Anthropogenic perturbations to the trophic structure in a permanent hypersaline shallow lake: La Salada de Chiprana (north-eastern Spain)

The changes in the trophic state in the Salada de Chiprana (north-eastern Spain) over two quite different seasonal cycles (1989, 1994/95) were studied. During the former cycle, the lake was permanently stratified, and was biogenically meromictic, and in the latter, showed no apparent stratification. The main variables related to the physico-chemical changes observed can be attributed to the effect caused by the increase in the nutrient loading. The large amounts of nutrients (total-N and total-P) and organic matter are due to the use of the lake as a reservoir for water discharged from irrigation. Two remarkable effects of the change are the permanent mixing of the water column and the immobilization of phosphorus in the form of ionic species and solid phases that are not available to the biota especially primary producers (phytoplankton, periphyton, microbial mats). The results of the present study emphasize the fragility of (hyper) saline ecosystems to anthropogenic disturbances such as increases in freshwater inflow and nutrient inputs. Likewise, the study reveals the failure of conservation criteria that have been used to manage this lake, especially those which refer to the control of freshwater, nutrient-rich influents.     

Numerical Analyses of Caisson Breakwaters on Soft Foundations Under Wave Cyclic Loading

A caisson breakwater is built on soft foundations after replacing the upper soft layer with sand. This paper presents a dynamic finite element method to investigate the strength degradation and associated pore pressure development of the intercalated soft layer under wave cyclic loading. By combining the undrained shear strength with the empirical formula of overconsolidation clay produced by unloading and the development model of pore pressure, the dynamic degradation law that describes the undrained shear strength as a function of cycle number and stress level is derived. Based on the proposed dynamic degradation law and M-C yield criterion, a dynamic finite element method is numerically implemented to predict changes in undrained shear strength of the intercalated soft layer by using the general-purpose FEM software ABAQUS, and the accuracy of the method is verified. The effects of cycle number and amplitude of the wave force on the degradation of the undrained shear strength of the intercalated soft layer and the associated excess pore pressure response are investigated by analyzing an overall distribution and three typical sections underneath the breakwater. By comparing the undrained shear strength distributions obtained by the static method and the quasi-static method with the undrained shear strength distributions obtained by the dynamic finite element method in the three typical sections, the superiority of the dynamic finite element method in predicting changes in undrained shear strength is demonstrated.     

Palynological characteristics of Upper Cretaceous and Paleogene deposits on the west of the Sambian Peninsula (Kaliningrad region), Part 2

The results of studying dinocysts in the Upper Cretaceous-Lower Paleogene succession of the Kaliningrad region are considered. Distinguished in the succession are seven biostratigraphic units in the rank of the Palaeohystrichophora infusorioides, Chatangiella vnigrii, Cerodinium diebelii, Alisocysta margarita, Deflandrea oebisfeldensis, Areosphaeridium diktyoplokum, and Rhombodinium perforatum beds and one Charlesdowniea clathrata angulosa Zone. The Lyubavas Formation has not been distinguished on the west of the Sambian Peninsula. Ages of the Sambia, Alka, and Prussian formations are verified.     

A new modelling strategy for the behaviour of shear walls under dynamic loading

A new simplified modelling strategy to simulate the non‐linear behaviour of reinforced concrete shear walls under dynamic loading is presented. The equivalent reinforced concrete (ERC) model is derived from the framework method and uses lattice meshes for concrete and reinforcement bars and uniaxial constitutive laws based on continuum damage mechanics and plasticity. Results show the capacity of the model to analyse structures having different slenderness and boundary conditions. For low reinforcement ratios however, results are sensitive to the angle formed by the diagonals of the concrete lattice and the horizontal bars. The method is compared with the shear multi‐layered beam model that uses Timoshenko multi‐layered 2D beam elements and biaxial constitutive laws. Comparisons for both models with experimental results of two research programs (one organized by NUPEC and the other by COGEMA and EDF) are provided. ERC is a simplified method that intends to save computer time and allows parametrical studies. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Processes that can disturb the chronostratigraphy of laminated sediments and pollen deposition

The sediment trap technique was used to study the sedimentation processes in two parts of Lake Goci, central Poland, the deep of the main basin and the shallow bay area. From field and lab data was noted that seasonal and annual deposition of pollen grains on the lake bottom was disturbed in the main basin by an increase in water mass dynamics and by resuspension and focusing. Greater concordance between pollen sedimentation and the flowering periods of plants was found in the bay area, where sediment resuspension took place sporadically and with less intensity, compared to the main basin. Futhermore, it is suggested that resuspension of pollen can occur even if laminated sediments are formed, a process which therby diminishes the chronostratigraphic value of sediments and pollen analyses.     

Dynamic Characteristics of Granite Subjected to Intermediate Loading Rate

Summary A large diameter split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) has been developed. This equipment is briefly described, together with a shaped striker that initiates a half-sine incident waveform to obtain the complete stress-strain relationship of the Bukit Timah granite at medium strain rate. Good constant strain rate was derived, and the dynamic complete stress-strain curves and energy absorption of the granite were measured at a strain rate between 20 and 60 per second. Repeated impact between 60–90% of the static strength of the granite was also conducted. Results from the tests show that the cumulative damage of the granite depends on the peak stress of the dynamic loads with a fixed duration. The dynamic fracture strength of the granite loaded at medium strain rate is directly proportional to the cube root of the strain rate. For the granite loaded at this strain rate, Youngs modulus is unchanged. Energy absorption of the samples loading to fragmentation determined its fragmented size distribution. At high strain rate, the rock possesses large energy absorption and the particle size of the fragments is much smaller.     

Paleolimnological environment indicated by the diatom and pollen assemblages in an alpine lake in Taiwan

Yuanyang Lake (24°35N, 121°24E), located at an altitude of 1,670 m within a nature preserve in northern Taiwan, is an acidic lake. Remains of diatoms and pollen from a 3.72-m sediment core were used to elucidate the relationships between the vegetation of the watershed and the paleolimnological environment. Past pH, saprobity level, and total P of the lake were inferred from the diatom assemblages and were analyzed with respect to changes in the terrestrial vegetation. The inferred pH values fluctuated only slightly, whereas the inferred saprobity level increased markedly towards the sediment surface. In the topmost sediment, a slight drop in the inferred pH was associated with a lowering in the saprobity index. This was interpreted as a possible result of recent anthropogenic acidification and changes in productivity related to changes in acidity. Based on pollen analyses, we conclude that Chamaecyparis persisted over at least the last four thousand years in the watershed. The vegetation in the watershed changed little during this period of time, which is consistent with the constancy of inferred pH values. A positive correlation between the inferred pH and ¹³C values of the sediments was found.     

Non-point source pollution of Wujiang River watershed in Guizhou Province, SW China

The amount of pollution from non-point sources flowing in the streams of the Wujiang River watershed in Guizhou Province, SW China, is estimated by a GIS-based method using rainfall, surface runoff and land use data. A grid of cells, 100 m in size, is laid over the landscape. For each cell, mean annual surface runoff is estimated from rainfall and percent land use, and expected pollutant concentration is estimated from land use. The product of surface runoff and concentration gives expected pollutant loading from that cell. These loadings are accumulated going downstream to give expected annual pollutant loadings in streams and rivers. By dividing these accumulated loadings by the similarly accumulated mean annual surface runoff, the expected pollutant concentration from non-point sources is determined for each location in a stream or river. Observed pollutant concentrations in the watershed are averaged at each sample point and compared to the expected concentrations at the same locations determined from the grid cell model. In general, annual non-point source nutrient loadings in the Wujiang River watershed are seen to be predominantly from the agricultural and meadow areas.     

The Holocene vegetation history of the Khibiny Mountains: implications for the post‐glacial expansion of spruce and alder on the Kola Peninsula,northwestern Russia

Pollen and peat botanical investigations of the Lutnermayok peat bog, Kola Peninsula, northwestern Russia, were carried out, and 21 surface pollen samples were studied. Combined with previous studies our data form the basis for the vegetation history over the last 7000 yr of the Khibiny Mountains. Pinus sylvestris was the dominant species between 7000 and 5000 yr BP and Picea obovata penetrated to the Khibiny Mountains ca. 5500/5300 yr BP. Since 4500 yr BP, Picea replaced Pinus in major parts of the area and dominated the forest cover. Picea immigrated to the Kola Peninsula after 7000 yr BP. There were two paths of spruce migration: from the southeast and the southwest. Grey alder, Alnusincana, immigrated to the Kola Peninsula from the southwest and northwest about ca. 8000 yr BP. Grey alder has been restricted to its modern range since 4000 yr BP. The range of vertical movement of the treeline in Khibiny Mountains during the last 700 yr was 240–260 m, which corresponds to an amplitude of summer temperature change of 2°C. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Human impact and soil erosion during the last 5000 yrs as recorded in lacustrine sedimentary organic matter at Lac d'Annecy, the French Alps

Sedimentary organic matter has been systematically studied in an eight-metre long core from the centre of the Petit Lac (Annecy, French Alps). The palynofacies composition identifies different terrestrial organic sources including forest floors, soil-horizons and geological substratum. The amount of recycled organic matter derived from the geological substratum is estimated and subtracted from the other contributions from the catchment area. The palynological record indicates that the relative variations in organic sources are directly dependent on human land-use. From ca. 5000 to 1700 BP, the human impact on soil cohesion is very low and organic matter is mainly exported from the surficial forest floor. The Roman invasion (ca. 1700 BP) marks the most important ecological and hydrological change. From 1700 to 900 BP, the clearing of forests released deeper-soil components. This trend is increased after 900 BP with agriculture intensification, which resulted in a higher sedimentation rate. In all the periods, extreme events such as flood or intensive run-off are characterised by notable increases of organic matter from surface (5000 to 1700 BP) and deep (1700 BP to now) soils.