Compressibility and crystal structure of sillimanite, Al2SiO5, at high pressure

The unit-cell dimensions and crystal structure of sillimanite at various pressures up to 5.29 GPa have been refined from single-crystal X-ray diffraction data. As pressure increases, a and b decrease linearly, whereas c decreases nonlinearly with a slightly positive curvature. The axial compression ratios at room pressure are β_a:β_b:β_c=1.22:1.63:1.00. Sillimanite exhibits the least compressibility along c, but the least thermal expansivity along a (Skinner et al. 1961; Winter and Ghose 1979). The bulk modulus of sillimanite is 171(1) GPa with K′=4 (3), larger than that of andalusite (151 GPa), but smaller than that of kyanite (193 GPa). The bulk moduli of the [Al1O₆], [Al2O₄], and [SiO₄] polyhedra are 162(8), 269(33), and 367(89) GPa, respectively. Comparison of high-pressure data for Al₂SiO₅ polymorphs reveals that the [SiO₄] tetrahedra are the most rigid units in all these polymorphic structures, whereas the [AlO₆] octahedra are most compressible. Furthermore, [AlO₆] octahedral compressibilities decrease from kyanite to sillimanite, to andalusite, the same order as their bulk moduli, suggesting that [AlO₆] octahedra control the compression of the Al₂SiO₅ polymorphs. The compression of the [Al1O₆] octahedron in sillimanite is anisotropic with the longest Al1-OD bond shortening by ～1.9% between room pressure and 5.29 GPa and the shortest Al1-OB bond by only 0.3%. The compression anisotropy of sillimanite is primarily a consequence of its topological anisotropy, coupled with the compression anisotropy of the Al-O bonds within the [Al1O₆] octahedron.     

Meeting the Challenge of Systemic Change in Geography Education: Lucy Sprague Mitchell’s Young Geographers

The history of K–12 geography education has been characterized by recurrent high hopes and dashed expectations. There have, however, been moments when the trajectory of geography education might have changed to offer students the opportunity to develop a thorough working knowledge of geography. Lucy Sprague Mitchell’s geography program developed in the 1920s and 1930s was brilliant in its conception and execution but it did not lead to large-scale systemic change. Analyzing the origins, development, and outcome of her program suggests the conditions that facilitate and inhibit systemic change, and therefore perhaps we can learn to capitalize on comparable moments in the future.     

Comparative compressibilities of majorite-type garnets

Relative compressibilities of five silicate garnets were determined by single-crystal x-ray diffraction on crystals grouped in the same high-pressure mount. The specimens include a natural pyrope [(Mg_2.84Fe_0.10Ca_0,06) Al₂Si₃O₁₂], and four synthetic specimens with octahedrally-coordinated silicon: majorite [Mg₃(MgSi)Si₃O₁₂], calcium-bearing majorite [(Ca_0.49Mg_2.51)(MgSi)Si₃0₁₂], sodium majorite [(Na_1.88Mgp_0.12)(Mg_0.06Si_1.94)Si₃O₁₂], and an intermediate composition [(Na_0.37Mg_2.48)(Mg_0.13Al_1.07 Si₀₈₀) Si₃O₁₂]. Small differences in the compressibilities of these crystals are revealed because they are subjected simultaneously to the same pressure. Bulk-moduli of the garnets range from 164.8 ± 2.3 GPa for calcium majorite to 191.5 ± 2.5 GPa for sodium majorite, assuming K′=4. Two factors, molar volume and octahedral cation valence, appear to control garnet compression.     

Bond length and radii variations in fluoride and oxide molecules and crystals

Molecular orbital calculations completed on fluoride molecules containing first and second row cations have generated bond lengths, R, that match those observed for coordinated polyhedra in crystals to within ～0.04 Å, on average. The calculated bond lengths and those observed for fluoride crystals can be ranked with the expression R=Kp ^?0.22, where p=s/r, s is the Pauling strength of the bond, r is the row number of the cation and K=1.34. The exponent -0.22 (≈ -2/9) is the same as that observed for oxide, nitride and sulfide molecules and crystals. Bonded radii for the fluoride anion, obtained from theoretical electron density maps, increase linearly with bond length. Those calculated for the cations as well as for the fluoride anion match calculated promolecule radii to within ～0.03 Å, on average, suggesting that the electron density distributions in the vicinity of the minima along the bond paths possess a significant atomic component despite bond type. Bonded radii for Si and O ions provided by experimental electron density maps measured for the oxides coesite, danburite and stishovite match those calculated for a series of monosilicic acid molecules. The resulting radii increase with bond length and coordination number with the radius of the oxide ion increasing at a faster rate than that of the Si cation. The oxide ion within danburite exhibits several distinct radii, ranging between 0.9 and 1.2 Å, rather than a single radius with each exhibiting a different radius along each of the nonequivalent bonds with B, Si and Ca. Promolecule radii calculated for the coordinated polyhedra in danburite match procrystal radii obtained in a structure analysis to within 0.002 Å. The close agreement between these two sets of radii and experimentally determined bonded radii lends credence to Slater's statement that the difference between the electron density distribution observed for a crystal and that calculated for a procrystal (IAM) model of the crystal “would be small and subtle, and very hard to determine by examination of the total charge density.”     

The paleomagnetism and magnetic polarity stratigraphy of the mammal-bearing section of Anza Borrego State Park, California

We sampled 150 sites in fine-grained Plio-Pleistocene sediments of the Palm Springs and Imperial Formations. Sampling was confined to 3000 m of stratigraphically continuous section containing abundant vertebrate fossil remains of the Vallecito Creek, Arroyo Seco, and Layer Cake local faunas of the Irvingtonian and Blancan Land Mammal Ages. The magnetic stability of these sediments was sufficient to delineate the magnetic stratigraphy, which ranges from below the Cochiti event at the base, to the Matuyama reversed magnetic epoch at the top of the section. Eight faunal events are placed relative to the magnetic polarity sequence. They are cf. Pliohippus extinction, Geomys appearance, cf. Equus appearance, Tremarctos appearance, Hypolagus extinction, cf. Odocoileus appearance, Smilodon and ? Euceratherium appearance. The latter two faunal events characterize Irvingtonian Land Mammal Age. The transition from the Blancan to Irvingtonian Land Mammal Age occurs in the lower Matuyama magnetic epoch close to the Pliocene-Pleistocene boundary. The appearance of European migrants during the lower Matuyama magnetic epoch indicates that the Bering land bridge was exposed for animal migration between Europe and North America at this time.     

Abundance and degree of residency of humpback dolphins Sousa plumbea in Mossel Bay,South Africa

Indian Ocean humpback dolphins Sousa plumbea inhabit nearshore waters from South Africa to eastern India. Humpback dolphins are vulnerable to conservation threats due to their naturally small population sizes and use of nearshore habitats, where human activities are highest. We investigated the abundance and residency of this species inhabiting Mossel Bay, South Africa, using photographic mark-recapture. Data were collected during 81 surveys in Mossel Bay between 2011 and 2013. Open population modelling using the POPAN parameterisation produced a ‘super-population’ estimate of 125 individuals (95% CI: 61–260) and within-year estimates of between 33 and 86 individuals (2011: 71 [95% CI: 30–168]; 2012: 33 [15–73], 32 [15–70]; 2013: 46 [20–108]). Although less appropriate, closed capture models were also run for comparison with previous studies in the region and generated similar, but slightly smaller, population estimates within each year. We compared our catalogue with opportunistic data collected from East London, Plettenberg Bay, De Hoop and Gansbaai. The only catalogue matches attained were between Plettenberg Bay (n = 44 identified) and Mossel Bay (n = 67 identified), separated by 140?km. Population exchange was moderate, with nine individuals resighted in multiple years between these two areas. This study supports previous findings of long-range movements for this species and provides a baseline from which to assess future impacts on the population.     

Strategically Locating Wildlife Crossing Structures for Florida Panthers Using Maximal Covering Approaches

Crossing structures are an effective method for mitigating habitat fragmentation and reducing wildlife‐vehicle collisions, although high construction costs limit the number that can be implemented in practice. Therefore, optimizing the placement of crossing structures in road networks is suggested as a strategic conservation planning method. This research explores two approaches for using the maximal covering location problem (MCLP) to determine optimal sites to install new wildlife crossing structures. The first approach is based on records of traffic mortality, while the second uses animal tracking data for the species of interest. The objective of the first is to cover the maximum number of collision sites, given a specified number of proposed structures to build, while the second covers as many animal tracking locations as possible under a similar scenario. These two approaches were used to locate potential wildlife crossing structures for endangered Florida panthers (Puma concolor coryi) in Collier, Lee, and Hendry Counties, Florida, a population whose survival is threatened by excessive traffic mortality. Historical traffic mortality records and an extensive radio‐tracking dataset were used in the analyses. Although the two approaches largely select different sites for crossing structures, both models highlight key locations in the landscape where these structures can remedy traffic mortality and habitat fragmentation. These applications demonstrate how the MCLP can serve as a useful conservation planning tool when traffic mortality or animal tracking data are available to researchers.     

Radar measurements of Martian topography and surface properties: The 1971 and 1973 oppositions

The Goldstone radar system was used at a wavelength of 12.6 cm to probe the Martian surface during the 1973 opposition. Measurements of range and reflected power were made at least weekly between July 12 and November 24. Surface cells isolated by the radar system were 8 km E-W × 110 km N-S. Altitudes were calculated from signal time delays measured relative to a triaxial ellipsoid and were combined with altitudes measured during the 1971 opposition. Contours of constant altitude were calculated at 200 m intervals between latitudes ?14° and ?22°. These contours are presented in conjunction with Mars charts derived from Mariner 9 television pictures. Reflected power was measured at angles of incidence between ?5° and +5°. These measurements were combined with those obtained during the 1971 opposition. Predictions of the reflected power versus the angle of incidence were calculated from the exponential surface model of Hagfors. The predictions were fit to the data in a least-squares sense, using a nonlinear iterative procedure, to yield estimates of surface roughness and reflectivity. The smoother regions exhibit a typical reflectivity of 8.2%. A tendency for the reflectivity to decrease with increasing roughness was observed.     

Climate change links fate of glaciers and an endemic alpine invertebrate

Climate warming in the mid- to high-latitudes and high-elevation mountainous regions is occurring more rapidly than anywhere else on Earth, causing extensive loss of glaciers and snowpack. However, little is known about the effects of climate change on alpine stream biota, especially invertebrates. Here, we show a strong linkage between regional climate change and the fundamental niche of a rare aquatic invertebrate—the meltwater stonefly Lednia tumana—endemic to Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, Canada and USA. L. tumana has been petitioned for listing under the U.S. Endangered Species Act due to climate-change-induced glacier loss, yet little is known on specifically how climate impacts may threaten this rare species and many other enigmatic alpine aquatic species worldwide. During 14 years of research, we documented that L. tumana inhabits a narrow distribution, restricted to short sections (~500 m) of cold, alpine streams directly below glaciers, permanent snowfields, and springs. Our simulation models suggest that climate change threatens the potential future distribution of these sensitive habitats and the persistence of L. tumana through the loss of glaciers and snowfields. Mountaintop aquatic invertebrates are ideal early warning indicators of climate warming in mountain ecosystems. Research on alpine invertebrates is urgently needed to avoid extinctions and ecosystem change.