Connectivity and stock composition of loggerhead turtles foraging on the North African continental shelf (Central Mediterranean): implications for conservation and management

The loggerhead turtle, Caretta caretta, is a highly migratory species with a complex life cycle that involves a series of ontogenetic habitat shifts and migrations. Understanding the links amongst nesting populations and foraging habitats is essential for the effective management of the species. Here we used mixed stock analysis to examine the natal origin of loggerhead turtles foraging on the North African continental shelf off Tunisia, one of the most important Mediterranean neritic habitats. An 815‐bp fragment of the mitochondrial DNA control region was sequenced from 107 individuals sampled from 2007 to 2009. No temporal variation in haplotype frequencies was detected. Juveniles (n = 87) and adults (n = 23) exhibited weak but significant genetic differentiation that resulted in different stock compositions. Libya was the main source population but the proportion of turtles from this rookery was higher in adults (median = 80%) than in juveniles (median = 35%). Western Greece was the second most important contributing population. Juvenile stock composition derived from mixed stock analysis and the estimates produced by numerical simulation of hatchling dispersion in the Mediterranean Sea were significantly correlated, supporting the recent theory that loggerheads imprint on possible future neritic habitats during the initial phase of their life. This association was not significant for adults, suggesting that other factors contribute to shaping their distribution. Overall, our results show that human activities on the South Tunisian continental shelf pose an immediate threat to the survival of the Libyan rookery.     

Research and application of roadway backfill coal mining technology in western coal mining area

In China’s western coal mining area, the traditional room mining technology is facing coal pillar instability, mine earthquake, large-area roof subsidence in the goaf, surface subsidence, water and soil loss, vegetation deterioration, and other environmental problems. To solve the aforementioned problems and to improve coal recovery, the roadway backfill coal mining (RBCM) method was proposed as a solution and its technical principle and key equipment were presented in this paper. In addition, the microstructure and mechanical behavior (strain-stress relation in confined compressive test) of aeolian sand and loess backfill materials were studied for a rational backfill design for underground mines. Further, coal pillar stress, plastic zone change, and surface deformation of the RBCM schemes were studied using the FLAC^3D numerical simulation software, and a reasonable mining scheme of “mining 7 m and leaving 3 m” was determined. The engineering application in Changxing Coal Mine shows that the RBCM method with loess and aeolian sand as backfill materials allows a stable recovery of coal pillars with a recovery ratio of more than 70 %. The maximum accumulated surface subsidence and the maximum horizontal deformation were measured to be 15 mm and 0.8 mm/m respectively, indicating that the targeted backfilling effect can help protect the environment and also control surface subsidence.     

Characterization and Estimation of Geotechnical Variability in Ankara Clay: A Case History

An important component in reliability-based design is the geotechnical property variability. Generic estimates are used often, but calibration to a local geologic setting is preferable. In this case history, a methodology is shown that employs local geotechnical data to estimate the total variability, using Ankara Clay for illustration. A literature review is used to estimate the inherent variability, which is modeled as a random field with coefficient of variation (COV) and scale of fluctuation. The resulting inherent variability COVs are much smaller than the generic ranges. Local correlations between various laboratory and field tests and soil strength and compressibility parameters then are developed to quantify the transformation uncertainties. The various sources of uncertainty are combined through a second-moment method to estimate the total geotechnical variability as a function of the test type and correlation used. The results show: (1) the COVs for direct laboratory measurements are significantly smaller than those obtained through correlations, and (2) depending on the geotechnical data available, the local COVs can be very different from the generic guidelines. These could lead to unconservative designs. These issues are illustrated by a simple design example.     

Dynamical friction in an isentropic gas

When a gravitating object moves across a given mass distribution, it creates an overdense wake behind it. Here, we performed an analytical study of the structure of the flow far from object when the flow is isentropic and the object moves subsonically within it. We show that the dynamical friction force is the main drag force on the object and by using a perturbation theory, we obtain the density, velocity and pressure of the perturbed flow far from the mass. We derive the expression of the dynamical friction force in an isentropic flow and show its dependence on the Mach number of the flow and on the adiabatic index. We find that the dynamical friction force becomes lower as the adiabatic index increases. We show analytically that the wakes are less dense in our isentropic case in comparison to the isothermal ones.     

Basin structure and water quality of the Oligocene aquifer in the Sebkhet El Behira basin (central Tunisia)

ABSTRACT

The Sebkhet El Behira–Garaat El Majdoul multilayer aquifer system is composed of Mio-Plio-Quaternary and Oligocene groundwater exploited in Sidi Bouzid and Kairouan governorates. Annual withdrawal volumes from El Behira Oligocene groundwater were about 0.37 hm³ in 2005 and 0.36 hm³ in 2008. The present study of the Oligocene reservoir in the Sebkhet El Behira–Garaat El Majdoul basin is based on various data including 2D seismic sections, petroleum wells, field geological cross-sections and geochemical analysis. The gathered data allowed us to establish the tectonic framework and to define its influence on the structure of the aquifers seated in the deep Oligocene sandstone reservoirs. Three Oligocene sub-basin aquifers are defined showing different depth, thickness and petrophysical characteristics: lower salinity (<1.5 g/L) and higher porosity (30%). Two field sections in the northern and in the southern parts of Cherahil anticline exhibit the presence of four to five sandstone levels. The anticlines limit the Sebkhet El Behira–Garaat El Majdoul basin. In addition, the morphostructural configuration controls the piezometry of underground flows in the Oligocene and Mio-Plio-Quaternary unconfined aquifers.

Editor D. Koutsoyiannis; Associate editor M. Besbes     

Impacts of an uncontrolled phosphogypsum dumpsite on summer distribution of phytoplankton, copepods and ciliates in relation to abiotic variables along the near-shore of the southwestern Mediterranean coast

In connection with the Taparura Project, studies of spatial distribution of the crustacean zooplankton community, nutrients, phytoplankton and ciliates were conducted in July 2007 at 45 stations spread over fifteen transects along the coast north of Sfax. The results showed that the N/P ratio was lower than the Redfield ratio, suggesting potential N limitation. Phytoplankton was characterised by the proliferation of several diatoms, while ciliates were largely dominated by spirotrichs. Copepods were the most abundant zooplankton present during the entire study period, comprising 61% of the total zooplankton community. Twelve copepod families were identified at every station, with a high percentage of Oithonidae (77% of copepods) dominated by Oithona nana. The abundance of this species was correlated with that of diatoms, Cocoolithophorideae and ciliated Colpodea, suggesting that O. nana may feed on a wide range of prey. Despite human pressure and industrial activities, the coastal waters north of Sfax showed a wide diversity of phytoplankton, ciliates and zooplankton.     

An overview of the Late Cretaceous-Eocene positive inversions and Oligo-Miocene subsidence events in the foreland of the Tunisian Atlas: Structural style and implications for the tectonic agenda of the Maghrebian Atlas system

Structural interpretation of surface and subsurface data in the Eastern foreland basins of Tunisia, allows us to recognize positive inversion structures, i.e. related to compressional events, expressed and recorded in the Paleogene sedimentary pile of the Atlas domain. These episodes are followed by a period of relative tectonic quiescence during Oligocene-Early Miocene with development of extensional structures with slightly tilted panels, grabens and locally the development of listric normal faults branched at depth on “décollement” levels.Comparison of the seismic interpretations and field data collected along the South Atlas Front as well as in the Atlas belt, allows us to propose a tectonic scenario at the scale of Eastern Tunisia Atlas. In particular, we emphasise the role of the so-called “Atlas event” (Middle-Late Eocene), which was initially defined in Algeria but poorly outlined in Tunisia. We will show that the tectonic agenda defined in Eastern Tunisia is consistent with the one proposed elsewhere in the Maghreb allowing us to propose a unified view of the geodynamic evolution of the whole Atlas system during this period.The negative inversion recorded during Oligocene-Early Miocene along with the occurrence of synsedimentary normal faults are related to an increase of the subsidence rate in the frame of continuous shortening coeval to basin formation in the front of the Atlas. The whole Oligo-Miocene evolution results from two different mechanisms: flexuration in the front of the Atlas and the onset of the extension of the Pantelleria-Linosa-Malta rift system of central Mediterranean, which attained a climax stage later during Pliocene-Quaternary.     

Effect of the Dead Sea–Red Sea canal modelling on the prediction of the Dead Sea conditions

A project to link the Dead Sea to the Red Sea via a canal is undergoing extensive study. In previous works, a generalized mathematical model describing the state of the Dead Sea and a simulation model to implement it have been developed. The model is extended to include the proposed canal project and investigates two alternative modelling canal scenarios: (1) introducing the canal water inflow into the bottom layer or (2) the top layer of the sea. The predicted general effects of the canal are the restoration of the water level of the sea to pre‐1970s level; an increase in the total evaporation rate and a decrease in the top layer salinity. Implementing scenario 1, the model predicts that: the water level of the Dead Sea will exceed the desired level design value and therefore shorter filling time can be used; seasonal stratification will persist; total evaporation rate will increase Modestly; there will a small decrease in the salinity of the top layer but a substantial decrease in the salinity of the bottom layer, which will hurt industries severely; there will be a continuation of seasonal crystallization of aragonite and gypsum. Implementing scenario 2 the model predicts that: the water level of the Dead Sea will be maintained at the desired level design value; stratification will be re‐established, with the formation of a permanent two‐layer system; there will be a substantial increase in the total evaporation rate; the salinity of the top layer will decrease significantly but there will be continuous slower salinity increase in the bottom layer; the crystallization of aragonite will cease, but seasonal gypsum crystallization can be expected to continue as soon as the filling period ends and the canal shifts into normal operation. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.