ALBERT

Description: The global sediment mass-age distribution indicates large variations in the rates of carbonate sedimentation through time. The largest mass of carbonate deposited during the entire history of the earth was produced during the Cambrian, possibly following on an episode of phosphogenesis in the Late Precambrian. A second major episode occurred during the Late Devonian, probably reflecting the invasion of land by plants that altered the rock-weathering and soil-forming regimes. Other lesser pulses of carbonate deposition occurred in the Late Permian, Triassic, and Cretaceous. A shift in the locus of carbonate deposition from shallow waters to the deep sea occurred during the Cretaceous.

Description: At Aqaba in the Northern Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea, the stable oxygen isotope record of a Por#es lutea coral colony was studied. From a vertical and a horizontal core two parts from the base of the colony (10 years of coral growth), and two parts from the living surface (12 years of coral growth) were analysed with a monthly sampling resolution. The results show that seasonality of sea surface temperatures (SST) in the northem GulfofAqaba has increased since the early 19th century, mainly due to higher summer temper- atures. 8~80-ratios indicate that SST increased by at least 1.3~ Horizontal and vertical cores display dif- ferent variations in the modern parts, probably caused by the very shallow water depth of the youngest part of the vertical core.

Description: Repeatable species dominance patterns across nutrient ratio gradients are found both in culture competition experiments and in natural waters. However, the mechanisms behind these similar patterns need not to be identical. In chemostat experiments, such patterns are caused by the two-way competitive interactions between contemporaneously occurring organisms. Nutrient competition may be important in situ too, but there is an additional effect of early successional species influencing the nutrient environment for later successional species, without being influenced themselves by their successors.

Description: Two new iridoid glucosides, 6-O-acetylajugol (1) and 7,8-epoxy-8-epi-loganic acid (2), together with five known iridoid glucosides, galiridoside (3), ajugoside (4), 10-deoxygeniposidic acid (5), 7-deoxy-8-epi-loganic acid (6), and 8-O-acetylharpagide (7), have been isolated from the aerial parts of Leonurus persicus. Leucosceptoside A (8), eugenyl β-rutinoside (9), and kaempferol 3-O-glucoside (10) were also isolated. The structures of 1 and 2 were elucidated by extensive 1D- and 2D-NMR spectroscopy and molecular modeling. The structure of 3 was confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Antimicrobial activity of compounds (1−10) was also evaluated against a panel of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and two strains of fungi.

Description: Cyanobacteria are important constituents of most aquatic ecosystems on earth, and planktonic forms frequently show mass development in lakes and estuaries. Despite extensive scientific efforts directed towards research on cyanobacteria, a comprehensive theory explaining their success is lacking. Because cyanobacteria comprise a diverse group of organisms, it is concluded that any analysis of the conditions leading to cyanobacterial dominance in pelagic ecosystems should consider at least three different subgroups, classified based on presence or absence of (i) buoyancy regulation and (ii) the ability to fix molecular nitrogen. In this review, nine single-factor hypotheses regarding regulation of cyanobacterial development are examined against the background of physiological and ecological characteristics of these organisms. Special emphasis has been put on understanding differences in nitrogen metabolism between cyanobacteria and algae which directly relate to a hypothesis conceming inorganic nitrogen forms and cyanobacterial success previously presented by our research group. The review lends support to the theory that cyanobacteria have a low competitive ability for nitrate compared with algae and a high ability to compete for ammonium, particularly under nitrogen-limiting conditions. Finally it is concluded that to understand cyanobacterial devlopment and how high Standing Stocks in pelagic ecosystems are maintained requires parts o f all the single-factor hypotheses initially presented.

Description: We describe a new and efficient technique to grow aggregates of pure methane hydrate in quantities suitable for physical and material properties testing. Test specimens were grown under static conditions by combining cold, pressurized CH4 gas with granulated H2O ice, and then warming the reactants to promote the reaction CH4(g) + 6H2O(s→l) → CH4·6H2O (methane hydrate). Hydrate formation evidently occurs at the nascent ice/liquid water interface on ice grain surfaces, and complete reaction was achieved by warming the system above the ice melting point and up to 290 K, at 25−30 MPa, for approximately 8 h. The resulting material is pure, cohesive, polycrystalline methane hydrate with controlled grain size and random orientation. Synthesis conditions placed the H2O ice well above its melting temperature while reaction progressed, yet samples and run records showed no evidence for bulk melting of the unreacted portions of ice grains. Control experiments using Ne, a non-hydrate-forming gas, showed that under otherwise identical conditions, the pressure reduction and latent heat associated with ice melting are easily detectable in our fabrication apparatus. These results suggest that under hydrate-forming conditions, H2O ice can persist metastably to temperatures well above its ordinary melting point while reacting to form hydrate. Direct observations of the hydrate growth process in a small, high-pressure optical cell verified these conclusions and revealed additional details of the hydrate growth process. Methane hydrate samples were then tested in constant-strain-rate deformation experiments at T = 140−200 K, Pc = 50−100 MPa, and ε = 10-4−10-6 s-1. Measurements in both the brittle and ductile fields showed that methane hydrate has measurably different strength than H2O ice, and work hardens to an unusually high degree compared to other ices as well as to most metals and ceramics at high homologous temperatures. This work hardening may be related to a changing stoichiometry under pressure during plastic deformation; X-ray analyses showed that methane hydrate undergoes a process of solid-state disproportionation or exsolution during deformation at conditions well within its conventional stability field.

Description: The density of seawater is a complex function of temperature, salinity, and pressure. Because of the non-linearity of the equation of state of seawater, the densities of sea waters having the same temperature and the same salinity differences (with respect to the mean salinity of the ocean) will vary with the mean salinity of the ocean. Although this strange property of seawater is evident in a plot of the equation of state, it has never been considered in trying to reconstruct ancient ocean circulation. These differences in the density field may have caused the ocean to respond differently to atmospheric forcing in the past. The different response may hold the key to understanding "ocean anoxic events" and episodes of large-scale burial of organic carbon and production of petroleum source rocks.

Description: The Late Cretaceous was much warmer than today. There was no significant ice at high latitudes, meridional thermal gradients were low, and continental interiors remained warm during winter. Late Cretaceous atmospheric C02 concentrations were about four times greater than today and an enhanced "greenhouse" effect contributed to the overall warmth of the Late Cretaceous. However , increases in atmospheric C02 tend to increase temperatures at all latitudes and do not explain the very low thermal gradients recognized in the geologic record. Increased poleward ocean heat transport has been cited as a mechanism for maintaining low meridional thermal gradients during the Cretaceous. However , ocean heat transport values larger than the present day are difficult to reconcile. In addition, low meridional thermal gradients suggest sluggish atmospheric circulation, implying that the advection of heat from the warm oceans into the continental interiors was limited. In general, paleoclimate simulations using Atmospheric General Circulations Models (AGCMs) have not been successful in simulating the low meridional thermal gradients and warm winter continental interiors of the Cretaceous, forcing the concept of "equability" to be questioned. Until recently, the physical effects of vegetation on pre-Quaternary climates have largely been ignored. Terrestrial ecosystems influence global climate by affecting the exchange of energy, water, and momentum between the land surface and the atmosphere. In a new approach to pre-Quaternary paleoclimate modeling, Campanian (80 Ma) climate and vegetation have been simulated using a global climate model (GENESIS Version 2.0), coupled to a predictive vegetation model (EVE), resulting in a realistic simulation of Late Cretaceous climate. The predicted distribution of Late Cretaceous vegetation played an important role in the maintenance of low meridional thermal gradients, polar warmth, and equable continental interiors. High latitude forests reduced albedo, especially during snowcovered months, and increased net surface radiation and latent heat flux.

Description: An overview is provided of time-independent physical/chemical properties as related to crystal structures. The following two points are illustrated in this review:  (1) Physical and chemical properties of structure I (sI) and structure II (sII) hydrates are well-defined; measurements have begun on sH. Properties of sI and sII are determined by the molecular structures, described by three heuristics:  (i) Mechanical properties approximate those of ice, perhaps because hydrates are 85 mol % water. Yet each volume of hydrate may contain as much as 180 volumes (STP) of the hydrate-forming species. (ii) Phase equilibrium is set by the size ratio of guest molecules within host cages, and three-phase (Lw−H−V) equilibrium pressure depends exponentially upon temperature. (iii) Heats of formation are set by the hydrogen-bonded crystals and are reasonably constant within a range of guest sizes. (2) Fundamental research challenges are (a) to routinely measure the hydrate phase (via diffraction, NMR, Raman, etc.), and (b) to formulate an acceptable model for hydrate formation kinetics. The reader may wish to investigate details of this review further, via references contained in several recent monographs.

Description: Test specimens of methane hydrate were grown under static conditions by combining cold, pressurized CH4 gas with H2O ice grains, then warming the system to promote the reaction CH4 (g) + 6H2O (s???l) ??? CH4??6H2O. Hydrate formation evidently occurs at the nascent ice/liquid water interface, and complete reaction was achieved by warming the system above 271.5 K and up to 289 K, at 25-30 MPa, for approximately 8 hours. The resulting material is pure methane hydrate with controlled grain size and random texture. Fabrication conditions placed the H2O ice well above its melting temperature before reaction completed, yet samples and run records showed no evidence for bulk melting of the ice grains. Control experiments using Ne, a non-hydrate-forming gas, verified that under otherwise identical conditions, the pressure reduction and latent heat associated with ice melting is easily detectable in our fabrication apparatus. These results suggest that under hydrate-forming conditions, H2O ice can persist metastably at temperatures well above its melting point. Methane hydrate samples were then tested in constant-strain-rate deformation experiments at T= 140-200 K, Pc= 50-100 MPa, and ????= 10-4-10-6 s-1. Measurements in both the brittle and ductile fields showed that methane hydrate has measurably different strength than H2O ice, and work hardens to a higher degree compared to other ices as well as to most metals and ceramics at high homologous temperatures. This work hardening may be related to a changing stoichiometry under pressure during plastic deformation; x-ray analyses showed that methane hydrate undergoes a process of solid-state disproportionation or exsolution during deformation at conditions well within its conventional stability field.

Description: This paper presents trace element and Sm-Nd isotope data on the Mönchalpgneiss in order to compare the geochemistry of the two polymetamorphic igneous suites that comprise over 30% of the Austroalpine Silvretta nappe. The first are the so-called "Younger Orthogneisses" of the "Fliielagranitic Association" and the second are the "Older Orthogneisses" including the Mönchalpgneisswhich are associated with metagabbros, metadiorites, metatonalites and metagranitoids. U-Pb zircon results from the Mönchalpgneiss are indicative of anatectic processes in late Cambrian to Ordovician times. A volcanic-arc (VA) tectonic environment during intrusion explains the direct association of gabbroic and metagranitoid rocks in the Engadine area. This model is in line with the distribution of major, trace and rare earth elements in these anatectic rocks. However, the significance of the geochemical results remains ambiguous, since the average continental crust and paragneisses of the Silvretta also show VA-type signatures in the respective diagrams. Nd model ages on four Mönchalpgneiss whole-rock samples from the type locality are closely grouped around 1.70 Ga, which is a commonly obtained value for European continental crust. This age is interpreted to be the result of a homogeneous mixture of different crustal components

Description: Seven new labdane diterpenoids, leopersin G−L (1−4, 6−7) and 15-epi-leopersin J (5), and two known ones, 13-hydroxyballonigrinolide (8) and ballotenol (9), were isolated from the aerial parts of Leonurus persicus along with β-sitosterol and stigmasterol. The structure determinations were mainly based on 1D and 2D NMR spectra. The stereochemical configuration of ballotenol (9) was reestablished by 2D ROESY spectroscopy and by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis.

Description: Abstract The famous association of metagabbros, eclogites, glaucophanites, jadeite rocks and ultramafics from the island of Syros forms a distinct lithostratigraphic or tectonic unit. It is interpreted as a high-pressure metamorphic ophiolite suite. This paper provides geochemical and Sr-isotope constraints on the geotectonic setting in which the magmatic protoliths of the Syros metabasites were formed. A compositional gap exists between the metagabbros with Mg-numbers [Mg# = Mg/(0.85Fetot + Mg) atomic ratio] of 0.75-0.88 on the one hand and eclogites and garnet-glaucophanites on the other hand with Mg# of 0.35-0.62, and maximum total iron contents of up to 18 wt.% FeOtot. Metagabbros from various localities and glaucophanites collected around Manna form geochemically coherent groups with smooth correlations between compatible as well as immobile incompatible elements and Mg#. By contrast, the behaviour of immobile incompatible elements, and to some extent also of compatible elements, is highly unsystematic in the eclogites and garnet-glaucophanites. Also, the more mobile elements display a wide scatter in all rocks. This, in conjunction with the unsystematic variation of Sr-isotopes, is thought to be due to secondary alteration. From the strong correlation of Ni and Cr with Mg# and the flat REE patterns lacking Eu-anomalies, a cumulus nature is inferred for olivine, clinopyroxene, and spinel, associated with intercumulus formation of plagioclase in the magmatic protoliths of the metagabbros. There is no direct genetic link between these rocks and the precursors of the Manna-type glaucophanites with REE characteristics typical of N- to T-type MORB. The extremely high geochemical diversity of the eclogites and garnet-glaucophanites from Syros favours individual evolution of their protoliths in small magma bodies as suggested for superferric eclogites from the Western and Ligurian Alps, as well as the ferrogabbros from the ophiolites of the Northern Apennines. From the geochemistry of the Syros metabasites along with the initial 87Sr/86Sr ratios of the metagabbros between 0.7031 and 0.7033, as well as an eNd value of 7.7 from a garnet glaucophanite, the magmatic protoliths are inferred to have formed in a back-arc setting. By analogy to the association of gabbros and ferrogabbros adjacent to the Atlantis II fracture zone of the SW Indian Ridge, we further suggest an origin at a spreading ridge in proximity to a transform fault.

Description: Evolution of the Caribbean Plate can be modeled by motions about six successive rotation poles. Opening of Cayman Trough has occurred since 49.5 Ma through westward motion of the Caribbean Plate, eastern Greater Antilles and Chortis Block. Before 49.5 Ma, the eastern Greater-Antilles were west of Cuba, and the southeastern margins of Yucatan and the Nicaragua Rise (Chortis) were aligned. From 67.5 to 49.5 Ma the Caribbean Plate rotated clockwise, opening the Yucatan Basin. From 100 Ma to 67.5 Ma, the Caribbean Plate, with Cuba attached, moved along the southeastern margin of Yucatan-Chortis. At 130 Ma it was attached to northwestern South America.

Description: Microspectralphotometric examinations of various recent pollen point to a different sporopollenin chemistry of the different taxa which is distinguishable by the UV-VIS absorptionspectra. The measurement areas have a diameter of 6 micron, by which several measurements for the spectra control in one pollen grain are possible. Labaratory experiments with chemical treatments as used by palynological preparation, show a clear change in the sporopollenin chemistry whichcould be identified by the absorption spectra. Therefore a new preparation technique for fossil and recent palynomorphs has to be developed to avoid chemical changes. First investigations of recent and fossil Pinus pollen have been clone on material from various facies types and a sediment core. The variations in the absorption spectra of the pollen indicate the different chemical influence of different facies types which could be used for facies analyses. Furthermore, significant changes in the absorption spectra are useful to identify reworked pollen or pollen with a different burial history. Zusammenfassung: Vergleichende mikrospektralphotometrische Untersuchungen der UV-VIS Absorptionsspektren verschiedener rezenter Pollen-Taxa zeigen, daß die Zusammensetzung bzw. Struktur des Sporopollenins bei verschiedenen Taxa variiert und daß diese anhand der Absorptionsspektren klar unterschieden werden kann. Die gemessene Fläche auf den jeweiligen Pollen hat einen Durchmesser von 6 j.lm, so daß mehrere Kontrollmessungen an einem Pollen möglich sind. Laborversuche an rezenten Pollen zeigen, daß chemische Einflüsse (z. B. HN03, Acetolyse) deutlich meßbare Veränderungen in der Struktur des Sporopollenins verursachen. Um Veränderungen des Sporepollenins durch die chemische Probenaufbereitung auszuschließen, wurde eine neue Präparationsmethode für fossile und rezente Palynomorphen entwickelt.

Description: ana marit., 27 (3/6): 145-150, 2 figs.; Frankfurt a. M.] According to the (neo-)Darwinian theory of evolution the appearance of "design" and optimization of biological properties are the results of natural selection and not of teleology. An opti· mization by selection is only possible for entities which are able to reproduce ("units of selection"). The "unit-of-selection"-problem will be discussed in relation to the atomism-holism-continuum of ecological and evolutionary concepts which range from Dawkins' "selfish gene" to LoveJock's "Gaia". Special emphasis will be given to the discussion of the group-selection problem which seems to be the critical breakpoint along this continuum. It will be shown that optimization through natural selection is only possible for units which can multiply and preserve their identity to a sufficient degree through multiplications. Such units are called replicators. Associations, communities, ecosystems and the biosphere do not qualify as replicators.

Description: Six new labdane diterpenoids, leopersin C (1), 15-epi-leopersin C (2), leopersin D (3), leopersin E (4), leopersin F (5), and 7-epi-leopersin F (6) were isolated from the aerial parts of Leonurus persicus. Their structures were elucidated by extensive use of 1D and 2D homonuclear and heteronuclear shift-correlated 1H−13C-NMR spectroscopic methods. Leopersin C (1) and 15-epi-leopersin C (2) were obtained as a C-15 epimeric mixture, and their structures were elucidated on this basis.

Description: In Sedimenten aus flachen Bohrungen in der Nordsee wurden gasförmige Kohlenwasserstoffe gefunden. Kohlenstoff- (Methan bis Propan) und Wasserstoff-Isotopanwerte lassen auf eine Mischung von Gasen bakterieller und thermischer Entstehung schließen. Die thermischen Gase sind in größerer Tiefe aus überwiegend mariner organischer Substanz entstanden und in die oberflächennahen Sedimente migriert. [Methane through pentane have been found in sediments from shallow North Sea boreholes. Carbon (methane through propane) and hydrogen (methane) isotope ratlos indicate both bacterial and thermal origins. The gases of thermal origin are interpreted as having been generated at considerable depth from predominantly marine source rocks and then to have migrated into the overlying sediments.]

Description: The chemical composition of sediments from the Reykjanes Ridge is controlled by allochthonous and autochthonous processes. The surface sediments are characterized by relatively high contents of calciumoxide and strontium. Calcium and strontium dominate in the carbonate phase due to the high content of biogenic carbonate. A high percentage of iron and manganese are bound to oxides and hydroxides. An indication of hydrothermal activity was not observed. A considerable portion of adsorbed barium is transported in clay minerals. The higher amounts of aluminium in glacial sequences indicate an enhanced input of terrigenous material; the increase of stable bonding elemen~s points toward the large influence of detrital minerals. The distinct differences in the bonding characteristics of elements in these marine sediments in comparison to fluvial and coastal - deposits could be due to the different environmental conditions.

Description: An automated method for on-site monitoring of uranium(VI) in raffinate streams originating from nuclear fuel reprocessing plants is described. An in-line stripping procedure (based on liquid/liquid extraction) was developed to extract U(VI) from this stream, a solvent mixture of 20% tributyl phosphate and nitric acid in kerosene, into an aqueous sodium sulfate solution, Degradation products in the solvent mixture, especially dibutyl phosphate, give rise to very strong complexes and are responsible for moderate but constant U(VI) recoveries (similar to 50%), Optimal conditions for in-line stripping comprise a mixing ratio of extractant (0.5 M sodium sulfate in water)/solvent mixture of similar to 3 and a pumping rate of similar to 0.4 mL min(-1) of the solvent mixture. The determination of U(VI) was by on-line cathodic stripping voltammmetry (CSV), preceded by adsorptive collection of the U(VL) as an oxine complex onto a hanging mercury drop electrode, Quantities of 1-2 mL of the aqueous extract were pumped into the voltammmetric cell and diluted (1/5 to 1/10) with a background electrolyte containing 0.1 M PIPES buffer, 2 x 10(-4) M oxine, 10(-4) M EDTA, and 0.2 M hydrazine hydrate (pH 9.0), The CSV peak for U(VI) was obtained at -0.68 V with a detection limit of 20 nM in the raffinate stream using an adsorption time of 120 s, Both the inline stripping procedure and the on-line measurement were fully automated, with a relative standard deviation in the measurements of 〈 5%.