Daily activity and thermoregulation in predator-prey interaction during the Flowering Desert in Chile

We studied how features of thermal resources affect the patterns of activity of predator (Callopistes maculatus) and its prey (Gyriosomus batesi and Gyriosomus subrugatus) during the phenomenon of the Flowering Desert in Chile. We predict that restrictions or variations in temperature affect mainly the activity of insects, and that this variation in the activity of insects affects the patterns of activity of the predator. The daily activity of the three species was bimodal, but both prey species disappear when temperatures exceed 40 °C. According to our results, the prey are thermoconformers to air and substrate temperature, whereas the predator is a thermoregulator to environmental conditions by their independence of air and substrate temperature.     

3D MHD Simulations of Laboratory Plasma Jets

Jets and outflows are thought to be an integral part of accretion phenomena and are associated with a large variety of objects. In these systems, the interaction of magnetic fields with an accretion disk and/or a magnetized central object is thought to be responsible for the acceleration and collimation of plasma into jets and wider angle flows. In this paper we present three-dimensional MHD simulations of magnetically driven, radiatively cooled laboratory jets that are produced on the MAGPIE experimental facility. The general outflow structure comprises an expanding magnetic cavity which is collimated by the pressure of an extended plasma background medium, and a magnetically confined jet which develops within the magnetic cavity. Although this structure is intrinsically transient and instabilities in the jet and disruption of the magnetic cavity ultimately lead to its break-up, a well collimated, “knotty” jet still emerges from the system; such clumpy morphology is reminiscent of that observed in many astrophysical jets. The possible introduction in the experiments of angular momentum and axial magnetic field will also be discussed.     

Reactivation of basement faults beneath volcanoes: a new model of flank collapse

In order to explain the presence of voluminous volcanic debris avalanche deposits around a stratovolcano, reactivation of vertical faults beneath a volcanic cone has been tested using analogue models. Reactivation of a single vertical fault beneath a cone generates a normal fault and an upturning of the layers creating a bulge on the flank. The upturning induces a flank collapse characterized by a typical horseshoe-shaped scar called an avalanche caldera. Reactivation of two vertical faults beneath a cone also generates a normal fault and a summit bulge. This bulge may result from the movement along a reverse fault. A large collapse is generated within the angle created by the two vertical faults. The angle of the collapse can be up to 140° whereas this angle is typically 120° for a dome intrusion. Collapse is instantaneous and is favoured by the presence of ductile layers (ash-and-pumice formations in the example considered) in a stratovolcano complex. The model may be applicable to volcanoes in a state of dormancy (or extinction) in regions with active regional tectonism. We suggest this mechanism of collapse in the case of the Cantal stratovolcano (Massif Central, France) to explain the presence of voluminous volcanic debris avalanche deposits around this volcano.     

Lateral variation and frequency dependence of coda-Q in the southern part of Iberia

b
A method based on the coda attenuation law: Q = Q ₀( f/f ₀)^v leads to the determination of the lateral variation of coda- Q in the southern part of the Iberian Peninsula using seismograms belonging to the seismological network of the Cartuja Observatory, located in Granada. The lateral variation of Q ₀ ( Q value corresponding to a reference frequency f ₀ of 1 Hz) and its frequency dependence for the 1 to 5 Hz frequency range are, in general, in agreement with coda- Q values for frequencies less than about 1 Hz, previously determined in the region under study.
To determine the coda- Q values analytical functions have been used to fit the magnification curves of the vertical component short-period seismographs belonging to the Cartuja network. The problem is solved by using least-squares techniques and non-linear inversion. The determined coda- Q ₀ values and its frequency dependence correlate well with several known geophysical parameters in the southern part of the Iberian Peninsula.     

Periodic Solutions for any Planar Symmetric Perturbation of the Kepler Problem

We consider perturbations of the Kepler problem that are symmetric with respect to the origin and admit a first integral of motion which is also symmetric with respect to the origin. It has been proved that each circular solution of the unperturbed problem gives rise to a periodic solution of the perturbed system.     

Precadomian relicts in the Armorican Massif: Their age and role in the evolution of the western and central European Cadomian-Hercynian belt

Well-dated Precambrian is mostly developed in the north of the Armorican Massif, in which area voluminous Cadomian magmatism is dated at between 650 and 550 Ma. Much older relicts occur at Cap de la Hague, in Guernsey and in the Tregor, and are also found in the northern continental margin of the Iberian Peninsula. In all these occurrences, whole-rock systems have been opened, so that the true ages cannot be determined by the Rb-Sr whole rock isochron method. Four U-Pb zircon ages are between 1.8 and 2 Ga (in Guernsey: Icart orthogneisses; in Tregor: Port Beni, Trebeurden, Morguignen orthogneisses).There is no evidence from strontium isotopes that these isolated and scattered relicts have a wide extension or that such ancient continental crust played an important role in magma genesis from 650 Ma to 270 Ma ago. On the contrary, the evolution of initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios with time shows that the observed mid- and west European continental crust is probably not older than 700 Ma. The increase of the initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios of the magmas with time suggests that, after its formation in Cadomian times, this segment of continental crust evolved virtually as a closed system and Hercynian magmatism arose principally from re-melting of relatively young sialic components.     

Very low-grade metamorphism of sedimentary rocks of the Meliata unit,Western Carpathians,Slovakia: implications of phyllosilicate characteristics

The Meliata unit represents a mélange-like accretionary wedge, containing blueschist facies tectonic blocks and slices in a Triassic and Jurassic sedimentary matrix. The blueschist facies rocks are tectonic remnants of the subducted parts of the Meliata-Hallstatt branch of the Tethys. The phyllosilicate assemblages in very low-grade metapelites represent metastable disequilibrium stages which the assemblages have reached during reaction progress. Therefore, temperature and pressure values of low-T metamorphism of the sedimentary series and the late stages of decompressional cooling of blueschist facies rocks, obtained by phyllosilicate "crystallinity", chlorite thermometric and white K-mica geobarometric methods, can be regarded as semiquantitative estimates. However, results of chlorite–white mica thermobarometry suggest that local equilibrium was approached at a microscopic scale. For deciphering the age relations of prograde and retrograde events, K–Ar isotope geochronological methods were applied. The sedimentary series and related basalts of the Meliata unit experienced high-T anchizonal prograde regional metamorphism, the temperature and pressure of which can vary between ca. 280 and 350 °C and ca. 2.5 and 5 kbar. White K-mica b geobarometry suggests possible minimal pressures of ca. 1.5 to 3 kbar. The mylonitic retrogression of blueschist facies phyllites is characterised by 340 °C and 4 kbar (minimal P). The low-T prograde metamorphism was synchronous with the retrograde metamorphism of the blueschists. The ages of these two events may be between ca. 150 and 120 Ma, culminating most probably at around 140–145 Ma. Thus, the Upper Jurassic (lowermost Cretaceous) very low-grade metamorphism of the Meliata unit is younger than the subduction-related, 160–155 Ma blueschist facies event, and definitely older than the Cretaceous (100–90 Ma) metamorphism of the footwall Gemer Palaeozoic.     

Interlayer and Si content of phengite in HP–LT carpholite-bearing metapelites

Phengite occurring along with carpholite±lawsonite and/or chloritoid in HP–LT domains shows not only variable Si–(Mg+Fe) contents, but also variable interlayer contents (IC). To determine whether these chemical variations are coherently related to variation in P–T conditions on a regional scale, c. 100 rock samples were sampled in metapelites metamorphosed at conditions varying from 350 °C, 8 to 12 kbar to 450–500 °C, 18 to 20 kbar (Schistes Lustrés complex, franco‐italian Western Alps). Based on microstructural and habit criteria, four types of phengite were differentiated that are related either to the rock mineralogy (carpholite vs chloritoid bearing samples) or correspond to various generations of phengite occurring in the same rock sample or thin section. Microprobe analyses reveal that each type of phengite is characterized by a specific composition and that phengite associated with carpholite has a lower interlayer content than phengite associated with chloritoid. The successive generations of retrograde phengite overgrowing carpholite point to a large decrease of interlayer content (c. 0.9–0.7 pfu) and (Fe+Mg) content (c. 0.25–0 pfu) with decreasing P–T conditions. This change is best accounted for by a gradual increase of the pyrophyllite component. In contrast, phengite from higher‐temperature, chloritoid‐bearing rock samples shows an almost constant interlayer content (c. 0.9–0.95 pfu) but a larger decrease of (Fe+Mg) content (c. 0.6–0.1 pfu). Hence, (1) the composition of the different phengite generations occurring (metastably) in the same rock sample may be used to retrieve points in P–T loops and (2) the pyrophyllitic substitution in phengite is large at low‐temperature conditions and cannot be ignored. Thermobarometric estimates based on the Si‐content alone will therefore result in pressure over‐estimates. We propose a tentative location of the phengite Si and IC isopleths in P–T space which could allow a direct determination of the P–T conditions in carpholite‐bearing rocks. Especially in some carpholite‐bearing rocks, new thermodynamic models accounting for tschermak and pyrophyllitic substitution are also required prior to making reliable thermobarometric estimates in HP‐LT metapelites.     

Petrological, organic geochemical and geochemical characteristics of coal from the Soko mine, Serbia

A petrological, organic geochemical and geochemical study was performed on coal samples from the Soko Mine, Soko Banja basin, Serbia. Ten coal and two carbonaceous clay samples were collected from fresh, working faces in the underground brown coal mine from different parts of the main coal seam. The Lower Miocene, low-rank coal of the Soko Mine is a typical humic coal with huminite concentrations of up to 76.2 vol.%, liptinite less than 14 vol.% and inertinite less than 11 vol.%. Ulminite is the most abundant maceral with variable amounts of densinite and clay minerals. Sporinite and resinite are the most common macerals of the liptinite group. Inertodetrinite is the most abundant maceral of the inertinite group. The mineral-bituminous groundmass identified in some coal samples, and carbonaceous marly clay, indicate sub-aquatic origin and strong bacterial decomposition. The mean random huminite reflectance (ulminite B) for the main coal seam is 0.40 ± 0.05% Rr, which is typical for an immature to early mature stage of organic matter.The extract yields from the coal of the Soko Banja basin ranges from 9413 to 14,096 ppm, in which alkanes constituted 1.0–20.1%, aromatics 1.3–14.7%, asphaltenes 28.1–76.2% and resins 20.2–43.5%. The saturated hydrocarbon fractions included n-C₁₅ to n-C₃₂, with an odd carbon number that predominate in almost all the samples. The contents of n-C₂₇ and n-C₂₉ alkanes are extremely high in some samples, as a contribution of epicuticular waxes from higher plants. Acyclic isoprenoid hydrocarbons are minor constituents in the aliphatic fraction, and the pristane/phytane (Pr/Ph) ratio varies between 0.56 and 3.13, which implies anaerobic to oxic conditions during sedimentation. The most abundant diterpanes were abietane, dehydroabietane and 16α(H)-phyllocladane. In samples from the upper part of the coal seam, diterpanes are the dominant constituents of the alkane fraction. Polycyclic alkanes of the triterpane type are important constituents of alkane fractions. The occurrence of ββ- and αβ-type hopanes from C₂₇ to C₃₁, but without C₂₈, is typical for the Soko Banja coals.The major and trace elements in the coal were analysed using X-ray fluorescence (XRF), and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). In comparison with world lignites, using the geometric mean value, the coal from the Soko Banja Basin has a high content of strontium (306.953 mg/kg). Higher values than the world lignites were obtained for Mo (3.614 mg/kg), Ni (8.119 mg/kg), Se (0.884 mg/kg), U (2.642 mg/kg) and W (0.148 mg/kg). Correlation analysis shows inorganic affinity for almost all the major and trace elements, except for S, which has an organic affinity.