Marine biodiversity of a pristine coral reef in French Polynesia

Understanding the natural state of coral reefs is paramount to evaluate the response of these ecosystems to local and global human impacts as well as management and conservation strategies. In French Polynesia, some islands are still pristine or uninhabited, such as Tupai atoll. Tupai has been uninhabited, with access to the lagoon prohibited since 2010. However, fishers from nearby islands often take from the outer reef slope at Tupai. Our marine biodiversity survey (coral, macro-invertebrates, and fish) conducted in 2019 highlighted a low density of commercial fish species and top-predators on the outer slope in comparison to the lagoon, where the top-predators represented 16% (of the density) of functional trophic groups. Our surveys also showed a high living coral cover (46%) on the outer slope of Tupai, perhaps due to the absence of both touristic sub-aquatic activities and local pollution from private and commercial activities. Overall, this initial scientific assessment of Tupai has granted an understanding of the spatial patterns of coral, macro-invertebrates, and fish assemblages in the absence of human impacts (i.e., in the lagoon), representing an ecological baseline that could inform conservation management strategies to ensure the preservation of coral reef ecosystem.

IDENTIFICATION AND EVALUATION OF FRACTURES USING ELECTRICAL RESISTIVITY TOMOGRAPHY IN THE VICINITY OF THE AXIS OF THE HUAMANTANGA DAM – LIMA – PERU

ABSTRACT. Huamantanga located approximately 3390 msnm in the central highlands of Peru, a district that promotes the sowing and harvesting of water called “mamanteo”, Inca ancestral water management technique to derive water from a ravine during the rainy season, to places with a high infiltration. On the other hand the construction of a dam, named with the same name, was built for the storage water due to the increase of the agrarian activities, nevertheless worrisome leaks were observed by which electrical resistivity tomography in these possible zones were realized Distributed four profiles, one parallel to the axis of the dam, 10 to 15 meters upstream of the first profile, on the outer slope and the fourth profile approximately 10 meters above the spring. In this way, the resistivity measurements were performed for each of the four lines of Tomographic Electric, in order to obtain detailed information of the stratigraphy in the study area and to identify the georesistive anomalies caused by tectonic or geological faults, Reflect as areas of low resistivities or anomalies. Analyzed the area of study were found considerable local fractures which were recommended to be quickly waterproofed because the risk of infiltrations is latent. Keywords: infiltration, fracture, geophysical investigation, electrical method. RESUMO. Huamantanga localizado aproximadamente a 3390 msnm no centro da serra do Peru, distrito que promove o cultivo e colheita de água chamado de “mamanteo”, atividade incaica para derivar um fluxo de água durante a estação chuvosa, para locais com alta infiltração. Além disso, a construção de uma barragem, chamado pelo mesmo nome, foi construído para armazenar água devido ao aumento das atividades agrícolas, foram observados, no entanto vazamentos preocupantes foram observados para os quais foram realizados Tomografia Eléctrica nessas áreas potenciais, foram distribuído quatro perfis, uma paralela ao eixo da barragem de 10 a 15 metros a montante a partir do primeiro perfil, no lado exterior e o quarto perfil aproximadamente 10 metros acima da fonte de água. Assim, as medições de resistividade foram feitas para cada uma das 4 linhas de Tomografia Eléctrica, a fim de obter informações pormenorizadas sobre a estratigrafia na área de estudo e identificar anomalias georesistivas causadas por tectônismo ou falhas geológicas, que refletem como áreas de resistividades tão baixas ou anomalias. Analisada a área de estudo foram encontrados fratura locais consideráveis, que foram recomendadas a ser impermeabilizadas rapidamente, porque o risco de infiltrações é latente. Palavras-chave: infiltração, fratura, investigação geofísica, método elétrico.

EVIDENCE FOR TIDAL UPWELLING ACROSS THE SILL OF AMBON BAY

Temperature observations across the sill of Ambon Bay in August 1982 and a model suggest that during the upwelling season of the south east monsoon tidal upwelling on the flood tide can suck thermocline water up the outer slope of the sill from a depth of 50 to 80 m. The water enters over the 10 m sill and replaces the bottom water in the inner part of Ambon Bay.

The same but different: stable isotopes reveal two distinguishable, yet similar, neighbouring food chains in a coral reef

Stable isotope compositions were studied in particulate organic matter (POM), zooplankton and different trophic groups of teleosts to compare food chains based on plankton at two sites (lagoon and outer slope) in a New Caledonian coral reef. For each trophic compartment, δ13C values were always lower in the outer slope than in the lagoon. This result may be explained by potential differences in POM composition between the two environments, suggesting that the two food chains are based on different primary sources of carbon. In contrast, δ15N values did not vary between the lagoon and the outer slope, indicating that these two food chains presented similar length and trophic levels, despite being distinguishable.

Characteristics of Slope Breaks and their Control on the Lithostratigraphic Hydrocarbon Reservoir in Beixi Slope Area of the Hailaer Basin

In the control of palaeogeomorphology and fracture, multistage slope break zones are developed in Beixi Slope. After the analyses of the structural-paleogeomorphologic features, according to the relationships between slope break zones and subsags, we divide the slope break zones into three cells—inner slope break zones, middle slope break zones and outer slope break zones. Compared with the outer and middle slope break zones, the fault block traps are richly developed in the inner slope break zones, which is nearer to the oil generating depressions. And the conditions of reservoirs there are good. So they are excellent for hydrocarbon accumulation and preservation with good oil accumulating conditions.

A New Metaphor for Speaking of Trauma: The Toroidal Island Model

This article provides a model for speaking of trauma based on the author’s ethnographic and clinical experiences mainly in Japan. It is often assumed that a person with more serious trauma has the right and ability to speak out. But those who are at the center of trauma and unable to survive cannot testify. Based on this notion, a toroidal island (TI) model, shaped like a doughnut with a landlocked inner sea, is developed. The voices come from the survivors on the inner slope and from the supporters on the outer slope on the island. The model integrates various aspects of trauma by employing metaphors of “gravity” for symptoms of trauma, “wind” for interpersonal conflicts, and “water level” for intelligibility of the speech and its social recognition. It addresses the social construction of trauma and shows the relativistic nature of when and how some traumatic experiences are recognized. Clinical and social activity to raise awareness of unrecognized trauma can be analogized to a process of creating a TI. By defying gravity and wind and lowering the water level, they keep the voices of the traumatized from being silenced and allow their suffering to be alleviated.