A Review of The Concept and Application of Geospatial Technology in Mapping and Modeling the Migration of Whale Shark (Rinchodon typus)

The Whale Shark (Rinchodon typus) is a species of pelagic fish with the largest size in the world and has a very wide range of movements. By understanding the migration of whale sharks a number of important policies can be immediately applied to preserve the population of this species in nature. This paper aims to provide an overview of the concept and application of spatial science and technology to map and model the migration of whale shark species. This paper is the result of a review of various literatures, both scientific journal articles and books related to mapping and modeling of common marine animals and whale sharks in particular. The paper begins with a description of the bioecological aspects and threats to the whale shark population. Furthermore, the concept of mapping and modeling of whale shark migration will be described, covering important factors in mapping and modeling, development of marine geographic information migration model (GIS) and application of whale shark migration modeling. The conclusion from the review is that bioecological characteristics and patterns of whale shark migration cause these species to be vulnerable to various threats from both natural factors and human activities. Migration mapping and modeling is generally based on environmental variation or oceanographic factors and species movement types. Accurate mapping and modeling results will be of great value in planning and policies regarding the management and conservation of whale shark species.

SUBSIDENCE HISTORY AND HYDROCARBON MIGRATION MODELING IN SOUTH CASPIAN BASIN

We study the mechanisms of migration and spacial distribution of hydrocarbon deposits along a regional 1000 km long SW - NE seismic cross section of the South Caspian Basin. A retrospective 2D geological simulation of basin subsidence and sediment filling history is performed taking into account accompanying processes of thermal and catagenetic transformations of organic matter, and subsequent migration and accumulation of hydrocarbons. The start of the basin opening with accumulation of considerable sedimentary mass can be dated as middle Mesozoic (Triassic or Jurassic), and hydrocarbon prone horizons can now be located at depths of 12 km. The hydrocarbon saturation of the Pliocene Productive Series is of epigenetic (allochtonous) nature, which is also confirmed in literature by geochemical data from mud volcanoes and by other facts. Geochemical age, depth of provenance and reworking degree of hydrocarbons point at generation sources in Mesozoic (gas) and Paleogene-Miocene formations (oil) with only subordinate participation of the lower "Productive Series" Pliocene suites. The dominant migration pattern of fluids is interformational (interstratal) intermittent injective subvertical flow along disjunctive planes, zones of increased fracturing and loose rocks, diapir intrusion contacts, eruptives of mud volcanoes, lithofacial unconformities and other structures, breaking the rocks continuity. This implies the possibility of commercial-scale accumulations of hydrocarbons at ultra high depths, if trap structures of sufficiently large sizes are available, comparable with already discovered giant oil and gas fields (Shah-Deniz, Azeri-Chirag-Gyuneshli etc).

Migration of Bisphenol A from Can Coatings into Beverages at the End of Shelf Life Compared to Regulated Test Conditions

Beverage cans are used for energy drinks, soft-drinks, sparkling waters, and beer. Bisphenol A is still part of the formulation of epoxy coatings of beverage cans. Due to concerns that bisphenol A acts as an endocrine-active substance, the migration of bisphenol A is restricted. Typically, the migration from beverage cans is tested at elevated temperatures into food simulants, like 20% ethanol in water. However, comparison tests of the migration of bisphenol A at the end of shelf life, with the migration into ethanolic food simulants, are not available in the scientific literature. The aim of the study was to determine the migration of the migration of bisphenol A into real beverages, compared to routine migration tests into the European official food simulant of 20% ethanol at 40 °C and 60 °C after storage for 10 days. As a result, bisphenol A-containing coatings show a considerably higher migration when tested at 60 °C in comparison to 40 °C. On the other hand, migration into energy drinks and coke, from the same coatings at the end of shelf life when stored at room temperature, was below the detection limit in either case. As expected, migration values of bisphenol A below the analytical detection limits were observed for any test conditions from the coating labeled bisphenol A-free. Spiking tests show that bisphenol A is stable in real beverages. Therefore, it can be concluded that the accelerated migration tests with 20% ethanol at the test conditions 10 d at 40 °C and 10 d at 60 °C significantly overestimate the real migration into beverages at the end of shelf life. This overestimation of the migration of bisphenol A is due to swelling of the epoxy can coating by the ethanolic food simulant. These findings were supported by migration modeling based on diffusion coefficients predicted for polyethylene terephthalate.