Temporal and spatial zonation of macroepiphytes on Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile leaves in a meadow off Tunisia

The aim of this survey was to study the cover and the composition of macroepiphytic species on the leaves of Posidonia oceanica in the east of Tunisia. Surveys were conducted in December 2009 (winter period), March (spring period) and August 2010 (summer period) in a fringing reef located in Chebba. At each sampling date, 15 adult leaves were randomly collected and divided into basal and apical parts. The inner face of each part was examined with ocular glasses and microscope to estimate species cover by orthogonal projection. PERMANOVA and ANOSIM were used to test for differences of cover between sampling dates and leaf parts. SIMPER, cluster analysis, and PCA were used to ordinate species assemblages. Comparison of epiphytic cover along leaf blades showed significant differences for all groups, except cyanophycea, with high cover of hydrozoans and bryozoans in the basal part and high cover of algae in the apical part. The species composition and cover also vary with sampling date; minimum values were detected in December and the epiphytic community was composed of a few pioneer species, whereas maximum epiphytic cover values were registered in August, with the epiphytic community being composed of a more mature and more diverse community, termed ‘climax’. The main regulatory factors for this distribution are discussed.     

Diversity and temporal fluctuations of epiphytes and sessile invertebrates on the rhizomes Posidonia oceanica in a seagrass meadow off Tunisia

The aim of this work is to study the temporal dynamics of rhizome epiphytes and sessile animals living on the rhizomes of the seagrass Posidonia oceanica in the east of Tunisia. Surveys were conducted in October 2009, and in January, April and August 2010 on a fringing reef located in Chebba. Rhizomes were sampled by SCUBA diving at three stations. Samples were examined with a microscope to estimate the cover of macroinvertebrate and macroalgal organisms on the top 10 cm of each rhizome. Results revealed a high diversity of epiphytes on P. oceanica rhizomes with a dominance of red and brown algae, ascidians, and bryozoans. Distinct temporal changes were observed in Oued Lafrann, with a high January cover (winter period) for all groups. These winter increases can be attributed to: (i) the low phenological parameters of P. oceanica in winter that reduce the effects of shading, (ii) life cycles of the epiphytes and invertebrates, (iii) water motion and (iv) grazing.     

Impact of rangeland enclosure and seasonal grazing on protected and unprotected rangelands in Chakwal region,Pakistan

Scrub rangelands support livestock grazing and provide ecosystem services to their inhabitants.The present study was conducted in Chakwal,an important tract of ...     

深海海底边界层原位观测系统研发与应用

为进一步研究南海北部陆坡海洋动力过程对深海海底边界层的影响,研发了“深海海底边界层原位观测系统(In-situ Observation System for Bottom Boundary Layer in Abyssal Sea)”,ABBLOS。观测系统主体为坐底式深海运载平台,最大工作水深可达6 700 m(实际工作水深取决于搭载设备的耐压水深),是研究深海海底边界层问题的重要技术创新。观测平台由上下两部分框架结构组成,上部框架用于搭载和回收观测设备,下部支撑架为配重,并且用于提供距离海底1 m的观测空间;同时创新性地设计了“卡槽定位-螺栓紧固”的连接方式连接上下两部分,连接方式简单可靠,保证了平台回收成功率。ABBLOS集成了75 k-ADCP、高频ADCP、ADV、高精度压力计、海底摄像机等设备,以及甲烷、温盐深、浊度、溶解氧、氧化还原电位等传感器,首次实现了内波、中尺度涡等海洋动力过程与海底边界层物理化学参数的动态变化同步观测,特别是可以观测距离海底1 m高度范围的水体流速剖面,并且达到7 mm一层的垂向空间分辨率。研制完成后,2020年在南海北部陆坡神狐海域655 m和1 405 m水深处分别成功布放并回收,观测时间共计34天,采集到观测站位上覆海水的流速剖面结构,捕捉到了平均周期为1天1次的内波作用过程,以及海底边界层的多种物理化学参数。初步分析655 m水深处的观测数据后,发现深海海底边界层的温度、压力、溶解氧、密度和盐度等参数受控于海洋潮汐过程,尤其是温度和压力的变化基本与潮汐周期同步。海底边界层氧化环境较为稳定,甲烷浓度由高变低,但是基本在海洋溶解甲烷平均浓度范围内。与潮汐相比,内孤立波对深海海底边界层水体的影响程度较小,但是明显可以引起沉积物的再悬浮,引起的海底边界层的海水浊度从背景值的0.01 NTU增大到48 NTU,海底摄像机也记录到了内孤立波期间深海底层海水突然变浑浊的过程,说明南海内孤立波可以影响海底沉积物的输运。     

Analysis of drought areas in northern Algeria using Markov chains

Journal of Earth System Science - The present work studies the trends in drought in northern Algeria. This region was marked by a severe, wide-ranging and persistent drought due to its...     

黄土高原一次β中尺度大暴雨特征及成因分析

利用NCEP／NCAR逐日6h分析资料和常规观测资料,分析了2011年2月25日一28日山西连续降雪天气过程（以下简称2．25降雪）。①2．25降雪过程经历了三个阶段：2月25日为回流降雪阶段,26日一27日为倒槽冷锋与回流降雪共同影响降雪阶段,28日为低空切变线影响降雪阶段。②2．25降雪过程涵盖了华北地区大到暴雪的三个类型：回流类降雪、倒槽冷锋类降雪、低空切变线类降雪。③通过温湿场分析得出,对于低空切变线类降雪,对流层中层的湿核对降雪的开始有一定的指示意义。降雪未开始之前对流层中层有湿核,随着时间的推移,湿核向低层扩展,整个对流层中低层变为高湿区,降雪开始。当对流层中层变为干区,并向低层扩展,降雪过程结束。对于回流类降雪,低层回流对回流降雪起到冷垫的作用。④通过涡度场分析得出,对流层低层的负绝对涡度中心对其东侧的降水有指示意义,如果其东侧对流层低层配合有正涡度核,降雪强度较大,维持时间较长。⑤地面层出现的负绝对涡度中心说明近地面层有小高压系统的存在,这是因为低层回流冷垫作用形成的孤立小高压体。⑥28日降雪维持机制是条件性对称不稳定。     

Pile driving by numerical cavity expansion

A cavity expansion procedure for the simulation of pile driving is presented and assessed in this paper. The analysis uses a non-linear finite-element model and the penetration of the pile into the soil is simulated by a radial opening of the soil around the pile. The case of a pile advanced by expansion will be compared to a similar pile subjected to computational driving (referred to, respectively, as ‘expanded’ and ‘driven’ piles for convenience). The state of stress and deformation, and the evolution of pore-water pressure in the soil will be monitored for the expanded and driven piles. Further computational driving will be applied to both cases and the pile response and soil resistance will be compared. The computational cost of advancing the pile by expansion will finally be investigated. Copyright © John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Experimental study of Tunis soft soil improved by vacuum consolidation associated with geodrains

An experimental investigation was carried out on the reconstituted Tunis soft soil (TSS) that was extracted from the centre of Tunis City at 35-m depth. Three series of consolidation tests were performed on TSS specimens. The first series included consolidation tests by preload. In the second series, vacuum consolidation tests were performed. The third series comprised a vacuum consolidation test combined with the preload. Excess pore water pressure and settlement were measured during the consolidation tests. Experimental results showed that for the same magnitude of preload and the vacuum pressure of 4, 8, 16 and 30 kPa, the settlement caused by the vacuum pressure is lower than that generated by the preload, while the settlements generated by preloads of 60 and 100 kPa are slightly lower than those caused by vacuum pressure of 60 and 100 kPa. A rapid dissipation of recorded excess pore water pressure around the geodrain was observed compared to that measured close to the cell border.