The Burren: a glacial,karstic and biokarstic expression of a limestone plateau in western Ireland

The term glaciokarst describes a landscape where both glacial and karstic processes have contributed to geomorphological evolution and has been applied to a range of environments from the high arctic to the alpine Mediterranean. Nevertheless, glaciokarstic environments globally often exhibit significant variation in geomorphological processes and landforms due to these geographical differences. The Burren, County Clare, Republic of Ireland, is often quoted as a quintessential glaciokarstic landscape. However, the Burren and other similar environments would appear to lean towards one end of the glaciokarst spectrum, where solutional and biological processes have been dominant throughout the Holocene, in contrast to ice‐dominated glaciokarsts where karstic and biokarstic processes are temperature‐limited and cryospheric processes remain the principal geomorphological agents. Holocene landscape evolution and the development of a range of meso‐, micro‐ and nano‐scale karren features on limestone surfaces appears to be largely biokarstic in origin. Karstification of many glacially scoured limestone pavements would have begun under acidic soil cover, with biological soil processes contributing to smooth, rounded cryptokarstic surface forms. Holocene soil erosion is attributed to anthropogenic activity, climatic fluctuations and the evolution of the karstic groundwater system leading to vertical soil loss through widening grikes. Exposed limestone pavements subject to subaerial conditions often exhibit extensive lichen colonization which has been shown to influence the overall rate of karstification and contribute to the development of micro‐ and meso‐scale bioweathering features. Where cryptokarstic features have been exhumed from beneath soil cover, their evolution under subaerial conditions leads to intermediate, polygenetic karren features. In light of our current understanding of the Burren landscape, it is proposed that the term glaciobiokarstic may be a better expression to encompass the biological processes that have played a fundamental role in the evolution of the Burren and similar landscapes, without neglecting the contribution of glacial and inorganic karstic processes. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

全球变化背景下暖水珊瑚礁生态系统的适应性与修复研究

暖水珊瑚礁生态系统是热带海域最具生物多样性和代表性的生态系统之一。本研究分析了全球变化背景下暖水珊瑚礁生态系统的变化和风险,开展了受损暖水珊瑚礁生态系统退化和消失的致灾因子归因分析,综述了暖水珊瑚礁生态系统的适应性与修复技术研究。分析表明:①过去几十年来,暖水珊瑚礁生态系统快速退化,包括大面积白化和死亡、多样性明显减少和生态功能显著衰退,主要归因于海洋升温与人类活动等致灾因子的影响;②在温室气体高排放浓度情景下(RCP 8.5),相比工业革命前,到本世纪中叶,南海升温将可能远超过2℃,这表明南海暖水珊瑚礁生态系统正在逼近其气候临界点,即全球升温高于2℃时,90%~99%以上的暖水珊瑚将消失;③1980年代以来,海洋升温、海洋热浪和强热带气旋等海洋气候变化致灾因子对南海暖水珊瑚的危害性(影响的强度、范围和时间)明显增加,对暖水珊瑚礁生态系统产生了严重的影响;与此同时,近岸海域的过度或破坏性捕捞、采挖和潜水等人类活动,对暖水珊瑚造成了严重损害,增加了暖水珊瑚的气候脆弱性,而这种人类活动既是局部的,也是全球性的现象,使得暖水珊瑚更难以适应全球变暖的影响。分析还表明,为了增强暖水珊瑚适应气候与环境变化的恢复力(韧性),人们开展了诸多受损珊瑚礁生态系统的适应性与修复研究,但主要是采用无性繁殖或结合人工基质的修复方式,而应用有性繁殖技术恢复受损珊瑚礁的方式仍较少;最近,暖水珊瑚耐热的基因适应性研究取得了重要进展,为暖水珊瑚适应全球变暖提供了一种新的途径。本研究最后探讨了中国受损珊瑚礁生态系统的修复问题与对策。     

流花11-1油田礁灰岩油藏储层非均质性及剩余油分布规律

结合流花11-1油田的岩芯、测井、地震、开发动态等资料总结了礁灰岩油藏沉积、成岩及构造等因素造成的储层非均质特征,引入的储层非均质综合指数,可更快速、直观地揭示了剩余油的分布规律.分析了控制剩余油分布规律的地质因素和开发因素.根据储层非均质性的综合研究成果,指出了剩余油潜力区;在潜力区部署的侧钻井生产情况较好,研究成果得到了验证.该研究思路对类似油田储层非均质性的表征与剩余油分布的预测有较好的借鉴作用.     

Renovation of a failed constructed wetland treating acid mine drainage

 Acid mine drainage (AMD) from abandoned underground mines significantly impairs water quality in the Jones Branch watershed in McCreary Co., Kentucky, USA. A 1022-m² surface-flow wetland was constructed in 1989 to reduce the AMD effects, however, the system failed after six months due to insufficient utilization of the treatment area, inadequate alkalinity production and metal overloading. In an attempt to improve treatment efficiencies, a renovation project was designed incorporating two anoxic limestone drains (ALDs) and a series of anaerobic subsurface drains that promote vertical flow of mine water through a successive alkalinity producing system (SAPS) of limestone beds overlain by organic compost. Analytical results from the 19-month post-renovation period are very encouraging. Mean iron concentrations have decreased from 787 to 39 mg l^–1, pH increased from 3.38 to 6.46 and acidity has been reduced from 2244 to 199 mg l^–1 (CaCO₃ equivalent). Mass removal rates averaged 98% for Al, 95% for Fe, 94% for acidity, 55% for sulfate and 49% for Mn during the study period. The results indicate that increased alkalinity production from limestone dissolution and longer residence time have contributed to sufficient buffering and metal retention. The combination of ALDs and SAPS technologies used in the renovation and the sequence in which they were implemented within the wetland system proved to be an adequate and very promising design for the treatment of this and other sources of high metal load AMD. Received: 29 June 1998 · Accepted: 15 September 1998     

Marine reserve phenomenon in the Pacific islands

Coinciding with increased numbers of global marine reserves, communities in the Pacific islands are establishing unprecedented number of periodically-harvested and indefinitely-closed marine reserves. An integrated ecological and social comparative methodology is used to examine the motivations and outcomes of reserves in Vanuatu. Communities establish permanent reserves due to concerns about human impacts on reefs, while others establish periodic reserves in response to declining resources. Local knowledge suggests that both reserve types are effective, although validation by underwater surveys was inconclusive. Community support for both reserve types is strong, suggesting that the marine reserve phenomenon in Pacific will continue.     

江苏小庙洪牡蛎礁的地貌-沉积特征

利用卫星影象和野外实地勘察资料对江苏小庙洪牡蛎礁的地貌-沉积特征进行分析。结果表明，该牡蛎礁发育在强潮淤泥质潮坪上，造礁牡蛎主要是近江牡蛎和长牡蛎，表层的鲜活牡蛎为褶牡蛎。牡蛎礁区海水属盐度较高(27—30)的半成水，含沙量较大，为0．2—0．3g／L。活体牡蛎堆积体顶面高于周围潮间下带滩面1．0—1．5m。潮流较强，多在0．5—2．0m／s。海岸剖面可分为4个带，即礁后潮间带、潮沟、礁体生长带及礁前斜坡带。由于处于海岸侵蚀段，礁后潮坪缺失潮上带和大部分的潮间上带。礁后潮坪主要以粗粉砂为主，礁后潮沟冲淤变化较大，故礁体生长带时而为一沙洲，时而又与岸滩相连。礁体生长带分布在潮间下带，可看到独立的斑状礁体、带状礁体和大面积环状礁体群。环状礁的微地貌可以划分为礁塘(泻湖)、塘口和塘沟、塘口三角洲、礁墙和礁平台等。     

雷州半岛灯楼角珊瑚礁海区的浮游植物

雷州半岛西南岸的珊瑚礁,是唯一的中国大陆沿岸现代珊瑚礁。根据2004年8月的调查资料研究分析了雷州半岛灯楼角珊瑚礁海区浮游植物的种类组成、生态类群和数量分布等,以期为珊瑚礁生态系的研究提供基础资料。结果显示:浮游植物共有108种(含变种和变型),其中硅藻门34属85种、甲藻门10属21种、蓝藻门1属2种,浮游植物的种数分布由近岸往远岸递增;浮游植物大致划分为近岸低盐类群、近海广布类群和外海高温高盐类群等3个生态类群;优势种有中肋骨条藻Skeletonemacostatum、菱形海线藻Thalassionemanitzschioides、奇异菱形藻Nitzschiaparadoxa等8种;多样性指数和均匀度平均值分别为3.448和0.655,总体分布比较均匀;浮游植物细胞总量平均值为93×104cells/m3,其中硅藻类占绝对优势,浮游植物分布不均匀,密集于灯楼角南面的A断面。     

Microbial Biomass Dynamics Along a Trophic Gradient at the Atlantic Barrier Reef off Belize (Central America)

Abstract. Recent findings indicate that heterotrophic bacteria and not phytoplankton are the most numerous biomass components even in the euphotic zone of oligotrophic, open oceans. In this study it was hypothesized that the microbial biomass components change within a few hundred meters as oligotrophic water flows across the reef and becomes enriched with nutrients. Along a trophic gradient, four stations at the Atlantic Barrier Reef off Belize (Central America) were sampled for microbial biomass components. Phytoplankton biomass (measured as chlorophyll a) ranged from the most oligotrophic station (St. 1) to the most eutrophic station (St. 4) from 6.9–415.5 μg CI"' (assuming a C:chl a ratio of 30): heterotrophic bacterial biomass increased 4-fold (from 10.1–46.4μg C 1^-1), heterotrophic nanoflagellate (HNAN) biomass increased from 4.6-19ug C 1^-1, and cyanobacteria from 0.9-4.5 μg C-1^-1. Production estimates derived from seawater cultures revealed a 5-fold increase in bacterial production from the oligotrophic station (3.7 ug C 1^-1 d^-1) to the eutrophic St. 4 (17.8ug C-1-d1^-1)- Cyanobacterial production rose from 1.1–3.5ug C-1–d^-1 and HNAN production from 0.65-1.13 μg C-1^-1 -d^-1. While cyanobacteria contributed between 13 and 20% to the autotrophic plankton component in the oligotrophic waters, their contribution dropped to about 1 % at the eutrophic stations.     

Growth Dynamics of the Middle Devonian Jukoupu Bioherm,Xinshao, Hunan

The growth process, palaeoecological features and the function of organisms in reef-building of the Jukoupu bioherm in Hunan are discussed in detail. The bioherm is divided into 10 microfacies. Organisms are very abundant in the reef. Thirty-two genera Belonging to 7 phyla have been recognized. They make up 5 communities composed mainly of stromatopoids, Corals and algae, each of which has its own salient ecological features. An analysis of all communities shows that the organic functions are very complex. The same organisms may possess diverse functions simultaneously as the reef growth enters the late stage. The growth process of the reef may involve five stages' (l)biostrome stage, (2) stabilization stage, (3) frame-type reef-building stage, (4) binding and covering-type reef-building stage, and (5) baffle- type reef -building stage.     

北京周口店豹皮灰岩的变形特征

周口店地区广泛分布的寒武纪地层府君山组底部灰岩因其具典型的豹斑状构造而被称为豹皮灰岩。本文主要以出露于周口店黄院地区的豹皮灰岩为研究对象。组成豹皮灰岩的物质成分有2种,一为白云质成分的豹斑,其余部分为泥灰质。在露头尺度上,豹皮灰岩中的豹斑发生了明显的旋转变形并具有一定的定向性,而泥灰质成分则具有清晰的韧性变形特征,为较典型的碳酸盐糜棱岩;在微观尺度上,构成豹斑的白云石矿物未发生韧性变形,而泥灰质成分中的方解石具有明显的细粒化、拉长和定向。豹皮灰岩变形发生时岩石所处的温度介于200～250℃之间。豹皮灰岩的形成经历了原岩形成和后期构造变形改造2个阶段,于寒武纪由沉积作用形成了岩石的物质组分和原生层状构造,在前印支期受水平剪切作用形成岩石的豹斑状构造。