Highly restricted gene flow between disjunct populations of the skunk clownfish (Amphiprion akallopisos) in the Indian Ocean

The skunk clownfish (Amphiprion akallopisos) has a disjunct distribution, occurring in the Eastern Indian Ocean (EIO) and the Western Indian Ocean (WIO), separated by several thousands of kilometres. Information on connectivity of marine species is very important for the correct spacing of marine protected areas, a powerful instrument for the protection of coral reefs. The population genetic structure of A. akallopisos was analysed in order to investigate connectivity amongst populations and to explain the disjunct distribution of the species. A fragment of the mitochondrial control region was used to investigate the genetic population structure. Fin clips were collected from 263 individuals at 14 sites in the WIO and three sites in the EIO. The obtained DNA sequences were used to calculate genetic diversity, evaluate demographic history and to construct a haplotype network. An analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) was conducted to evaluate the significance of the observed genetic population structure. None of the identified 69 haplotypes was shared between the WIO and EIO. Haplotype as well as nucleotide diversity was considerably higher in the EIO than in the WIO. Significant genetic population structure was revealed by an AMOVA with an overall φ_st‐value of 0.28 (P < 0.001) in the Indian Ocean. The overall AMOVA (φ_st = ?0.00652) was not significant in the EIO, but was significant in the WIO (φ_st = 0.016; P < 0.01). Demographic analysis indicated population expansion in the EIO and WIO. Population genetic analysis revealed highly restricted gene flow between the EIO and WIO. Genetic diversity was much higher in the EIO than in the WIO, suggesting that the EIO is the geographical origin of the species. Given the large distance between the disjunct populations and the short pelagic larval duration, long‐distance dispersal is rather unlikely. A stepping stone model involving islands in the Central Indian Ocean is a more likely scenario for colonization of the WIO.     

Quasi-static Planar Deformation in a Medium Composed of Elastic and Thermoelastic Solid Half Spaces Due to Seismic Sources in an Elastic Solid

A two-dimensional problem of quasi static deformation of a medium consisting of an elastic half space in welded contact with thermoelastic half space, caused due to seismic sources, is studied. Source is considered to be in the elastic half space. The basic equations, governed by the coupled theory of thermoelasticity, are used to model for thermoelastic half space. The analytical expressions for displacements, strain and stresses in the two half spaces are obtained first for line source and then for dip slip fault. The results for two particular cases, adiabatic conditions and isothermal conditions, are also obtained. Numerical results for displacements, stresses and temperature distribution have also been computed and are shown.     

Study of high and low amplitude wave trains of cosmic ray diurnal variation during solar cycle 23

A detailed study has been conducted on the long-term changes in the diurnal variation of cosmic rays in terms of high and low amplitude wave trains event (HAEs/LAEs) during the period 1996–2008 (solar cycle 23), using the neutron monitor data from Kiel neutron monitoring station. As such, 17 HAE and 48 LAE cases have been detected and analyzed. These HAEs appear quite dominantly during the declining phase as well as near the maximum of the solar activity cycle 23. In contrast, the low amplitude events (LAEs) are inversely correlated with solar activity cycle. In fact, LAEs appear quite dominantly during the minimum phase of the solar activity. When we compare our results for diurnal phase with that observed on an annual average basis, we notice no significant diurnal phase shift for HAEs as well as for LAEs. Moreover, we find that the high-speed solar wind streams (HSSWS) do not play any significant role in causing these variations. These results are discussed on the basis of that observed in earlier cycles.     

Postulated responses of phytoplankton and bacteria to predicted increases of inorganic suspended sediments in oligotrophic lakes

We establish the relationships between concentrations of inorganic suspended sediments (ISS) on light, nutrients, phytoplankton, and bacteria in three oligotrophic lakes (four sites) and we use these relationships to predict the impacts of increasing concentrations of ISS on the biomass and productivity of phytoplankton and bacteria in the lakes. Increased concentrations of ISS contributed little available nutrient to the lakes. The relationships between ISS and underwater light attenuation differed among lakes because of variation in sediment size‐structure, and composition. Only at the site with the highest ISS concentrations and a relatively deep mixing depth, were phytoplankton apparently light‐limited and, thus, predicted to decline with increased ISS concentrations. In contrast to previously published studies, bacterial abundance and production were not highly correlated to suspended sediment concentrations in these lakes. However, bacterial biomass, productivity, and specific productivity were more strongly correlated to phytoplankton production. As a result of light limitation and stimulation of bacterial production, increases in ISS concentrations are not predicted to significantly shift the metabolic balance in the planktonic ecosystem of three of the sites towards greater heterotrophy. Where light limits phytoplankton production, increases in ISS are predicted to reduce the productivity of both phytoplankton and bacteria by direct inhibition of phytoplankton production, again without a large shift towards greater importance of the microbial loop. By reducing phytoplankton production and inhibiting larger cladoceran grazers, we predict that high concentrations of ISS will reduce available energy and its flow up the food chain.     

Comparison of the Clay Fraction of Ariake Clay Determined by Japanese and ASTM Standards

This study compares the clay fraction percentage determined by Japanese standard JIS A1204/JGS 0131 and ASTM standard D422-63 for the clay samples obtained from the surface of sea bottom sediments in Ariake Bay, Japan. These two standards differ in the amount of dispersant to be added for the dispersion of soil suspensions. The Japanese and ASTM standards suggest adding sodium hexametaphosphate solution as the dispersant so that the final concentration of the dispersant in soil suspension for hydrometer test becomes 2 and 5 g/L, respectively. The test results indicated that the treatment by the Japanese standard gave less dispersion in the soil suspension compared to the ASTM standard, and hence resulted in the underestimation of clay fraction percentage of all the samples.     

The economics of mining seabed manganese nodules: A case study of the Indian Ocean nodule field

Abstract

Because of ever-growing demand for strategic metals, the focus of the international community has fallen on deep sea manganese nodules occurring at a water depth of more than 4500?m. We present an economic appraisal and strategy for mining of nodules from the Indian Ocean Nodule Field- one of the four economically potential areas in the world oceans. In contrast to the prevailing perception of non-viability of nodule mining, our analysis indicates a fair degree of economic feasibility and commercial sustainability to mine the deep-sea manganese nodules.     

Cotton Crop Discrimination Using Fuzzy Classification Approach

Crop growth information represented through temporal remote sensing data is of great importance for specific agriculture crop discrimination. In this paper, the effect of various indices was empirically investigated using temporal images for cotton crop discrimination. Five spectral indices SR (Simple Ratio), NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation index), TNDVI (Transformed Normalized Difference Vegetation Index), SAVI (Soil-Adjusted Vegetation Index) and TVI (Triangular Vegetation Index) were investigated to identify cotton crop using temporal multi-spectral images. Data used for this study was AWIFS (coarser resolution) for soft classification and LISS-III (medium coarser) data for soft testing from Resourcesat-1 (IRS-P6) satellite. The mixed pixel (i.e. multiple classes within a single pixel) problem had been handled using soft computing techniques. Possibilistic fuzzy classification approach is used to handle mixed pixels for extracting single class of interest. The classification results with respect to various indices were compared in terms of image to image fuzzy overall classification accuracy. It was observed that temporal SAVI indices database with data set-2 outperformed other temporal indices database for cotton crop discrimination. Temporal SAVI indices database gave highest fuzzy overall accuracy of 93.12% with data set-2 in comparison to others.     

Statistical significance of trends in monthly heavy precipitation over the US

Trends in monthly heavy precipitation, defined by a return period of one year, are assessed for statistical significance in observations and Global Climate Model (GCM) simulations over the contiguous United States using Monte Carlo non-parametric and parametric bootstrapping techniques. The results from the two Monte Carlo approaches are found to be similar to each other, and also to the traditional non-parametric Kendall’s τ test, implying the robustness of the approach. Two different observational data-sets are employed to test for trends in monthly heavy precipitation and are found to exhibit consistent results. Both data-sets demonstrate upward trends, one of which is found to be statistically significant at the 95% confidence level. Upward trends similar to observations are observed in some climate model simulations of the twentieth century, but their statistical significance is marginal. For projections of the twenty-first century, a statistically significant upwards trend is observed in most of the climate models analyzed. The change in the simulated precipitation variance appears to be more important in the twenty-first century projections than changes in the mean precipitation. Stochastic fluctuations of the climate-system are found to be dominate monthly heavy precipitation as some GCM simulations show a downwards trend even in the twenty-first century projections when the greenhouse gas forcings are strong.     

Geology and geochemistry of Pachmarhi dykes and sills,Satpura Gondwana Basin,central India: problems of dyke-sill-flow correlations in the Deccan Traps

Many tholeiitic dyke-sill intrusions of the Late Cretaceous Deccan Traps continental flood basalt province are exposed in the Satpura Gondwana Basin around Pachmarhi, central India. We present field, petrographic, major and trace element, and Sr–Nd–Pb isotope data on these intrusions and identify individual dykes and sills that chemically closely match several stratigraphically defined formations in the southwestern Deccan (Western Ghats). Some of these formations have also been identified more recently in the northern and northeastern Deccan. However, the Pachmarhi intrusions are significantly more evolved (lower Mg numbers and higher TiO₂ contents) than many Deccan basalts, with isotopic signatures generally different from those of the chemically similar lava formations, indicating that most are not feeders to previously characterized flows. They appear to be products of mixing between Deccan basalt magmas and partial melts of Precambrian Indian amphibolites, as proposed previously for several Deccan basalt lavas of the lower Western Ghats stratigraphy. Broad chemical and isotopic similarities of several Pachmarhi intrusions to the northern and northeastern Deccan lavas indicate petrogenetic relationships. Distances these lava flows would have had to cover, if they originated in the Pachmarhi area, range from 150 to 350 km. The Pachmarhi data enlarge the hitherto known chemical and isotopic range of the Deccan flood basalt magmas. This study highlights the problems and ambiguities in dyke-sill-flow correlations even with extensive geochemical fingerprinting.     

A late Pleistocene record of aeolian sedimentation in Blanche Cave, Naracoorte, South Australia

We provide geochemical analyses and grain size data for a clearly layered, 80 cm thick sedimentary deposit close to a roof collapse in Blanche Cave near Naracoorte in SE South Australia. This deposit contains aeolian material deposited between 40 ka and 14 ka cal BP and which yields airborne sediments spanning the Last Glacial Maximum, a period of time with little information for the Australian continent. The deposit also contains abundant vertebrate fossil material derived from owl pellets, accumulation and pitfall entrapment. Below the studied profile, large vertebrate remains are found but are not discussed here. No Holocene sedimentation occurred at the site examined in the cave, and the top of the sequence is capped with a layer that has been anthropologically disturbed and contains exotic Pinus pollen. Chronologies of the deposit were obtained using two dating techniques: single stage accelerator mass spectrometer (SSAMS) ¹⁴C analysis of 23 charcoal samples and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating of quartz from 6 sediment samples. The ¹⁴C chronology is preferred to describe the history of the deposits since the OSL chronology, which consistently overestimates the associated radiocarbon dates, may be inaccurate due to complexities in calculating dose rates, and may in addition represent the timing of sediment deposition through the cave opening rather than sediment transport to the deposit site. Morphological analysis of single quartz grains and grain size analysis indicate different provenance that is confirmed through the geochemical analyses of bulk sediment. Major elements were measured by X-ray Fluorescence (XRF), trace and rare earth elements by Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (LA ICP-MS), and Neodymium isotopic ratios were obtained using a Thermal Ionisation Mass Spectrometer (TIMS).Our results indicate that the aeolian material deposited in Blanche Cave over the 40–14 ka cal BP period originated from different sources across South Australia, although Nd isotopes clearly indicate a close association with sediments of the Kanmantoo Group outcropping along the eastern portion of the Mount Lofty Ranges and the Padthaway Ridge further south, both being located to the NW and NNW of the cave. During the latter part of Marine Isotope Stage 3, conditions were wetter and windblown sediment came from the coastal region just north and south of the Coorong Lagoon, with winds originating from the north-northwest. At that time, woody taxa appear to have vegetated the landscape. During the drier phases, especially the Last Glacial Maximum, sediment came from further inland, thus suggesting a different predominant wind direction, more from the northwest. The deglaciation saw material originating from a more northerly direction.