Morphological and genetic variation among shortnose sturgeonAcipenser brevirostrum from adjacent and distant rivers

Shortnose sturgeon,Acipenser brevirostrum, is a small, endangered species which occurs in 19 estuary systems along the east coast of North America. These populations are considered as separate entities by the U. S. National Marine Fisheries Service although evidence of morphologic or genetic differentiation among populations has not been documented. The purpose of this study was to compare morphological and genetic atributes among shortnose sturgeon collected from the Kennebec and Androscoggin Rivers, Maine, and the Hudson River, New York. Six morphometric and five meristic characteristics were quantified. Multivariate and univariate analyses of covariance and variance were used to assess differences among populations. Our analyses provided evidence for distinct populations in the Androscoggin and Kennebec Rivers, but character differentiation was greater between fish from these two locations and the Hudson River. Analysis of morphometric characters indicated significant differences in fish shape among the three rivers, with Hudson River sturgeon differing from the Maine rivers for the characters of head length, snout length, and mouth width. Significant differences were observed for meristic characters, but pairwise comparisons did not reflect a clear pattern of variability. Sequencing of a portion of the mitochondrial DNA control region revealed 15 haplotypes among 73 total specimens from the three rivers. Shortnose sturgeon from the Kennebec and Androscoggin Rivers were different from each other (p=0.0260); both differed significantly (p<0.0001) from the Hudson River collection. Gene flow was estimated at approximately 7 female migrants per generation between the two Maine populations and about 1 per generation between each of the Maine populations and the Hudson River population. Such strong stock structuring among presumably recently established post-Pleistocene (<10,000 yr) populations suggests that this species occurs in highly discrete units. Morphological and genetic variation observed in this study combined with current knowledge of life history attributes of shortnose sturgeon indicate that conservative management decisions are necessary until the patterns and extent of differentiation among populations species-wide can be investigated further.     

Radar observations of E-class Asteroids 44 Nysa and 434 Hungaria

We observed the E-class main-belt Asteroids (MBAs) 44 Nysa and 434 Hungaria with Arecibo Observatory's S-band (12.6 cm) radar. Both asteroids exhibit polarization ratios higher than those measured for any other MBA: Nysa, μc=0.50±0.02 and Hungaria, μc=0.8±0.1. This is consistent with the high polarization ratios measured for every E-class near-Earth asteroid (NEA) observed by Benner et al. [Benner, L.A.M., and 10 collegues, 2008. Icarus, submitted for publication] and suggests a common cause. Our estimates of radar albedo are 0.19±0.06 for Nysa and 0.22±0.06 for Hungaria. These values are higher than those of most MBAs and, when combined with their high polarization ratios, suggest that the surface bulk density of both asteroids is high. We model Nysa as an ellipsoid of dimension 113×67×65 km (±15%) giving an effective diameter Deff=79±10 km, consistent with previous estimates. The echo waveforms are not consistent with a contact binary as suggested by Kaasalainen et al. [Kaasalainen, M., Torppa, J., Piironen, J., 2002. Astron. Astrophys. 383, L19-L22]. We place a constraint on Hungaria's maximum diameter, Dmax?11 km consistent with previous size estimates.     

Understanding different perspectives on the preservation of community and heritage buildings in the Wellington Region,New Zealand

The Canterbury (New Zealand) earthquake sequence of 2010–2012 caused unexpectedly extreme levels of damage and disruption, being an unparalleled event in New Zealand in terms of the damage extent. Christchurch’s heritage buildings were seriously damaged during these events, with churches especially affected in 22 February 2011 M _w 6.2 earthquake. During this earthquake, a total of 84% of the heritage unreinforced stone and 81% of the clay brick masonry churches in the Canterbury region were either considered unsafe (receiving red placards) or with restricted access (yellow placards). Following the earthquakes, authorities across New Zealand are reassessing the capacity of older buildings to resist earthquakes. Current legislation requires that a building judged as earthquake prone either be strengthened by retrofitting or be demolished within a legislated number of years. Many building owners are facing the problems of owning earthquake-prone buildings and lacking the funding to upgrade. This affects both community and heritage buildings, resulting in the likely abandonment or demolition of some buildings. To address the problem of the balance between life safety and preservation in the Wellington Region, this project gathered and compared the perspectives of the general public, church communities, heritage specialists, professional engineers, and local authorities to assist in balancing the interests of these stakeholders. As a result of the findings, several recommendations have been provided that include standardizing structural assessment processes and training, feasibility of additional public funding to upgrade buildings, new signage to increase public awareness of earthquake-prone buildings, and regular communication among stakeholders to understand and resolve differences.     

Environmental changes in the Zirahuén Basin, Michoacán, Mexico, during the last 1000 years

Lago de Zirahuén (19° 26 N, 101° 44 W) lies within a montane basin in highland Michoacán, Mexico at 2075 m a.s.l. The lake basin has high recreational value and is promoted as a tourist attraction. Four short (<1 m), sediment–water interface cores were used to investigate Late Holocene environmental change. The cores span approximately the last 1000 years, based on ²¹⁰Pb dating, AMS ¹⁴C dating and tephrochronology. Cesium-137, Americium-241 and tephra layers from Volcan Paricutín (AD 1943–1952) and Volcan Jorullo (AD 1759–1774) provide independent age markers. Cores were analysed for diatoms, magnetic susceptibility and heavy metals (iron, lead, manganese, copper and zinc). Drier climate around 1000 years BP is tentatively inferred from the diatom assemblage and is concordant with other regional records. Increased soil erosion between ca. AD 1100 and AD 1550 may be associated with Pre-Hispanic settlement in the basin, but there is no archaeological evidence to support this. A period of catchment stability occurred during the early Colonial Period, ca. AD 1550–1750. The dramatic decline in the indigenous population following the Spanish Conquest in 1521 may have promoted vegetation recovery on the basin slopes. After the mid-18th century, a significant change in diatom species composition is observed along with an increase in soil erosion, as inferred from the magnetic susceptibility profile. Concentrations of copper and lead also increased. These changes are associated with the establishment of a copper smelting industry in the basin and increased Colonial agricultural development. Recently, tourist developments and commercial agriculture have impacted on the basin. The diatom flora has changed dramatically in the last 20 years, apparently in response to the onset of cultural eutrophication. The palaeoenvironmental evidence suggests that the lake is responding rapidly to land use intensification in the basin, which may have implications for future developments.     

Ore and Alteration Types of the Gold and Copper Mineralization in the Lascogon Project, Surigao del Norte, Mindanao Island, Philippines

Two ore and three alteration types were identified in the Lascogon Project of Philex Gold Philippines, in Surigao del Norte, Mindanao Island, Philippines. The jasperoid ore is the host to the Carlin‐like gold mineralization in the Lascogon and Danao prospects. The ore occurs in a decalcified and silicified horizon, with minor chlorite and goethite, stibnite, pyrite and quartz crystals ranging from cryptocrystalline to botryoidal. The stringer–stockwork type Cu‐Au mineralization in the Suyoc prospect is hosted in argillized andesitic rocks of the Mabuhay Formation. The primary ore minerals are chalcopyrite with minor amounts of sphalerite. The alteration types identified are propylitic alteration, argillic alteration and silicification. The propylitized basaltic and andesitic flows of the Bacuag Formation bound the jasperoid mineralization in the Lascogon prospect. Stratigraphically, the relationship between propylitized basalts and stringer–stockwork Cu‐Au is not clear but a lateral change can be inferred from jasperoid in the center and stringer–stockwork towards the east.     

Site characterization in densely fractured dolomite: comparison of methods

One of the challenges in characterizing fractured-rock aquifers is determining whether the equivalent porous medium approximation is valid at the problem scale. Detailed hydrogeologic characterization completed at a small study site in a densely fractured dolomite has yielded an extensive data set that was used to evaluate the utility of the continuum and discrete-fracture approaches to aquifer characterization. There are two near-vertical sets of fractures at the site; near-horizontal bedding-plane partings constitute a third fracture set. Eighteen boreholes, including five coreholes, were drilled to a depth of approximately 10.6 m. Borehole geophysical logs revealed several laterally extensive horizontal fractures and dissolution zones. Flowmeter and short-interval packer testing identified which of these features were hydraulically important. A monitoring system, consisting of short-interval piezometers and multilevel samplers, was designed to monitor four horizontal fractures and two dissolution zones. The resulting network consisted of >70 sampling points and allowed detailed monitoring of head distributions in three dimensions. Comparison of distributions of hydraulic head and hydraulic conductivity determined by these two approaches suggests that even in a densely fractured-carbonate aquifer, a characterization approach using traditional long-interval monitoring wells is inadequate to characterize ground water movement for the purposes of regulatory monitoring or site remediation. In addition, traditional multiwell pumping tests yield an average or bulk hydraulic conductivity that is not adequate for predicting rapid ground water travel times through the fracture network, and the pumping test response does not appear to be an adequate tool for assessing whether the porous medium approximation is valid.     

Evaporative evolution of a Na–Cl–NO<Subscript>3</Subscript>–K–Ca–SO<Subscript>4</Subscript>–Mg–Si brine at 95 °C: Experiments and modeling relevant to Yucca Mountain,Nevada

A synthetic Topopah Spring Tuff water representative of one type of pore water at Yucca Mountain, NV was evaporated at 95°C in a series of experiments to determine the geochemical controls for brines that may form on, and possibly impact upon the long-term integrity of waste containers and drip shields at the designated high-level, nuclear-waste repository. Solution chemistry, condensed vapor chemistry, and precipitate mineralogy were used to identify important chemical divides and to validate geochemical calculations of evaporating water chemistry using a high temperature Pitzer thermodynamic database. The water evolved toward a complex "sulfate type" brine that contained about 45 mol % Na, 40 mol % Cl, 9 mol % NO₃, 5 mol % K, and less than 1 mol % each of SO₄, Ca, Mg, ∑CO₂(aq), F, and Si. All measured ions in the condensed vapor phase were below detection limits. The mineral precipitates identified were halite, anhydrite, bassanite, niter, and nitratine. Trends in the solution composition and identification of CaSO₄ solids suggest that fluorite, carbonate, sulfate, and magnesium-silicate precipitation control the aqueous solution composition of sulfate type waters by removing fluoride, calcium, and magnesium during the early stages of evaporation. In most cases, the high temperature Pitzer database, used by EQ3/6 geochemical code, sufficiently predicts water composition and mineral precipitation during evaporation. Predicted solution compositions are generally within a factor of 2 of the experimental values. The model predicts that sepiolite, bassanite, amorphous silica, calcite, halite, and brucite are the solubility controlling mineral phases.     

The interpretation of U-U-Th-Ra disequilibria produced by rock-water interactions

A mathematical model is set up to describe the evolution in time of the activity ratios of the long lived members of the ²³⁸U decay series following alteration of the initial state of secular equilibrium in the rock by a rock-water interaction. Both sudden (that is to say, of duration very much shorter than any of the half-lives involved) and continuously acting disturbances are considered. Continuous processes may involve either the removal or the deposition of uranium and these are represented in the formalism as first and zero order effects respectively. Difficulties of principle are identified, but in spite of these an attempt is made to show that the predictions of the model are useful in the interpretation of activity ratios obtained for suites of samples under circumstances in which complementary geochemical information is available.     

The paragenesis leucite-Na feldspar

Veins in a basanite from Central France show the hitherto unrecorded paragenesis of leucite-Na feldspar. These veins frequently occur in association with lherzolite nodules but are not restricted to the vicinity of the nodules. This assemblage may be stable at higher temperature in preference to nepheline-K feldspar.