Ant composition and activity patterns as determined by pitfall trapping and other methods in three habitats in the semi-arid Karoo

The diversity and abundance of epigaeic ant species were determined across three habitats (riverine areas, gently sloping grassland areas and steep slope areas) in summer (November–December) and winter (May–June) of 1998 at Tussen die Riviere Nature Reserve in the Karoo, to determine temporal and spatial variations in the availability of potential prey species of the aardvark (Orycteropus afer). Pitfall trapping, dig sampling and quadrat sampling were used to ensure as complete a sampling effort as possible. Forty-five ant species of five sub-families and 17 genera were recorded. The grassland habitat yielded the highest abundance and diversity, followed by the steep slope and riverine areas. Ant abundance and diversity were higher during summer than winter in all three habitats. Anoplolepis custodiens was the most abundant species in summer, whilst Monomorium albopilosum was the most abundant species in winter. Pitfall trapping was responsible for recording more species than dig sampling or quadrat sampling. No method recorded all of the species present.     

Geologic risk, economic assessment, and optimal decision making of petroleum plays in the Bohaiwan Basin, northern China

A system of play (trap) assessment based on the analysis of geological characteristics of five different types of petroleum plays in the Bohaiwan Basin, northern China, is proposed. The system makes use of conditional probability, fuzzy logic, and Monte Carlo simulation to assess geologic risk for estimating the undiscovered petroleum resources in a region. Combining the estimates of undiscovered resources with the subsequent economic evaluation of discovered resources by using techniques of optimization, the expected monetary value can be estimated to determine the overall benefits of an investment. A software program has been developed to carry out the calculations.     

Bank-derived carbonate sediment transport and dissolution in the Hawaiian Archipelago

This investigation used two approaches to examine the flux of bank-derived carbonate particles and determine the potential influence of benthic carbonate particle dissolution on the carbon chemistry of the waters around the Hawaiian Archipelago. First, the particle flux near several representative carbonate banks in the Hawaiian Archipelago was measured and compared with the flux at a distal site (ALOHA) approximately 100 km north of Oahu, Hawaii. The results of four sediment trap deployments on three carbonate banks in the Hawaiian Archipelago demonstrate that the flux of bank-derived carbonate particles are consistently one to two orders of magnitude higher than the fluxes at the distal station. Furthermore, the mineralogy of the carbonate flux near the banks, which includes very soluble bank-derived aragonite and magnesian calcite particles, is distinctly different from that of the distal fluxes. Second, the chemistry of the waters at each bank station along the archipelago was characterized and compared with the chemistry of the distal waters to determine if differences in the particle flux were reflected in the carbon chemistry. Higher alkalinity and carbonate ion concentrations were observed around all of the banks studied. The saturation state of these waters suggests that the dissolution of some magnesian calcite and aragonite phases could explain the higher alkalinity values. Calculations suggest that the dissolution of benthically-derived aragonite and magnesian calcite may be an important component of the North Pacific alkalinity budget and a potential sink for anthropogenic CO₂.     

层序：一个新地层单位的自述

层序是层序地层学常用的且最重要的地层单位，它既是以客观不整合面为界面的岩石地层单位，又是有严格时间属性的年代地层单位，具岩石地层单位和年代地层单位的两重性，它具横向可预测、全盆地统一及时限短等特性。与传统的地层单位有严格的区别，克服了岩石地层、生物地层及年代地层在划分与对比地层时的缺点，提高了地层划分与对比的精度。     

澜沧江-湄公河流域产输沙和水库拦沙研究存在问题分析

澜沧江-湄公河是中国与东南亚地区重要的跨境河流，其泥沙问题涉及流域内各国的生态、农业、渔业、航运、海岸侵蚀等诸多领域，近年来下游输沙量持续减少，受到广泛关注。综述了澜沧江-湄公河泥沙研究的争论焦点，包括全流域主产沙区的位置，湄公河干流水文站点间实测输沙量异常变化关系以及人类活动对泥沙过程的影响。系统梳理了现有研究中存在的主要问题，包括下湄公河泥沙观测数据质量不高、全流域总输沙量1.60亿t/a的数据基础存疑、水文模拟的时空分辨率不足、未考虑土地利用变化的影响和悬移质之外的泥沙研究不充分等，在此基础上提出了进一步研究建议。     

Coccolithophores from the central Arabian Sea: Sediment trap results

Sediment trap samples collected from a depth of 1018 m in the Central Arabian Sea Trap (CAST) at 14°28.2′N, 64°35.8′E were analyzed for temporal variation of coccolithophore fluxes from October 1993 to August 1994. Out of the twenty species of coccolithophores encountered,Gephyrocapsa oceanica, Emiliania huxleyi, Umbilicosphaera sibogae andUmbellosphaera irregularis were the most abundant. The total coccolithophore fluxes ranged from 28.5 × 10⁶m^-2d^-1 to 50.3 × 10⁶m^-2d^-1 showing seasonality with higher fluxes during the northeast (NE) monsoon and lower fluxes during the spring intermonsoon. The higher fluxes were attributed to the enhancement of primary production in the central Arabian Sea due to southward extent of nutrients from the northeast Arabian Sea by the prevailing surface currents. Similarly, the occurrences of relatively lower coccolithophore fluxes during the spring intermonsoon and southwest (SW) monsoon were attributed to the low nutrients in the warm, shallow surface mixed layer and downwelling to the south of Findlater Jet respectively in the central Arabian Sea. Some of the coccolithophore species such asE. huxleyi, G. oceanica, Calcidiscus leptoporus andUmbellosphaera tenuis showed signs of dissolution.     

辽河油田东部凹陷中段走滑断层与油气的关系

走滑构造不仅加速含油气盆地油气的运移和富集,而且在促使油气圈闭的形成过程中也促使形成圈闭中的优良储集层。在具备生、储、盖地质条件时,花状构造样式的含油气性优于其他构造样式,不仅控制着油气藏的分布,而且走滑断层的应力释放区往往是油气富集区。扭应力作用使生油层中的分散油气被“强拧”驱赶、运移至花状构造背斜核部,在负花状构造的上升盘中形成高产油气流。辽河坳陷内的黄沙坨和欧利坨子地区便是郯庐断裂在辽河坳陷东部凹陷中段的应力释放区,对该区走滑断层的识别和解释,不仅对东部凹陷中段油气藏的形成、分布及富集有了新的认识,而且可为寻找同类油气藏提供依据。     

Live shearing free-ranging guanacos (Lama guanicoe) in Patagonia for sustainable use

Guanaco (Lama guanicoe) populations declined after the introduction of domestic sheep and the emerging conflicts with sheep breeders and their livestock. Apart from conflicts with sheep ranching, guanacos have declined due to poaching, legal overhunting, and lack of sound management schemes. Guanacos have been proposed as a key species for rural development in Latin America, so research on tools for their sustainable use is required. We tested a mobile corral trap (MCT) designed for live-trapping and shearing free-ranging guanacos at four ranches along Patagonia. We assessed mortality and injury rates related to our procedures and calculated and compared roundup and capture efficiencies. We captured a total of 55 guanacos (13 females, 38 males, and 4 calves), and live-sheared 30. No mortalities were recorded. Average roundup and capture efficiencies were 11.9 guanacos roundup⁻¹ (range 8–20) and 11% (range 0.3–31.5%), respectively. Mean fleece weight was 307±15 g for females and 338±12 g for males. The MCT employed seems promising for capturing and shearing free-ranging guanacos for their sustainable use. Management implications include: (1) sheep ranches may obtain benefits, generating a positive perception toward guanacos; (2) guanaco populations may increase and even colonize devoid areas due to an increased protection level.     

塔里木盆地奥陶系牙形石带及沉积层序

通过对塔里木盆地西部柯坪、巴楚及东部却尔却克奥陶系露头剖面及盆地覆盖区钻井岩心的大量牙形石样品分析,分别建立了塔里木盆地中西部及东部地区奥陶系牙形石带序列。盆地中西部地区牙形石带共计22个,由老到新分别为Variabiloconusaff.bassleri带、Rossodusmanitouensis-Cordylodusrotundatus-Chosonodinaherfurthi组合带、Scolopodusquadraplicatus带、Glyptoconusfloweri带、Tripodusproteus/Paltodusdeltifer带、Glyptoconusunicostatus带、Serratognathusdiversus/Paroistodusproteus带、Serratognathoideschuxianensis-Scolopoduseuspinus-Erraticodontarimensis组合带、Aurilobodusleptosomatus-Loxodusdissectus组合带、Amorphognathusvariabilis带、Eoplacognathussuecicus带、Pygodusserrus带、Pygodusanserinus带、Eoplacognathusjianyeensis/Baltoniodusva-riabilis带、Eoplacognathuselongatus带、Baltoniodusalobatus带、Belodinacompressa/Periodongrandis带、Phrag-modusundatus带、Belodinaconfluens带、Yaoxianognathusneimengguensis带、Yaoxianognathusyaoxianensis带和Aphelognathuspyramidalis带;盆地东部地区下奥陶统属于深水盆地相,其特有的牙形石带主要有5个,由老到新分别为Cordyloduslindstromi带、Cordylodusangulatus带、Prioniodusgilberti带、Paroistodusproteus带和Prionio-duselegans带。同时初步建立了塔里木盆地奥陶系三级层序地层格架,并探讨了上述牙形石带与盆地奥陶系主要构造单元岩石地层单位以及全盆地可对比的6个三级层序之间的关系。     

岩性地层圈闭研究综述

根据岩性地层圈闭的研究历史和进展,将岩性地层圈闭的研究分为初期阶段、探索阶段和地震综合勘探阶段。现今的研究方法主要是进行层序地层学的研究,建立沉积体系模式,指出有利相带,预测隐蔽圈闭的有利区等。根据不同沉积体系的特点,归纳出3类岩性地层圈闭:浅海碳酸盐岩类、陆相硅质碎屑沉积类和深水沉积类。如何有效地利用层序地层学理论和各种资料进行圈闭预测是目前研究的难点和热点。今后的研究方向是不同地区不同沉积体系的岩性地层圈闭的勘探方法、圈闭与层序地层学的关系、岩性圈闭的地球物理检测技术与综合地质因素的结合等。