Evolution of freshwater plumes and salinity fronts in the northern Bay of Bengal

[1] The evolution of freshwater plumes and the associated salinity fronts in the northern Bay of Bengal ( henceforth the bay) is studied using rotated empirical orthogonal function (REOF) analysis and extended associate pattern analysis (EAPA). The results show that sea surface salinity distribution is featured by eastern-bay and western-bay plumes in the northern bay during different seasons. The western-bay plume begins in early July, peaks in late August, and then turns into a bay-shaped plume with the two plumes in either side of the bay, which peaks in late October. The southward extension of the western-bay plume can be explained by the southwestward geostrophic flow associated with the cyclonic gyre in the northern bay, which counters the northeastward Ekman drift driven by wind stress. The offshore expansion of the western-bay plume is induced by the offshore Ekman drift which also produces a salinity front near the east coast of India. The bay-shaped plume appears when the cyclonic gyre shifts westward and a weak anticyclonic gyre occupies the northeastern bay. As the season advances, the western part of the bay-shaped plume decays while the eastern part persists until the following June, which is believed to be associated with the anticyclonic gyre in the northern bay. The evolution of the plumes except the eastern part of the bay-shaped plume in fall can be partly explained by the seasonal variation of mass transport associated with the Sverdrup balance. The fact that the western-bay (eastern-bay) plume appears when surface freshwater flux in the northeastern bay increases ( decreases) dramatically suggests that the plumes are not produced directly by surface freshwater flux. River discharge seems to be the freshwater source for the plumes and has little to do with the evolution of the plumes.

大气季节内振荡对东亚夏季风活动的影响研究

利用ERA40逐日再分析资料、NCEP/NCAR2逐日再分析资料、中国740个测站日降水资料、上海台风研究所提供的西太平洋热带气旋资料、Kaplan等重建的月平均SSTA资料、NOAA逐日长波辐射（OLR）等资料，应用离散功率谱分析、带通滤波、EOF分析等统计方法，研究了东亚夏季风(EASM）的移动特征、东亚地区季节内振荡(ISO)的基本特征、季节内振荡对东亚夏季风活动的影响、季节内振荡对东亚夏季风异常活动的影响机理。主要结论如下： （1）综合动力和热力因素定义了可动态描述东亚夏季风移动和强度的指数，并利用该指数研究了东亚夏季风的爆发和移动的季节内变化及其年际和年代际变化特征。研究发现，气候平均东亚夏季风前沿分别在28候、33候、36候、38候、40候、44候出现了明显的跳跃。东亚夏季风活动具有显著的年际变率，主要由于季风前沿在某些区域异常停滞和突然跨越北跳或南撤引起，造成中国东部旱涝灾害频繁发生。东亚夏季风的活动具有明显的年代际变化，在1965年、1980年、1994年发生了突变，造成中国东部降水由“南旱北涝”向“南涝北旱”的转变。 （2）东亚季风区季节内变化具有10~25d和30~60d两个波段的季节内振荡周期，以30-60d为主。存在三个主要低频模态，第一模态主要表征了EASM在长江中下游和华北地区活动期间的低频形势；第二模态印度洋-菲律宾由低频气旋式环流控制，主要表现了ISO在EASM爆发期间的低频形势；第三模态主要出现在EASM在华南和淮河活动期间的低频形势。第一模态和第三模态是代表东亚夏季风活动异常的主要低频形势。 （3）热带和副热带地区ISO总是沿垂直切变风的垂直方向传播。因此，在南海-菲律宾东北风垂直切变和副热带西太平洋北风垂直切变下，大气热源激发菲律宾附近交替出现的低频气旋和低频反气旋不断向西北传播，副热带西太平洋ISO以向西传播为主。中高纬度地区，乌拉尔山附近ISO以向东、向南移动或局地振荡为主；北太平洋中部ISO在某些情况下向南、向西传播。 （4）季风爆发期，伴随着热带东印度洋到菲律宾一系列低频气旋和低频反气旋， 冷空气向南输送，10~25天和30~60天季节内振荡低频气旋同时传入南海加快了南海夏季风的爆发。在气候态下，ISO活动表现的欧亚- 太平洋（EAP）以及太平洋-北美（PNA）低频波列分布特征(本文提出的EAP和PNA低频波列与传统意义上的二维定点相关得到的波列不同)。这种低频分布形式使得欧亚和太平洋中高纬度的槽、脊及太平洋副热带高压稳定、加强，东亚地区的低频波列则成为热带和中高纬度ISO相互作用影响东亚夏季风活动的纽带。不同的阶段表现不同的低频模态，30~60d低频模态的转变加快了EASM推进过程中跳跃性；30-60d低频模态的维持使得EASM前沿相对停滞。 （5）30-60d滤波场，菲律宾海域交替出现的低频气旋和低频反气旋不断向西北传播到南海-西太平洋一带。当南海-西太平洋地区低频气旋活跃时，季风槽加强、东伸，季风槽内热带气旋（TC）频数增加；当南海-西太平洋低频反气旋活跃时，季风槽减弱、西退，TC处于间歇期，生成位置不集中。 （6）在El Nino态下，大气季节内振荡偏弱，北传特征不明显，但ISO由中高纬度北太平洋中部向南和副热带西太平洋向西的传播特征显著，东亚地区ISO活动以第三模态为主，EASM集中停滞在华南和淮河流域，常伴随着持续性区域暴雨的出现，易造成华南和江淮流域洪涝灾害，长江和华北持续干旱。在La Nina态下，大气季节内振荡活跃，且具有明显的向北传播特征，PNA低频波列显著，东亚地区ISO活动以第一模态单峰为主；EASM主要停滞在长江中下游和华北地区，这些地区出现异常持续强降水，华南和淮河流域多干旱；在El Nino态向La Nina态转换期，ISO活动以第一模态双峰为主，长江中下游常常出现二度梅。

热带印度洋低频Rossby波及其对上层热结构的影响

Rossby波是地球物理流体动力学中非常重要的一种波动，海洋斜压长Rossby波在海洋动力过程中起着相当重要的作用。它维持并影响强西边界流，是海盆内能量传播的主要机制，它所携带的变异信号从大洋的东边界传播到内部，对海气耦合系统起到很重要的作用。热带印度洋是季风爆发的源地，对季风的年际变化具有重要影响。研究热带印度洋对理解季风变率和提高季风预测水平有重要的科学和应用价值。 本文利用TOPEX/Poseidon等高度计资料、美国国家海洋数据中心（NODC）的世界海洋图集（WOA05）长期气候态水文资料、美国Scripps海洋研究所的上层海温资料、中国Argo资料中心提供的Argo资料、美国国家环境预测中心（NCEP）的海表面温度、FSU（Florida State University）月平均风场和海气界面热通量等观测数据，全面分析了热带印度洋低频Rossby波的基本特征，并深入研究了低频Rossby波的生成机制及其对上层海洋热结构的影响。 采用相关分析等统计方法，结合1.5层约化重力模式，研究了热带南印度洋低频Rossby波的生成机制。结果表明： （1）热带南印度洋低频Rossby波分为东边界扰动产生的Rossby波和南印度洋中部风强迫Rossby波；东边界激发的为自由Rossby波，沿12°S波速大约13 cm/s，向西最远传播到80°E左右，之后被局地变量调整；强迫Rossby波在西传的过程中不断加强，波速较快，沿12°S能超过20 cm/s； （2）东边界扰动由印度尼西亚贯通流（ITF）导致的地转调整过程引起；内区风强迫Rossby波生成和加强的关键区为（70°E–95°E，15°S–5°S）；显著的西传Rossby波同太平洋上的厄尔尼诺/南方涛动（ENSO）事件紧密相连，ENSO通过大气的遥驱动机制激发热带南印度洋低频Rossby波； （3）作为东边界低频变量扰动的一个重要因子，ITF的变化与ENSO事件密切相关，总的来讲，El Niño年ITF偏弱，La Niña年ITF偏强，这与前人的研究结果一致；但它在ENSO的不同位相时期，存在一定差异，并具有夏季锁相特征：El Niño事件发生年的春季到秋季，ITF偏强，夏季最强；从El Niño盛期（冬季）到次年秋季，ITF持续偏弱，夏季最弱。上述夏季锁相特征与夏季风的强弱变化相对应。La Niña期间情况相反。 西南印度洋（SWIO）（50°E–75°E，15°S–5°S）以及苏门答腊-爪哇沿岸地区是海表面高度异常（SSHA）和海表面温度异常（SSTA）相关显著的区域，表明内部海洋动力过程在次表层和表层变量的相互关系中起重要作用。本文以2006–2008年期间三个连续的同El Niño或者La Niña同时发生的正印度洋偶极子（IOD）事件为背景，基于Argo观测资料研究了表层和次表层IOD的演变以及二者的区别和联系，并首次采用垂直模态分解方法探讨了Rossby波对上层海洋热力结构影响的动力学特征，得到如下主要结论： （1）在热带印度洋，海洋动力过程一般主要由第一和第二低阶垂直斜压模态控制，而第一斜压模态处于主导地位——在SWIO海区，第一斜压模态运动的方差解释率为第二模态的2–3倍，在赤道和东南印度洋也达到2倍左右；另外，赤道印度洋地区高阶斜压模态运动对该地区的海洋动力过程也具有一定的贡献； （2）低频斜压Rossby波能影响海洋的垂直层结，尤其是强暖Rossby波使同第二斜压模态运动紧密相连的海洋上层层结减弱，加强第二斜压模态的贡献量，导致上层各等压线向下垂直位移增大，最终通过垂直混合过程调整上层海洋的热力结构；而低频斜压冷Rossby波会加强上层垂直层结，抑制该层内变量变化，因此第二斜压模态的贡献依然很小； （3）表层IOD和次表层IOD分布形态不同：表层东部冷异常主要集中在东南印度洋Sumatra-Java沿岸，次表层冷异常基本关于赤道对称；表层西部暖异常基本关于赤道对称，而在次表层赤道以南海温扰动强度远远大于赤道以北； （4）正IOD事件中，东南印度洋冷SSTA首先出现于Java沿岸，沿岸东南风引起的潜热释放增加以及沿岸上升流是该初始冷异常建立的主要机制，与之相关的SSTA东西梯度加强大气环流变化，并进一步强迫随后的海洋运动；1–2个月后，SST冷异常中心北跳到Sumatra沿岸并向西扩展，同时不断增强，其中Sumatra沿岸上升流、来自赤道印度洋的冷Kelvin波及其反射的西传冷Rossby波是这一演变过程的动力机制，而沿岸上升流起决定作用。

Aega sheni, a new species of Aegidae (Crustacea : Isopoda : Cymothoida) from southern China and Australia

Aega sheni sp. nov. from Chinese and Australian waters, is described and figured. This species is characterized by the plate-like expansion of antennule peduncle articles 1 and 2, very large eyes (nearly making contact), numerous robust setae on the inferior margins of the ischium of pereopods 2 and 3, large distal lobe on the propodus of pereopods 1-3, shape and setation of the uropods, and the rounded pleotelson posterior margin. Aega sheni has been recorded at depths of 300-435 metres.

南海大陆边缘地壳结构与盆地形成机制--以珠江口－琼东南盆地为例

South China Sea is located in the convergence of Eurasian plate, the Pacific Ocean plate and Indian Ocean-Australia plate. The total area is about 3,500,000 km2, the geologic structure is complicated, and the structure line cut off reciprocal is the marginal sea taking form by that the seafloor spreads during the middle Oligocene. South China Sea continental margin have developed more than 10 large oil-gas bearing basins and a number of medium-small sized basins. These basins contain abundant mineral resources such as oil & gas. The marginal deepwater area in the north part of South China Sea has become our country’s strategic energy prospecting frontier. The deepwater area of Zhujiangkou and Qiongdongnan basins is the research target in this thesis. The thesis studied deep structure and the earth dynamics of the north part of South China Sea margin, and these researches provide scientific basis for oil-gas resources strategic investigation and valuation in deepwater sea area of north part slope of South China Sea. In order to develop the research of rebuilding velocities and density architecture of earth shell in region of interest, in marginal deepwater area in the north part of South China, we adopted 14 long-cable seismic reflection profile data of 3556.41 kilometers in total, the gravity measurement data along profiles (3851.44 kilometers in total), the magnetic observation along profiles (3838.4 kilometers in total) and depth measurement along profile, the logging data of 11 wells in project, the interpreted fault parameter and preexisting geologic and geophysical research achievement. This thesis has carried out concretely studying research as follows: 1. Overlay-velocity data sampling and analysis, interval velocity calculation, time-depth conversion, model building of earth shell velocity and layering character of earth shell are studied on 14 deep sections. Velocity structure in region of interest has revealed: Changchang is the sag with thinnest crust in Qiongdongnan basin; the sedimentary thickness lowers gradually from north to south, and the thickness change from west to east is milder. The sags’ sedimentary velocities in Qiongdongnan basin have obvious demarcation. The velocity of the 8000 meters sedimentary rocks is 4700 m/s in Shunde sag and Baiyun sag, and is the lowest; at that depth, the velocity very different in Liwan sag and Baiyun sag, which is about 800m/s. 2. Extracting gravity data and building of initial crust density model along the section; With Bouguer gravity anomaly data as constraint, revising density distributes of initial model, and building the crust density model. 3. With crust velocity and density as constraint, correcting the effect of thermobaric field and constructing constitution structure of rock in region of interest. By this research, we known that rocks in Zhujiangkou upper crustal layer are chiefly granite-gneiss, quartzite, granodiorite and basalt, however, rocks in Qiongdongnan basin upper earth shell are chiefly composed of granite-gneiss, quartzite, granodiorite, diorite and basalt. 4. Synthetically crust velocity and density structure, gaining expanding factor on crust and entire crust along section. The result is indicated: the expanding factor in every sag rises from northwest to southeast, which have reflected thinning characteristic of crust from continent to ocean. Intra-crustal deformation degree in Changchang and Ledong-Lingshui sag is bigger than that in Songnan-Baodao sag. Entire crust extension factor in Changchang and Songnan-Baodao sag is greater than that in Ledong-Lingshui sag, which can make an explanation of frequently event and longer heating process in middle-east of Qiongdongnan basin. 5. Synthesize multidisciplinary information to discuss the earth dynamics significance of discordogenic seismic profile in deepwater area of Zhujiangkou and Qiongdongnan basins.

拉萨地块中新生代火山作用-从大洋到大陆俯冲转换的构造演化纪录

Late Mesozoic－Cenozoic volcanic rocks are well exposed in Lhasa Terrane, southern Tibet. This research attempts to apply 40Ar/39Ar geochronology, major, trace element and Sr-Nd-O isotopic geochemistry data to constrain the spatio-temporal variations, the composition of source, geodynamic setting. The results indicate that Lhasa Terrane mainly went through three tectonic-magmatic cycle: (1) Phase of Oceanic subduction (140-80Ma). Along with the subducting beneath the Eurasian Plate of Neo-Tethys slab, the oceanic sediment and/or the subducting slab released fluids/melts to metasomatize the subcontinental lithospheric mantle, and induced the mantle wedge partially melt and produced the calc-alkaline continental arc volcanic rocks; (2) Phase of continental-continental collision. Following the subducting of the Neo-Tethys slab, the Indian Plate collided with the Eurasian Plate dragged by the dense Neo-Tethys oceanic lithosphere. The oceanic lithosphere detached from continental lithosphere during roll-back and break-off and the asthenosphere upwelled. The resulting conducted thermal perturbation leads to the melting of the overriding mantle lithosphere and produced the syn-collisional magmatism: the Linzizong Formation and dykes; (3) Following by the detachment of the Tethys oceanic lithosphere, the Indian Lithosphere subducted northward by the drive from the expanding of Indian Ocean. The dense Indian continental lithospheric mantle (±the thickened lower crust) break off, disturb the asthenosphere, and lead to the melting of the overriding mantle lithosphere, which has been metasomatized by the melts/fluids from the subducting oceanic/continental lithosphere and the asthenosphere, and produced the rift-related ultrapotassic rocks.

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.

珠穆朗玛峰东绒布冰川表层雪中的气候和环境记录

Snow chemistry research helps to found the basis of studying ice cores. Samples of fresh snow and snow pits were collected from East Rongbuk Glacier on the north slope of Mt. Qomolangma during October, 2002. Major soluble ions (Na~+, NH_4~+, K~+, Mg~(2+), Ca~(2+), Cl~-, NO_3~- and SO_4~(2-)) andδ~(18)O were detected for analysis. Source analysis showed that major sources contributing to the snow chemistry in Mt. Qomolangma region are remote Asian dust and salt lake dust, sea-salt aerosols from Indian monsoon, local rock-mineral dust, human activities and natural atmospheric procedures. Principal factor analysis indicated that high-concentration group was dominated by continental dust with little oceanic source, indicating continental or local precipitation, while the low group dominated by oceanic aerosols indicated oceanic precipitation. Local mineral dust was a minor a source characterized mainly by Ca~(2+), Mg~(2+) contribution. Ammonia related mainly with continental dusts and nitrogen-circulation processes in the atmosphere, it also had a peculiar source should be seasonal agriculture activities in the south Asia. Nitrate showed bad correlations with other ions for its special chemical characteristics. δ~(18)O and major soluble ions displayed obvious seasonal variations. The summer precipitation had very low ion loadings and relatively lower heavy oxygen isotope from the Indian Ocean with occasionally ion peaks formed by local evaporation. While the winter and spring precipitation had high ion loadings and δ~(18)O value for the great amount of continental dust and evaporated vapors. Frequent fluctuations of δ~(18)O and ion concentration occur during the transitional period, indicating alternated precipitations by various air mass types. Ion concentration in snow from the Qomolangma region is comparable with from the Antactica, representing relatively pure background of atmospheric environment on earth. While the high concentration is close to the glaciers' located near the major sources of Asian dust. Compared with the snow chemistry of South Slope of Mt. Qomolangma, the North Slope has lower sea-salt ion concentration during summer monsoon and higher concentration of all major ions during pre- and post-monsoon period due to it's special geophysical location.

单种属泥炭纤维素碳稳定同位素组成与全新世青藏高原东部西南季风变化

泥炭的形成和积累主要受控于气候，其次是地质、地貌和水文等因素。作为一种重要和理想的气候信息载体，泥炭己经与冰芯、海洋及湖泊沉积、黄土堆积、洞穴碳酸盐沉积、树轮和珊瑚礁等其它类型的自然地质档案一样，逐渐为国内外致力于古气候变化研究的学者所接受，并将其重点应用于全新世以来气候变化信息的提取。本研究在已有的泥炭混合植物残体纤维素碳稳定同位素记录青藏高原东部地区气候信息的基础上，首次提取泥炭中单一种属植物残体一木里苔草（Calexmulieensis）纤维素，测定其碳稳定同位素，并以其时间序列作为一种新的西南季风代用指标，揭示该区域全新世以来气候变化。研究表明：1．木里苔草的碳稳定同位素时间序列是西南季风强度变化的敏感代用指标。约11800～11加0 cal aBP期间，木里苔草纤维素的613C记录处于最大值，表明该时段西南季风活动鼻弱，气候干冷，对应于普遍发生并存在的新仙女木事件；它清晰地指示了该区全新世的下限年龄为约11200 cal aBP（14c年龄约9900aB玲从约11200 oal aBP起该区迅速进入湿暖的全新世阶段，季风活动迅速增强；在约10800～5500 cal aBP期间，季风总体保持在强盛状态，但其间有4次突然减弱，气候变干冷；约从5500 cala即起季风活动在波动中逐渐减弱，其中有4次减弱最为明显。2．木里苔草纤维素碳同位素所记录的犯000年以来的所有9次西南季风活动的突然减弱与同时期北大西洋发生的冰力｝漂移碎屑沉积物事件（IRD事件）一一对应。这种密切的相关关系表明，西南季风强度的波动可能是对全球气候变化特别是对海洋热盐环流引起的地球南北方气撇动变化的响应。3．木里苔草纤维素碳稳定同位素所指示的西南季风有952，乓57，475，312，211和77年等一系列周期。其中557年和77年两个周期分别与北大西洋深层海水环流的550年的周期和76年的气候周期非常吻合。这表明西南季风与北大西洋气候间有很好的相关关系。由于557年和77年的季风周期又都分别类似于53。年和80年的太阳活动周期，这表明太阳活动可能对西南季风和北大西洋气候间的联系有着影响。4．红原泥炭木里苔草纤维素和泥炭混合纤维素别3c时间序列在千年至万年时间尺度上的变化趋势很相近。两种代用记录都一致反映了冰后期的气候变化，即均指示西南季风强度变化可分为三个明显的大阶段。这说明它们对过去12000年的西南季风变化具有相同的响应。对于目前经过较详细研究的那些全球大范围发生的突然气候变化事件，木里苔草纤维素δ~(13)C代用记录与泥炭混合纤维素δ~(13)C代用记录一样，都有相同的响应，但是，相对于泥炭中单一的木里苔草敏感地记录到历次北大西洋I劝事件而言，泥炭混合纤维素δ~(13)C记录对其中的几次突然气候变化事件似乎没有表现出明显的响应。这个结果表明对数百年尺度的突然气候变化，木里苔草纤维素比混合纤维素的酬3c指标似乎要更敏感一点。因此，在能获得足够数量的单种植物·残体的情况下，单种植物残体纤维素的δ~(13)C指标有很好的使用价值。

The Iranian Foreign Policy in the Persian Gulf Region under the Rule of President Hassan Rouhani: Continuity of Change

Although Iran borders with many states and has direct access to the Caspian Sea as well as the Indian Ocean, the Persian Gulf region seems to be the most vital area to its security and prosperity. Yet since the 70’s Iran’s relations with the Arab states in the region have been rather strained and complex. The main reason for that had been the success of the Islamic revolution in 1979 which later resulted in a new dimension of Sunni-Shia rivalry. Moreover, post-revolutionary Iranian authorities also intended to maintain the regional hegemony from the Imperial State of Iran period. As a result, successive Iranian governments competed for hegemony in the Persian Gulf with the littoral Arab states which consolidated their regional positions due to close links and intensive cooperation with the West especially with the United States. Despite some political and economic initiatives which were undertaken by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, this rivalry was also evident between 2005–2013. The main aim of this article is to find out whether Iranian foreign policy towards the Arab states in the Persian Gulf region has undergone any significant changes since Hassan Rouhani became the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran in August 2013. According to Mohammad Reza Deshiri, the Iranian foreign policy after 1979 can be divided into so-called waves of idealism and realism. During dominance of idealism values and spirituality are more important than pragmatism while during the realistic waves political as well as economic interests prevail over spirituality. Iranian idealism is connected with export of revolutionary ideas, Shia dominance as well as the restoration of unity among all muslims (ummah). On this basis both presidential terms of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad can be classified as ‘waves of idealism’, albeit some of his ideas were very pragmatic. The question is if Hassan Rouhani’s foreign policy represents a continuity or a change. Is the current Iran’s foreign policy towards the Persian Gulf region idealistic or rather realistic? The main assumption is that there will be no Arab-Iranian rapprochement in the Persian Gulf without a prior normalization of political relations between Iran and the West especially the United States.

Are the native giant tortoises from the Seychelles really extinct? A genetic perspective based on mtDNA and microsatellite data.

The extinction of the giant tortoises of the Seychelles Archipelago has long been suspected but is not beyond doubt. A recent morphological study of the giant tortoises of the western Indian Ocean concluded that specimens of two native Seychelles species survive in captivity today alongside giant tortoises of Aldabra, which are numerous in zoos as well as in the wild. This claim has been controversial because some of the morphological characters used to identify these species, several measures of carapace morphology, are reputed to be quite sensitive to captive conditions. Nonetheless, the potential survival of giant tortoise species previously thought extinct presents an exciting scenario for conservation. We used mitochondrial DNA sequences and nuclear microsatellites to examine the validity of the rediscovered species of Seychelles giant tortoises. Our results indicate that the morphotypes suspected to represent Seychelles species do not show levels of variation and genetic structuring consistent with long periods of reproductive isolation. We found no variation in the mitochondrial control region among 55 individuals examined and no genetic structuring in eight microsatellite loci, pointing to the survival of just a single lineage of Indian Ocean tortoises.

A new species of Tortanus (Atortus) (Copepoda: Calanoida) from the Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar

A new species of the planktonic copepod Tortanus (Atortus) (Calanoida: Tortanidae), T. (A.) magnonyx is described from Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar. This is the sixth species of the Indian Ocean recticauda species group, of the Indo-West Pacific recticauda species complex, that has been described from the western Indian Ocean. The inshore areas where these copepods are found have been poorly surveyed, so the number of species found implies a high diversity.