A New Symmetrodont Mammal with Fur Impressions from the Mesozoic of China

Western Liaoning of northeastern China is world-renowned for the Mesozoic Jehol biota, especially for yielding many feathered dinosaurs, primitive birds, mammals and fossil angiosperm. This paper describes a complete specimen of a symmetrodont mammal with well-preserved hairs and soft tissue from the basal part of the Yixian Formation in the Sihetun area, Beipiao, western Liaoning. It is significant for understanding the morphology, osteology, phylogeny and life habits of Mesozoic symmetrodont mammals.     

Water level as the main driver of the alternation between a free-floating plant and a phytoplankton dominated state: a long-term study in a floodplain lake

This 10-year field data study explores the relevance of water level fluctuations in driving the shift from a free-floating plant (FFP) to a phytoplankton dominated state in a shallow floodplain lake from the Lower Paraná River. The multi-year natural flood pulse pattern in the Lower Paraná River drove the ecosystem regime from a FFP-dominant state during very high waters (1998–1999) to absolute phytoplankton prevalence with blooms of nitrogen fixing Cyanobacteria during extreme low waters (2008–2009). Satellite images support the observed changes over the decade and show the decrease of the surface lake area covered by FFP as well as the modification of the spectral firm in open waters, which documents the significant increases in phytoplankton chlorophyll a concentrations. We discuss the possibility that, despite a slow eutrophication in these highly vegetated systems, water level changes and not nutrients account for the shift from a floating macrophyte community to phytoplankton dominance. Cyclic shifts may occur in response to the seasonal floodpulse, but more strongly, as indicated by our results, in association to the extreme drought and flood events related to the El Niño Southern Oscillation, which is linked to discharge anomalies in the Paraná River.     

An automated object-based approach for the multiscale image segmentation of forest scenes

Over the last decade the analysis of Earth observation data has evolved from what were predominantly per-pixel multispectral-based approaches, to the development and application of multiscale object-based methods. To empower users with these emerging object-based approaches, methods need to be intuitive, easy to use, require little user intervention, and provide results closely matching those generated by human interpreters. In an attempt to facilitate this, we present multiscale object-specific segmentation (MOSS) as an integrative object-based approach for automatically delineating image-objects (i.e., segments) at multiple scales from a high-spatial resolution remotely sensed forest scene. We further illustrate that these segments cognitively correspond to individual tree crowns, ranging up to forest stands, and describe how such a tool may be used in computer-assisted forest inventory mapping. MOSS is composed of three primary components: object-specific analysis (OSA), object-specific upscaling (OSU), and a new segmentation algorithm referred to as size constrained region merging (SCRM). The rationale for integrating these methods is that the first two provide the third with object-size parameters that otherwise would need to be specified by a user. Analysis is performed on an IKONOS-2 panchromatic image that represents a highly fragmented forested landscape in the Sooke Watershed on southern Vancouver Island, BC, Canada.     

Origin of silicic volcanic rocks in Central Costa Rica: a study of a chemically variable ash-flow sheet in the Tiribí Tuff

Chemical heterogeneities of pumice clasts in an ash-flow sheet can be used to determine processes that occur in the magma chamber because they represent samples of magma that were erupted at the same time. The dominant ash-flow sheet in the Tiribí Tuff contains pumice clasts that range in composition from 55.1 to 69.2 wt% SiO₂. It covers about 820 km² and has a volume of about 25 km³ dense-rock equivalent (DRE). Based on pumice clast compositions, the sheet can be divided into three distinct chemical groupings: a low-silica group (55.1-65.6 wt% SiO₂), a silicic group (66.2-69.2 wt% SiO₂), and a mingled group (58.6-67.7 wt% SiO₂; all compositions calculated 100% anhydrous). Major and trace element modeling indicates that the low-silica magma represents a mantle melt that has undergone fractional crystallization, creating a continuous range of silica content from 55.1-65.6 wt% SiO₂. Eu/Eu*, MREE, and HREE differences between the two groups are not consistent with crystal fractionation of the low-silica magma to produce the silicic magma. The low-silica group and the silicic group represent two distinct magmas, which did not evolve in the same magma chamber. We suggest that the silicic melts resulted from partial melting of relatively hot, evolved calc-alkaline rocks that were previously emplaced and ponded at the base of an over-thickened basaltic crust. The mingled group represents mingling of the two magmas shortly before eruption. Electronic supplementary material to this paper can be obtained by using the Springer LINK server located at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00445-001-0188-8.     

Fish waste as an alternative resource for gulls along the Patagonian coast: availability, use, and potential consequences

We evaluated the volumes of waste from fish processing plants in Chubut Province, Argentina, and discuss its potential consequences for Kelp Gull (Larus dominicanus) population dynamics and coastal management. Mean volume of waste produced between 1989 and 2001 in three coastal cities was 49.8+/-10.9 thousand tonsy(-1). The amount of waste varied between years and cities, being larger at Puerto Madryn and Comodoro Rivadavia than at Rawson (24.1, 19.3 and 6.4 thousand tonsy(-1), respectively). Waste was disposed at the three cities during all months of the sampled years. Large numbers of Kelp Gulls have been recorded taking advantage of fish waste disposed at these waste sites throughout the year. Considering its energetic content, waste generated at processing plants may support a population of between 101000 and 209000 Kelp Gulls. Fish waste could be contributing to their population expansion through increased survival and breeding success. Conflicts due to the use of waste and derived effects on other coastal species and human populations could be minimized by adequate fish waste management.     

A Miocene algal assemblage dominated by Pediastrum leonensis n. sp. (Chlorophyceae) from Patagonia, Argentina: paleoenvironmental implications

Taxonomic identification of Pediastrum species in an Early Miocene assemblage from southeast Patagonia, Argentina, is used to assess paleoecological conditions. Pediastrum leonensis n. sp. is described based on unique features of the coenobia morphology. It belongs to the P. kawraiskyi–mustersii–patagonicum complex and has no known living counterpart. This group seems to have a long evolutionary history in the region. P. kawraiskyi and P. mustersii are recorded for the first time in pre-Quaternary deposits and their presence suggests a depositional environment represented by a cold stenothermal lake conditions, indicating a temperate to a cold-temperate climate.     

Environmental and pollution condition of the huizache-caimanero lagoon, in the north-west of Mexico

The fish and shrimp production of the Huizache-Caimanero Lagoon, located on the Mexican Pacific, has been decreasing in recent years, which may be due to environmental and pollution conditions. Therefore, water and sediment samples were analysed to quantify nutrients, pesticides, and coliform bacteria. The results indicated that the system is polluted considerably during the rainy season due to continental runoff carrying municipal and agricultural wastes, thereby increasing coliform pollution and nitrate concentrations. This is less apparent for phosphates and pesticides. We conclude that pollution and environmental changes are important causes decreasing production; recent studies have reported biochemical and physiological alteration in aquatic organisms exposed to similar levels of pesticides as reported here. During the rainy season, coliform levels are above permissible levels established by sanitary regulations, and are thus pose a risk to public health.     

Macrobioerosion and Microbioerosion in Marine Molluscan Shells from Holocene and Modern Beaches (39°−40°S, South of Buenos Aires Province, Argentina)

The marine sediments of the area of Verde Peninsula-Jabali Island(39°28′S/62°19′W-40°28′S/62°11′W) Holocene in age(3-2 ky),and modern beaches contain a significant amount of bioeroded mollusc shells.Fifteen sites were analyzed,in which 20.11%of the mollusc shells(2168 valves) presented bioerosion traces,in 54 species(30 bivalves and 24 gastropods).Fourteen ichnogenera were reported:Entobia,Maeandropoiydora,Iramena,Caulostrepsis,Pennatichnus,Pinaceocladichnus,Trypanites,and Gastrochaenolites(Domichnia),Gnathichnus and Radulichnus(Pascichnia),Finichnus and Centrichnus(Fixichnia),Oichnus(Praedicnia)(macrobioerosion),y Semidendrina(microbioerosion),the latter is first reported in mollusc shells in Argentina.Eleven ichnospecies were identified Finichnus peristroma,Maeandropoiydora sulcans,Gnathichnus pentax,Pinaceocladichnus onubensis,Caulostrepsis taeniola,Centrichnus eccentricus,Radulichnus inopinatus,Oichnus simplex,Oichnus paraboloides,Oichnus gradatus,and Gastrochaenolites torpedo(lithic remains).The dominant ichnogenera in the Holocene deposits are Iramena,Entobia and Oichnus.The same ichnogenera are constant with different abundance in the modern beaches,and increasing representation of Pinaceocladichnus and Pennatichnus.The dominant ichnofacies in the Holocene deposits is Trypanites,revealing a benthonic marine community composed of cheilostome bryzoans,clionaid sponges,predator gastropods,regular echinoids,polychaete annelids,bivalves,thallophytas and fungi.Generally,the area was described as a sublittoral,low-energy,stable environment with high rate of oxygenation,and sandy bottoms,with rocky bottoms at Villalonga locality.     

CCD images and long-slit spectroscopy of the ring nebula around θ Mus

We present the first digital CCD images and long-slit spectroscopy of the optical ring nebula around the Wolf–Rayet star θ Mus. The CCD images obtained through narrow-band filters centred at [O  iii ] and Hα show that the nebula has a filamentary structure, similar to supernova remnants, mainly seen in [O  iii ]. A spatial detachment between [O  iii ] and Hα images suggests excitation stratification, or multiple rings. An analysis of the physical conditions in the nebula was performed by means of long-slit CCD spectra. The spectral images show that the nebula is of low density and medium excitation. By means of quotients of recombination and collisional spectral line fluxes we determine that the principal excitation mechanism is photoionization. We have determined the electronic temperature and density, and chemical abundances for the oxygen at different sites within the nebula. Nebular chemical abundances are found to be similar to the Galactic ISM, indicating that the nebula is mainly composed of swept up material.