A New Female Cone, Araucaria beipoiaoensis sp. nov. from the Middle Jurassic Tiaojishan Formation, Beipiao, Western Liaoning, China and Its Evolutionary Significance

A new species of Araucaria, Araucaria beipiaoensis sp. nov., collected from the Middle Jurassic Tiaojishan Formation, southern hill of Shebudai village, near Beipiao city, western Liaoning is based on a permineralized female cone, which is ovate to elliptical in shape, about 11 cm × 7 cm × 4.5 cm in size. The cone bears rhomboid bracts that are spirally attached, texture thicker, with wings on both sides, with a detached lamina-like apex at the tip. In inner structure the ovuliferous scales are thicker and fused with bracts at the end with a ligular sulcns. There is one wingless ovule/seed per seed-scale complex embedded in the ovuliferous scale tissue, with the micropyle directed toward the cone axis. The ovules/seeds are long ovate or elliptical in shape, 1 cm long and near the base about 3 mm in diameter; the ovule/seed integuments have begun differentiation into 3 layers： the sarcotesta, sclerotesta, and endotesta. The nucellus is free from the enclosing integuments except in the chalazal region where it is fused to the inner layer （endotesta） of integument. Some ovules show cellularized nucellar tissue. Mature seeds exhibit the papery-thin wavy nucellus characteristically near to the micropyle. The embryonic tissue appears to be four cotyledons. The morphology and structure of the cone shows a close relationship to the araucarian cones of fossil and living genera but differs from any known species. The new species is distributed in the Middle Jurassic of the northern hemisphere, especially Asia, and has important significance for the evolution of the Family Araucariaceae.     

Benthic nutrient fluxes in the intertidal flat within the Changjiang （Yangtze River） Estuary

In an annual cycle from March 2005 to February 2006, benthic nutrient fluxes were measured monthly in the Dongtan intertidal flat within the Changjiang （Yangtze River） Estuary. Except for NH4^＋, there always showed high fluxes from overlying water into sediment for other four nutrients. Sediments in the high and middle marshes, covered with halophyte and consisting of macrofauna, demonstrated more capabilities of assimilating nutrients from overlying water than the low marsh. Sampling seasons and nutrient concentrations in the overlying water could both exert significant effects on these fluxes. Additionally, according to the model provided by previous study, denitrification rates, that utilizing NO3- transported from overlying water （Dw） in Dongtan sediments, were estimated to be from -16 to 193 μmol·h^-1·m^-2 with an average value of 63 μmol·h^-1·m^-2 （n=18）. These estimated values are still underestimates of the in-situ rates owing to the lack of consideration of DN, i.e., denitrification supported by the local NO3^- production via nitrification.     

New Isophlebioid Dragonflies from the Middle Jurassic of Inner Mongolia,China(Insecta:Odonata:Isophlebioptera:Campterophiebiidae)

Three new species of fossil dragonflies assigned to Sinokaratawia Nel,Huang and Lin in family Campterophlebildae,i.e.S,daohugouica sp.nov.,S.magica sp.nov.and S.gloriosa sp.nov.,and new materials of male S.prokopi Nel,Huang and Lin,2007 are described from the Middle Jurassic of Daohugou,Inner Mongolia,China.An emended diagnosis of genus Sinokaratawia was proposed.     

Environmental Redox Changes of the Ancient Sea in the Yangtze Area during the Ordo-Silurian Transition

Extensive organic-matter （OM） rich facies （black shales） occur in the Ordo-Silurian boundary successions in the Yangtze area, South China. To investigate the redox changes of the Yangtze Sea during the Ordo-Silurian transition, two OM sections （Wangjiawan in Yichang, Hubei Province, and Sanjiaguan in Zhangjiajie, Hunan Province） straddling the Ordo-Silurian boundary are studied. The measurements finished in this study include contents of the total organic carbon （TOC）, pyrite sulphur, and different species of Fe, including dithionite-extractable Fe （FED）, pyrite Fe （FeP）, HCl-extractable Fe （FeH）, and total Fe （FeT）, in black shales, as well as other redox proxies, such as the SIC ratio, the ratio between highly reactive Fe （FeHR = FeD ＋ FeP） and FeT, and the FeP/（FeP ＋ FeH） ratio, known as the degree of pyritization （DOP）. In the Wangjiawan section, the Middle Ashgill sediments have high FeHR/FeT ratios （0.20-0.77; avg. 0.45）, high DOP values （0.21-0.72; avg. 0.54）, and a relatively constant sulfur content independent of the organic carbon content. By the contrast, the mid-early Hirnantian deposits generally have low FeHR/FeT ratios （0.10-0.35; avg. 0.21）, low DOP values （0.11- 0.40; avg. 0.28）, and SIC values are clustering on the normal marine value （SIC = 0.36）. The late Hirnantian and early Rhuddanian deposits, similar to those of the Middle Ashgill deposits, are characterized by high FeHR/FeT ratios （0.32-0.49; avg. 0.41）, high DOP values （0.46-0.68; avg. 0.53） and fairly constant sulfur contents. These data suggest the occurrences of marine anoxia on the Yangtze Sea shelf during intervals of the Mid Ashgill, Late Hirnantian and Early Rhuddanian, and ventilated and oxygenated marine conditions during the mid-early Hirnantian time. The mid-early Hirnantian ventilated event was concomitant with the global glacial period, likely resulted from the glacio-eustatic sea-level fall and subsequent circulation of cold, dense oxygenated waters     

大岭子金矿地质特征及选矿浸出率

大岭子金矿V1矿体赋存于中元古界高黎贡山群变质岩中,受韧性剪切带控制,矿石类型以氧化矿石为主。提出选矿依据。     

长江流域沿江镉异常源追踪与定量评估的方法技术研究:以长江流域安徽段为例

长江全流域性的Cd异常是被中国正在进行的多目标地球化学调查发现的重大生态环境问题。以长江流域安徽段为研究对象,对沿江镉异常源追踪与定量评估的方法技术进行了系统研究。通过对安徽段长江干流及其主要支流悬浮物中元素含量的测量查明:悬浮物是流域内重金属元素大跨度迁移的主要载体;Cd在悬浮物中的富集程度远远大于其他重金属元素,这或许正是Cd可以形成沿江流域性异常的主要原因;长江干流悬浮物中重金属元素含量的变化明显受到沿江支流的影响。安徽段长江干流及其主要支流重金属元素输出通量定量计算结果表明:秋蒲河是安徽段重金属元素输出通量最大的支流,每年在安徽段长江两岸土壤中沉积下约4.45t的Cd。利用悬浮物加密测量、1∶5万土壤测量和岩石测量对顺安河流域Cd异常源追踪结果显示:内生金属矿床特别是铅锌矿是悬浮物中Cd的最大的供应源。采用河漫滩沉积物分层采样技术和同位素测年技术,初步恢复了研究区Cd等重金属元素沉积和污染的地球化学历史,对研究区Cd等重金属元素异常的未来演变趋势进行了预警预测。     

Composition and pre-metamorphic geodynamic setting of the ultrahigh-pressure metabasic rocks from Dabie Shan,E-China

As part of the Yangtze plate, segments of the Dabie Shan terrane of Central China underwent ultra-high pressure metamorphism during Triassic subduction. We studied the geochemistry of the abundant eclogites to evaluate the nature of the protoliths and their geodynamic setting. Although some previous geochemical work exists, the analyses and interpretation herein are based on a new subdivision of the ultra-high pressure sequence into basement and cover units (Changpu and Ganghe Unit), revealing new and important results. In addition, eclogites of the so-called HP Unit south of the UHP units were studied. Whereas the large ion lithophile elements indicate postmagmatic, metasomatic changes of some samples, the high-field strength elements and the rare earth elements display original magmatic trends. The geochemical characteristics of the eclogites of the ultra-high pressure areas display a strong dependence on their “structural” and geographic position. The eclogites of the basement and the Changpu Unit indicate melt intrusion and extrusion in a continental rift system, i.e. during extensional tectonics. In contrast, the Ganghe Unit is characterized by a pronounced chemical homogeneity. The composition of the eclogites indicates generation from a mantle source highly influenced by slab-derived fluids. Those of the HP Unit show similar characteristics. Magmatism of the Ganghe and HP Unit probably occurred in a continental arc setting. A similar age for both units, geographically and/or tectonically separated, is possible. The geodynamic interpretation based on the geochemistry of the four units points to a Neoproterozoic scenario in which the protoliths of the HP and the cover units could have been of similar age and deposited in one evolving geological system. A rift-related larger-scale basin might have formed, e.g. a continental back-arc basin behind a magmatic arc after or simultaneous to sedimentation and magmatism in the magmatic arc. Alternatively, magmatism occurred in independent geodynamic settings, distinct in time and space. The units were juxtaposed during exhumation, after subduction to varying depths.     

扬子地台前寒武纪－寒武纪界线地层的微体植物化石群

前寒武纪一寒武纪界线地层在扬子地台发育良好、分布广泛,并有包括微体植物群、海藻、瓶形原生物、具硬体动物及‘澄江动物群’等化石的发现。因而,扬子地台成为研究前寒武纪－寒武纪界线生物地层的代表地区之一。基于对扬子地台前寒武纪－寒武纪界线地层已知微体植物化石记录的回顾和论定,总结概括了下寒武统微体植物化石组合：寒武系最底部硅质磷块岩中的Ｍｉｃｒｈｙｓｔｒｉｄｉｕｍ－Ｐａｒａｃｙｍａｔｉｏｓｐｈａｅｒａ－Ｍｅｇａｔｈｒｉｘ组合和较高层位页岩的Ｓｋｉａｇｉａ－Ａｎｎｕｌｕｍ－Ａｒｃｈａｅｏｄｉｓｃｉｎａ组合。它们分别与Ａｎａｂａｒｉｔｅｓ－Ｃｉｒｃｏｔｈｅｃａ－Ｐｒｏｔｏｈｅｒｔｚｉｎａ小壳动物化石带和Ｐａｒａｂａｄｉｅｌｌａ及Ｅｏｒｅｄｌｉｃｈｉａ三叶虫带相对应。与东欧地台疑源类生物地层相对照,扬子地台Ｍｉｃｒｈｙｓｔｒｉｄｉｕｍ－Ｐａｒａｃｙｍａｔｉｏｓｐｈａｅｒａ－Ｍｅｇａｔｈｒｉｘ组合的纵向分布大体和东欧地台Ａｓｔｅｒｉｄｉｕｍｔｏｒｎａｔｕｍ－Ｃｏｍａｓｐｈａｅｒｉｄｉｕｍｖｅｌｖｅｔｕｍ组合带相一致,而以上两地台的化石组合产出层位可能都略高于纽芬兰东部剖面,依据Ｐｈｙｃｏｄｅｓｐｅｄｕｍ所厘定的寒武系底界?     

坡地农林复合系统的结构类型与效益分析─以长江三峡库区坡地农业为例

本义认为现代术语的农林复合系统来源于生产实践,体现了农业与林业的有机结合、品种生态和经济的有机结合、产品多样化以及管理科学化4个方面相统一的特点。文章在分析三峡库区农林复合系统的类型结构基础上,提出了农林复合系统可以进行层次结构划分的观点。最后,以典型案例研究方法入手,对1种农林结构类型进行效益分析,结果表明,采用植物篱农林复合坡地系统,是现阶段生产力水平下实现坡地生态经济协调发展的有效途径,值得广泛推广。     

New specimens of a fossil ostrich from the Miocene of Kenya

Fossilised hind limb bones from the late Middle Miocene (approximately 14 million-year-old [MYA]) Fort Ternan, Kadianga West and Ngorora localities in Western Kenya indicate the presence of a new representative of the ostrich genus Struthio. These new fossils represent some of the oldest known records for Struthio yet described, slightly younger than Struthio coppensi, from the Lower Miocene of Namibia. Because the four sub-species of the modern-day ostrich (Struthio camelus camelus, Struthio camelus australis, Struthio camelus massaicus, and Struthio camelus molybdophanes) inhabit the plains of Africa, and as recently as the 1940s, a fifth sub-species was also present in the Middle East and Saudi Arabia (Struthio camelus syriacus), records of Struthio from Kenya and Namibia testify to the much wider distribution of these cursorial birds in the relatively recent past. This is further supported by the very high frequency of ostrich eggshell fragments found across Africa and Eurasia, which vastly outweighs the amount of skeletal material uncovered over the last century.