Weed preference and growth of young grass carp in New Zealand

In each of eight 5‐day pond experiments carried out at intervals over a year, 0+ to 1 +‐year‐old grass carp, Ctenopharyngodon idella Val., were offered a choice of at least 10 species of water weeds from the Rotorua area. Water temperature was measured each day. Food selectivity decreased with increasing temperature and size of fish, but preference for the weeds did not change. At summer temperatures the fish ate much weed and grew at about 4g/fish/day, but in winter little food was taken and growth was slow.     

南海3种小型砗磲的外壳形态差异分析

本研究对中国南海3种小型砗磲(Tridacnaspp.)[番红砗磲(Tridacnacrocea,包括2种外壳形态)、长砗磲(Tridacna maxima)和诺亚砗磲(Tridacna noae)]的外壳形态性状进行生物统计学差异分析。研究表明,4组砗磲外壳存在显著形态学差异。单因素方差分析发现9个外壳比例性状能够较好区分3种砗磲,且2种不同外壳形态的番红砗磲在壳宽/壳长、足丝孔宽/壳长、壳质量/壳长和左右壳厚比壳长存在显著性差异(P<0.05);在基于欧氏距离Ward法且指定聚类数k=4的条件下,4组砗磲层次聚类效果较好;主成分分析提取3个主成分建立散点图,累计主成分贡献率73.85%,各主成分贡献率依次为50.47%,13.78%和9.60%;线性判别分析得出3个判别函数,方差解释率依次为70.13%、20.97%和8.90%。3种多元统计方法从不同角度解释各组砗磲的外壳形态差异,结果均显示两组番红砗磲的外壳形态更为接近,同时长砗磲与诺亚砗磲的外壳形态较为接近。     

Vertical zonation and aggregated distribution of the Manila clam on subtidal sand flats in a coastal brackish lagoon along the Sea of Japan

The Manila clam, Ruditapes philippinarum, has maintained small‐sized populations in a semi‐enclosed brackish lake along the Sea of Japan, the Honjo area of Lake Nakaumi, although the environment and biota of this area have changed dramatically due to a large‐scale reclamation project. There should be underlying processes that enable the restoration of this species from small‐sized populations, such as the existence of source (i.e. reproductive) populations in other areas and depth zones of the lake. However, there has been no robust, properly designed evaluation of the distribution of the Manila clam in the subtidal sand flats. In order to elucidate the possible mechanisms that allow for the persistence of populations of the Manila clam, we examined the spatiotemporal and vertical variation in distributions of 0‐age clams in the subtidal zone of sand flats. Seasonal effects on population variations showed erratic changes among depth zones without a decreasing trend along the depth gradient. Further, many local populations became extinct even in the shallower zones due to seasonal (summer) hypoxia at deeper zones and hypoxia by the accumulation of key benthic species (Asian mussel and decaying macroalgae) in mats at shallower zones. A few surviving local populations were stable with a spatial‐fragmental (patchy) distribution, associated with fragmented accumulations of Asian mussels and macroalgae. Efforts to maintain stable populations and to restore this species in the subtidal area may depend on these small, restricted, patchy local populations. These findings suggest that high fertility and productivity of the Manila clam as well as patchy distribution of small populations may contribute to the maintenance of the population and the avoidance of extinction (by spatially diffusing the risk of extinction) in harsh environments resulting from the reclamation project.     

O-rich SR and Mira variables in DENIS

Previous VLA observations of the triple radio continuum source in Serpens showed that it has very unusual and extraordinary characteristics. While this source is associated with a star forming region, its outer components exhibit a combination of thermal and nonthermal spectra and large proper motions, Furthermore, the NW lobe has knotty and extended emission connecting the central source with the bright outer knot. Here, we present results of new VLA radio continuum high-angular resolution observations of this Radio Jet. Combining these observations with those obtained previously, we find that: a) one of the knots along the main body of the radio jet (knot G) exhibits proper motions similar to those observed in the outer NW and SE components, and the time variable knot A; b) the outer knots are moving away from the central source in slightly different directions; and c) the orientation of the central source seems to change with time. These results are consistent with a central precessing source that undergoes periodic ejection of material.     

西藏知不拉和浪母家果矽卡岩铜矿地质特征及驱龙-知不拉-浪母家果成矿系统的确定

西藏驱龙巨型斑岩铜钼矿床周围产出有知不拉与浪母家果矽卡岩铜矿。通过揭示知不拉和浪母家果的地质特征、成矿侵入体的地球化学特征和硫同位素特征,结合前人的年代学资料,确立两者与驱龙斑岩铜矿共同构成斑岩-矽卡岩成矿系统。结果显示知不拉与浪母家果矽卡岩矿床中的侵入岩地球化学特征与驱龙矿区的侵入岩地球化学特征相似,属于准铝质、钙碱性-高钾钙碱性岩石;稀土元素表现为强烈的LREE和HREE的分异,除知不拉的细晶岩有很强的Eu负异常,其他具有很弱的Eu负异常;明显富集大离子亲石元素(LILE)和高场强元素(HFSE),K、Pb的正异常,Ta、Nb、Ti的负异常。知不拉硫化物硫同位素与驱龙斑岩铜钼矿的硫同位素相比有明显的差异,这样的差异可能是由于成矿热液氧逸度的变化和晚期高δ34S值的天水加入造成的。研究确立驱龙-知不拉-浪母家果斑岩-矽卡岩成矿系统,主要基于:时代相近,空间毗邻;驱龙斑岩铜矿花岗闪长岩接触带发育有明显矽卡岩矿化;与矿化有关的侵入岩地球化学特征相似性;成矿物质演化趋势相似;矽卡岩连续演化的物理化学条件。而钙质围岩、多期次侵位且侵位较浅的岩浆与区域内构造活动及矿区内断裂、裂隙发育,共同决定了斑岩-矽卡岩系统的产出。     

A Model Atmosphere Analysis of the F6V Star π3 Ori

Model atmosphere analysis, based on Kurucz models has been applied to study the F6V star π³ Ori (=BS1543=HD30652). The following values of the effective temperature, surface gravity and microturbulence velocity were obtained: = 6270±200 K, log g = 3.80.2, ξ_t =3.5±0.5 km/s. The abundances of 10 elements were determined. The resulting element abundances for the π³ Ori were found to be about three times lower with respect to the Sun. From evolutionary calculations we derived a mass, radius and luminosity for π³ Ori of M =1.3 M_⊙, R =2.38 R_⊙, L =7.9 L_⊙. Hence this star should be classified F6IV instead of F6 V. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

3. Solar System Formation and Early Evolution: the First 100 Million Years

The solar system, as we know it today, is about 4.5 billion years old. It is widely believed that it was essentially completed 100 million years after the formation of the Sun, which itself took less than 1 million years, although the exact chronology remains highly uncertain. For instance: which, of the giant planets or the terrestrial planets, formed first, and how? How did they acquire their mass? What was the early evolution of the “primitive solar nebula” (solar nebula for short)? What is its relation with the circumstellar disks that are ubiquitous around young low-mass stars today? Is it possible to define a “time zero” (t ₀), the epoch of the formation of the solar system? Is the solar system exceptional or common? This astronomical chapter focuses on the early stages, which determine in large part the subsequent evolution of the proto-solar system. This evolution is logarithmic, being very fast initially, then gradually slowing down. The chapter is thus divided in three parts: (1) The first million years: the stellar era. The dominant phase is the formation of the Sun in a stellar cluster, via accretion of material from a circumstellar disk, itself fed by a progressively vanishing circumstellar envelope. (2) The first 10 million years: the disk era. The dominant phase is the evolution and progressive disappearance of circumstellar disks around evolved young stars; planets will start to form at this stage. Important constraints on the solar nebula and on planet formation are drawn from the most primitive objects in the solar system, i.e., meteorites. (3) The first 100 million years: the “telluric” era. This phase is dominated by terrestrial (rocky) planet formation and differentiation, and the appearance of oceans and atmospheres.     

Cosmic Ray Acceleration Inside Molecular Clouds

Acceleration of charged particles by neutral gas turbulence in giant molecular clouds is considered. The gamma-ray emission from these clouds is estimated. It is shown that molecular clouds can be the counterparts of some of unidentified sources.     

Characteristics of rapid giant landslides in China

Factual data for 70 rapid, giant landslides since 1900 show that the occurrence of these landslides was largely predisposed by tectonics, geological structures, lithology and topography, and often triggered by rainfall and earthquakes. In terms of mobile behavior, the giant landslides can be classified into three types: slides, slide-flows and flows. It is found that each type of landslide was constrained to certain geologic and topographic regimes. There are good correlations between kinematic parameters of landslides and slope geometries, which confirm the important role played by topographical condition in the mobile behavior of landslides. Moreover, it is also found that each type of landslide presents distinct geotechnical characteristics in terms of nature of the slip zone and properties of sliding mass. Brief analyses of five typical cases illustrate that landslide mechanisms can be conceptually depicted by failure mechanisms of their slip zones prior to onset of movement and following energy conversion during movement. Problems and questions related to experience in China suggest that comprehensive and systematic investigation and study on rapid giant landslides are urgently needed.