Introduction: Toward More Inclusive and Comparative Perspectives in the Histories of Geographical Knowledge

Over the past three decades, feminist historiography of geography has begun to situate women's contribution to the production of geographical knowledge within the histories of geography, at times against the conviction of skeptical colleagues. In this Focus Section introduction, we renew Domosh's (1991a Domosh, M. 1991a. Beyond the frontiers of geographical knowledge. Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers 16 (4): 488–90.[Crossref], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar], 1991b ———. 1991b. Toward a feminist historiography of geography. Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers 16 (1): 95–104.[Crossref], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]) call for creating more inclusive feminist histories of geography by situating the three focus section articles on the careers and contributions of women in twentieth-century geographical practice and knowledge production in the United Kingdom and the United States within wider debates about diverse, unfamiliar, and previously hidden aspects of geographical knowledge production. We argue that feminist historiography of geography and feminist historical geography could benefit from continuously diversifying inclusive and comparative research perspectives, and from unlocking diverse archives, to enhance understanding of why and how some male and some female gatekeepers have been more supportive of women than others.     

Reference Minerals for the Microanalysis of Light Elements

The quantitative determination of light element concentrations in geological specimens represents a major analytical challenge as the electron probe is generally not suited to this task. With the development of new in situ analytical techniques, and in particular the increasing use of secondary ion mass spectrometry, the routine determination of Li, Be and B contents has become a realistic goal. However, a major obstacle to the development of this research field is the critical dependence of SIMS on the availability of well characterized, homogeneous reference materials that are closely matched in matrix (composition and structure) to the sample being studied. Here we report the first results from a suite of large, gem crystals which cover a broad spectrum of minerals in which light elements are major constituents. We have characterized these materials using both in situ and wet chemical techniques. The samples described here are intended for distribution to geochemical laboratories active in the study of light elements. Further work is needed before reference values for these materials can be finalized, but the availability of this suite of materials represents a major step toward the routine analysis of the light element contents of geological specimens.     

Structural incorporation of Cm(III) in trioctahedral smectite hectorite: A time-resolved laser fluorescence spectroscopy (TRLFS) study

Structural incorporation of the actinide curium in the octahedral layer of the trioctahedral Mg-rich smectite hectorite was studied using time-resolved laser fluorescence spectroscopy. Organo-hectorite nanoparticles were synthesized at 90 °C in the presence of Cm(III). Within 120 h, hectorite particles were formed. Time-resolved laser fluorescence spectroscopy was used to identify Cm(III) species during various synthesis steps and to characterize the structural incorporation mechanism. The formation of a Cm-containing Mg hydroxide precursor and the reaction with aqueous silica in a pH range of 9-10 to form TOT layers were identified to be key steps for trivalent actinide incorporation in hectorite via coprecipitation.     

Lithostratigraphy of the Kalahari Group in northeastern Namibia

The Kalahari Group in northeastern Namibia consists of terrestrial sediments deposited in a tectonically active basin that was formed by flexural uplift of the African continental margin and independent structures related to rifting. The thickness of the sequence varies from a few meters to around 400 m. Greatest thicknesses occur where the NW–SE trending Kalahari basin axis conjugates with NE–SW trending grabens.Repeated phases of flooding and desiccation dominate the depositional environments of the Kalahari Group in northeastern Namibia. Associations of lithofacies allow recognition of distinct depositional settings such as proximal debris flows, braided streams and sand fans, and pans and sandflats.The northeastern Namibian Kalahari Group rests unconformable on the pre-Kalahari surface which showed a relatively pronounced relief in the Epukiro area. The succession starts with conglomerates, breccias and pebbly sandstones, followed by carbonates, sandstones of various maturities, and silcretes. Ferruginous sandstones and ferricretes occur locally. The onset of Kalahari Group deposition was likely a basin-wide event and therefore the basal lithostratigraphic units can be correlated with confidence. Conversely, the correlation of the succeeding lithostratigraphic units remains fairly speculative.     

Effect of N content and soil texture on the decomposition of organic matter in forest soils as revealed by solid-state CPMAS NMR spectroscopy

N has a controlling effect on litter biodegradation in the forest floor, while stabilization of organic matter in the mineral soil may be influenced by physical parameters related to soil texture. In this study, in order to understand the processes involved in soil organic matter (SOM) formation, the chemical composition of SOM was followed and evaluated with regards to N contents and soil texture. Samples were taken on sites covered with Norway spruce and displaying contrasting values of C/N ratios in the forest floor. The chemical structure of OM was characterized using solid-state CPMAS ¹³C and ¹⁵N nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, along with Proton Spin Relaxation Editing (PSRE) sequences. Four groups of sampling sites were defined based on the NMR spectra of Oh and A horizons. In each group displaying similar NMR characteristics, N content and soil texture could be highly different among sites. Some Oh horizons with similar NMR spectra had very different N contents. Highly humified OM in Oh horizons were observed mainly on sites with low N contents. Some A horizons with different soil texture displayed similar OM chemical structure. High contents of O-alkyl C in some A horizons could originate from higher fresh root material input.     

Large-Scale Differences in Community Structure and Ecosystem Services of Eelgrass (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Zostera marina</Emphasis>) Beds Across Three Regions in Eastern Canada

Eelgrass (Zostera marina) forms extensive beds in temperate coastal and estuarine environments worldwide and provides important ecosystem services, including habitat for a wide range of species as well as nutrient cycling and carbon storage. However, little is known about how eelgrass ecosystem structure and services differ naturally among regions. Using large-scale field surveys, we examined differences in eelgrass bed structure, carbon and nitrogen storage, community composition, and habitat services across three distinct regions in Eastern Canada. We focused on eelgrass beds with low anthropogenic impacts to compare natural differences. In addition, we analyzed the relationships of eelgrass bed structure with environmental conditions, and species composition with bed structure and environmental conditions, to elucidate potential drivers of observed differences. Our results indicate that regional differences in eelgrass bed structure were weakly correlated with water column properties, whereas differences in carbon and nitrogen storage were mainly driven by differences in eelgrass biomass. There were distinct regional differences in species composition and diversity, which were particularly linked to temperature, as well as eelgrass bed structure indicating differences in habitat provision. Our results highlight natural regional differences in ecosystem structure and services which could inform spatial management and conservation strategies for eelgrass beds.     

Egg capsule hatch rate and incubation duration of the California market squid,Doryteuthis (= Loligo) opalescens: insights from laboratory manipulations

Egg capsules of the squid Doryteuthis (= Loligo) opalescens were reared in the laboratory to assess the dependence of time‐to‐hatching (incubation time) and hatching success rate on temperature and light regime. Both incubation time and hatch duration were found to be inversely related to temperature. More than 96% of paralarvae hatch from eggs reared at temperatures between 9 and 14 °C. Hatch rate drops below 90% in warmer and colder water. No eggs hatch below 7 °C, and the upper limit of viability is near 25 °C. The vast majority (91%) of hatchlings emerged during the dark phase of the photoperiod. Egg capsules reared at 13.4 °C with a supposedly commensal polychaete, Capitella ovincola, had a slightly higher hatch rate than those without the annelid. Because eggs are naturally laid closely together, crowding was hypothesized to cause decreased ventilation and a lower hatch rate. Crowding was tested by placing two capsules (rather than one) into the small incubation chambers (50 ml). This treatment did not result in a lower hatch rate at 13.4 °C, but at 21.4 °C it decreased the hatch rate by 20%. Brood incubation duration is related to temperature by the equation: Incubation (days) = 14.97 + 177.40 × exp(?0.119 × Temperature –°C) (χ² = 282.5, P = 0.001). Stable isotope analysis confirmed that C. ovincola worms eat the capsule matrix, not the paralarvae. These polychaetes had a δ¹⁵N value of 12.79‰versus 12.06‰ for squid paralarvae, and 10.54‰ for the gelatinous matrix of egg capsules. This fractionation factor ε of 2.25‰ is consistent with marine food webs. Provision of nutrients and shelter for the annelids and increased hatch rate for the squid embryos suggests a symbiotic relationship between these organisms.