Palynological data on major Holocene climatic events in NW Iberia

Three NW Iberia Cantabrian Mountain pollen records are presented. They reflect the main Holocene climatic shifts in the North Atlantic region as recorded in the isotopic data from Greenland ice, Irish speleothems and reconstructed sea surface temperatures. Two brief forest regression episodes reconstructed from pollen may be synchronous with GH-11.2 and GH-8.2 events. At mid-altitude, two woodland expansion phases (7000-6000 ¹⁴C yr BP and 4000-2500 ¹⁴C yr BP) are separated by a phase of heaths and peat deposits. Major woodland declines occurred during the Galician-Roman Period (which includes the Bronze Age, the Iron Age and the Roman occupation) and from the end of the Medieval Period. The pollen data, backed up by archaeological and historical sources, suggest climatic impact of the Iron Age Cold Period, but are indecisive concerning the Little Ice Age. However, the pollen records do not support any significant 'Neoglacial' period (4000-3000 ¹⁴C yr BP) influence on NW Iberia.     

Coping with Pressures of Modernization by Traditional Farmers： a Strategy for Sustainable Rural Development in Yunnan, China

Traditional farming practices conform to sustainable rural livelihoods, while agricultural modernisation tends to undermine these practices through various perturbations. A case study in Tengchong County (western Yunnan, China) shows that transformation of traditional alder (Alnus nepalensis) and dry rice (upland rice) rotational farming to introduced Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook.) plantations leads to localised water scarcity and soil fertility decline. While farmers are aware of ecological sustainability of traditional farming, they prefer Chinese fir forestry because it is less labour-intensive, has a high market value, and releases time for profitable off-farm work. Farmers adapt to economic liberalization by planting high value crops and trees. However, alternatives to make local agricultural production more profitable through competitive business strategies, cooperative approaches, innovations in integrating high value crops and 'downstream' processingfor sustainable rural livelihoods have been overlooked largely due to poor information availability and lack of organisational framework.     

Evolution of Chinese Neogene Rhinocerotidae and Its Response to Climatic Variations

Chinese Neogene Rhinocerotidae has quite a complete record and its temporal range is the Early Miocene to Late Pliocene. The samples include 25 species in 4 tribes of 2 subfamilies. They are used as a foundation for the study of the evolution of the family and its relation to climatic changes. Taxonomic diversity, new records and extinctions are estimated for each Chinese Neogene mammal faunal unit (NMU). The diversity of Chinese Rhinocerotidae varies noticeably throughout the Neogene and is recognized within five stages: the Middle Miocene and Late Miocene are stages of high diversity and the Early Miocene, early Late Miocene and Pliocene are stages of low diversity. Rhinocerotid diversity and morphology are closely related to environmental factors and particularly sensitive to changes in ambient temperature and humidity. The interpretation of climatic variation reflected in the evolution of Rhinocerotidae corresponds precisely with the conclusions drawn from other workers and provides new evidence fen     

贵州剑河乌溜-曾家崖寒武系第5阶全球层型剖面及点位研究的新资料

贵州剑河八郎乌溜—曾家崖寒武系第5阶底界潜在的全球层型剖面及点位上下的动物群(三叶虫和无铰纲腕足类)有显著的变化;研究的剖面厚约4.5m,穿过首现点位Oryctocephalus indicus。经逐层化石的采集和深入的研究,证实在寒武系第4阶或寒武系第2统顶部Ovatoryctocara granulata-Bathynotus holopygus带与寒武系第5阶或寒武系第3统底部Oryctocephalus indicus带之间大约有20cm的贫化石间隔区。这一动物群的突变是在均一的岩相中发生的,表明该剖面是建立寒武系第5阶(或第3统)底界的全球层型剖面和点位(GSSP)理想剖面。