Foraminifer, coarse fraction and carbonate characteristics of sediments from ODP Leg 198 sites on Shatsky Rise

Holes 1209A and 1211A on Southern High, Shatsky Rise contain expanded, nearly continuous records of carbonate-rich sediment deposited in deep water of the equatorial Pacific Ocean during the Paleocene and Eocene. In this study, we document intervals of carbonate dissolution in these records by examining temporal changes in four parameters: carbonate content, coarse size fraction (>38 µm), benthic foraminiferal abundance, and planktonic foraminiferal fragmentation ratio. Carbonate content is not a sensitive indicator of carbonate dissolution in the studied sections, although rare intervals of low carbonate may reflect times of relatively high dissolution. The proportion of coarse size fraction does not accurately record carbonate dissolution either because the relative abundance of nannofossils largely determines the grain-size distribution. Benthic abundance and fragmentation covary (r**2 = 0.77) and are probably the best indicators for carbonate dissolution. For both holes, records of these parameters indicate two episodes of prominent dissolution. The first of these occurs in the upper Paleocene (~59-58 Ma) and the second in the middle to upper Eocene (~45-33.7 Ma). Other intervals of enhanced carbonate dissolution are located in the upper Paleocene (~56 Ma) and in the upper lower Eocene (~51 Ma). Enhanced preservation of planktonic foraminiferal assemblages marks the start of both the Paleocene and Eocene epochs.

Cenomanian benthic foraminifera of Demerara Rise

This study is based on Cenomanian sediments of Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) Sites 1258 and 1260 from Demerara Rise (Leg 207, western tropical Atlantic, off Suriname, ~1000 and ~500 m paleo-water depth, respectively). Studied sediments consist of laminated black shales with TOC values between 3 and 18% and include the Mid Cenomanian Event (MCE), a positive carbon isotope excursion predating the well-known Oceanic Anoxic Event 2 (OAE 2). Benthic foraminiferal assemblages of the continuously eutrophic environment at Demerara Rise are characterized by low diversities (<= 9 species per sample) and large fluctuations in abundances, indicating oxygen depletion and varying organic matter fluxes. Dominant species at both sites are Bolivina anambra, Gabonita levis, Gavelinella dakotensis, Neobulimina albertensis, Praebulimina prolixa, and Tappanina cf. laciniosa. Benthic foraminiferal assemblages across the MCE show a threefold pattern: (1) stable ecological conditions below the MCE interval indicated by relatively high oxygenation and fluctuating organic matter flux, (2) decreasing oxygenation and/or higher organic matter flux during the MCE with decreasing benthic foraminiferal numbers and diversities (Site 1258) and a dominance of opportunistic species (Site 1260), and (3) anoxic to slightly dysoxic bottom-water conditions above the MCE as indicated by very low diversities and abundances or even the absence of benthic foraminifera. Slightly dysoxic conditions prevailed until OAE 2 at Demerara Rise. A comparison with other Atlantic Ocean and Tethyan sections indicates that the MCE reflects a paleoceanographic turning point towards lower bottom-water oxygenation, at least in the proto-North Atlantic Ocean and in the Tethyan and Boreal Realms. This general trend towards lower oxygenation of bottom waters across the MCE is accompanied by ongoing climate warming in combination with rising sea-level and the development of vast shallow epicontinental seas during the Middle and Late Cenomanian. These changes are proposed to have favoured the formation of warm and saline waters that may have contributed to intermediate- and deep-water masses at least in the restricted proto-North Atlantic and Tethyan Ocean basins, poor oxygenation of the Late Cenomanian sediments, and the changes in benthic foraminiferal assemblages across the MCE.

Stable oxygen isotope record and benthic foraminiferal abundances in Cretaceous sediments of Demerara Rise

During the mid-Cretaceous period, the global subsurface oceans were relatively warm, but the origins of the high temperatures are debated. One hypothesis suggests that high sea levels and the continental configuration allowed high-salinity waters in low-latitude epicontinental shelf seas to sink and form deep-water masses (Brass et al., 1982, doi:10.1038/296620a0; Arthur and Natland, 1979; Chamberlin, 1906). In another scenario, surface waters in high-latitude regions, the modern area of deep-water formation, were warmed through greenhouse forcing (Bice and Marotzke, 2001, doi:10.1029/2000JC000561), which then propagated through deep-water circulation. Here, we use oxygen isotopes and Mg/Ca ratios from benthic foraminifera to reconstruct intermediate-water conditions in the tropical proto-Atlantic Ocean from 97 to 92 Myr ago. According to our reconstruction, intermediate-water temperatures ranged between 20 and 25 °C, the warmest ever documented for depths of 500-1,000 m. Our record also reveals intervals of high-salinity conditions, which we suggest reflect an influx of saline water derived from epicontinental seas around the tropical proto-North Atlantic Ocean. Although derived from only one site, our data indicate the existence of warm, saline intermediate waters in this silled basin. This combination of warm saline intermediate waters and restricted palaeogeography probably acted as preconditioning factors for the prolonged period of anoxia and black-shale formation in the equatorial proto-North Atlantic Ocean during the Cretaceous period.

Neogene and Paleocene-Maestrichtian calcareous nannofossils in sediments of the upper continental rise off New Jersey

Maestrichtian to Holocene calcareous nannofossils from two closely spaced sites on the upper continental rise some 100 miles (161 km) southeast of Atlantic City, New Jersey, were zoned in order to help date a major canyon-cutting event in the late Miocene and to delineate and correlate other hiatuses with seismic stratigraphy. Mid-middle Eocene through middle Miocene sediments (Zones CP14 to CN6) were not recovered in these holes, but nearly all other zones are accounted for. The Eocene section is described in a companion chapter (Applegate and Wise, 1987, doi:10.2973/dsdp.proc.93.118.1987). Nannofossils are generally sparse and moderately preserved in the clastic sediments of Site 604. Sedimentation rates are extremely high for the upper Pleistocene (201 m/m.y. minimum) above a hiatus calculated to span 0.44 to 1.1 Ma. The associated disconformity is correlated with local seismic reflection Horizon Pr . Sedimentation rates continue to be high (93 m/m.y.) down to a second hiatus in the upper Pliocene dated from about 2.4 to 2.9 (or possibly 3.3) Ma. The disconformity associated with this hiatus is correlated with local seismic reflection Horizon P2 and regional Reflector Blue, which can be interpreted to mark either the onset of Northern Hemisphere continental glaciation or circulation changes associated with the closure of the Central American Seaway. Sedimentation rates in the pre-glacial lower Pliocene are only about a third those in the glacial upper Pliocene. A prominent disconformity in the upper Miocene marks a major lithologic boundary that separates Messinian(?) glauconitic claystones above from lower Tortonian conglomeratic debris flows and turbidites below. The debris flows recovered are assigned to nannofossil Zones CN8a and CN7, but drilling difficulties prevented penetration of the bottom of this sequence some 100 m below the terminal depth of the hole. Correlation of the lower bounding seismic reflector (M2/Merlin?) to a drift sequence drilled on the lower rise at DSDP Site 603, however, predicts that the debris flows began close to the beginning of the late Miocene (upper Zone CN6 time) at about 10.5 Ma. The debris flows represent a major canyon-cutting event that we correlate with the beginning of the particularly severe late Miocene glaciations believed to be associated with the formation of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet. The existence of these spectacular debris flows strongly suggest that the late Miocene glacio-eustatic low stand occurred during Vail Cycle TM3.1 (lower Tortonian) rather than during Vail Cycle TM3.2 (Messinian) as originally published. Beneath a set of coalesced regional disconformities centered upon seismic reflection Horizon Au, coccoliths are abundant and in general are moderately preserved at Site 605 in a 619-m carbonate section extending from the middle Eocene Zone CP13b to the upper Maestrichtian Lithraphidites quadratus Zone. Sedimentation rates are 37 m/m.y. in the Eocene down to a condensed interval near the base (Zone CP9). A disconformity is suspected near the Eocene/Paleocene boundary. Sedimentation rates for the upper Paleocene Zone CP8 are similar to those of the Eocene, but Zones CP7 and CP6 lie within another condensed interval. The highest Paleocene rates are 67 m/m.y. down through Zones CP5 and CP4 to a major disconformity that separates the upper Paleocene from the Danian. This hiatus spans about 2.6 m.y. (upper Zone CP3 to lower Zone CP2) and corresponds to the major sea-level drop at the base of Vail Cycle TE2.1. As the most prominent break in this Paleogene section, it may correspond to seismic reflection Horizon A* of the North American Basin. Sedimentation rates from this point to the Cretaceous/Tertiary boundary drop to 11 m/m.y., still high for a Paleocene DSDP section. No major break in deposition could be detected at the Cretaceous/Tertiary boundary.

Deep water formation in the North Pacific and deglacial CO2 rise

Deep water formation in the North Atlantic and Southern Ocean is widely thought to influence deglacial CO2 rise and climate change; here we suggest that deep water formation in the North Pacific may also play an important role. We present paired radiocarbon and boron isotope data from foraminifera from sediment core MD02-2489 at 3640 m in the North East Pacific. These show a pronounced excursion during Heinrich Stadial 1, with benthic-planktic radiocarbon offsets dropping to ~350 years, accompanied by a decrease in benthic d11B. We suggest this is driven by the onset of deep convection in the North Pacific, which mixes young shallow waters to depth, old deep waters to the surface, and low-pH water from intermediate depths into the deep ocean. This deep water formation event was likely driven by an increase in surface salinity, due to subdued atmospheric/monsoonal freshwater flux during Heinrich Stadial 1. The ability of North Pacific Deep Water (NPDW) formation to explain the excursions seen in our data is demonstrated in a series of experiments with an intermediate complexity Earth system model. These experiments also show that breakdown of stratification in the North Pacific leads to a rapid ~30 ppm increase in atmospheric CO2, along with decreases in atmospheric d13C and D14C, consistent with observations of the early deglaciation. Our inference of deep water formation is based mainly on results from a single sediment core, and our boron isotope data are unavoidably sparse in the key HS1 interval, so this hypothesis merits further testing. However we note that there is independent support for breakdown of stratification in shallower waters during this period, including a minimum in d15N, younging in intermediate water 14C, and regional warming. We also re-evaluate deglacial changes in North Pacific productivity and carbonate preservation in light of our new data, and suggest that the regional pulse of export production observed during the Bølling-Allerød is promoted by relatively stratified conditions, with increased light availability and a shallow, potent nutricline. Overall, our work highlights the potential of NPDW formation to play a significant and hitherto unrealized role in deglacial climate change and CO2 rise.

Maastrichtian calcareous nannofossils of the Indian Ocean and Shatsky Rise

The biotic effects of volcanism have long been the unknown factors in creating biotic stress, and the contribution of the Deccan volcanism to the K-T mass extinction remains largely unknown. Detailed studies of the volcanic-rich sediments of Indian Ocean Ninetyeast Ridge Sites 216 and 217 and Wharton Basin Site 212 reveal that the biotic effects of late Maastrichtian volcanism on planktic foraminifera and calcareous nannofossils are locally as severe as those of the K-T mass extinction. The biotic expressions of these high stress environments are characterized by the Lilliput effect, which includes reduced diversity by eliminating most K-strategy species, and reduction in specimen size (dwarfing), frequently to less than half their normal adult size of both r-strategy and surviving K-strategy species. In planktic foraminifera, the most extreme biotic stress results are nearly monospecific assemblages dominated by the disaster opportunist Guembelitria, similar to the aftermath of the K-T mass extinction. The first stage of improving environmental conditions results in dominance of dwarfed low oxygen tolerant Heterohelix species and the presence of a few small r-strategy species (Hedbergella, Globigerinelloides). Calcareous nannofossil assemblages show similar biotic stress signals with the dominance of Micula decussata, the disaster opportunist, and size reduction in the mean length of subordinate r-strategy species particularly in Arkhangelskiella cymbiformis and Watznaueria barnesiae. These impoverished and dwarfed late Maastrichtian assemblages appear to be the direct consequences of mantle plume volcanism and associated environmental changes, including high nutrient influx leading to eutrophic and mesotrophic waters, low oxygen in the water column and decreased watermass stratification.

Maestrichtian through Neogene benthic foraminifers of Maud Rise

Upper abyssal to lower bathyal benthic foraminifers from ODP Sites 689 (present water depth 2080 m) and 690 (present water depth 2941 m) on Maud Rise (eastern Weddell Sea, Antarctica) are reliable indicators of Maestrichtian through Neogene changes in the deep-water characteristics at high southern latitudes. Benthic foraminiferal faunas were divided into eight assemblages, with periods of faunal change at the early/late Maestrichtian boundary (69 Ma), at the early/late Paleocene boundary (62 Ma), in the latest Paleocene (57.5 Ma), in the middle early Eocene to late early Eocene (55-52 Ma), in the middle middle Eocene (46 Ma), in the late Eocene (38.5 Ma), and in the middle-late Miocene (14.9-11.5 Ma). These periods of faunal change may have occurred worldwide at the same time, although specific first and last appearances of deep-sea benthic foraminifers are commonly diachronous. There were minor faunal changes at the Cretaceous/Tertiary boundary (less than 14?7o of the species had last appearances at Site 689, less than 9% at Site 690). The most abrupt benthic foraminiferal faunal event occurred in the latest Paleocene, when the diversity dropped by 50% (more than 35% of species had last appearances) over a period of less than 25,000 years; after the extinction the diversity remained low for about 350,000 years. The highest diversities of the post-Paleocene occurred during the middle Eocene; from that time on the diversity decreased steadily at both sites. Data on faunal composition (percentage of infaunal versus epifaunal species) suggest that the waters bathing Maud Rise were well ventilated during the Maestrichtian through early Paleocene as well as during the latest Eocene through Recent. The waters appeared to be less well ventilated during the late Paleocene as well as the late middle through early late Eocene, with the least degree of ventilation during the latest Paleocene through early Eocene. The globally recognized extinction of deep-sea benthic foraminifers in the latest Paleocene may have been caused by a change in formational processes of the deep to intermediate waters of the oceans: from formation of deep waters by sinking at high latitudes to formation of deep to intermediate water of the oceans by evaporation at low latitudes. Benthic foraminiferal data (supported by carbon and oxygen isotopic data) suggest that there was a short period of intense formation of warm, salty deep water at the end of the Paleocene (with a duration of about 0.35 m.y.), and that less intense, even shorter episodes might have occurred during the late Paleocene and early Eocene. The faunal record from the Maud Rise sites agrees with published faunal and isotopic records, suggesting cooling of deep to intermediate waters in the middle through late Eocene.

Sable isotope record and sediment composition of Cretaceous samples of Deremara Rise

We estimate tropical Atlantic upper ocean temperatures using oxygen isotope and Mg/Ca ratios in well-preserved planktonic foraminifera extracted from Albian through Santonian black shales recovered during Ocean Drilling Program Leg 207 (North Atlantic Demerara Rise). On the basis of a range of plausible assumptions regarding seawater composition at the time the data support temperatures between 33° and 42°C. In our low-resolution data set spanning ~84-100 Ma a local temperature maximum occurs in the late Turonian, and a possible minimum occurs in the mid to early late Cenomanian. The relation between single species foraminiferal d18O and Mg/Ca suggests that the ratio of magnesium to calcium in the Turonian-Coniacian ocean may have been lower than in the Albian-Cenomanian ocean, perhaps coincident with an ocean 87Sr/86Sr minimum. The carbon isotopic compositions of distinct marine algal biomarkers were measured in the same sediment samples. The d13C values of phytane, combined with foraminiferal d13C and inferred temperatures, were used to estimate atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations through this interval. Estimates of atmospheric CO2 concentrations range between 600 and 2400 ppmv. Within the uncertainty in the various proxies, there is only a weak overall correspondence between higher (lower) tropical temperatures and more (less) atmospheric CO2. The GENESIS climate model underpredicts tropical Atlantic temperatures inferred from ODP Leg 207 foraminiferal d18O and Mg/Ca when we specify approximate CO2 concentrations estimated from the biomarker isotopes in the same samples. Possible errors in the temperature and CO2 estimates and possible deficiencies in the model are discussed. The potential for and effects of substantially higher atmospheric methane during Cretaceous anoxic events, perhaps derived from high fluxes from the oxygen minimum zone, are considered in light of recent work that shows a quadratic relation between increased methane flux and atmospheric CH4 concentrations. With 50 ppm CH4, GENESIS sea surface temperatures approximate the minimum upper ocean temperatures inferred from proxy data when CO2 concentrations specified to the model are near those inferred using the phytane d13C proxy. However, atmospheric CO2 concentrations of 3500 ppm or more are still required in the model in order to reproduce inferred maximum temperatures.

Geochemistry of Albian to Santonian black shale sequences on the Demerara Rise, South American margin

Ocean Drilling Program Leg 207 recovered thick sequences of Albian to Santonian organic-carbon-rich claystones at five drill-sites on the Demerara Rise in the western equatorial Atlantic Ocean. Dark-colored, finely laminated, Cenomanian-Santonian black shale sequences contain between 2% and 15% organic carbon and encompass Oceanic Anoxic Events 2 and 3. High Rock-Eval hydrogen indices signify that the bulk of the organic matter in these sequences is marine in origin. However, d13Corg values lie mostly between -30 per mil and -27 per mil, and TOC/TN ratios range from 15 to 42, which both mimic the source signatures of modern C3 land plants. The contradictions in organic matter source indicators provide important implications about the depositional conditions leading to the black shale accumulations. The low d13Corg values, which are actually common in mid-Cretaceous marine organic matter, are consequences of the greenhouse climate prevailing at that time and an associated accelerated hydrologic cycle. The elevated C/N ratios, which are also typical of black shales, indicate depressed organic matter degradation associated with low-oxygen conditions in the water column that favored preservation of carbon-rich forms of marine organic matter over nitrogen-rich components. Underlying the laminated Cenomanian-Santonian sequences are homogeneous, dark-colored, lower to middle Albian siltstones that contain between 0.2% and 9% organic carbon. The organic matter in these rocks is mostly marine in origin, but it occasionally includes large proportions of land-derived material.

Trace metals in shells of mussels and clams from deep-sea hydrothermal vent fields of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and East Pacific Rise

Bioaccumulation of trace metals in carbonate shells of mussels and clams was investigated at seven hydrothermal vent fields of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (Menez Gwen, Snake Pit, Rainbow, and Broken Spur) and the Eastern Pacific (9°N and 21°N at the East Pacific Rise and the southern trough of Guaymas Basin, Gulf of California). Mineralogical analysis showed that carbonate skeletons of mytilid mussel Bathymodiolus sp. and vesicomyid clam Calyptogena m. are composed mainly of calcite and aragonite, respectively. The first data were obtained for contents of a variety of chemical elements in bivalve carbonate shells from various hydrothermal vent sites. Analyses of chemical compositions (including Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Cd, Pb, Ag, Ni, Cr, Co, As, Se, Sb, and Hg) of 35 shell samples and 14 water samples from mollusk biotopes revealed influences of environmental conditions and some biological parameters on bioaccumulation of metals. Bivalve shells from hydrothermal fields with black smokers are enriched in Fe and Mn by factor of 20-30 relative to the same species from the Menez Gwen low-temperature vent site. It was shown that essential elements (Fe, Mn, Ni, and Cu) more actively accumulated during early ontogeny of the shells. High enrichment factors of most metals (n x 100 - n x 10000) indicate efficient accumulation function of bivalve carbonate shells. Passive metal accumulation owing to adsorption on shell surfaces was estimated to be no higher than 50% of total amount and varied from 14% for Fe to 46% for Mn.

Maestrichtian planktonic foraminifera of the Maud Rise

The southernmost record of Maestrichtian pelagic carbonate sedimentation was recovered from ODP Leg 113 Holes 689B and 690C, drilled on the Maud Rise in the eastern Weddell Sea sector of the Southern Ocean (65°S). Well preserved and abundant planktonic foraminifers occur throughout Maestrichtian cores from both holes, providing a nearly complete biogeographic and biostratigraphic history of this region. Diversity is low compared to tropical and subtropical assemblages, with a maximum within sample diversity of 16 planktonic foraminifer species and a diversity total for the Maestrichtian of 24 species. The assemblages are dominated throughout by Heterohelix, Globigerinelloides, and a new species of Archaeoglobigerina, whereas keeled taxa are completely absent from the lower Maestrichtian and rare in the middle through upper Maestrichtian sediments. Three planktonic foraminifer species are described as new and are recognized as being endemic to the Austral Province. These include Archaeoglobigerina australis n. sp., Hedbergella sliteri n. sp., and Archaeoglobigerina mateola n. sp. The former two species were previously illustrated in reports on Late Cretaceous foraminifers from the Falkland Plateau and the northern Antarctic Peninsula. Two keeled and five non-keeled planktonic foraminifers, previously not found in high latitude Maestrichtian sediments, first appeared at the Maud Rise during the late early and late Maestrichtian. Correlation with their stratigraphic ranges in low latitude sequences shows that their first appearance datums are considerably younger at the Maud Rise than in the lower latitudes. The most likely explanation for this observation is that there was a warming in the south polar region during the late early and late Maestrichtian and a concomitant poleward migration of stenothermal taxa. However, oxygen isotopic paleotemperature results from Sites 689 and 690 (Barrera and Huber, 1990, doi:10.2973/odp.proc.sr.113.137.1990) show a long-term cooling trend throughout the Maestrichtian, indicating that other factors may have played a more important role than temperature in the distribution of Maestrichtian planktonic foraminifers. A new biostratigraphic scheme is proposed for the Antarctic because of the absence of thermophilic planktonic foraminifers used to identify existing low to middle latitude zones. The Globigerinelloides impensus Partial Range Zone is defined for the late Campanian-Maestrichtian, the Globotruncanita havanensis Partial Range Zone is redefined for the early to late early Maestrichtian, and the Abathomphalus mayaroensis Total Range Zone is recognized. Good quality magnetic polarity data obtained from both Maud Rise sites (Hamilton, 1990, doi:10.2973/odp.proc.sr.113.179.1990) enables magnetobiostratigraphic correlation of twelve foraminifer datums with the geomagnetic polarity time scale of Haq et al. (1987). The geochronology thus obtained is crucial for accurate cross-latitudinal correlation and interpretation of the paleoceanographic history of the Antarctic region during the Maestrichtian time period.

Species abundance and water and sediment characteristics for three ANDEEP stations on Maud Rise and the Weddell Sea

The benthic fauna was investigated during the expedition ANT-XXIV/2 (2007/08) in relation to oceanographic features, biogeochemical properties and sediment characteristics, as well as the benthic, pelagic and air-breathing fauna. The results document that Maud Rise (MR) differs distinctly from surrounding deep-sea basins investigated during previous Southern Ocean expeditions (ANDEEP 2002, 2005). Considering all taxa, the overall similarity between MR and adjacent stations was low (~20% Bray-Curtis-Similarity), and analyses of single taxa show obvious differences in species composition, abundances and densities. The composition and diversity of bivalves of MR are characterised by extremely high abundances of three species, especially the small sized Vesicomya spp. Exceptionally high gastropod abundance at MR is due to the single species Onoba subantarctica wilkesiana, a small brooder that may prey upon abundant benthic foraminiferas. The abundance and diversity of isopods also show that one family, Haplomunnidae, occurs with a surprisingly high number of individuals at MR while this family was not found at any of the 40 bathyal and abyssal ANDEEP stations. Similarly, polychaetes, especially the tube-dwelling, suspension-feeder fraction, are represented by species not found at the comparison stations. Sponges comprise almost exclusively small specimens in relatively high numbers, especially a few species of Polymastiidae. Water-column sampling from the surface to the seafloor, including observations of top predators, indicate the existence of a prospering pelagic food web. Local concentrations of top predators and zooplankton are associated with a rich ice-edge bloom located over the northern slope of MR. There the sea ice melts, which is probably accelerated by the advection of warm water at intermediate depth. Over the southern slope, high concentrations of Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) occur under dense sea ice and attract Antarctic Minke Whales (Balaenoptera bonaerensis) and several seabird species. These findings suggest that biological prosperity over MR is related to both oceanographic and sea-ice processes. Downward transport of the organic matter produced in the pelagic realm may be more constant than elsewhere due to low lateral drift over MR.

The rise and fall in the price of food, fuel and manufactured goods : interdependency between prices and technology determining comparative advantages and development paths

Green innovation, which enables us to extract energy from food crops, caused a food shortage in 2008. Countries suffering severe damage started to reconsider their agricultural policy with the aim of becoming more autonomous. The food price hike of the time looks like a reversal of the celebrated Singer-Prebisch thesis proposed in the 1950s. This paper examines the consequences of this trend on the comparative advantages and development strategies of developing countries. For that purpose, first, trends and short-run fluctuations in the prices of fuel and bio-energy crops are investigated. It is shown that the price series of fuels and the crops are synchronized only after the fuel extracting technology came into effect. Second, the reversal of the Singer-Prebisch thesis is underpinned by the generic form of an endogenous growth model developed by Rebelo (1991). It is shown that as an economy grows, appreciation of the non-reproducible, such as mineral resources and raw labor, over the reproducible, such as capital goods, is the norm rather than an anomaly. Third, the consequences of the food price hike and underlying capital accumulation on the development strategies of labor-abundant and low-income countries are explored. It is concluded that the impact of the food price hikes on the alteration of a development strategy is only incremental, without reinforcement from raw-labor-saving innovation. A case study of inventions by JUKI Corporation, a world-leader in the sewing machine market exemplifies the fact that, of all the major inventions the company have made, raw-labor-saving inventions have not dominated, although JUKI's machines are sold to one of the most raw-labor-intensive industries.

Slow and steady wins the race : how the garment industry leads industrialization in low-income countries

This paper investigates how the garment industry escapes this vicious cycle and argues for the validity of labor-intensive industry as a starting point for full-fledged industrialization, even though it might at first seem to be a digression from the path to an innovation-led economy. By examining original firm-level data on garment-producing firms collected in 2002 and 2008 in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Kenya and Madagascar, the following conclusions are drawn: (1) low wages, though still sufficient for poverty reduction, are the main source of competitiveness in low-income countries; (2) after the successful initiation of industrialization causes wages to begin to rise, there is still a possibility for productivity enhancement; and (3) skill bias in technological progress is not yet a major factor, implying that the garment industry is still a labor-intensive industry. In sum, labor-intensive industry should not be discounted as a part of the development strategy of low-income countries.

Environmental assessment of low speed policies for motor vehicle mobility in city centres

streets in local residential areas in large cities, real traffic tests for pollutant emissions and fuel consumption have been carried out in Madrid city centre. Emission concentration and car activity were simultaneously measured by a Portable Emissions Measurement System. Real life tests carried out at different times and on different days were performed with a turbo-diesel engine light vehicle equipped with an oxidizer catalyst and using different driving styles with a previously trained driver. The results show that by reducing the speed limit from 50 km h-1 to 30 km h-1, using a normal driving style, the time taken for a given trip does not increase, but fuel consumption and NOx, CO and PM emissions are clearly reduced. Therefore, the main conclusion of this work is that reducing the speed limit in some narrow streets in residential and commercial areas or in a city not only increases pedestrian safety, but also contributes to reducing the environmental impact of motor vehicles and reducing fuel consumption. In addition, there is also a reduction in the greenhouse gas emissions resulting from the combustion of the fuel.