Exploring the spatial distribution patterns of South African Cape hakes using generalised additive models

We developed delta generalised additive models (GAMs) to predict the spatial distribution of different size classes of South African hakes, Merluccius capensis and M. paradoxus, using demersal trawl survey data and geographical (latitude and longitude) and environmental features (depth, temperature, bottom dissolved oxygen and sediment type). Our approach consists of fitting, for each hake size class, two independent models, a binomial GAM and a quasi-Poisson GAM, whose predictions are then combined using the delta method. Delta GAMs were validated using an iterative cross-validation procedure, and their predictions were then employed to produce distribution maps for the southern Benguela. Delta GAM predictions confirmed existing knowledge about the spatial distribution patterns of South African hakes, and brought new insights into the factors influencing the presence/absence and abundance of these species. Our GAM approach can be used to produce distribution maps for spatially explicit ecosystem models of the southern Benguela in a rigorous and objective way. Ecosystem models are critical features of the ecosystem approach to fisheries, and distribution maps constructed using our GAM approach will enable a reliable allocation of species biomasses in spatially explicit ecosystem models, which will increase trust in the spatial overlaps and, therefore, the trophic interactions predicted by these models.     

Tectono–Thermal Evolution, Hydrocarbon Filling and Accumulation Phases of the Hari Sag, in the Yingen–Ejinaqi Basin, Inner Mongolia, Northern China

This work restored the erosion thickness of the top surface of each Cretaceous formations penetrated by the typical well in the Hari sag, and simulated the subsidence burial history of this well with software BasinMod. It is firstly pointed out that the tectonic subsidence evolution of the Hari sag since the Cretaceous can be divided into four phases: initial subsidence phase, rapid subsidence phase,uplift and erosion phase, and stable slow subsidence phase. A detailed reconstruction of the tectonothermal evolution and hydrocarbon generation histories of typical well was undertaken using the EASY R_0% model, which is constrained by vitrinite reflectance(R_0) and homogenization temperatures of fluid inclusions. In the rapid subsidence phase, the peak period of hydrocarbon generation was reached at c.a.105.59 Ma with the increasing thermal evolution degree. A concomitant rapid increase in paleotemperatures occurred and reached a maximum geothermal gradient of about 43-45℃/km. The main hydrocarbon generation period ensued around 105.59-80.00 Ma and the greatest buried depth of the Hari sag was reached at c.a. 80.00 Ma, when the maximum paleo-temperature was over 180℃.Subsequently, the sag entered an uplift and erosion phase followed by a stable slow subsidence phase during which the temperature gradient, thermal evolution, and hydrocarbon generation decreased gradually. The hydrocarbon accumulation period was discussed based on homogenization temperatures of inclusions and it is believed that two periods of rapid hydrocarbon accumulation events occurred during the Cretaceous rapid subsidence phase. The first accumulation period observed in the Bayingebi Formation(K_1 b) occurred primarily around 105.59-103.50 Ma with temperatures of 125-150℃. The second accumulation period observed in the Suhongtu Formation(K_1 s) occurred primarily around84.00-80.00 Ma with temperatures of 120-130℃. The second is the major accumulation period, and the accumulation mainly occurred in the Late Cretaceous. The hydrocarbon accumulation process was comprehensively controlled by tectono-thermal evolution and hydrocarbon generation history. During the rapid subsidence phase, the paleo temperature and geothermal gradient increased rapidly and resulted in increasing thermal evolution extending into the peak period of hydrocarbon generation,which is the key reason for hydrocarbon filling and accumulation.     

Geochemical and Petrological Studies on the Early Carboniferous Sidingheishan Mafic–Ultramafic Iintrusion in the Southern Margin of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt, NW China

The Sidingheishan mafic-ultramafic intrusion is located in the eastern part of the Northern Tianshan Mountain, along the southern margin of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt in northern Xinjiang autonomous region of China. The Sidingheishan intrusion is mainly composed of wehrlite, olivine websterite, olivine gabbro, gabbro and hornblende gabbro. At least two pulses of magma were involved in the formation of the intrusion. The first pulse of magma produced an olivine-free unit and the second pulse produced an olivine-bearing unit. The magmas intruded the Devonian granites and granodiorites.An age of 351.4±5.8 Ma(Early Carboniferous) for the Sidingheishan intrusion has been determined by U-Pb SHRIMP analysis of zircon grains separated from the olivine gabbro unit. A U-Pb age of 359.2±6.4 Ma from the gabbro unit has been obtained by LA-ICP-MS. Olivine of the Sidingheishan intrusion reaches 82.52 mole% Fo and 1414 ppm Ni. On the basis of olivine-liquid equilibria, it has been calculated that the MgO and FeO included in the parental magma of a wehrlite sample were approximately10.43 wt% and 13.14 wt%, respectively. The Sidingheishan intrusive rocks are characterized by moderate enrichments in Th and Sm, slight enrichments in light REE, and depletions in Nb, Ta, Zr and Hf. The ε_(Nd)(t) values in the rock units vary from +6.70 to +9.64, and initial ~(87)Sr/~(86)Sr ratios range between 0.7035 and0.7042. Initial ~(206)Pb/~(204)Pb, ~(207)Pb/~(204)Pb and ~(208)Pb/~(204)Pb values fall in the ranges of 17.23-17.91,15.45-15.54 and 37.54-38.09 respectively. These characteristics are collectively similar to the Heishan intrusion and the Early Carboniferous subduction related volcanic rocks in the Santanghu Basin, North Tianshan and Beishan area. The low(La/Gd)_(PM) values between 0.26 and 1.77 indicate that the magma of the Sidingheishan intrusion was most likely derived from a depleted spinel-peridotite mantle.(Th/Nb)_(PM)ratios from 0.59 to 20.25 indicate contamination of the parental magma in the upper crust.Crystallization modeling methods suggest that the parental magma of the Sidingheishan intrusion was generated by flush melting of the asthenosphere and subsequently there was about 10 vol%contamination from a granitic melt. This was followed by about 5 vol% assimilation of upper crustal rocks. Thus, the high-Mg basaltic parental magma of Sidingheishan intrusion is interpreted to have formed from partial melting of the asthenosphere during the break-off of a subducted slab.     

Late Cenozoic Sedimentary Evolution of Pagri‐Duoqing Co graben,Southern End of Yadong‐Gulu Rift,Southern Tibet

The north trending rifts in southern Tibet represent the E–W extension of the plateau and confirming the initial rifting age is key to the study of mechanics of these rifts. Pagri–Duoqing Co graben is located at southern end of Yadong–Gulu rift, where the late Cenozoic sediments is predominately composed of fluvio-lacustrine and moraine. Based on the sedimentary composition and structures, the fluvio-lacustrine could be divided into three facies, namely, lacustrine, lacustrine fan delta and alluvial fan. The presence of paleo-currents and conglomerate components and the provenance of the strata around the graben indicate that it was Tethys Himalaya and High Himalaya. Electron spin resonance (ESR) dating and paleo-magnetic dating suggest that the age of the strata ranges from ca. 1.2 Ma to ca. 8 Ma. Optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating showed that moraine in the graben mainly developed from around 181–109 ka (late Middle Pleistocene). Combining previous data about the Late Cenozoic strata in other basins, it is suggested that 8–15 Ma may be the initial rifting time. Together with sediment distribution and drainage system, the sedimentary evolution of Pagri could be divided into four stages. The graben rifted at around 15–8 Ma due to the eastern graben-boundary fault resulting in the appearance of a paleolake. Following by a geologically quiet period about 8–2.5 Ma, the paleolake expanded from east to west at around 8–6 Ma reaching its maximum at ca. 6 Ma. Then, the graben was broken at about 2.5 Ma. At last, the development of the glacier separated the graben into two parts that were Pagri and Duoqing Co since the later stages of the Middle Pleistocene. The evolution process suggested that the former three stages were related to the tectonic movement, which determined the basement of the graben, while the last stage may have been influenced by glacial activity caused by climate change.     

A New Ootype of Dinosaur Egg (Faveoloolithidae: Duovallumoolithus shangdanensis oogen. et oosp. nov.) from the Late Cretaceous in the Shangdan Basin,Shaanxi Province,China

A new ootype collected from the Upper Cretaceous Lijiacun Formation in the Shangdan Basin, Shaanxi Province is described in this paper. Based on general external shape, size, eggshell thickness and honeycomb‐like eggshell microstructure, eggs are referable to the oofamily Faveoloolithidae. Compared with other members of Faveoloolithidae, specimens described in this paper show special characteristics: adjacent pores are usually separated by two eggshell units between which often develop interspaces; columnar eggshell units are relatively closely arranged in radial view. According to these characteristics, we erect a new oogenus and a new oospecies: Duovallumoolithus shangdanensis oogen. et oosp. nov. The new discovery expands the diversity of Faveoloolithidae.     

The Late Triassic I–Type Granites from the Longmu Co–Shuanghu Suture Zone in the interior of Tibetan Plateau, China: Petrogenesis and Implication for Slab Break–Off

The Jiangaidarina granitic mass(JM) is an important part of the magmatic belt in Longmu CoShuanghu Suture Zone(LSSZ) in the central Tibetan Plateau. An integrated research involving wholerock geochemistry, zircon LA-ICP-MS U-Pb ages and Hf isotopic compositions was carried out to define the timing, genesis and tectonic setting of the JM. Zircon LA-ICP-MS U-Pb ages have been obtained ranging from 210 to 215 Ma, rather than the Early Jurassic as previously thought. Fifteen granite samples contain hornblendes and show a negative correlation between P_2 O_5 and SiO_2, indicating that the JM is an I-type granite. All the granites are enriched in LREE relative to HREE, with negative Eu anomalies(Eu/Eu*=0.56-0.81), and have similar trace elements patterns, with depletion of Ba, Nb, Sr and P. These suggest that the JM was fractionated, and this is also proved by the characteristic of negative correlations between oxide elements(TiO_2, MgO, FeOt, MnO, CaO) and SiO_2. Almost all ε_(Hf)(t) values of the granites are between-10.3 and-5.8, implying that the JM has a crustal source intimately related with the South Qiangtang Block(SQB), except for one(+10.2), showing a minor contribution from mantle source.Moreover, relatively low Na_2 O/K_2 O ratios(0.42-0.93) and high A/CNK values(0.91-1.50) reflect that the JM was predominately derived from the medium-high potassium basaltic crust, interacted with greywacke. Our new geochemical data and geochronological results imply that the Late Triassic magmas were generated in a post-collisional tectonic setting, probably caused by slab break-off of the Longmu Co-Shuanghu Tethyan Ocean(LSTO). This mechanism caused the asthenosphere upwelling, formed extension setting, offered an enormous amount of heat, and provided favorable conditions for emplacement of voluminous felsic magmas. Furthermore, the LSTO could be completely closed during the Middle Triassic, succeed by continental collision and later the slab broke off in the Late Triassic.     

Provenance Study of Fe–Ti Oxide Minerals in the Quaternary Sediments in Yichang Area and Its Implication of Formation Time of the Yangtze Three Gorges, China

The Three Gorges are considered to be critical to understand the formation of Yangtze River. Recent research results suggest that the Yangtze Three Gorges was created during the Quaternary but the exact time is debatable. Fe–Ti oxide minerals are seldom used to study sediment provenance, expecially using scanning electron microscopy(SEM), and energy dispersive spectrometer(EDS). In this study, the provenance of Quaternary sediments in Yichang area, which is located to the east of the Yangtze Three Gorges, was investigated by using SEM and EDS to research Fe–Ti oxides. The Panzhihua vanadium titanomagnetite and Emeishan basalt outcrop are located to the west of the Three Gorges. Further, the materials from them are observed in the Quaternary sediments of Yichang area. Fe–Ti oxide minerals from the Huangling granite are observed in the Yunchi and Shanxiyao Formations, which were formed before 0.75 Ma B.P., whereas Fe–Ti oxide minerals from the Huangling granite, Panzhihua vanadium titanomagnetite, and Emeishan basalt are observed in the riverbed and fifth-terrace sediments of the Yangtze River, which were formed after 0.73 Ma B.P.. Thus, we can infer that the Three Gorges formed after the deposition of the Shanxi Formation and before the fifth-terrace; i.e., 0.75–0.73 Ma B.P..     

中国航磁大地构造单元划分

本文以我国截止到2011年基本覆盖陆域及部分海域的航磁数据编制的全国航磁系列图为基础,以航磁反映的区域磁场和磁性基底起伏特征为依据,汲取主流大地构造观的划分理念,以板块构造理论及大陆动力学思想为指导,以磁场反映的构造特征为切入点,结合重力、遥感、地质资料对中国陆域构造单元进行划分。大地构造单元划分4个级别:一级构造单元为陆块区和造山系,共划分出8个;二级构造单元为陆块、弧盆系和地块,共划分出32个;三级构造单元为盆地、坳陷带(区)和隆起带(区),共划分出85个;四级构造单元为隆起和坳陷,共划分出332个。本划分方案旨在为油气地质构造背景研究及油气勘探提供一份地球物理资料。文中重点讨论了一、二级构造单元界线厘定的磁场依据及与前人划分存在的不同之处,而三、四级构造单元完全依据磁场及磁性基底起伏情况进行划分,并在盆地和坳陷区给出了深度信息,这为油气勘探者提供了必要的技术支撑。同时,借助丰富的航磁信息提示出一些地质构造方面难解现象,供同行专家参考与讨论。     

中国南部及邻区能源资源成矿区带数据集

能源矿产是国家安全和经济发展的战略资源,加强我国及周边地区油气和煤等能源资源的研究和开发利用意义重大。依据板块构造和大陆动力学以及油气与煤成藏地质学理论,以深部构造控制盆—山发育、盆—山耦合和热动力系统控制成矿的研究工作思路,应用70个油气田、471个煤田的基础地质资料,从沉积盆地发育的区域地质特征、成矿地质条件和成矿单元诸多方面,在地理信息系统（GIS）平台上提示了该区板块构造格局与能源资源的时空分布规律。中国南部及邻区能源资源可划分为3个成矿域,每个成矿域又可进一步划分为成矿省、含矿区（盆地）、矿田聚集区带、矿田（油气田）五个级别的成矿区域。数据集由构造带（断裂带和造山带）类型和时代、盆地类型和时代、能源矿产资源类型和丰度、成矿区带等元数据组成。该数据集是在区域大地构造研究的基础上,结合沉积盆地能源矿产（石油、天然气、煤）资源评价资料,综合分析成矿区带特征,利用地理信息系统（GIS）建立的一套完整的数据库,不仅是对中国南部及邻区区域地质认识和沉积盆地能源资源勘查工作成果的集成,而且为国家科学地引导地质找矿工作部署提供理论基础。     

西南地区2001-2014年植被变化时空格局

时序植被动态变化研究一直是全球变化研究的热点之一,对地区生态治理有重要意义。基于西南地区2001至 2014年的MODIS植被指数数据集以及DEM数据和土地利用数据,进行季节合成植被指数（SINDVI）的趋势模拟、空间统计和相关分析,探讨西南地区植被变化趋势和空间分异特征,研究结果表明:（1）74.52%的区域SINDVI变化不显著,显著改善的区域占22.07%,而显著退化的区域占3.41%,改善面积远远大于退化面积。（2）从地形因子结果来看,中低海拔地区和缓坡地区植被变化趋势最明显,海拔3 500 m以下植被变化趋势比海拔3 500 m以上明显。随着坡度的增加,改善趋势和退化趋势都在变小。（3）从土地利用分析结果来看,SINDVI变化趋势在人工表面最明显,改善和退化趋势都相对较大。（4）受人类活动的影响,人工表面和裸地的增多、林地的减少是植被呈退化趋势的主要原因。