Effect of supplemental feeding on spatial distribution and browse utilization by white-tailed deer in semi-arid rangeland

We investigate the risk that supplemental feeding of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) to improve trophy quality may degrade rangeland through overutilization of forage plants near the feeders. We divided a South Texas ranch into 6 areas (each 1100 ha). Supplemental feed was provided year-round in a centrally placed feeder in 3 areas, no supplement was provided in the 3 control areas. Radio-telemetry collars were fitted on 2 bucks and 2 does in each area. Spatial distribution of these deer was assessed using the CALHOME program. Feed supplementation did not alter home range size of does but did reduce their 50% core area. Bucks without supplemental feed showed 2 spatial strategies; sedentary bucks had home range distributions similar to supplemented bucks, while commuter bucks moved to supplemented areas during the breeding season. Browsing pressure near feeders and control sites was assessed by measuring consumption of seedlings set in arrays radiating from feeders and control points. Deer browsing was heavier near feeders than at the control sites, and the probability of a seedling being browsed increased with proximity to the feeder. We caution against long-term supplemental feeding in fixed locations because of the potential for localized range degradation around the feeders.     

Mongolian gerbils and Daurian pikas responded differently to changes in precipitation in the Inner Mongolian grasslands

Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus) and Daurian pikas (Ochotona dauurica) are two key small mammal species in the Inner Mongolian grasslands, China. Mongolian gerbils displayed density-dependent population growth, but the time lag of density dependence was short and within season. The spring–autumn population growth rate was inversely related to population density in Mongolian gerbils of the Erdos desert grasslands. The autumn–spring population growth rate of Mongolian gerbils was inversely related to winter precipitation. Precipitation had stronger effects on the population growth of gerbils during the non-breeding season. The monthly population growth rate of Daurian pikas was positively related to the monthly precipitation and was inversely related to population density in central Inner Mongolia. Daurian pikas select habitats with tall plants. Increased precipitation enhances plant production and increases the height of plants in arid and semi-arid regions. This enhancement of plant height might increase the population growth of Daurian pikas. Mongolian gerbils live in short grasslands. Increased winter precipitation might result in higher winter mortality of Mongolia gerbils, or taller plants might supress gerbil population growth in wet years. Therefore, responses of small mammal species to changes in precipitation depend on the life history of small mammals and changes in vegetation induced by climatic changes.     

Integrated Approaches,Multiple Scales: Snag Dynamics in Burned Versus Unburned Landscapes*

By studying landscape form and patterns, we can study processes at multiple scales and determine how collectively those processes inform us about function(s). Integrating landscape ecology from a biogeographical perspective with geographic information science (GIScience) practices offers new ways to study how landscapes change over time and space, including how they can be measured, analyzed, and modeled for management needs. This article presents methodologies and selected results of analyzing spatial patterns from field data across multiple scales by examining standing dead tree (snag) processes across wildfire‐disturbed landscapes in Arizona. Our primary motivation was to illustrate a particular type of work benefiting from the coalescing of landscape ecology and GIScience, functioning at the methodological and practical overlap of these two contributing fields. Our management goals were to (1) describe spatial patterns and characteristics of snags in pairs of burned and unburned ponderosa pine forests of Arizona in four recent (within the past ten years) wildfires, (2) document bird response to wildfires by combining landscape ecology and GIScience methods, and (3) link these patterns to snag monitoring plots and cavity‐nesting bird use to predict the probability of snag use by birds and cavity nesters based on snag characteristics (snag use model). The methods and results demonstrate how integration of landscape ecology with both GIS and GIScience improves the ways to study landscapes and land management issues, in this case offering guidelines for retention of snags that provide habitat for wildlife.     

Kaleidoscoping Landscapes,Shifting Perspectives

Landscapes change in complex ways, creating surface patterns reminiscent of forms seen through a kaleidoscope. On the Earth's surface, those forms are linked to, and caused by, processes that originate with bedrock‐soil‐vegetation‐atmosphere interactions. Human‐caused alterations to landscapes are additionally tied to socioeconomic processes. Evaluation of landscape‐level processes can benefit from examining (1) the influence of disturbance regimes in altering landscape patterns, (2) the importance of considering surficial processes, (3) the subtle and cryptic spatial relations that may be present, (4) the reciprocal relationships among local processes and regional consequences, (5) the increased likelihood of some land cover transitions compared to others, and (6) the special case of landscapes with long histories of human use. These are all examples of potential fruitful arenas for interactions and represent a path for expansion of landscape ecology through accommodation of a broad range of content covered by the international GIScience community.     

Reply to comment by Y. Park and J.-H. Ree on 'Chemical remagnetization of the Upper Carboniferous-Lower Triassic Pyeongan Supergroup in the Jeongseon area, Korea: fluid migration through the Ogcheon Fold Belt'

In their comment, Park & Ree have raised several points against the interpretation by Park et al. , and argued that the remagnetization in the Jeongseon area was caused by the thermal effects of a Late Cretaceous pluton and/or associated short-range hydrothermal fluids, rather than by long-range fluids advocated by us.
We disagree with most points raised by Park & Ree and we make a case that these are invalid because of what we believe is incorrect geologic evidence. Hence, our model—that the fluids causing the chemical remagnetization might migrate through the fault system within the Ogcheon Fold Belt—is the most plausible scenario. We recognize that our model needs to be tested in a future study and we welcome new interpretations for or against our model based on reliable geologic or geophysical data.     

下庄铀矿田337矿床成矿流体稀土元素示踪

337铀矿床位于下庄矿田东缘,区内发育近EW向、NNE向构造裂隙群及NW向辉绿岩和正长岩脉体,发育以碱性为主的多种围岩蚀变。区内矿床主要赋矿围岩的稀土元素特征属壳源型。矿石内金属矿物以沥青铀矿为主,矿石的LREE/HREE比值为3.25,Sm/Nd比值平均为0.307,Ce/Yb比值为7.127,这些数据都显示出成矿流体具有较深来源。矿石较围岩亏损稀土元素尤其是轻稀土元素,稀土元素分布模式平缓,与幔源辉绿岩特别是与正长岩的稀土元素分布模式相近,负铕异常比围岩更为强烈,反映成矿流体的来源具有幔源性。结合区域地质特征,可以认为337矿床成矿流体来源具有幔源性质。     

Experimental research on a new encapsulated heat-generating hydraulic fracturing fluid system

1 IntroductionFracturing plays an important role in increasingthe production and injection and enhancing the final re-covery of oil and gas. At present, the use of ahydroxypropyl guar gum, borate-crosslinked, hydraulicfracturing fluid systemhas become ext…     

江西彭山锡多金属矿田地质地球化学特征研究

彭山锡多金属矿田位于长江中下游的九瑞地区，是近年来发现的一个以富锡、铅、锌矿产为主的大型矿田。以黑云母二长花岗岩与二云母碱长化岗岩组成的彭山隐伏岩体为中心，各类金属矿床呈“晕圈式”分布。矿床的形成分为2个成矿期共7个阶段，通过对彭山岩体、典型矿床及围岩中的硫同位素、铅同位素、包裹体及稀土资料进行分析，反映出燕山晚期钙碱性花岗岩体的缦位与多金属矿床的形成有着密切的联系，岩浆活动为本区提供了大量的成矿物质。     

中酸性岩浆体系成矿流体及微量元素地球化学特征

从流体成矿作用角度出发，与酸性岩浆体系有关的成矿流体可以分为：酸性岩浆硅酸盐熔融体，岩浆一热液过渡阶段硅酸盐熔融体及其分异的流体，酸性岩浆熔体分异形成的热水成矿溶液。酸性岩浆体系主要提供热源和部分矿质，其提供的热源驱动地下水淋滤、萃取围岩中的成矿物质形成地下水热液成矿流体。变质岩混合岩化形成花岗质岩浆过程中所形成的混合岩化成矿流体。在此基础上，讨论了上述不同成矿流体的微量元素地球化学特征及其对成矿的控制作用。