Threshold effects of coastal urbanization on<Emphasis Type="Italic">Phragmites australis</Emphasis> (common reed) abundance and foliar nitrogen in Chesapeake Bay

The invasion of North American tidal marshes byPhragmites australis, or common reed, is a large-scale ecological problem that has been primarily studied at small spatial scales. Previous local-scale studies have provided evidence that the expansion ofPhragmites is facilitated by disturbance and increased nitrogen (N) associated with agricultural and urban-suburban (developed) land uses along wetland-upland borders. We tested the generality of previous findings across a larger spatial scale and wider range of environmental conditions in Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuarine ecosystem in the USA. We sampled 90 tidal wetlands nested within 30 distinct subestuarine watersheds and examined the relationship between land use andPhragmites abundance and foliar N, an indicator of nitrogen availability. We estimated land use adjacent to wetland borders and within subestuary watersheds and explored the importance of spatial proximity by weighting land use by its distance from the wetland border or subestuary shoreline, respectively. Regression tree and changepoint analyses revealed thatPhragmites abundance sharply increased in almost every wetland where development adjacent to borders exceeded 15%. Where development was <15% but natural land cover at the near the subestuary shoreline was low (<∼35%),Phragmites was abundant, suggesting that wetlands in highly modified watersheds also were susceptible to invasion, regardless of land use adjacent to wetlands.Phragmites foliar N was markedly elevated in watersheds with >14–22% shoreline development, the same level of development that corresponded to high levels of invasion. Our results suggest that development near wetlands is at least partially responsible for patterns of invasion across Chesapeake Bay. Larger-scale phenomena, such as nitrogen pollution at the watershed-subestuary scale, also may be facilitating invasion. Urbanization near coastlines appears to play an important role in the invasion success ofPhragmites in coastal wetlands of Chesapeake Bay and probably much of eastern North America.     

A fast intensity simulator for tropical cyclone risk analysis

Robust estimates of tropical cyclone risk can be made using large sets of storm events synthesized from historical data or from physics-based algorithms. While storm tracks can be synthesized very rapidly from statistical algorithms or simple dynamical models (such as the beta-and-advection model), estimation of storm intensity by using full-physics models is generally too expensive to be practical. Although purely statistical intensity algorithms are fast, they may not be general enough to encompass the effects of natural or anthropogenic climate change. Here we present a fast, physically motivated intensity algorithm consisting of two coupled ordinary differential equations predicting the evolution of a wind speed and an inner core moisture variable. The algorithm includes the effects of ocean coupling and environmental wind shear but does not explicitly simulate spatial structure, which must be handled parametrically. We evaluate this algorithm by using it to simulate several historical events and by comparing a risk analysis based on it to an existing method for assessing long-term tropical cyclone risk. For simulations based on the recent climate, the two techniques perform comparably well, though the new technique does better with interannual variability in the Atlantic. Compared to the existing method, the new method produces a smaller increase in global tropical cyclone frequency in response to global warming, but a comparable increase in power dissipation.     

An iron isotope signature related to electron transfer between aqueous ferrous iron and goethite

We measured the Fe isotope fractionation during the reactions of Fe(II) with goethite in the presence and absence of a strong Fe(III) chelator (desferrioxamine mesylate, DFAM). All experiments were completed in an O₂-free glove box. The concentrations of aqueous Fe(II) ([Fe(II)_aq]) decreased below the initial total dissolved Fe concentrations ([Fe(II)_total], 2.15 mM) due to fast adsorption within 0.2 day. The concentration of adsorbed Fe(II) ([Fe(II)_ads]) was determined as the difference between [Fe(II)_aq] and the concentration of extracted Fe(II) in 0.5 M HCl ([Fe(II)_extr]) (i.e., [Fe(II)_ads] = [Fe(II)_extr] − [Fe(II)_aq]). [Fe(II)_ads] also decreased with time in experiments with and without DFAM, documenting that fast adsorption was accompanied by a second, slower reaction. Interestingly, [Fe(II)_extr] was always smaller than [Fe(II)_total], indicating that some Fe(II) was sequestered into a pool that is not HCl-extractable. The difference was attributed to Fe(II) incorporated into goethite structure (i.e., [Fe(II)_inc] = [Fe(II)_total] −[Fe(II)_extr]). More Fe(II) was incorporated in the presence of DFAM than in its absence at all time steps. Regardless of the presence of DFAM, both aqueous and extracted Fe(II) (δ^56/54Fe(II)_aq and δ^56/54Fe(II)_extr) became isotopically lighter than or similar to goethite (− 0.27‰) at day 7, implying that the isotope exchange occurred between bulk goethite and aqueous Fe. Consistently, the mass balance indicated that the incorporated Fe is isotopically heavier than extracted Fe. These observations suggested that (i) co-adsorption of Fe(II) with DFAM resulted in more pervasive electron transfer, (ii) the electron transfer from heavy Fe(II) in the adsorbed Fe(II) to light Fe(III) in goethite results in the fixation of heavy adsorbed Fe(III) on the surface and accumulation of Fe(II) within the goethite, and (iii) desorption of the reduced, light Fe from goethite does not necessarily occur at the same surface sites where adsorption occurred.     

New Stigmaphronidae and Megaspilidae (Hymenoptera: Ceraphronoidea) from Canadian Cretaceous amber

Three new species within the stigmaphronid genus TagsmiphronEngel and Grimaldi, 2009, and one new species within the megaspilid genus ConostigmusDahlbom, 1858 are described from Upper Cretaceous (Campanian) amber originating at the Grassy Lake locality in Alberta, Canada. New taxa include Tagsmiphron spiculum sp. nov., Tagsmiphron leucki sp. nov., Tagsmiphron exitorum sp. nov., and Conostigmus cavannus sp. nov. The new Conostigmus species is a rare discovery. It is the third megaspilid species to be found in Cretaceous amber, with the two specimens described herein effectively doubling the number of known Mesozoic exemplars for the family. We provide the first comprehensive report of known Ceraphronoidea within Canadian amber, and contrast this against other Cretaceous amber assemblages, discussing the potential palaeobiogeographic and palaeoenvironmental implications of the Canadian amber assemblage.     

Spring water trace element geochemistry: A tool for resource assessment and reconnaissance mineral exploration

Geochemical data from 151 spring locations within the 37,000 km² South Nahanni River Basin of the Mackenzie Mountains, Northwest Territories, were analysed as part of a reconnaissance assessment of mineral potential in this large and remote region. Statistical data analyses, graphical methods and strategic grouping of springs according to geochemistry, pH and temperature, were used to identify regions with higher mineralization potential quickly and efficiently. Testing of internal consistency indicates that known world class deposits within the basin are readily detected, but by different methods. As different deposit types have different geochemical signatures a new 3-component approach was developed to analyze trace element data for signatures of mineralisation. Estimation of circulation depth, and therefore maximum potential ore depth, further refines the assessment of economic potential. The depth of circulation of the spring waters ranged from 4.7 km to less than 200 m for the entire dataset. In total, 62 spring locations were identified as having anomalous trace metal content by one or more method (approximately 40% of the dataset). Specifically, 11 spring locations were classified as anomalous by all three methods, and 17 by at least two methods, and 34 by only one method.     

The application of visible/near‐infrared reflectance (VNIR) spectroscopy to chert: A case study from the Dover Quarry sites,Tennessee

Prehistoric cultural material is commonly composed of chert, due in large part to its physical properties that are conducive to tool manufacture. Despite its ubiquity, archaeologists are faced with an arduous task when attempting to source chert artifacts to known quarries/deposits. The application of visible/near‐infrared reflectance (VNIR) spectroscopy to chert sourcing attains a cost‐efficient, fast, non‐destructive, and accurate means of identifying material type and geologic/geographic origin. This study examines the merits of VNIR spectroscopy within chert sourcing studies by highlighting a material‐based case study from the Dover Quarry sites, Tennessee. Results demonstrate the ability of VNIR spectroscopy to differentiate chert types from different geologic formations with 98% accuracy. However, accuracy significantly decreased when attempting to distinguish particular outcrops within the same formation. Although the application of VNIR spectroscopy to chert sourcing is in its experimental phase, the preliminary results compare favorably with other provenance techniques whose aim is to quantify inter‐outcrop variation. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

A revision of the Ordovician stratigraphy for the western Ireland Caledonides and implications for tectonic models

The western Ireland Ordovician stratigraphy has been previously used to constrain the timing of docking of an island arc and its fore‐arc basin with the margin of Laurentia for the British and Irish Caledonides. New field relationships and age data indicate that one of the key formations, the Rosroe Formation (459.2 ± 0.8 and 465.1 ± 2.1 Ma), and its supposed lateral equivalent, the Maumtrasna Formation are younger than previously interpreted. New age data for a tuff band in the Maumtrasna Formation (468.9 ± 1.3 Ma) also support previous studies showing it can be correlated to the adjacent Mweelrea Formation. The new field evidence, age data and geochemistry contradict some previous studies and show that the Maumtrasna, Rosroe and Derrylea formations can no longer be considered lateral equivalents. Based on the new stratigraphy a revised tectonic model is required with sedimentation in this part of the Caledonides taking place in a fore‐arc basin outboard of a continental arc and the oceanic arc was an along‐strike equivalent of this arc situated in an embayment of the Laurentian margin. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Geochemical studies on the Feshcha Springs,Dead Sea basin

The Feshcha springs issue in a 4 km long strip on the Dead Sea shores. They constitute two separate groups: a) T-N waters, similar in their salt composition, temperature and radon content to the many other members of the Rift Valley “Tiberias-Noit water association”. The hydrologic, radon, tritium and carbon-14 indicate they are mixtures of recent meteoric waters with ancient (trapped) T-N waters of an age of at least 18000 years. b) Z-Y waters which, like other members of the Dead Sea basin “Zohar-Yesha water group”, originate by a mixing of T-N waters with Dead Sea waters. This is seen in the chemical compositions and is confirmed by the oxygen-18 and deuterium data.     

Change and variability in sea ice during the 2007–2008 Canadian International Polar Year program

In this paper we describe sea ice change and variability during the Canadian International Polar Year (IPY) program and examine several regional and hemispheric causes of this change. In a companion paper (Barber et al., Climate Change 2012) we present an overview of the consequences of this observed change and variability on ecosystem function, climatically relevant gas exchange, habitats of primary and apex predators, and impacts on northern peoples. Sea ice-themed research projects within the fourth IPY were designed to be among the most diverse international science programs. They greatly enhanced the exchange of Inuit knowledge and scientific ideas across nations and disciplines. This interdisciplinary and cultural exchange helped to explain and communicate the impacts of a transition of the Arctic Ocean and ecosystem to a seasonally ice-free state, the commensurate replacement of perennial with annual sea ice types and the causes and consequences of this globally significant metamorphosis. This paper presents a synthesis of scientific sea ice research and traditional knowledge results from Canadian-led IPY projects between 2007 and 2009. In particular, a summary of sea ice trends, basin-wide and regional, is presented in conjunction with Inuit knowledge of sea ice, gathered from communities in northern Canada. We focus on the recent observed changes in sea ice and discuss some of the causes of this change including atmospheric and oceanic forcing of both dynamic and thermodynamic forcing on the ice. Pertinent results include: 1) In the Amundsen Gulf, at the western end of the Northwest Passage, open water persists longer than normal and winter sea ice is thinner and more mobile. 2) Large areas of summer sea ice are becoming heavily decayed during summer and can be broken up by long-period waves being generated in the now extensive open water areas of the Chukchi Sea. 3) Cyclones play an important role in flaw leads??regions of open water between pack ice and land-fast ice. They delay the formation of new ice and the growth of multi-year ice. 4) Feedbacks involving the increased period of open water, long-period wave generation, increased open-ocean roughness, and the precipitation of autumn snow are all partially responsible for the observed reduction in multiyear sea ice. 5) The atmosphere is observed as remaining generally stable throughout the winter, preventing vertical entrainment of moisture above the surface.     

Northern landscapes in transition: Evidence,approach and ways forward using the Krycklan Catchment Study

Improving our ability to detect changes in terrestrial and aquatic systems is a grand challenge in the environmental sciences. In a world experiencing increasingly rapid rates of climate change and ecosystem transformation, our ability to understand and predict how, when, where, and why changes occur is essential for adapting and mitigating human behaviours. In this context, long-term field research infrastructures have a fundamentally important role to play. For northern boreal landscapes, the Krycklan Catchment Study (KCS) has supported monitoring and research aimed at revealing these changes since it was initiated in 1980. Early studies focused on forest regeneration and microclimatic conditions, nutrient balances and forest hydrology, which included monitoring climate variables, water balance components, and stream water chemistry. The research infrastructure has expanded over the years to encompass a 6790 ha catchment, which currently includes 11 gauged streams, ca. 1000 soil lysimeters, 150 groundwater wells, >500 permanent forest inventory plots, and a 150 m tall tower (a combined ecosystem-atmosphere station of the ICOS, Integrated Carbon Observation System) for measurements of atmospheric gas concentrations and biosphere-atmosphere exchanges of carbon, water, and energy. In addition, the KCS has also been the focus of numerous high resolution multi-spectral LiDAR measurements and large scale experiments. This large collection of equipment and data generation supports a range of disciplinary studies, but more importantly fosters multi-, trans-, and interdisciplinary research opportunities. The KCS attracts a broad collection of scientists, including biogeochemists, ecologists, foresters, geologists, hydrologists, limnologists, soil scientists, and social scientists, all of whom bring their knowledge and experience to the site. The combination of long-term monitoring, shorter-term research projects, and large-scale experiments, including manipulations of climate and various forest management practices, has contributed much to our understanding of boreal landscape functioning, while also supporting the development of models and guidelines for research, policy, and management.