Species richness,diversity and density of understory vegetation along disturbance gradients in the Himalayan conifer forest

We investigated whether species richness, diversity and density of understory herbaceous plants differed along logging(gap) and grazing(primarily by cattle) disturbance gradients, and sought to identify drivers of richness, diversity and density of understory vegetation of logged sites. A factorial experiment was conducted in the mixed conifer forest of Gidakom in Western Bhutan. Levels of the logging treatment included small(0.15 – 0.24 ha), medium(0.25 – 0.35 ha) and large(0.36 – 1.31 ha) gaps. The grazing treatment included grazed(primarily by cattle) and ungrazed(where herbivores were excluded by a fence) plots nested within each gap. Data were collected from 12 gaps(4 replicates at each level of logging) using the point intercept method. Shannon Weaver Diversity and Margalef's indices were used to estimate species diversity and describe species richness, respectively. Soil samples were analyzed for pH and nutrients. The interaction effect of logging and grazing was significant(p≤0.001) only on species diversity. Relative to ungrazed areas, species diversity was significantly higher(0.01≤p≤0.05) in medium grazed gaps. Under grazed conditions, soil P was negatively correlated with gap size and species diversity. While species diversity was positivelycorrelated(0.01≤p≤0.05) with soil N in grazed plots species richness was positively correlated(0.001≤p≤0.01) with soil N in ungrazed plots. Relative density of Yushania microphylla and Carex nubigena were higher under ungrazed conditions. Our study suggests that the combined effect of cattle grazing and logging results in higher species diversity of understory vegetation in medium and grazed gaps in mixed conifer forests of Bhutan,whereas increase or decrease in relative density of major species is determined primarily by the independent effects of grazing and logging. From management perspective, forest managers must refrain from creating large gaps to avoid loss of nutrients(mainly P and N), which may eventually affect tree regeneration. Managers intending to maintain understory vegetation diversity must consider the combined effects of grazing and logging, ensuring low to moderate grazing pressure.     

中国第四纪冰川地质遗迹调查方法综述

第四纪冰川和冰川地质遗迹的研究,是研究第四纪全球气候变化的重要课题之一。中国第四纪冰川地质遗迹分布很广,类型多。最北的大兴安岭、南部的广西大明山、东部的长白山和台湾玉山、最西的喀喇昆仑山第四纪冰川地质遗迹均有分布,是世界上低纬度地区山岳冰川发育最广泛的国家。本文在前人研究的基础上,系统阐述我国第四纪冰川地质遗迹分布概况,结合开展的全国重要地质遗迹调查,以地质遗迹调查规范为基础,系统开展第四纪冰川地质遗迹调查方法研究。根据冰川在运动过程中对地面的侵蚀、冰碛物的搬运和堆积等不同的地质作用阶段,总结我国第四纪冰川地质遗迹调查方法体系,为开展同类地质遗迹调查提供方法指导依据。     

Dehydration melting of solid amphibolite at 2.0 GPa: Effects of time and temperature

The dehydration melting of the natural rock at high pressure is important to investigating the magma formation in the earth’s interior. Since the 1970s, a lot of geological scientists have paid more atten- tion to the dehydration melting of the natural rock[1―5]. Previous experiments of dehydration melting and observations of fieldwork argued that the dehy- dration melting of the rock was probably the most important fashion for the melting of the lower crust rock[6―12]. The genesis of most …     

Harmful microalgae blooms (HAB); problematic and conditions that induce them

HAB occurrence is becoming more frequent and problematic in marine recreational waters. However, the exploitation of the coastal area for recreational use is promoting the necessary conditions for the HAB increase. In terms of the harmful effects, we can consider two types of causative organism: the toxic producers and the high-biomass producers. Toxic events can be produced by a very low concentration of the causative organism. This characteristic implies a difficulty for the monitoring programs in relation to human health. It is important to point out in the context of human health and HAB events, that in some coastal regions (e.g. the Mediterranean basin) HABs are an emerging problem. In these regions, the local population and visitors may face a health risk that is difficult to measure. The monitoring of toxic species has mainly been associated -with shellfish farming. However, the risk of intoxication could become even greater in areas not subject to legislation of aquaculture activities.     

Spatial distribution and ecotoxicity of petroleum hydrocarbons in sediments from the Galicia continental shelf (NW Spain) after the Prestige oil spill

The distribution of aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons was determined in surface sediments collected at 36 stations along the Galicia continental shelf (NW Spain), following the Prestige oil spill. Sampling was performed in December 2002, just after the accident, and in February and September 2003. Concentrations of PAHs (summation operator 13 parent components) were in the range of 0.9-422 microg/kgdw, the highest values being close to coastal urban areas (e.g. Pontevedra and A Coru?a), whereas in the stations of the area most heavily impacted by the spill (off Costa da Morte) concentrations were in the range of 14.8-89.6 microg/kgdw, with a certain predominance of alkylated compounds, which may suggest a mixture of petrogenic and pyrolytic sources. The detailed study of petrogenic molecular markers (e.g. steranes and triterpanes) showed the occurrence of an old (weathered) petrogenic chronic pollution in the shelf sediments but not of the Prestige oil, with the possible exception of few stations in the area of Costa da Morte. This was attributed to the heavy nature of the spilled oil that was barely dispersed in the water column and mainly stranded on the coast or sedimented in the form of oil patches. The addition of increasing amounts of fuel oil to a representative sediment sample showed that the molecular indices were indicative of the presence of the Prestige oil when the amount was above 1g/kg of sediment. The toxicity of selected samples (showing the higher PAH concentrations) was tested using the bivalve embryogenesis bioassay. Embryogenesis success reached high values in all cases (80-88%, with 86% in the control), indicating a lack of toxicity in the sediments and supporting the conclusion that the patchiness of the fuel eventually reaching the seafloor reduced its impact on the benthic communities of the Galician shelf.     

蛇绿岩型铬铁矿中金刚石的浅源成因

蛇绿混杂岩中的橄榄岩和铬铁矿中发现有大量的显微金刚石(microdiamond),其通常伴有超高压矿物组合(柯石英、斯石英等),这对于认识地球深部物质循环及动力学过程具有重要的指示意义。然而,实验表明,金刚石可以形成在低温低压环境(石墨稳定区域)中,不过至今在天然环境中还没有发现相关的证据。     

神农架地区第四纪冰川遗迹与冰期划分

神农架是中国第四纪地质环境演变的热点地区之一。本文通过对第四纪冰川地貌、冰碛残迹及二者关系研究,提供了本区第四纪古冰川发育的多方面证据。神农架地区在第四纪时期曾发生三期冰期和两期冰缘期,即松柏冰期、木鱼坪冰期、龙潭冰期、松香坪冰缘期、神农架冰缘期。本文首次系统地建立了本区第四纪气候地层系列.      

四川泸定昔格达组时代及其新构造意义

川西高原东南部边界带内侧沪定大渡河西岸的海子坪,在高出大渡河水面约920m的谷肩上保存着一套厚约411 m的昔格达组河湖相地层。磁性地层初步研究表明,以距顶深度386.0m处为界,以上为高斯正向极性带,以下为吉尔伯特反向极性带。对比Cande和Kent的极性年表,沪定昔格达组的年代约4.29～2.60 Ma BP,地质时代应属上新世中、晚期。将沪定昔格达组与高原边界带外侧的汉源昔格达组进行对比,地层中记录的松山反向极性时与高斯正向极性时界面分别处于海拔2220 m和1040 m左右,两者之间的高为1180 m,这应是2.6 Ma BP以来川西高原东南部边界带两侧地块相对隆升的结果。     

Depth of closure: New calculation method based on sediment data

Obtaining depth of closure (DoC) in an accurate manner is a fundamental issue for coastal engineering, since good results for coastal structures and beach nourishment depend mainly on DoC. Currently, there are two methods for obtaining the DoC, mathematical formulations and profile surveys. However, these methods can incur important errors if one does not take into account the characteristics and morphology of the area, or if one does not have a sufficiently long time series. In this work the DoC is obtained from the break in the trend of the sediment with the depth, that is, in general with the increase of the depth a decrease in the size of the sediment takes place. However, at one point this tendency changes and the size increases, and then decreases again. When comparing the point where the minimum sediment size occurs before the increase, it is observed that the error incurred is small compared to other methods. If the Standard Deviation of Depth Change (SDDC) method is considered as the most accurate method, the error incurred by the proposed method is less than 7%. In addition, it can be seen that the dispersion of the sediment method always occurs outside the zone of bar movement. Whereas in the methods of profiles survey (using 2 cm precision profiles), sometimes the DoC is obtained within the active zone of bar movement. In addition, where the relative minimum of the median sediment size is found, and the sizes of 0.063 and 0.125 mm predominate in the composition of the sample. Therefore, this new method allows the precise location of the DoC to be obtained in a fast and simple way. Furthermore, this method has the advantage that it is not affected by the modifications that may be experienced by both the study area and the cross-shore beach profile.     

若尔盖45年来的气候变化特征及其对当地生态环境的影响

草地退化、土地沙化等问题已成为若尔盖地区突出的环境问题之一。本文分析了若尔盖地区1957年以来的气候变化特征以及对当地生态环境的影响。结果表明,若尔盖地区多年平均气温呈明显升高的变化趋势,以每10年约0．23℃的倾向率增高,各季节气温也呈上升趋势,其中秋季（9～11月）和冬季（12～莅年2月）气温上升更加明显;多年平均降水量呈略有减少之势,降水倾向率为每10年减少1．75mm。其中,春季（3～5月）和秋季降水量呈现出逐年下降的趋势,秋季降水减少的趋势更明显一些,而夏季（6～8月）和冬季降水量却表现出逐年增多的趋势。受气候变暖趋干的影响,该区冻土环境和植被发生变化,土地沙化、草地严重退化等生态环境问题对当地的社会经济与环境发展产生了重要影响。