalent" levels (indicative of pyrogenic PAH contamination) decreased with increasing distance from a point source of pyrogenic PAH (a large aluminium works). The assay was shown to be suitable for the detection of PAH exposure in wild crustacean populations, for discriminating between contaminated and clean sites and is also sufficiently sensitive to detect gradients of PAH contamination. The method provides a rapid, inexpensive and non-destructive measure of biologically available PAH in crustaceans.     

郭文魁院士、宋叔和院士诞辰80周年暨从事地质工作60周年庆祝会纪要

由中国地质学会、中国地质科学院共同主办的“庆祝郭文魁院士、宋叔和院士诞辰80周年暨从事地质工作60周年庆祝会”于1995年7月3日在北京召开。国家科委、地质矿产部、中国科学院、北京大学等数10个单位的代表到会祝贺。 郭文魁院士、宋叔和院士都是我国著名的矿床地质学家。几十年来,他们的足迹遍布祖国的山山水水,在他们的身后留下了铜官山、白银厂等著名的矿山,为我国国民经济建设提供所需的矿产资源和探索矿床的形成规律做出了卓越的贡献。郭文魁、宋叔和先生曾先后出任中国     

新疆洪古勒楞蛇绿岩中含长二辉橄榄岩的成因探讨

洪古勒楞蛇绿岩中的含长二辉橄榄岩产于斜辉辉橄岩和堆晶岩之间,并与斜辉辉橄岩顶部的糜稜岩化带平行分布。含长二辉橄榄岩以其具有地幔橄榄岩特有的变晶结构和Ng(100)高温变形组构,以及含斜方辉石等特点而区别于堆晶岩。在矿物成分、化学成分及锶同位素等力面,含长二辉橄榄岩具有介于地幔橄榄岩和堆晶岩之间的某些过渡特征。含长二辉橄榄岩中新生矿物的出现,提供了基性熔体渗入的证据。斜辉辉橄岩顶部的糜稜岩化带可能是岩浆房底部基性熔体下渗的通道。笔者认为,含长二辉橄榄岩为基性熔体渗入到先前已亏损的斜辉辉橄岩中,并与之重新平衡的产物。     

新疆西准噶尔地区冶金型与耐火型铬铁矿床的特征及其成因研究

西准噶尔蛇绿岩中发育两类铬铁矿床(或矿化):一类是冶金型铬铁矿床,它以唐巴勒、萨雷诺海为代表;另一类是耐火型铬铁矿床,它以萨尔托海、鲸鱼、洪古勒楞为代表.冶金型矿床中的造矿与副矿物铬尖晶石以高Cr低Al为特征,耐火型则以高Al低Cr为特征.副矿物铬尖晶石的成分从二辉橄榄岩至纯橄岩均显示出向富Cr贫Al方向演化的趋势,两类造矿铬尖晶石成分位于该系列上的不同范围,显示了两者间的差异.豆荚状铬铁矿床的形成是原始地幔岩高度熔融的残余物,冶金型矿床的熔化程度高于耐火型矿床.豆荚体的聚集和分散则依靠上地幔的塑性剪切作用实现的.