Evolution of the continents and the atmosphere inferred from Th-U-Nb systematics of the depleted mantle

Temporal evolution of depleted mantle thorium-uranium-niobium systematics constrain the amount of continental crust present through Earth's history (through the niobium/thorium ratio) and date formation of a globally oxidizing atmosphere and hydrosphere at approximately 2.0 billion years ago (through the niobium/uranium ratio). Increase in the niobium/thorium ratio shows involvement of hydrated lithosphere in differentiation of Earth since approximately 3.8 billion years ago. After approximately 2.0 billion years ago, the decreasing mantle thorium/uranium ratio portrays mainly preferential recycling of uranium in an oxidizing atmosphere and hydrosphere. Net growth rate of continental crust has varied over time, and continents are still growing today.     

Combining ability among male sterile two-type and restorer lines of Zinnia elegans and implications for the breeding of this ornamental species

Nineteen parental lines including five male sterile A-lines (AH002A, AH003A, AH209A, S5001A, J16A) and fourteen restorers (A1-GH, A3, S5, J6, J7N, J7J, J8, J9, J10, J11, J12, J13, J14, J17) were crossed using the North Carolina II statistical method. Studies of combining ability and heritability were conducted on selected parents along with their seventy F₁ hybrids for main ornamental traits. Plant height, crown size and length of node had obvious additive genetic effects, high (>0.50) broad sense heritability and high narrow sense heritability (length of node was medium). Pedicel length showed approximately equivalent maternal and paternal additive genetic effects, high broad sense heritability and medium (0.30–0.50) narrow sense heritability. Number of whorls of ray florets across capitulum and number of branches were able to take advantage of heterosis. The relationship between general combining ability and specific combining ability in Zinnia elegans depended on materials and traits. Male sterile two-type line was pivotal in the hybridization breeding of Z. elegans. S5001A, AH002A and A1-GH, A3, J14 which performed high negative GCA effects in PH, PL, LN and type I in PH, PL, NW, LN were ideal female and male parents of potted flowering plants; AH209A, J16A and S5, J10, J17 which displayed positive GCA effects and almost type I in PH, PL, LN were ideal female and male parents of cut flowers, respectively. For potted flowering plants, AH002A × J17, AH209A × A1-GH and S5001A × J6 with high negative SCA effects in PH, PL and LN were the most promising combinations, AH002A × S5, AH003A × A3 and J16A × J6 were the subprime combinations; for cut flowers, AH209A × S5, AH209A × J17 and J16A × J17 with high positive SCA effects in PH, PL and LN were the primary combinations, AH209A × J9 and S5001A × J10 were the secondary combinations.     

Conservation policies and planning under climate change

Biodiversity conservation policies focus on securing the survival of species and habitats according to their current distribution. This basic premise may be inappropriate for halting biodiversity decline under the dynamic changes caused by climate change. This study explores a dynamic spatial conservation prioritization problem where climate change gradually changes the future habitat suitability of a site’ current species. This has implications for survival probability, as well as for species that potentially immigrate to the site. The problem is explored using a set of heuristics for both of two policy objectives focusing on (1) the protection on current (native) species, and (2) all species, including immigrating species. The trade-offs between the protection of native species versus all species is illustrated. The study shows that the development of prediction models of future species distributions as the basis of decision rules can be crucial for ensuring the effectiveness of conservation plans. Finally, it is discussed how more adaptive strategies, that allow for the redirection of resources from protected sites to privately-owned sites, may increase the effectiveness of the conservation networks. Climate change induced shifts in the suitability of habitats for species may increase the value of such adaptive strategies, the benefit decreasing with increasing migration probabilities and species distribution dynamics.     

Hemipristicola gunterae gen. n., sp. n. (Cestoda: Tetraphyllidea: Phyllobothriidae) from the snaggletooth shark, Hemipristis elongata (Carcharhiniformes: Hemigaleidae), from Moreton Bay, Australia

Helminthological examination of the snaggletooth shark, Hemipristis elongata (Klunzinger) (Carcharhiniformes: Hemigaleidae), from Moreton Bay, Queensland, Australia, yielded a phyllobothriid genus and species previously unknown to science. Hemipristicola gunterae gen. n., sp. n. is described here, and is placed in the subfamily Phyllobothriinae Braun, 1900. Of the other phyllobothriid genera, the new genus most closely resembles Paraorygmatobothrium in that both genera possess bothridia with a single loculus and apical sucker, post-vaginal testes and lateral vitellarium. Hemipristicola, however, differs from Paraorygmatobothrium in the morphology of the proximal bothridial surface microthrix, possessing serrate gladiate spinitriches with marginal serrations restricted to the distal half of the blade, and in the possession of a more extensive uterus, extending anteriorly from the anterior margin of the ovary to well past the level of the cirrus-sac. The new genus also differs from Paraorygmatobothrium by possessing testes that are more than one layer deep. Hemipristicola gunterae further differs from Paraorygmatobothrium species found in hemigaleid sharks in possessing vitelline follicles arranged in two lateral bands that are restricted to the lateral margins of the proglottid and not possessing a cephalic peduncle. Bayesian inference analysis of partial 28S rDNA data shows that H. gunterae forms a sister taxon to species of Paraorygmatobothrium. These two genera were resolved with high posterior probability support in the analysis. Hemipristicola gunterae is only the second phyllobothriid species to be described from Hemipristis elongata from Australian waters, and the fourth from the Australian hemigaleids.     

Characteristics of membrane filters in relation to aluminium studies in soil solutions and natural waters

Potential vitiative effects of Millipore 0.45-, 0.22-, 0.05- and 0.025-pm filter elements on aqueous samples were investigated. All the filter elements evaluated exhibited a cation exchange capacity (CEC); in the case of 0.025-pm filter elements, the CEC increased with pH. Filtration of 20 μM AlCl₃/1.65 mM CaCl₂, solutions (I～0.005 M) to 0.45, 0.22 and 0.05 pm resulted in no significant change in solution A1 concentration. Filtration through 0.025-μm filter elements significantly reduced the total A1 present in solutions adjusted to pH 4.5 and 5.0; the A1 concentration of solution adjusted to pH 4.0 was not altered. The removal of A1 from pH 4.5 and pH 5.0 solutions was attributed to the retention of A1 hydroxide micro-particulates formed during pH adjustment of the AlCl₃/CaCI₂, solution. Adsorption of A1 by the filter element was not significant. Soil solutions were analysed without filtering and after filtration to 0.45,0.22,0.05 and 0.025 pm. Filtration had no effect on the concentration of the major anions (Cl^?, SO²₄ -, NO¹₃) or cations (Ca⁺⁺, Mg⁺⁺, Na⁺, K⁺). However, filtration to 0.05 and 0.025 pm resulted in significant reductions in the concentration of Al, Fe, Si and organic C in some samples. In soil solutions for which filtration resulted in the removal of large amounts of particulate material, the solution appeared less coloured after filtration and exhibited lower absorbance in the visible spectrum (4O(MOO nm). However, the absence of colour did not preclude the presence of colloidal particles.     

SOCRATES—A simple model for predicting long-term changes in soil organic carbon in terrestrial ecosystems

The maintenance of soil organic carbon (SOC) in terrestrial ecosystems is critical for long-term productivity. Simulation models of SOC dynamics are valuable tools in predicting the impacts of climate on carbon storage and developing management strategies for the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions, however, their utility is generally reduced due to need for specific data. The SOCRATES model is a simple process based representation of soil SOC dynamics in terrestrial ecosystems, which requires minimal data inputs and specifically designed to examine the impact of land use and land use change on soil carbon storage. SOCRATES was successful in predicting SOC change at eighteen long-term crop, pasture and forestry trials from North America, Europe and Australasia. These trials ranged from 8 to 86 years in duration, over a wide range of climates and soil types with annual changes in SOC ranging from −3.0 to 4.2%.