Depth–transport functions and erosion–deposition diagrams as indicators of slope inclination and time-averaged traction forces: applications in tropical reef environments

The trigonometric relationship between slope inclination, the horizontally acting time‐averaged traction force and the vertical depth of transport allows the estimation of one factor, when both others are known. Depth–transport functions can be deduced by comparing the depth distributions of living organisms and their skeletal remains, and this paper simplifies this comparison using foraminifera in which a single test represents an individual. Differences in distribution parameters between living individuals and empty tests allow depth–transport functions to be determined; these functions differ between species at a single transect according to the varying buoyancies of the tests. Within a single species, differences in depth–transport functions between locations are based on either slope inclination or traction intensities. After establishing a mean depth–transport function by averaging species‐characteristic functions, the time‐averaged traction force acting on the studied transect can be calculated. Transport intensities are also estimated using an erosion–deposition diagram that combines the relative frequency distributions of living individuals and empty tests. The proportion of ‘eroded’, ‘parautochthonous’ and ‘allochthonous’ tests mirrors the influence of both slope inclination and traction force for the deposition of empty tests. To test the model, six species of symbiont‐bearing benthic foraminifers were investigated at two transects in front of a NW Pacific coral reef. One transect is distinguished by a strong slope flattening below the steep reef slope (30 m), whereas further steepening characterizes the equivalent part in the other transect. These differences are mirrored in the depth–transport functions as well as in the erosion–deposition diagrams of all species. The time‐averaged traction forces differ in intensities between transects, because of the position of the reef front with respect to the predominant wind direction. However, the form of the functions is identical and distinguished by an increase from the surface to 35 m depth, followed by a decrease down to 105 m. This can be explained by successive onshore and offshore forces acting on the shallow slope, such as the tropical cyclones that cross the region every summer.     

海平面升降变化对贵州紫云礁体生长的控制

以贵州紫晚二叠世碳酸盐台地边缘礁为例,运用高频层序地层学原理和方法,精细地划分了紫云礁层序的各级单元,并对其内部沉积构成进行了详细研究,探讨海平面和变化对礁体生长的控制,研究结果表明,晚二叠世紫云礁 合体为发育在台地边缘坡折带的一个三级层序,由１３个准层序组成,并可识别出低位、海侵、高位３个体系域,低位期的下切谷 边缘坡折带碳酸盐台地的暴露、海侵期和高位期礁的３种生长方式的增生及每种生长方式的特定     

Coral reef health and effects of socio-economic factors in Fiji and Cook Islands

This research focuses on coral reef health in the South Pacific region, an area of high global coral diversity. Coral reef health surrounding four island case studies in the Cook Islands and Fiji have been assessed in areas that have not been previously surveyed. This study compares four islands with barrier and fringing reefs that have different levels of economic development, population pressure, land-use practices, and marine management practices. This interdisciplinary research methodology includes both ecological and social data collection to further understanding of human environment interactions. In comparing the reefs with different socio-economic factors, this research shows that reefs with traditional systems of resources management are healthier, population pressure is not the main factor causing the demise of the reefs and agro-industry is the main industry causing the degradation of the reef in these four South Pacific Islands. In addition, researchers need to use a whole reef perspective to examine coral reef health.     

达县—宣汉地区长兴组礁滩白云岩成岩作用与成岩环境研究

达县—宣汉长兴组礁滩白云岩主要成岩作用类型有压实作用、压溶作用、胶结作用、白云石化作用、新生变形作用、溶蚀作用、破裂作用和充填胶结作用等,对研究区储层贡献最大的成岩作用主要是溶蚀作用、新生变形作用和破裂作用。根据岩石中所形成的大量溶蚀孔隙、晶间溶孔和晶间孔以及裂缝的特征,该套礁滩白云岩储层的良好物性主要形成于中—深埋藏环境。     

Chronology of an oyster reef on the coast of Bohai Bay, China: Constraints from optical dating using different luminescence signals from fine quartz and polymineral fine grains of coastal sediments

Fossil oyster reefs are indicators of past sea levels, and their formation is usually dated by means of radiocarbon. However, radiocarbon dating of the shells from coastal areas may be complicated by the varying sources of carbon. Here we applied optical dating methods to date the samples from above and below a fossil oyster bed in a section on the coast of Bohai Bay, China. The optical ages of the sediments were used to constrain the oyster bed. Single-aliquot regenerative-dose procedures using the OSL signal from fine grain quartz, the IRSL and post-IR OSL signals from polymineral fine grains were employed to determine equivalent dose (D_e). The behaviors of the different luminescence signals from quartz and polymineral grains during D_e measurements were examined. The results showed that the quartz OSL signal is more reliable than the polymineral IRSL and post-IR OSL signals with respect to dating for these coastal samples. The optical ages indicated that the oyster reef formed between ca. 6.2 and 5.0 ka.     

Field Signatures of the SE-Asian Mega-Tsunami along the West Coast of Thailand Compared to Holocene Paleo-Tsunami from the Atlantic Region

The Andaman-Sumatra Tsunami of Dec. 26, 2004, was by far the largest tsunami catastrophe in human history. An earthquake of 9 to 9.3 on the Richter scale, the extension of waves over more than 5000 km of ocean and run-ups up to 35 m are its key features. These characteristics suggest significant changes in coastal morphology and high sediment transport rates. A field survey along the west coast of Thailand (Phuket Island, Khao Lak region including some Similan Islands, Nang Pha mangrove areas and Phi Phi Don Islands) seven to nine weeks after the tsunami, however, discovered only small changes in coastal morphology and a limited amount of dislocated sediments, restricted to the lower meters of the tsunami waves. This is in striking contrast to many paleo-tsunami's events of the Atlantic region. Explanations for this discrepancy are sought in: a. Mechanics of the earthquake. A rather slow shock impulse on the water masses over the very long earthquake zone, b. Shallow water in the earthquake zone, and c. Bathymetry of the foreshore zone at the impacted sites. Shallow water west of Thailand has diminished wave energy significantly. The differences in geomorphological and sedimentological signatures of this tsunami compared with many paleo-tsunami worldwide makes it unsuitable to be used as a model for old and future tsunami imprints by an event of this extreme energy and extension.     

达县—宣汉地区长兴组礁滩白云岩成岩过程中的孔隙演化

川东北达县—宣汉长兴组礁滩白云岩具有良好的油气储集潜力。作者通过大量岩石常规薄片、铸体薄片观察研究,发现该礁滩白云岩储层储集空间主要为次生成因的晶间孔、晶间溶孔、粒间粒内溶孔、生物体腔内溶孔和生物格架间溶孔。这些孔隙的形成和演化除了受沉积作用、构造作用和有机质热演化史的影响外,还受成岩作用的控制。首先在海底-暴露-浅埋藏环境下,压实及胶结使原生孔隙基本消失;而准同生混合水白云石化及早期暴露溶蚀作用改变了沉积物内部结构,形成众多微小孔隙的网络及溶孔,为后期形成大量孔隙创造了条件。其次在中—深埋藏环境下,强烈的重结晶作用和溶蚀作用使得岩石形成大量的次生孔隙,大大提高了礁滩白云岩的储集性能。     

陕南川北志留系兰多维列统特列奇阶宁强组的生物礁

志留纪兰多维列世（Llandovery）扬子地台持续上升。特列奇期（Telychian）griestoniensis笔石带上部至spiralis-grandis带代表的时限内,地处扬子地台西北缘的宁强湾,在温暖浅海的环境中沉积了宁强组巨厚的泥页岩,其中夹含8套碳酸盐岩。在与之对应的8期小型局限碳酸盐岩台地的不同部位建造了生物礁和生物滩。生物礁的类型包括骨架礁、生物层和灰泥丘。生物礁群落由底栖固着的造礁珊瑚、苔藓虫、海百合、藻类、层孔虫,以及非固着的附礁生物腕足类、鹦鹉螺、三叶虫等组成。通过宁强广元地区不同地点和层位的生物礁组合分析,论述它们在生态组合、生长形状和发育过程中的多样性。     

中国石炭纪生物礁造礁群落演化

中国石炭纪造礁群落是弗拉斯期—法门期生物绝灭事件后新兴起的。该群落在早期演化过程中经历了形成、发展、完善和衰落的过程,构成一个群落演化旋回。晚期又开始新一轮的旋回,群落的二分性十分显著。显然,石炭纪造礁群落代表一个不连续的演化过程。     

Reef fishes recruited at midwater coral nurseries consume biofouling and reduce cleaning time in Seychelles,Indian Ocean

In coral reef restoration, coral gardening involves rearing coral fragments in underwater nurseries prior to transplantation. These nurseries become fish-aggregating devices and attract biofouling. We hypothesised that: (1) the presence of corals at a nursery is critical to recruit fish assemblages and (2) the recruited fish assemblages control biofouling, reducing person-hours invested in nursery cleaning. Three midwater coral nurseries were deployed at 8?m depth for 27 months within the marine protected area of Cousin Island Special Reserve, Seychelles, Indian Ocean. Each nursery consisted of a 6?m×6?m PVC pipe frame, layered with a recycled 5.5-cm-mesh tuna net. Human cleaning effort was calculated based on daily dive logs. Nursery-associated fish assemblages and behaviour were video-recorded prior to harvesting corals after a 20-month growth period and seven months post-coral harvesting. The density (ind. m–2) of blue-yellow damselfish Pomacentrus caeruleus was 12–16 times higher when corals were present than when corals were absent at the nurseries. Fish assemblages recruited into the nurseries included three trophic levels, from herbivores to omnivores, in six families: Ephippidae, Pomacentridae, Labridae (Scarinae), Gobiidae, Siganidae and Monacanthidae. Higher abundance of large fish (total number of individuals) resulted in 2.75 times less person-hours spent in nursery cleaning. These results have important implications for cost-effective coral reef restoration.