Mapping the change of coral reefs using remote sensing and in situ measurements: a case study in Pangkajene and Kepulauan Regency,Spermonde Archipelago,Indonesia

As elsewhere in Indonesia, local inhabitants in the Pangkajene and Kepulauan (PANGKEP) Regency, Spermonde Archipelago area and along the south-west coast of Sulawesi traditionally regard the coral reefs as their livelihood source. Since human activities as well as natural disturbances pose major threats to the coral reefs, these livelihoods may also be at risk. Currently, no comprehensive information on the status and condition of coral reefs in this area is available for this resource management. We determined the changes of coral reef habitat over a period of 20 years from 1994 to 2014 using a satellite Landsat multi-temporal image substantiated with in situ measurement data collected in 2014. The spectral value of coral reefs was extracted from multi-temporal Landsat imagery data, while the diffuse attenuation coefficient of water was obtained by using statistical analysis between the ratio of live coral cover and the spectral value of the visible bands. By using the unsupervised classification integrated with the data ground truth, it is stated that there has been a decline in live coral cover over a period of 20 years from 7716 ha in 1994 to 4236 ha in 2014, with a degradation rate of 174 ha/year. Based on the results, the ratio of the coral cover in the coral reef transects varied from the average of 24% for live corals to 96% for coral rubbles, implying the degraded status of coral reefs in the study area.     

Acoustic monitoring using bamboo set net in the Southern Sea of Korea

High-temporal resolution profiles of acoustic backscatter were collected from a traditional bamboo set net along the coast of the Southern Sea, Korea, using sideward-looking multi-beam imaging sonar. These data were used to examine the impact of variations in tidal cycles and current speeds on the bamboo set net. The relatively high influx of fish during the nighttime compared to the low influx and high outflux of fish during the daytime suggests visual avoidance of the net by the fish during the daytime. The observed diel variation in the captured fish flux was significantly correlated with the current speed (day: r = 0.35, p = 0.002, night: r = 0.60, p < 0.001). The ratio of influx and outflux of fish, and current speed were correlated in a linear relationship (day: r = 0.45, p < 0.001; night: r = 0.56, p < 0.001). The fish activity of those inhabiting the bamboo set nets appears to be greatly influenced by day-night differences and current speed. The present study enhances understanding of fish behavior via utilization of a bamboo set net in the coastal zone.     

Metals in tidal flats colonized by microbial mats within a South-American estuary (Argentina)

In this study, we measured the concentrations of metals (Cd, Cu, Pb, Ni, Cr, Zn, Hg, Mn, and Fe) and assessed the characteristics of tidal flats (grain size and organic matter content) in sediments and their overlying microbial mats fractions to evaluate the anthropogenic impact within the Bahía Blanca Estuary (BBE). Puerto Rosales (PR) and Almirante Brown (AB), located in the middle and inner zone of the estuary, respectively, were used as sampling sites. Sediments were composed mainly of silt–clay in AB, whereas first fine-grained particles were coarser in depth in PR. Regarding the concentration of metals in both fractions, we found differences between sites: There were higher concentrations of overall metals in AB relative to PR. In addition, higher concentrations of Cu were recorded in the first centimeters of AB tidal flats, whereas higher concentration of Cd were recorded in microbial mats of PR. Considering that the grain size was similar between sites, these results are consistent with the high concentration of organic matter found in AB, probably because this site is close to a former municipal dump and sewage discharges. Also, the higher Cd content found in PR site would highlight both the influence of untreated urban discharges and port anthropogenic activities. In conclusion, this study allowed identifying high values of some metals in the presence of microbial mats in the BBE, thus suggesting a possible interaction between both, at least for metals like Cu or Cd.     

基于水准剖面的山西断陷带现今活动性研究

根据跨山西断陷带的水准剖面观测资料,计算其垂直形变量和垂直形变速率,研究其现今垂直活动性。2006年以来的垂直形变揭示,山西断陷带东北段延怀盆地和蔚县盆地呈掀斜上升活动,北段阳原盆地和大同盆地以下降活动为主,晋中盆地为上下波动,临汾盆地呈现上升活动。2013年山西断陷带活动出现转折性变化,蔚县盆地大幅度下降,大同盆地、代县-定襄盆地、晋中盆地和临汾盆地均呈现不同程度的上升。     

北京地区主要活断层活动参数的重力反演

采用1991~1999年首都圈重力测网的重力测量资料,根据地质调查结果确定断层初始运动模型,利用稳健—贝叶斯最小二乘方法反演北京地区4条活断层的活动参数(走滑、倾滑、引张)。反演结果表明:在1991~1999年间,北京地区活断层的运动性质均以走滑和垂直升降为主,兼有伸展特征,但运动速率都不大,约为2 mm/a。北京地区北西走向断层反演的运动特征为左旋走滑正断层,北东走向断层反演的运动特征为右旋走滑正断层。     

山东栖霞桃村地区中酸性火山-侵入杂岩岩石地球化学及其成因研究

山东栖霞桃村地区出露中生代中酸性火山-侵入杂岩,对采自桃村地区青山组下段的中酸性火山-侵入岩以进行了岩石学和地球化学研究。桃村地区的中酸性火成岩的地球化学特征为:高钾低钠,高铝低镁;Cr,Co,Ni含量较低,Sr/Y及(La/Yb)N比值很高;微量元素蛛网图显示富集不相容元素K,Rb,Ba和Th,以及不相容元素Ce,Hf和Ti,亏损高场强元素Ta,Nb以及P;轻重稀土元素分馏程度高,具有类似埃达克岩的性质。综合分析其地球化学特征显示,青山组下段中酸性杂岩为增厚的下地壳熔融,这种地壳的增厚作用可能由古太平洋板块俯冲作用引起,而在俯冲作用过程中青山组中酸性杂岩的源岩被俯冲沉积物混染。     

Morphometric and molecular data on two mitochondrial genes of a newly discovered chimaeran fish (Hydrolagus melanophasma, Chondrichthyes)

Fresh and preserved (type material) specimens of the black ghost chimaera Hydrolagus melanophasma were compared for morphometric characteristics. A molecular comparison was also performed on two mitochondrial gene sequences (12S rRNA and 16S rRNA gene sequences). While significant differences in measurements were found, the differences were not attributable to sexual dimorphism or the quality of the specimens, but to the sample size and the type of statistical tests. The result of the genetic characterization showed that 12S rRNA and 16S rRNA genes represented robust molecular markers that characterized the species.     

The contribution of aeolian processes to fluvial sediment yield from a desert watershed in the Ordos Plateau,China

In arid zones, many active aeolian dunes terminate at ephemeral and perennial desert rivers. The desert rivers show very high rates of sediment transport that cause deleterious downstream effects on the river system and ecology. High sediment loading has been attributed to severe water erosion of sparsely covered watersheds during infrequent but heavy rainfall. Although aeolian erosion is known to lead to high rates of wind‐blown sand transport, direct confirmation of whether the aeolian processes accelerate or inhibit fluvial sediment loss is lacking. Here, we show that an aeolian‐fluvial cycling process is responsible for the high rate of suspended sediment transport in a Sudalaer ephemeral desert channel in the Ordos Plateau of China. Frequent aeolian processes, but low frequency (once every 3 years on average) flooding, occur in this region. Wind‐blown saltating grains appeared to be unable to cross the desert channel because of interruption of channel‐induced recirculating air flow, and therefore tended to settle in the channel during the windy seasons, leading to channel narrowing. During flooding, this narrowed channel was found to yield a threefold increase in suspended sediment loading and a 3.4‐fold increase in the weight percentage of the 0.08–0.2 mm sediment fraction on 18 July 2012. Loss of stored aeolian sand due to channel erosion accounted for about half of the total sediment yield in this watershed. These findings show that aeolian processes play an essential role in accelerating the sediment yield from a watershed characterized by aeolian‐fluvial interplay and also suggest that the drier the region and the greater the aeolian process, the more the aeolian process contributes to fluvial sediment yield. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.