Continuing observation of disturbed reproductive cycle and ovarian spermatogenesis in the giant abalone, Haliotis madaka from an organotin-contaminated site of Japan

Histological examination of gonads as well as chemical analysis of organotin compounds in tissues of the giant abalone, Haliotis madaka, was conducted to evaluate continuing endocrine disruption in abalone populations in Japan. Abalone specimens were collected from two different areas, Tsushima as a reference site and Jogashima as a site representative of declining abalone populations where serious organotin contamination had been observed, each month from January 1998 to March 1999. Scores were given to the development stages of reproductive cells in the ovary and testis. The degree of sexual maturation was evaluated by calculating the mean value of a histogram of these scores for the reproductive cells of each abalone. The temporal variations in degree of sexual maturation showed that female and male abalone from Tsushima matured synchronously, while those from Jogashima did not, which were similar to results of the previous study during September 1995–November 1996. Approximately 19% of the female abalone from Jogashima were masculinized with an ovo-testis, which was also similar to the result of the previous study. The masculinization of female abalone is reported to be induced by tributyltin (TBT) and triphenyltin (TPhT) from antifouling paints. Concentrations of the sum of butyltins (TBT, dibutyltin (DBT) and monobutyltin (MBT): ΣBTs) and the sum of phenyltins (TPhT, diphenyltin (DPhT) and monophenyltin (MPhT): ΣPhTs) in the muscle of abalone from Jogashima (n = 73) of 7.8 ± 9.0 ng/g wet wt. and 4.5 ± 6.8 ng/g wet wt., respectively, were significantly higher than those from Tsushima (n = 87) of 4.7 ± 4.9 ng/g wet wt. and 0.8 ± 1.7 ng/g wet wt., respectively (p < 0.05 for ΣBTs; p < 0.001 for ΣPhTs), although concentrations of TBT and TPhT in the muscle of abalone from Jogashima (n = 73) of 2.2 ± 2.5 ng/g wet wt. and 5.8 ± 5.1 ng/g wet wt., respectively, were insignificantly and significantly higher than those from Tsushima (n = 87) of 0.4 ± 0.6 ng/g wet wt. and 0.5 ± 0.9 ng/g wet wt., respectively, (p > 0.05 for TBT; p < 0.001 for TPhT). Thus, endocrine disruption as well as contamination by organotins in the giant abalone from Jogashima is still persisting.     

Radiolarian Age of Manganese Ore and Red Chert from the Ananai Stratiform Manganese Deposit in the Northern Chichibu Belt, Central Shikoku, Japan

Abstract. We obtain radiolarian fossils such as Follicucullus monacanthus, Pseudoalbaillella aff. globosa, Pseudoalbaillella cf fusiformis , and Pseudoalbaillella spp. belonging to the Pseudoalbaillella globosa and Follicucullus monacanthus Zones from manganese ore and associated red chert of the Ananai stratiform manganese deposit in the Northern Chichibu Belt, central Shikoku. The depositional age of the Ananai ore deposit is constrained as Guadalupian (Middle Permian) that is between 270.6 and 260.4 Ma in the updated geologic time scale.     

Seismic performance evaluation of non‐structural components: drywall partitions

As the first part of non‐structural component test series, interior drywall partitions are selected for an experimental program. This test series will cover non‐structural components that are significant in the economic losses in buildings subjected to seismic loading, namely interior drywall partitions, exterior cladding and window glasses, and ceilings. Four full‐scale drywall partitions with light‐gage steel stud framing were tested to observe damage in cyclic loading conditions. Effects of a door and an intersecting wall on the behaviour of drywall partition are studied. Damage was concentrated to perimeter regions where gypsum boards made contacts with ceiling, floor, or columns. Dynamic loading did not amplify the damage on a drywall partition over the damage observed from the quasi‐static test. Damage–repair cost relationships show that the repair cost reaches almost the initial cost under 2% radian interstorey drift. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Preferred orientation of phyllosilicate [001] in matrix of Murchison meteorite and possible mechanisms of generating the oriented texture in chondrites

Preferred orientation of the dominant phyllosilicate phase (serpentine) in the matrix of the Murchison meteorite (C2) was determined by X-ray pole figure goniometry. The basal plane (001) of the phyllosilicate shows a clear preferred orientation of an axial concentration type. The preferred orientation is very weak in comparison with the orientations of known terrestrial tectonites, and it resembles the weakest case observed in the loosely consolidated clayey sediments from the deep ocean bottom. However, gentle sedimentation of platy phyllosilicate grains on a flat surface under a weak gravity field does not generate a sufficient preferred orientation. It is suggested that the preferred orientation in the matrix of Murchison was generated by uniaxial compaction, and the magnitude of strain to give rise to the observed degree of preferred orientation is evaluated as ?9%. There are two possible explanations of the deformation: dynamic compression caused by impact, and static compaction in a parent body. Though the latter case appears to be appropriate in the present case, it is not straightforward, however, to conclude that the suggested deformation is caused by burial compaction along gravity under lithostatic stress in a small primitive parent body.     

GPR survey and physical measurements of sea ice in Quilty Bay,Larsemann hills,East Antarctica and its correlation with local atmospheric parameters

Sea ice formation in Quilty Bay, East Antarctica shows a strong relationship with climatic conditions and its spatial variation is established by GPR survey over the sea ice during the austral winters. The study also evaluates the variability of sea ice thickness and extent with local weather parameters between 2010 and 2014. Profiling on sea ice in Quilty Bay shows that sea ice thickness decreases gradually towards east. The overall thickness of sea ice is considerably less at the centre of the bay as compared to the coastal side. Two types of fast ice layers have been delineated from GPR surveys i.e. top layer fast ice which incorporates very low density surface snow and underlying high density fast ice i.e. with melt water pockets. Development of sea ice is influenced by persistent easterly winds, temperature fluctuations and ocean currents. Sea ice reveal average annual cyclic trend in Quilty Bay with maximum development in the year 2013 (157.54 cm) and the minimum development has been observed in the year 2010 (99.04 cm).The cyclic pattern of average sea ice accumulation data show perfect inverse correlation with surface air temperature, with measure of reliability R² = 0.93. However, moderate (R² = 0.52) and good (R² = 0.69) degree of inverse relationship is observed with surface snow and overall sea ice (snow and ice) respectively. With 0.46 °C change in temperature, there is 33% change in sea ice condition in Quilty Bay which may remain same as far as ice extents in the region. Besides this easterly winds play a vital role in controlling the snow/ice distribution patterns as reflected by isopach maps.     

Depositional Age of a Fossil Whale Bone from São Paulo Ridge,South Atlantic Ocean,Based on Os Isotope Stratigraphy of a Ferromanganese Crust

Whale carcasses (whale falls) deposited on the deep seafloor are associated with a distinctive biotic community. A fossil whale bone recovered from São Paulo Ridge, South Atlantic Ocean, during cruise YK13–04 Leg 1 of R/V Yokosuka was covered by a ferromanganese (Fe–Mn) crust approximately 9 mm thick. Here, we report an age constraint for this fossil bone on the basis of Os isotopic stratigraphy (¹⁸⁷Os/¹⁸⁸Os ratio) of the Fe–Mn crust. Major‐ and trace‐element compositions of the crust are similar to those of Fe–Mn crusts of predominantly hydrogenous origin. Rare earth element concentrations in samples of the crust, normalized with respect to Post‐Archean average Australian Shale, exhibit flat patterns with positive Ce and negative Y anomalies. These results indicate that the Fe–Mn crust consists predominantly of hydrogenous components and that it preserves the Os isotope composition of seawater at the time of its deposition. ¹⁸⁷Os/¹⁸⁸Os ratios of three Fe–Mn crust samples increased from 0.904 to 1.068 in ascending stratigraphic order. The value of 1.068 from the surface slice (0–3 mm depth in the crust) was identical to that of present‐day seawater within error (~1.06). The value of 0.904 from the basal slice (6–9 mm) equaled seawater values from ca. 4–5 Ma. Because it is unknown how long the bone lay on the seafloor before the Fe–Mn crust was deposited, the Os stratigraphic age of ca. 5 Ma is a minimum age of the fossil. This is the first application, to our knowledge, of marine Os isotope stratigraphy for determining the age of a fossil whale bone. Such data may offer valuable insights into the evolution of the whale‐fall biotic community.