Pathways of carbon oxidation in continental margin sediments off central Chile

Rates and oxidative pathways of organic carbon mineralization were determined in sediments at six stations on the shelf and slope off Concepcion Bay at 36.5 degrees S. The depth distribution of C oxidation rates was determined to 10 cm from accumulation of dissolved inorganic C in 1-5-d incubations. Pathways of C oxidation were inferred from the depth distributions of the potential oxidants (O2, NO3-, and oxides of Mn and Fe) and from directly determined rates of SO4(2-) reduction. The study area is characterized by intense seasonal upwelling, and during sampling in late summer the bottom water over the shelf was rich in NO3- and depleted of O2. Sediments at the four shelf stations were covered by mats of filamentous bacteria of the genera Thioploca and Beggiatoa. Carbon oxidation rates at these sites were extremely high near the sediment surface (>3 micromol cm-3 d-1) and decreased exponentially with depth. The process was entirely coupled to SO4(2-) reduction. At the two slope stations where bottom-water O2 was > 100 microM, C oxidation rates were 10-fold lower and varied less with depth; C oxidation coupled to the reduction of O2, NO3-, and Mn oxides combined to yield an estimated 15% of the total C oxidation between 0 and 10 cm. Carbon oxidation through Fe reduction contributed a further 12-29% of the depth-integrated rate, while the remainder of C oxidation was through SO4(2-) reduction. The depth distribution of Fe reduction agreed well with the distribution of poorly crystalline Fe oxides, and as this pool decreased with depth, the importance of SO4(2-) reduction increased. The results point to a general importance of Fe reduction in C oxidation in continental margin sediments. At the shelf stations, Fe reduction was mainly coupled to oxidation of reduced S. These sediments were generally H2S-free despite high SO4(2-) reduction rates, and precipitation of Fe sulfides dominated H2S scavenging during the incubations. A large NO3- pool was associated with the Thioploca, and the shelf sediments were thus enriched in NO3- relative to the bottom water, with maximum concentrations of 3 micromol cm-3. The NO3- was consumed during our sediment incubations, but no effects on either C or S cycles could be discerned.     

NEW OBSERVATIONS ON THE KHANGAI SERIES OF MONGOLIA AND SOME OTHER ALLIED FORMATIONS

Since the beginning of their survey of the Gobi (1922), the geologists of the American Central Asiatic Expedition were struck by the almost universal presence, in the old floor of the Mongolian Plateau, of a very thick slates and graywackes formation, admitting a few marine limestone intercalations, and more or less strongly metamorphosed (s. Berkey and Morris. 1927, passim).     

ON AN ENIGMATIC PTEROPOD-LIKE FOSSIL FROM THE LOWER CAMBRIAN OF SOUTHERN SHANSI,BICONULITES GRABAUI,NOV.GEN.,NOV.SP.

Ⅰ. GEOLOGY OF THE SITE The Lower Cambrian fossils here described were first found, insufficiently preserved, by Licent and Teilhard in 1926 at K(?)ntingshih (圪丁石), just along the border of the high limestone range, 50 lis N. of Cbishanhsien (S. Shansi).     

ON THE RECENT MARINE BEDS,AND THE UNDERLYING FRESHWATER DEPOSITS,IN TIENTSIN By E.LICENT AND P.TEILHARD DE CHARDIN

Marine beds, containing numerous well preserved shells, are actuallyexposed in a broad pit recently open, one mile south from the Hoangho-PaihoMuseum (Race Course Road, Tientsin), in order to get the earth required forthe filling of some pools along the Race Course Road.     

ON TWO SKULLS OF MACHAIRODUS FROM THE LOWER PLEISTOCENE BEDS OF CHOUKOUTIEN

Two exceptionally well preserved skulls of Machairodus foundin the Lower Pleistocene of Choukoutien are described herein.They belong to twodifferent sections of the Machairodus group,roughly referable to the EuropeanEpimachairodus and Megantereon respectively.The persistence and developmentof the two forms side-by-side since the Pliocene is suggested.     

Utilizing in vivo nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to study sublethal stress in aquatic organisms

In vivo nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) is a powerful technique for characterizing the sublethal actions of physical and chemical stressors in live, intact organisms. In particular, 31P NMR is ideal for observing perturbations to cellular energetics since critical metabolite concentrations, including phosphagens, ATP and inorganic phosphate (Pi), can be measured non-invasively and in real time. This technique's versatility is demonstrated not only in the diversity of organisms that can be studied, but also in its broad-ranging applicability to environmental research. Illustrative studies include the actions of copper in adult red abalone (Haliotis rufescens) and changes in energetically important metabolites in developing medaka embryos (Oryzias latipes). Advantages and disadvantages of in vivo NMR will be discussed.     

海西湾潮流、COD扩散运动的数值模拟

本文采用ADI方法模拟了海西湾的潮流、水位场和COD扩散运动，所得结果与观测值符合较好。计算结果表明：海西湾自净稀释能力良好；扩建后的薛家岛码头，若以0．5t/d的COD负荷量排放，整个海湾水均属一类水质；如果以二类水质标准来评价距离码头500m以外的海域，薛家岛码头的最大COD负荷量可达2．3t/d。