Carbonaceous metalliferous sediments and oceanic anoxic events in the Earth’s Phanerozoic history

The oceanic anoxic events (OAE) intermittently occurring in the Earth’s Phanerozoic history left fingerprints in the geological record in the form of carbonaceous metalliferous sediments. The analysis of the available data on the S, Mo, Sr, Os, and Nd isotope compositions reveals that the role the volcanic factor was multiply higher during the accumulation of these sediments. The sediments maximally enriched in planktonogenic organic matter (up to 5% on average and up to 30% in separate layers) are widespread on continental margins and in adjacent onshore areas. On active margins, they are largely confined to the back parts of marginal seas, where they are characterized by lower organic matter concentrations (averaging approximately 2.5% and up to 10% in separated beds). The deposition of carbonaceous metalliferous sediments in the Phanerozoic associates with 16 oceanic anoxic events, which happened in different geodynamic settings with intensified ophiolitic, island-arc, and trappe volcanism. The underwater lava eruptions and hydrothermal solution discharges served as a triggering mechanism for the chemical, biological, sedimentological, and climatic processes that stimulated the development of anoxic environments in the ocean and the deposition of carbonaceous metalliferous sediments.     

Relating background fractures to diagenesis and rock physical properties in a platform–slope transect. Example of the Maiella Mountain (central Italy)

Fractured reservoirs are of prime interest as fracture networks control most of the fluid flow and/or accumulation. However, characterizing 3D fracture patterns from subsurface data remains challenging. Studying fractures on outcrops is a good substitution to 1D data from subsurface exploration tools. In addition, outcrops allow deciphering the nature, origin and conditions for fracture formation through the geodynamic history. In this paper, we aim at characterizing the true 3D fracture patterns and determining the genetic role of facies, diagenesis and rock physical properties. We targeted a platform–slope transect within a carbonate reservoir analog, the Maiella Mountain in central Italy, where implications for analog hydrocarbon reservoir can be discussed.Fracture patterns are sorted based on geometric and kinematic criteria from field measurements and petrographic analyzes on thin-sections. Sedimentary facies, pore types and rock physical properties have been characterized in order to establish the impact of early diagenesis on rock evolution. Diagenetic sequences have been unraveled and correlated to the fractures. Fracture sequences have been determined considering the cross-cutting relationships and compared with burial–uplift history. In the two studied formations (platform and slope carbonates), we interpret a stage of fracturing perpendicular to bedding, formed at shallow depth and occurring prior to major regional tectonic events. The studied carbonates have undergone early diagenesis during fast and shallow burial, conferring early brittle behavior. The amount of stylolites is not correlated to burial depth but to fracture density, porosity and free air P–wave velocity. It means that fracture development, mechanical and petrophysical properties are acquired during early diagenesis.Both studied formations have undergone the same geodynamic history and their brittle response is different and not related to folding but to burial and early cementation. Deciphering the close relationship between sedimentary facies, diagenetic and geodynamic history has allowed unraveling the controling factors on rock properties and therefore on fracture pattern.     

The role of basement tectonic reactivation on the structural evolution of Campos Basin,offshore Brazil: Evidence from 3D seismic analysis and section restoration

The structural analysis of regional 3D seismic data shows evidence of long-term tectonic inheritance in Campos Basin, offshore Brazil. Main Lower Cretaceous rift structures controlled themselves by strike-slip deformation belts related to Proterozoic orogenic events, have been episodically reactivated during the divergent margin phase of Campos Basin, from the Albian to the Miocene. Balanced cross-sections of major salt structures indicate that such tectonic reactivations have been controlling thin-skinned salt tectonics, triggering pulses of gravitational gliding above the Aptian salt detachment. Additionally, major basin features like the Neogene progradation front and the salt tectonic domains are constrained by the main Proterozoic orogenic trends of the Ribeira Belt (NE–SW) and the Vitória-Colatina Belt (NNW–SSE). As the basement involved structures observed in Campos Basin can be attributed to general geodynamic processes, it is suggested that basement tectonic reactivation can be as relevant as isostatic adjustment and detached thin-skinned tectonics on the structural evolution of divergent margin settings.     

Stress-associated synchronization and desynchronization in geologic and biologic systems

Variations in the annual numbers of representative earthquakes in three areas and six districts of the Baikal rift zone in 1964–2002 were subjected to correlation analysis. Episodes of significant correlations of shock flow rates were found against the background of chaotic seismic activity. They followed the rearrangements (catastrophes) of stresses in the lithosphere, which are also stressing factors for the whole rift geodynamic system. The episode of the late 1970s-early 1980s was particularly long and showed the maximum correlation. Therefore, it can be considered the principal event in seismic process synchronization in the Baikal Rift Zone. The same approach to data analysis revealed similar synchronization and desynchronization phenomena in the behavior of Baikalian turbellaria when they deviated from homeostasis as a result of illumination, which is a stress for this biologic system. Possible reasons for the behavior of biologic and geodynamic systems are discussed in terms of the synergetic concept of phenomena in living and nonliving nature.     

Petrographic and seismic evidence for the depositional setting of giant turbidite reservoirs and the paleogeographic evolution of Campos Basin,offshore Brazil

The paleogeographic evolution of Campos Basin, a major oil province of Brazil, during the deposition of its giant turbidite reservoirs, was reinterpreted based on the integration of quantitative sandstone petrography and structural analysis of regional 3D seismic data. The major detrital compositional trends indicate that the geodynamic evolution of the continental margin, rather than global eustatic sea-level fluctuations, has exerted the main control on sand supply to the deepwater systems. This control was imposed by the interaction of three geodynamic processes: (i) escarpment retreat of the coastal mountain ridges, (ii) mantle plume-related dynamic uplift and magmatic activity, and (iii) tectonic reactivation of major basement fault-zones. The pattern of distribution of compositional and textural parameters within the turbidite sequences indicated that the sand supply to deepwater was also constrained by high-frequency stratigraphic processes of the climate Milankovitch band. This new approach to the controls on the formation of the sand-rich, deepwater systems in Campos Basin has a key importance for the generation of realistic models for the exploration of new turbidite reservoirs and for the optimized development of producing turbidite oilfields in such a world-class hydrocarbon province. The proposed integrated methodology can help to unravel the controls on the deposition of deepwater sand-rich, deepwater reservoirs in other divergent margin settings.     

Morphostructural Analysis and Seabed Shelf Typing

Analysis of the morphometric characteristics from a study of the Barents Sea seabed has shown that the existing troughs are consistent with geodynamic conclusions, allowing morphological typing into structural slopes and reconstruction of their origin. Thus, the Norwegian–Mezenskaya rift system and Svyataya Anna and Victoria troughs were formed due to stretching of the lithosphere. The South Barents and Medvezinsko- Edzinskaya depressions formed at the generation stage of lithospheric plates due to the collision of several island arcs between outliers of the ancient oceanic crust. The choice of the geomorphic method for studying the seabed is because the science of geomorphology comprehensively studies bottom relief (morphology), its origin, and age. Adequate reconstruction of the causal relationships of exogenous and endogenous processes aids in substantiating the prediction of probable catastrophic seabed events. The results of mathematical calculations have confirmed the geodynamic conclusions within the Barents Sea region.     

Global disasters: Geodynamics and society

The problem of reducing the damage caused by geodynamic and social disasters is an important and urgent task facing humanity. By the middle of this century, damage from these disasters will exceed the combined gross national product (GNP) of all countries in the world. The authors have developed the first database to include the largest geodynamic and social phenomena that occurred on Earth before 2005. All disasters are classified by size using a single-logarithmic scale suggested by Rodkin and Shebalin in 1993. The base consists of 47 dates and 104 disasters. The following phenomenological model is proposed: the scale of disasters does not decrease in time and a minimum of disasters was recorded in the 15th century; the number of disasters is characterized by cycles that last as long as the first thousand years. Natural and social disasters taken together are uniformly distributed in time, but their separate distribution is not uniform. One fundamentally new feature of this paper is that the assumption about the statistical significance of the impact of the biosphere and society on the geodynamic processes is justified. The results allow us to formulate a new understanding of global disasters as an event, the damage from which will not be possible to eliminate by the joint resource potential. The consequences of a global disaster may cause the irreversible destruction of civilization.     

Gametogenic development and spawning of the razor clam,Zenatia acinaces in northeastern New Zealand

The potential exists for New Zealand to exploit already established markets for razor clams through development of fisheries or aquaculture industries for the New Zealand razor clam, Zenatia acinaces. However, fishery or aquaculture development for Z. acinaces requires an understanding of the reproductive cycle including the timing of gametogenic development and spawning. The reproductive cycle of Z. acinaces was studied over an 11‐month period from May 2000 to March 2001 at Kennedy Bay, Coromandel Peninsula, using qualitative standard histological analysis and quantitative measures of oocytes. Histological analysis indicated that Z. acinaces is dioecious and gametogenic development was synchronous between the sexes. Gametogenesis began in June with gametes maturing quickly and by August/September (late winter/ early spring) most razor clams were ripe. Spawning began as early as September (spring) although spawning mainly occurred during October. By December (summer), nearly all clams were completely spent. From January 2001 most clams could not be sexed as all residual gametes were resorbed. Razor clams remained in this stage during March 2001. Spawning began when the water temperature was around its lowest, c. 15°C. Monthly mean number of eggs/follicle was sensitive to changes in reproductive development, closely following patterns observed in the qualitative stagings. Patterns of monthly mean oocyte diameters did not adequately describe the spawning events observed in qualitative analyses. Sex ratios were equal over the size range (69–99 mm shell length) of clams that could be sexed. The data presented in this study provide valuable information on the timing of spawning events for Z. acinaces, necessary for developing sustainable management strategies and selecting broodstock for aquaculture.     

Geodynamics and plume tectonics of the Azore-Gibraltar fault zone (North Atlantic)

Maps of the principal structures and geological-geophysical knowledge for the Azores-Gibraltar and Icelandic regions have been made. The geodynamic conditions of the Azores archipelago formation have been analyzed. It has been noted that the uplifting of the Azores plume (as well as the Icelandic one) might have been triggered by near-surface tectonic processes. The computer modeling has been performed with respect to the coefficients of the geodynamic sinking rates for the Azores fragment of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Based on the modeling results, this rate was ∼1.5 times higher than the average sinking rate for the mid-ocean ridges of the World Ocean in general. The high sinking rate of the Azores fragment is caused by the influence of the plume material on the sinking process. Based on the complex analysis of the seismicity, thermal flow, and seismic tomography data distribution, as well as the implemented numerical calculations, the European (northern) part of the diffuse boundary between the Eurasian and African plates has been identified for the first time. Along with the African (southern) boundary, it outlines the identified by the authors West Mediterranean plate.     

两类强度厄尔尼诺和拉尼娜事件对中国近海鲐鱼栖息地的影响

鲐鱼是中上层鱼类,具有较高经济价值,其种群受到气候和海洋环境的显著影响。本文根据2006-2015年7-9月中国远洋渔业数据中心提供的中国近海鲐鱼捕捞和海表温度以及海面高度两个关键环境因子的数据,构建了基于捕捞努力量的鲐鱼综合栖息地指数模型,分析研究了在不同强度厄尔尼诺和拉尼娜条件下鲐鱼栖息地适宜性的变动规律。通过计算和交叉验证,结果发现,基于算术平均法的栖息地模型能够较好地预测鲐鱼渔场栖息地适宜性指数。空间相关性结果表明,鲐鱼渔场主要作业海域范围内海表温度异常与栖息地指数值呈显著正相关关系,而海表面高度异常与栖息地指数值呈显著负相关关系。不同强度厄尔尼诺和拉尼娜事件对鲐鱼种群影响不同,具体表现为:相对于中强度厄尔尼诺事件（或中强度拉尼娜事件）,超强厄尔尼诺事件（或强拉尼娜事件）驱动鲐鱼主要作业海域内温度下降（或上升）,海面高度上升（或降低）,鲐鱼渔场适宜栖息地面积显著减小（或增大）,导致鲐鱼单位捕捞努力量渔获量骤减（或显著增加）。研究表明,中国近海鲐鱼栖息地适宜性与厄尔尼诺和拉尼娜事件显著相关,且随着异常气候事件强度的不同而发生变化。     

Observations of sea ice interannual variations and spring bloom occurrences at the Japanese scallop farming area in the Okhotsk Sea using satellite imageries

The dynamics of ice formation and phytoplankton bloom development in the coastal region of the Okhotsk Sea, Hokkaido, where the Japanese scallop, Mizuhopecten yessoensis, are cultured were investigated using seven years (1998–2004) satellite data from the Special Sensor Microwave/Imager (SSM/I) and Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor (SeaWiFS). The interannual variability of sea ice cover and timing of spring bloom occurrences were analyzed. Longer ice cover in 1999, 2001 and 2003 with the presence of ice until early April and shortened ice cover in 1998, 2000, 2002 and 2004 with the occurrence of ice until early March were recognized at this area. Variability in the timing of sea ice retreat and development of spring blooms at the scallop areas were observed. Progression of a single ice edge bloom showed higher Chl-a concentration compared to development of an initial ice edge bloom followed by a later open water bloom. Higher concentration of phytoplankton biomass was observed in the initial bloom when sea ice melting is delayed compared to when the sea ice leaves earlier. Wind events were also observed to affect the occurrences of spring bloom.     

闽三角海域赤潮发生的时空特征

赤潮是海洋生态系统异常的重要指标。本文收集1986～2017年闽三角海域的赤潮事件,基于GIS技术分析赤潮的时空分布特征。结果表明:32年来,闽三角海域赤潮发生98次,赤潮高发区在厦门西海域、同安湾和泉州湄洲湾海域;闽三角海域赤潮年际发生次数呈波动变化,一年中赤潮高发期集中在5～8月;中肋骨条藻、角毛藻及旋链角毛藻是闽三角海域的赤潮优势种,具有一定的区域分布特征;有毒赤潮事件发生频率有增加趋势。本文系统性地总结了闽三角海域赤潮时空特征,为该区域的赤潮风险分析和预防提供依据。     

Impacts of a bivalve mass mortality event on an estuarine food web and bivalve grazing pressure

Declines in bivalve populations have been quite common worldwide, often associated with coastal development, pollution and climate change. In addition to the impacts of these chronic stressors, occasional mass mortality events may have severe consequences on ecosystem services and biodiversity. In this study, we examined the impact of a mass mortality event of the clam (Austrovenus stutchburyi) on an estuarine food web and the grazing pressure exerted by the bivalve population. In February 2009, c. 60% of the clam population died in Whangateau Harbour, New Zealand. Population clearance rate calculations suggest that the clam population do not exert significant top-down control on phytoplankton biomass in the estuary, and thus the impact of the mortality event on bivalve grazing pressure was less severe than the reduction in abundance would suggest. A trophic model shows that phytoplankton play a limited role in the estuary food web, which is instead dominated by microphytobenthos and clams. This study highlights the importance of microphytobenthos in shallow estuaries, and the application of the trophic model is a useful tool that can identify key components of the ecosystem and could help inform monitoring programmes.     

基于RNA-seq数据分析长牡蛎(Crassostrea gigas)天然免疫的可变剪接事件

大部分无脊椎动物缺乏基于经典抗体和记忆细胞的适应性免疫, 因而天然免疫在无脊椎动物免疫防御中发挥不可或缺的作用。可变剪接正是产生天然免疫多样性和特异性的重要途径。牡蛎(Crassostrea)是全球范围内的大宗养殖贝类和我国产量最高的海水养殖贝类, 理解其天然免疫系统的多样性和特异性对牡蛎病害防治和养殖业健康可持续发展至关重要。通过对不同病原诱导以及诱导后不同时间的转录组进行生物信息分析, 系统地研究了长牡蛎天然免疫应激反应的可变剪接事件。发现在弧菌诱导下可变剪接事件的总数显著增加, 表明弧菌的感染会诱导长牡蛎可变剪接事件的产生。对病原诱导后可变剪接体的组成类型及表达量显著变化的基因的功能富集分析, 表明免疫系统相关功能被显著富集, 病原感染不同阶段以及不同病原感染后可变剪接体的组成类型和表达量均不一致, 表明长牡蛎免疫系统可通过可变剪接产生免疫响应的特异性和多样性。研究结果为长牡蛎等无脊椎动物天然免疫多样性和特异性提供了典型实例, 也为长牡蛎病害防御提供了理论支撑。     

甲藻(Dinophyta)凯伦藻科(Kareniaceae)的分类学研究与展望

凯伦藻科(Kareniaceae)是甲藻门中较新建立的一个科。凯伦藻科种类广泛分布于全球海域,目前已报道3属30个种。由于该科大部分种类频发藻华,严重威胁近海生态安全和水产养殖,因而备受关注。自20世纪90年代起,我国沿岸也逐渐成为凯伦藻藻华的重灾区,凯伦藻曾引发我国最严重的几次藻华事件。本文对本科种类分类学特征进行详细描述,翻译其中文名,编制属、种分类检索表,以期为我国凯伦藻生物多样性研究以及凯伦藻藻华防治提供基础而必要的种源信息。     

槽道湍流的展向振荡电磁力壁面减阻

采用直接数值模拟方法,对槽道湍流的展向振荡电磁力的减阻效果和减阻机理进行了研究,讨论了电磁力强度和振荡频率对湍流猝发事件以及壁面减阻率的影响.结果表明,电磁力强度或振荡频率变化时,湍流猝发频率和猝发强度的变化趋势是相反的,所以存在最优参数使得减阻效果最好.等价壁面展向速度可以很好地描述电磁力强度和振荡频率的变化对减阻效果的综合效应.     

Paleoclimatic and paleolatitude settings of accumulation of radiolarian siliceous–volcanogenic sequences in the middle Mesozoic Pacific: Evidence from allochthons of East Asia

Jurassic–Cretaceous siliceous–volcanogenic rocks from nappes of tectonostratigraphic sequences of the East Asia Middle Cretaceous Okhotsk–Koryak orogenic belt are represented by a wide range of geodynamic sedimentation settings: oceanic (near-spreading zones, seamounts, and deep-water basins), marginal seas, and island arcs. The taxonomic compositions of radiolarian communities are used as paleolatitude indicators in the Northern Pacific. In addition, a tendency toward climate change in the Mesozoic is revealed based on these communities: from the warm Triassic to the cold Jurassic with intense warming from the Late Jurassic to the Early Cretaceous. Cretaceous warming led to heating of ocean waters even at moderately high latitudes and to the development of Tethyan radiolarians there. These data are confirmed by a global Cretaceous temperature peak coinciding with a high-activity pulse of the planetary mantle superplume system, which created thermal anomalies and the greenhouse effect. In addition, the Pacific superplume attributed to this system caused accelerated movement of oceanic plates, which resulted in a compression setting on the periphery of the Pacific and the formation of the Okhotsk–Koryak orogenic belt on its northwestern framing in the Middle Cretaceous, where Mesozoic rocks of different geodynamic and latitudinal–climate settings were juxtaposed into allochthonous units.     

Layer-block tectonics of Cenozoic basements and formation of intra-plate basins in Nansha micro-plate, southern South China Sea

Layer-block tectonics(LBT)concept,with the core of pluralistic geodynamic outlook and multilayer-sliding tectonic outlook,is one of new keys to study 3-dimensional solid and its 4-dimensional evolution history of global tectonic system controlled by global geodynamics system.The LBT concept is applied to study the lithospheric tectonics of the southern South China Sea(SCS).Based on the analysis of about 30000 km of geophysical and geological data,some layer-blocks in the Nansha micro-plate can be divided as Nansha ultra-crustal layer-block,Zengmu crustal layer-block,Nanwei(Rifleman bank)–Andu(Ardasier bank)and Liyue(Reed bank)–North Palawan crustal layer-blocks,Andu-Bisheng and Liyue–Banyue basemental layer-blocks.The basic characteristics of the basemental layer-blocks have been dicussed,and three intra-plate basin groups are identified.The intra-plate basins within Nansha micro-plate can bedivided into three basin groups of Nanwei–Andu,Feixin–Nanhua,and Liyue–North Palawan based on the different geodynamics.In the light of pluralistic geodynamic concept,the upheaving force induced by the mid-crust plastic layer is proposed as the main dynamical force which causes the formation of the intra-plate basins within the Nansha micro-plate.Finally,models of a face-to-face dip-slip–detachment of basemental layer-block and a unilateral dip-slip–detachment of basemental layer-block are put forward for the forming mechanisms of the Nanwei–Andu and Liyue-North Palawan intra-plate basin groups,respectively.     

上新世以来南海海水表层温度（SST）的变化

The reconstruction of sea surface temperature(SST) is a key issue in research on paleoceanography. The recently related studies are mainly concentrated on the Quaternary. The skeletons of a typical species of benthonic foraminifer(Amphistegina radiata) in the top 0–375.30 m interval of Well "Xike-1" reef core, Shidao Island, the Xisha Islands, are uniformly selected. The ratios of magnesium to calcium concentrations and other indicators are analyzed by an electron microprobe analysis(EMPA) with the purpose of estimating the paleo-SSTs since the Pliocene and further investigating the periodic change law of paleoclimate in the South China Sea(SCS).Meanwhile, the geologic significance of paleoclimatic events in the SCS is discussed with global perspectives. The results indicate that the paleo-SSTs reconstructed by the ratios of magnesium to calcium concentrations in the SCS show a general periodic trend of "high–low–high–low" in values changes since the Pliocene. By comparison,the fluctuations of reconstructed paleo-SSTs are much stronger in the Quaternary. Moreover, the variations of the ratios of magnesium to calcium concentrations in the A. radiata skeletons have recorded a series of major paleoclimatic events since the Pliocene, of which the Quaternary glaciation events and the Arctic ice cap forming events during the late Pliocene are more significant. Thus, using the changes of the ratios of magnesium to calcium concentrations in the A. radiata skeletons from Well "Xike-1" reef core to reflect the relative changes of paleo-SSTs is a relatively feasible and reliable way in the SCS, which is also proved by the correlation of drilling cores characteristics in this area.     

High occurrence of the elasipodid holothurian Penilpidia ludwigi (von Marenzeller, 1893) in bathyal sediment traps moored in a western Mediterranean submarine canyon

One hundred and fifty specimens of the elasipod holothurian Penilpidia ludwigi (von Marenzeller, 1893) were collected in sediment traps moored near the seabed in the La Fonera Canyon (Catalan Sea, north-western Mediterranean) and on the adjacent continental slope. These provide the third record of this apparently endemic Mediterranean species and the first record from the western Mediterranean. This was the only holothurian species trapped and the most abundant macroscopic organism found in the traps between 1200 and 1700 m depth over the whole sampling period (March–November 2001). It was particularly abundant in spring during the main flux of organic particles in the canyon. This coupling suggests that Penilpidia may aggregate at the seafloor during these events, making food availability a plausible explanation of the seasonal occurrence. Lateral transport of material re-suspended locally or up-canyon by near bottom currents appear to be the mechanism behind this uncommon occurrence, although in situ observations have recently been made on the swimming capability of this holothurian. The occurrence of benthic organisms in sediment traps set close to the seabed can provide information on bathyal benthic and benthopelagic populations.