Response of single benthic metrics and multi-metric methods to anthropogenic pressure gradients, in five distinct European coastal and transitional ecosystems

In recent times many benthic indices have been proposed to assess the ecological quality of marine waters worldwide. In this study we compared single metrics and multi-metric methods to assess coastal and transitional benthic status along human pressure gradients in five distinct environments across Europe: Varna bay and lake (Bulgaria), Lesina lagoon (Italy), Mondego estuary (Portugal), Basque coast (Spain) and Oslofjord (Norway). Hence, 13 single metrics (abundance, number of taxa, and several diversity and sensitivity indices) and eight of the most common indices used within the European Water Framework Directive (WFD) for benthic assessment were selected: index of size spectra (ISS), Benthic assessment tool (BAT), Norwegian quality index (NQI), Multivariate AMBI (M-AMBI), Benthic quality index (BQI), (Benthic ecosystem quality index (BEQI), Benthic index based on taxonomic sufficiency (BITS), and infaunal quality index (IQI). Within each system, sampling sites were ordered in an increasing pressure gradient according to a preliminary classification based on professional judgement. The different indices are largely consistent in their response to pressure gradient, except in some particular cases (i.e. BITS, in all cases, or ISS when a low number of individuals is present). Inconsistencies between indicator responses were most pronounced in transitional waters (i.e. IQI, BEQI), highlighting the difficulties of the generic application of indicators to all marine, estuarine and lagoonal environments. However, some of the single (i.e. ecological groups approach, diversity, richness) and multi-metric methods (i.e. BAT, M-AMBI, NQI) were able to detect such gradients both in transitional and coastal environments, being these multi-metric methods more consistent in the detection than single indices. This study highlights the importance of survey design and good reference conditions for some indicators. The agreement observed between different methodologies and their ability to detect quality trends across distinct environments constitutes a promising result for the implementation of the WFD’s monitoring plans. Moreover, these results have management implications, regarding the dangers of misclassification, uncertainty in the assessment, use of conflicting indices, and testing and validation of indices.     

全球早古生代造山带(Ⅲ):华南陆内造山

华南早古生代加里东期变形、岩浆、沉积等特征表现为陆内造山带特征。通过对加里东期角度不整合分布、褶皱、断裂逆冲极性等特征的分析,发现大明山、大瑶山地区EW轴向的寒武系褶皱不对称性和角度不整合空间上向北的拓展变新规律,指示晚寒武世—早奥陶世的由南向北推覆挤压可能是云开、滇—桂北越地块依次向北推挤的结果;从全球背景看,可能和华南陆块南部一些地块与冈瓦纳大陆北缘依次碰撞接触导致的远程陆内效应有关。然而,湘赣边境、桂北元宝山及越城岭地区的早古生代NE向褶皱不对称性指示向西拓展,这可能是由于华夏地块与扬子地块在晚奥陶世—早志留世沿郴州临武断裂陆内收缩挤压的结果,其全球背景可能和华南陆块顺时针旋转与冈瓦纳全面碰撞相关。总之,加里东期构造运动总体由南向北、由东向西渐新,变形强度由强到弱的特征,反映华南陆内碰撞造山事件的根本原因是其与冈瓦纳北缘碰撞的远程效应。450~420 Ma华南已经属于冈瓦纳北缘一部分。     

SUBDIVISIONS OF THE JURASSIC, CRETACEOUS AND TERTIARY COAL-BEARING STRATA OF RUSSIAN MARITIME AND AMUR PROVINCES, AND OF SAKHALIN ISLAND

As is well known, the first information on the coal-bearing strata of the Russian Far East and their characteristic fossil flora was given by the acadeinician Prof. Schmidt (2), and his fellow-traveller Glehn (13), to Lopatin, Bogoluibsky (9), A. Koeppen (26) and others. However the     

Heavy metal concentrations in soils and plants in the vicinity of Arufu lead-zinc mine,Middle Benue Trough,Nigeria

This study focused on the influence of base metal mining on heavy metal levels in soils and plants in the vicinity of Arufu lead-zinc mine, Nigeria. Soil samples (0-15 cm depth) and plant samples were collected from cul-tivated farmlands in and around the mine, the unmineralized site and a nearby forest (the control site). The samples were analyzed for heavy metals (Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu, Pb, Cr and Cd) by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS). The physical properties of soils (pH and LOI) were also measured. Results showed that soils from cultivated farm-lands have neutral pH values (6.5-7.5), and low organic matter contents (10%). Levels of Zn, Pb and Cd in culti-vated soils were higher than the concentrations obtained from the control site. These heavy metals are most probably sourced from mining and agricultural activities in the study area. Heavy metal concentrations measured in plant parts decreased in the order of rice leavescassava tuberspeelings. In the same plant species, metal levels decreased in the order of ZnFeMnCuPbCrCd. Most heavy metals were found in plant parts at average concentrations normally observed in plants grown in uncontaminated soil, however, elevated concentrations of Pb and Cd were found in a few cassava samples close to the mine dump. A stepwise linear regression analysis identified soil metal contents, pH and LOI as some of the factors influencing soil-plant metal uptake.     

地球早期历史的成矿作用

前言现代成矿理论是根据地壳有规律不可逆演化的基本理论和伴生矿床建立起来的。最近在解释地球早期历史方面的进展有力地促进了这一理论的进一步发展。地球早期历史一般认为是地质前期和太古宙时期的总和,时距为45—25亿年。本文使用的“早期历史”一词具另一种意义,即包括太古宙和早元古宙(38—18亿年)。有两个理由证明这种研究问题方法:1)太古宙和早元古宙构造之间紧密相连,而在许多地区晚元古宙构造与显生宙相似。2)缺少地质前期的成矿作用资料。     

融合实时路况信息的北京市就医可达性分析

就医可达性是衡量区域医疗公平性的标准之一,为均衡医疗设施配置提供了理论依据。两步移动搜索法(2SFCA)是一种较为成熟的可达性计算方法,但仍存在研究最小基本单元尺度较大、供需点间时间估算忽略路网的通达性和实时路况等问题。本文利用高德地图获取依据实时路况规划最优驾车路线的时间,通过2SFCA评估北京市1 575个居民点在工作日的5个时段和4种出行时间阈值内到达208所医院的可达性。结果表明:北京市就医可达性空间分布不均衡,随搜索阈值的增大,分布形态由多峰值分布向以西城区和东城区为中心的环状扩散分布转换。时段分异特征显著,各时段可达性为一般及以上居民点比例由高至低依次为夜晚、中午、下午、早高峰、晚高峰。     

岩浆硫化物矿床铂族元素的地球化学模式

引言岩浆硫化物矿石中铂族元素的浓度显示一个值得注意的数值范围,从一个矿床到另一个矿床可以有数量级的变化。例如Merensky层(布什维尔德杂岩体)的矿石,硫化物少于2(重量％),仅为萨德伯里矿石的1/15到1/20,而Pt和Pd的总量却是典型萨德拍里矿床的10     

The role of water mass dynamics in controlling bacterial abundance and production in the middle Adriatic Sea

Month-to-month fluctuations in the abundance of bacteria and heterotrophic nanoflagellates (HNF) and bacterial production, as well as various chemical (nutrients, oxygen) and physical (salinity, temperature) parameters were analysed at a station located in the open middle Adriatic Sea during one decade (1997-2006). Being influenced by both coastal waters and open Adriatic circulation in the surface layer, and by the deep Adriatic water masses in the deep layers (100 m), this station is quite suitable for detecting the environmental changes occurring in the open Adriatic Sea with respect to the circulation of its water masses and their long-term changes and anomalies. Multivariate methods were used to identify seasonal and inter-annual changes of the investigated parameters, associating observed changes to the changes in Adriatic water masses and circulation regimes. The analyses showed that bacterial abundance and production were controlled by different water mass dynamics during 1997-2001 compared to 2002-2006 period, particularly noticeable in different seasonal patterns of biological parameters. The interplay between North Adriatic Dense Water (NAdDW) and Levantine Intermediate Water (LIW) resulted in a change in the available nutrients (NAdDW is poor in orthophosphates), and as a consequence different bacterial abundance and production. A few periods were examined in detail, such as 2004, when LIW inflow was particularly strong and was accompanied by an increase of bacterial and HNF abundances, as well as of bacterial production.     

Use of suppressive subtractive hybridization and cDNA arrays to discover patterns of altered gene expression in the liver of dihydrotestosterone and 11-ketotestosterone exposed adult male largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides)

In this study male largemouth bass (LMB) were exposed to the naturally occurring androgens, dihydrotestosterone (DHT) or 11-ketotestosterone (11-KT) in order to identify genes that are differentially regulated by these steroid hormones. Using subtractive hybridization on livers of fish treated with DHT against vehicle control, many novel LMB genes were cloned. These genes were added to our gene library and arrayed. Six genes were up-regulated and five were down-regulated by both androgens. But, each androgen also regulated specific genes. One gene that was identified as a potential androgen marker was spermidine-spermine-N(1)-acetyltransferase that was up-regulated by both androgens. Determining which genes are responsive to natural androgens will help to identify biochemical pathways that are impacted.     

Vertical seismic absorber utilizing inertance and negative stiffness implemented with gas springs

A novel implementation of negative stiffness elements(NSEs) is proposed, utilizing industrial grade nitrogen gas springs as pre-stressed stiffness elements in a configuration with lever arms. This NSE is combined with an inerter to form a stiff dynamic absorber(SDA) for vertical seismic protection of structures with base isolation. The SDA is optimized to minimize vertical accelerations while ensuring static structural integrity, excellent damping performance and containment of relative displace...