Catch organism assemblages along artificial reefs area and adjacent waters in Haizhou Bay

To better understand the community patterns mediated by connectivity in artificial reefs of coastal areas, it is necessary to understand the distribution and coexistence of organisms with artificial reefs area and adjacent waters. This study was conducted to examine main catches assemblages collected by trawls in Haizhou Bay,which included five habitats: the artificial reef area(AR), aquaculture area(AA), natural area(NA), estuary area(EA) and comprehensive effect area(CEA). The result shows that the total abundances of species in the five habitats were highly different(univariate PERMANOVA: P = 0.001, n = 24), but some species were also unique in their habitat(e.g. Scapharca subcrenata and Glossaulax didyma in AA). The body size distribution of specific species between habitats are different. For Collichthys lucidus, their body size in AR(14.63 cm ± 1.64 cm) and EA(14.3 cm ± 0.85 cm) is higher than that in NA(10.65 cm ± 1.64 cm), CEA(11.28 cm ± 1.85 cm) and AA(12.1 cm ±0.43 cm), which indicates the potential connection from AR to EA mediated by their adult population. We concluded that artificial reefs in AR can be considered key components that have the ability to support species assemblages in adjacent habitats. This study has implications for the conservation and monitoring of species assemblages in coastal areas in terms of that artificial reefs can be applied in different stages of habitat protection implementation and in different combinations of scenarios.

Geochemistry of island arc assemblage in the Eastern Desert of Egypt and the role of Pan-African magmatism in crustal growth of the Arabian–Nubian Shield:A review

Neoproterozoic island arc assemblage of the Arabian–Nubian Shield(ANS)in the Eastern Desert(ED)of Egypt comprises juvenile suites of metavolcanics(MV),large amounts of meta-sedimentary rocks(MS),and voluminous metagabbros-diorites(MGD)and syn-tectonic intrusions of older granitoids(OG).We report here the updates of these four rock units in terms of classification,distribution,chemical characteristics,geodynamic evolution,metamorphism,and ages.In addition,we discuss these integrated data to elucidate a reasonable and reliable model for crustal evolution in the ANS.The main features of these rock units indicate their relation to each other and the geodynamic environment dominated by early immature oceanic island arcs to primitive continental arcs.Integrated information of the island arc metavolcanic and plutonic rocks(gabbros,diorites,tonalites,and granodiorites)furnish evidence of the genetic relationships.These include proximity and a coeval nature in the field;all protolith magmas are subalkaline in nature following calc-alkaline series with minor tholeiitic affinities;common geochemical signature of the arc rocks and subduction-related magmatism;their similar enrichment in LREEs;and similar major element compositions with mafic melts derived from metasomatized mantle wedge.The volcano-sedimentary and the OG rocks underwent multiphase deformation events whereas the MGD complexes deformed slightly.Based on the magmatic,sedimentological,and metamorphic evolutions constrained by geochronological data as well as the progressive evolutionary trend from extensional to compressional regimes,a possible gradual decrease in the subducted slab dip angle is the most infl uential in any geodynamic model for arc assemblage in the ED of Egypt.

Hydrocarbon accumulation in deep ancient carbonate-evaporite assemblages

The Ediacaran–Ordovician strata within three major marine basins(Tarim,Sichuan,and Ordos)in China are analyzed.Based on previous studies focusing on the characteristics of the Neoproterozoic–Cambrian strata within the three major basins(East Siberian,Oman,and Officer in Australia)overseas,the carbonate–evaporite assemblages in the target interval are divided into three types:intercalated carbonate and gypsum salt,interbedded carbonate and gypsum salt,and coexisted carbonate,gypsum salt and clastic rock.Moreover,the concept and definition of the carbonate-evaporite assemblage are clarified.The results indicate that the oil and gas in the carbonate-evaporite assemblage are originated from two types of source rocks:shale and argillaceous carbonate,and confirmed the capability of gypsum salt in the saline environment to drive the source rock hydrocarbon generation.The dolomite reservoirs are classified in two types:gypseous dolomite flat,and grain shoal&microbial mound.This study clarifies that the penecontemporaneous or epigenic leaching of atmospheric fresh water mainly controlled the large-scale development of reservoirs.Afterwards,burial dissolution transformed and reworked the reservoirs.The hydrocarbon accumulation in carbonate-evaporite assemblage can be categorized into eight sub-models under three models(sub-evaporite hydrocarbon accumulation,supra-evaporite hydrocarbon accumulation,and inter-evaporite hydrocarbon accumulation).As a result,the Cambrian strata in the Tazhong Uplift North Slope,Maigaiti Slope and Mazatag Front Uplift Zone of the Tarim Basin,the Cambrian strata in the eastern-southern area of the Sichuan Basin,and the inter-evaporite Ma-4 Member of Ordovician in the Ordos Basin,China,are defined as favorable targets for future exploration.

Environmental heterogeneity and productivity drive the assemblage of benthic diatom:a case study of the Three Gorges Reservoir

Dam construction has a critical effect on river ecosystems in the world,resulting in a rapid decline in biodiversity and ecosystem health.However,the effect of dam construction on the assemblage pattern of benthic diatoms remains unclear.The benthic diatoms assemblages in the tributary backwater area of the Three Gorges Reservoir(TGR)were investigated under low water level(LWL)and high water level(HWL)conditions.Results show that Discostella stelligera,Nitzschia palea,and Craticula subminuscula were dominant species in LWL,while Achnanthidium minutissimum and Nitzschia dissipata were dominant in HWL.Furthermore,environmental variables,productivity parameters,diversity indices,and community similarity were found significantly different between LWL and HWL periods.The Mantel test indicated that both environmental and spatial factors had significant effects on diatom communities in backwater area,while productivity was also a key driving force in LWL.The variation partitioning analysis(VPA)further demonstrated that environment factors could explain the largest variance of diatom assemblages in HWL(9%)and LWL(11%),followed by spatial factors.The relative importance of productivity to diatom community was significantly enhanced in LWL,but only a slight effect was found in HWL.These results indicate that the diatom assemblages were shaped by both environmental filtering and spatial factors.The relative importance of spatial factors depended on the degree of productivity.Therefore,the homogenization of diatom communities due to environmental disturbance,e.g.eutrophication and dam building,is the underlying mechanism in assembling the benthic diatoms.

Early Cenozoic paleontological assemblages and provenance evolution of the Lishui Sag,East China Sea

The East China Sea Shelf Basin generated a series of back-arc basins with thick successions of marine-and terrestrial-facies sediments during Cenozoic.It is enriched with abundant oil and gas resources and is of great significance to the petroleum exploration undertakings.Therein,the Lishui Sag formed fan delta,fluvial delta and littoral-to-neritic facies sediments during Paleocene–Eocene,and the research on its sedimentary environment and sediment source was controversial.This study analyzed the paleontological combination characteristics,and conducted a source-to-sink comparative analysis to restore the sedimentary environment and provenance evolution of the Lishui Sag during Paleocene–Eocene based on the integration of detrital zircon U-Pb age spectra patterns with paleontological assemblages.The results indicated that Lishui Sag was dominated by littoral and neritic-facies environment during time corroborated by large abundance of foraminifera,calcareous nannofossils and dinoflagellates.Chronological analysis of detrital zircon U-Pb revealed that there were significant differences in sediment sources between the east and west area of the Lishui Sag.The western area was featured by deeper water depths in the Paleocene–Eocene,and the sediment was characterized by a single Yanshanian peak of zircon U-Pb age spectra,and mainly influenced from Yanshanian magmatic rocks of South China Coast and the surrounding paleo-uplifts.However,its eastern area partly showed Indosinian populations.In particular,the upper Eocene Wenzhou sediments were featured by increasingly plentiful Precambrian zircons in addition to the large Indosinian-Yanshanian peaks,indicating a possible impact from the Yushan Low Uplift to the east.Therefore,it is likely that the eastern Lishui Sag generated large river systems as well as deltas during time.Due to the Yuquan Movement,the Lishui Sag experienced uplifting and exhumation in the late stage of the late Eocene and was not deposited with sediments until Miocene.Featured by transitional-facies depositions of Paleocene–Eocene,the Lishui Sag thus beared significant potential for source rock and oil-gas reservoir accumulation.

Mapping species assemblages of tropical forests at different hierarchical levels based on multivariate regression trees

Background: Vegetation distribution maps are of great significance for nature protection and management. In diverse tropical forests, accurate spatial mapping of vegetation types is challenging;the high species diversity and abundance of rare species challenge classification concepts, while remote sensing signals may not vary systematically with species composition, complicating the technical capability for delineating vegetation types in the landscape.Methods: We used a combination of field-based compositional data and their relations to environmental variables to predict the distribution of forest types in the Wuzhishan National Natural Reserve(WNNR), Hainan Island,China, using multivariate regression trees(MRT). The MRT was based on arboreal vegetation composition in 132plots of 20 m×20 m with a regular spacing of 1 km. Apart from the MRT, non-metric multidimensional scaling(NMDS) was used to evaluate vegetation-environment relationships.Results: The MRT model worked best when using 14 key environmental variables including topography, climate,latitude and soil, although the difference with the simpler model including only topographical variables was small. The full model classified the 132 plots into 3 vegetation types, 6 formation groups, 20 formations and 65associations at different hierarchical syntaxonomic levels. This model was the basis for forest vegetation maps for the WNNR. MRT and NMDS showed that elevation was the main driving force for the distribution of vegetation types and formation groups. Climate, latitude, and soil(especially available P), together with topographic variables, all influenced the distribution of formations and associations.Conclusions: While elevation determines forest-type distributions, lower-level syntaxonomic forest classes respond to the topographic diversity typical for mountains. Apart from providing the first detailed forest vegetation map for any part of WNNR, we show how, in spite of limitations, MRT with existing environmental data can be a useful method for mapping diverse and remote tropical forests.

Modern pollen assemblages and their relationships with vegetation and climate on the northern slopes of the Tianshan Mountains, Xinjiang, China

The reconstruction of paleovegetation and paleoclimate requires an understanding of the relationships between surface pollen assemblages and modern vegetation and climate.Here,we analyzed the characteristics of surface pollen assemblages across different vegetation zones in the Tianshan Mountains.Using surface pollen analysis and vegetation sample surveys at 75 sites on the northern slopes of the Tianshan Mountains,we determined the correlation between the percentage of dominant pollen types and the corresponding vegetation cover.Redundancy analysis was used to investigate the relationships between surface pollen assemblages and environmental factors.Our results show that the Tianshan Mountains contain several distinct ecological regions,which can be divided into five main vegetation zones from low to high altitudes:mountain desert zone(Hutubi County(HTB):500-1300 m;Qitai County(QT):1000-1600 m),mountain steppe zone(HTB:1400-1600 m;QT:1650-1800 m),mountain forest zone(HTB:1650-2525 m;QT:1850-2450 m),subalpine meadow zone(HTB:2550-2600 m;QT:2500-2600 m),and alpine mat vegetation zone(HTB:2625-2700 m;QT:2625-2750 m).The surface pollen assemblages of different vegetation zones can accurately reflect the characteristics of the mountainous vegetation patterns on the northern slopes of the Tianshan Mountains when excluding the widespread occurrence of Chenopodiaceae,Artemisia,and Picea pollen.Both average annual precipitation(P_(ann))and annual average temperature(T_(ann))affect the distribution of surface pollen assemblages.Moreover,P_(ann) is the primary environmental factor affecting surface pollen assemblages in this region.A significant correlation exists between the pollen percentage and vegetation cover of Picea,Chenopodiaceae,Artemisia,and Asteraceae.Moreover,Picea,Chenopodiaceae,and Artemisia pollen are over-represented compared with their corresponding vegetation cover.The Asteraceae pollen percentage roughly reflects the distribution of a species within the local vegetation.These results have important implications for enhancing our understanding of the relationship between surface pollen assemblages and modern vegetation and climate.

Pressure stimulated current in progressive failure process of combined coal-rock under uniaxial compression:Response and mechanism

Effective monitoring of the structural health of combined coal-rock under complex geological conditions by pressure stimulated currents(PSCs)has great potential for the understanding of dynamic disasters in underground engineering.To reveal the effect of this way,the uniaxial compression experiments with PSC monitoring were conducted on three types of coal-rock combination samples with different strength combinations.The mechanism explanation of PSCs are investigated by resistivity test,atomic force microscopy(AFM)and computed tomography(CT)methods,and a PSC flow model based on progressive failure process is proposed.The influence of strength combinations on PSCs in the progressive failure process are emphasized.The results show the PSC responses between rock part,coal part and the two components are different,which are affected by multi-scale fracture characteristics and electrical properties.As the rock strength decreases,the progressive failure process changes obviously with the influence range of interface constraint effect decreasing,resulting in the different responses of PSC strength and direction in different parts to fracture behaviors.The PSC flow model is initially validated by the relationship between the accumulated charges of different parts.The results are expected to provide a new reference and method for mining design and roadway quality assessment.

Sporopollen Assemblages from the Cretaceous Yimin Formation of the Hailar Basin,Inner Mongolia,China

Three sporopollen assemblages are recognized for the first time from the Cretaceous Yimin Formation in the Hailar Basin of eastern Inner Mongolia. They are （in ascending order）： the lmpardecispora-Aequitriradites- Clawttipollenites assemblage; the Triporoletes-Pilosisporites-Asteropollis assemblage; and the Appendicisporites- Asteropollis-Tricolpites assemblage, distributed in Members 1, 2 and 3 of the Yimin Formation respectively. Recognition of this biostratigraphic sequence is very important for the division and correlation of the Yimin Formation in the basin. Meanwhile, the age of the Yimin Formation is considered to be Barremian to Early Albian based on the palynological data.

Spatial and Seasonal Patterns of Ichthyoplankton Assemblages in the Haizhou Bay and Its Adjacent Waters of China

Surveys were conducted in five voyages in Haizhou Bay and its adjacent coastal area from March to December 2011 during full moon spring tides. The ichthyoplankton assemblages and the environmental factors that affect their spatial and seasonal patterns were determined. Totally 35 and 12 fish egg and larvae taxa were identified, respectively. Over the past several decades, the egg and larval species composition has significantly changed in Haizhou Bay and its adjacent waters, most likely corresponding with the alteration of fishery resources, which are strongly affected by anthropogenic activities and climate change. The Bray-Curtis dissimilarity index identified four assemblages: near-shore bay assemblage, middle bay assemblage and two closely related assemblages(near-shore/middle bay assemblage and middle/edge of bay assemblage). The primary species of each assemblage principally reflected the spawning strategies of adult fish. The near-shore bay assemblage generally occurred in near-shore bay, with depths measuring <20 m, and the middle bay assemblage generally occurred in the middle of bay, with depths measuring 20 to 40 m. Spatial and seasonal variations in ichthyoplankton in each assemblage were determined by interactions between biological behavioral traits and oceanographic features, particularly the variation of local conditions within the constraint of a general reproductive strategy. The results of Spearman's rank correlation analysis indicated that both fish egg and larval abundance were positively correlated with depth, which is critical to the oceanographic features in Haizhou Bay.

Geochemical Stratigraphy and Microvertebrate Assemblage Sequences across the Silurian/Devonian Transition in South China

Carbon isotope （δ13Corg） analyses of non-marine clastic rocks and neritic carbonates and black shales spanning the Silurian/Devonian transition are compared from two richly fossiliferous sequences in Qujing of East Yunnan and Zoige of Sichuan, South China. The two sections, Xishancun and Putonggou sections in South China, reveal positive δ13Corg shifts happening in the Upper Pridoli and Lower Devonian and reaching peak values as heavy as -25.2‰ （Xishancun） and -19.9‰（Putonggou） in the lowermost Lochkovian following the first occurrence of the thelodont Parathelodus and the conodont Icriodus woschmidti woschmidti （only in Putonggou Section and together with Protathyris-Lanceomyonia brachiopod fauna）. These results replicate a globally known positive shift in δ13Corg from the uppermost Silurian to the lowermost Devonian. The δ13Corg variations across the Silurian/Devonian Boundary （SDB） at the two sections in South China exhibit a shift in carbon isotopic composition similar to the detailed SDB curves from the borehole Klonk-1 drilled at top of the Klonk Global Standard Stratotype-Section and Point （GSSP） in the Prague Basin, Czech Republic. In addition, four microvertebrate assemblages, including the Liaojiaoshan, Xishancun, Yanglugou and Xiaputonggou assemblages, are recognized from the Silurian/Devonian transition exposed in the Xishancun and Putonggou sections, respectively. The results from both carbon isotope stratigraphy and microvertebrate assemblage sequences suggest that the SDB in South China is located at the base of the Xishancun Formation （between sample QX-20 and sample QX-21） in the Xishancun Section and the lower part of the Xiaputonggou Formation （between sample ZP-09 and sample ZP-10） in the Putonggou Section. The isotopic trend for organic carbon together with the changes of microvertebrate remains across the SDB can offer an approach to a potential correlation of the SDB from different sedimentary facies, which help to correlate the marine with non-marine deposits.

Taxonomic diversity of fish assemblages in the Changjiang Estuary and its adjacent waters

Taxonomic diversity of fish assemblages in the Changjiang Estuary （Yangtze River Estuary） and its adjacent waters was analyzed based on bottom trawl surveys carried out by R/V Beidou in June, August and October 2006. Four groups of fishes were identified for each survey by the twoway indicator species analysis （TWIA）. Taxonomic distinctness, species richness and phylogenetic diversity were used to detect changes in taxonomic structure of fish assemblages. Most dominant fish species mainly belonged to Perciformes, Pleuronectiformes, Clupeiformes, Scorpaeniformes and Tetraodontiformes. Species richness in offshore waters of the survey area was higher than that in the other area. The average taxonomic distinctness value （AvTD,△^＋） of each fish assemblage was close to the average taxonomic distinctness of master list in the Changjiang Estuary （79.9）, and had a positive correlation with species richness and Shannon diversity index （H′）. A negative correlation was found between variations in taxonomic distinctness （VarTD, A^＋） and traditional diversity indices, which were caused by fish species component that led to longer average path lengths among species. Taxonomic diversity index （△） had the similar results with species richness, Ht, Simpson diversity index （D） and Pielou＇s evenness index （J′）. VarTD also kept stable, which further certificated that fish assemblages and ecological environment were in equilibrium. Taxonomic distinctness index （△^＋） was relatively stable in most of fish assemblages, and had higher values in some fish assemblages for a few absolutely dominant species. The present study showed that fish community formed new equilibrium stability in 2006 in the Changjiang Estuary when compared with those in the corresponding months of annual survey from 1985 to 1986. And AvTD in each sampling station was lower than AvTD of master list in the Changjiang Estuary, so some ecological niches were absent in each sampling stations from taxonomic or phylogenetic relationships, these would be helpful to stock natural resource and maintain ecological equilibruim of fish assemblages.

Early Cretaceous Palynological Assemblages of the Shuangliao Fault Depression, Songliao Basin and their Geological Implications

The pollen and spores found in the Early Cretaceous strata of two cores from the Shuangliao Fault Depression were studied systematically, and two palynological assemblages have been recognized. Assemblage I from the Yingcheng Formation is named Paleoconiferus-Pinuspollenites; the assemblage is characterized by an extremely high content of Paleoconifer pollen. Assemblage II from Member 1 of the Denglouku Formation is named Cicatricosisporites-Cyathidites-Pinuspollenites; the assemblage is characterized by the abundant presence of Laevigati spores, but less Paleoconifer pollen. According to the palynological data and zircon U-Pb dating, the geological age of the Yingcheng Formation is thought to be Aptian-Albian, and that of the Denglouku Formation is thought to be Early Albian. On the basis of the composition of each assemblage, we can infer that during the depositional period of the Yingcheng Formation, the paleovegetation was mainly conifer forest, the paleoclimate was consistent with the temperate climate of today, and the paleoenvironment was humid feature. During the depositional period of Member 1 of the Denglouku Formation, the paleovegetation was mainly conifer forest and shrubs, the paleoclimate was consistent with the subtropical climate of today, and the paleoenvironment was humid. The results significantly improve our understanding of the stratigraphy in the Shuangliao Fault Depression, provide biostratigraphic evidence for the division and correlation of Early Cretaceous strata in the Shuangliao Fault Depression, and provide new data for analyzing paleovegetation and paleoclimate in the Songliao Basin.

The genetic environmental transformation mechanism of coal and oil shale deposits in eastern China’s continental fault basins and the developmental characteristics of the area’s symbiotic assemblages——taking Huangxian Basin as an example

Coal and oil shale are two common sedimentary energy sources which are often symbiotically developed in M esozoic- Cenozoic continental fault basins. However, the mechanisms and characteristics of the symbiotic development are not yet clearly known. In this research study, the typical continental fault basins of eastern China were chosen as examples for the purpose of conducting an examination of the coal and oil shale symbiotic assemblage types, genetic environmental differences, and transformation mechanisms, as well as the development and occurrence characteristics o f different assemblage types. Through a large number of investigations, systematic experimental testing, and sequence stratigraphy studies, the following conclusions were obtained:(1) There were five types of coal and oil shale symbiotic assemblages observed in the continental fault basins,(2) The development of coal and oil shale deposits requires a warm and humid climate, stable structure, abundant organic matter supply, a certain water depth, and a lower terrestrial source debris supply. The observed differences were that the water depth conditions were diversified in the study area, as well as the sources, types, and content of the organic matter.(3) The rapid transformations of the coal and oil shale genetic environments were mainly controlled by the tectonic settings and climatic conditions, which were determined to control the changes in the water depths, salinity,redox conditions, and lake productivity of the genetic environments. Also, in the symbiotic assemblages, genetic environment changes had induced the development of oil shale deposits, which gradually evolved into coal genetic environments.(4) In the isochronous sequence stratigraphic framework of the coal and oil shale symbiotic assemblages, the lake expansion system tracts (EST) were determined to be the most beneficial to the growth o f all the types of assemblages and were characterized by more assemblage development phases and smaller bed thicknesses. From the early to the late stages of the EST, and from the lakesides to lake centers, the thicknesses of the coal seams in the symbiotic assemblages showed trends of thinning, while the thicknesses of the oil shale deposits exhibited increasing trends. The early stages of high stand system tracts were found to be beneficial to the development of the symbiotic assemblages of coal seams overlying the oil shale. This tract type generally presented large bed thicknesses and distribution ranges. The low stand system tract and the late high stand system tract were determined to be unconducive to the development of the symbiotic assemblages.

Cretaceous Phytoplankton Assemblages from Songke Core-1,North and South(SK-1,N and S) of Songliao Basin,Northeast China

Cretaceous phytoplankton from the newly completed core hole （SK-1, N＆S） in the central Songliao Basin was studied. The target interval is from the upper Quantou Formation of Upper Cretaceous to Mingshui Formation. Twelve genera of dinoflagellates, six of acritarcha and three of chlorophyta were identified in 588 samples from the 2300-m deep core. Ten phytoplankton assemblages have been classified： Tetranguladinium.Subtilisphaera.Botryococcus, Botryococcus- Pediastrum, Pediastrum, Dinogymniopsis-Chlamydophrella-Vesperopsis bifurcate, Dinogymniopsis minor-Balmula, Pediastrum.Botryococcus, Schizosporis-Campenia, Kiokansium.Dinogymniopsis- Botryococcus, Dinogymniopsis-Granodiscus-Filisphaeridium and Granodiscus. According to the findings mentioned above, the age of the upper Qantou Formation is Cenomanian, the Qingshankou Formation belongs to upper Cenomanian-Turonian, the Yaojia Formation to Coniancian-Santonian age, the Nenjiang Formation is of Campanian age, and Sifangtai-Mingshui formations are referred to Maastrichtian stage. The ecology of phytoplankton is closely related to water salinity. Each type of phytoplankton is within a certain living water mass whose evolution type reflects salinity change of the Songliao Lake. The assemblages from the SK-1 indicate that water salinity changes with the cycle of freshwater-slight brackish water-brackish water-slight brackish water-freshwater in the lake.

Effects of shrub presence and shrub species on ground beetle assemblages (Carabidae,Curculionidae and Tenebrionidae) in a sandy desert,northwestern China

Shrub presence has an important effect on the structuring of ground beetles in desert ecosystems. In this study, in order to determine how shrubs and different species influence ground beetle assemblages in a sandy desert scrubland dominated by two different shrub species, namely Calligonum mongolicum and Nitraria sphaerocarpa, we sampled the ground beetles using pitfall traps during spring, summer and autumn in 2012. At the community level, the activity density of the ground beetles was shown to be significantly higher under shrubs than in intershrub bare habitats in spring; but an opposite pattern occurred in autumn, suggesting the presence of sea- son-specific shrub effects on the activity density of the ground beetles. Meanwhile, at the trophic group level, the activity density and species richness of predators were significantly greater under shrubs than in intershrub bare habitats in spring, whereas an opposite trend occurred on the activity density in autumn. N. sphaerocarpa shrubs had a positive effect on the activity density of herbivores in the three seasons, and C. mongolicum shrubs had a positive effect on the activity density of detritivores in spring and autumn. At the species level, more Microdera sp. was captured under shrubs than in intershrub bare habitats in spring. During the same time, we also found that C. mongolicum shrubs had a positive effect on Blaps gobiensis in spring, Carabus sp. in autumn, and Tentyria sp. in spring and autumn, and N. sphaerocarpa shrubs had a positive effect on Cyphogenia chinensis, Sternoplax setosa in spring and summer, and Curculionidae sp. 1 in summer and autumn. The study results suggest that shrub presence, shrub species and season variation are important factors for ground beetle assemblages in this desert ecosystem, but the responses of beetles differed among trophic and taxonomic levels.

Spatial structure and seasonal changes of nekton assemblages in the Taiwan Strait

The Taiwan Strait is a transition zone between the East China Sea and the South China Sea with unique hydrology and a geographical environment that creates special marine community features.To analyze the spatial structure and seasonal changes of the nekton assemblages in the Taiwan Strait,seasonal experimental trawl surveys were conducted during 2006-2007.The results showed that there were two assemblages in the area with different sets of species,and the average similarity within each group varies between 39.38% and 74.20%.By using multivariate statistical analysis and analyzing the distribution of dominant species,we found that the structures of the assemblages had obvious seasonal variation.The middle region from the Putian transect to the Xiamen transect could be considered a mixing area for the two assemblages.The analysis of the relationship between species assemblages and environmental factors indicated that temperature was the most important factor affecting the community structure in cold seasons,and 22.5°C and 17°C could be considered dividing lines for spring and winter,respectively.In warm seasons,the most important factor was water depth,but the relationship with depth was not as significant,with a correlation between 0.264 and 0.399.The seasonal changes of nekton assemblages basically reflected the dynamic currents in the Taiwan Strait.The south coastal assemblage extended to nearly the entire area of the Taiwan Strait along with a strong and intense warm current that shrinks in spring and winter when the southward intrusion of the cold Zhejiang-Fujian coastal current becomes stronger.The impact of shortterm and long-term environmental changes,such as extreme weather,global warming and human activity on nekton assemblages,had been recognized but need further research.Our study on nekton assemblages could be used as a baseline for measuring future changes.

Winter Phytoplankton Assemblages of Coastal Yellow Sea Connected to Jiaozhou Bay,China

The daily species variation of phytoplankton assemblage of coastal Yellow Sea connected to Jiaozhou Bay in the sea-water around the Xiaoqingdao Island was studied for the three months of winter, 2003. A total of 79 taxa from four phyla, Bacil-lariophyta (52 species), Pyrrophyta (25 species), Chrysophyta (1 species), and Cyanophyta (1species) were determined. In general, the most important groups were Bacillariophyta and Pyrrophyta on cell abundance and species richness. In January, the dominant species was mainly composed of cosmopolitan species such as Skeletonema costatum, then it changed to cosmopolitan species Tha-lassiosira nordenskiodii in February, and finally, it recovered to Skeletonema costatum again in March. Cell abundance ranged from 1.02 to 130.71×103 cells L-1with a single peak on 6th Feb., and the average abundance was 28.11 ± 26.01×103 cells L-1 (n = 90) during the winter time. The trends of Shannon-Weiner diversity index and Pielou’s evenness index were contrary to cell abundance, whereas the species diversity and evenness were the lowest in February. Temperature and salinity were closely correlated to phytoplankton species composition and cell abundance. According to the variations of temperature and salinity, species sequence was obvious at the studied site. This implies that the phytoplankton community of inner Jiaozhou Bay would be influenced heavily by the coastal Yel-low Sea phytoplankton assemblages.

Effects of Aquatic Vegetation on Fish Assemblages in a Freshwater River of Taihu Lake Basin, East China

Distribution characteristics of fish assemblages and environmental variation in emerged plant, floating-leaved plant and blank habitats were studied. Emergent plant habitat supported the greatest fish biomass, density and body size, followed by floating-leaved plant habitat, and those of blank habitat was the lowest. Transparency of emergent plant habitat decreased during the period, but of blank habitat increased. Species number of dominant fish of emergent plant habitat compared to the others decreased from four species, i.e., Hemicculter leuciclus, Pseudobrama simoni, Carassius auratus and Ophicephalus argus in May to the single one, C. auratus in September. Those of blank habitat increased from two species, H. leuciclus and Pseudorasbora parva to four species, H. leuciclus, C. auratus, P. parva and O. argus. This result suggested that emergent plant with excessively high density could worsen habitat physical and chemical conditions, resulted in the fish’s emigration to unvegetated area. Those of floating-leaved plant habitat from two species, Cultrichthys erythropterus and P. simoni, changed into four species, C. erythropterus, P. simoni, H. leuciclus and P. parva. The increasing structure complexity and biomass of floating-leaved macrophyte promoted the increase of dominant fish species number with seasonal change. C. auratus, C. erythropterus and H. leuciclus displayed special preferences on emergent plant, floating-leaved plant and blank habitats respectively. Fish’s special habitat preference was determined by plant physical morphology, habitat characteristics and fish breeding habits.

Basin assemblages and tectonic evolution in the Bohai Gulfand its neighbors

According to multi- disciplinary research advances in recent years, three blocks which named Jiaoliao - Bohai block, central North China block and Ordos block are divided. The differences of the tectonic association, types, styles and features in the space, and evolution from Archaean to Cenozoic in the time, between the former two blocks are discussed. Tectonic features and evolution in the four tectonic stages of Precambrian, Indo- China, Yanshanian and Cenozoic are emphasized especially here. All of them described above have inherit and neogenic property. The temporal-spatial change and interaction among basin assemblages in the above four stages are analyzed. Escape tectonic model is employed to interpret coeval compressive and extensional basins in the study area.