GhostNet marine debris survey in the Gulf of Alaska--satellite guidance and aircraft observations

Marine debris, particularly debris that is composed of lost or abandoned fishing gear, is recognized as a serious threat to marine life, vessels, and coral reefs. The goal of the GhostNet project is the detection of derelict nets at sea through the use of weather and ocean models, drifting buoys and satellite imagery to locate convergent areas where nets are likely to collect, followed by airborne surveys with trained observers and remote sensing instruments to spot individual derelict nets. These components of GhostNet were first tested together in the field during a 14-day marine debris survey of the Gulf of Alaska in July and August 2003. Model, buoy, and satellite data were used in flight planning. A manned aircraft survey with visible and IR cameras and a LIDAR instrument located debris in the targeted locations, including 102 individual pieces of debris of anthropogenic or terrestrial origin.     

Copper in the sediment and sea surface microlayer near a fallowed, open-net fish farm

Sediment and sea surface microlayer samples near an open-net salmon farm in Nova Scotia, were analysed for copper. Copper is a constituent of the feed and is an active ingredient of anti-foulants. The salmon farm was placed in fallow after 15years of production. Sampling was pursued over 27months. Elevated copper concentrations in the sediments indicated the farm site as a source. Bubble flotation due to gas-emitting sediments from eutrophication is a likely process for accumulating copper in the sea surface microlayer at enriched concentrations. Elevated and enriched concentrations in the sea surface microlayer over distance from the farm site led, as a result of wind-drift, to an enlarged farm footprint. The levels of copper in both sediments and sea surface microlayer exceeded guidelines for protection of marine life. Over the 27months period, copper levels persisted in the sediments and decreased gradually in the sea surface microlayer.     

内蒙古乌拉山地区沙德盖岩体年代学、地球化学特征及成因探讨

沙德盖岩体位于华北克拉通北缘中段、哈达门沟大型金（钼）矿田范围内。首次利用锆石 SHRIMP U-Pb法对其定年,获得15个锆石颗粒²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U年龄的加权平均值（221.6±2.1） Ma（MSWD=1.6）,表明岩体侵位于印支中期。岩石地球化学特征表现为高硅（SiO₂质量分数为71.21%～73.67%）、富钾（K₂O/Na₂O为1.01～1.37）、富碱（K₂O+Na₂O为8.23%～9.96%）、弱过铝质（Al₂O₃为13.11%～14.31%）,里特曼指数σ=2.43～3.52,钙碱性-碱性;富集轻稀土（LREE/HREE为17.68～14.92,（La/Yb）|_N为22.85～16.58）和Eu略亏损（δEu=0.95～0.93）;微量元素亏损Nb、Ta、P、Ti、Sr,富集K、La、Ce、Hf等元素,具有A型花岗岩特征;(⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr)i=0.705 31～0.702 29,(¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd)_i=0.511 682～0.511 620,ε_Nd(t)=-13.1～-14.3,具有壳源特点;钕两阶段模式年龄T_2DM=2 061～2 160 Ma,在铅构造模式图上样品投点于地幔与下地壳之间。综合分析认为其形成于同碰撞向后碰撞构造体制转换,伸展构造和幔源基性岩浆的底侵导致早期古老基底地壳部分熔融,很可能是形成沙德盖岩体的主要动力机制。华北克拉通北缘印支期构造岩浆活动及成矿作用是普遍存在的。     

Ecosystem history of Mississippi River-influenced continental shelf revealed through preserved phytoplankton pigments

Pigments determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) provide useful information concerning water column and epibenthic plant and microbial communities in both extant communities and accumulated sediments in lakes, estuaries and the ocean. Chlorophyll and its degradation products provide an estimate of overall biomass, and carotenoid pigments provide taxonomic biomarkers of phytoplankton. We examined the pigments preserved in sediment cores from the Louisiana continental shelf adjacent to the outflow of the Mississippi River system to document changes in phytoplankton community composition, phytoplankton abundance, and conditions of hypoxia over time. Carbon accumulated in sediments from water depths of 20-60 m is primarily derived from marine phytoplankton and represents the history of phytoplankton communities in the overlying water. There is a general increase in chlorophyll a, pheopigments, zeaxanthin, fucoxanthin and most carotenoids over time, with the change gradual from 1955 to 1970, followed by a fairly steady increase to 1997. The highest chloropigment concentrations are in cores from areas more likely to be exposed to seasonal hypoxia. These indicate an increase in eutrophication in the form of greater diatom and cyanobacterial production, or a worsening of hypoxia, or both. This trend expanded westward along the Louisiana shelf in the 1990s.     

豫西长城系遗迹化石及其意义

本文记述了近两年我们在豫西长城系云梦山组、白草坪组、北大尖组、崔庄组及三教堂组中发现的大量遗迹化石。它们大部分为平行岩层面的潜穴(现均已被石英砂充填),个体较大,形态复杂,表面多光滑无饰,有些具横向环节。造迹生物很可能以蠕虫类为主。伴生的沉积构造主要为浪成波痕。据前人研究,产化石地层相当于蓟县地区长城系,时代在1400Ma以前。豫西长城系遗迹化石的发现,对研究地球上后生动物的起源与早期演化、对丰富遗迹学的内容以及对我国北方晚前寒武系的划分、对比及沉积环境的确定等,都具有重要意义。     

Marine debris collects within the North Pacific Subtropical Convergence Zone

Floating marine debris, particularly derelict fishing gear, is a hazard to fish, marine mammals, turtles, sea birds, coral reefs, and even human activities. To ameliorate the economic and environmental impact of marine debris, we need to efficiently locate and retrieve dangerous debris at sea. Guided by satellite-derived information, we made four flights north of Hawaii in March and April 2005. During these aerial surveys, we observed over 1800 individual pieces of debris, including 122 derelict fishing nets. The largest debris concentrations were found just north of the North Pacific Transition Zone Chlorophyll Front (TZCF) within the North Pacific Subtropical Convergence Zone (STCZ). Debris densities were significantly correlated with sea-surface temperature (SST), chlorophyll-a concentration (Chla), and the gradient of Chla. A Debris Estimated Likelihood Index (DELI) was developed to predict where high concentrations of debris would be most likely in the North Pacific during spring and early summer.     

Induction of DNA strand breaks in the mussel (Mytilus trossulus) and clam (Protothaca staminea) following chronic field exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from the Exxon Valdez spill

In 2002, 13 years after the Exxon Valdez spill, mussels and clams were examined for lingering oil exposure and damage. Known oil patches were sampled at four locations, and compared to nearby reference areas (same bay), and were also compared to "hot reference" sites to verify the methods used (Cordova harbor and fresh diesel spill at Port Chalmers). Passive samplers deployed for a month at the sites, along with tissue samples, confirmed that the oiled sites were oiled (fingerprinting back to Exxon Valdez oil) and that reference sites were clean. The highest PAH loads were detected in sub-surface interstitial waters at oiled sites. Exposure at the surface was generally low level, and probably intermittent. DNA damage was assessed in blood cells using sensitive comet analyses. DNA strand breakage was detected in both mussels and clams, with the highest level of damage detected at "hot reference" sites of Cordova harbor and Port Chalmers. Bioavailability and DNA damage at the oiled sties was low, indicating there has been substantial progress in recovery from the spill 13 years before, yet low level bioavailability and damage were still detectable.