Bulk geochemical and Rock-Eval data of sediment core IKU-7430/10-U-01 (Table 1)

The late Volgian (early "Boreal" Berriasian) sapropels of the Hekkingen Formation of the central Barents Sea show total organic carbon (TOC) contents from 3 to 36 wt%. The relationship between TOC content and sedimentation rate (SR), and the high Mo/Al ratios indicate deposition under oxygen-free bottom-water conditions, and suggest that preservation under anoxic conditions has largely contributed to the high accumulation of organic carbon. Hydrogen index values obtained from Rock-Eval pyrolysis are exceptionally high, and the organic matter is characterized by well-preserved type II kerogen. However, the occurrence of spores, freshwater algae, coal fragments, and charred land-plant remains strongly suggests proximity to land. Short-term oscillations, probably reflecting Milankovitch-type cyclicity, are superimposed on the long-term trend of constantly changing depositional conditions during most of the late Volgian. Progressively smaller amounts of terrestrial organic matter and larger amounts of marine organic matter upwards in the core section may have been caused by a continuous sea-level rise.

Distribuição espacial dos foraminíferos no perfil transversal ao manguezal da margem da baía de Sepetiba-RJ: habitat e paleoambiente

Os foraminíferos de zona entre-marés são amplamente utilizados como na reconstituição paleoambiental holocênica. Entretanto, a despeito dos manguezais, estudos com foraminíferos são relativamente escassos. A estrutura do habitat e seu grau de exposição atuam na distribuição espacial das espécies de zona entre-marés. Em um perfil transversal ao manguezal que margeia a baía de Sepetiba (RJ), foi investigada a influência parâmetros estruturais do habitat e da riqueza na distribuição espacial dos foraminíferos do manguezal. Os parâmetros escolhidos neste estudo foram serapilheira, litologia, matéria orgânica total, microtopografia, zonação botânica, espécies botânicas, altura média das árvores e densidade de árvores. Um testemunho de 144 cm também foi descrito em termos da sua litologia, matéria orgânica total, composição biogênica, incluído foraminíferos. O perfil apresentou textura silte argilosa, matéria orgânica total concentrada por todo manguezal e a serapilheira acumulada principalmente no mangue superior. Os forminíferos (24) ocorreram apenas no manguezal, com predomínio de aglutinantes e presença significativa de formas calcárias. A densidade de testas se concentrou no mangue superior. A. beccarii f. tepida, E. excavatum, A. mexicana, Q. seminulum e T. inflata foram as espécies mais constantes. A diversidade não apresentou variabilidade espacial significativa e foi marcada pela baixa dominância e alta equitabilidade. Notou-se diferença significativa da riqueza de foraminíferos entre habitats expostos e protegidos. A riqueza específica apresentou moderada correlação com a serapilheira e densidade de árvores. A. mexicana e H. wilberti apresentaram moderada correlação com a riqueza. Q. seminulum apresentou significativa correlação com a matéria orgânica total e altura média das árvores. T. inflata apresentou significativa correlação com a riqueza e serapilheira. Em relação ao testemunho, foi possível identificar três paleoambientes de baía restrita: infralitoral, mesolitoral e supralitoral. O manguezal este presente entre o nível 124 62 cm e a planície hipersalina a partir do nível 24 cm.

Astronomical signals in different climate proxies from the quaternary loess-soil sequences in China

IEECAS SKLLQG

Phylogeography of the Northern Atlantic species Chondrus crispus (Gigartinales, Rhodophyta) inferred from nuclear rDNA internal transcribed spacer sequences

Eighteen isolates of the red algae Chondrus crispus were collected from Northern Atlantic sites, together with C. ocellatus, C. yendoi and C. pinnulatus from the North Pacific. The nuclear rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) was sequenced and compared, spanning both the ITS regions and the 5.8S rRNA gene. Percentage of nucleotide variation for C. crispus ranged from 0.3% to 4.0%. Phylogenetic analyses were performed using maximum parsimony (MP), neighbor-joining (NJ) and minimum evolution methods. They showed that two main clades existed within the C. crispus samples examined and that suggested C. crispus had a single Atlantic origin. The clustering however did not follow the geographic origin. We hypothesized that the current distribution of C. crispus populations might be a result of three main factors: temperature boundaries, paleoclimate and paleoceanography. ITS data exhibited abundant molecular information not only for phylogeographical investigation but also for systematics studies.

海水中微量元素-碳酸钙共沉淀现象模拟：古海洋环境指标的实验研究

本文主要阐述运用稳定加液-反应系统，在实验室环境下模拟海水中方解石和文石形成时微量元素共沉淀现象，主要研究微量元素固-液体系中的迁移、转化和分配。进而在对其定量描述的前提下，研究各靶元素的共沉淀行为对各种反应条件的响应，从中提取出可以用于古海洋研究的替代性指标。所研究的微量元素和部分常量元素包括非金属元素硼和砷、碱土金属元素镁、过渡金属元素(锰、钴、镍、铜、和镉)、铀系元素(铀、钍和铅)以及钇和稀土元素。 本实验首先运用pH测试、高精度滴定分析等手段测定了实验的一些基本参数，如[H+]、碱度和[Ca2+]，根据计算获得了各碳酸体系要素，并以此为基础建立了5℃、15℃和25℃及pCO2=0.0015 atm.=0.0030atm.下的人工海水中方解石或文石的沉淀动力学方程。研究表明： 1)在各个条件下，方解石或文石的沉淀速率(R)和其在海水中过饱和度(Ω)存在很好的相关性，可基本表达为Log R=k*Log(Ω-1)+b； 2) pCO2对会严重改变海水中的碳酸钙过饱和度，进而影响相应的沉淀速率，但对方解石或文石的沉淀动力学方程没有明显影响； 3)不同温度下所得的方解石或文石各自的沉淀动力学方程存在明显差异，表明这一过程受热力学元素控制。 在方解石和文石沉淀实验中，通过人为添加各种微量元素对它们的共沉淀行为进行模拟。首先通过直接溶解稀释法结合ICP-MS或采用离线螯合系统前处理结合ICP-MS测定海水、固体样品中各靶元素的浓度。在此基础之上通过换算得出各靶元素在海水([Me]sol’n)和方解石或文石沉淀([XMe]overg)中的含量，然后 计算出单个实验中各靶元素介于碳酸钙沉淀和海水之间的分异系数。 实验中通过改变晶核类型(方解石和文石)、温度、pCO2、碳酸钙过饱和度(2-12，以方解石计)、沉淀速率和靶元素起始浓度等参数，得到在不同反应条件下各靶元素的分异系数。基于分异系数之间的差异，各靶元素在方解石和文石沉淀过程中的共沉淀行为被加以分类和界定。在方解石中Mn、Co、Ni、Pb、Th、Cd、Cu、Mg等表现为相容元素。而在文石中Mn、Co、Ni、Cd等都属不相容元素。B、As、U与其他金属离子不同的是这三种元素是以BO33-、AsO33-、UO22+等基团的形式参予共沉淀的，其中BO33-和AsO33-是替代CO32-而UO22+取代Ca2+。 进一步总结各靶元素和反应条件的关系，初步得出碳酸钙沉淀动力学机制、温度、离子半径、碳酸钙矿物的晶格结构、溶液化学组成及其变化是影响微量元素随方解石和文石共沉淀过程的重要因素，并对各靶元素共沉淀模式进行了探讨。最后我们结合实际工作主要是文献中报导的有孔虫、珊瑚等生物钙质壳体或骨架中各靶元素的结果，对比我们的实验从中提取出了一些可应用于古海洋研究的潜在替代性指标，如： 1) 海水中CO32-浓度代用指标——文石U/Ca、Cd/Ca比，方解石U/Ca比； 2) 海水pH 代用指标——文石B/Ca、As/Ca 比； 3) 氧化还原代用指标——方解石Mn/Ca 比； 4) 海水化学代用指标——方解石Co/Ca 比、U/Ca 比文石Cu/Ca、Pb/Ca 比。 5）稀土元素代用指标——方解石质载体中的YREE/Ca比。 还有几种元素组合也非常具有价值，如Mn-Co-Ni 组合、B-U 组合。此外指出了现有微量元素古海洋指标应用过程中被忽略了的一些关键性因素，如文石Mg/Ca比受到文石沉淀速率的限制、方解石Cd/Ca 比受到沉淀速率和温度的双重影响等。

MB倒转在中国黄土中的记录及海陆对比

Chinese loess preserved in northwest and north China are famous for its fine grain size, high accumulate rate and high community and can be good archives for paleoclimate and paleomagnetic variation over the later Cenozoic, with which can be correlated well between marine sediments. Major geomagnetic chrons and long term paleoclimate changes in Quaternary are successfully extracted from Chinese loess-paleosols, as well as short-term geomagnetic excursions and climate instability of high resolution. Magneticstratigraphy based on paleogeomagnetic polarity reversal recorded in Chinese loess is a basic project in loess research since decades ago. True geomagnetic records and exact location of geomagnetic reversal boundary in section is the foundation of magneticstratigraphy. Matuyama-Brunhes (MB) reversal as the youngest one still remains divarication about exact location of its boundary (MBB). L8 and S8 of Luochuan and Xifeng located in the interior of Chinese Loess Plateau(CLP) and Mangshan in southeast part of CLP are chosen to make clear some problems which include magnetic mineral, process of MB reversal, location of MBB, downward displacement scale of magnetic reversal boundary, time lag of paleoclimate record by marine and loess, new correlation between Chinese loess and marine sediments. Rock-magnetic investigations carried on L8 and S8 show that the main mineral are ferrimagnetic assemblage consists of magnetite and maghemite in Luochuan and Xifeng, and magnetite in Mangshan, which all contains little hematite belongs to antiferromagnetic phases. The main carrier of nature remanet magnetism (NRM) is detrital magnetite with pseudo-single domain. Detailed paleomagnetic investigations display that there are several rapid reversals in direction during the process of MB reversal which started at the upper part of S8 and finished at the lower part of L8, and lasted about decades of centimeters to more than 100cm correspond to about 104 years. On the assumption that MBB is located in the middle part of the layer which recorded the very reversal, 11cm is considered as the scale of downward displacement for the MBB in Chinese loess after estimation through correlation between Luochuan and Mangshan records. So this study denies the theory of large scale displacement of MBB and large scale Lock-in depth of NRM acquired from Chinese loess. Time lag of paleoclimate records in terrestrial sediments and marine sediments is considered after reassessment of correlation between low field susceptibility of Chinese loess with marine oxygen isotope in benthic foraminifera. On the basis of traditional correlation between Chinese loess and marine oxygen isotope, this study document a new scheme which correlates L8 and S8 to MIS18 and MIS19, respectively.

南海沉积物中的放射虫及其古环境意义

In this paper a systematic study of radiolarian from surface sediments of all the South China Sea (SCS) has initially been done for its deposit ecology, biogeography and paleoenvironment significance. The paleoenvironment information obtained by radiolarian analysis and other sedimentary method for core samples is also made use as the synthesis proxy for revealing the paleoenvironment changes in the SCS and the relations of it with the past globe change during last 200ka. Some results come out of this study as: 1) Radiolarian skeleton chemistry composition and skeleton morphological features were analyzed, chiefly dividing them as 15 types of basic morphological features: 2) Analysis of biogeographical feature demonstrates that the fauna in SCS obviously belonging to a transitional type of west Pacific - Indian Ocean and has a particularity of itself: 3) Tendency of radiolarian population distribution is lower in shallow continental shelf area, increasing gradually toward the abyssal region; 4) Nine character boundaries of radiolarian depth distribution in the sediments from whole the South China Sea may be recognized; 5)Two radiolarian transfer functions for paleotemperature and paleo-primary productivity in the South China Sea have also been established respectively. The equation of transfer function for winter paleotemperature has only an average estimated error of 0.18678 ℃ and the equation for paleo-primary productivity has the calculation accuracy of 85.31%; 6) Changes of radiolarian individuals, numbers of species and H(S) values in core NS93-5 show the completely different oceanic geographical circumstance and ecology structure in the Last Maximum Glacial with present; 7) The abundance variation of some raiolarian warm species and cold species indicate the changes of water masse features along with the paleoenvironment evolution, showing that this sea area clearly is controlled in 6 issues of oxygen isotopes by the cold water masses; 8) By comparative analysis of δ ~(18)O curves with GISP2;s ice core can core 17940 of the northern SCS, the occurring characters of D/O's events 1-21 and Heinrich's events H1-H6 have been revealed in this sea area by core NS93-5, which prove the existence of paleoclimatic tele-connections between the southern SCS and Arctic region since about 200ka BP.

Paleontological studies of Cretaceous vertebrate fossil beds in the Tataouine Basin (southern Tunisia)

The ‘Continental Intercalaire’ deposits of the Tataouine basin of southern Tunisia preserve one of the most diverse Cretaceous vertebrate fauna from Africa. This research project focuses on a detailed revision of the stratigraphic distribution of mid-Cretaceous fossil beds in the Tataouine Basin and includes the description of four, newly discovered vertebrate tracksites. In the Tataouine region, macro- and microvertebrate remains are recovered from three stratigraphic intervals: the lower Douiret Formation (Barremian), the Chenini (rare) and Oum ed Diab members of the Aïn El Guettar Formation (Albian). A detailed, basin-scale revision of the stratigraphic occurrence of fossil-bearing strata indicates 1. lateral facies variability within the context of a low gradient, circalittoral to coastal-plain environment; 2. multiple and diachronous fossil beds which include elasmobranchs, actinopterygians, sarcopterygians, turtles, crocodyliforms, pterosaurs, and non-avian dinosaurs remains. Four vertebrate tracksites have been discovered in the study area: 1. the Middle Jurassic Beni Ghedir site which preserves approximately 130 tridactyl footprints distributed over an area of 200 square meters, representing the oldest evidence of a dinosaur fauna in Tunisia; 2. the late Albian Chenini tracksite, which includes poorly preserved crocodilian tracks and the dinosaur ichnospecies Apulosauripus federicianus; 3. the Cenomanian Ksar Ayaat locality, where footprints assigned to a pleurodiran turtle are exposed, and 4. the upper Cenomanian Jebel Boulouha site which presents almost 100 well-preserved tridactyl tracks referred to small-sized theropods, fossil bird tracks - ichnogenus Koreanaorins – and tracks referred to a mammalian trackmaker, representing the first report of fossil bird and mammal from the Cretaceous of continental Africa and Tunisia respectively. In addition, data collected from the Tunisian tracksites have been compared with coeval tracksites in Italy and Croatia, showing analogies in morphology and paleoenvironment of dinosaur ichnoassociations, supporting the already hypothesized subaerial connection between these areas during the mid-Cretaceous.

Sedimentology of ODP Leg 119 samples

Cretaceous to Quaternary sediments recovered at Leg 119 Sites 738 and 744 on the southern tip of the Kerguelen Plateau were studied in order to determine the depositional environment and the paleoceanography of the southern Indian Ocean and especially the long-term glacial history of East Antarctica. Emphasis is given to bulk-sediment composition, grain-size data, and clay mineralogy. The sediment sequence at the two sites is generally of a highly pelagic character, with nannofossil oozes, chalks, and limestones dominant from the Turanian to upper Miocene and diatom oozes dominant within the uppermost Miocene to Holocene interval. The first indication of glaciation at sea level is the occurrence of isolated gravel and terrigenous sand grains, which indicate ice rafting in the middle Eocene interval of 45.0-42.3 Ma. A major intensification of glaciation, probably the onset of continental East Antarctic glaciation, is recorded in sediments of early Oligocene age (36.0 Ma). All major sediment parameters document this event. The clay mineralogy changes from smectite-dominated assemblages, typical of moderately warm and humid climatic conditions in which chemical weathering processes are prevalent, to illite- and chlorite-dominated assemblages, indicative of cooler climates and physical weathering. Ice-rafted debris of both gravel and sand size occurs in large quantities in that interval and coincides with a change in the mode of carbonate deposition. Carbonate contents are relatively high and uniform (90%-95%) in strata younger than early Oligocene; in Oligocene to upper Miocene strata they fluctuate between 65% and 95%. Oligocene and Neogene hiatuses reflect an intensification of oceanic circulation and the increased erosional force of Circumpolar Deep Water. The long-term Cenozoic cooling trend was interrupted by a phase of early Miocene warming indicated by maximum Neogene smectite concentrations. Although ice-rafted debris is present only in minor amounts and mainly in the silt fraction of early Oligocene to late Miocene age, it shows that glaciers advanced to the East Antarctic shoreline throughout that time. Ice-rafting activity drastically increased in latest Miocene time, when carbonate deposition decreased and diatom ooze sedimentation started. This suggests a pronounced intensification of Antarctic glaciation combined with a northward migration of the Polar Front.

Quantitative coccolithophore analyses in sediment core MD01-2446

Quantitative coccolithophore analyses were performed in core MD01-2446, located in the mid-latitude North Atlantic, to reconstruct climatically induced sea-surface water conditions throughout Marine Isotope Stages (MIS) 14-9. The data are compared to new and available paleoenvironmental proxies from the same site as well as other nearby North Atlantic records that support the coccolithophore signature at glacial-interglacial to millennial climate scale. Total coccolithophore absolute abundance increases during interglacials but abruptly drops during the colder glacial phases and deglaciations. Coccolithophore warm-water taxa (wwt) indicate that MIS11c and MIS9e experienced warmer and more stable conditions throughout the whole photic zone compared to MIS13. MIS11 was a long-lasting warmer and stable interglacial characterized by a climate optimum during MIS11c when a more prominent influence of the subtropical front at the site is inferred. The wwt pattern also suggests distinct interstadial and stadial events lasting about 4-10 kyr. The glacial increases of Gephyrocapsa margereli-G. muellerae 3-4 µm along with higher values of Corg, additionally supported by the total alkenone abundance at Site U1313, indicate more productive surface waters, likely reflecting the migration of the polar front into the mid-latitude North Atlantic. Distinctive peaks of G. margereli-muellerae (> 4 µm), C. pelagicus pelagicus, Neogloboquadrina pachyderma left coiling, and reworked nannofossils, combined with minima in total nannofossil accumulation rate, are tracers of Heinrich-type events during MIS12 and MIS10. Additional Heinrich-type events are suggested during MIS12 and MIS14 based on biotic proxies, and we discuss possible iceberg sources at these times. Our results improve the understanding of mid-Brunhes paleoclimate and the impact on phytoplankton diversity in the mid-latitude North Atlantic region.

A Middle Pleistocene nannofossil record of sediment core MD03-2699

Changes in paleoclimate and paleoproductivity patterns have been identified by analysing, in conjunction with other available proxy data, the coccolithophore assemblages from core MD03-2699, located in the Portuguese margin in the time interval from the Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 13/14 boundary to MIS 9 (535 to 300 ka). During the Mid-Brunhes event, the assemblages associated with the eccentricity minima are characterised by higher nannoplankton accumulation rate (NAR) values and by the blooming of the opportunistic genus Gephyrocapsa. Changes in coccolithophore abundance are also related to glacial-interglacial cycles. Higher NAR and numbers of coccoliths/g mainly occurred during the interglacial periods, while these values decreased during the glacial periods. Superimposed on the glacial/interglacial cycles, climatic and paleoceanographic variability has been observed on precessional timescales. The structure of the assemblages highlights the prevailing long-term influence of the Portugal (PC) and Iberian Poleward (IPC) Currents, following half and full precession harmonics, related to the migration of the Azores High (AH) Pressure System. Small Gephyrocapsa and Coccolithus pelagicus braarudii are regarded as good indicators for periods of prevailing PC influence. Gephyrocapsa caribbeanica, Syracosphaera spp., Rhabdosphaera spp. and Umbilicosphaera sibogae denote periods of IPC influence. Our data also highlights the increased percentages of Coccolithus pelagicus pelagicus during the occurrence of episodes of very cold and low salinity surface water, probably related to abrupt climatic events and millennial-scale oscillations of the AH/Icelandic Low (IL) System.

High-resolution multi-proxy record of the last interglacial period from Lake Van, eastern Anatolian high plateau, Turkey

A high-resolution multi-proxy record from Lake Van, eastern Anatolia, derived from a lacustrine sequence cored at the 357 m deep Ahlat Ridge (AR), allows a comprehensive view of paleoclimate and environmental history in the continental Near East during the last interglacial (LI). We combined paleovegetation (pollen), stable oxygen isotope (d18Obulk) and XRF data from the same sedimentary sequence, showing distinct variations during the period from 135 to 110 ka ago leading into and out of full interglacial conditions. The last interglacial plateau, as defined by the presence of thermophilous steppe-forest communities, lasted ca. 13.5 ka, from ~129.1-115.6 ka BP. The detailed palynological sequence at Lake Van documents a vegetation succession with several climatic phases: (I) the Pistacia zone (ca. 131.2-129.1 ka BP) indicates summer dryness and mild winter conditions during the initial warming, (II) the Quercus-Ulmus zone (ca. 129.1-127.2 ka BP) occurred during warm and humid climate conditions with enhanced evaporation, (III) the Carpinus zone (ca. 127.2-124.1 ka BP) suggest increasingly cooler and wetter conditions, and (IV) the expansion of Pinus at ~124.1 ka BP marks the onset of a colder/drier environment that extended into the interval of global ice growth. Pollen data suggest migration of thermophilous trees from refugial areas at the beginning of the last interglacial. Analogous to the current interglacial, the migration documents a time lag between the onset of climatic amelioration and the establishment of an oak steppe-forest, spanning 2.1 ka. Hence, the major difference between the last interglacial compared to the current interglacial (Holocene) is the abundance of Pinus as well as the decrease of deciduous broad-leaved trees, indicating higher continentality during the last interglacial. Finally, our results demonstrate intra-interglacial variability in the low mid-latitudes and suggest a close connection with the high-frequency climate variability recorded in Greenland ice cores.