Baurusuchus salgadoensis, a New Crocodylomorpha from the Bauru Basin (Cretaceous), Brazil

Baurusuchus salgadoensis is a new baurusuchid crocodylomorph from Bauru Basin (Cretaceous), Brazil, partially preserved through a complete skull. The fossil comes from a fine sandstone sequence of Adamantina Formation, General Salgado County, São Paulo State. The sedimentary sequence where it was found, located in Fazenda Buriti, is considered Turonian-Santonian in age. The described species _Baurusuchus salgadoensis sp. nov. _ is a baurusuchid with an antorbital fenestra, double external nares with a bony septum, two well-fused supraorbitals, the supratemporal fenestrae larger than the orbits and a quadrangular-shaped laterotemporal fenestra. The position of the external nares, located on anterior and terminal portion of the rostrum together with the theropod-like lateral compression of the snout and teeth are indicators that Baurusuchus salgadoensis was a terrestrial crocodyliform. This was a carnivorous species and the lateral compression of the rostrum could be interpreted as a mechanism to increase the skull resistance forces during biting. The pointed, conical teeth, some with crenulated borders, could be used to perforate and to carve the prey. The geological context of Baurusuchus salgadoensis indicates that it probably lived in a hot and arid climate.     

Structure of the rift basins in the central Gulf of California: Kinematic implications for oblique rifting

We use structural and seismostratigraphic interpretation of multichannel seismic reflection data to understand the structure and kinematic history of the central Gulf of California. Our analysis reveals that oblique strain in the central Gulf formed two tectono–sedimentary domains during distinct deformation stages. The eastern domain, offshore Sonora, is bounded by the East and West Pedro Nolasco faults that may constitute the southernmost segments of the Tiburón Fault System. Within this domain, the dip-slip Yaqui Fault controlled deposition of 3.9 km of sediments in the half-graben Yaqui Basin. The western domain, offshore Baja California, is bounded by the Guaymas Transform Fault, which controlled the accumulation of 1.45 km of sediments within a half-graben that formed the early Guaymas Basin. The tectono–sedimentary activity offshore Sonoran likely ranges from Late Miocene–Pliocene to Late Pliocene time, while activity in the Guaymas Basin commenced in Late Pliocene time. Extinction of the main faults offshore Sonora was nearly coeval to the initiation of the Guaymas Transform Fault. Our results suggest that oblique strain has been accommodated by strain partition since the onset of rifting in the central Gulf. The Guaymas Basin is now a nascent spreading center, but prior to this, it evolved as a half-graben controlled by the Guaymas Transform Fault; such drastic transition is not constrained, but likely occurred during the Pleistocene time and must be localized < 30 km north of the axial troughs. The faults within the central Gulf transpose the Miocene N–S oriented grabens of Basin and Range style preserved onshore in the conjugate rifted margins.     

Geometry of half-grabens containing a mid-level viscous décollement

In this work, we explore by means of analogue models how different basin-bounding fault geometries and thickness of a viscous layer within the otherwise brittle pre-rift sequence influence the deformation and sedimentary patterns of basins related to extension. The experimental device consists of a rigid wooden basement in the footwall to simulate a listric fault. The hangingwall consists of a sequence of pre-rift deposits, including the shallow interlayered viscous layer, and a syn-rift sequence deposited at constant intervals during extension. Two different geometries exist of listric normal faults, dip at 30 and 60° at surface. This imposes different geometries in the hangingwall anticlines and their associated sedimentary basins. A strong contrast exists between models with and without a viscous layer. With a viscous décollement, areas near the main basement fault show a wide normal drag and the hangingwall basin is gently synclinal, with dips in the fault side progressively shallowing upwards. A secondary roll-over structure appears in some of the models. Other structures are: (1) reverse faults dipping steeply towards the main fault, (2) antithetic faults in the footwall, appearing only in models with the 30° dipping fault and silicone-level thicknesses of 1 and 1.5 cm and (3) listric normal faults linked to the termination of the detachment level opposite to the main fault, with significant thickness changes in the syn-tectonic units. The experiments demonstrate the importance of detachment level in conditioning the geometry of extensional sedimentary basins and the possibility of syncline basin geometries associated with a main basement fault. Comparison with several basins with half-graben geometries containing a mid-level décollement supports the experimental results and constrains their interpretation.     

Flood threat anomaly for the low coastal areas of the English Channel based on analysis of recent characteristic flood occurrences

In the English Channel, extreme surge heights did not occur at the time of extreme high tides during the last decades and maximum recorded heights usually do not exceed the maximum astronomical tide by more than a few decimetres. To understand whether this lack of coincidence may be due to specific phenomena or only to chance, we have studied hourly tide records lasting a few decades from nine English and nine French stations as well as air pressure and wind data from nearby meteorological observatories. Among the case studies of moderate flooding at several coastal stations occurring during spring tide, we have selected those of 24–25/10/1980 and of 30/01/1983 to 02/02/1983 as representative of a normal situation without any special chance. The third case study 26–28/02/1990 was potentially more dangerous because of the storm intensity and duration; however, by chance, surge peaks occurred near the low tide. Finally, the propagation of the surge peak of 15–16/10/1987, which reached the maximum height recorded during all the instrumental period at several stations, has been followed all along the English Channel, using the hourly records of 12 tide-gauge stations and of 16 meteorological stations. The surge peak of this great storm, probably the strongest in the last two centuries, occurred everywhere at high tide and spread with the same velocity of the tidal wave. Fortunately, no major flooding occurred because it was the day after a neap tide. In conclusion, some good fortune has saved the low coastal areas of the English Channel from major floods during the last decades. However, the occurrence of the peak of a strong storm surge arriving near the western entrance of the Channel at the time of a great astronomical high tide is a possible event that could be devastating along both sides of the Channel coasts. Main parts of this paper have been presented orally in June 2005 at the joint INQUA–IGCP 495 Meeting “Dunkerque 2005” and in February 2006 at the ASLO-TOS-AGU “Ocean Sciences Meeting” (Honolulu, HI).     

A GIS Framework for Spatio-temporal Analysis and Visualization of Laboratory Mice Tracking Data

Knowing the locations and spatio‐temporal paths of individual mice is an essential prerequisite for behavioral analysis of large groups of laboratory mice. Traditional observations have been carried out by trained humans who are able to distinguish more than fifty behavioral patterns. This is a tedious labor limited with respect to length of observation time. In this paper we propose a tracking solution based on the integration of GIS and RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology to automatically collect 24h/7days of movement data. Appropriate cage design and antenna placement are discussed. A software solution is presented to facilitate the recording (JerryTS), visualization, and analysis (TOM) of mice movements.     

Water Quality Monitoring to Support the European Commission's Water Framework Directive Reporting Requirements

This article aims at providing a simple way for water quality monitoring in a set of reservoirs using an earth observation‐based approach and the assessment of the use of this technique for a monitoring network in order to meet the requirements and objectives of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) by the Member States of the European Union. The study carried out was preformed in 42 reservoirs of the Ebro River Basin, in the northeast of Spain. The proposed methodology is based on the development of an algorithm for the estimation of water quality by means of LANDSAT TM band reflectance. Some band ratios were used in the model as well. Trophic State Index (TSI), calculated by means of Secchi Disc Transparency data, was estimated using a forward stepwise multiple regression analysis and the TM2 band and TM1/TM2 ratio. The final results showed a large variability in water quality across reservoirs. Moreover, substantial spatial heterogeneity was also observed in the water bodies. These results demonstrate the likelihood of developing a monitoring network based on remote sensing techniques for the implementation of the WFD.     

Deformation features within an active normal fault zone in carbonate rocks: The Gubbio fault (Central Apennines, Italy)

The Gubbio fault is an active normal fault defined by an important morphological scarp and normal fault focal mechanism solutions. This fault truncates the inherited Miocene Gubbio anticline and juxtaposes Mesozoic limestones in the footwall against Quaternary lacustrine deposits in the hanging wall. The offset is more than 2000 m of geological throw accumulated during a poly-phased history, as suggested by previous works, and has generated a complex zone of carbonate-rich fault-related structures. We report the results of a multidisciplinary study that integrates detailed outcrop and petrographic analysis of two well-exposed areas along the Gubbio fault zone, geochemical analysis (fluid inclusions, stable isotopes, and trace elements) of calcite-sealed fault-related structures and fault rocks, and biostratigraphic controls. Our aims are: (i) the characterization of the deformation features and their spatial–temporal relationships, and (ii) the determination of the P/T conditions and the fluid behaviour during deformation to achieve a better understanding of fluid–rock interaction in fault zones.We show that few of the observed structures can be attributed to an inherited shortening phase while the most abundant structures and fault rocks are related to extensional tectonics. The outcropping extensional patterns formed at depths less than 2.5–3 km, in a confined fluid system isolated from meteoric water, and the fault structures are the response to a small amount of cumulated displacement, 12–19% of the total geological throw.     

Paleohydrological investigation of Infernão Lake, Moji-Guaçcu River watershed, São Paulo, Brazil

A 450 cm sediment core spanning the last 3,500 years was collected from 4.6 m of water in Lake Infernão, located in the floodplain of the Moji-Guaçu River in SE Brazil, to reconstruct the wetland system (river and lake) paleohydrology. A multidisciplinary approach using isotopic (¹³C and ¹⁵N), chemical (C/N ratio and lignin derived phenols) and physical analyses (% water content and density) were used in this study. A coarse sand unit in the lower part of the core (450–417 cm) corresponds to the paleoriver. The rest of the sediment core (dark clay) shows a gradual change from a fluvial to a lacustrine environment. ¹⁴C dates from the lower part of the core (417–200 cm), demonstrate an inversion and narrow span in age (3,000–3,500 yrs B.P.) corresponding to a period of rapid fluvial sedimentation and reworking. The lake seems to have been well established only after 3,000 yrs B.P. The change from a fluvial to a lacustrine environment is inferred from the isotopic and chemical data. Sediment of the fluvial phase is characterized by higher ¹³C values, lower C and N content and a lignin content representative of woody-tissues. Sediment of the lacustrine phase show a gradual decrease in ¹³C values toward the top of the core reflecting the influence of organic carbon derived by phytoplankton and aquatic macrophytes (C₃ plants). The trend to higher C and N content and low C/N ratios also support this interpretation. The lower lignin content indicates increase contributions of non-vascular plants (phytoplankton). Similarly, the slight increase of non-woody tissues (higher C/V ratios) and the predominance of angiosperm plants (high S/V ratios) as organic matter source indicate an increase contribution of aquatic plants during the lacustrine phase. Our data presented here in addition to the geomorphological information and the available paleoclimatic scenario of pollen-inferred analyses for aquatic systems from the southeastern Brazil point to a climatic origin for this fluvial-lacustrine transition at about 3,000 yrs B.P. and to a climatic evolution leading to the present conditions and to a consequently gradual isolation of Lake Infernão from the influence of the Moji-Guaçu River.     

Variations of local seismic response in Benevento (Southern Italy) using earthquakes and ambient noise recordings

The city of Benevento (Southern Italy) has been repeatedly struck by large historical earthquakes. A heterogeneous geologic structure and widespread soft soil conditions make the estimation of site effects crucial for the seismic hazard assessment of the city. From 2000 until 2004, we installed seismic stations to collect earthquake data over zones with different geological conditions. Despite the high level of urban noise, we recorded more than 150 earthquakes at twelve sites. This data set yields the first, well documented experimental evidence for weak to moderate local amplifications. We investigated site effects primarily by the classical spectral ratio technique (CSR) using a rock station placed on the Benevento hill as reference. All sites in the Calore river valley and in the eastern part of the Benevento hill show a moderate high-frequency (f > 4 Hz) amplification peak. Conversely, sites in the Sabato river valley share weak-to-moderate amplification in a wide frequency band (from 1–2 to 7–10 Hz), without evident frequency peaks. Application of no-reference-site techniques to earthquake and noise data confirms the results of the CSRs in the sites of the Calore river valley and of the eastern part of the Benevento hill, but fails in providing indications for site effects in the Sabato river valley, being the H/V ratios nearly flat. One-dimensional modeling indicates that the ground motion amplification can be essentially explained in terms of a vertically varying geologic structure. High-frequency narrow peaks are caused by the strong impedance contrast existing between near-surface soft deposits and stiff cemented conglomerates. Conversely, broad-band amplifications in the Sabato river valley are likely due to a more complex layering with weak impedance contrasts both in the shallow and deep structure of the valley.     

Phosphorus dynamics in water and sediments in urbanized and non-urbanized rivers in Southern Brazil

Phosphorus flux models show that the removal tends to be a common feature in polluted estuarine systems whereas the release of P to the adjacent coastal area occurs in pristine environments. This study analyzes the distribution of P in water and sediments along six rivers in the south coast of Brazil. Three rivers located inside protected areas were considered non-polluted and used as a control of urbanization. The other three, situated within urbanized areas, were considered as having highly elevated concentrations of P. Results showed a different behavior of P in water and sediments located in urbanized and non-urbanized areas. The concentrations of dissolved organic (P-org) and inorganic (P-inorg) phosphorus in water, and the total phosphorus (P-tot) and polyphosphate (P-poly) in sediments where higher in the urbanized rivers compared to the non-urbanized ones. Both P of punctual origin and of diffuse origin contributed to the maintenance of elevated concentrations and disturbed the natural fluxes along the polluted rivers. The minimum and maximum concentrations in urbanized areas varied from 0.39 to 12.45 (microM) for P-org and 0.00 to 5.92 (microM) for P-inorg in water, and in sediments from 89.90 to 808.16 (microM g(-1)) for P-tot and 0.00 to 76.51 (microM g(-1)) for P-poly. In non-urbanized areas concentrations in water varied from 0.22 to 1.20 (microM) for P-inorg and 4.43 to 5.56 (microM) for P-org, and in sediments from 45.91 to 652.26 (microM g(-1)) for P-tot and 0.00 to 8.61 (microM g(-1)) for P-poly. Using a hierarchical sampling design and a simple model of variation of P (K(d) model) it was possible to demonstrate that urbanized and non-urbanized estuaries may act as sinks or sources of P. The variation of P analysis in different points along each of the six rivers showed that release and removal areas may occur within a same river independently of its urbanization.