Identification of a Putative Tetrasporophyte-Specific Gene in Gracilaria lemaneiformis(Gracilariales, Rhodophyte)

A putative tetrasporophyte-specific gene, designated as SSH466 (GenBank accession No. DQ019223), was one of the genes identified in this work using suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) method in Gracilaria lemaneiformis. The full length of the gene was obtained using SMART RACE strategy. Sequence analysis revealed that the gene had 1 019 nucleotides, including an open reading frame of 498 nucleotides encoding 166 amino acid residues, 158 nucleotides of 5' untranslated region and 363 nucleo- tides of 3' non-coding region. Protein motif and secondary structure prediction showed that there existed a transmembrane domain with a unique β-sheet. Thus, SSH466 protein might be a cross-membrane protein. Sequence homology search in the public GenBank databases did not reveal any significant match with SSH466. Virtual Northern blot analysis confirmed that it was a tetrasporo- phyte-specific gene.     

Communities structure of the planktonic halophiles in the solar saltern of Sfax,Tunisia

The composition and distribution of the main planktonic halophilic micro-organisms (heterotrophic and autotrophic picoplankton, nanoplankton, phytoplankton, ciliates) and metazooplankton were investigated in six ponds of increasing salinity in the solar salt works of Sfax, Tunisia, from January to December 2003. Marked changes in the composition and biomass of the communities were found along the salinity gradient, especially at salinities of 150 and 350. Autotrophic picoplankton, nanoplankton, diatoms, dinoflagellates and ciliates characterized the less salted ponds. Planktonic biomass was the highest at intermediate salinity as a consequence of a bloom of Ochromonas. Species richness of phytoplankton, ciliates and zooplankton greatly decrease above a salinity of 150 and typical halophiles (Dunaliella salina, cyanobacteria, Fabrea salina and Artemia salina) were found between 150 and 350 salinity. In this environment, F. salina appeared more adapted than the brine shrimp to survive during phytoplankton blooms. The halophilic plankton was however almost entirely composed of heterotrophic prokaryotes in the crystallizers. We thus observed a progressive disappearance of the autotrophic planktonic communities along the salinity gradient. Multivariate analysis of the communities provides evidence that ponds represent discrete aquatic ecosystems within this salt works.     

Paleoclimatic changes in southern Africa during the intensification of Northern Hemisphere glaciation: evidence from ODP Leg 175 Site 1085

Pliocene age sediments from Ocean Drilling Program Leg 175, Site 1085-A and B in the Cape Basin were analyzed to investigate the impact of the intensification of Northern Hemisphere glaciation (INHG) on the South Atlantic Benguela Current system from 4 to 2 Ma. Proxies for productivity (concentrations and mass accumulation rates of total organic carbon, carbon to nitrogen ratios, percent calcium carbonate, and percent biogenic silica) as well as weight percent sand (a proxy for preservation or winnowing) peak at 3.2, 3.0, 2.4, and 2.25 Ma. Normative calculations of allied trace and major elemental determinations indicate synchronous increases in productivity peaks, as well as high concentrations and accumulations of terrigenous sediments. Coeval increases in hemipelagic sedimentation and productivity indicators could be the result of enhanced eolian sedimentation resulting from strengthened winds, leading to elevated rates of upwelling and enhanced productivity. However, rapid burial, as indicated by high sedimentation rates, could also enhance preservation. The very high concentrations (>30%) and accumulations (up to 60 g/cm²/kyr) limit the likelihood that eolian sedimentation was the only transport mechanism, invoking an additional fluvial source. Rapid burial by either eolian or fluvial transport links these intervals of enhanced preservation and productivity with continental climate changes resulting from (1) increased winds and/or dust availability due to higher aridity in the Namibia/northern South Africa region; (2) lowered sea-level related to increased ice volume; (3) increased sediment load due to wetter conditions in the continental interior; or (4) some combination. Peaks at 3.2, 2.4 and 2.25 Ma are coincident with maximum precession, suggesting a link between hemipelagic sedimentation and enhanced monsoonal circulation over southern Africa. The Site 1085 sedimentary record during the INHG seems to be controlled by low-latitude processes linked to precession rather than hig-latitude processes.     

Hydrochemistry and isotope geochemistry as tools for groundwater hydrodynamic investigation in multilayer aquifers: a case study from Lomellina, Po plain, South-Western Lombardy, Italy

A multicriteria approach in studying hydrodynamics of a multilayer aquifer system has been used in the Lomellina region (Northern Italy). It involves the reconstruction of the hydrogeological framework coupled to the definition of the hydrochemical and isotopic features of the aquifers. A shallow phreatic aquifer, reaching depths of about 60–80 m from the surface, and deeper aquifers containing confined groundwater, were distinguished. Groundwater generally shows mineralisation decreasing with depth; dissolved ions depict calcium-bicarbonate hydrochemical facies and stable isotopes define the recharge mechanisms, the origin of groundwater, and the hydraulic confinement of deep aquifers. The phreatic aquifer is fed by local infiltration and by streams and irrigation channels. Tritium and Carbon-14 groundwater dating indicate long residence times (on the order of thousands of years) for confined aquifers. The confined aquifers show essentially passive hydrodynamic conditions and maintain a higher piezometric level than the phreatic aquifer. This inhibits the possibility of recent water penetrating far below the surface. The hydrogeological setting of the Lomellina region displays features which are common to other sectors of the Po plain. As a consequence, the results of this study, although conducted on a restricted area, are highly illustrative of groundwater hydrodynamics in large sedimentary aquifers.     

Seasonal and Interdecadal Variations of Heat Transport over the Northern Hemisphere

1Introduction Theglobalclimatechangehasbeenoneoftheprob lemschallengingtheworldinrecentyears.TheweatherandclimateonEarthhasbeeninvariationontimescalesfromseasonaltomillennialorevenlonger.ResearchesonvariationsofweatherandclimateintheNorthernHemispherehave…     

Control of dust emissions by geomorphic conditions, wind environments and land use in northern China: An examination based on dust storm frequency from 1960 to 2003

The degree to which dust emissions are controlled by geomorphic conditions, wind environments and land use was investigated using the dust storm frequency (DSF) and data from more than 300 meteorological stations throughout northern China. Our analysis showed that most dust emissions originated in gobi deserts that developed in piedmont alluvial fans of the Kunlun, Qilian and Helan mountains. Dust emissions are low from other gobi desert regions, such as the northern Gurbantunggut and eastern Taklimakan, where high vegetation coverage restrained dust emissions or where dust-size particles are not abundant after a long period of strong wind erosion. Sandy deserts with relatively high vegetation coverage or an extensive cover by mobile sands are not a major dust source. Although the highest dust emissions did not appear in regions with the highest wind energy, DSF trends in each region from 1960 to 2003 were closely related to local wind activity. DSF was low in regions with high levels of human activity, where the mean DSF from 1960 to 2003 did not exceed 4 days/year; even from the 1960s to the early 1970s, the period with the greatest DSF, frequency did not exceed 8 days/year, which indicates that extensive land use did not contribute to DSF. The low DSF in these areas might result from the fact that although land use could produce abundant fine soil fractions, vegetation coverage and soil moisture remained higher than in the gobi deserts of arid China, thereby decreasing dust-storm occurrence.     

A pronounced dry event recorded around 4.2 ka in brine sediments from the northern Red Sea

Partly laminated sediments were sampled from the brine-filled, anoxic Shaban Deep basin in the northern Red Sea. At about 4200 cal yr BP more than two millennia of anoxic sedimentation is replaced by a sub-oxic facies strongly suggesting the episodic absence of the brine. At the same time stable oxygen isotopes from surface dwelling foraminifera show a sharp increase (within less than 100 yr) pointing to a strong positive salinity anomaly at the sea surface. This major evaporation event significantly enhanced the renewal of deep water and the subsequent ventilation of the small Shaban Deep basin. The timing and strength of the reconstructed environmental changes around 4200 cal yr BP suggest that this event is the regional expression of a major drought event, which is widely observed in the neighboring regions, and which strongly affected Middle East agricultural civilizations.     

1948—2001年全球大尺度区域 6～8月降水的长期变化

研究了1948-2001年南、北半球及欧亚大陆、非洲大陆、澳洲大陆、北美大陆、南美大陆、南极大陆和中国 7个大尺度区域 6～8月降水的长期趋势变化和年代际变化。结果表明，南、北半球 6～8月的降水都为负趋势，但南半球降水的负趋势在统计上不显著。在54年的时间段内，南半球 6～8月降水的递减速度为 0．12 mm／a，仅为北半球同期降水减幅（0．24 mm／a）的一半。南、北半球 6～8月降水量年代际尺度的振荡都非常明显，但是，南、北半球年代际变化的特征明显不同。目前北半球仍是在少雨时间段，而南半球处在降水量正常或多雨的时间段。分析还表明，非洲大陆 6～ 8月降水的年代际特征最明显，降水的负趋势也最为显著；欧亚大陆 6～8月降水也有着明显的年代际变化与明显的负趋势变化；澳洲大陆 6～8月降水的年际变化明显，年代际变化相对来说要小得多；北美大陆 6～8月降水的年际变化明显，但无明显的趋势变化。此外，分析了大尺度区域 6～ 8月降水之间的相关关系，发现部分区域大尺度降水量之间有明显的联系；分析了中国夏季降水的长期变化，发现中国夏季降水的年代际变化明显，但无明显的趋势变化。     

基于AMSR-E的北疆地区积雪深度反演

利用北疆地区2007/2008-2009/2010年度积雪季(12月至次年2月)的AMSR-E降轨19 GHz与37 GHz波段的水平极化亮温数据, 结合北疆地区45个气象台站的实测雪深数据, 建立了北疆地区基于AMSR-E亮度温度数据的雪深反演模型, 并对模型的精度进行评价. 结果显示: 雪深在3~10 cm时, 模型反演的雪深值负向平均误差为-5.1 cm, RMSE值为6.1 cm; 雪深在11~30 cm时, 模型反演雪深值的平均误差仅为2.6 cm, RMSE、 正向平均误差、 绝对平均误差均较小; 雪深大于30 cm时, 模型反演的各项误差较大. 用合成方法反演北疆地区2006/2007-2010/2011年度5个积雪季的平均雪深分布和最大雪深分布, 结果显示北疆地区积雪主要分布于北部阿尔泰山和南部天山一带, 其中阿勒泰地区所占比重最大, 中部的准噶尔盆地腹地、 克拉玛依地区雪层较浅.     

关于辽宁北部陆缘活动带中新元古代构造地层划分

辽宁北部建平-阜新-铁岭地区,存在一套中新元古代构造混杂岩系、蛇绿混杂岩.其原岩岩石类型有火山岩,陆缘碎屑沉积岩,火山、岛弧拉斑系列或钙碱系列火山岩、蛇绿岩等.它们紧密共生,呈狭长的带状分布于辽宁北部晚前寒武纪造山带内.可划分为魏家沟岩群和开原岩群（包括沈家堡子岩组、照北山岩组、板石沟岩组）.