Is there a link between deep‐sea biodiversity and ecosystem function?

Studying the diversity‐ecosystem function relationship in the deep sea is of primary importance in the face of biodiversity loss and for our understanding of how the deep sea functions. Results from the first study of diversity‐ecosystem function relationships in the deep sea (Danovaro et al. 2008; Current Biology, 18, 1–8) are unexpected and show an exponential relationship between deep‐sea nematode diversity and ecosystem function and efficiency, although this relationship appears largely restricted to relatively low diversities [ES(51) <25]. Here, we investigate the relationship between nematode diversity and several independent measures/proxies of ecosystem function (sediment community oxygen consumption, bacterial biomass, bacterial extracellular enzyme activity) and efficiency (ratio of bacterial/nematode carbon to organic C content of the sediment) on the New Zealand continental slope. Nematode diversity at our study sites was relatively high [ES(51) = 30–42], and there was no relationship between species/functional diversity and ecosystem function/efficiency after accounting for the effects of water depth and food availability. Our results are consistent with a breakdown of the exponential diversity‐function relationship at high levels of diversity, which may be due to increased competition or greater functional redundancy. Future studies need to take into account as many environmental factors and as wide a range of diversities as possible to provide further insights into the diversity‐ecosystem function relationship in the largest ecosystem on Earth.     

In situ video observations of benthic megafauna and fishes from the deep eastern Mediterranean Sea off Egypt

Remotely operated vehicle (ROV) video observations were used to document benthic fauna at a hydrocarbon drilling location, at 2 720 m depth, in the poorly studied deep water off northern Egypt. The decapod Chaceon mediterraneus was the most common organism at the site and the only benthic megafaunal invertebrate observed. Three species of fish, Coryphaenoides mediterraneus, Cataetyx laticeps and Bathypterois mediterraneus, were also encountered. These findings confirmed these three species as the deepest-distributed benthic fish in the eastern Mediterranean, and confirmed that the deep Mediterranean, in particular the eastern basin, is one of the world's poorest deep-sea ecosystems in terms of diversity. The behaviour exhibited by the species observed was consistent with their natatory capacity, deduced from their feeding intensity (gut fullness) and diet (mainly suprabenthic prey were consumed), and conservative life strategies adapted to an extremely low energy environment.     

Cement Deep Soil Mixing (CDSM) for Solidification of Soft Estuarine Sediments

A preliminary study was conducted to determine the potential for cement deep soil mixing (CDSM) technology as a method for in-situ solidification of contaminated river and estuarine sediments. The study was conducted in Newark Bay, near the mouth of the Passaic River, New Jersey. The primary objective of the study was to evaluate the viability of CDSM for the in-situ S/S with a focus on: 1) determining the correct mix of the cement slurry, which provides rapid stabilization of the sediment matrix, 2) potential resuspension of solids during CSDM operations, 3) the effects of high organic content on the solidification process, and 4) the feasibility of using conventional dredging/extraction methods once the sediments have been stabilized and allowed to cure. The results of the study show CDSM slurry mixtures, as low as 7% in cement content, result in significant solidification and strength gain of in-situ sediments under ambient conditions. In sediments with very high organic contents (> 20%), the slurry mix would need to be adjusted to account for retardation effects of organics on cement hydration. Sediment resuspension during application was shown to be minimal at a distance of as little as 75 feet from the mixing head. Strength gains were considerable, effectively consolidating the sediment particles in a secure matrix, but not so high as to preclude extraction of solidified sediments with conventional dredging equipment. Dredged solidified sediment exhibited characteristics of a stiff glacial clay, and as such was easier to handle and transport than untreated dredged sediments. This technique has high potential to be used as an interim remedial measure prior to either extraction and decontamination/disposal or proper capping.     

东营凹陷民丰地区深部储层成岩环境变化研究

通过薄片鉴定、激光拉曼光谱分析、全岩和粘土矿物分析以及流体包裹体测试等手段,结合埋藏史分析,研究了东营凹陷民丰地区深部储层成岩环境的特点。分析认为,东营凹陷民丰地区深部储层成岩现象丰富,表现出不同成岩环境相叠合的特征,存在酸性、碱性和酸性碱性交替等多重成岩环境。着重利用不同成岩环境代表矿物中的流体包裹体分析成岩环境的变化,结果显示,3 000~3 200 m是碱性流体活动的重要深度。东营凹陷民丰地区深部储层在埋深过程中由浅到深大致经历了（弱）碱性（小于1 750 m）→酸性（1 750~3 200 m）→酸碱交替（3 200~4 000 m）→碱性（4 000~5 000 m）→弱碱性到弱酸性（大于5 000 m）多重成岩环境的变化,从而形成了现今复杂的成岩现象。埋深和温度是成岩环境变化的宏观主导因素,但并非绝对控制因素,局部流体性质的变化更能直接导致成岩环境的变化。     

金刚石与深部碳循环

深部碳循环是全球碳循环研究中不可或缺的部分。较之表层碳,人类对地球深部碳储库的储量、碳的迁移方式和交换量都缺乏清晰认识。作为来自地球深部的碳单质矿物,金刚石是研究深部碳循环的绝佳样品。近年来原位微区分析技术的突飞猛进为研究金刚石及深部碳循环提供了良好条件。文中对表层与深部碳交换、深部碳储库及金刚石矿物学性质进行了介绍,并通过金刚石及其包裹体的稳定同位素组成,探讨了金刚石的形成机制及含碳流体/熔体的性质与来源问题。     

深部咸水层CO2地质储存工程场地选址技术方法

CO₂地质储存作为环保型工程项目,其合理的工程场址是实现长期、安全封存CO₂的首要前提。我国CO₂地质储存工作刚刚起步,尚未形成成熟的选址技术方法体系。CO₂地质储存工程场地选址应遵循目标储层有效储存量大、安全、经济、符合一般建设项目环境保护选址条件、不受外部不良地质因素影响的原则,选址技术宜采用多尺度目标逼近法,选址程序包括规划选址和工程选址两大阶段。规划选址包括国家级、盆地级和目标区级潜力评价3个阶段;工程选址旨在通过目标靶区确定、综合地质调查、钻探及灌注试验和选定场地多因子排序综合评价,最终选出良好的工程场址。深部咸水层CO₂地质储存工程场地多尺度目标逼近选址技术方法对我国批量开展CO₂地质储存工程场地选址具有一定的指导意义。     

细粒含量对粗粒土冻胀特性影响的试验研究

为了得到同时满足冻胀率和击实效果的最大细粒土含量,通过葡氏击实和冻胀试验,研究了不同细粒土含量、不同干密度条件下细圆砾土填料的冻胀特性。研究结果表明,9%细粒土含量下细圆砾土试样的压实效果最好;细圆砾土试样的冻结过程可以划分为快速冻结区、过渡区、似稳定区和稳定区;细粒土含量低于10%时,细圆砾土属于弱冻胀填料;同时满足冻胀率和压实效果的最大细粒土含量为9%;细粒土含量相同时,细圆砾土试样的冻胀率随干密度的增加,先增大而后减小,即存在一个最不利干密度;冻结48 h后,细圆砾土试样冻土段的含水率均大于初始含水率,其不同位置含水率分布曲线呈S型,且随着细粒土含量的增加逐渐呈现倒三角形分布;细圆砾土试样干密度的增大有效地阻断了水分迁移路径。     

深埋隧洞微震活动区与岩爆的相关性研究

基于锦屏二级水电站深埋引水隧洞和排水洞大量微震监测数据及上百个不同等级岩爆实例,研究了深埋隧洞微震活动区与岩爆之间的关系。研究结果表明：（1）微震活动分布范围主要介于掌子面后方3倍洞径至前方1.5倍洞径之间,而岩爆高发区位于掌子面后方3倍洞径以内,表明岩爆高发区与微震事件主要分布范围相吻合;（2）隧洞工程岩爆潜在风险重点关注区域是掌子面后方3倍洞径已开挖范围,以及掌子面前方1.5倍洞径施工范围;（3）微震事件及岩爆分布呈区域性集结特点,其中一部分岩爆发生于微震事件集结区内部,另一部分岩爆发生于微震事件集结区边缘,这是岩体破坏过程中所固有的现象,与微震事件集结区边缘局部应力集中密切相关。     

河谷地形对深覆盖层中防渗墙应力变形影响分析

为研究河谷地形对深厚覆盖层中防渗墙应力、变形的影响,以某沥青混凝土心墙堆石坝为工程背景,模拟了狭窄河谷和宽深河谷并分别建立有限元模型,坝体材料及覆盖层采用邓肯-张E-B模型,防渗墙与覆盖层、基岩之间的接触关系采用无厚度接触面模拟,进行三维非线性有限元计算,对比分析两种河谷情况下防渗墙的应力、变形情况。计算结果表明：狭窄河谷中,防渗墙沉降和水平向位移及防渗墙与覆盖层的不均匀变形均比宽深河谷小,其中不均匀变形最大减小了24.8%;宽深河谷中,防渗墙受河谷地形约束作用较弱,竖直向压应力较狭窄河谷更大,最大增加了40.3%;防渗墙的竖直向压应力最大值位置受中性点位置和河谷地形的共同影响,其中竖直向压应力最大值约30%来自墙顶坝体土压力,70%来自与覆盖层之间的负摩擦力。其研究结果可为不同地形条件下坝基防渗墙的设计提供参考。     

川西裂缝性致密碎屑岩气藏高渗区成因机理及预测

川西深层上三叠统须家河组二段致密碎屑岩气藏非均质性极强,裂缝网络与相对优质储层叠加形成的高渗区分布预测是钻井获得高产稳产的技术关键。通过地表露头调查、钻井资料统计分析及地震地质综合研究,剖析了高渗区地质成因机理,认为在砂岩及岩性相变带、相对薄层及地层厚度突变带、优质储层发育区、强构造褶皱变形区、断裂附近等易于形成裂缝及高渗区。通过高渗区储层测井及波阻抗特征、地震响应特征对比分析、模型正演等方法,建立了“杂乱弱反射”地震暗点识别模式,利用吸收处理、像素成像、三维可视化等地震技术手段,预测了高渗区分布,解释了各高渗区地质成因,钻井验证了预测结果。