Stratigraphic Division Based on Minor Elements in the Sediment Core Q43 from the Outer Shelf of the East China Sea： Approached Through Correspondence Analysis and Fuzzy Cluster Analysis

The multivariate statistical techniques, principal component analysis, Q-mode factor analysis, correspondence analysis and fuzzy C-means clustering were applied to analyzing the datasets of minor element concentrations in sediment samples of a core collected from the outer shelf of the East China Sea. According to the analysis results, the sediment core Q43 can be divided into three strata with different features in minor elements. The first stratum (unit Ⅰ) is characterized by higher concentrations of V, Cr, Cd and Sc, which are active and inactive elements. The second stratum (unit Ⅱ) is controlled by ultrastable elements V, Ti, Cr, Th, Sc, Pb, etc. The third stratum (unit Ⅲ) is dominated by Ni, Co, Ba, Rb and Mn, which are authigenic and volcanogenic elements. The geochemical features of the core Q43 show environmental changes in the depositional process from the Late Pleistocene to Holocene.     

Geochemical Characteristics of the Trace and Rare Earth Elements in Reef Carbonates from the Xisha Islands(South China Sea): Implications for Sediment Provenance and Paleoenvironment

Based on the concentrations of the trace elements, rare earth elements(REE), and Sr isotopic compositions in reef carbonates from the well ‘Xike-1' reef core of the Xisha Islands, the constraints on sediment provenance and paleoenvironment were defined. Variations of the terrigenous input into the paleoseawater were traced in detail and the paleoenvironment and sediment provenance were further investigated. The results show that the HREE/LREE values in the reef carbonates are negatively associated with their Th and Al concentrations; however, their Al and Th concentrations show positive correlation. The lowest 87 Sr/86 Sr values in the reef carbonates generally coincide with the lowest values of Al, Th concentrations and the highest values of HREE/LREE. These data indicate that the HREE/LREE, Al concentrations, and Th concentrations of the reef carbonates are useful indexes for evaluating the influence of the terrigenous inputs on the seawater composition in the study area. From top to bottom, the changing process of the HREE/LREE values and Al, Th concentrations can be divided into 6 intervals; they are H1(0–89.30 m, about 0–0.11 Myr), L1(89.30–198.30 m, about 0.11–2.2 Myr), H2(198.30–374.95 m, about 2.2–5.3 Myr), D(374.95–758.40 m, about 5.3–13.6 Myr), L2(758.40–976.86 m, about 13.6–15.5 Myr), and H3(976.86–1200.00 m, about 15.5–21.5 Myr). Moreover, the changing trend of the HREE/LREE values coincides with that of the seawater δ~(13)C values recorded by benthonic foraminiferal skeletons from the drill core of ODP site 1148 in the South China Sea(SCS), but not with that of the seawater δ~(18)O values. The high uplifting rates of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau coincide with the high Th and Al concentrations and the low HREE/LREE values in the reef carbonates. These data indicate that the main factors controlling the changes of terrigenous flux in the SCS are the tectonic activities associated with Qinghai-Tibet Plateau uplifting and the variations of uplifting rates rather than paleoclimatic changes.     

Evaluating the Spatial Uncertainty of Future Land Abandonment in a Mountain Valley(Vicdessos,Pyrenees-France): Insights from Model Parameterization and Experiments

European mountains are particularly sensitive to climatic disruptions and land use changes.The latter leads to high rates of natural reforestation over the last 50 years. Faced with the challenge of predicting possible impacts on ecosystem services,LUCC models offer new opportunities for land managers to adapt or mitigate their strategies.Assessing the spatial uncertainty of future LUCC is crucial for the definition of sustainable land use strategies. However, the sources of uncertainty may differ, including the input parameters, the model itself, and the wide range of possible futures. The aim of this paper is to propose a method to assess the probability of occurrence of future LUCC that combines the inherent uncertainty of model parameterization and the ensemble uncertainty of the future based scenarios. For this purpose, we used the Land Change Modeler tool to simulate future LUCC on a study site located in the Pyrenees Mountains(France) and two scenarios illustrating two land use strategies. The model was parameterized with the same driving factors used for its calibration. The definition of ‘static vs. dynamic' and ‘quantitative vs.qualitative(discretized)' driving factors, and their combination resulted in four parameterizations. The combination of model outcomes produced maps of the spatial uncertainty of future LUCC. This work involves adapting the definition of spatial uncertainty in the literature to future-based LUCC studies. It goes beyond the uncertainty of simulation models by integrating the uncertainty of the future to provide maps to help decision makers and land managers.     

Ontogenetic changes in feeding and food preferences of the dog conch Laevistrombus canarium Linnaeus 1758 (Mollusca: Gastropoda) from Merambong shoal,Malaysia

Laevistrombus canarium is one of the marine gastropod mollusks that have high commercial value,particularly in the aquaculture sector in Malaysia.This study was conducted to determine the feeding and food items of L.canarium at dif ferent ontogenetic stages(juveniles,sub-adults and adults)from Merambong shoals,Malaysia.Field observations on feeding activity were conducted,followed by detailed laboratory analysis on the stomach content.Five-minutes observations on randomly selected individuals were conducted at the fi eld sampling site and their feeding activities were recorded with reference to age stage.Various shell sizes from each ontogenetic stage were randomly collected and quickly anaesthetized with ice and preserved in 10%formalin before being transported to the laboratory for stomach content analyses.Field observations showed that L.canarium mainly grazed on epiphytes occurring on seagrass(46.67%),followed by sediment surface(40%)and epiphytes occurring on macroalgae(13.33%).Stomach content analyses showed a signifi cant dif ference(P0.05)in gastro-somatic index(Gasi)between the juveniles(0.39±0.05),sub-adults(0.68±0.09)and adults(0.70±0.05)(P0.05).Food items found in the conch stomach include diatoms,detritus,foraminifera,seagrass and macroalgae fragments,sand particles and shell fragments.The Index of Relative Importance(%IRI)indicates three main types of food dominated the three ontogenetic stages namely diatoms,sand particles and detritus.However,no signifi cant diff erence(P0.05)was detected between the three main food items(diatoms,sand particles and detritus)among the ontogenetic stages.Therefore,feeding activity revealed the role of the dog conch in the marine food network.While,classifi cation of the types of food consumed by L.canarium through stomach content analysis determines the particular position of the gastropod in the food chain.Further studies are needed to provide a better insight between trophic relationships of L.canarium with marine ecosystem.     

Novel Lipase from Golden Pompano (Trachinotus ovatus) Viscera: Purification,Characterization,and Application in the Concentrating of n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids

Lipases have been widely applied in a variety of industrial fields,such as food,pharmaceuticals,biofuels,and biotechnology.Recent years have witnessed a great interest in modifying lipids for the production of triacylglycerols enriched with n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs).Here,a novel salt-tolerant,organic solvent-stable,and bile salt-activated lipase was purified from golden pompano (Trachinotus ovatus) viscera,which was named as golden pompano lipase (GPL).GPL had a specific activity o...     

Distribution Characteristics and Controlling Factors of Heavy Metals in Surface Sediments from the Bay-Island-Estuary System(BIES): A Case Study in Coastal Waters of Fujian Province,China

Based on the contents of six heavy metal elements in surface sediments from coastal areas of Fujian Province, the distribution characteristics and controlling factors of six heavy metals in a bay-island-estuary system(BIES) were studied. This paper focuses on the influence of the hydrodynamic environment, and systematically discusses how grain size compositions, chemical environment, tidal current, ocean circulation and human activities influence the distribution and transportation of the heavy ...     

Establishment of Alloptilella splendida gen.et sp.nov.and resurrection of Scytalium veneris(Thomson & Henderson,1906),two sea pens(Cnidaria:Pennatulacea) from seamounts in the tropical Western Pacific

Sea pens are a highly specialized and morphologically distinct group of octocorallians,but many taxa were poorly described and their phylogenetic relationships are still poorly known.We describe two species of sea pens collected from the tropical Western Pacific:Alloptilella splendida gen.et sp.nov.and Scytalium veneris(Thomson Henderson,1906).Alloptilella splendida gen.et sp.nov.accords with the definition of the recently resurrected genus Ptilella Gray,1870 in most characters,but differs from the latter in the arrangement of autozooids and the location of mesozooids.The new species mostly resembles Pennatula naresi K(o|")lliker(1880),but differs by the location of me sozooids and the reddish color of sclerite s surrounding siphonozooids.The generic separation is also well supported by their genetic distances and the molecular phylogenetic trees constructed by the concatenated mtMutS-COI-28 S,where Alloptilella clustered with Scytalium Herklots,1858 and formed a clade with the cluster of Ptilella and Distichoptilum.Scytalium veneris,usually considered as a junior synonym of Scytalium sarsii Herklots,1858,is resurrected by recognizing their distinctive differences.This is the first record of Scytalium veneris outside its type locality,and the phylogenetic analysis indicates that Scytalium is a monophyletic group.Both the families Pennatulidae and Virgulariidae are polyphyletic,and more morphological and molecular data are needed to clarify the phylogenetic positions of pennatulacean families and genera.