Correlations among stress corrosion cracking,grain-boundary microchemistry,and Zn content in high Zn-containing Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloys

The correlations among the corrosion behaviour,grain-boundary microchemistry,and Zn content in Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloys were studied using stress corrosion cracking(SCC)and intergranular corrosion(IGC)tests,combined with scanning electron microscopy(SEM)and high-angle angular dark field scanning transmission electron microscopy(HAADF-STEM)microstructural examinations.The results showed that the tensile strength enhancement of high Zn-containing Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloys was mainly attributed to the high density nano-scale matrix precipitates.The SCC plateau velocity for the alloy with 11.0 wt.%Zn was about an order of magnitude greater than that of the alloy with 7.9 wt.%Zn,which was mainly associated with Zn enrichment in grain boundary precipitates and wide precipitates-free zones.The SCC mechanisms of different Zn-containing alloys were discussed based on fracture features,grain-boundary microchemistry,and electrochemical properties.

Isothermal annealing of cold-rolled Al-Mn-Fe-Si alloy with different microchemistry states

Microstructural evolution of a cold-rolled Al-Mn-Fe-Si alloy during annealing was studied. Except the as-cast variant, two other different homogenizations were considered, one gave a high density of fine dispersiods providing a considerable Zener drag influencing the softening behavior while the other gave a lower density of coarser dispersoid structure providing a much smaller drag effect. The gradual microstructural evolutions during annealing for the three variants were captured by interrupting annealing at different time. Effects of microchemistry state on recrystallization kinetics, recrystallized grain structure and texture were characterized by EBSD. It is demonstrated that the actual softening kinetics, final microstructure and texture are a result of delicate balance between processing condition and microchemistry state. Strong concurrent precipitation takes place in the case with high concentration of Mn in solid solution, which suppresses nucleation and retards recrystallization and finally leads to grain structure of coarse elongated grains dominated by a P texture component together with a ND-rotated cube component. On the contrary, when solute content of Mn is low and pre-existing dispersoids are relatively coarser, faster recrystallization kinetics is exhibited together with an equiaxed grain structure with mainly cube texture.

The identification of individuals with hatchery and natural origin in a mixed sample of Amur River chum salmon by Otolith microchemistry

We estimated the proportion of hatchery and natural fall spawning chum salmon returning to the Amur River using chemical markers specific to hatchery-origin fry.We used otolith microchemistry technique to identify fish with artificial origin among returning spawners.First,we found that juveniles of artificial origin had higher values of the Sr:Ca molar ratio of the otoliths’edge zone compared with juveniles of natural origin,what can be related to the use of rearing feed produced from raw materials of marine origin rich in strontium.Then we observed that most of the spawners from Anyuisky Hatchery and from the Amur River mouth at the start of the spawning migration has also the higher value of Sr:Ca molar ratio of the juvenile zone of otoliths.Also,adults with higher values of the Sr:Ca molar ratio are characterized by a skewed right in the peak of the age distribution.Both,the age structure and phenological shift in the time of spawning migration of individuals with higher value of the used chemical marker corresponds to results of studies on hatchery-produced chum salmon completed at different parts on Northern Pacific.The results of this study will be used in the management of Amur fall chum salmon fisheries,and also demonstrates the necessity of the development of specific measures for increasing the survival of juvenile anadromous salmonids released at large rivers and exposed to prolonged freshwater migration to the ocean.As a further application of the methodology,we plan to identify the markers specific to each of the hatcheries and main spawning tributaries belonging to Amur River catchments.This will be an important step in the evaluation of the contribution of different stocks in mixed fisheries and also in the estimation of the effect of hatchery releases on naturally spawning stocks of Amur fall chum.Following to,our results may indicate the applicability of this approach for the determination of artificial-origin fish in a mixed sample of the Amur fall chum salmon.

Assessing the migratory histories, trophic positions, and conditions of lake sturgeon in the St. Croix and Mississippi Rivers using fn ray microchemistry, stable isotopes, and fatty acid profles

Background:Reproducing populations of invasive carps(Hypophthalmichthys spp.)could alter aquatic food webs and negatively afect native fshes in the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area(MISS)and the St.Croix National Scenic Riverway(SACN).However,proposed invasive carp barriers may also threaten populations of native migratory fshes by preventing movements of fsh between rivers that are necessary for life history requirements.In this study,nonlethal chemical techniques were used to provide baseline data related to the condition,trophic position,and migratory histories of lake sturgeon(Acipenser fulvescens)captured in the Mississippi and St.Croix Rivers.Results:Fish length and weight measurements and age estimates determined from pectoral fn rays demonstrated that lake sturgeon from the Mississippi River had greater lengths-at-age compared to sturgeon from the St.Croix River.However,length–weight relations were similar for sturgeon from the Mississippi and St.Croix Rivers.Lake sturgeon captured from diferent locations had distinguishable fatty acid signatures,and stable isotope analyses demonstrated that lake sturgeon from the Mississippi River generally feed at a higher trophic level than those in the St.Croix River.Strontium-to-calcium ratios(Sr:Ca)from fn ray cross sections indicated that sturgeon captured from the Mississippi River had higher Sr:Ca values than sturgeon captured from the St.Croix River,and natal origins and capture locations were not signifcantly diferent among sturgeon captured within individual rivers.Most sturgeon were captured in water with a similar Sr:Ca signature as their natal waters,indicating that there is some separation between populations of lake sturgeon in the St.Croix and Mississippi Rivers.However,Sr:Ca data indicated substantial variation in movement patterns among individual lake sturgeon,indicating that populations interact through migrations of individual fsh between rivers.Conclusions:Study results provide baseline condition and food web structure index data for assessing changes in lake sturgeon populations should invasive carps become established in these areas of the Mississippi and St.Croix Rivers.Controlled-exposure and telemetry studies would help verify and enhance the relations between Sr:Ca signatures in water and lake sturgeon pectoral fn rays to further assess mixing of sturgeons between rivers。

Unravelling habitat use of Coilia nasus from the Rokkaku River and Chikugo River estuaries of Japan by otolith strontium and calcium

The migratory history of the engraulid fish Coilia nasus in the Rokkaku and Chikugo River estuaries of the Ariake Sea, Japan was assessed using otolith strontium（Sr） X-ray intensity maps and strontium：calcium（Sr：Ca） ratio life history transects by an electron probe microanalyzer（EPMA）. The results showed that seven of the ten specimens from the Rokkaku River Estuary（LJC） and all 15 specimens collected in the Chikugo River Estuary（ZHC） had low Sr：Ca ratios（≤3） at the central otolith area, indicating their riverine origin and initial freshwater residence. After the first regime shift adjacent to natal regions, the Sr level mapping displayed a wide variety of color patterns, and the Sr：Ca ratios obtained by the line transect analysis could be divided into one to six significantly different phases indicative of gradual life history transition. The other three specimens from the Rokkaku River Estuary had high Sr：Ca ratios（3–6.7） at the central otolith area but showed alternating changes between low and high values outside the natal region, suggesting that estuarine-origin individuals occurred in the Rokkaku River Estuary. The two-dimensional maps of the Sr level and average of the otolith Sr：Ca ratios along the life-history transects could be used as effective tools for reconstruction of past habitat use of the tapertail anchovy in estuaries of the Ariake Sea, Japan.

Migration patterns and habitat use of the tapertail anchovy Coilia mystus in the Oujiang River Estuary and the Zhujiang River Estuary, China

Habitat use of the tapertail anchovy(Coilia mystus Linnaeus, 1758) from the Oujiang River Estuary and the Zhujiang(Pearl) River Estuary was studied by examining the environmental signatures of Sr and Ca in otoliths using electron probe microanalysis. Individuals from the Oujiang River had higher and varied Sr:Ca ratios(expressed as(Sr:Ca)×1 000, 3.83–13.0 average) in the otolith core regions, suggesting that they were born in brackish or sea waters, and that a freshwater habitat might not be necessary for egg hatching and larval growth.While, individuals from the Zhujiang River had lower Sr:Ca ratios(0.39–2.51 average) in the core regions,suggesting a freshwater origin. After hatching, anchovies from the Zhujiang River migrate downstream to the river estuary close to brackish water. Our results demonstrated varied habitat use for spawning during stages of early life history between the two populations, and suggested that such variations are promoting diversity of life history strategies of this species.

Early life migration and population discrimination of the small yellow croaker Larimichthys polyactis from the Yellow Sea: inferences from otolith Sr/Ca ratios

The small yellow croaker Larimichthys polyactis is a benthic marine fish species of high ecological and commercial importance and is widely distributed in the northwestern Pacifi c Ocean,especially in the Chinese coastal waters of the Bohai,Yellow,and East China Seas.As a highly migratory species,the whole life migration of L.polyactis has been intensively studied.However,knowledge about its early life migration is scarce,and population divisions are inconsistent,limiting the ability of fishery scientists and administrators to evaluate the design and potential benefits of thorough conservation and resource-management strategies.In the present study,otolith Sr/Ca was analyzed to investigate the early migratory patterns and discriminate the populations of L.polyactis in the Yellow Sea,including two spawning groups and one overwintering group.The variation in Sr/Ca ratios of ontogenetic growth zones,including the nucleus(N),larval(L),metamorphosis(M),juvenile(J),and edge(E)zones,was measured by electron probe microanalysis.The variation in Sr/Ca ratios in early developmental growth zones was generally characterized by an evident downward trend from the N to J zone,which suggests that the early migratory pattern of L.polyactis might be from inshore to nearshore water.Canonical discriminant analysis,based on the otolith Sr/Ca ratios of the N,L,M,and J zones,allowed the successful discrimination of the two populations,namely,the northern and southern Yellow Sea groups,whose diff erences were mainly reflected in the L and J zones.Compared with previous studies,the traditional geographic boundaries(34°N)separating these two populations might be moving northward.The application of otolith Sr/Ca ratios based on ontogenetic stage could improve our understanding of the migration and population discrimination of L.polyactis from the Yellow Sea.

Fractal Behaviour of Atomic Scale Microstructures:an Introduction

The properties of all materials depend largely on their chemical compositions.Compositional analysis by using the atom probe suggests that it is necessary to invent new parameters to describe some aspects of microstructures.Experimental and calculation work indicates that fractal dimension can be used to describe structural aspects not readily expressible with normal parameters.The application of fractal concept in mate- rials studies will enable us to understand from a brand-new angle the ultra-fine microstructures of materials.