Influence of habitat and host morphology on macrofaunal assemblages associated with the sponge Halichondria melanadocia in an estuarine system of the southern Gulf of Mexico

Sponges are inhabited by a wide variety of organisms and have been regarded as one of the richest biotopes in tropical seas. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of the host morphology and selected environmental conditions on macrofaunal assemblages associated with the sponge Halichondria melanadocia in an estuarine system of the southern Gulf of Mexico. This sponge exhibits different growth forms when it inhabits mangrove prop roots of Rhizophora mangle (thickly encrusting form) and adjacent seagrass beds (massive, amorphous or ramose form). From a total of 50 sponge specimens collected in each habitat, a total of eight taxa (of epi‐ and endobionts) was found associated with this sponge, with polychaetes, echinoderms and crustaceans the most abundant groups. In both morphotypes (thickly‐encrusting and massive‐ramose forms), taxon richness was positively related to sponge volume and oscular diameter. The overall mean abundance of associated fauna was also positively related to sponge volume in both morphotypes and with the oscular diameter (in the seagrass morphotype only). These findings suggest that H. melanadocia constitutes an important microhabitat for a wide variety of fauna, independent of its morphology and habitat type. However, when comparing the two morphotypes, the mangrove individuals, despite having smaller sizes, smaller oscular diameter and less structural complexity, displayed an overall mean abundance of fauna 17 times higher [0.36 ± 0.18 individuals (ind.)·ml·sponge^?1] than that recorded in the seagrass individuals (0.021 ± 0.01 ind.·ml·sponge^?1). There were also marked differences in the proportions of the major taxonomic groups; in fact, some of them were found exclusively in one morphotype. The variability recorded in the composition and abundance of associated fauna between the morphotypes seems to be influenced by differences in sponge morphology, environmental conditions (e.g. sedimentation rate and light intensity), substrate orientation and the fauna inhabiting the surrounding area.     

The benthic macroinvertebrates of the Block Island Sound

The benthic invertebrates of Block Island Sound have not been adequately studied, in contrast to other adjacent southern New England sounds. This study examines the species composition, abundance and biomass of benthic macrofaunal invertebrates at nine locations within Block Island Sound. The sites sampled, represent a wide range of subtidal habitats within the Sound, and were visited in February and September.Some 224 species were identified, of which almost half (104) were polychaetes. The benthic assemblages at most stations were dominated numerically by tube dwelling, surface detritus or suspension feeding amphipods, e.g. Ampelisca agassizi and A. vadorum, as well as the protobranch bivalve, Nucula proxima. This dominant Ampelisca-Nucula assemblage was associated with silty fine sand sediments. The average macrofaunal biomass for all stations was 158 g (wet weight) m^?2, two thirds the average benthic biomass of Georges Bank, an important fishery area. Based on the examination of the records of earlier surveys in Block Island Sound, there is evidence that this silty-sand, ampeliscid-dominated assemblage has persisted since at least the mid-1940s.     

Two apparatuses for sampling benthic fauna in surf zones

A suction corer which has been used in the turbulent surf zone is described as well as a scoop dredge which proved effective in shallow water and on dry beaches. The former is also effective under calm conditions in water ranging from a few centimetres to depths in excess of 20 m. These apparatuses both allow the rapid collection of consistent quantitative samples which is of prime importance in the surf zone.     

Trophic structure and production in the macrobenthos of a temperate Australian estuary

The soft-bottom fauna of Gunnamatta Bay, Port Hacking, N.S.W., was sampled to estimate the abundance, trophic structure and net production of the macrobenthos. The samples were classified into groups from spatially distinct strata, the groups differing in species abundance and diversity and in the identity of the dominant species. The composition and community structure of the fauna was generally similar to that in other sheltered embayments on the southeastern coast of Australia. Estimated production values were low for an estuary, ranging from 10 kJ m^?2 year^?1 in an intertidal stratum of well sorted sand to 210–450 kJ m^?2 year^?1 in shallow subtidal strata with an admixture of silt. Estimated net production over all strata was 160 kJ m^?2 year^?1. Polychaetes dominated production, providing 45% of the total; crustaceans provided 20%, and molluscs and echinoderms 12% each. Detritus-feeders were dominant in most strata: the bivalve Theora fragilis, the polychaetes Australonereis ehlersi and Notomastus torquatus, and the urchin Echinocardium cordatum were major contributors to overall biomass and to net production. Substantial biomass and net production was also contributed by the suspension-feeding bivalve Corbula vicaria and a carnivorous crab Ceratoplax cf. glaberrimus. Overall, detritus-feeders contributed 61% of estimated net production, carnivores 32% and suspension-feeders 7%. Production estimated for carnivores was higher than could be supported by the non-carnivore populations, suggesting that some of the species considered to be carnivores have additional feeding modes. Excessive harvesting of bivalves by humans is suggested as the main reason for the low biomass of, and therefore low production by, suspension feeders.     

西藏申扎地区晚石炭世-早二叠世冈瓦纳相腕足类动物群再研究

西藏申扎地区德日昂玛-下拉剖面永珠组中上部和昂杰组的腕足类动物群可以与国内、外冈瓦纳相和亲冈瓦纳相地区的腕足类动物群进行对比,但又显示出其独特的一面。将其自下而上划分为4个组合,永珠组中上部为Reedoconcha xizangensis-Spinomartinia xainzaensis组合、Cimmeriella mucronata-Reedoconcha excellens组合和Trigonotreta magnifica-Bandoproductus in-termedia组合,昂杰组为Aulosteges ingens-Punctocyrtella nagmargensis组合。按照国内、外冈瓦纳相、亲冈瓦纳相地区及华夏特提斯地区腕足类的时代意见,永珠组中部腕足类组合的时代为晚石炭世巴斯基尔期,上部2个腕足类组合分别为早二叠世萨克马尔早期—萨克马尔晚期,昂杰组的腕足类组合的时代为早二叠世亚丁斯克期。     

准噶尔盆地东北缘卡姆斯特地区下侏罗统中的放射虫硅质岩砾石及其放射虫动物群

克拉麦里造山带位于准噶尔盆地东北缘,是中亚构造框架中一个非常重要的构造单元,研究工作较多,但对其演化历史一直存在不同认识。本文报道了阿勒泰卡姆斯特地区下侏罗统三工河组中的紫红色放射虫硅质岩砾石及其放射虫动物群,其中最新的放射虫化石年代为维宪早期,据此推论克拉麦里洋盆封闭于早石炭世晚期,克拉麦里造山带在侏罗纪早期发生快速隆升。     

山东济宁煤田(东区)本溪组和太原组牙形刺生物地层

通过对山东济宁煤田 (东区 )本溪组和太原组牙形刺动物群的系统研究 ,共鉴定出牙形刺化石 7属 2 0种。根据牙形刺化石在地层中的分布和垂向的变化规律自上而下建立了两个牙形刺组合 : .Streptognathodus isolatus组合和 .Idiognathodus magnificus- I.delicatus组合。通过与邻区及华北部分地区对比 ,本区本溪组和太原组中牙形刺动物群的地质时代应分别为晚石炭世晚期 (组合 )和早二叠世早期 (组合 ) ,本区 C/ P界线应置于第十一层灰岩之底     

Early Cambrian palaeogeography and the probable Iberia–Siberia connection

The end of the Proterozoic–beginning of the Cambrian is marked by some of the most dramatic events in the history of Earth. The fall of the Ediacaran biota, followed by the Cambrian Explosion of skeletonised bilaterians, a pronounced shift in oceanic and atmospheric chemistry and rapid climatic change from ‘snowball earth’ to ‘greenhouse’ conditions all happened within a rather geologically short period of time. These events took place against a background of the rearrangement of the prevailing supercontinent; some authors view this as a sequence of individual supercontinents such as Mesoproterozoic Midgardia, Neoproterozoic Rodinia and Early Cambrian Pannotia. Assembled in the Mesoproterozoic, this supercontinent appears to have existed through the Neoproterozoic into the Early Cambrian with periodic changes in configuration. The final rearrangement took place during the Precambrian–Cambrian transition with the Cadomian and related phases of the Pan-African orogeny. The distribution of Early Cambrian molluscs and other small shelly fossils (SSF) across all continents indicates a close geographic proximity of all major cratonic basins that is consistent with the continued existence of the supercontinent at that time. Subsequently, Rodinia experienced breakup that led to the amalgamation of Gondwana, separation of Laurentia, Baltica, Siberia and some small terranes and the emergence of oceanic basins between them. Spreading oceanic basins caused a gradual geographic isolation of the faunal assemblages that were united during the Vendian–Early Cambrian.