Central-southern Part Research Articles

Checklist of free-living nematode species in the transitional environment of Lake Varano (Southern Italy)

This study documents for the first time the taxonomic composition of the nematode community and the number of free–living nematode species in Lake Varano, Southern Adriatic Sea, Italy. The nematode community was mainly composed of species typical of fine sediments that usually prevail in transitional environments (TEs). An overall high number of nematode species was recorded (55), belonging to 36 genera in 17 families. These values are highly comparable to those reported for other Italian TEs, but appear lower than those recorded in other European brackish–water systems, probably in relation to the low salinity range of Lake Varano. Forty taxa were identified up to species level, thus increasing the number of the nematode marine species known for the Italian coasts from 443 to 463, for the Adriatic basin from 310 to 313, and for the Southern Adriatic sector from 37 to 77. Considering the importance of this phylum in the assessment of ecological quality and the great vulnerability of the Adriatic Sea ecosystems, an intensification of sampling efforts should be planned, especially in the Central–Southern part of the basin. Such a plan would provide new insights into the biogeography of one of the most important components of the benthic domain and potentially yield new information about the climate warming effects on the Adriatic Sea.

Russian anthropogenic black carbon: Emission reconstruction and Arctic black carbon simulation

AbstractDevelopment of reliable source emission inventories is particularly needed to advance the understanding of the origin of Arctic haze using chemical transport modeling. This study develops a regional anthropogenic black carbon (BC) emission inventory for the Russian Federation, the largest country by land area in the Arctic Council. Activity data from combination of local Russia information and international resources, emission factors based on either Russian documents or adjusted values for local conditions, and other emission source data are used to approximate the BC emissions. Emissions are gridded at a resolution of 0.1° × 0.1° and developed into a monthly temporal profile. Total anthropogenic BC emission of Russia in 2010 is estimated to be around 224 Gg. Gas flaring, a commonly ignored black carbon source, contributes a significant fraction of 36.2% to Russia's total anthropogenic BC emissions. Other sectors, i.e., residential, transportation, industry, and power plants, contribute 25.0%, 20.3%, 13.1%, and 5.4%, respectively. Three major BC hot spot regions are identified: the European part of Russia, the southern central part of Russia where human population densities are relatively high, and the Urals Federal District where Russia's major oil and gas fields are located but with sparse human population. BC simulations are conducted using the hemispheric version of Community Multi‐scale Air Quality Model with emission inputs from a global emission database EDGAR (Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research)‐HTAPv2 (Hemispheric Transport of Air Pollution) and EDGAR‐HTAPv2 with its Russian part replaced by the newly developed Russian BC emissions, respectively. The simulation using the new Russian BC emission inventory could improve 30–65% of absorption aerosol optical depth measured at the AERONET sites in Russia throughout the whole year as compared to that using the default HTAPv2 emissions. At the four ground monitoring sites (Zeppelin, Barrow, Alert, and Tiksi) in the Arctic Circle, surface BC simulations are improved the most during the Arctic haze periods (October–March). The poor performance of Arctic BC simulations in previous studies may be partly ascribed to the Russian BC emissions built on out‐of‐date and/or missing information, which could result in biases to both emission rates and the spatial distribution of emissions. This study highlights that the impact of Russian emissions on the Arctic haze has likely been underestimated, and its role in the Arctic climate system needs to be reassessed. The Russian black carbon emission source data generated in this study can be obtained via http://abci.ornl.gov/download.shtml or http://acs.engr.utk.edu/Data.php.

Geological Features, Mineralization Types and Metallogenic Setting of the Phlaythong Large Iron Deposit, Southern Laos

The Phlaythong large iron deposit in Shampasak of southern Laos,is located in the Kon Tum microblock(Fig.1A),central-southern part of the Indo-China block,and the geographic coordinate of the central mining area is 14°43′04″N and 106°07′02″E.Intensive tectonic and magmatic activities of multiple periods developed in this region,especially in Mesozoic and Cenozoic,which are closely更多还原

Cherax (Astaconephrops) pulcher, a new species of freshwater crayfish (Crustacea, Decapoda, Parastacidae) from the Kepala Burung (Vogelkop) Peninsula, Irian Jaya (West Papua), Indonesia.

A new species, Cherax (Astaconephrops) pulcher sp. n., from Hoa Creek, close to the village Teminabuan in the southern-central part of the Kepala Burung (Vogelkop) Peninsula, West Papua, Indonesia, is described, figured and compared with the morphologically closest species, Cherax boesemani Lukhaup & Pekny, 2008.

Feasibility and utility of population-level geospatial injury profiling: prospective, national cohort study.

Geospatial analysis is increasingly being used to evaluate the design and effectiveness of trauma systems, but there are no metrics to describe the geographic distribution of incidents. The aim of this study, therefore, was to evaluate the feasibility and utility of using spatial analysis to characterize, at scale, the geospatial profile of an injured population. This is a prospective national cohort study of all trauma patients attended to by the Scottish Ambulance Service in a complete year (between July 1, 2013, and June 30, 2014). Incident location and severity were collected at source. Incident distribution was evaluated using geostatistical techniques. There were 80,391 recorded incidents involving traumatic injury. Incident density was highest in the central Southern part of the country and along the East coast, broadly following the population distribution and road network. The overall distribution was highly clustered, and centered on the central Southern and Eastern parts of the country. When analyzed by triage category, the distribution of incidents triaged to major trauma center care was slightly less clustered than that of incidents triaged to trauma unit or local emergency hospital care, but the spread was similar. When analyzed by type of injury, assaults and falls were more clustered than incidents relating to traffic and transportation. This study demonstrates the feasibility and power of describing the geographic distribution of a group of injured patients. The methodology described has potential application for injury surveillance and trauma system design and evaluation.

Adenium dhofarenseRzepecky sp. nov. A Long-Overlooked Species from the Central-Southern Part of the Arabian Peninsula

<i>Adenium dhofarense</i>Rzepecky sp. nov. A Long-Overlooked Species from the Central-Southern Part of the Arabian Peninsula

The Chicken or the Iegue: Human-Animal Relationships and the Columbian Exchange

IN 1543, A TAINO MAN HAD BEEN living in the mountains in the central southern part of Hispaniola for twelve years. Though fluent in Spanish and familiar with Spanish ways, he had fled to escape the oppressive exploitation of the encomienda. The man survived in the wilderness through a special relationship with three formerly feral pigs, two males and a female. The man and his pigs would go hunting for “wild” pigs, in the same way Europeans hunted prey with dogs—one pig tracking, one seizing, and one assisting, with the Indian giving the final thrust of death with a make-do spear. Once the prey was killed, the man would preside over the ritual distribution of the carcass, as was done in traditional hunts in Europe with dogs, “giving the interior parts to his companions,” while he made a barbecue for himself and salted the flesh for several days’ consumption. When prey was not readily available, the man also foraged for roots and plants, which he ate and shared with his porcine company. “At night,” wrote the conquistador-turned-chronicler Gonzalo Fernandez de Oviedo, “the said Indian went to bed among that bestial company, petting for hours one and then the other, devoted to the swine [la porcesa].” Tragedy ensued, however, when the pigs were spotted by several Spanish soldiers who were in the mountains looking for runaway slaves after a recent rebellion. Assuming that these were feral pigs who roamed the countryside rather than the property of an individual, the soldiers slaughtered them. Bereft over their loss, the man told the three soldiers, “Those pigs gave me life and maintained me as I maintained them; they were my friends and good company; one I gave this name, and the other was called so-and-so, and the female pig was called so-and-so.” Oviedo reported that “the deaths of these three

Determination of the optimal land use allocation pattern in Nowshahr County, Northern Iran

Regional models of land use change are evaluated as a way of identifying land use pattern based on recent quantitative and probabilistic approaches. Differentiation between models in this area is the result of the approach to the concept of land use and type of indicators used in the modeling process. Since the determination of the optima land use pattern, due to the different uses of land based on the availability of regional capabilities and spatial difference in land use, depends on an integrated model, there must be a model that can assess the existing conditions of the region and present reasonable models of land use according to regional capacities and potentials. In this research, we developed a model to present the Optimal Land Use Allocation Pattern (OLUAP) for maximizing the advantages of change and determining the methods of influencing land use change priorities. This model uses spatial models and analysis, moderates the cost-benefit function, and calculates the allocation priorities of various areas based on regional conditions. The model results show that a wide scope of Nowshahr area is allocated to natural and agricultural uses. At the same time, a limited area has been assigned to urban and industrial uses. In addition, it shows that northern strip of the region due to higher accessibility of services and infrastructures is more suited than other regions to urban and industrial areas, and these two uses have first and second priority, respectively. Besides, according to the man-made environment and the special environmental conditions, the model allocates the central lowlands and southern parts sporadically to agricultural and natural areas as first and second priorities. Since the model is spatial optimization, the suggestions of the model show the OLUAP. Therefore, one can see the optimal condition for each plot and compare it with the existing land use.

Aridity Variability in the Last Five Decades in the Dobrogea Region, Romania

The present study constitutes a climatic approach of aridity trend analysis in the south-eastern part of Romania (Dobrogea region), over the past five decades. The analysis is based on a series of investigations on the temporal trends of certain climatic parameters that play a key role in a territory's climatic variability, such as temperature, precipitation, and potential evapotranspiration. In this respect, a series of aridity index trends (De Martonne Index, UNEP Index, and Water Deficit Index), recorded between 1961 and 2009, was analyzed, using climatic parameters provided by eight weather stations in the Dobrogea region. While the results showed that the last five decades were generally characterized by an upward climatic aridity trend (increasing temperatures and potential evapotranspiration in all considered instances), there are certain regional differences due to precipitation regime variations (higher rainfall values were recorded at four weather stations). In terms of maximum aridity conditions, the study reveals that the most critical aridity index values were reported in 1990, 2000, 2001, 2003, and 2008, especially at the weather stations located in the northern part of the Dobrogea region. The situation is slightly different in the central-southern part, where the results indicated an aridity trend decline coupled with an increase of annual precipitation amounts, especially between 1995 and 2009.

Evolution and palaeoenvironment of the Bauru Basin (Upper Cretaceous, Brazil)

The Bauru Basin was one of the great Cretaceous desert basins of the world, evolved in arid zone called Southern Hot Arid Belt. Its paleobiological record consists mainly of dinosaurs, crocodiles and turtles. The Bauru Basin is an extensive region of the South American continent that includes parts of the southeast and south of Brazil, covering an area of 370,000 km2. It is an interior continental basin that developed as a result of subsidence of the central-southern part of the South-American Platform during the Late Cretaceous (Coniacian–Maastrichtian). This sag basin is filled by a sandy siliciclastic sequence with a preserved maximum thickness of 480 m, deposited in semiarid to desert conditions. Its basement consists of volcanic rocks (mainly basalts) of the Lower Cretaceous (Hauterivian) Serra Geral basalt flows, of the Paraná-Etendeka Continental Flood Basalt Province. The sag basin was filled by an essentially siliciclastic psammitic sequence. In lithostratigraphic terms the sequence consists of the Caiuá and Bauru groups. The northern and northeastern edges of the basin provide a record of more proximal original deposits, such as associations of conglomeratic sand facies from alluvial fans, lakes, and intertwined distributary river systems. The progressive basin filling led to the burial of the basaltic substrate by extensive blanket sand sheets, associated with deposits of small dunes and small shallow lakes that retained mud (such as loess). Also in this intermediate context between the edges (more humid) and the interior (dry), wide sand sheet areas crossed by unconfined desert rivers (wadis) occurred. In the central axis of the elliptical basin a regional drainage system formed, flowing from northeast to southwest between the edges of the basin and the hot and dry inner periphery of the Caiuá desert (southwest). Life in the Bauru Basin flourished most in the areas with the greatest water availability, in which dinosaurs, crocodiles, turtles, fish, amphibians, molluscs, crustaceans, and charophyte algae lived. The fossil record mainly consists of transported bones and other skeletal fragments. In the northeastern and eastern marginal regions fossils are found in marginal alluvial fan deposits, broad plains of braided streams and ephemeral alkaline water lakes. In the basin interior the fossil record is related to deposits in sand sheets with braided streams, small dunes, and shallow lakes. In the great Caiuá inner desert a few smaller animals could survive (small reptiles and early mammals), sometimes leaving their footprints in dune foreset deposits. The aim of this article is to present and link the basin sedimentary evolution, palaeoecological features and palaeontological record.

Historical evolution and Middle to Late Holocene environmental changes in Lake Shkodra (Albania): New evidences from micropaleontological analysis

The 7.5m long SK13 sediment core, drilled at Lake Shkodra (Albania) at a bottom depth of 7m in the central southern part of the lake, was selected for multidisciplinary analysis. The sediment core age spans from 4560calyrBP to present. The origin and the evolution of the lake are still debated and were never investigated in detail. In historical records, until the 15th century Lake Shkodra was never mentioned as such, but as a marshland or as a confluence between two rivers. Our research aims to reconstruct the past biodiversity and the Middle-Late Holocene palaeoenvironmental and palaeoclimatic changes using Ostracods, Characeae, and comparing the micropaleontological data with pollens and stable isotope curves. Thirteen ostracod and five charophyte species were identified. Amongst the ostracods Candona montenigrina and Limnocythere scutariense are endemic of the lake; Candona meridionalis, Paralimnocythere georgevitschi, Metacypris cordata, Candona ex gr. bimucronata, and Cyclocypris sp. have been collected for the first time in Lake Shkodra; the last three taxa occurred only in the lower portion of the sediment core. Amongst the charophytes, Lychnothamnus barbatus and Nitella hyalina are recorded for the first time in the lake and occurs with high frequency throughout the lower portion of the core. A drastic change occurs between 1274 and 1197calyrBP, when 8 ostracod species out of 13 and all charophytes disappear, and the frequency of the remaining 5 species dramatically increases. The micropaleontological data suggest a decrease of the lake biodiversity since around 1200calyrBP linked to the transition between an ancient marshland to a lacustrine environment. This drastic event seems to be independent from any global or local climate change but linked to the complex hydrographic setting of the lake and of its only outlet, the River Bojana, discharging in the Adriatic Sea.

Origin of PGE depletion of Triassic magmatic Cu–Ni sulfide deposits in the central-southern area of Jilin province, NE China

Triassic mafic–ultramafic intrusions are widespread in the central-southern part of Jilin province, northeast China. Many of them are ore-bearing intrusions of considerable economic value. They compose a number of magmatic Cu–Ni sulfide deposits which are characterized by depletion of platinum-group elements (PGEs). In this study, an attempt was made to clarify the relationship between the PGE content of the mafic–ultramafic magmas and the nature and the evolution of their mantle sources. Precise PGE data of some of the typical ore-bearing intrusions are reported and the factors which may affect the PGE content of the intrusions are discussed, such as the presence of PGE in the mantle, the degree of partial melting of the mantle and the evolution of the mantle. In the course of the evolution of the mantle, a large proportion of PGE which are present as fusible components such as sulfides will be extracted, and most of the refractory PGE components such as alloys will be retained in mantle residues. Without further replenishing of PGE, later melts of a residue will contain less PGE. It is because the Triassic mafic–ultramafic intrusions are derived from PGE-depleted mantle that the magmatic Cu–Ni sulfide deposits in the central-southern part of Jilin province are reduced in PGE. We conclude that most of the young mafic–ultramafic intrusions are probably poor in PGEs.

Modeling the spawning strategies and larval survival of the Brazilian sardine (Sardinella brasiliensis)

An Individual Based Model (IBM), coupled with a hydrodynamic model (ROMS), was used to investigate the spawning strategies and larval survival of the Brazilian Sardine in the South Brazil Bight (SBB). ROMS solutions were compared with satellite and field data to assess their representation of the physical environment. Two spawning experiments were performed for the summer along six years, coincident with ichthyoplankton survey cruises. In the first one, eggs were released in spawning habitats inferred from a spatial model. The second experiment simulated a random spawning to test the null hypothesis that there are no preferred spawning sites. Releasing eggs in the predefined spawning habitats increases larval survival, suggesting that the central-southern part of the SBB is more suitable for larvae development because of its thermodynamic characteristics. The Brazilian sardine is also capable of exploring suitable areas for spawning, according to the interannual variability of the SBB. The influence of water temperature, the presence of Cape Frio upwelling, and surface circulation on the spawning process was tested. The Cape Frio upwelling plays an important role in the modulation of Brazilian sardine spawning zones over SBB because of its lower than average water temperature. This has a direct influence on larval survival and on the interannual variability of the Brazilian sardine spawning process. The hydrodynamic condition is crucial in determining the central-southern part of SBB as the most suitable place for spawning because it enhances simulated coastal retention of larvae.

Exploring for unconventional hydrocarbon plays in the Glyde Basin, Northern Territory, using FALCON® airborne gravity gradiometry (AGG) data

A FALCON® AGG and magnetic survey in the Glyde Sub-basin aims to define the structural pattern to identify unconventional hydrocarbon plays. The survey area consists of variable thick fluvial and lacustrine to shallow marginal marine carbonate-siliciclastic sequences and lesser volcanic rocks. The dominant tectonic feature identified on the AGG data is the Emu Fault Zone: a major structure of the central-southern part of the McArthur Basin. Seismic and surface geology suggest its overall sub-vertical strike-slip nature with positive flower structure geometry. In the north, a regional size pop-up structure, reverse, transpressional and strike-slip faults, and abundant synclines and anticlines identified in the AGG data indicate sinistral transpression. In the south, a transtensional segment of the Emu Fault Zone formed several regularly oriented, fault controlled depocentres. A geological cross-section across the Glyde Sub-basin supported by gravity modelling indicates a system of inverted transtensional faults. Offsets and bifurcations are common, forming local-scale transtensional or transpressional areas. The relationship between dolomitic carbonaceous siltstone, fault-related hydrothermal dolomite (HTD), and the tectonic pattern strongly suggests that the Emu Fault Zone controlled fluid migration and fault-related HTD deposition. Brecciated HTD reservoirs are best developed where a combination of strike-slip movement and extension allowed dolomitising and porosity-generating fluids to migrate along fracture networks, especially in transtensional pull-apart structures, and along the principal faults bounding elevated parts of the basement. This is consistent with the results of the Glyde–1 ST1 exploration well, which drilled 122 m of gas charged dolomitic breccia.

Xhosa male initiation: Freedom of choice versus the need to belong

BackgroundThe question of choice and individual decision making in groups where a strong ideology exists has been repeatedly studied and debated. The objective of this paper is to highlight the aspects of influence pertaining to initiation in the life world of the Xhosa boy. The amaXhosa are speakers of Bantu languages traditionally living in south-east South-Africa, and in the last two centuries throughout the southern and central-southern parts of the country.MethodTo substantiate the literature study, a survey in the form of a questionnaire was done to establish the attitudes of Xhosa people regarding traditional male initiation. To gather in-depth information from persons who had personal contact with initiates, interviews were conducted with two selected people in helping professions.DiscussionThe author argues that the traditional custom of male initiation among the amaXhosa rests on an ideology that tolerates no dissent or critique and that deprives individuals of their decision-making power. It is further argued that the implication of not undergoing the ritual is so severe for Xhosa boys that the choice they are thought to have may not be a choice in practice.ConclusionsQuestions were raised regarding the role of children and women in general in a patriarchal society. As an example of culture and religion as influencing factors in a group's reality, Xhosa male initiation was discussed. These arguments call for the raising of questions and identifying themes and discourse in the area of children's right to choice.ResultsThe results indicate that, regardless of physical and psychological implications, the custom in its traditional form is still preferred by most respondents.

Upper crustal structure beneath Southwest Iberia north of the convergent boundary between the Eurasian and African plates

The 3-D P- and S-wave velocity models of the upper crust beneath Southwest Iberia are determined by inverting arrival time data from local earthquakes using a seismic tomography method. We used a total of 3085 P- and 2780 S-wave high quality arrival times from 886 local earthquakes recorded by a permanent seismic network, which is operated by the Institute of Meteorology (IM), Lisbon, Portugal. The computed P- and S-wave velocities are used to determine the 3-D distributions of Vp/Vs ratio. The 3-D velocity and Vp/Vs ratio images display clear lateral heterogeneities in the study area. Significant velocity variations up to ±6% are revealed in the upper crust beneath Southwest Iberia. At 4 km depth, both P- and S-wave velocity take average to high values relative to the initial velocity model, while at 12 km, low P-wave velocities are clearly visible along the coast and in the southern parts. High S-wave velocities at 12 km depth are imaged in the central parts, and average values along the coast; although some scattered patches of low and high S-wave velocities are also revealed. The Vp/Vs ratio is generally high at depths of 4 and 12 km along the coastal parts with some regions of high Vp/Vs ratio in the north at 4 km depth, and low Vp/Vs ratio in the central southern parts at a depth of 12 km. The imaged low velocity and high Vp/Vs ratios are related to the thick saturated and unconsolidated sediments covering the region; whereas the high velocity regions are generally associated with the Mesozoic basement rocks.

Preliminary crustal deformation model deduced from GPS and earthquakes’ data at Abu-Dabbab area, Eastern Desert, Egypt

A local geodetic network consisting of eleven benchmarks has been established to study the recent crustal deformation in the Abu-Dabbab area. Seven campaigns of GPS measurements have been collected started from October 2008 and ended in March 2012. The collected data were processed using Bernese version 5.0, and the result values were adjusted to get the more accurate positions of the GPS stations. The magnitudes of horizontal displacements are variable from one epoch to another and in the range of 1–3 (±0.2)mm/yr. Due to the differences in rates of the horizontal displacement; the area is divided into two main blocks. The first one, moves to the east direction of about 3mm/yr, while the second block, moves to the SW direction of about 6mm/yr. According to the strain fields that were calculated for the different epochs of measurement, the main force is compression force and is taken the NW–SE to NWW–SEE direction. This force could be because of local and regional tectonic processes affecting on the study area. The maximum values of compression stress are found in the southern central and western part of study area. Estimated accumulation of this strain energy may be considered as an indicator of the possibility of earthquake occurrence.From the seismic tomography study, the 3D Vp and Vp/Vs crustal models indicate high Vp/Vs values forms an elongated anomaly, in the central part of the study area, that extends from a depth of 12km to about 1–2km of depth is obtained. By using this crustal model in relocations all seismicity informed that most of the seismicity strongly tend to occur in a cluster manner exactly above the southern part of the study area. Based on the conducted source mechanism study, it is noticed that shallow earthquakes are associated by a high CLVD ratio (up to 40%). Furthermore, initiation of a high level seismic activity, without a large seismic main shock is observed in the Abu-Dabbab area. The distribution of micro-earthquakes tends to align in an ENE–WSW direction marking a zone of activity verse the Red Sea. The nucleation of the seismic activity beneath the southern part of the Abu-Dabbab crust is more consistent with the obtained crustal deformation result by increasing the crustal movement in the south part than the northern part. Then, based on the obtained results of the above mentioned studies; seismic tomography; source mechanisms, and crustal deformation we conclude that these seismic activities that are associated by crustal deformation are owing to some magma activity beneath the crust of the Abu-Dabbab area.

Changing pattern of antibiotic resistance of Helicobacter pylori in children during 20 years in Jinju, South Korea

The antimicrobial resistance capability of Helicobacter pylori is one of the critical factors in the failure to treat this pathogen. The purpose of this study was to investigate the changing pattern of primary antibiotic resistance rates in children in the southern central part of South Korea from 1990 to 2009. H. pylori strains were isolated from children who had undergone upper endoscopy at Gyeongsang National University Hospital, including 58 children from 1990-1994 and 33 children from 2005-2009. The susceptibility of H. pylori strains to erythromycin, clarithromycin, azithromycin, amoxicillin, tetracycline, metronidazole, furazolidone, levofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, moxifloxacin, and rifabutin was tested using the serial twofold agar dilution method. The resistance rate to erythromycin increased significantly from 13.8% in 1990-1994 to 33.3% in 2005-2009 (P = 0.032). Clarithromycin resistance increased from 6.9% to 18.2%. Metronidazole resistance decreased from 32.8% to 27.3%. The minimum inhibitory concentration of azithromycin and erythromycin showed definite shifts to higher concentrations in 2005-2009 compared with the strains sampled in 1990-1994 (P = 0.021 and P = 0.025, respectively). The frequency of both macrolide- and metronidazole-resistant strains was 13.8% in 1990-1994 and 15.2% in 2005-2009. No associations were detected between multidrug-resistant strains and the two study periods. The antibiotic resistance rates of H. pylori in Jinju had a different pattern to other regions. The antibiotic resistance rates of H. pylori showed geographic variation, and local data should be provided as a guideline for treating H. pylori infection.

Stable isotopic composition of carbonate pedofeatures in soils along a transect in the southern part of European Russia

Abstract Stable isotopic analysis of carbonates is widely used for paleoreconstructions in various regions of the world. Only few and sparse information on stable isotopic composition of soil components are available for Russia. The aim of this research was to obtain for the first time systematic data on stable isotopic compositions of C and O in carbonate pedofeatures in modern soils of the European part of Russia. This territory is known as a classical example of natural bioclimatic zonation with an increasing of MAT from 4.5 to 9.4 °C and variation of MAP from 300 to ~ 600 mm. We also aimed to compare the isotopic values of hard carbonate nodules with soft carbonates. Key-sites were located in Lipetsk, Kursk, Voronezh, Rostov, Manych and Stavropol regions in Russia; Samara key-site was studied in Ukraine. C and O isotopic compositions of soil carbonates vary depending upon geographical position, carbonate morphologies and age. The overall range of isotopic compositions varies by approximately 5–7‰, from − 12.6 to − 5.2‰ for С and − 10.8 to − 5.6 for O. The isotopic compositions of C and O in pedogenic carbonates indicate that carbonates were formed under various environments. The general trend of C isotopic compositions correlates with MAP and MAT i.e. show the climatology gradient similar to latitudinal gradient described for other regions. The most complicated isotopic pictures were described in Voronezh, Kursk, Stavropol and Samara key-sites, which may be explained by the recent or past climatic changes, ground or perched water, or shallow paleosols containing old carbonates. Isotopic composition of soft carbonates is usually slightly different from those of hard nodules, which may reflect the different mechanism/rate of formation for nodules and soft masses, and reveal several generations of carbonates. Carbonates with younger and older radiocarbon age were identified. Meanwhile, the carbonates with older radiocarbon age generally have similar stable isotopic compositions as the carbonates with younger 14C-age. Three bioclimatic types of environment were identified according to the stable isotopic compositions of carbonates: wetter and warmer (MAT 5.4–9 °C, MAP 550–600 mm), wetter and cooler (MAT 5.2–5.4 °C, MAP ~ 600 mm), and drier and warmer (MAT 8.5–9.4 °C, MAP 300–500 mm). This information may be used for the future paleoreconstructions in paleosols of the central-southern parts of European Russia.

국립공원의 해발고도에 따른 환경방사선 측정

본 연구는 국가환경방사선 자동감시망이 설치되지 않은 국립공원의 산악 지역을 대상으로 환경방사선을 측정하였다. 측정 방법은 지표 1m 높이에서 공간선량과 지표면에서의 지표선량을 측정하였다. 국립공원 선정은 중부지역과 남부지역을 같은 분포로 하여 전국에 10곳을 선정하였다. 측정장비는 감마선측정에 활용되는 INTERCEPTOR<TEX>$^{TM}$</TEX>(Thermo, USA, 2006)를 사용하였다. 방사선측정은 국립공원 입구와 정상에서는 필수적으로 측정하였고, 그 외 지점은 해발 고도를 500m 단위로 구분하여 탐방객이 많이 다니는 곳에서 측정하였다. 측정횟수는 각 지점에서 2분간 장비를 안정시킨 후 5회 이상 측정하였다. 측정결과, 공간감마선량의 경우 1,000m 이하 국립공원에서는 해발 고도 500m 지점에서 높은 선량이 측정되었다. 그 중 북한산, 계룡산, 월출산에서 <TEX>$0.23{\mu}Svh^{-1}$</TEX> 이상인 것으로 확인되었다. 1,000m 이상의 국립공원에서는 설악산 1,500m 지점에서 <TEX>$1.77{\mu}Svh^{-1}$</TEX>로 측정되어 백그라운드 기준 선량보다 10배 이상 증가하였다. 선량에 유의한 변화를 보이지 않은 국립공원은 내장산, 소백산, 지리산으로 확인되었다. 환경방사선량이 낮게 측정된 산은 가야산 정상(1,430m)에서 <TEX>$0.04{\mu}Svh^{-1}$</TEX>, 한라산 정상(1,950m)에서 <TEX>$0.03{\mu}Svh^{-1}$</TEX>인 것으로 확인되었다. 지표선량 측정에서도 중간 높이인 500m, 1,000m에서 높게 측정되었다. 지각 구성물질의 종류에 따른 측정에서는 암석으로 구성된 국립공원에서 높은 선량으로 조사되었으며, 화산활동이 일어났던 한라산에서는 환경방사선량이 낮게 측정되었다. This study set put to measure the environmental radiation for mountainous regions of National Parks where Integrated Environmental Radiation Monitoring Network is not installed. For the measurement method, the space dose was classified at 1 meter high from the surface and the index dose at the surface. The measured radiation energy measured gamma, alpha and beta rays. For selection of national parks, we selected 10 national parks which are within the same distribution in the southern part and central part of the nation. For measurement equipment, INTERCEPTOR<TEX>$^{TM}$</TEX>(Thermo, USA, 2006) was used for gamma rays. As for the results of the measurements, for the space gamma dose, a high level was measured at a sea level of 500 meter in national parks with an altitude of less than 1,000 meter. It was found that the value was more than <TEX>$0.23{\mu}Svh^{-1}$</TEX> especially in Bukhan Mountain, Gyeryong Mountain and Wolchul Mountain. In national parks with an altitude of more than 1,000 meter, <TEX>$1.77{\mu}Svh^{-1}$</TEX> was measured at 1,500 meter at Seorak Mountain. Therefore, this is 10 times greater than the background standard dose. The national parks were there were no significant changes in dose were Naejang Mountain, Sobaek and Jiri Mountains. For the measurement of the index dose, a high dose level was measured at middle altitudes of 500 meter and 1,000 meter. For measurement according to the composition types of crust, high doses were recorded at national parks composed of rocks and a lower environmental radiation level was measured at Hanra Mountain where volcanic activities have occurred.