Soldier crab (Dotilla myctiroides) distribution,food resources and subsequent role in organic matter fate in Ao Tang Khen,Phuket, Thailand

This study aimed to elucidate Dotilla myctiroides (H. Milne-Edwards) food resources and how the soldier crab influences the organic matter composition on the intertidal flat. A preliminary assessment of D. myctiroides size, sex, and population distribution was conducted to clarify the characteristics of the inhabiting population. Overall, D. myctiroides size and abundance was normal across the tidal flat area. Comparison of different sediment types from the soldier crab habitat (surface sediments, igloos, burrow lining, burrow pellets, feeding pellets, and feces) using the fatty acid (FA) analysis technique revealed D. myctiroides removes organic matter via the significantly lower contributions of polyunsaturated FAs, essential FAs, and dinoflagellates in the feeding pellets. Dotilla myctiroides tissue analysis of the hepatopancreas and hindgut in individuals that had been starved for 24 h confirmed not only the consumption of dinoflagellates, but diatoms and macroalgae as well. In addition, the FA metabolism within the digestive system implied the ability of the soldier crab to synthesize highly unsaturated FAs (HUFAs) such as 20:4n–6, 20:5n–3 and 22:6n–3.     

Variation of rare earth concentrations in pigeonitic and hypersthenic rock series from Izu-Hakone region,Japan

The abundances of rare earth elements in 5 each of aphyric volcanic rocks of pigeonitic and hypersthenic rock series from Izu-Hakone region have been determined by neutron activation analysis. Pigeonitic rock series show rare earth patterns with relative depletion of lighter rare earths (low lanthanum type) and large increase in rare earth abundances with differentiation. Hypersthenic rock series show higher lanthanum abundances (high lanthanum type) compared with pigeonitic rock series. The differences in rare earth patterns between two rock series are compatible with the theory of independent magmatic generation of these two series. Variation of rare earth patterns in both series have been examined by a model of magmatic differentiation based on the observed rare earth partition coefficients.     

A four-component decomposition of POLSAR images based on the coherency matrix

A four-component decomposition scheme of the coherency matrix is presented here for the analysis of polarimetric synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images. The coherency matrix is used to deal with nonreflection symmetric scattering case, which is an extension of covariance matrix approach. The same decomposition results have been obtained. The advantage of this approach is explicit expressions of four scattering powers in terms of scattering matrix elements, which serve the interpretation of polarimetric SAR data quantitatively.     

Primary melt from Sannome-gata volcano,NE Japan arc: constraints on generation conditions of rear-arc magmas

The conditions under which rear-arc magmas are generated were estimated using primary basalts from the Sannome-gata volcano, located in the rear of the NE Japan arc. Scoriae from the volcano occur with abundant crustal and mantle xenoliths, suggesting that the magma ascended rapidly from the upper mantle. The scoriae show significant variations in their whole-rock compositions (7.9–11.1 wt% MgO). High-MgO scoriae (MgO > ~9.5 wt%) have mostly homogeneous ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios (0.70318–0.70320), whereas low-MgO scoriae (MgO < ~9 wt%) have higher ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios (>0.70327); ratios tend to increase with decreasing MgO content. The high-MgO scoriae are aphyric, containing ~5 vol% olivine microphenocrysts with Mg# [100 × Mg/(Mg + Fe²⁺)] of up to 90. In contrast, the low-MgO scoriae have crustal xenocrysts of plagioclase, alkali feldspar, and quartz, and the mineralogic modes correlate negatively with whole-rock MgO content. On the basis of these observations, it is inferred that the high-MgO scoriae represent primary or near-primary melts, while the low-MgO scoriae underwent considerable interaction with the crust. Using thermodynamic analysis of the observed petrological features of the high-MgO scoriae, the eruption temperature of the magmas was constrained to 1,160–1,220 °C. Given that the source mantle was depleted MORB-source mantle, the primary magma was plausibly generated by ~7 % melting of a garnet-bearing spinel peridotite; taking this into consideration, and considering the constraints of multi-component thermodynamics, we estimated that the primary Sannome-gata magma was generated in the source mantle with 0.5–0.6 wt% H₂O at 1,220–1,230 °C and at ~1.8 GPa, and that the H₂O content of the primary magma was 6–7 wt%. The rear-arc Sannome-gata magma was generated by a lower degree of melting of the mantle at greater depths and lower temperatures than the frontal-arc magma from the Iwate volcano, which was also estimated to be generated by ~15 % melting of the source mantle with 0.6–0.7 wt% H₂O at ~1,250 °C and at ~1.3 GPa.     

Flood hazard assessment in the Kujukuri Plain of Chiba Prefecture,Japan, based on GIS and multicriteria decision analysis

A simple flood hazard assessment based on GIS and multicriteria decision analysis was presented, and the sensitivity analysis was applied to evaluate the uncertainty of input factors. The location chosen for the study is the Kujukuri Plain, Chiba Prefecture, Japan. The model incorporates six factors: river system, elevation, depression area, ratio of impermeable area, detention ponds, and precipitation. A hazard map for the year 2004, as an example, was obtained. The method of analytic hierarchy process was applied to calculate the weighting values of each factor. The hazard map was compared with the actual flood area, and good coincidence was found between them. The relative importance and uncertainty of the six input factors and weights were evaluated by using the global sensitivity analysis, i.e., extended FAST method, and the results showed a robust behavior of the model. The flood hazard assessment method presented here is meaningful for the flood management and environment protection in the area under the similar condition as this study.     

The escape of ionizing photons from supernova-dominated primordial galaxies

In order to assess the contribution of Lyman break galaxies (LBGs) and Lyman α emitters (LAEs) at redshifts  3 < z < 7  to the ionization of intergalactic medium (IGM), we investigate the escape fractions of ionizing photons from supernova-dominated primordial galaxies by solving the three-dimensional (3D) radiative transfer. The model galaxy is employed from an ultra-high-resolution chemodynamic simulation of a primordial galaxy by Mori & Umemura, which well reproduces the observed properties of LAEs and LBGs. The total mass of model galaxy is  10¹¹ M_⊙  . We solve not only photoionization but also collisional ionization by shocks. In addition, according to the chemical enrichment, we incorporate the effect of dust extinction, taking the size distributions of dust into account. As a result, we find that dust extinction reduces the escape fractions by a factor of 1.5–8.5 in the LAE phase and by a factor of 2.5–11 in the LBG phase, while the collisional ionization by shocks increases the escape fractions by a factor of  ≈2  . The resultant escape fractions are 0.07–0.47 in the LAE phase and 0.06–0.17 in the LBG phase. These results are well concordant with the recent estimations derived from the flux density ratio at 1500 to 900 Å of LAEs and LBGs. Combining the resultant escape fractions with the luminosity functions of LAEs and LBGs, we find that high- z LAEs and LBGs can ionize the IGM at   z = 3–5  . However, ionizing radiation from LAEs as well as LBGs falls short of ionizing the IGM at   z > 6  . That implies that additional ionization sources may be required at   z > 6  .     

The Cretaceous Ofuku Pluton and Its Relation to Mineralization in the Western Akiyoshi Plateau,Yamaguchi Prefecture,Japan

The relationship between the magmatism of the Cretaceous Ofuku pluton and mineralization in and around the Akiyoshi Plateau, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan was investigated using a combination of field observation, petrographic and geochemical analyses, K–Ar geochronology, and fluid inclusion data. The Ofuku pluton has a surface area of 1.5 × 1.0 km, and was intruded into the Paleozoic accretionary complexes of the Akiyoshi Limestone, Ota Group and Tsunemori Formation in the western part of the Akiyoshi Plateau. The pluton belongs to the ilmenite‐series and is zoned, consisting mainly of early tonalite and granodiorite that share a gradational contact, and later granite and aplite that intruded the tonalite and granodiorite. Harker diagrams show that the Ofuku pluton has intermediate to silicic compositions ranging from 60.4 to 77.9 wt.% SiO₂, but a compositional gap exists between 70.5 to 73.4 wt.% SiO₂ (anhydrous basis). Modal and chemical variations indicate that the assumed parental magma is tonalitic. Quantitative models of fractional crystallization based on mass balance calculations and the Rayleigh fractionation model using major and trace element data for all crystalline phases indicate that magmatic fractionation was controlled mainly by crystal fractionation of plagioclase, hornblende, clinopyroxene and orthopyroxene at the early stage, and quartz, plagioclase, biotite, hornblende, apatite, ilmenite and zircon at the later stage. The residual melt extracted from the granodiorite mush was subsequently intruded into the northern and western parts of the Ofuku pluton as melt lens to form the granite and aplite. The age of the pluton was estimated at 99–97 Ma and 101–98 Ma based on K–Ar dating of hornblende and biotite, respectively. Both ages are consistent within analytical error, indicating that the Ofuku pluton and the associated Yamato mine belong to the Tungsten Province of the San‐yo Belt, which is genetically related to the ilmenite‐series granitoids of the Kanmon to Shunan stages. The aplite contains Cl‐rich apatite and REE‐rich monazite‐(Ce), allanite‐(Ce), xenotime and bastnäsite‐(Ce), indicating that the residual melt was rich in halogens and REEs. The tonalite–granodiorite of the Ofuku pluton contains many three‐phase fluid inclusions, along with daughter minerals such as NaCl and KCl, and vapor/liquid (V/L) volume ratios range from 0.2 to 0.9, suggesting that the fluid was boiling. In contrast, the granite and aplite contain low salinity two‐phase inclusions with low V/L ratios. The granodiorite occupies a large part of the pluton, and the inclusions with various V/L ratios with chloride daughter minerals suggest the boiling fluids might be related to the mineralization. This fluid could have carried base metals such as Cu and Zn, forming Cu ore deposits in and around the Ofuku pluton. The occurrence and composition of fluid inclusions in the igneous rocks from the Akiyoshi Plateau are directly linked to Cu mineralization in the area, demonstrating that fluid inclusions are useful indicators of mineralization.     

Hydrocarbures liquides inclus dans des fluorites tunisiennes

Résumé L'observation et l'analyse de cristaux géodiques de fluorines provenant de deux gîtes de la région de Zaghouan a dermis la mise en évidence d'inclusions fluides à gouttelettes de pétrole, eau et bulle de retrait. Les résultats de l'étude minéralothermométrique de ces deux gisements (l'un stratiforme, l'autre de remplissage de fractures) sont d'autre part discutés.

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Microscopic observations of drusy fluorites from two Tunisian deposits (Zaghouan province) have revealed primary inclusions containing petroleum droplets, water, and gaseous bubbles. The results of the mineralothermometric study of these two deposits are discussed in the light of geological information.

     

Analyse thermométrique du gisement de fluorite d'el Hammam (Maroc)

Résumé Ce filon, situé dans le massif métamorphique de l'Achemèche, comporte trois paragenèses hypogènes successives: Calcite I et fluorite, sulfures calcite II et quartz, dolomite. L'examen des inclusions fluides de la fluorite (et de la calcite I) révèle la présence d'inclusions biphasées banales, d'inclusions biphasées sursaturées en NaCl et principalement d'inclusions triphasées à dépôt de halite. L'analyse thermométrique montre que calcite I et fluorite ont commencé à se déposer vers 200 °C (correction à la pression estimée à 20–30 °C environ) dans une saumure renfermant près de 30% en poids de NaCl. Par contre, l'essentiel des sulfures et le quartz (qui ne contient que des inclusions liquides monophasées) se sont déposés probablement au-dessous de 100 °C.

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This vein, localized in the metamorphic district of Achemèche, central Morrocco, is made of three successive parageneses: Calcite I and fluorite; Sulfides, quartz and calcite II; Dolomite. Microscopic investigations of fluorite and calcite I show two-phase-inclusions supersaturated with respect to NaCl, normal two-phase-inclusions and mainly three-phase-inclusions (gas-saturated solution-halite). Thermometric studies show that the beginning of crystallization occurred around 200 °C for calcite I and fluorite (pressure correction estimation: 20–30 °C) in a highly concentrated brine containing about 30% of NaCl. The main part of sulfides and the quartz (containing single-phased liquid inclusions) crystallized probably at temperatures below 100 °C.

     

Alkylbenzenes in mussels from South and South East Asian coasts as a molecular tool to assess sewage impact

Alkylbenzenes, molecular markers of sewage, were measured in 34 green mussels collected from India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, and the Philippines together with blue mussels collected from Tokyo Bay, Japan. Linear alkylbenzene (LAB) concentrations in South and South East Asian countries ranged from 10 to 1640 ng-∑LAB/g-dry tissue. In some populous cities, LAB concentrations were similar or higher than those found in northern Tokyo Bay which is heavily impacted by sewage effluents. I/E ratios (a ratio of internal to external isomers of LABs) in the South and South East Asian countries (1–3) were much lower than those in Tokyo Bay (3–8), indicating sewage discharged in the coastal zone is poorly treated (e.g., raw sewage and/or primary effluents). Alkylbenzenes with branched alkyl chains, tetrapropylene-based alkylbenzenes, were also detected in mussels from Indonesia and Philippines. This “tell-tale” sign indicates that poorly degradable detergents are still in use in this area, although they have long been phased-out in many industrialized countries.