By measuring scanning tunneling spectroscopy on some large Bi islands deposited on FeTe_(0.55)Se_(0.45)superconductors,we observe clear in-gap edge states with double peaks at about±1.0 me V on the spectra measur...By measuring scanning tunneling spectroscopy on some large Bi islands deposited on FeTe_(0.55)Se_(0.45)superconductors,we observe clear in-gap edge states with double peaks at about±1.0 me V on the spectra measured near the perimeter of the islands.This feature is very different from the single zero-energy peak observed on some other small Bi islands.The edge states spread towards the inner side of the islands over a width of 2-3 nm.The two edge-state peaks at positive and negative energies move to higher values with the increase of the magnetic field,and they disappear near the transition temperature of FeTe_(0.55)Se_(0.45).Meanwhile,enhanced superconducting gaps are observed in the central regions of these Bi islands,which may be induced by the enhanced pair potential of the topological surface state.Our observations provide a valuable message for the edge state and the proximity-induced superconductivity on specific Bi islands grown on FeTe_(0.55)Se_(0.45)substrate.展开更多
On February 8,2025,a remote area in the Caribbean Sea was rocked by a large M_(W)7.6(USGS,2025) earthquake,centered 209 km SSW of Georgetown,the capital of the Cayman Islands,and the largest city(population~41 000) of...On February 8,2025,a remote area in the Caribbean Sea was rocked by a large M_(W)7.6(USGS,2025) earthquake,centered 209 km SSW of Georgetown,the capital of the Cayman Islands,and the largest city(population~41 000) of the British Overseas Territories(Figure 1).The earthquake was significant due to its large magnitude,potential regional impact,and the possibility of generating a tsunami.展开更多
Tropical coral islands represent one of the extremely stressful ecosystems,characterized by high salinity,seasonal drought,heat,strong ultraviolet radiation,and infertile soil,which constraint species occurrence,limit...Tropical coral islands represent one of the extremely stressful ecosystems,characterized by high salinity,seasonal drought,heat,strong ultraviolet radiation,and infertile soil,which constraint species occurrence,limit plant growth and development,and reduce species richness comparing to tropical continental islands with mesophytic habitats(Li et al.,2024;Ren et al.,2017;Tu et al.,2022,2024).Coupled with global climate changes,these adverse conditions have been being exacerbated,leading to extensive degradation of ecosystems throughout the tropical coral islands(Li et al.,2021).Native insular plant resources provide enormous potentials in island greening and ecological restoration,since they have colonized and become well adapted to the specialized habitat on tropical coral islands,evolving a series of functional traits and molecular strategies to accommodate the abiotic stresses.Thus,understanding the genomic make-up of these plants will help uncover molecular mechanisms underlying adaptation to tropical coral islands.However,contrary to the numerous genomic studies done for other extreme habitats,such as deserts(Hu et al.,2021;Ma et al.,2013),alpine regions(Zhang et al.,2023),intertidal habitats(Feng et al.,2021;Hu et al.,2020;Natarajan et al.,2021),and karst caves(Feng et al.,2020),molecular adaptation of plants on the tropical coral islands remains to be elucidated.展开更多
The Salmonella pathogenicity islands(SPIs) play crucial roles in the progression of Salmonella infection. In this study, we constructed an improved λ Red homologous recombination system to prepare single and triple d...The Salmonella pathogenicity islands(SPIs) play crucial roles in the progression of Salmonella infection. In this study, we constructed an improved λ Red homologous recombination system to prepare single and triple deletion mutants of 3 prominent SPIs(SPI-1, 2, and 3), aiming at the impact of deletion on morphology, carbon source metabolism, adhesion and invasion capacity, in vivo colonization, and immune efficacy in chicks. Our examination revealed that the surface of the single deletion mutants(SM6ΔSPI1, ΔSPI2, and ΔSPI3) exhibited a more rugged texture and appeared to be enveloped in a layer of transparent colloid, whereas the morphology of the triple deletion mutant(SM6ΔSPI1&2&3) remained unaltered when compared to the parent strain. The carbon metabolic spectrum of the SPI mutants underwent profound alterations, with a notable and statistically significant modification observed in 30 out of 95 carbon sources, primarily carbohydrates(17 out of 30). Furthermore, the adhesion capacity of the 4 mutants to Caco-2 cells was significantly reduced when compared to that of the parent strain. Moreover,the invasion capacity of mutants SM6ΔSPI1 and SM6ΔSPI1&2&3 exhibited a substantial decrease, while it was enhanced to varying degrees for SM6ΔSPI3 and SM6ΔSPI2. Importantly, none of the 4 mutants induced any clinical symptoms in the chicks. However, they did transiently colonize the spleen and liver. Notably, the SM6ΔSPI1&2&3mutant was rapidly cleared from both the spleen and liver within 8 days post-infection and no notable pathological changes were observed in the organs. Additionally, when challenged, the mutants immunized groups displayed a significant increase in antibody levels and alterations in the CD3+CD4+ and CD3+CD8+ subpopulations, and the levels of IL-4 and IFN-γ cytokines in the SM6ΔSPI1&2&3 immunized chicken serum surpassed those of other groups.In summary, the successful construction of the 4 SPI mutants lays the groundwork for further exploration into the pathogenic(including metabolic) mechanisms of SPIs and the development of safe and effective live attenuated Salmonella vaccines or carriers.展开更多
As one of the micro-blocks dispersed in the South China Sea(SCS),the Xisha Islands are covered by thick Cenozoic sedimentary layers,making it challenging to obtain magmatic rocks.Well CK-2 is a kilometer-scale scienti...As one of the micro-blocks dispersed in the South China Sea(SCS),the Xisha Islands are covered by thick Cenozoic sedimentary layers,making it challenging to obtain magmatic rocks.Well CK-2 is a kilometer-scale scientific drilling project on the Xisha Islands in the northwestern SCS.It penetrates the thick reef limestone and reaches basaltic pyroclastic rocks.This study presents the whole-rock and olivine compositions of the basaltic volcaniclastic rocks from Well CK-2.These rocks exhibited ocean island basalt signatures characterized by the enrichment of light rare earth elements and high-field-strength elements.Compared with partial melting products derived from mantle peridotite,whole-rock compositions showed elevated Fe/Mn and Zn/Fe mass ratios.Additionally,olivines were characterized by a lower Ca content,higher Ni content,elevated Fe/Mn mass ratios,and moderate Mn/Zn mass ratios compared to those crystallized from peridotitic melts.The compositions of both the whole-rock and olivine phenocrysts indicate the presence of pyroxenite in the mantle source,which likely formed through the reaction of recycled oceanic crust with the surrounding mantle peridotite.Using the olivine-liquid Mg-Fe exchange thermometer,this study derived mantle potential temperatures(T_(p))ranging from 1502℃to 1756℃,which is consistent with those of plume-related ocean island basalts.Furthermore,the basaltic volcaniclastic rocks exhibit low H_(2)O contents(0.01%–1.47%),which were significantly lower than those found in the primary magmas of Large Igneous Provinces.These results suggest that the basaltic volcaniclastic rocks on the Xisha Islands originated from a volatile-poor mantle plume source.展开更多
The Diaoyu Island(Diaoyu Dao)and its affiliated islands(DAA)have abundant fishery resources,and chlorophyll a(Chl a)concentration is an important marine color element and an important indicator of primary productivity...The Diaoyu Island(Diaoyu Dao)and its affiliated islands(DAA)have abundant fishery resources,and chlorophyll a(Chl a)concentration is an important marine color element and an important indicator of primary productivity in the ocean.Therefore,it is meaningful to understand the distribution and variation characteristics of Chl a concentration in the waters near the DAA.The distribution details of Chl a concentration in the adjacent waters of DAA were revealed by high-resolution satellite GF-1 Wide Field View(WFV)data with 16 m spatial resolution.The results indicate that:(1)The Chl a concentration is between 0.06μg/L and 0.38μg/L throughout the year and the concentration of Chl a in the northeast and east directions of the island(downstream)is significantly higher than that in the west(upstream),and there are observed vortexes with high Chl a concentration in the downstream of DAA.This phenomenon continues to persist in the waters surrounding the DAA all year.(2)The vortex induced by the interaction between the current and island results in the vorticity change of water,inducing the replenishment of a large number of nutrients to the surface,thereby promoting the growth of plankton in the downstream of DAA on the east.In addition,the DAA also plays a significant role in regulating the downstream mix layer depth(MLD).The MLD in the northeast downstream is considerably deeper than the upstream in winter and spring;it is deeper in the east downstream in summer and autumn,and the range of influence for the MLD is greatly larger than the size of the island itself.This shows that the disruption of the DAA on the current is substantial.In addition,the combined effects of SST and wind also play a significant role in modifying Chl a distribution.(3)Based on the analysis above,this study proposes the conception of building fishing pastures downstream of the DAA,and proposes a general migration plan in different seasons to scientifically and rationally utilize and protect the surrounding waters of DAA.展开更多
Coral sand is a unique material developed in the tropical ocean environment, which is mainly composed of coral and other marine organism debris, with the CaCO3 content up to 96 %. It has special physical and mechanica...Coral sand is a unique material developed in the tropical ocean environment, which is mainly composed of coral and other marine organism debris, with the CaCO3 content up to 96 %. It has special physical and mechanical properties due to its composition, structure and sedimentary environment. In this contribution, we discuss its specific gravity, porosity ratio compressibility, crushing, shearing and intensity for coral sand samples from the Nansha islands based on laboratory mechanical tests. Our results show distinct high porosity ratio, high friction angle and low intensity as compared with the quartz sand. We believe that grain crushing is the main factor that influences the deformation and strength of coral sand. Comprehensive study on the physical and mechanical properties of coral sands is significant in providing reliable scientific parameters to construction on coral islet, and thus avoids accidents in construction.展开更多
Islands are valuable land resources in the ocean,and their detailed subsurface seismic velocity structures are highly important for underground space utilization,engineering construction,and geological disaster preven...Islands are valuable land resources in the ocean,and their detailed subsurface seismic velocity structures are highly important for underground space utilization,engineering construction,and geological disaster prevention.Ambient noise tomography and the horizontal–vertical spectral ratio(HVSR)method use ambient noise recordings instead of earthquake signals to study the underground velocity structure,making them easy to implement on islands and consequently becoming potential optimization schemes for the investigation of detailed island structures.However,the application of these technologies to small granite islands along coasts is relatively insufficient,and the applicability needs to be further verified.This study ambient noise tomography and HVSR analysis were carried out by using a dense array of seismic data on Wuzhizhou Island,Hainan.It was found that natural activities mainly cause the ambient noise below 8 Hz on Wuzhizhou Island.Moreover,high-quality noise cross-correlation functions of 3–8 Hz can be extracted.The results of ambient noise tomography and HVSR analysis show that the underground S-wave velocity structure and sedimentary characteristics of Wuzhizhou Island are coupled with its topography.The high-terrain area of Wuzhizhou Island exhibits low-velocity anomalies,where a sedimentary layer did not develop.On the other hand,the low-terrain area of Wuzhizhou Island exhibits high-velocity anomalies,where a thin Quaternary sedimentary layer developed.These results imply that subsurface magmatic activity controls the island topography and affects the distribution of the island sedimentary layer.This study successfully verifies the feasibility of detection methods based on ambient noise in small granite islands along the coast.It also provides key basic information for studying the geological evolutionary history,island spatial planning,and geological disaster prevention of Wuzhizhou Island.展开更多
In the mammalian genome,most CpGs are methylated.However,CpGs within the CpG islands(CGIs)are largely unmethylated,which are important for gene expression regulation.The mechanism underlying the low methylation levels...In the mammalian genome,most CpGs are methylated.However,CpGs within the CpG islands(CGIs)are largely unmethylated,which are important for gene expression regulation.The mechanism underlying the low methylation levels at CGIs remains largely elusive.KDM2 proteins(KDM2A and KDM2B)are H3K36me2 demethylases known to bind specifically at CGIs.Here,we report that depletion of each or both KDM2 proteins,or mutation of all their JmjC domains that harbor the H3K36me2 demethylation activity,leads to an increase in DNA methylation at selective CGIs.The Kdm2a/2b double knockout shows a stronger increase in DNA methylation compared with the single mutant of Kdm2a or Kdm2b,indicating that KDM2A and KDM2B redundantly regulate DNA methylation at CGIs.In addition,the increase of CGI DNA methylation upon mutations of KDM2 proteins is associated with the chromatin environment.Our findings reveal that KDM2A and KDM2B function redundantly in regulating DNA methylation at a subset of CGIs in an H3K36me2 demethylation-dependent manner.展开更多
Haihua Islands is a large artificial island in Danzhou, Hainan. The construction of Haihua Islands changes the hYdrodynamic environment of Yangpu waters, and further affects its morphological change. Delft3D is used t...Haihua Islands is a large artificial island in Danzhou, Hainan. The construction of Haihua Islands changes the hYdrodynamic environment of Yangpu waters, and further affects its morphological change. Delft3D is used to set up a two dimensional nested hydrodynamic and sediment model for Yangpu waters in this paper, and this paper focuses on simulating the velocity and morphological change due to the construction of Haihua Islands after the verification of the model. The seabed deposition is small because of low suspended sediment concentration and less sand source near Yangpu waters. The bed level erodes in the south area of Xiaochan Reef and the Yangpu channel due to the velocity increase in the area.展开更多
This report provides a result obtained by the First Chinese Antarctic and Southern Ocean Expedition. Specimens were collected by investigators of the Second Institute of Oceanography, SOA, with plankton nets in Februa...This report provides a result obtained by the First Chinese Antarctic and Southern Ocean Expedition. Specimens were collected by investigators of the Second Institute of Oceanography, SOA, with plankton nets in February and March of 1985 from the South Shetland Islands, the Biscoe Islands and their vicinities, between 61°15'20S-65°30'16S, 56°18'72W-67°59'45W. Eight species belonging to 5 genera in 4 families have been identified, of which 4 species, namely Maupasia coeca Viguier, Rhyn-chonerella petersii (Langerhans), Rhynchonerella bongraini (Gravier), and Tomopteris planktonis Aps-tein are recorded for the first time from the South Shetland Islands and 2 species, namely Rhynchonerella bongraini (Gravier), and Tomopteris carpenteri Quatrefages are endemic species of Antarctica.展开更多
In this study, we simulated typhoon waves in the shallow waters around the Zhoushan Islands using the WaveWatch-Ⅲ(WW3) model version 5.16, the latest version released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administr...In this study, we simulated typhoon waves in the shallow waters around the Zhoushan Islands using the WaveWatch-Ⅲ(WW3) model version 5.16, the latest version released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Specifically, we used in-situ measurements to evaluate the performance of seven packages of input/dissipation source terms in the WW3 model. We forced the WW3 model by wind fields derived from a combination of the parametric Holland model and high-resolution European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts(ECMWF) wind data in a 0.125? grid, herein called H-E winds. We trained the H-E winds by fitting a shape parameter B to buoy-measured observations, which resulted in a smallest root mean square error(RMSE) of 3 m s^(-1) for B, when treated as a constant 0.4. Then, we applied the seven input/dissipation terms of WW3, labelled ST1, ST2, ST2+STAB2, ST3, ST3+STAB3, ST4, and ST6, to simulate the significant wave height(SWH) up to 5 m during typhoons Fungwong and Chan-hom around the Zhoushan Islands. We then compared the SWHs of the simulated waves with those measured by the in-situ buoys. The results indicate that the simulation using ST2 performs best with an RMSE of 0.79 m for typhoon Fung-wong and an RMSE of 1.12 m for typhoon Chan-hom. Interestingly, we found the simulated SWH results to be relatively higher than those of the observations in the area between Hangzhou Bay and the Zhoushan Islands. This behavior is worthy of further investigation in the future.展开更多
The corrosion behavior of pure copper exposed to the atmosphere of Nansha Islands for 21 months was studied by mass loss method,composition analysis,morphology observation and electrochemical measurements.The results ...The corrosion behavior of pure copper exposed to the atmosphere of Nansha Islands for 21 months was studied by mass loss method,composition analysis,morphology observation and electrochemical measurements.The results showed that the average corrosion rate of copper exposed for one year was approximately 7.85μm/a,implying that Nansha Islands was classified as a corrosion category of CX.The structure and properties of the corrosion product layer generated on the front and back sides of the exposed sample differed significantly.The inner corrosion product layer(Cu2O)on the front side was relatively thick and dense,whereas the outer product layer(Cu2Cl(OH)3)was extremely thin.However,the outer product layer on the back side was thicker than the inner layer.Electrochemical measurements indicated that the protection afforded by the corrosion product layer on the front side was improved gradually,while that on the back side was deteriorated.展开更多
Carbonate rocks are important reservoirs for global petroleum exploration.The largest oilfield in the South China Sea,Liuhua 11-1,is distributed in the massive carbonate reef area of the Zhujiang(Pearl)River Mouth Bas...Carbonate rocks are important reservoirs for global petroleum exploration.The largest oilfield in the South China Sea,Liuhua 11-1,is distributed in the massive carbonate reef area of the Zhujiang(Pearl)River Mouth Basin.Previous studies showed that one 802.17-m-long core from well Xichen-1 in the South China Sea mainly consisted of white and light gray-white organic reefs.Recently,a Miocene whole core(161.9 m long)of well Xiyong-2,near well Xichen-1,was found to contain six layers of yellowish brown,light yellowish gray,iron black,or light yellowish gray-white organic reefs.Scanning electron microscope images of these layers reveal a typical ferroan dolomite rich in Fe(up to 29%),with the high concentrations of Mn,Cu,W,Zn,Cr,Ni,and Co.Systematic X-ray powder diffraction analysis yields a 1.9–6.1 match in phase ratio with ankerite,5.4–26.9 with dolomite,and zero with calcite,which indicate that the samples can be classified as ferroan dolomite.The iron and heavy metals are inferred to be originated from multiple volcanic eruptions of Gaojianshi Island in the Dongdao Atoll during the middle-late Miocene.These elements were dissolved in seawater,likely as a sol,and carried to Yongxing Island in the Xuande Atoll by sea currents and tides enhanced by prevailing winds,and deposited as a part of the sedimentation process in the study area.The ferroan dolomite has Sr content of (125–285)×10^(-6),which is lower than the accepted Sr boundary value of dolomite.This finding suggests that dolomitization occurred during large-scale global glacial regression in the late Miocene.The isolated Xisha carbonate platform,exposed to air,underwent freshwater leaching and dolomitization induced by mixed water,and caused the extensive Fe-Mg exchange along the organic reef profile to form ankerite and ferroan dolomite.These results may help to understand paleoceanographic environmental changes in the South China Sea during the Miocene.展开更多
The corrosion and pitting behavior of pure aluminum 1060 exposed to Nansha Islands marine atmosphere for 34 months was investigated based on mass loss measurement,scanning electron microscopy(SEM),energy dispersive sp...The corrosion and pitting behavior of pure aluminum 1060 exposed to Nansha Islands marine atmosphere for 34 months was investigated based on mass loss measurement,scanning electron microscopy(SEM),energy dispersive spectroscopy(EDS),X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS),and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy(EIS).The results indicated that serious pitting corrosion occurred on the surfaces of pure aluminum.The corrosion rate after exposure for 13 months was approximately 1.28 g/(m^(2)·a).The XPS results showed that the corrosion products were Al_(2)O_(3),Al(OH)_(3),and AlCl_(3).Moreover,the corrosion product layer was more protective than the native oxide film,and the protectiveness first increased and then decreased.Finally,the shape of the pits was evaluated using statistical analysis.展开更多
Dynamics of major picoplankton groups, Synechococcus (Syn), Prochlorococcus (Pro), picoeukaryotes (Euk) and heterotrophic bacteria (Bact) was investigated by flow cytometry for the first time in the Nansha Islands are...Dynamics of major picoplankton groups, Synechococcus (Syn), Prochlorococcus (Pro), picoeukaryotes (Euk) and heterotrophic bacteria (Bact) was investigated by flow cytometry for the first time in the Nansha Islands area in the South China Sea. Averaged over the whole investigation area, depth-weighted integrated cell abundance (DWA) of Syn, Pro, Euk and Bact was 1.6 (0.4-5.7)×103, 5.4 (0.1-7.3)×104, 0.7 (0.2-2.2)×103, and 2.3 (1.4-3.2)×105 cells/mL respectively. Picoautotrophic cell abundance was low in the northwest part of the Nansha Islands where surface water temperature was low and the upper mixed layer was shallow. Concurrently, a surface maximum vertical distribution pattern was observed in this area. While in the southeast and east zones where temperatures were relatively higher and nitraclines were deeper, picoplankton is abundant and a subsurface maximum around 50-75 m is observed. Coupling of horizontal and vertical distribution patterns of picoplankton abundance and hydrological status was found, suggesting a strong influence of currents and water column structure on picoplankton distribution in the investigation area. Contrary to that in the shelf water in the East China Sea, the relationship between Pro and Bact in the Nansha Islands area in the South China Sea was not significantly negative but weakly positive. Moreover, a similar distribution pattern of Syn and Pro was observed. Possible reasons for these differences in the two marine regimes were discussed.展开更多
Mapping regional spatial patterns of coral reef geomorphology provides the primary information to understand the constructive processes in the reef ecosystem. However, this work is challenged by the pixel-based image ...Mapping regional spatial patterns of coral reef geomorphology provides the primary information to understand the constructive processes in the reef ecosystem. However, this work is challenged by the pixel-based image classification method for its comparatively low accuracy. In this paper, an object-based image analysis(OBIA)method was presented to map intra-reef geomorphology of coral reefs in the Xisha Islands, China using Landsat 8satellite imagery. Following the work of the Millennium Coral Reef Mapping Project, a regional reef class hierarchy with ten geomorphic classes was first defined. Then, incorporating the hierarchical concept and integrating the spectral and additional spatial information such as context, shape and contextual relationships, a large-scale geomorphic map was produced by OBIA with accuracies generally more than 80%. Although the robustness of OBIA has been validated in the applications of coral reef mapping from individual reefs to reef system in this paper, further work is still required to improve its transferability.展开更多
The aeolianite deposits on Shidao Island of the Xisha Islands,the South China Sea,contain five stages of aeolian biocalcarenites and four paleosols.The aeolian biocalcarenites consist of two sedimentary facies:dune an...The aeolianite deposits on Shidao Island of the Xisha Islands,the South China Sea,contain five stages of aeolian biocalcarenites and four paleosols.The aeolian biocalcarenites consist of two sedimentary facies:dune and interdune deposits.In the dunes,large-scale festoon cross-bedding,humped cross-bedding and high-angle foreset bedding are well developed,and in the interdunes,large-scale flat-bedding and low-angle wedge shaped cross-bedding are well developed.The sedimentary structures and lamella features indicate that the aeolian deposits are driven mainly by the northeast monsoon.The aeolian biocalcarenite and paleosols may reflect the arid and humid climates of the East Asian monsoon,respectively.By comparison with the stalagmite oxygen isotope climosequence of Hulu Cave,Nanjing,we inferred that the aeolianite formed in the last glacial stage,and the paleosols were formed during relatively long-term warm events.展开更多
A detailed survey of the reefs in the Nansha Islands＇ sea that are of strategic importance is conducive to their future development. In this study, a total of 50 Landsat 8 operational land imager（OLI） images were u...A detailed survey of the reefs in the Nansha Islands＇ sea that are of strategic importance is conducive to their future development. In this study, a total of 50 Landsat 8 operational land imager（OLI） images were used to analyze the geological features and spectral characteristics of the Nansha reefs. The exposed islands/sandbanks,reef flats and sub-tidal reefs were identified with the near-infrared band, the red and green bands, and the blue band, respectively. Based on the relationships among various characteristics and bands illustrated in the OLI images, the maximum between-cluster variance threshold algorithm（OTSU method） and the mathematical morphology were employed to extract characteristic parameters of the spatial geometry of the reefs from top to bottom, which were subsequently operated by a series of post-processing methods such as vectorization,simplification and topological analysis. Among the 132 standalone reefs and 16 atolls that are identified in the study, four reefs have yet to be named in the Standard Names of Various Islands in the South China Sea and the website Nansha Islands Online（http：//www.nansha.org/）. Another 24 ones are exposed to the atmosphere even during high tides. Taiping Island with an area of 0.57 km^2 represents the largest exposed geological feature. This study demonstrated the applicability of medium-resolution satellite images to derive the coral reef information effectively and thus provided information for the related departments that are responsible to manage the coast.An improved resolution of multispectral bands with the panchromatic band in higher spatial resolution（15 m for OLI image） is expected to provide an optimum satellite based approach to map marine habitats.展开更多
Characteristics and distribution patterns of clastic minerals （0. 063 -0. 125 mm） in bottom sediments represent a significant indi- cator for the identification of the origin of sediment. One hundred and fourteen su...Characteristics and distribution patterns of clastic minerals （0. 063 -0. 125 mm） in bottom sediments represent a significant indi- cator for the identification of the origin of sediment. One hundred and fourteen surface sediment samples, which were collected from the area near the Zhongsha Islands in the South China Sea, were analysed to identify the mineral suites and their distributions in the study area. The area can be divided into three mineral provinces ： （Ⅰ） a province of biogenic minerals, which mainly originate from the Zhongsha Atoll ; （ Ⅱ） a province of volcanogenic minerals, which are mainly derived from local basaltic seamounts and small-scale volcanoes that are probably erupting, with some influences from the island-arc volcanic region around the South China Sea; and （ Ⅲ） a mixed mineral province whose material source includes biogenic minerals, volcanogenic minerals and terrigenous minerals; the last province can be subdivided into a mixed mineral sub-province of the northeastern part of the study area, in which terrigenous minerals are mainly derived from China＇ s Mainland and do not exceed 17°N, and a mixed mineral subprovince of the southeastern part of the study area, in which terrigenous minerals are derived from Kalimantan and Indochina Peninsula and might be further transported into the deep sea basin through submarine canyons.展开更多
基金supported by the National Key R&D Program of China(Grant Nos.2022YFA1403201 and 2024YFA1408104)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.11927809 and 12434004)the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province(Grant No.BK20233001)。
文摘By measuring scanning tunneling spectroscopy on some large Bi islands deposited on FeTe_(0.55)Se_(0.45)superconductors,we observe clear in-gap edge states with double peaks at about±1.0 me V on the spectra measured near the perimeter of the islands.This feature is very different from the single zero-energy peak observed on some other small Bi islands.The edge states spread towards the inner side of the islands over a width of 2-3 nm.The two edge-state peaks at positive and negative energies move to higher values with the increase of the magnetic field,and they disappear near the transition temperature of FeTe_(0.55)Se_(0.45).Meanwhile,enhanced superconducting gaps are observed in the central regions of these Bi islands,which may be induced by the enhanced pair potential of the topological surface state.Our observations provide a valuable message for the edge state and the proximity-induced superconductivity on specific Bi islands grown on FeTe_(0.55)Se_(0.45)substrate.
文摘On February 8,2025,a remote area in the Caribbean Sea was rocked by a large M_(W)7.6(USGS,2025) earthquake,centered 209 km SSW of Georgetown,the capital of the Cayman Islands,and the largest city(population~41 000) of the British Overseas Territories(Figure 1).The earthquake was significant due to its large magnitude,potential regional impact,and the possibility of generating a tsunami.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32170232,32070222,32271613)the National Key R&D Programof China(Key Special Project for Marine Environmental Security and Sustainable Development of Coral Reefs 2021-400)+1 种基金Guangdong Science and Technology Program(2024B1212050007)the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2021YFC3100405)。
文摘Tropical coral islands represent one of the extremely stressful ecosystems,characterized by high salinity,seasonal drought,heat,strong ultraviolet radiation,and infertile soil,which constraint species occurrence,limit plant growth and development,and reduce species richness comparing to tropical continental islands with mesophytic habitats(Li et al.,2024;Ren et al.,2017;Tu et al.,2022,2024).Coupled with global climate changes,these adverse conditions have been being exacerbated,leading to extensive degradation of ecosystems throughout the tropical coral islands(Li et al.,2021).Native insular plant resources provide enormous potentials in island greening and ecological restoration,since they have colonized and become well adapted to the specialized habitat on tropical coral islands,evolving a series of functional traits and molecular strategies to accommodate the abiotic stresses.Thus,understanding the genomic make-up of these plants will help uncover molecular mechanisms underlying adaptation to tropical coral islands.However,contrary to the numerous genomic studies done for other extreme habitats,such as deserts(Hu et al.,2021;Ma et al.,2013),alpine regions(Zhang et al.,2023),intertidal habitats(Feng et al.,2021;Hu et al.,2020;Natarajan et al.,2021),and karst caves(Feng et al.,2020),molecular adaptation of plants on the tropical coral islands remains to be elucidated.
基金supported by the National KeyR&DProgramof China(2022YFF0710500)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32172853 and 32373013)the Central Public-interest Scientific Institution Basal Research Fund,China(1610302022001).
文摘The Salmonella pathogenicity islands(SPIs) play crucial roles in the progression of Salmonella infection. In this study, we constructed an improved λ Red homologous recombination system to prepare single and triple deletion mutants of 3 prominent SPIs(SPI-1, 2, and 3), aiming at the impact of deletion on morphology, carbon source metabolism, adhesion and invasion capacity, in vivo colonization, and immune efficacy in chicks. Our examination revealed that the surface of the single deletion mutants(SM6ΔSPI1, ΔSPI2, and ΔSPI3) exhibited a more rugged texture and appeared to be enveloped in a layer of transparent colloid, whereas the morphology of the triple deletion mutant(SM6ΔSPI1&2&3) remained unaltered when compared to the parent strain. The carbon metabolic spectrum of the SPI mutants underwent profound alterations, with a notable and statistically significant modification observed in 30 out of 95 carbon sources, primarily carbohydrates(17 out of 30). Furthermore, the adhesion capacity of the 4 mutants to Caco-2 cells was significantly reduced when compared to that of the parent strain. Moreover,the invasion capacity of mutants SM6ΔSPI1 and SM6ΔSPI1&2&3 exhibited a substantial decrease, while it was enhanced to varying degrees for SM6ΔSPI3 and SM6ΔSPI2. Importantly, none of the 4 mutants induced any clinical symptoms in the chicks. However, they did transiently colonize the spleen and liver. Notably, the SM6ΔSPI1&2&3mutant was rapidly cleared from both the spleen and liver within 8 days post-infection and no notable pathological changes were observed in the organs. Additionally, when challenged, the mutants immunized groups displayed a significant increase in antibody levels and alterations in the CD3+CD4+ and CD3+CD8+ subpopulations, and the levels of IL-4 and IFN-γ cytokines in the SM6ΔSPI1&2&3 immunized chicken serum surpassed those of other groups.In summary, the successful construction of the 4 SPI mutants lays the groundwork for further exploration into the pathogenic(including metabolic) mechanisms of SPIs and the development of safe and effective live attenuated Salmonella vaccines or carriers.
基金The National Natural Science Foundation of China under contract No.42030502the Guangxi Scientific Projects under contract Nos.AD17129063,AA17204074,and 2025GXNSFAA069324the NSFC project under contract No.42166003。
文摘As one of the micro-blocks dispersed in the South China Sea(SCS),the Xisha Islands are covered by thick Cenozoic sedimentary layers,making it challenging to obtain magmatic rocks.Well CK-2 is a kilometer-scale scientific drilling project on the Xisha Islands in the northwestern SCS.It penetrates the thick reef limestone and reaches basaltic pyroclastic rocks.This study presents the whole-rock and olivine compositions of the basaltic volcaniclastic rocks from Well CK-2.These rocks exhibited ocean island basalt signatures characterized by the enrichment of light rare earth elements and high-field-strength elements.Compared with partial melting products derived from mantle peridotite,whole-rock compositions showed elevated Fe/Mn and Zn/Fe mass ratios.Additionally,olivines were characterized by a lower Ca content,higher Ni content,elevated Fe/Mn mass ratios,and moderate Mn/Zn mass ratios compared to those crystallized from peridotitic melts.The compositions of both the whole-rock and olivine phenocrysts indicate the presence of pyroxenite in the mantle source,which likely formed through the reaction of recycled oceanic crust with the surrounding mantle peridotite.Using the olivine-liquid Mg-Fe exchange thermometer,this study derived mantle potential temperatures(T_(p))ranging from 1502℃to 1756℃,which is consistent with those of plume-related ocean island basalts.Furthermore,the basaltic volcaniclastic rocks exhibit low H_(2)O contents(0.01%–1.47%),which were significantly lower than those found in the primary magmas of Large Igneous Provinces.These results suggest that the basaltic volcaniclastic rocks on the Xisha Islands originated from a volatile-poor mantle plume source.
基金The Basic Public Welfare Research Program of Zhejiang Province under contract No.LGF21D010004the Key R&D Projects in Zhejiang Province under contract No.2023C03120.
文摘The Diaoyu Island(Diaoyu Dao)and its affiliated islands(DAA)have abundant fishery resources,and chlorophyll a(Chl a)concentration is an important marine color element and an important indicator of primary productivity in the ocean.Therefore,it is meaningful to understand the distribution and variation characteristics of Chl a concentration in the waters near the DAA.The distribution details of Chl a concentration in the adjacent waters of DAA were revealed by high-resolution satellite GF-1 Wide Field View(WFV)data with 16 m spatial resolution.The results indicate that:(1)The Chl a concentration is between 0.06μg/L and 0.38μg/L throughout the year and the concentration of Chl a in the northeast and east directions of the island(downstream)is significantly higher than that in the west(upstream),and there are observed vortexes with high Chl a concentration in the downstream of DAA.This phenomenon continues to persist in the waters surrounding the DAA all year.(2)The vortex induced by the interaction between the current and island results in the vorticity change of water,inducing the replenishment of a large number of nutrients to the surface,thereby promoting the growth of plankton in the downstream of DAA on the east.In addition,the DAA also plays a significant role in regulating the downstream mix layer depth(MLD).The MLD in the northeast downstream is considerably deeper than the upstream in winter and spring;it is deeper in the east downstream in summer and autumn,and the range of influence for the MLD is greatly larger than the size of the island itself.This shows that the disruption of the DAA on the current is substantial.In addition,the combined effects of SST and wind also play a significant role in modifying Chl a distribution.(3)Based on the analysis above,this study proposes the conception of building fishing pastures downstream of the DAA,and proposes a general migration plan in different seasons to scientifically and rationally utilize and protect the surrounding waters of DAA.
文摘Coral sand is a unique material developed in the tropical ocean environment, which is mainly composed of coral and other marine organism debris, with the CaCO3 content up to 96 %. It has special physical and mechanical properties due to its composition, structure and sedimentary environment. In this contribution, we discuss its specific gravity, porosity ratio compressibility, crushing, shearing and intensity for coral sand samples from the Nansha islands based on laboratory mechanical tests. Our results show distinct high porosity ratio, high friction angle and low intensity as compared with the quartz sand. We believe that grain crushing is the main factor that influences the deformation and strength of coral sand. Comprehensive study on the physical and mechanical properties of coral sands is significant in providing reliable scientific parameters to construction on coral islet, and thus avoids accidents in construction.
基金supported by the geological survey project(Grant No.DD20220992,Grant No.DD20242841,Grant No.DD20230592 and Grant No.DD20220993)Innovation Foundation of Science and Technology for“Nanhai New Star”Projects(Grant No.NHXXRCXM202353)of Hainan province。
文摘Islands are valuable land resources in the ocean,and their detailed subsurface seismic velocity structures are highly important for underground space utilization,engineering construction,and geological disaster prevention.Ambient noise tomography and the horizontal–vertical spectral ratio(HVSR)method use ambient noise recordings instead of earthquake signals to study the underground velocity structure,making them easy to implement on islands and consequently becoming potential optimization schemes for the investigation of detailed island structures.However,the application of these technologies to small granite islands along coasts is relatively insufficient,and the applicability needs to be further verified.This study ambient noise tomography and HVSR analysis were carried out by using a dense array of seismic data on Wuzhizhou Island,Hainan.It was found that natural activities mainly cause the ambient noise below 8 Hz on Wuzhizhou Island.Moreover,high-quality noise cross-correlation functions of 3–8 Hz can be extracted.The results of ambient noise tomography and HVSR analysis show that the underground S-wave velocity structure and sedimentary characteristics of Wuzhizhou Island are coupled with its topography.The high-terrain area of Wuzhizhou Island exhibits low-velocity anomalies,where a sedimentary layer did not develop.On the other hand,the low-terrain area of Wuzhizhou Island exhibits high-velocity anomalies,where a thin Quaternary sedimentary layer developed.These results imply that subsurface magmatic activity controls the island topography and affects the distribution of the island sedimentary layer.This study successfully verifies the feasibility of detection methods based on ambient noise in small granite islands along the coast.It also provides key basic information for studying the geological evolutionary history,island spatial planning,and geological disaster prevention of Wuzhizhou Island.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32070607)the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2020YFA0804000)the CAS Project for Young Scientists in Basic Research(YSBR-012).
文摘In the mammalian genome,most CpGs are methylated.However,CpGs within the CpG islands(CGIs)are largely unmethylated,which are important for gene expression regulation.The mechanism underlying the low methylation levels at CGIs remains largely elusive.KDM2 proteins(KDM2A and KDM2B)are H3K36me2 demethylases known to bind specifically at CGIs.Here,we report that depletion of each or both KDM2 proteins,or mutation of all their JmjC domains that harbor the H3K36me2 demethylation activity,leads to an increase in DNA methylation at selective CGIs.The Kdm2a/2b double knockout shows a stronger increase in DNA methylation compared with the single mutant of Kdm2a or Kdm2b,indicating that KDM2A and KDM2B redundantly regulate DNA methylation at CGIs.In addition,the increase of CGI DNA methylation upon mutations of KDM2 proteins is associated with the chromatin environment.Our findings reveal that KDM2A and KDM2B function redundantly in regulating DNA methylation at a subset of CGIs in an H3K36me2 demethylation-dependent manner.
文摘Haihua Islands is a large artificial island in Danzhou, Hainan. The construction of Haihua Islands changes the hYdrodynamic environment of Yangpu waters, and further affects its morphological change. Delft3D is used to set up a two dimensional nested hydrodynamic and sediment model for Yangpu waters in this paper, and this paper focuses on simulating the velocity and morphological change due to the construction of Haihua Islands after the verification of the model. The seabed deposition is small because of low suspended sediment concentration and less sand source near Yangpu waters. The bed level erodes in the south area of Xiaochan Reef and the Yangpu channel due to the velocity increase in the area.
文摘This report provides a result obtained by the First Chinese Antarctic and Southern Ocean Expedition. Specimens were collected by investigators of the Second Institute of Oceanography, SOA, with plankton nets in February and March of 1985 from the South Shetland Islands, the Biscoe Islands and their vicinities, between 61°15'20S-65°30'16S, 56°18'72W-67°59'45W. Eight species belonging to 5 genera in 4 families have been identified, of which 4 species, namely Maupasia coeca Viguier, Rhyn-chonerella petersii (Langerhans), Rhynchonerella bongraini (Gravier), and Tomopteris planktonis Aps-tein are recorded for the first time from the South Shetland Islands and 2 species, namely Rhynchonerella bongraini (Gravier), and Tomopteris carpenteri Quatrefages are endemic species of Antarctica.
基金partly supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China under contract (Nos. 2017YFA0604901, 2016YFC 1401002 and 2016YFC1402000)the National Natural Science Foundation of China under contract (Nos. 41776 183, 41606024 and 41506033)
文摘In this study, we simulated typhoon waves in the shallow waters around the Zhoushan Islands using the WaveWatch-Ⅲ(WW3) model version 5.16, the latest version released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Specifically, we used in-situ measurements to evaluate the performance of seven packages of input/dissipation source terms in the WW3 model. We forced the WW3 model by wind fields derived from a combination of the parametric Holland model and high-resolution European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts(ECMWF) wind data in a 0.125? grid, herein called H-E winds. We trained the H-E winds by fitting a shape parameter B to buoy-measured observations, which resulted in a smallest root mean square error(RMSE) of 3 m s^(-1) for B, when treated as a constant 0.4. Then, we applied the seven input/dissipation terms of WW3, labelled ST1, ST2, ST2+STAB2, ST3, ST3+STAB3, ST4, and ST6, to simulate the significant wave height(SWH) up to 5 m during typhoons Fungwong and Chan-hom around the Zhoushan Islands. We then compared the SWHs of the simulated waves with those measured by the in-situ buoys. The results indicate that the simulation using ST2 performs best with an RMSE of 0.79 m for typhoon Fung-wong and an RMSE of 1.12 m for typhoon Chan-hom. Interestingly, we found the simulated SWH results to be relatively higher than those of the observations in the area between Hangzhou Bay and the Zhoushan Islands. This behavior is worthy of further investigation in the future.
基金The authors are grateful for the financial supports from National Natural Science Foundation of China(51671197)Strategic Priority Research Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences(13040502).
文摘The corrosion behavior of pure copper exposed to the atmosphere of Nansha Islands for 21 months was studied by mass loss method,composition analysis,morphology observation and electrochemical measurements.The results showed that the average corrosion rate of copper exposed for one year was approximately 7.85μm/a,implying that Nansha Islands was classified as a corrosion category of CX.The structure and properties of the corrosion product layer generated on the front and back sides of the exposed sample differed significantly.The inner corrosion product layer(Cu2O)on the front side was relatively thick and dense,whereas the outer product layer(Cu2Cl(OH)3)was extremely thin.However,the outer product layer on the back side was thicker than the inner layer.Electrochemical measurements indicated that the protection afforded by the corrosion product layer on the front side was improved gradually,while that on the back side was deteriorated.
基金Supported by the National Basic Research Program of China(973 Program)(No.2012CB956004)the Science and Technology Basic Resources Investigation Program of China(No.2017FY201407)+1 种基金the National Oil and Gas Major Projects of China(No.2011ZX05025-002)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(NSFC)(No.41106064)
文摘Carbonate rocks are important reservoirs for global petroleum exploration.The largest oilfield in the South China Sea,Liuhua 11-1,is distributed in the massive carbonate reef area of the Zhujiang(Pearl)River Mouth Basin.Previous studies showed that one 802.17-m-long core from well Xichen-1 in the South China Sea mainly consisted of white and light gray-white organic reefs.Recently,a Miocene whole core(161.9 m long)of well Xiyong-2,near well Xichen-1,was found to contain six layers of yellowish brown,light yellowish gray,iron black,or light yellowish gray-white organic reefs.Scanning electron microscope images of these layers reveal a typical ferroan dolomite rich in Fe(up to 29%),with the high concentrations of Mn,Cu,W,Zn,Cr,Ni,and Co.Systematic X-ray powder diffraction analysis yields a 1.9–6.1 match in phase ratio with ankerite,5.4–26.9 with dolomite,and zero with calcite,which indicate that the samples can be classified as ferroan dolomite.The iron and heavy metals are inferred to be originated from multiple volcanic eruptions of Gaojianshi Island in the Dongdao Atoll during the middle-late Miocene.These elements were dissolved in seawater,likely as a sol,and carried to Yongxing Island in the Xuande Atoll by sea currents and tides enhanced by prevailing winds,and deposited as a part of the sedimentation process in the study area.The ferroan dolomite has Sr content of (125–285)×10^(-6),which is lower than the accepted Sr boundary value of dolomite.This finding suggests that dolomitization occurred during large-scale global glacial regression in the late Miocene.The isolated Xisha carbonate platform,exposed to air,underwent freshwater leaching and dolomitization induced by mixed water,and caused the extensive Fe-Mg exchange along the organic reef profile to form ankerite and ferroan dolomite.These results may help to understand paleoceanographic environmental changes in the South China Sea during the Miocene.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.51671197)Special Project of Chinese Academy of Sciences(No.XDA130040502).
文摘The corrosion and pitting behavior of pure aluminum 1060 exposed to Nansha Islands marine atmosphere for 34 months was investigated based on mass loss measurement,scanning electron microscopy(SEM),energy dispersive spectroscopy(EDS),X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS),and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy(EIS).The results indicated that serious pitting corrosion occurred on the surfaces of pure aluminum.The corrosion rate after exposure for 13 months was approximately 1.28 g/(m^(2)·a).The XPS results showed that the corrosion products were Al_(2)O_(3),Al(OH)_(3),and AlCl_(3).Moreover,the corrosion product layer was more protective than the native oxide film,and the protectiveness first increased and then decreased.Finally,the shape of the pits was evaluated using statistical analysis.
文摘Dynamics of major picoplankton groups, Synechococcus (Syn), Prochlorococcus (Pro), picoeukaryotes (Euk) and heterotrophic bacteria (Bact) was investigated by flow cytometry for the first time in the Nansha Islands area in the South China Sea. Averaged over the whole investigation area, depth-weighted integrated cell abundance (DWA) of Syn, Pro, Euk and Bact was 1.6 (0.4-5.7)×103, 5.4 (0.1-7.3)×104, 0.7 (0.2-2.2)×103, and 2.3 (1.4-3.2)×105 cells/mL respectively. Picoautotrophic cell abundance was low in the northwest part of the Nansha Islands where surface water temperature was low and the upper mixed layer was shallow. Concurrently, a surface maximum vertical distribution pattern was observed in this area. While in the southeast and east zones where temperatures were relatively higher and nitraclines were deeper, picoplankton is abundant and a subsurface maximum around 50-75 m is observed. Coupling of horizontal and vertical distribution patterns of picoplankton abundance and hydrological status was found, suggesting a strong influence of currents and water column structure on picoplankton distribution in the investigation area. Contrary to that in the shelf water in the East China Sea, the relationship between Pro and Bact in the Nansha Islands area in the South China Sea was not significantly negative but weakly positive. Moreover, a similar distribution pattern of Syn and Pro was observed. Possible reasons for these differences in the two marine regimes were discussed.
基金The National Natural Science Foundation of China under contract No.41201328the Science Foundation for Young Scholars of China’s State Oceanic Administration under contract No.2013415
文摘Mapping regional spatial patterns of coral reef geomorphology provides the primary information to understand the constructive processes in the reef ecosystem. However, this work is challenged by the pixel-based image classification method for its comparatively low accuracy. In this paper, an object-based image analysis(OBIA)method was presented to map intra-reef geomorphology of coral reefs in the Xisha Islands, China using Landsat 8satellite imagery. Following the work of the Millennium Coral Reef Mapping Project, a regional reef class hierarchy with ten geomorphic classes was first defined. Then, incorporating the hierarchical concept and integrating the spectral and additional spatial information such as context, shape and contextual relationships, a large-scale geomorphic map was produced by OBIA with accuracies generally more than 80%. Although the robustness of OBIA has been validated in the applications of coral reef mapping from individual reefs to reef system in this paper, further work is still required to improve its transferability.
基金Supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (973 Program) (No. 2009CB219406)the Knowledge Innovation Program of CAS (KZCX2-YW-229)National Science & Technology Major Project (No. 2008zx05025-003-03)
文摘The aeolianite deposits on Shidao Island of the Xisha Islands,the South China Sea,contain five stages of aeolian biocalcarenites and four paleosols.The aeolian biocalcarenites consist of two sedimentary facies:dune and interdune deposits.In the dunes,large-scale festoon cross-bedding,humped cross-bedding and high-angle foreset bedding are well developed,and in the interdunes,large-scale flat-bedding and low-angle wedge shaped cross-bedding are well developed.The sedimentary structures and lamella features indicate that the aeolian deposits are driven mainly by the northeast monsoon.The aeolian biocalcarenite and paleosols may reflect the arid and humid climates of the East Asian monsoon,respectively.By comparison with the stalagmite oxygen isotope climosequence of Hulu Cave,Nanjing,we inferred that the aeolianite formed in the last glacial stage,and the paleosols were formed during relatively long-term warm events.
基金The National High Technology Research and Development Program of China(863 Program)under contract No.2012AA12A406the National Natural Science Foundation of China under contract Nos 41471068,41171325,and J1103408+1 种基金the Program for New Century Excellent Talents in University under contract No.NCET-12-0264the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions(PAPD)
文摘A detailed survey of the reefs in the Nansha Islands＇ sea that are of strategic importance is conducive to their future development. In this study, a total of 50 Landsat 8 operational land imager（OLI） images were used to analyze the geological features and spectral characteristics of the Nansha reefs. The exposed islands/sandbanks,reef flats and sub-tidal reefs were identified with the near-infrared band, the red and green bands, and the blue band, respectively. Based on the relationships among various characteristics and bands illustrated in the OLI images, the maximum between-cluster variance threshold algorithm（OTSU method） and the mathematical morphology were employed to extract characteristic parameters of the spatial geometry of the reefs from top to bottom, which were subsequently operated by a series of post-processing methods such as vectorization,simplification and topological analysis. Among the 132 standalone reefs and 16 atolls that are identified in the study, four reefs have yet to be named in the Standard Names of Various Islands in the South China Sea and the website Nansha Islands Online（http：//www.nansha.org/）. Another 24 ones are exposed to the atmosphere even during high tides. Taiping Island with an area of 0.57 km^2 represents the largest exposed geological feature. This study demonstrated the applicability of medium-resolution satellite images to derive the coral reef information effectively and thus provided information for the related departments that are responsible to manage the coast.An improved resolution of multispectral bands with the panchromatic band in higher spatial resolution（15 m for OLI image） is expected to provide an optimum satellite based approach to map marine habitats.
文摘Characteristics and distribution patterns of clastic minerals （0. 063 -0. 125 mm） in bottom sediments represent a significant indi- cator for the identification of the origin of sediment. One hundred and fourteen surface sediment samples, which were collected from the area near the Zhongsha Islands in the South China Sea, were analysed to identify the mineral suites and their distributions in the study area. The area can be divided into three mineral provinces ： （Ⅰ） a province of biogenic minerals, which mainly originate from the Zhongsha Atoll ; （ Ⅱ） a province of volcanogenic minerals, which are mainly derived from local basaltic seamounts and small-scale volcanoes that are probably erupting, with some influences from the island-arc volcanic region around the South China Sea; and （ Ⅲ） a mixed mineral province whose material source includes biogenic minerals, volcanogenic minerals and terrigenous minerals; the last province can be subdivided into a mixed mineral sub-province of the northeastern part of the study area, in which terrigenous minerals are mainly derived from China＇ s Mainland and do not exceed 17°N, and a mixed mineral subprovince of the southeastern part of the study area, in which terrigenous minerals are derived from Kalimantan and Indochina Peninsula and might be further transported into the deep sea basin through submarine canyons.
