Zoogeography of marine Bryozoa around South Africa

The zoogeography of marine Bryozoa around South Africa was investigated using published distribution records, museum catalogues, and an examination of previously unworked bryozoan material in (mostly) museum collections. Although a total of 276 valid species are recognised, it was not possible to unambiguously assess geographic patterns of diversity. At all depth zones examined (shore and inner-shelf, 0–30 m; mid- and outer-shelf, 31–350 m; bathyal, >500 m), there was a clear geographic structure to communities that mirrored established regional patterns of biogeography. Too few samples were collected from the shelf edge (351–500 m) and they were consequently excluded from zoogeographic analysis. Communities on the shore and inner-shelf and on the mid- and outer-shelf were more similar to each other than they were to bathyal communities, and the pronounced structure in bathyal communities suggests heterogeneity in the deep sea around South Africa.     

火山岩风化壳储层发育模式——以三塘湖盆地马朗凹陷石炭系火山岩为例

中国的火山岩油气勘探近年来进展非常快,并不断在许多盆地发现了优质火山岩储层,其中风化壳型储层作为非常重要的火山岩储集体类型而倍受重视。三塘湖盆地马朗凹陷石炭系风化壳型储层储集空间以溶蚀孔洞缝为主,储层物性非常好。通过火山岩油气勘探中的野外露头观察、钻井取心、镜下薄片鉴定,及主量元素、微量元素等分析化验资料,并结合火山岩岩石学特征和物性特点,初步建立了该区的风化壳储层的发育模式,将火山岩风化壳储层在垂向上自上而下划分为五个带: ①最终分解产物带; ②水解带; ③淋滤带; ④崩解带; ⑤未风化带(母岩)。淋滤带储集物性最好,该区风化淋滤是改善储层的关键。     

贺兰山北段牛头沟金矿区围岩的原岩恢复、时代及其地质意义

牛头沟金矿区位于华北陆块鄂尔多斯地块西缘贺兰山北段之基底杂岩带,赋矿地层为一套古元古界宗别立群第二亚群(Pt1Z2)中-深程度变质岩系,主要岩石类型是黑云斜长片麻岩和变粒岩。岩石地球化学特征分析及原岩恢复说明,蚀变岩型金矿体的围岩由正、副变质岩类共同组成,其中变粒岩的原岩为沉积碎屑岩,黑云斜长片麻岩的原岩为花岗闪长质侵入岩。离子探针锆石U-Pb定年表明,表壳岩的形成时代小于2120Ma,花岗闪长岩锆石U-Pb年龄为1950±8.9Ma,辉绿岩脉的侵入与花岗闪长岩属同期。综合研究表明,矿区变质岩的原岩形成时代不是前人认为的晚太古代,而是古元古代。同时应将属于正变质岩类黑云斜长片麻岩(原岩为花岗闪长岩)从宗别立群(Pt1Z)地层中分离出来,作为侵入岩单元考虑。     

Do social meanings matter? How and how much social meanings influence everyday transport practices?

We live among a throng of social meanings. In a transport context, cars are described as symbols of status, bicycles as the toys of Middle Aged Men in Lycra, and buses as ‘loser cruisers’. This study asks ‘Do these social meanings matter?’ Do they influence people's transport practices, and if so, how and how much? The participants in this research reported that social meanings had widespread influences, particularly on their transport mode choices, vehicle choices, and travel performances. This research has implications for the ways that social meanings are incorporated into transport policy and future transport research.     

Patterns of inorganic phosphate uptake in Cassiopea xamachana: a bioindicator species

Nutrient levels in the nearshore waters of the Florida Keys have increased over the past few decades concomitant with a decline in the health of Florida's reef system. Phosphorus is a particular concern in the Florida Keys as it may be the limiting nutrient in nearshore waters. We demonstrate that the upside-down jellyfish, Cassiopea xamachana, decreases its rate of phosphate uptake following exposure to elevated levels of dissolved inorganic phosphate. We also show that this subsequent suppression of uptake rates persists for some time following exposure to elevated phosphates. Using these attributes, we experimentally investigated the use of C. xamachana as a bioindicator for dissolved inorganic phosphates in seawater. Our results show that these animals reveal comparative differences in environmental phosphates despite traditional testing methods yielding no detectable phosphates. We propose that C. xamachana is a bioindicator useful for integrating relevant information about phosphate availability in low nutrient environments.