Pleistocene geochemical stratigraphy of the borehole 1317E (IODP Expedition 307) in Porcupine Seabight,SW of Ireland: applications to palaeoceanography and palaeoclimate of the coral mound development

Stable isotopes and element compositions of the fine‐grained matrix were measured for IODP Expedition 307 Hole U1317E drilled from the summit of Challenger Mound in Porcupine Seabight, northeast Atlantic, to explore the palaeoceanographic and palaeoclimatic background to development of the deep‐water coral mound. The 155 m long mound section was divided into two units by an unconformity at 23.6 mbsf: Unit M1 (2.6–1.7 Ma) and Unit M2 (1.0–0.5 Ma). Results from 519 specimens show a difference in δ¹³C value between Unit M1 (?0.6‰ to ?5.0‰) and Unit M2 (?1.0‰ to 1.0‰), but such a distinct difference was not seen in δ¹⁸O values (1.0‰–2.5‰), CaCO₃ content (40–60 wt%), Sr/Ca ratio (2.0–8.0 mmol mol^?1), and Mg/Ca ratio (10.0–20.0 mmol mol^?1) through the mound. Positive δ¹⁸O and negative δ¹³C shifts at the mound base are consistent with the oceanographic changes in the northeast Atlantic at the beginning of the Quaternary. The positive δ¹³C regression in Unit M2 suggests a linkage to the mid Pleistocene intensified glaciation in the Northern Hemisphere. Warm Mediterranean Upper Core Water of Mediterranean Outflow Water, Eastern North Atlantic Water and cold Labrador Sea Water of North Atlantic Deep Water are key oceanographic features that cause spikes and shifts in stable isotope and element composition. However, the stable isotope values of the sediment matrix could not primarily record the glacial–interglacial eustatic/temperature change, but indirectly indicate current regimes of the intermediate oceanic layer where the coral mound grew. Similarly, elemental ratios and CaCO₃ content may not represent the productivity and temperature of surface sea water, respectively, but superpose the fractions from both surface and bottom water. It is concluded that palaeoceanographic change coupled to the Pleistocene glacial/interglacial cycles is a key control on the geochemical stratigraphy of the matrix sediments of the carbonate mound developed in Porcupine Seabight. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Multi-component study of extended sources with a likelihood method

The spectral and morphological analysis for gamma-ray sources with multiple emission components remains a major challenge for Cherenkov telescopes due to background emission from diffuse gamma rays. Current methods of background suppression, usually based on the bin-by-bin subtraction of OFF-source data do not allow an analysis of the various background components. As an alternative, we present an approach based on an event-by-event likelihood fit of ON-source data, using a combined spectral model for the source emission as well as for the gamma-like background obtained from fits of the OFF-source data. Multiple emission components are separated by successive fits in different energy regimes and spectral variations inside the extended source is derived. The performance of this approach is evaluated with toy Monte-Carlo studies. For the application to real data, two well-studied H.E.S.S. sources are re-examined: the extragalactic point-source PKS 2155-304 and the extended pulsar wind nebula HESS J1825-137. For the latter, radial variation of the emission spectral index was evaluated, confirming earlier findings by the H.E.S.S. collaboration.     

微藻类病毒与宿主之间微生态关系

病毒感染、杀死和裂解微藻是海洋生态系统中的普遍现象,在自然海洋环境中,有多种因素可以导致浮游植物细胞的损失,其中微藻的自然死亡(即细胞裂解)率是导致微藻损失的一个重要因素.由病毒介导的宿主死亡不仅可影响藻类物种的种间演替,也可能会影响种内演替、藻类群落的丰度及多样性等.越来越多的证据表明,病毒可以通过减少宿主种群数量或防止藻类宿主种群数量达到高峰的方式来控制浮游植物动力学指标.因此,藻类病毒与宿主之间的相互作用在赤潮动力学和感染的传播中发挥了重要作用.同时,病毒具有高度特异性宿主范围的发现拓展了我们对微藻种群动力学过程的认识.本文从病毒-微藻稳定感染系统模型、病毒对微藻种群动力学的调节、病毒介导的微藻死亡、宿主对病毒侵染的防御以及影响病毒与宿主相互作用的环境因素等方面综述微藻类病毒与宿主的相互作用关系.     

Spatial autocorrelation of West Nile virus vector mosquito abundance in a seasonally wet suburban environment

The objective of this study is to quantify and model spatial dependence in mosquito vector populations and develop predictions for unsampled locations using geostatistics. Mosquito control program trap sites are often located too far apart to detect spatial dependence but the results show that integration of spatial data over time for Cx. pipiens-restuans and according to meteorological conditions for Ae. vexans enables spatial analysis of sparse sample data. This study shows that mosquito abundance is spatially correlated and that spatial dependence differs between Cx. pipiens-restuans and Ae. vexans mosquitoes.      

海洋球石藻Emiliania huxleyi(Prymnesiophyceae)病毒主要外壳蛋白基因的克隆与序列分析

在实验室纯培养条件下,用过滤的海洋球石藻特异性病毒(Emiliania huxliyi virus,EhV)EhV-99B1株感染球石藻(E.huxleyi,Eh),建立病毒与宿主之间稳定的感染体系,病毒裂解滤液经卷式切向流超滤和PEG 8000浓缩、CsC1密度梯度离心,获得足量高纯度的病毒颗粒.根据已报道的其它EhV株系主要外壳蛋白(MCP)基因内保守片段设计合成一对特异引物,从EhV-99B1病毒基因组中克隆到了长度约为300bp的病毒外壳蛋白基因保守片段.该片段与pBS-T载体连接后转化Escherichia coli DH5α,对筛选到的阳性克隆进行序列测定与分析.结果表明,该克隆片段与GenBank中EhV163(AF453851)分离株的同源性最高,该区域内的核苷酸与对应推导的氨基酸序列同源性均为100%,证实获得的DNA片段是EhV-99B1的外壳蛋白基因;与EhV203(AF453855)分离株的核苷酸及氨基酸序列的同源性较低,分别为93%和100%.表明该病毒在自然海域中分布广泛并具有一定的多态性,同时在进化上也存在相当的复杂性.因此,MCP基因可以作为一种新的分子遗传标记以区分自然群落中EhV的不同基因型,对于理解海洋球石藻类病毒与宿主之间复杂的相互作用关系将是一个十分有价值的工具.     

Top–down and bottom–up regulation of macroalgal community structure on a Kenyan reef

Top–down and bottom–up regulation in the form of grazing by herbivores and nutrient availability are important factors governing macroalgal communities in the coral reef ecosystem. Today, anthropogenic activities, such as over-harvesting of herbivorous fish and sea urchins and increased nutrient loading, are altering the interaction of these two structuring forces. The present study was conducted in Kenya and investigates the relative importance of herbivory and nutrient loading on macroalgal community dynamics, by looking at alterations in macroalgal functional groups, species diversity (H′) and biomass within experimental quadrats. The experiment was conducted in situ for 42 days during the dry season. Cages excluding large herbivorous fish and sea urchins were used in the study and nutrient addition was conducted using coated, slow-release fertilizer (nitrogen and phosphorous) at a site where herbivory is generally low and nutrient levels are relatively high for the region. Nutrient addition increased tissue nutrient content in the algae, and fertilized quadrats had 24% higher species diversity. Herbivore exclusion resulted in a 77% increase in algal biomass, mainly attributable to a >1000% increase in corticated forms. These results are in accordance with similar studies in other regions, but are unique in that they indicate that, even when prevailing nutrient levels are relatively high and herbivore pressure is relatively low, continued anthropogenic disturbance results in further ecological responses and increased reef degradation.     

Estimation of shoreline position and change from satellite images considering tidal variation

This paper presents the one-line shift method of determining mean sea level datum-based shoreline positions from three sequential satellite images that take into account tidal variations. Tidal correction through data interpolation on originally computed tides to accurately predict tidal level with a root mean squared error less than 10 cm. The determined mean sea level datum-based shoreline positions of the Waisanding Sandbar by the proposed method differ from those by RTK GPS by about 43.09–193.58 m. Based on the acceptable shoreline positions from satellite images, the whole area of the Waisanding Sandbar is proven to be decreasing since 1999 and migrating landward to the west of Taiwan.     

Restoration of tidal freshwater vegetation using controlled reduced tide (CRT) along the Schelde Estuary (Belgium)

Throughout the world, tidal marshes are being restored to obtain natural protection against recurring storm surges and sea level rise and to preserve the resources these habitats provide. Managed realignment, or breaching of the seaward dikes, is a restoration technique increasingly used; yet unsuitable site elevation has been a major constraint to habitat development. Controlled reduced tide (CRT), a new technique to implement tidal regime on low elevated sites, could offer solutions for several problems associated with reconstruction or mitigation of tidal marshes.     

维生素E对中华绒螯蟹(Eriocheir sinensis)酚氧化酶、抗菌力和溶菌酶活性的影响

在以鱼粉、豆粕、玉米粉和麦麸为主要原料配制而成的每kg基础饲料中分别添加VE0、100、200、400、600mg配制成五种试验饲料,对均重为(37.52±2.19)g的中华绒螯蟹进行为期60天的饲养试验,以酚氧化酶(PO)、抗菌力(Ua)、溶菌酶活性(UL)等指标为依据,探讨VE对中华绒螯蟹非特异性免疫的影响。结果表明,VE对中华绒螯蟹各组织、器官中PO、Ua、UL等活性有显著或极显著的影响(P<0.05或P<0.01),在适宜范围内,随着VE添加量的增加,PO、Ua和UL活性显著增强,从而增强中华绒螯蟹的非特异性免疫力。综上所述,VE作为免疫刺激剂能有效地增强中华绒螯蟹的非特异性免疫能力,增强中华绒螯蟹免疫功能的VE适宜添加量为200—400mg/kg饲料。     

Regular habitat switch as an important feeding strategy of an opportunistic seabird species at the interface between land and sea

During deteriorated prey availability, purely pelagic, specialised seabird species have to alter their feeding strategy by extending foraging radii and/or time spent at sea or reducing feeding intervals of chicks. In contrast, more generalised species such as the opportunistic black-headed gull (Larus ridibundus) breeding at the German North Sea coast, can be assumed to react on prey shortages by switching foraging habitats. The coastal zone of the German North Sea provides a rich habitat mosaic consisting of the offshore zone, tidal flats and terrestrial habitats. Thus, we expected distinct temporal and spatial patterns of habitat switch in accordance with prey availability and environmental constraints. We carried out ship-based and aerial surveys as well as dietary analyses and observations on flight activity. We found a significant switch from terrestrial to marine feeding sites both on a daily basis (related to tidal cycle) and over the whole breeding season. Most likely, the latter switch is the result of lower prey availability in the terrestrial habitats and an increasing quality (in terms of prey abundance and energy intake) of the marine area. While there was only moderate variability in habitat use among different years, we revealed significant differences in the diet of birds from different colonies. The high dietary plasticity and flexible feeding strategy, switching between terrestrial and marine prey is certainly of major importance for the success of an opportunistic avian top predator in a complex coastal zone. It is suggested that – compared to situations elsewhere – the number of breeding pairs of black-headed gulls in the German North Sea coast are still stable due to the switch of foraging habitats performed by individuals in this region.