Population dynamics of cryptogenic calcarean sponges (Porifera,Calcarea) in Southeastern Brazil

The calcarean sponge Paraleucilla magna is classified as being an invasive species on the Mediterranean Sea, where it causes economic damages to mollusc farms. On the Brazilian coast, this species is considered to be cryptogenic, and information on its ecology is scarce. The same is true for Sycettusa hastifera, another calcarean sponge with a worldwide distribution. Data on the ecology of these species could help in elucidating their potential to become a threat if they are found to be exotic species in Brazil. In the present work, we studied habitat selection, growth and mortality of early juveniles of P. magna and habitat selection of S. hastifera in a Marine Reserve from Southeastern Brazil, where these species are abundant in the benthic community. Granite plates were used for habitat selection analysis, varying in substrate inclination (vertical and horizontal) and exposure to light and hydrodynamism (exposed and sheltered). To analyse the growth and mortality rates, sponges were mapped and then measured once a week for 10 weeks. If a monitored sponge was not found in the following week, it was considered to be dead. Our results showed that, although P. magna and S. hastifera are capable of inhabiting substrates exposed to different environmental conditions, they showed habitat preferences. Growth of the juveniles of P. magna seemed not to have damaged any neighbouring invertebrates. The mortality of juveniles of this species was higher during the first 2 weeks of life but its causes could not be elucidated.     

Monitoring of coral communities in the inner Gulf of Thailand influenced by the elevated seawater temperature and flooding

There were two severe coral bleaching events at Ko Khang Khao, the inner Gulf of Thailand, occurred during the prolonged period of the elevated sea surface temperature (SST) in 2010 and low salinity as well as turbidity due to heavy flooding in 2011. The bleaching index (BI) and mortality index (MI) are calculated to compare the susceptibilities of coral species in the two bleaching events. The BI and MI vary significantly among the study sites and bleaching events. The most susceptible corals during both bleaching events are Acropora millepora, Pocillopora damicornis and Pavona decussate, while the most resistant species were Galaxea fascicularis, Fungia fungites, Pavona frondifera, Oulastrea crispate, and Symphyllia recta. The corals Favia favus, Goniopora columna, Platygyra pini, Symphyllia agaricia were relatively more tolerant to high SST but they are relatively more susceptible to low salinity. Coral bleaching is a phenomenon that the dissociation stress of the symbiotic relationship between zooxanthellae and their cnidarian host results in the reduction in photosynthetic pigment concentration. Among stressors, both prolonged exposure of high SST and low salinity, above and below their thresholds, respectively. The long-term resilience of coral communities at Ko Khang Khao and other coral communities close to the mouth of large rivers may depend on the frequency and duration of the exposure on the elevated SST due to atmospheric heating and low salinity due to river flooding.     

Pseudocycnus appendiculatus Heller, 1868 (copepoda,dichelesthiidae) in New Zealand waters

Pseudocycnus appendiculatus Heller is described and recorded, for the first time from New Zealand, on Thunnus alalunga (Bonnaterre, 1788). Pseudocycnus spinosus Pearse, 1951 and P. thynnus Brandes, 1955 are thought to be synonyms of P. appendiculatus. Other species previously placed in the genus are discussed and the action of Yamaguti (1963) in removing them to other genera supported. It is suggested that the family Pseudocycnidae Yamaguti, 1963 cannot be differentiated from the family Dichelesthiidae Bassett‐Smith, 1898.     

Mapping the Geographical Diffusion of a Finnish Smallpox Epidemic from Historical Population Records

Smallpox mortality from an early 19th century epidemic in Finland is mapped at the parish village level. First, geographically referenced historical materials are used to construct a map showing the spread of smallpox mortality among villages. Next, the diffusion of smallpox morbidity is simulated by computer for the same set of villages. These two maps are then compared. Results indicate that at this scale maps of mortality diffusion can show general trends but have no direct spatial correspondence to the underlying pattern of morbidity diffusion. Mortality maps cannot be used as a surrogate measure of infectious contact behavior at micro scales of analysis.     

Sensitivity to stress of the estuarine bivalve Macoma balthica from areas between the Netherlands and its southern limits (Gironde)

Variation in the sensitivity to stress of Macoma balthica was measured in several French and Dutch estuaries. For adult and juvenile Macoma balthica exposed to copper under conditions of starvation, differences in mortality rate, condition, glycogen, burrowing rate and copper content were assessed. No significant differences were observed between adults and juveniles; the influence of treatment and origin was always evident. Animals from the most southern estuaries, Loire and Gironde, near to the species's southern limit of distribution, showed, in the field, the strongest deviations for the ecophysiological traits measured, and were in the experiments the most sensitive to stress.     

Effect of volatiles erupted from Mesozoic and Cenozoic volcanic activities on paleo-environmental changes in China

Based on the determination of composition of volcanic volatiles and petrologic estimation of the total mass of volatiles erupted, we showed important advances in the study of the impact of Mesozoic and Cenozoic volcanic activities on paleo-environmental changes in China. The volcanic activities include western Liaoning and Zhangjiakou Mesozoic intermediate-acidic explosive eruptions, southern Tibet and Shanwang Cenozoic volcanism, and Mt. Changbai volcanic eruption around one thousand years ago. The paper predominantly discusses the earth’s surface temperature changes, ozone depletion, acidic rain formation and mass mortalities of vertebrate induced by the Mesozoic and Cenozoic volcanism in China. __________ Translated from Bulletin of Mineralogy, Petrology and Geochemistry, 2007, 26(4): 319–322 [译自: 矿物岩石地球化学通报]     

江西省白血病与地形地貌类型的关系

通过对地形地貌资料4502个数据,白血病死亡调查资料2239例,研究了白血病死亡率与人群生存区的地形地貌类型（山区、丘陵、岗地、平原）的相关性。结果表明,山区、岗地、平原与白血病死亡率有明显的相关性,等级相关系数分别为-0．1963（P＜0．05）,0．2925（P＜0．0025）,0．3122（P＜0．0025）。     

辽西四合屯脊椎动物集群死亡事件：火山爆发的灾变记录

辽西北票以ConfuciusornisSinosauropteryxZhangheotherium为代表的四合屯脊椎动物组合发现于义县组下部湖相沉积中,时代为早白垩世Barremian中期(J—K界线144 Ma)或Valanginian晚期(J—K界线136 Ma)。化石包括鱼类、两栖类、爬行类、鸟类和哺乳类及无脊椎动物和被子植物,孔子鸟类群和具“羽毛”的小型兽脚类恐龙共生。野外发掘表明,化石完整地保存骨骼硬体及羽毛、食物、胃石、卵等软体及生理组织,确认多次非正常生物集群死亡事件。在四合屯发掘剖面上,含化石正常沉积的湖相页岩与火山喷发事件形成的沉凝灰岩互层,中酸性火山爆发形成的环境突变效应是导致脊椎动物集群死亡的主要原因。