Tres Palos Revisited: Understanding the Middle Horizon in the Rio Grande de Nasca Drainage

A recent survey in the Ingenio Valley provides new insight into the nature of the Middle Horizon on the south coast of Peru. A reconsideration of the Tres Palos I and II sites could provide a new perspective on Wari expansion into the region.

Spatial Spillover Transmission Effects of Financial Development on Economic-Zone Financial Efficiency in China

This article attempts to fill important knowledge gaps to explore the spatial spillover effects of financial markets on regional financial efficiency in eight economic zones using three-stage superefficiency data envelopment analysis (DEA) and Durbin’s spatial econometric model. The average financial efficiencies in the North coast, East coast, and South coast economic zones reach the superefficiency DEA relatively efficient level, while the average financial efficiencies in the Northeast, Middle Yellow River, Middle Yangtze River, and large West-south and West-north economic zones reach the superefficiency DEA relatively inefficient level. Except for the North coast economic zone, seven equity markets have significant impacts on regional financial efficiency, and local equity markets in the Northeast, South coast, Middle Yellow River, and Middle Yangtze River economic zones generate significant spatial spillover effects on neighboring regions’ financial efficiency. Local credit markets only in the Northeast and South coast economic zones have significant spatial spillover influences on neighboring regions’ financial efficiency. Debt markets in the North coast, East coast, South coast, Middle Yangtze River, and large West-south economic zones have significant influences on regional financial efficiency, and local debt markets in the East coast and Middle Yangtze River economic zones generate significant spatial spillover effects on neighboring regions’ financial efficiency.

Geomorfologia e estrutura superficial da paisagem de zonas costeiras rochosas: um estudo de caso na Ilha do Cardoso (Litoral Sul de São Paulo)

Com o intuito de contribuir para o conhecimento da geomorfologia litorânea de zonas costeiras rochosas, o presente estudo objetivou caracterizar a estrutura superficial da paisagem das escarpas litorâneas da Ilha do Cardoso (litoral sul de São Paulo). A metodologia consistiu na integração entre trabalhos, mapeamentos e descrições geológicas e geomorfológicas macroscópicas de campo, análises laboratoriais (petrografia) de amostras das unidades litológicas locais e análises de imagens aéreas e orbitais. Com relação a registros da estrutura superficial ligados predominantemente a configurações geomorfológicas e de níveis de base locais distintos das atuais, foram delimitados seis níveis de aplainamento em meio as serranias da Ilha, correlacionados com a geomorfologia litorânea descrita em estudos anteriores. Com relação a registros da estrutura superficial com maiores contribuições de processos atuais e subatuais, foram identificados e caracterizados feições morfológicas de detalhe e depósitos de blocos rochosos de fundos de vales fluviais serranos e de escarpas serranas sob influência direta do mar (costões rochosos). Efetuou-se a caracterização granulométrica, textural e litológica dos referidos registros, bem como ponderou-se sua contextualização na compartimentação da paisagem e na caracterização morfométrica, morfodinâmica, litológica e climática das Serranias da Ilha do Cardoso. Elencou-se que a diversidade da estrutura superficial rochosa local teria contribuição de nove distintos padrões de combinações entre depósitos, formas de relevo, unidades litológicas e processos exógenos, parte deles com sua génese tendo influência de variações climáticas inter-anuais locais e consequentes modificações sazonais na drenagem e escoamento superficial, e uma segunda parte ligada a distintas combinações entre as variações espaciais da caracterização mineralógica das unidades litológicas e dos fatores morfodinâmicos predominantes presentes na linha de costa da Ilha (segmentos expostos a processos lagunares versus segmentos expostos a processos de mar aberto). Geomorphology and surface structure of rocky coastal zones: study case on the Cardoso Island (south coast of São Paulo State, Brazil) A B S T R A C TIn order to contribute to the knowledge of coastal geomorphology of rocky coastal areas, the present study aimed to characterize the surface structure of the coastal escarpments of Ilha do Cardoso (south coast of São Paulo). The methodology consisted of integrating macroscopic geological and geomorphological mapping and field descriptions, characterizing patterns of precipitation and breaking waves in the area, laboratory analysis (petrography) of samples from local lithological units and analysis of aerial and orbital images. There were characterized nine distinct patterns of combinations between deposits, forms of detailed relief, lithological units and exogenous processes. The occurrences of such patterns of surface structure were contextualized amid the characterization of geomorphological compartmentation, precipitation patterns, the prevailing conditions of agitation of the waters surrounding the island, and the mapping and petrographic characterization of local lithological units. Thus, it was pointed out that the genesis of the island's surface structure patterns would have a contribution of overlaps between local inter-annual climatic variations and consequent seasonal changes in drainage and surface runoff, and to different combinations between the spatial variations of the mineralogical characterization of the lithological units and the predominant morphodynamic conditions present on the island (segments exposed predominantly to lagoon processes versus segments exposed to open sea processes versus segments exposed to fluvial action and runoff). The different lithological units of local hard rocks linked to different petrographic characterizations when exposed to the same morphodynamic conditions linked to the action of coastal waters result in features of detail relief and deposits quite different from each other in terms of degree of preservation and inclinations of the rocky platforms, as well as the dimensions and degrees of roundness of the rock fragments deposits. It was interpreted that such heterogeneities would have a contribution of different successibility of the different compositions and mineralogical arrangements of each local hard rock lithological units to the weathering patterns linked to each of the three sets of predominant morphodynamic processes operating in this coastal segmentKeywords: planning levels, coastal rocky cliffs, valley floor deposits, coastal geomorphology, rocky coasts

Localised population collapse of the invasive brown alga, Undaria pinnatifida: Twenty years of monitoring on Wellington's south coast

<p>Invasive species pose a significant threat to marine environments around the world. Monitoring and research of invasive species is needed to provide direction for management programmes. This thesis is a continuation of research conducted on the invasive alga Undaria pinnatifida following its discovery on Wellington’s south coast in 1997. By compiling the results from previous monitoring surveys (1997-2000 and 2008) and carrying out additional seasonal surveys in 2018, I investigate the distribution and spread of U. pinnatifida on Wellington’s south coast, how this may have changed over time and what impacts it may have had on native macroalgal and invertebrate grazer communities. Intertidal macroalgal composition and U. pinnatifida abundance was recorded on fifteen occasions between 1997 and 2018 at two sites at Island Bay and two sites at Owhiro Bay. In addition, the subtidal abundance of six invertebrate grazers was recorded eight times within the same sampling period. Microtopography was also measured at each site to determine if topography had an influence on macroalgal composition. From 1997 to 2000 U. pinnatifida abundance gradually increased per year, but its spread remained localised to Island Bay. In 2008 U. pinnatifida had spread westward to Owhiro Bay where it was highly abundant. However, in 2018 no U. pinnatifida was recorded at any of the sites indicating a collapse of the invasion front. Further investigation revealed that U. pinnatifida was still present along the south coast with the nearest population only 500 m away from the nearest study site. The cause of the U. pinnatifida collapse is not known for certain, but it is unlikely that biotic resistance in the form of competitive exclusion or grazing or a change in environmental parameters such as temperature or nutrient concentration were contributing factors. It is speculated that the collapse arose from a multitude of confounding effects of which further research is needed to identify the exact cause. U. pinnatifida had no impact on macroalgal or grazer community composition. Additionally, microtopography also had no significant impact on macroalgal composition. This study reports the first ever invasion front collapse of U. pinnatifida in the world, and as a result, provides a new insight on U. pinnatifida distribution and invasion ecology. These findings can assist in predicting the future spread of U. pinnatifida populations as well as aid in formulation of new management strategies.</p>

Localised population collapse of the invasive brown alga, Undaria pinnatifida: Twenty years of monitoring on Wellington's south coast

<p>Invasive species pose a significant threat to marine environments around the world. Monitoring and research of invasive species is needed to provide direction for management programmes. This thesis is a continuation of research conducted on the invasive alga Undaria pinnatifida following its discovery on Wellington’s south coast in 1997. By compiling the results from previous monitoring surveys (1997-2000 and 2008) and carrying out additional seasonal surveys in 2018, I investigate the distribution and spread of U. pinnatifida on Wellington’s south coast, how this may have changed over time and what impacts it may have had on native macroalgal and invertebrate grazer communities. Intertidal macroalgal composition and U. pinnatifida abundance was recorded on fifteen occasions between 1997 and 2018 at two sites at Island Bay and two sites at Owhiro Bay. In addition, the subtidal abundance of six invertebrate grazers was recorded eight times within the same sampling period. Microtopography was also measured at each site to determine if topography had an influence on macroalgal composition. From 1997 to 2000 U. pinnatifida abundance gradually increased per year, but its spread remained localised to Island Bay. In 2008 U. pinnatifida had spread westward to Owhiro Bay where it was highly abundant. However, in 2018 no U. pinnatifida was recorded at any of the sites indicating a collapse of the invasion front. Further investigation revealed that U. pinnatifida was still present along the south coast with the nearest population only 500 m away from the nearest study site. The cause of the U. pinnatifida collapse is not known for certain, but it is unlikely that biotic resistance in the form of competitive exclusion or grazing or a change in environmental parameters such as temperature or nutrient concentration were contributing factors. It is speculated that the collapse arose from a multitude of confounding effects of which further research is needed to identify the exact cause. U. pinnatifida had no impact on macroalgal or grazer community composition. Additionally, microtopography also had no significant impact on macroalgal composition. This study reports the first ever invasion front collapse of U. pinnatifida in the world, and as a result, provides a new insight on U. pinnatifida distribution and invasion ecology. These findings can assist in predicting the future spread of U. pinnatifida populations as well as aid in formulation of new management strategies.</p>