Accumulation of Heavy Metals in Franciscanas from Buenos Aires Province, Argentina

Marine mammals accumulate heavy metals in their tissues at different concentrations according to trophic levels and environmental conditions. The franciscana (Pontoporia blainvillei) is a small coastal species inhabiting the marine and estuarine areas of the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean. Its diet includes numerous species of small fish, squid and crustaceans. The aims of this study were to (i) assess the heavy metal concentration and burden distribution in different franciscana age classes and sex, and to (ii) evaluate both the accumulation processes and the transplacental transference of zinc, cadmium, copper and total mercury. Heavy metal concentrations (wet weight) were determined in eighteen dolphins by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS), by the cold vapour technique (mercury) or with air/acetylene flame (cadmium, zinc and copper). Liver showed the highest concentrations of mercury (max. 8.8 mg/g), zinc (max. 29.7 mg/g) and copper (max. 19.0 mg/g), whereas the highest cadmium concentrations (max. 6.7 mg/g) were found in kidney. Adults contained the highest concentrations for all heavy metals, followed by juveniles and calves in decreasing order, suggesting an age-related accumulation. No differences (p<0.05) were found between sexes within each age class. Organ burden distribution followed the same pattern for all metals and age classes: liver tissues contained maximum burdens. Mercury concentrations were higher than those of cadmium in both foetuses and newborns; and neither metal could be detected in the foetus. The analysed data suggested differences in the placental transference between metals, being significant for mercury and almost null in the case of cadmium. We can conclude that franciscana accumulates heavy metals and, due to its coastal distribution, it may be considered as a biomonitor of its environment. SPANISH: Los mamíferos marinos acumulan metales pesados en sus tejidos cuyas concentraciones están en relación con su nivel trófico y las condiciones ambientales. La franciscana (Pontoporia blainvillei) es una especie costera que habita áreas marinas y estuariales en el Atlántico Sudoccidental. Su dieta está constituída por peces, como item alimentario principal, calamares y crustáceos. El objetivo del presente trabajo es estudiar la distribución de metales pesados en diferentes clases de edad y en ambos sexos, evaluando procesos de acumulación y cargas de cadmio, mercurio total, cinc y cobre. Las concentraciones de metales pesados (en peso húmedo) fueron determinadas en dieciocho delfines por Espectrofotometría de Absorción Atómica (EAA), usando la técnica de vapor frío (mercurio) o llama de aire/acetileno (cadmio, cinc y cobre). El hígado presentó las concentraciones más altas de mercurio (máx. 8,8 mg/g), cinc (máx. 29,7 mg/g) y cobre (máx. 19,0 mg/g), mientras que las más altas de cadmio (máx. 6,7 mg/g) fueron encontradas en el riñón. Los adultos presentaron los niveles más altos, presentando los juveniles y cachorros concentraciones menores, lo cual sugirió una acumulación con la edad. No se encontraron diferencias significativas (p < 0,05) entre sexos dentro de cada clase de edad. Las cargas de metales pesados en los órganos presentaron la misma disribución para todos los metales y clases de edad. Los valores más altos fueron encontrados en el hígado, incluyendo los correspondientes a cadmio. Las concentraciones de mercurio y cadmio fueron no detectables en el feto, mientras que las de mercurio fueron superiores a las de cadmio en los cachorros. Los datos encontrados en el feto sugieren una transferencia nula a través de la placenta. Podemos concluir que P.blainvillei acumula metales pesados en sus tejidos y debido a su distribución costera, esta especie puede ser considerada como un biomonitor de su ambiente.

Anfíbios em uma floresta úmida da vertente pacífico ao sudoeste da Colômbia: avaliação da diversidade e sistemática de espécies, e o uso de recursos alimentares

Na Colômbia ocorrem 787 espécies de anfíbios. Por causa da preocupação com o estado de conservação de muitas dessas espécies, tem se sugerido que na Colômbia deveriam-se priorizar as pesquisas em taxonomia e ecologia em regiões sub-amostradas a fim de intensificar o conhecimento e conservação dos anfíbios colombianos. Baseados em uma análise cienciométrica de 319 trabalhos sobre a ecologia dos anfíbios colombianos publicados entre 1840 e 2014 (No Capítulo 1), identificamos as tendências nos esforços realizados em distintos temas de pesquisa, e a distribuição regional e taxonômica desses estudos. A maioria dos estudos (67%) foi realizada na região Andina colombiana em comparação com outras regiões naturais da Colômbia. Apenas 46% das espécies de anfíbios ocorrendo na Colômbia foi tratada nos estudos analizados, e a maioria (58%) delas é da região Andina. Entre as publicações analizadas identificamos 14 temas de pesquisa em ecologia, dos quais ecologia reprodutiva (26%), conservação de espécies (23%) e dieta (14%) foram os mais pesquisados. Nossos dados mostraram que na Colômbia há um considerável avanço na pesquisa sobre a ecologia dos anfíbios do país, mas ainda são necessários esforços para cobrir muitos vazios de informação para muitas regiões e para muitas espécies de anfíbios que possuem dados incipientes. No sudoeste da Cordilheira Ocidental colombiana há pouca informação ecológica sobre os anfíbios ali ocorrendo. A fim de saber alguns aspectos ecológicos dessas espécies, desenvolvimos três estudos sobre a diversidade e ecologia de anfíbios presentes na Reserva Natural Río Ñambí (a seguir RNRÑ). No Capítulo 2 apresentamos uma análise sistemática do gênero Andinophryne (Família Bufonidae), composto por três espécies, A. atelopoides, A. colomai (presente na RNRÑ) e A. olallai. As filogenias mostraram que Andinophryne está incorporado dentro de Rhaebo. Portanto, sinonimizamos Andinophryne sob Rhaebo e discutimos as sinapomorfias morfológicas putativas para Rhaebo. Além, fornecemos informações ecológicas e sobre o estado de conservação das três espécies incluídas na nova combinação taxonômica. No Capítulo 3 apresentamos uma lista de 19 espécies de anfíbios pertencentes a oito famílias, com uma dominância numérica da família Craugastoridae e do gênero Pristimantis. As espécies com a maior abundância relativa (> 25%) foram Pristimantis labiosus e P. verecundus. Sete diferentes modos de reprodução foram reconhecidos, com a maioria das espécies (68%) possuindo desenvolvimento direto de ovos. Cinco (26%) das espécies registradas estão classificadas dentro das categorias de maior ameaça de extinção. Reportamos para sete espécies a extensão da faixa de distribuição geográfica latitudinal na Colômbia. No Capítulo 4 comparamos a dieta de jovens e adultos de P. labiosus para identificar se houve uma mudança ontogenética no tamanho de presa consumido com o aumento na largura da boca. A dieta foi composta por 19 categorias de presas (> artrópodes), com as duas classes de idade consumindo um similar espectro de categorias. Os jovens têm um nicho trófico maior (0,45) do que os adultos (0,25), com uma sobreposição de nicho relativamente baixa (0,39) entre eles. Apesar da diferencia na largura da boca entre jovens e adultos, não houve uma correspondente mudança ontogenética no tamanho de presa consumida. Consideramos P. labiosus como um predador generalista que parece consumer uma ampla gama de tipos e tamanhos de presas

A tree-ring perspective on the extreme wetness of the early 1900’s in the western United States [abstract]

Ring-width indices from 136 sites in the area from northern Montana to southern New Mexico between latitudes 103°W and 111°W were examined to infer periods of anomalous wetness for the years 1700-1964. Sites were grouped into north, central and south regions, and the gross regional tree-ring fluctuations were compared. The results indicate that the period 1905-1917 was unique in the 265-year record for the combined magnitude, duration, and north/south coherence of the growth anomaly of much lesser magnitude occurred in the 1830's-1840's [sic]. Both this and the 1905-1917 anomaly appear from time-series plots to be manifestations of low-frequency growth variations at wave lengths between about 20 and 60 years.

High-resolution natural recording systems: intercomparisons of the response to interannual climatic variability [abstract]

The goal of this work is to examine the properties of recording mechanisms which are common to continuously recording high-resolution natural systems in which climatic signals are imprinted and preserved as proxy records. These systems produce seasonal structures as an indirect response to climatic variability over the annual cycle. We compare the proxy records from four different high-resolution systems: the Quelccaya ice cap of the Peruvian Andes; composite tree ring growth from southern California and the southwestern United States; and the marine varve sedimentation systems in the Santa Barbara basin (off California, United States) and in the Gulf of California, Mexico. An important focus of this work is to indicate how the interannual climatic signal is recorded in a variety of different natural systems with vastly different recording mechanisms and widely separated in space. These high-resolution records are the products of natural processes which should be comparable, to some degree, to human-engineered systems developed to transmit and record physical quantities. We therefore present a simple analogy of a data recording system as a heuristic model to provide some unifying concepts with which we may better understand the formation of the records. This analogy assumes special significance when we consider that natural proxy records are the principal means to extend our knowledge of climatic variability into the past, beyond the limits of instrumentally recorded data.

横断山区的翠雀属植物:分类学和细胞学

翠雀属Delphinium L.是毛茛科中的一个大属，全世界有300－400 余种，广布于北半球温带地区。我国是世界上记载翠雀属植物种类最多的国家，尤以西南横断山区种类最为丰富。 通过文献查阅、标本室研究和野外考察，本文对我国特别是横断山区翠雀属植物的主要形态性状在居群间和居群内的变异式样进行了初步分析，认为根的形态、叶的分裂程度、植株尤其是花序轴和花梗被毛与否以及毛被类型、小苞片的形状和位置、退化雄蕊的颜色、上萼片的形状、心皮数目和种子形态特征是比较可靠的分类性状。但性状之间的相关性往往较小，即使是通常比较稳定的分类性状有时也表现出不同程度的变异，因此同一性状对于不同等级分类群的划分和在不同分类群中的分类价值常不一样。在具体的分类处理中，应具体情况具体分析，尽可能利用较多的分类学性状或性状组合。 根据上述对我国翠雀属植物主要形态性状变异式样的理解，本文主要对我国西南横断山区及其邻近一些地区的翠雀属植物进行了力所能及的分类修订：将42 种和22 变种降为异名，提出2 新组合(毛梗黑水翠雀D. potaninii var. mollipes　(W. T. Wang) Q. Yuan & Q. E. Yang 和腺毛康定翠雀D. tatsienense var. pseudomosoynense (W. T. Wang) Q. E. Yang & Q. Yuan)，澄清了直距翠雀D. tenii Lévl. 的名实问题和Munz 等学者对我国翠雀属植物标本的鉴定错误以及由此引起的我国有关翠雀属植物的地理分布的混乱; 另有两种( 硕片翠雀D. grandilimbum W. T. Wang & M. J. Warnock 和永宁翠雀D. yongningense W. T. Wang & M. J. Warnock)因未见到模式标本，故暂存疑。本文讨论到的我国翠雀属植物共有87 种、10 变种。 为了在染色体水平上了解横断山区翠雀属植物的物种形成和分化，同时增加对整个翠雀族tribe Delphineae Warming 植物染色体进化的理解，本文报道了我国主要采自该地区的乌头属Aconitum L. 30 种、1 变种共40 个居群和翠雀属 48 种、3 变种共87 个居群的染色体数目，分析了30 种、1 变种乌头属植物和 46 种、3 变种翠雀属植物的核型，发现46 种、3 变种翠雀属植物为二倍体(2n = 2x=16)，1 种(黄毛翠雀D. chrysotrichum Finet & Gagnep.)为四倍体(2n = 4x =32)，1种(螺距翠雀D. spirocentrum Hand.-Mazz.)有二倍体和四倍体两种细胞型，3 种(宽距翠雀D. beesianum W. W. Smith、裂瓣翠雀D. mosoynense Franch.和康定翠雀 D. tatsienense Franch.)的个别居群有B 染色体出现。这表明横断山区翠雀属植物的物种形成主要在二倍体水平上进行。可能由于核型直向选择（karyotypic orthoselection）的结果，我国翠雀属植物的核型就整体情况而言在属内相当一致，属内核型分化不如乌头属中明显，外部形态上显得最为原始的种类如短距翠雀 D. forrestii Diels 和毛翠雀D. trichophorum Franch.的核型与其他多年生种类的核型相比并无明显区别。尽管如此，翠雀属植物的核型在属内仍表现出一定程度的分化：在多年生种类中，大理翠雀群(D. taliense group)的种类的染色体内部不对称性(intrachromosomal asymmetry) 程度较高, 但染色体之间的不对称性 (interchromosomal asymmetry)程度偏低;一年生种类与多年生种类相比，我国唯一的一年生种还亮草D. anthriscifolium Hance 染色体之间不对称性最高，该种染色体内部不对称性程度在翠雀族中也偏高，因此就其核型的整体不对称性程度而言，在翠雀属乃至整个翠雀族中最高，而地中海分布的一年生种类的染色体内部不对称性明显增强, 但染色体之间的不对称性在翠雀族中最低。这种核型分化的系统学和生物地理学意义尚不清楚，以后需进一步研究。与乌头属相比，翠雀属植物的染色体通常较小，核型中st 染色体明显增多（可达6 对），核型的整体不对称性程度逐渐增强; 虽然乌头属牛扁亚属Aconitum subgen. Lycoctonum (DC.) Peterm.的二倍体种类也一般具有较多的st 染色体（4 对），但这些st 染色体比乌头亚属Aconitum L. subgen. Aconitum和露蕊乌头亚属Aconitum subgen. Gymnaconitum (Stapf) Rapaics 植物核型中相对应的m 或 sm 染色体以及翠雀属和飞燕草属Consolida (DC.) S. F. Gray 植物中相对应的st 或偶尔出现的sm 染色体要大。特别应当注意的是牛扁亚属中外部形态上显得最为原始的展喙乌头A. novoluridum Munz 的核型具有较多而且较大的sm 染色体，所以我们认为展喙乌头的核型保留了较多的原始性质，那些核型中具有较多st 染色体的牛扁亚属植物应当是该亚属中在核型上已比较特化的种类。这一结果不支持前人提出的乌头属植物的核型有从st 染色体进化到m 或sm 染色体的趋势的观点。就整个翠雀族而言，从现有资料看，其核型的进化趋势应当为：(1) 染色体从大进化到小, 从m 或sm 染色体进化到st 染色体;(2) 核型的整体不对称性程度逐渐增强，即核型的二型性从多年生的牛扁亚属植物到翠雀属植物的一年生的还亮草亚属Delphinium subgen. Delphinium 而愈趋明显。翠雀族植物核型的进化方向与整个毛茛科核型的进化方向看来是一致的，即都向核型不对称性增强的方向进化。

葛属(豆科)的分类学修订

本论文对葛属（Pueraria DC.）进行了形态学、解剖学及植物地理学研究，重点分析了小叶、托叶、花序及花的形态变异规律。首次发现葛属生长习性和种皮纹饰特征在组的划分上具有重要的分类学意义，支持前人运用托叶着生方式、花序类型及每节簇生花的数目等特征划分组的观点。首次在光学显微镜下对葛属植物14种1变种叶表皮性状做了较为全面、深入的观察，发现葛属叶表皮细胞的形状、垂周壁的式样以及气孔大小有一定分类学意义，为葛属的分类修订提供了新资料。首次应用电子扫描显微镜观察了葛属10种1变种和2个外类群广西土黄芪Nogra guangxiensis C. F. Wei和琼豆Teyleria koordersii (Backer ex Koord.-Schum.) Backer的种皮纹饰特征，发现葛属的种皮纹饰有网纹型、断棱型、复网纹型和锐棱型等4种类型，他们与托叶的着生方式具有一定的关联性。托叶背着的类群为网纹型，其中采自中国和越南不同居群的山野葛Pueraria montana (Lour.) Merr.种皮次级纹饰有差别，这显示山野葛分化比较活跃。托叶基着的三裂叶野葛P. phaseoloides (Roxb.) Benth.、大花三裂叶野葛P. phaseoloides (Roxb.) Benth. var. javanica (Benth.) Baker、苦葛P. peduncularis (Graham ex Benth.) Benth.以及云南野葛P. yunnanensis Franch.的种皮纹饰为断棱形，小花野葛P. stricta Kurz种皮纹饰为复网纹型，喜玛拉雅葛藤P. wallichii DC.种皮纹饰为锐棱型。依据种皮纹饰推断，喜玛拉雅葛藤最原始，黄毛葛藤P. calycina Franch.最进化，与形态学特征演化方向相吻合。广西土黄芪种皮纹饰为网纹型，琼豆种皮纹饰为复网纹型，表明它们与葛属亲缘关系较近。这与形态学和分子证据相吻合。本文首次运用广义线形模型（GLM）结合地理信息系统（GIS）对葛属现有地理分布、潜在分布及50年后潜在分布进行了分析。所预测的潜在分布范围与观察到的地理分布范围一致，说明对特化的气候忍耐性是限制葛属物种地理分布的主要因素。温度、降水和海拔高度对葛属地理分布限制作用比较大。未来潜在分布预测显示葛属有向南、北扩散的趋势。 作者在研究了四千余份腊叶标本及野外形态考察的基础上，结合叶表皮及种皮纹饰资料，确认葛属分为3组，共19种3变种。其中，对Sect. Breviramulae Maesen ex Z. F. Le & X. Y. Zhu进行了合格发表，运用形态学、解剖学及种皮纹饰资料恢复了云南野葛种的地位，并为其指定了后选模式，P. pulcherrima (Koord.-Schum.) Merr. ex Koord.-Schum.正确的学名为P. sericans Schum.，对4个名称进行了归并。本文还给出了组和种的检索表、葛属各个种的形态描述、地理分布图及模式标本照片。

Characterization of the U.S. Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic penaeid and rock shrimp fisheries based on observer data

In July 2007, a mandatory Federal observer program was implemented to characterize the U.S. Gulf of Mexico penaeid shrimp (Farfantepenaeus aztecus, F. duorarum, and Litopenaeus setiferus) fishery. In June 2008, the program expanded to include the South Atlantic penaeid and rock shrimp, Sicyonia spp., fisheries. Data collected from 10,206 tows during 5,197 sea days of observations were analyzed by geographical area and target species. The majority of tows (~70%) sampled were off the coasts of Texas and Louisiana. Based on total hours towed, the highest concentrated effort occurred off South Texas and southwestern Florida. Gear information, such as net characteristics, bycatch reduction devices, and turtle excluder devices were fairly consistent among areas and target species. By species categories, finfish comprised the majority (≥57%) of the catch composition in the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic penaeid shrimp fisheries, while in the South Atlantic rock shrimp fishery the largest component (41%) was rock shrimp. Bycatch to shrimp ratios were lower than reported in previous studies for the Gulf of Mexico penaeid shrimp fishery. These decreased ratios may be attributed to several factors, notably decreased shrimp effort and higher shrimp catch per unit of effort (CPUE) in recent years. CPUE density surface plots for several species of interest illustrated spatial differences in distribution. Hot Spot Analyses for shrimp (penaeid and rock) and bycatch species identified areas with significant clustering of high or low CPUE values. Spatial and temporal distribution of protected species interactions were documented.

ENSO and precipitation variability over Mexico during the last 90 years

Latin America has been shown to be susceptible to climatic anomalies during El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events (eg, Aceituno 1988; Ropelewshi and Halpert 1987; Kiladis and Diaz 1989). While these studies have emphasized ENSO-related rainfall and temperature anomalies over Central and South America, less work has been done on the climatic effects of ENSO over the Mexican region. In this study we are investigating interannual and intraseasonal fluctuation in temperature and precipitation over the southwestern United States and Mexico since the turn of the century. We are particularly interested in the effects of ENSO on the interannual variability over this region. This report focuses on the association between ENSO and interannual variability of precipitation over Mexico.

A stochastic model of temporal variations in monthly temperature, precipitation, snowfall, and resulting snowpack

We report a Monte Carlo representation of the long-term inter-annual variability of monthly snowfall on a detailed (1 km) grid of points throughout the southwest. An extension of the local climate model of the southwestern United States (Stamm and Craig 1992) provides spatially based estimates of mean and variance of monthly temperature and precipitation. The mean is the expected value from a canonical regression using independent variables that represent controls on climate in this area, including orography. Variance is computed as the standard error of the prediction and provides site-specific measures of (1) natural sources of variation and (2) errors due to limitations of the data and poor distribution of climate stations. Simulation of monthly temperature and precipitation over a sequence of years is achieved by drawing from a bivariate normal distribution. The conditional expectation of precipitation. given temperature in each month, is the basis of a numerical integration of the normal probability distribution of log precipitation below a threshold temperature (3°C) to determine snowfall as a percent of total precipitation. Snowfall predictions are tested at stations for which long-term records are available. At Donner Memorial State Park (elevation 1811 meters) a 34-year simulation - matching the length of instrumental record - is within 15 percent of observed for mean annual snowfall. We also compute resulting snowpack using a variation of the model of Martinec et al. (1983). This allows additional tests by examining spatial patterns of predicted snowfall and snowpack and their hydrologic implications.

Changes in frost frequency and desert vegetation assemblages in Grand Canyon, Arizona

The effect of decreasing frost frequency on desert vegetation was documented in Grand Canyon by replication of historical photographs. Although views by numerous photographers of Grand Canyon have been examined, 400 Robert Brewster Stanton and Franklin A. Nims views taken in the winter of 1889-1890 provide the best information on recent plant distribution. In Grand Canyon, where grazing is limited by the rugged topography, vegetation dynamics are controlled by climate and by demographic processes such as seed productivity, recruitment, longevity and mortality. The replicated photographs show distribution and abundance of several species were limited by severe frost before 1889. Two of these, brittlebush (Encelia farinosa) and barrel cactus (Ferocactus cylindraceus), have clearly expanded their ranges up-canyon and have increased their densities at sites where they were present in 1890. In 1890, brittlebush was present in warm microhabitats that provided refugia from frost damage. Views showing desert vegetation in 1923 indicate that Encelia expanded rapidly to near its current distribution between 1890 and 1923, whereas the expansion of Ferocactus occurred more slowly. The higher frequency of frost was probably related to an anomalous increase in winter storms between 1878 (and possibly 1862) and 1891 in the southwestern United States.

中国西南地区晚二叠世莲座蕨目植物研究

本论文应用揭膜方法（Peeling Method）对产于我国西南地区滇东黔西一带晚二叠世地层中的保存有解剖构造的莲座蕨目化石进行了较为深入的研究，包括3 种茎和一种生殖器官。3 种茎中有二种为本文首次研究，均归入辉木属Psaronius Cotta，建立了二个新种：盘县辉木P. panxianensis 和老屋基辉木P. laowujiensis；另外一个种－田氏辉木P. tianii Li（MS）为前人所建立，但未正式发表，本文做了重新研究，新发现了一些特征，并对一些已有特征做了修订。讨论了这3 个种一些重要特征的分类和系统演化意义，这些特征包括：叶迹最后分出时的维管构型、维管束鞘和边缘茎维管束内侧的厚壁组织束。通过对不同地区和不同时代辉木属已有种的特征分析，对辉木属属下分类做了尝试，根据维管束是否结成环状、叶迹维管构型、是否具维管束鞘、边缘茎维管束内侧的厚壁组织束的发育与否、边缘茎维管束是否分叉等特征将辉木属已有种（包括本文所研究的3 个种）分为5 个组：1. Blicklei 组，代表种为Psaronius blicklei Morgan，包括欧美植物区目前已知各种，可能还包括华夏植物区的一些种。它们的主要特征是：不具维管束鞘；边缘茎维管束内侧的厚壁组织束不发育。2．Panxianensis 组，代表种为盘县辉木Psaronius panxianensis He，Wang，Hilton,Tian et Zhou，包括王氏辉木、老屋基辉木、江苏辉木，可能还有八角辉木和六角辉木。最主要特征是：具维管束鞘，简单，仅由薄壁细胞构成；边缘茎维管束内侧具树枝状和伞状或锚状厚壁组织束；叶迹由3 根维管束构成。该组目前仅发现于华南地区二叠系。3. Tianii 组，以田氏辉木Psaronius tianii Li（MS）为代表，目前只有这一个种。该组的主要特征：具维管束鞘，复杂，可分为两层；边缘茎维管束内侧具菊花状厚壁组织束，且每两环维管束之间具两条厚壁组织束，其中一条连续，另一条不连续；叶迹呈歪斜的弓形或M 形；叶迹维管束与茎维管束等粗；边缘茎维管束可分叉。该组目前仅发现于华南地区二叠系。4. Brasiliensis 组，以巴西辉木Psaronius brasiliensis Brongniart 为代表，除巴西辉木外，可能还包括P. sp. Herbst。该组的最主要特征就是其维管束的一端内卷并与主体部分连接形成一个封闭的环状构造；茎中央的维管束小，形态多变，而且排列十分不规则。该组目前仅发现于南美地区二叠系。5. Sinuosus 组，以P. sinuosus Herbst 为代表，目前也只有此一个种。其最主要的特征就是叶迹具多个维管束，且排列无规则；茎维管束非常长，呈盘绕状。该组目前仅发现于南美地区二叠系。生殖器官归入虫囊蕨属Scolecopteris（Zenker）Millay，建立一新种：贵州虫囊蕨。该种仅保存有聚合囊和分散的孢子囊，生殖小羽片不明。孢子囊面向外的壁较厚，但分化，自内向外可分为三部分；孢子具三缝，较大，直径55-60μm。由于该种同时拥有Millay 认为的原始特征（大的孢子）和进化特征（即分化的孢子囊面向外的壁）。很可能Millay 的观点仅仅反映了欧美植物区虫囊蕨属的演化规律。

Concurrent exposure of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) to multiple algal toxins in Sarasota Bay, Florida, USA

Sentinel species such as bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) can be impacted by large-scale mortality events due to exposure to marine algal toxins. In the Sarasota Bay region (Gulf of Mexico, Florida, USA), the bottlenose dolphin population is frequently exposed to harmful algal blooms (HABs) of Karenia brevis and the neurotoxic brevetoxins (PbTx; BTX) produced by this dinoflagellate. Live dolphins sampled during capture-release health assessments performed in this region tested positive for two HAB toxins; brevetoxin and domoic acid (DA). Over a ten-year study period (2000–2009) we have determined that bottlenose dolphins are exposed to brevetoxin and/or DA on a nearly annual basis (i.e., DA: 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009; brevetoxin: 2000, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2009) with 36% of all animals testing positive for brevetoxin (n = 118) and 53% positive for DA (n = 83) with several individuals (14%) testing positive for both neurotoxins in at least one tissue/fluid. To date there have been no previously published reports of DA in southwestern Florida marine mammals, however the May 2008 health assessment coincided with a Pseudo-nitzschia pseudodelicatissima bloom that was the likely source of DA observed in seawater and live dolphin samples. Concurrently, both DA and brevetoxin were observed in common prey fish. Although no Pseudo-nitzschia bloom was identified the following year, DA was identified in seawater, fish, sediment, snails, and dolphins. DA concentrations in feces were positively correlated with hematologic parameters including an increase in total white blood cell (p = 0.001) and eosinophil (p<0.001) counts. Our findings demonstrate that dolphins within Sarasota Bay are commonly exposed to two algal toxins, and provide the impetus to further explore the potential long-term impacts on bottlenose dolphin health.

Coral reef ecosystems of Reserva Natural de La Parguera (Puerto Rico): spatial and temporal patterns in fish and benthic communities (2001-2007)

Since 1999, NOAA’s Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment, Biogeography Branch (CCMA-BB) has been working with federal and territorial partners to characterize monitor and assess the status of the marine environment in southwestern Puerto Rico. This effort is part of the broader NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program’s (CRCP) National Coral Reef Ecosystem Monitoring Program (NCREMP). With support from CRCP’s NCREMP, CCMA conducts the “Caribbean Coral Reef Ecosystem Monitoring project” (CREM) with goals to: (1) spatially characterize and monitor the distribution, abundance and size of marine fauna associated with shallow water coral reef seascapes (mosaics of coral reefs, seagrasses, sand and mangroves); (2) relate this information to in situ fine-scale habitat data and the spatial distribution and diversity of habitat types using benthic habitat maps; (3) use this information to establish the knowledge base necessary for enacting management decisions in a spatial setting; (4) establish the efficacy of those management decisions; and (5) develop data collection and data management protocols. The monitoring effort of the La Parguera region in southwestern Puerto Rico was conducted through partnerships with the University of Puerto Rico (UPR) and the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (DNER). Project funding was primarily provided by NOAA CRCP and CCMA. In recent decades, scientific and non-scientific observations have indicated that the structure and function of the coral reef ecosystem in the La Parguera region have been adversely impacted by a wide range of environmental stressors. The major stressors have included the mass Diadema die off in the early 1980s, a suite of hurricanes, overfishing, mass mortality of Acropora corals due to disease and several coral bleaching events, with the most severe mass bleaching episode in 2005. The area is also an important recreational resource supporting boating, snorkeling, diving and other water based activities. With so many potential threats to the marine ecosystem several activities are underway or have been implemented to manage the marine resources. These efforts have been supported by the CREM project by identifying marine fauna and their spatial distributions and temporal dynamics. This provides ecologically meaningful data to assess ecosystem condition, support decision making in spatial planning (including the evaluation of efficacy of current management strategies) and determine future information needs. The ultimate goal of the work is to better understand the coral reef ecosystems and to provide information toward protecting and enhancing coral reef ecosystems for the benefit of the system itself and to sustain the many goods and services that it offers society. This Technical Memorandum contains analysis of the first seven years of fish survey data (2001-2007) and associated characterization of the benthos. The primary objectives were to quantify changes in fish species and assemblage diversity, abundance, biomass and size structure and to provide spatially explicit information on the distribution of key species or groups of species and to compare community structure across the seascape including fringing mangroves, inner, middle, and outer reef areas, and open ocean shelf bank areas.

Nocturnal fish movement and trophic flow across habitat boundaries in a coral reef ecosystem (SW Puerto Rico)

Few studies have quantified the extent of nocturnal cross-habitat movements for fish, or the influence of habitat adjacencies on nutrient flows and trophodynamics. To investigate the patterns of nocturnal cross-boundary movements of fish and quantify trophic connectivity, fish were sampled at night with gillnets set along the boundaries between dominant habitat types (coral reef/seagrass and mangrove/seagrass) in southwestern Puerto Rico. Fish movement across adjacent boundary patches were equivalent at both coral reefs and mangroves. Prey biomass transfer was greater from seagrass to coral reefs (0.016 kg/km) and from mangroves to seagrass (0.006 kg/km) but not statistically significant, indicating a balance of flow between adjacent habitats. Pelagic species (jacks, sharks, rays) accounted for 37% of prey biomass transport at coral reef/seagrass and 46% at mangrove/seagrass while grunts and snappers accounted for 7% and 15%, respectively. This study indicated that coral reefs and mangroves serve as a feeding area for a wide range of multi-habitat fish species. Crabs were the most frequent prey item in fish leaving coral reefs while molluscs were observed slightly more frequently than crabs in fish entering coral reefs. For most prey types, biomass exported from mangroves was greater than biomass imported. The information on direction of fish movement together with analysis of prey data provided strong evidence of ecological linkages between distinct adjacent habitat types and highlighted the need for greater inclusion of a mosaic of multiple habitats when attempting to understand ecosystem function including the spatial transfer of energy across the seascape.