Pliocene‐Quaternary history of Futuna Island,south Vanuatu,southwest Pacific

U‐series ages from thermal ionisation mass spectrometry are reported here for the raised coral reefs of Futuna Island, which lies adjacent to the eastern margin of the backarc Futuna Trough in south Vanuatu, southwest Pacific. U‐series ages from coral from the lowest raised reef indicate that its upper part is most likely to be ca 210 ka, whereas the most elevated raised reef has a likely age of ca 520 ka (range 600–440 ka). The inferred Pliocene‐Quaternary history for Futuna Island and the adjacent Futuna Trough is: (i) formation of the Pliocene—Early Quaternary basaltic‐andesite cone in a southeast part of the Vanuatu Island Arc; (ii) inception of the Futuna Trough (adjacent to the west margin of Futuna Island) since 1.8 Ma; (iii) subsequent uplift of the volcanic cone above sea‐level caused ～500 m of its upper part to be removed by marine erosion; (iv) the island then subsided and at least 160 m of limestone was deposited on the truncated cone; and (v) during the period 520 ka to ca 210 ka seven fringing reefs formed at the margin of the cone as the island was uplifted. Since ca 210 ka Futuna further subsided and, as a result, the post ca 210 ka history of the island is obscure.     

陕西宁强"珊瑚玉"的矿物学、玉石学特征研究

对市场上一种名为宁强"珊瑚玉"的玉石新品种进行了矿物学、玉石学特征研究.结果表明,宁强"珊瑚玉"是珊瑚骨骼孔隙被碳酸盐矿物充填所形成的化石,主要组成矿物为方解石,所含的其他矿物较少.宁强"珊瑚玉"密度2.71～2.72 g/cm³,点测折射率1.50,玻璃至油脂光泽,半透明到不透明,质地细腻,光泽温润,颜色丰富,纹理变化多样,是优质的玉石材料.但由于"珊瑚玉"硬度较低,较难进行复杂的加工,比较适合用于加工素面首饰工艺品,着力表现其自身的生物结构和纹理特征.     

拼合珊瑚的鉴定特征

珠宝市场上见到的大尺寸珊瑚有增多趋势,这类珊瑚多为珊瑚小料和胶结物拼合而成,前人研究未对其鉴定特征进行系统总结.笔者结合长期宝石检测工作认识,对目前市场上常见的两类拼合珊瑚的鉴定特征进行了系统研究和阐述.其中,一类拼合珊瑚由珊瑚小料和胶结物组成,另一类拼合珊瑚由珊瑚小料、人工胎体材料和胶结物组成.放大检查和紫外荧光观察发现,拼合部位的胶结物、胎体材料与主体红珊瑚在外观及发光性特征上存在差异明显;红外光谱测试结果进一步确定胶结物的主要成分为甲基丙烯酸甲酯和环氧树脂,部分拼合珊瑚依附的胎体材料主要为醇酸树脂（掺有碳酸盐粉末）和氰基丙烯酸乙酯.结果表明,放大检查、紫外荧光观察和红外光谱测试的综合运用,能够快速、准确、有效地鉴别拼合珊瑚.     

珊瑚砂岩土力学特性分析

结合工程勘察实践及现场载荷试验成果,提出将珊瑚砂分为海洋类珊瑚砂和濒海类珊瑚砂两大类,并在此基础上对珊瑚砂进行了规范定名,通过现场载荷试验对各类珊瑚砂的岩土力学特性进行了研究分析,阐明了各类珊瑚砂的岩土力学特性,对今后进一步研究珊瑚砂的岩土力学特性及工程实践具有一定指导意义.     

Quaternary corals from reefs in the Wakatobi Marine National Park,SE Sulawesi,Indonesia, show similar growth rates to modern corals from the same area

We have used digital photography, image analysis and measurements in the field to determine the growth rates of Quaternary corals in the Wakatobi Marine National Park, Indonesia, and compared them to growth rates of similar corals in the same area. In the Quaternary deposits it was possible to measure the growth rates of two massive coral genera Porites and Favites. For each genus, the corals reworked from better‐illuminated upslope environments had higher growth rates than the in situ fossil corals. The calculated radial growth rates for the in situ Porites are slightly lower than, but of the same order of magnitude as, the modern Porites growing in 10 m water depth at Hoga (10.04 ± 3.34 mm yr^?1 ± 1 s.d.; n = 3) and Kaledupa (15.26 ± 4.83 mm yr^?1 ± 1 s.d.; n = 3). Sedimentation rates and underwater visibility are inferred to have been similar in the fossil site to that at the modern Kaledupa site. Decreasing light penetration due to increased water depth is inferred to have been a major influence on growth rates. The in situ massive corals with good growth banding are inferred to have grown in a comparable environment to modern Kaledupa and Hoga. The study highlights that it is possible to compare coral growth rates, and their influencing parameters, from modern and well‐preserved ancient examples. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

青海南部治多-杂多地区早石炭世珊瑚组合和生物地理特征

青海南部下石炭统杂多群珊瑚化石丰富,下部为维宪阶Siphonodendron scitulus - Lithostrotionella zadoensis组合,产于下碳酸盐岩组和碎屑岩组,以群体的Siphonodendron属和Lithostrotionella属最为常见,以地方性属种为主;上部为维宪阶-谢尔普霍夫阶L...     

Coral colonization by the encrusting excavating Caribbean sponge Cliona delitrix

The Caribbean sponge Cliona delitrix is among the strongest reef space competitors; it is able to overpower entire coral heads by undermining coral polyps. It has become abundant in reefs exposed to organic pollution, such as San Andrés Island, Colombia, SW Caribbean. Forty‐four sponge‐colonized coral colonies were followed‐up for 13 months to establish the circumstances and the speed at which this sponge advances laterally into live coral tissue and the coral tissue retreats. Cliona delitrix presence and abundance was recorded at seven stations to interpret current reef space and coral species colonization trends. The spread of C. delitrix on a coral colony was preceded by a band of dead coral a few millimeters to several centimeters wide. However, the sponge was directly responsible for coral death only when live coral tissue was within about 2 cm distance; coral death became sponge advance‐independent at greater distances, being indirectly dependent on other conditions that tend to accelerate its retreat. Cliona delitrix advanced fastest into recently killed clean coral calices; however, sponge spread slowed down when these became colonized by algae. The lateral advance of C. delitrix was slower than other Cliona spp. encrusting excavating sponges, probably owing to the greater depth of its excavation into the substratum. Cliona delitrix prefers elevated portions of massive corals, apparently settling on recently dead areas. It currently inhabits 6–9% of colonies in reefs bordering San Andrés. It was found more frequently in Siderastrea siderea (the most abundant local massive coral), which is apparently more susceptible to tissue mortality than other corals. Current massive coral mortality caused by C. delitrix could initially change the relative proportions of coral species and in the long‐term favor foliose and branching corals.     

Coral bleaching and habitat effects on colonisation of reef fish assemblages: An experimental study

Degradation and mortality of corals is increasing worldwide and is expected to have significant effects on coral reef fish; hence studies on these effects are essential. In the present study, a field experiment was set up within Mafia Island Marine Park in Tanzania (East Africa) to examine the effects of bleaching and habitat structure on colonisation of coral reef fish assemblages. Live and bleached staghorn coral Acropora formosa was transplanted onto plots in a site dominated by sand and rubble, and the experimental design comprised of three treatments: live coral, bleached coral and eroded coral rubble. There was an immediate increase (within 24 h) in fish abundance and diversity in the two treatments with standing corals. Overall, live and bleached coral plots showed similar effects, but differed from the eroded coral plots which had a much lower abundance and diversity of fish. In general, fish species diversity changed with time over the study period while fish abundance did not. Multivariate analyses showed that while there were differences in fish assemblage structure between standing corals and the eroded coral treatment, there was neither a difference between live and bleached coral treatments nor any temporal effects on fish assemblage structure. Our findings suggest that physical structure and complexity of habitat have stronger effects on colonisation of reef fish assemblages than changes in coral health (such as bleaching) which do not affect coral structure. This may have important implications for appropriate coral reef management.     

在细胞水平上对高温珊瑚白化的初步研究

全球变暖背景下的异常高温能够导致珊瑚及其虫黄藻组成的共生体系崩溃,虫黄藻大量损失,出现珊瑚白化,并可能进一步导致珊瑚礁生态系统退化.文章通过对6种造礁石珊瑚的急性高温胁迫实验,分析不同种属的石珊瑚虫黄藻共生体系对高温的耐受性差异,为全球变暖背景下珊瑚群落演替趋势提供理论依据.结果显示:1)在急性高温胁迫下,石珊瑚耐受的差异性与其形态有关,枝状珊瑚耐受性最低,在高温胁迫下最先白化、死亡,而叶片状和块状珊瑚对高温的耐受性较强,这与野外珊瑚礁白化的现场观测结果一致.2)在高温胁迫下,不同种属珊瑚共生虫黄藻损失的方式不同:珊瑚持续排出虫黄藻,如鹿角杯形珊瑚 Pocillopora damicornis;珊瑚先排出一定的共生藻,之后珊瑚组织携带大量虫黄藻与珊瑚骨骼分离,如风信子鹿角珊瑚 Acropora hyacinthus 和松枝鹿角珊瑚 Acropora brueggemanni;先排出部分虫黄藻后,虫黄藻以有丝分裂增殖的方式迅速补充其数量,如十字牡丹珊瑚 Pavona decussata;虫黄藻细胞直接坏死而损失虫黄藻,如澄黄滨珊瑚 Porites lutea.研究强调,预测珊瑚对全球变化的响应问题时,应当同时考虑珊瑚宿主和共生藻的作用.     

福建东山海域柳珊瑚种类空间分布与多样性

调查并分析了福建东山珊瑚省级自然保护区内柳珊瑚的种类多样性及其空间分布,结果表明：（1）共发现柳珊瑚15种,分别属于6科11属,其中新记录属和新记录种各2个,分别为Gua-iagorgia anas和星柳珊瑚（Astrogorgia dumbea）.结合2005年7月和本次对东山柳珊瑚的采样调查,共发现柳珊瑚19种,全部为不含共生藻的种类.（2）东山柳珊瑚优势种为小月柳珊瑚（Menella sp.）、刺柳珊瑚（Echinogorgia sp.）和小尖柳珊瑚（Muricella sp.）.（3）东山柳珊瑚主要分布在实验区,如塔屿东面、铁钉屿南面和龙屿南面,而在缓冲区和核心区也有柳珊瑚分布较为丰富的站位.在靠近主要污染源的站位,未见到或者很少见到柳珊瑚的分布.东山珊瑚保护区内柳珊瑚的空间分布与食物的丰富程度、海流以及陆源输入等都有较大的关系.