The Nansha Islands, China, have extremely high marine biodiversity and hundreds of mollusks have been reported there. Benthos resources investigations of the intertidal and subtidal zone around the Nansha Islands have...The Nansha Islands, China, have extremely high marine biodiversity and hundreds of mollusks have been reported there. Benthos resources investigations of the intertidal and subtidal zone around the Nansha Islands have been continuously performed for decades, and recently, dozens of new species and new records of mollusks have been reported from this area. This paper dealt with three new record species of the Gastropoda from Chinese waters: Cerithium salebrosum Sowerby II, 1855, Vexillum militare(Reeve, 1845) and Vexillum bizonale(Dautzenberg et Bouge, 1923), respectively belonging to three families: Cerithiidae Fleming, 1822, and Costellariidae Mac Donald, 1860. All specimens were collected from the Nansha Islands during the benthos resources investigations on the intertidal zone of islands and reefs in the South China Sea in recent years. Diagnosis and geographic descriptions of both genus and species, illustrations of each species were given in this contribution, and discussion of taxonomy, identification features and faunal characteristics were presented. All examined specimens were deposited in the Marine Biodiversity Collections of South China Sea, Chinese Academy of Sciences.展开更多
The Chinese New Year is just around the corner.Data released by a number of travel agencies show that the Spring Festival outbound travel market is booming.The number of tickets booked have increased by 32 percent yea...The Chinese New Year is just around the corner.Data released by a number of travel agencies show that the Spring Festival outbound travel market is booming.The number of tickets booked have increased by 32 percent year on year,and the prices have also increased by 10 percent.In addition,data from travel agency platforms show that economy-class air tickets for some popular travel destinations during the Spring Festival period have been sold out,and up to 65 percent fares can be saved by returning home via transit.展开更多
Based on four specimens discovered in the collection of the natural History Museum, London, United kingdom, we present a new distribution record for the skink Sphenomorphus oligolepis for seram island, Maluku Province...Based on four specimens discovered in the collection of the natural History Museum, London, United kingdom, we present a new distribution record for the skink Sphenomorphus oligolepis for seram island, Maluku Province, Indonesia. This find constitutes the westernmost record for the species and extends its range by over 800 km. the species was heretofore only known from apparently isolated mainland new Guinean populations.展开更多
Geochemical ratios in coral reef skeletons could be used as proxies to reconstruct past climatological and environmental records in data-poor regions. Using a 103-year data set(1902 to 2005), the annual variations in ...Geochemical ratios in coral reef skeletons could be used as proxies to reconstruct past climatological and environmental records in data-poor regions. Using a 103-year data set(1902 to 2005), the annual variations in Ba/Ca and Mn/Ca ratios of Porites lutea skeletons at an eastern offshore area of Hainan Island(19?12'28.4''N, 110?37'38.8''E) were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma-optic emission spectrometry(ICP-OES). The analysis results showed that Ba/Ca ratios varied from a minimum of 3.120 μmol mol^(-1) in 1903 to a maximum of 10.064 μmol mol^(-1) in 1944, with an average of 5.256 μmol mol^(-1). Mn/Ca ratios varied from 0.206 to 5.708 μmol mol^(-1) with an annual average of 1.234 μmol mol^(-1), with peak values in 2001, 1964 and 1932, that correlated with strong rainfall events caused by typhoons. Variation in Ba/Ca and Mn/Ca ratios were compared with available river discharge and precipitation records, providing insight into past climatological events. Human activities and their indirect effects could impact the strength of the relationship between Ba/Ca and Mn/Ca ratios and observed precipitation and terrestrial input in the future.展开更多
He was the boy who offered flowers to Premier Zhou Enlai at Bandung Conference60 years agoMr.Jackson Leung Sze Mau,chairman ofHong Kong Golden Island Group Golden Island Cable Co,Foremost Land Development Ltd.,Goldwis...He was the boy who offered flowers to Premier Zhou Enlai at Bandung Conference60 years agoMr.Jackson Leung Sze Mau,chairman ofHong Kong Golden Island Group Golden Island Cable Co,Foremost Land Development Ltd.,Goldwise Development Ltd.,etc.,is a patriotic overseas Chinese who always repays kindness with kindness.He was the boy who offered flowers to Premier Zhou Enlai at Bandung Conference60 years ago.When thinking about that moment,Mr.Leung was still quite excited.展开更多
The results of sedimentary characteristics, grain-size, clay mineral, C/N and pollen analysis reveal the evolution history of the Shuangchi Maar Lake of Hainan Island as well as the short-term climate variations in tr...The results of sedimentary characteristics, grain-size, clay mineral, C/N and pollen analysis reveal the evolution history of the Shuangchi Maar Lake of Hainan Island as well as the short-term climate variations in tropical areas. It is testified that the Maar sediment system was sensitive in recording the rapid climate changes in the Holocene. These multidisciplinary results demonstrate that the thermal maximum in the Holocene climate lasted from 7200 to 2700 aBP, with several abrupt ephemeral vibrations occurring between 7250-6120 aBP and at around 4460, 3850 and 2700 aBP. In the late Holocene, particularly at ~2700 aBP, a distinct environmental change indicating an important climate transition in the tropical eastern Asia was recorded, probably responding to the enhancement of ENSO phenomena in the Pacific Ocean. In addition, the high-resolution algae record clearly indicates periodical climate fluctuations at 500 a cyclicity during the last 2500 years.展开更多
El Nio-Southern Oscillation(ENSO)has affected penguins and their habitats in the western Antarctic Peninsula.We used both historical penguin population dynamics data(1980–2012)and sedimentary lipids in penguin droppi...El Nio-Southern Oscillation(ENSO)has affected penguins and their habitats in the western Antarctic Peninsula.We used both historical penguin population dynamics data(1980–2012)and sedimentary lipids in penguin droppings(1916–2001)on Ardley Island to examine the responses of the Antarctic ecosystem to ENSO(El Nin o/La Nin a)events.The results showed that during the last 30 years,climate,marine food chain changes,and human activity have significantly affected penguin population sizes on Ardley Island.The Chinstrap(Pygoscelis antarctica)and Ade′lie(P.adeliae)penguin populations showed a good correlation with ENSO events.The Chinstrap penguin population decreased significantly because it was more sensitive to increasing human disturbance(e.g.,scientific activity and tourism)than Ade′lie and Gentoo(P.papua),particularly during the breeding season.Compositional features of n-alkanes in penguin dropping sediments revealed that organic matter came from lower terrestrial plants,bacteria and algae.C23was the main nalkane heavy hydrocarbon indicating mosses and lichens in the penguin’s diet.Variation in the ratio of nC23/nC17was closely correlated with ENSO events.The bacteria intrusion index(ratio of(iC15:0?aC15:0)/nC15:0for fatty acids)reflected significant increases in microorganism activity during several periods in this area.Meanwhile,the CPIA value for fatty acids decreased because micro-organisms contributed light hydrocarbon fatty acids to penguin droppings.Our results showed that the fine structure and molecular indices of fatty acids and n-alkanes in penguin dropping sediments can be used to explain climate-driven microbial processes,and to reveal the important role that microbes and bacteria play in the relatively simple Antarctic ecosystem.展开更多
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.41406185)the Special Funds for the Young Scholars of Taxonomy of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (No.ZSBR-010)the Special Program for Basic Research of the Ministry of Science and Technology,China (No.2012FY112400,No.2013FY111200)
文摘The Nansha Islands, China, have extremely high marine biodiversity and hundreds of mollusks have been reported there. Benthos resources investigations of the intertidal and subtidal zone around the Nansha Islands have been continuously performed for decades, and recently, dozens of new species and new records of mollusks have been reported from this area. This paper dealt with three new record species of the Gastropoda from Chinese waters: Cerithium salebrosum Sowerby II, 1855, Vexillum militare(Reeve, 1845) and Vexillum bizonale(Dautzenberg et Bouge, 1923), respectively belonging to three families: Cerithiidae Fleming, 1822, and Costellariidae Mac Donald, 1860. All specimens were collected from the Nansha Islands during the benthos resources investigations on the intertidal zone of islands and reefs in the South China Sea in recent years. Diagnosis and geographic descriptions of both genus and species, illustrations of each species were given in this contribution, and discussion of taxonomy, identification features and faunal characteristics were presented. All examined specimens were deposited in the Marine Biodiversity Collections of South China Sea, Chinese Academy of Sciences.
文摘The Chinese New Year is just around the corner.Data released by a number of travel agencies show that the Spring Festival outbound travel market is booming.The number of tickets booked have increased by 32 percent year on year,and the prices have also increased by 10 percent.In addition,data from travel agency platforms show that economy-class air tickets for some popular travel destinations during the Spring Festival period have been sold out,and up to 65 percent fares can be saved by returning home via transit.
文摘Based on four specimens discovered in the collection of the natural History Museum, London, United kingdom, we present a new distribution record for the skink Sphenomorphus oligolepis for seram island, Maluku Province, Indonesia. This find constitutes the westernmost record for the species and extends its range by over 800 km. the species was heretofore only known from apparently isolated mainland new Guinean populations.
基金supported by the National Ocean Welfare Research Funds of State Ocean Administration (No.201105012)
文摘Geochemical ratios in coral reef skeletons could be used as proxies to reconstruct past climatological and environmental records in data-poor regions. Using a 103-year data set(1902 to 2005), the annual variations in Ba/Ca and Mn/Ca ratios of Porites lutea skeletons at an eastern offshore area of Hainan Island(19?12'28.4''N, 110?37'38.8''E) were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma-optic emission spectrometry(ICP-OES). The analysis results showed that Ba/Ca ratios varied from a minimum of 3.120 μmol mol^(-1) in 1903 to a maximum of 10.064 μmol mol^(-1) in 1944, with an average of 5.256 μmol mol^(-1). Mn/Ca ratios varied from 0.206 to 5.708 μmol mol^(-1) with an annual average of 1.234 μmol mol^(-1), with peak values in 2001, 1964 and 1932, that correlated with strong rainfall events caused by typhoons. Variation in Ba/Ca and Mn/Ca ratios were compared with available river discharge and precipitation records, providing insight into past climatological events. Human activities and their indirect effects could impact the strength of the relationship between Ba/Ca and Mn/Ca ratios and observed precipitation and terrestrial input in the future.
文摘He was the boy who offered flowers to Premier Zhou Enlai at Bandung Conference60 years agoMr.Jackson Leung Sze Mau,chairman ofHong Kong Golden Island Group Golden Island Cable Co,Foremost Land Development Ltd.,Goldwise Development Ltd.,etc.,is a patriotic overseas Chinese who always repays kindness with kindness.He was the boy who offered flowers to Premier Zhou Enlai at Bandung Conference60 years ago.When thinking about that moment,Mr.Leung was still quite excited.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 40071084)
文摘The results of sedimentary characteristics, grain-size, clay mineral, C/N and pollen analysis reveal the evolution history of the Shuangchi Maar Lake of Hainan Island as well as the short-term climate variations in tropical areas. It is testified that the Maar sediment system was sensitive in recording the rapid climate changes in the Holocene. These multidisciplinary results demonstrate that the thermal maximum in the Holocene climate lasted from 7200 to 2700 aBP, with several abrupt ephemeral vibrations occurring between 7250-6120 aBP and at around 4460, 3850 and 2700 aBP. In the late Holocene, particularly at ~2700 aBP, a distinct environmental change indicating an important climate transition in the tropical eastern Asia was recorded, probably responding to the enhancement of ENSO phenomena in the Pacific Ocean. In addition, the high-resolution algae record clearly indicates periodical climate fluctuations at 500 a cyclicity during the last 2500 years.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(40876104 and 41306202)the scientific research fund of Second Institute of Oceanography,State Oceanic Administration(JT1208 and JG1218)Chinese Arctic and Antarctic Administration Foundation(20110208)
文摘El Nio-Southern Oscillation(ENSO)has affected penguins and their habitats in the western Antarctic Peninsula.We used both historical penguin population dynamics data(1980–2012)and sedimentary lipids in penguin droppings(1916–2001)on Ardley Island to examine the responses of the Antarctic ecosystem to ENSO(El Nin o/La Nin a)events.The results showed that during the last 30 years,climate,marine food chain changes,and human activity have significantly affected penguin population sizes on Ardley Island.The Chinstrap(Pygoscelis antarctica)and Ade′lie(P.adeliae)penguin populations showed a good correlation with ENSO events.The Chinstrap penguin population decreased significantly because it was more sensitive to increasing human disturbance(e.g.,scientific activity and tourism)than Ade′lie and Gentoo(P.papua),particularly during the breeding season.Compositional features of n-alkanes in penguin dropping sediments revealed that organic matter came from lower terrestrial plants,bacteria and algae.C23was the main nalkane heavy hydrocarbon indicating mosses and lichens in the penguin’s diet.Variation in the ratio of nC23/nC17was closely correlated with ENSO events.The bacteria intrusion index(ratio of(iC15:0?aC15:0)/nC15:0for fatty acids)reflected significant increases in microorganism activity during several periods in this area.Meanwhile,the CPIA value for fatty acids decreased because micro-organisms contributed light hydrocarbon fatty acids to penguin droppings.Our results showed that the fine structure and molecular indices of fatty acids and n-alkanes in penguin dropping sediments can be used to explain climate-driven microbial processes,and to reveal the important role that microbes and bacteria play in the relatively simple Antarctic ecosystem.
