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Sea level rise and marine erosion threaten coastal archaeological sites around the world, forcing difficult decisions about how to prioritize which sites to document and analyze. Here we present the results of research at a heavily eroded Late Holocene shell midden at CA-SRI-26, Santa Rosa Island, California. Systematic surface collection and radiocarbon dating of the site revealed an assemblage that is about 1400 years old and contains a variety of shellfish, bird, fish, and mammal remains, stone and bone tools, and matted sea grass (Phyllospadix sp.). Of the more remarkable finds is a humerus from a subadult Guadalupe fur seal (Arctocephalis towndsendi) with a projectile point tip lodged in the bone. This rare archaeological example of direct marine mammal hunting and other evidence for diverse marine foraging activities demonstrate the research value of eroded sites threatened by rising seas around the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Salina Cruz and Puerto Ángel beach areas in the Gulf of Tehuantepec, Mexican Pacific coast represent an important economic sector of the region. In this study, the mineralogy and geochemistry of bulk sediments, and geochronology of 400 detrital zircons recovered from the beach sediments were analysed to investigate their origin. The sediments are abundant in quartz, feldspar, ilmenite, cordierite, aragonite and anorthite. The chemical index of weathering revealed a moderate to intense weathering in the source area. The chondrite normalized REE patterns of bulk sediments are similar to the found in the Upper Continental Crust, suggesting the derivation of sediments from felsic igneous rocks. The REE patterns of zircons and the trace elemental ratios reveal a continental crust origin. Zircon U–Pb ages in the Salina Cruz beach were represented by Proterozoic (~545.1–1314.1 Ma; n = 170) and Cenozoic (~0.01–66 Ma; n = 20). The Puerto Ángel beach was abundant in Proterozoic zircon grains (~600.9–1171.4 Ma; n = 109) and followed by Mesozoic grains (~73.78–246.9 Ma; n = 40). The comparison of zircon U–Pb ages of this study with probable source rocks reveals that the Oaxaquia Terrane and Chiapas Massif Complex were the major contributors of Proterozoic zircons to the coastal areas. Similarly, the results indicate that the Cenozoic zircons were contributed by the Chiapas Massif Complex, coastal batholith and Cuicateco Terrane. The Mesozoic zircons are very few, derived from the nearby Xolapa Complex and the Chuacús Terrane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impacts of large‐scale disturbance events on the species diversity of rocky intertidal sessile assemblages across multiple spatial scales are not well understood. To evaluate the influence of the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake on alpha and beta diversities of rocky intertidal sessile assemblages, we surveyed sessile assemblages in the mid‐shore zone from 2011 to 2019 and compared the data with those collected from 2003 to 2010 before the earthquake at the same region. The census was conducted across 22 study plots on five rocky shores along 30 km of the Sanriku Coast of Japan, which is located 150–160 km north–northwest of the earthquake epicenter. Alpha diversity was measured with three Hill numbers (H0, H1, and H2), which represent the number of equally common species that would exist in a community with the same diversity as the sampled community, with higher values of the subscript indicating more weight placed on abundant species. Beta diversity was measured with two metrics (BDtotal at two spatial scales). Values were compared between the post‐earthquake period (2011–2019) and the pre‐earthquake period (2003–2010). The results show that the Tohoku Earthquake significantly altered the species diversity of intertidal sessile assemblages across multiple spatial scales. All diversity metrics obtained at multiple spatial scales (i.e., alpha diversities: H0, H1, and H2; beta diversities: BDtotal at the shore and regional scales) decreased immediately after the earthquake and then increased in subsequent years. At 2 years after the earthquake, H0 recovered to within the range of pre‐earthquake values and H1 and H2 became significantly higher than pre‐earthquake values. Most metrics of alpha and beta diversities recovered to pre‐earthquake levels after several years, but regional BDtotal remained low for a longer period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A morphological study of S. boneti (Parisi, 1972) and its intraspecific variation is presented, providing a complete description with drawings, and photos. New records for this and other species are given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Predicting coastal change depends upon our knowledge of postglacial relative sea-level variability, partly controlled by glacio-isostatic responses to ice-sheet melting. Here, we reconstruct the postglacial relative sea-level changes along the Caribbean and Pacific coasts of northwestern South America by numerically solving the sea-level equation with two scenarios of mantle viscosity: global standard average and high viscosity. Our results with the standard model (applicable to the Pacific coast) agree with earlier studies by indicating a mid-Northgrippian high stand of ~2 m. The high-viscosity simulation (relevant to the Caribbean coast) shows that the transition from far- to intermediate-field influence of the Laurentide Ice Sheet occurs between Manzanillo del Mar and the Gulf of Morrosquillo. South of this location, the Colombian Caribbean coast has exhibited a still stand with a nearly constant Holocene relative sea level. By analyzing our simulations considering sea-level indicators, we argue that tectonics is more prominent than previously assumed, especially along the Caribbean coast. This influence prevents a simplified view of regional relative sea-level changes on the northwestern South American coast. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present two new records of the colonial cup coral Coenocyathus bowersi Vaughan, 1906 from northern Chile. Colonies were collected off the coastal of Taltal, Antofagasta Region, and off the coast of the city of Iquique, Tarapacá Region, both in northern Chile. Our finds confirm the presence of this species on the Chilean coast and extend the geographic range of this species approximately 765 km north from the only other known occurrences of C. bowersi in Chile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have estimated the sea level rise (SLR) at various locations on the west coast of the USA and Vancouver Island in Canada. Here, we construct an entire SLR profile from Vancouver Island in the Pacific Northwest to San Diego in Southern California. First, we process global navigation satellite system (GNSS) measurements at 405 stations blanketing the whole coast to generate a profile of vertical land motion (VLM) known to bias century-long tide gauge (TG) measurements recording relative SLR (RSLR). We are then able to estimate the absolute SLR (ASLR) by correcting the SLR with the VLM. Our study emphasizes the relationship between the various tectonic movements (i.e., the Cascadia subduction zone, the San Andreas strike-slip fault system) along the Pacific coast which renders it difficult to accurately estimate the SLR. That is why we precisely model the stochastic noise of both GNSS and tide gauge time series using a combination of various models and information criterions (ICs). We also use the latest altimetry products and sea surface height (SSH) to compare it with ASLR at the same location as the TGs. This study supports previous analysis that the power law + white noise and generalized Gauss–Markov + white noise models are the best stochastic noise models for the GNSS time series. The new coastal profile confirms the large variability of VLM estimates in the Pacific Northwest around the Cascadia subduction zone in agreement with previous studies, and a similar result when the San Andreas fault comes onshore in Central California (San Francisco Bay). Negative RSLR values are mostly located in the Pacific Northwest (Vancouver Island and Olympic Peninsula). We also observe a much bigger variation (about 90–150%) of the ASLR in the Pacific Northwest which is predominantly due to glacial isostatic adjustment (GIA). Moreover, the comparison between the ASLR and the SSH estimates shows similarities in the center of the studied area (South Washington, Oregon planes, and some parts of Southern California) where the tectonic activity does not significantly influence the TG measurements. Finally, the twentieth-century satellite geocentric ocean height rates show a global mean of 1.5 to 1.9 mm/yr. Our estimates based on ASLR and SSH are within this interval. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rare Pacific coast fog ecosystems are under threat from climate change and local factors. Although coastal fog is known to affect soil properties and microbial diversity, few studies on the Pacific coast have examined the specific microbiomes associated with these ecosystems. We evaluated the effects of coastal fog on the physicochemical, mineralogical, and microbiological properties of bare soils (vegetation‐free) and bulk soils (surrounding plant roots) from different altitudes in the Morro Moreno National Park (MMNP) in the Antofagasta region, Chile. We found that the temperature and relative humidity of the soil varied temporally (daily) and spatially (with altitude). We detected that soil organic matter and organic phosphorus content tended to increase with altitude, whereas the pH, electrical conductivity, and total phosphorus decreased. Our results showed that coastal fog could induce physical weathering below 300 masl and chemical weathering at the intermediate altitudes of ~400–600 masl. The biodiversity of bacteria and fungi increased considerably above 400 masl. Actinobacteria and Bacteroidetes dominated the bacteria in bare soil, and Bacteroidetes dominated the bulk soil communities at all altitudes. Ascomycota and Basidiomycota dominated the fungal community in both soil types. Moreover, the electrical conductivity and CaO content appear to be more closely associated with microbial communities from lower altitudes. In addition, the organic carbon content, humidity, and weathering index 2 (WI2) isolated some communities at 500 and 600 masl. The microbiological diversity reported in this work reflects the variable and different microbial niches comprising the MMNP environment. Linkages between soil property and microbial variations with altitude within this Northern Chilean coastal fog ecosystem were elucidated. This novel scientific knowledge contributes to global network strategies for fog ecosystem conservation, which aim to preserve the microbial niches and diversity in such soils. Highlights: We studied physicochemical, mineralogical and microbiological properties in a fog ecosystem soils.The study provides valuable information from rare and unique Pacific coast fog systems.Soil properties and microbial diversity showed specific correlations, and dependence on altitude.This baseline could contribute to the creation of conservation strategies of these unique ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Band‐tailed pigeons (Patagioenas fasciata) congregate at and use mineral sites (mineralized water or soil) primarily within the breeding range of the Pacific Coast band‐tailed pigeon (P. f. monilis), but the Interior band‐tailed pigeon (P. f. fasciata) generally does not exhibit this behavior. Differences in supplemental minerals used between subspecies could be explained by differences in the diet (grit and foods) of these birds between their regional ranges. We necropsied 1,169 band‐tailed pigeons and sampled 35 primary foods of band‐tailed pigeons in the United States range of the Interior (AZ, CO, NM, and UT) and Pacific Coast (CA, OR, and WA) band‐tailed pigeons to evaluate regional differences in mineral and moisture in gastroliths and food items, and the association of grit with food items consumed. Grit and food types consumed by pigeons were similar between subspecies, but grit amount varied with foods consumed and food items varied with season and region in association with plant distribution and phenology. Gastroliths contained small amounts (≤3.3% each) of calcium, sodium, and potassium and were smooth and polished, indicating relatively long‐term retention and use primarily in food abrasion. Foods universally contained low amounts of sodium (0–328 ppm), moderate calcium (100–7,250 ppm), and high potassium (4,400–22,600 ppm), but varied somewhat with food type (e.g., acorns, berries, cultivated grains, pine seeds). Moisture and mineral content of grit consumed and foods used by Interior and Pacific Coast band‐tailed pigeons did not differ between their regional ranges in explaining differential use of supplemental mineral sites. Band‐tailed pigeon's use of supplemental sodium may not be necessary for survival and reproduction because Interior pigeons rarely use supplemental mineral sites unlike Pacific Coast pigeons despite similarities in moisture and mineral content of grit and foods consumed. Band‐tailed pigeons are able to concentrate sodium and calcium in crop milk to meet the nutritional needs of hatchlings despite a diet low in sodium and calcium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Wilson's Plover (Charadrius wilsonia) occurs along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts from the United States to Brazil, and occasionally in Chile. It is known to breed in the United States, Mexico, Belize, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Colombia, Brazil, Jamaica, the West Indies, and Peru. Outside the United States, we know little about its reproduction and nesting site habitats. On 12 May 2019, we observed a female at a nest with 3 eggs and a separate pair of adults with 2 chicks around the ponds of the Mayasal shrimp farm in Jutiapa, Guatemala. These 2 reports are the first records of Wilson's Plover nesting in Guatemala. Conservation concerns on both breeding and wintering areas include habitat loss, climate change, and human disturbance, as well as a small population size and restricted reproductive range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present stable isotope and osteological data from human remains at Paloma, Chilca I, La Yerba III, and Morro I that offer new evidence for diet, lifestyle, and habitual mobility in the first villages that proliferated along the arid Pacific coast of South America (ca. 6000 cal BP). The data not only reaffirm the dietary primacy of marine protein for this period but also show evidence at Paloma of direct access interactions between the coast and highlands, as well as habitual mobility in some parts of society. By locating themselves at the confluence of diverse coastal and terrestrial habitats, the inhabitants of these early villages were able to broaden their use of resources through rounds of seasonal mobility, while simultaneously increasing residential sedentism. Yet they paid little substantial health penalty for their settled lifestyles, as reflected in their osteological markers of stature and stress, compared with their agriculturalist successors even up to five millennia later. Contrasting data for the north coast of Chile indicate locally contingent differences. Considering these data in a wider chronological context contributes to understanding how increasing sedentism and population density laid the foundations here for the emergence of Late Preceramic social complexity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the capture of a single specimen of the species Paulia horrida Gray, 1840, off the coast of Arica, in the Arica and Parinacota Region, Northern Chile. This finding extends the currently known distributional range of the species by 2,434 km towards the south, since the southernmost known area for this species corresponds to Punta Sal, Peru. We discuss the importance of finding this relatively unknown species in Chile and the need to continue sampling to confirm the continuous distributional range of the species between the south of Peru and the north of Chile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: As within‐species genomic data have been shown useful in interpreting broader biogeographic trends, we analysed the mode of population genomic isolation involved in a well‐studied intertidal genomic cline to better understand the mechanisms maintaining it. These results were interpreted in the context of spatial variation in habitat use and availability as well as likely fitness consequences for hybridization between the two lineages. Location: Pacific coast of North America. Taxon: Arthropods (Class Maxillopoda, Order Sessilia, Family Balanidae; Balanus glandula). Methods: Genotype‐by‐sequencing approaches were used to generate single‐nucleotide polymorphism markers across sites sampled between southern Alaska and Southern California. Inference using standard population genomic methods, including analysis of population structure, inbreeding and linkage disequilibrium, was used to identify the steepest transitions across the largest number of loci examined. These data were put in the context of observed population density and habitat availability. Results: We show that the majority of markers analysed show strong clinal transitions in a very narrow portion of the California coast. Patterns of linkage disequilibrium among markers, along with prior evidence of variation in reproductive potential by latitude and by mitochondrial lineage, suggest some reproductive isolation among the northern and southern lineages of B. glandula that are concordant with the drop in population density and habitat availability in central California. Main Conclusions: A significant clinal transition in genomic diversity is stronger and more localized than previously recognized and exhibits statistical patterns suggesting that the lineages are reproductively and phenotypically distinct in ways that may be ecologically important. As this species has been used to infer process in coastal biogeography, further study of concordant patterns will be important for advancing our understanding of this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The parasite communities of marine fish in the tropical Pacific remain poorly studied. We did an initial study of the metazoan parasite communities of striped bonito Sarda orientalis from the Pacific coast of Mexico. Two hundred thirty individuals from two locations were collected between April 2017 and March 2018. Twenty-two metazoan parasite taxa (20 helminths and two Crustacea) were identified: one species of Monogenea, twelve of Digenea, one of Acanthocephala, two of Cestoda, four of Nematoda, one of Copepoda, and one of Isopoda. Didymozoid digeneans (six species) were the most frequent and abundant parasite species at both sampling locations. Parasite species richness at the component community level was similar in both locations (16–17 species). However, parasite community structure and species composition varied between them. Local fluctuations in some biotic (e.g. host feeding behaviour and body size) and abiotic environmental factors were probably responsible for these variations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beginning by at least the Andean Middle Horizon (AD 600–1000), sites located more than 60 km inland from the Pacific coast in far southern Peru contain the remains of jack mackerel (Trachurus murphyi). The coastal region near the modern Peruvian city of Ilo was the habitat where people procured fish and transported them to sites in the Moquegua Valley. Abundant neurocranial fragments indicate that coastal occupants shipped whole fish, not processed body portions, to inland destinations. I previously interpreted the remains of jack mackerel as imported fishes indicating high status deposits, particularly at imperial administrative outposts associated with the Wari Empire. The recent identification of jack mackerel at highly provisional, agricultural sites inhabited by non-elite residents suggests that these fishes were everyday, rather than elite, fare. The analysis indicates that the pre-Hispanic inhabitants discontinued trade in marine fishes after the collapse of the politically integrated empires in the region, but people reestablished fish trade in subsequent time periods. I examine the probable capture methods and possible culinary reasons as to why the Chilean jack mackerel is common at some inland sites in far southern Peru. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent research is shedding light on the long and precocious urban tradition of the Pacific coastal rim of southeastern Mesoamerica, from eastern Soconusco, Mexico, to Escuintla, Guatemala. The available data provide a basis to discuss variations in urban shape and functions, and to a lesser extent, urban life and meaning at Formative and Classic cities, plus brief mention of Late Postclassic cities. Pacific coastal cities are larger and earlier than previously thought, and their investigation is relevant for comparative studies that aim to understand the variability of ancient urban societies in Mesoamerica and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report Black-throated Flower-piercer, Diglossa brunneiventris (Lafresnaye, 1846), and Least Tern, Sternula antillarum (Lesson, 1847), in the Tambo river estuary, Islay province, Arequipa department, Peru. Both species are newly documented from the southern coast of Peru. It is probable that D. brunneiventris has descended from the higher, inland portion of the Tambo river basin to the estuary. Sternula antillarum is considered a frequent visitor to the South American Pacific coast. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, information is added and comments are made about two recently described Peruvian species of Liolaemus from the montanus group: L. balagueri and L. qalaywa. When L. balagueri was described, differences from L. nazca was based on a phylogenetic analysis of a single mitochondrial locus, but without including phenotypic diagnostic traits that might differentiated them. On the other hand, L. qalaywa description was based upon specimens from Apurirnac department and intraspecific variation in meristic traits were missing. In this study, we added a molecular and morphological analyses between L. balagueri and L. nazca, supporting more rigorously the separation between these two taxa. In addition, the geographic range of L. qalaywa is extended to Cusco department (southwestern Peru), intraspecific variation of morphological characteristics and geographic information up to 79 specimens are included, and the conservation issues of this species is commented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dental modifications, especially dental inlays, were one of the most characteristic biocultural traditions in Ancient Mesoamerica. The main objective of this brief report is to identify the raw material used to elaborate dental inlays in the archaeological site of Reynosa, located in the Southern Pacific Coast of Guatemala. The recent discovery of a massive burial, dated roughly in the Middle-Late Preclassic Period (500 BC–200 BC), put the site in the spotlight. There were found some of the earliest carriers of dental incrustations in Mesoamerica, which represent part of the beginning of the inlay tradition. The analytical method used to determine the raw material was scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with X-ray spectroscopy. The identified raw materials were pyrite and hematite. These findings have opened new concerns about the obtaining and the usage of those materials in this millennial tradition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radiocarbon ages on mollusk shells, which account for about half of the more than 8,000 dates from cultural deposits on the west coast of North America, need to be corrected for the local marine reservoir effect (ΔR) to yield true ages. Assays on "pre-bomb" shells show that ΔR increases poleward, echoing the age gradient in offshore waters. The meridional gradient in ΔRis not appreciably affected by the transition either from an upwelling regime to a downwelling regime north of 40°N--45°N or from a winter maximum-high alkalinity river discharge pattern to a summer maximum-low alkalinity pattern at the same latitude, probably because these changes are offset by increasing storminess and tidal energy in coastal areas. Mesoscale variations in ΔR along this gradient are attributable to contrasts in shore morphology and exposure. Data from123 shell-wood pairs reveal similar patterns of temporal variation in ΔR in the late Holocene in the coastal ecoregions. The characteristic temporal pattern echoes phases of variable El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) activity. The high degree of variability in ΔR argues against the indiscriminate application of regionally uniform or trans-Holocene ΔR values and demands improvements in spatiotemporal resolution if shell is used to date cultural deposits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anthopleura mariae sp. nov. is a new species of sea anemone (Actiniaria: Actiniidae) from the rocky intertidal of Punta Morro, Baja California, and Punta Eugenia Baja California Sur, México. This species is characterized by a column with verrucae arranged in longitudinal rows from margin to limbus with a red spot atop each verruca, as well as the presence of more than two siphonoglyphs and the lack of directive mesenteries. Differences between Anthopleura mariae sp. nov. with other species of the genus are discussed. This is the sixth species of Anthopleura documented for the Mexican Pacific. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) is an endangered species which distributes around the west coast of the Baja California Peninsula. In Baja California Sur, the conservation efforts for this species were focused in the Gulf of Ulloa; however, within the Pacific coast of the Baja California Peninsula, Sebastián Vizcaíno Bay (SVB) biological active center suit the optimal conditions for the presence of loggerheads. This study aimed to investigate SVB as a potential foraging area for loggerheads. Between July and August 2018, three prospective surveys were conducted, in search of marine turtles in SVB. A total of three loggerhead turtles and one eastern Pacific green turtle (Chelonia mydas) were captured; biometric data were recorded, and organisms were classified as juveniles. This is the first report of the loggerhead sea turtles in the SVB and given the oceanographic characteristics of the bay, it is a potential foraging and development area for the species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dental modifications, especially dental inlays, were one of the most characteristic biocultural traditions in Ancient Mesoamerica. The main objective of this brief report is to identify the raw material used to elaborate dental inlays in the archaeological site of Reynosa, located in the Southern Pacific Coast of Guatemala. The recent discovery of a massive burial, dated roughly in the Middle-Late Preclassic Period (500 BC–200 BC), put the site in the spotlight. There were found some of the earliest carriers of dental incrustations in Mesoamerica, which represent part of the beginning of the inlay tradition. The analytical method used to determine the raw material was scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with X-ray spectroscopy. The identified raw materials were pyrite and hematite. These findings have opened new concerns about the obtaining and the usage of those materials in this millennial tradition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metazoan parasites communities of marine fishes can include both adults and larval stages of several endoparasite groups that use fishes as intermediate or paratenic hosts. The richness and abundance of parasite species larvae that harbour a fish species can therefore be a good indicator of that species' role as an intermediate host to endoparasite species. The parasite communities of two small carangid fishes (Selar crumenophthalmus and Decapterus muroadsi) from Mexican Pacific coasts were quantified and analysed. Five hundred sixty-three carangids (S. crumenophthalmus, n = 402; and D. muroadsi, n = 161) were collected between April 2014 and April 2018 from three locations. Twenty-four metazoan parasite species were identified in both hosts: five species of Monogenea (adults), eight of Digenea (7 adults and 1 metacercaria), two of Cestoda (larvae), two of Nematoda (one adult and one larva), two of Acanthocephala (adults), and five of Copepoda. Larval helminths numerically dominated the endoparasite communities of both hosts, suggesting that these carangids are important intermediate hosts for several parasite species. Component parasite community richness and species composition differed between hosts, locations, and sampling years. Variations in host feeding behaviour, and body size were considered as important factors influencing these differences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An initial study was done of the metazoan parasite communities of Caranx caninus from the Pacific coast of Mexico. Parasite communities were characterised and analyses were done to determine if these experience spatial or temporal variations in structure and/or species composition. Four hundred ninety-two C. caninus were collected between April 2014 and December 2018 from four locations. Thirty-five metazoan parasite species were identified: 6 species of Monogenea, 12 Digenea, 1 Acanthocephala, 4 Nematoda, 10 Copepoda and 2 Isopoda. Monogeneans were the most frequent and abundant parasite species at all locations and in all years. Parasite species richness at the component community level varied significantly from 7 (San Blas 2017) to 22 (Acapulco 2018a). The component communities and infracommunities of C. caninus exhibited similar patterns: low species numbers, low diversity, and dominance by a single species (the monogenean Protomicrocotyle manteri). Parasite community structure and species composition varied between locations and/or sampling years. Seasonal or local fluctuations in biotic and abiotic environmental factors were probably responsible for these variations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Porcelain crabs inhabit from upper intertidal to subtidal habitats. These environments are characterized by highly variable environmental conditions, which subject species found in these habitats to stress. In this study, we compared reproductive traits of mothers [i.e. fecundity, reproductive output (RO), dry weight, organic matter] and physiological parameters of their offspring (i.e. wet weight, water content, dry weight, organic matter, lactate content of embryos) of three species of porcelain crabs that inhabit the Southeastern Pacific: Petrolisthes laevigatus (upper intertidal); P. violaceus (low intertidal); Allopetrolisthes punctatus (subtidal). Overall, female P. laevigatus had lower fecundity (802 ± 115 vs. 4181 ± 1097 embryos) and amount of organic matter in their embryo masses (0.053 ± 0.006 vs. 0.27 ± 0.025 g) but higher RO values (1.34 ± 0.34 vs. 0.20 ± 0.07) than Allopetrolisthes punctatus. In addition, P. laevigatus embryos had higher organic matter content (81.09 ± 28.8 vs. 64.54 ± 6.1 μg), higher water content (188.6 ± 91.9 vs. 152.4 ± 30.8 μL) and higher lactate content (0.26 ± 0.04% vs. 0.07 ± 0.01% dry weight) than that found in A. punctatus embryos. Furthermore, females and embryos of P. violaceus showed low values and similar to those observed in P. laevigatus. As a potential strategy to increase survival of the offspring, P. laevigatus seems to invest a large portion of its energy in production of high quality embryos, despite costs to fecundity. This study reveals that porcelain crabs have physiological adaptations during their ontogeny that allow them to survive in fluctuating environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the tropics, variations in the structure and species composition of marine fish parasite communities over several years have received limited attention. Changes in water temperature in the tropics are not as extreme as in temperate climes, and the processes that generate variations in these parasite communities are as yet unclear. The parasite communities in populations of Parapsettus panamensis from four locations on the south‐central Pacific coast of Mexico were quantified and analyzed. Four hundred forty‐six fish were collected over a 6‐year period (2012; 2013; 2016a,b; and 2017). Twenty‐three metazoan parasite species were recovered and identified: three species of Monogenea (present as adults); eight species of Digenea (adults); one species of Acanthocephala (juveniles); one species of Cestoda (larvae); three species of Nematoda (two present as adults and one present as larvae); four species of Copepoda; and three species of Isopoda (two present as adults, and one present as larvae). At the component community level, parasite species richness varied significantly from 10 (Marquelia 2016) to 17 species (Acapulco Bay 2012). The component communities and infracommunities of P. panamensis exhibited a similar pattern: low species numbers, low diversity, and dominance by a single parasite species. Parasite community structure and species composition varied between sampling years and locations. The main factors responsible for these variations were host traits such as feeding behavior and body size, and occurrence of a set of distinctive parasite species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biotic or abiotic factors responsible for temporal or spatial variation in metazoan parasite communities of the green jack Caranx caballus were studied over a nine-year period using samples collected at locations along the south-central Pacific coast of Mexico. A total of 708 fish were collected from six locations between December 2009 and October 2017. Thirty-two parasite species were identified: three Monogenea, nine Digenea, two Cestoda, five Nematoda, eight Copepoda, and three Isopoda. At the component community level, parasite species richness varied significantly from seven (Zihuatanejo 2016) to 18 (Acapulco Bay 2011). The component communities and infracommunities of C. caballus exhibited a similar pattern: low species numbers, low diversity, and dominance by a single species (mainly the monogenean Pseudomazocraes selene or the digenean Bucephalus varicus). Parasite community structure and species composition varied between locations and/or sampling years. The main factors responsible for these variations were host traits such as feeding behaviour and body size, the occurrence of a set of distinctive parasite species, and possible variations in the availability of infected prey between locations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Species richness and similarity in metazoan parasite communities of fishes can be influenced by several biotic (age, body size, vagility, feeding and social behavior, among others), and local abiotic (temperature, salinity, etc.) factors. The parasite communities of three species of Oligoplites, marine fishes from the Pacific coast of Mexico, were quantified and analyzed. Four hundred sixty‐eight leatherjackets (O. altus, n=94; O. saurus, n=260; and O.  refulgens, n=114) were collected from February 2016 to June 2017 from five locations. Twenty‐eight species of metazoan parasites were recovered and identified: four species of Monogenea (adults), nine of Digenea (seven adults and two metacercariae); two of Cestoda (larvae); four of Nematoda (two adults and two larvae); four of Acanthocephala (two adults, one juvenile, and one cystacanth); four of Copepoda; and one Pentastomida (larvae). At the component community level, species richness ranged from 9 in O. saurus to 19 in O. altus. Different species of helminth dominated the component communities of each species of host. Community composition and species richness of parasites differed among the three species of host, locations, and sampling years. Host feeding behavior, body size, and vagility had the most influence on these differences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The parasite community of the ray Rhinoptera steindachneri from Acapulco Bay was examined and quantified; analyses were based on the sex of the host and the date of sampling. A total of 171 specimens of R. steindachneri were examined during July-August of 2010, and May and July of 2012. Twenty-one species of parasites were found: three species of Monogenea; eight adult and one larval species of Cestoda; one larval species of Nematoda; five species of Copepoda; two species of Isopoda; and one species of Hirudinea. Cestodes had the greatest species richness (43% of the total species), followed by the copepods (24%). Two species of cestode, Glyphobothrium sp. and Rhinebothrium sp., were collected only from adult rays. At the component community level, species richness showed statistically significant variation between 13 and 16 species, which is similar to previous reports for other species of rays. The parasite component communities and infracommunities of R. steindachneri exhibited similar patterns: high species number and low numerical dominance by a particular species of parasite. The differences of body size of male vs. female rays, and a change in diet and feeding behaviour with the age of R. steindachneri, are likely important factors in the structuring of their parasite communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Population structure has direct consequences on species evolution, local adaptation, and the capacity of a metapopulation to adapt to climate change. In this study we assess the genetic structure and demographic history of the Pacific angel shark, Squatina californica, along the northwestern coast of Mexico using the mitochondrial control region. Results showed high levels of genetic diversity and reveal genetic differentiation between the samples from the Pacific coast of the Baja California Peninsula and those from the Gulf of California. These genetic differences are consistent with ontogenetic differences previously reported for S. californica off the northwestern coast of Mexico. Our findings can be explained by the low dispersal ability and habitat preference of the angel shark and by the complex geomorphology off the northwestern coast of Mexico. Contrasting historical demographic patterns were observed: population expansion in the gulf and population stability, with a declining trend, in the Pacific; however, more studies are required to corroborate demographic patterns in both populations. Our results point to 2 distinct management units of the Pacific angel shark in the study area, and this may have direct implications for the management and conservation of this species in Mexico. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Dated multi-stage alluvial fan as archive for pedogenesis under coastal hyperaridity. • Significant relations between Late Quaternary surface ages and pedological features. • Negative age-relation: (de–)salinization, (de–)calcification, (de–)alkalinization. • Positive age-relation: accumulation of organic matter, rubification, loamification. Under hyperarid climate conditions, pedogenesis is driven by the atmospheric deposition and subsequent accumulation of easily to moderately soluble salts forming extreme types of Aridisols. In contrast, the processes and timescales of soil formation in coastal desert environments are as yet not well understood. Therefore, a soil chronosequence at the arid-hyperarid transition in the south-central coastal Atacama Desert is investigated. We measured physicochemical soil parameters of shallow soil profiles on four generations of a multi-stage alluvial fan system, assisted by micromorphological analysis, allowing to deduce the soil-forming processes. We further established a geochronological framework by applying 10Be cosmogenic nuclide exposure dating on the abandoned surface generations, which allowed to infer the timescales for soil formation. The results indicate initial yet clearly identifiable pedogenesis occurring since MIS 5e–c. Along the Late Quaternary chronosequence, physicochemical soil properties show decreasing trends with growing age for the median grain size, salinity, long-term pH development, and CaCO 3 contents. Contrarily, organic carbon, the ratio of organic to total phosphorus, the redness, and the contents of total and poorly crystalline pedogenic iron oxides tend to increase with age. This provides evidence for soil formation under an arid to hyperarid coastal climate characterized by (i) redistribution of salts by leaching causing topsoil desalinization; (ii) decalcification coupled with (iii) dealkalinization in totally decalcified horizons; (iv) accumulation of soil organic matter; (v) initial rubification through formation of pedogenic iron oxides (i.e. hematite); and (vi) initial loamification that, in turn, might have impeding effects on the translocation of soil constituents on timescales larger than 105 a. Furthermore, in situ pedogenesis might be superimposed considerably by aeolian dust influx. At Atacama's south-central coast, the state of pedogenic alteration scales with the cumulative precipitation received throughout the entire Late Quaternary, yet evolved strongest between MIS 5 and the MIS 4/3-transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To assess the repeatability of an ecological study, this study both partially replicates and extends a previous study on the site fidelity and homing ability of two abundant and ecologically important species of rocky intertidal sculpin fishes, Oligocottus maculosus and Oligocottus snyderi. A traditional mark and recapture approach was utilized and found that both of these species display high site fidelity to a home range of tidepools and homing ability to these pools, confirming the findings of previous work. Unlike the previous study, however, there was no effect of body size on homing ability and a modelling approach that incorporates encounter probability provided evidence for a sex effect on homing ability. In addition, this study extends the maximum homing ability of O. snyderi to 179 m and O. maculosus to 218 m, which were the maximum displacement distances for each species in this study, suggesting they may be capable of even greater homing distances. This work, however, finds that homing success was negatively related to displacement distance. These findings suggest adult sculpin populations are likely to be highly sub-structured geographically, possibly contributing to the exceptionally high species richness of the group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bioarchaeological research among prehistoric Pacific Coast populations has shown that external auditory exostoses (EAE) are found in high frequencies. On California's northern Channel Islands archaeological research has demonstrated that there was an intense exploitation of red abalone ( Haliotis rufescens), particularly between ~8000 and 3500 years ago. If the Island Chumash were free-diving for red abalone in subtidal waters, EAE should be prevalent in prehistoric populations from Santa Rosa Island. We recorded the presence or absence, number, side and severity of EAE growths for 207 adult individuals from three time periods on Santa Rosa Island. Our results show that ~11% of the total population was affected, including 22.5% of males and ~3.4% of females. The incidence among females increases from 0% in the Early period, to 2.6% in the Middle period, and 6.8% in the Late period. Overall these are lower rates than those reported for other Channel Island and Pacific Coast sites. Given the relatively low percentage of Santa Rosa Islanders affected with EAE, red abalones may have been harvested primarily in shallow waters rather than the deeper subtidal zone. Our data suggest that gender differences in food procurement activities existed on Santa Rosa Island throughout prehistory, congruent with the argument that EAE is an activity-induced pathology that occurs with prolonged exposure to cold water and wind conditions. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the results of a study conducted on an assemblage of archeofaunal remains from the Copaca 1 archeological site, located on the arid coast of Northern Chile. The site corresponds to an extensive shell midden that was used generally as an occupational site and specifically as a funerary one by specialized marine hunter–gatherers exclusively during the Archaic period. The analysis of the faunal remains enabled a general description of the use of local fauna throughout the site's cultural sequence, which range from 7866 to 5040 cal. BP. According to the results obtained, marine and terrestrial fauna, including marine and terrestrial mammals, sea birds, pelagic and oceanic fish, mollusks, crustaceans and equinoderms, were used as a source of both food and technological implements during the Middle Holocene. This implies that the human groups that inhabited Copaca 1 accessed most of the ecoanthropic spheres of the Southern Cone of the Southwestern Pacific coast from early times onward, an adaptation dated since 12,000 BP in the south-western coast from southern Peru and northern Chile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After being virtually ignored, bats in northwestern Canada and Alaska have recently been subject to increasing attention by scientists, resource managers, and the public. We review recent advances in bat research in the region and identify key priorities for future research, including what we believe is needed to provide a more coordinated approach to filling in these knowledge gaps. Our knowledge of the diversity and distribution of bats has improved considerably as a result of dedicated survey efforts. Scientists have provided a tantalizing glimpse into the natural history and ecology of bats in far northwestern North America and some of the unexpected adaptations they exhibit in response to the challenges imposed by northern environments. Despite these recent advances, further work is required to document the distribution of bats in the region; identify key summer roosting habitats and hibernacula; assess population status and trends; evaluate the impact of anthropogenic change and develop mitigation strategies; and better understand the natural history ecology of bats in the region. Improving our knowledge of these aspects of bat biology will be useful for informing conservation planning initiatives and environmental impact assessment processes. To ensure that new information is reliable and accessible, we strongly recommend that researchers strive to meet minimum evidentiary standards; deposit data, samples and voucher specimens in appropriate repositories; coordinate monitoring efforts and data collection; and publish or otherwise report results. We hope that our concluding remarks will help guide bat research in northwestern Canada and Alaska, and that the hard-earned results obtained in future studies will impart a positive impact on bat conservation in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The La Tolita archeological site is located in the Province of Esmeraldas in the northwestern part of Ecuador at the border with Colombia. This area comprises one of the world's wettest coastal regions with mangrove and swamps along the coast and has one of the richest tropical rainforest of the planet, extending inland. Today this region is seriously affected by natural hazards including earthquakes, deposition of thick layers of volcanic ash, tsunamis, and El Niño flooding. The region also hosted one of the most important and famous cultures of the late Holocene, the La Tolita–Tumaco, which dominated northern South America between 2900 and 1100 yr BP. With the aim of characterizing the influence on the environment of the different factors of natural hazards, climate changes, and human activities, we drilled a 4-m long sediment core in a swamp close to the La Tolita site. The record dates back to 5000 years BP. Multiproxy analyses of pollen, microcharcoal, XRF-based geochemical data, and geochronology were performed on the sediment to distinguish the different drivers of change. At ~ 3000 yr BP, an earthquake dramatically modified the landscape, elevating the ground and changing the course of the rivers. In the following two millennia until 1100 yr BP, raised-field agricultural activities dominated the site, providing evidence for an increase in the local population. Human activity progressively declined after 1100 yr BP, with the loss of the regional influence of the Tolita culture. The climate remained permanently moist throughout the sediment record, both the rainforest and the mangrove remained well developed, and marine incursions were short and frequent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary The work presented here centers on the identification and calculation of indices representative of annual low-flow conditions and baseflow recession form, and the evaluation of trends in these indices with time for rain-dominated streams of the Pacific coastal mountain ranges. Two different baseflow recession analysis techniques are employed, which when combined are capable of modeling the varied dry-season flow conditions that exist over the broad range of catchments included in the study area. Results indicate that over the past 40–80 years widespread trends of increasing rates of baseflow recession and decreasing annual low-flow conditions exist throughout the region. Of streamgages analyzed, 44% were identified as having a statistically significant trend in either low-flow conditions or recession form with time. While spring flow conditions show little change over the study period, trends of decreasing late-summer flow conditions and increasing rates of recession are particularly common. Northern California and Oregon are especially impacted locations, with upwards of 60% of study gages exhibiting decreasing trends in late summer flow conditions. Detailed conceptual explanations for the connections between trends in recession form and indices of low-flow are also presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tsunami deposits have been widely studied in temperate latitudes, but the intrinsic difficulties associated with tropical coastal environments, and the intensity of bioturbation in these habitats, limit the possibilities of analysing these formations. Here, we investigate the deposits on the Colima coast of Mexico, which overlies the subducting Rivera and Cocos Plates, in order to reconstruct the tsunami inundation history and related hazard. We developed a multi-proxy study aimed to recognize and date historical and palaeotsunami deposits, including historical data on the effects of a known tsunami, geomorphological mapping, stratigraphic, grain size, organic matter content, diatoms, geochemical composition, magnetic susceptibility, and anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility, together with radiometric dating (210Pb and14C). We identified two probable tsunami deposits at Palo Verde estuary including a historical event associated with the Mw 6.9 earthquake on 22 June 1932 and a palaeotsunami most likely generated by a similar event in the fourteenth century. This work shows that it is possible to identify both historical and palaeotsunamis in the tropical environment of Mexico’s Pacific coast. These data will serve to enhance our understanding of tsunami deposits in tropical environments and of the regional tsunami hazard. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

ABSTRACT The status of the double-crested cormorant ( Phalacrocorax auritus) in western North America was last evaluated during 1987-2003. In the interim, concern has grown over the potential impact of predation by double-crested cormorants on juvenile salmonids ( Oncorhynchus spp.), particularly in the Columbia Basin and along the Pacific coast where some salmonids are listed for protection under the United States Endangered Species Act. Recent re-evaluations of double-crested cormorant management at the local, flyway, and federal level warrant further examination of the current population size and trends in western North America. We collected colony size data for the western population (British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and the portions of Montana, Wyoming, Colorado and New Mexico west of the Continental Divide) by conducting aircraft-, boat-, or ground-based surveys and by cooperating with government agencies, universities, and non-profit organizations. In 2009, we estimated approximately 31,200 breeding pairs in the western population. We estimated that cormorant numbers in the Pacific Region (British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, and California) increased 72% from 1987-1992 to circa 2009. Based on the best available data for this period, the average annual growth rate (λ) of the number of breeding birds in the Pacific Region was 1.03, versus 1.07 for the population east of the Continental Divide during recent decades. Most of the increase in the Pacific Region can be attributed to an increase in the size of the nesting colony on East Sand Island in the Columbia River estuary, which accounts for about 39% of all breeding pairs in the western population and is the largest known breeding colony for the species (12,087 breeding pairs estimated in 2009). In contrast, numbers of breeding pairs estimated in coastal British Columbia and Washington have declined by approximately 66% during this same period. Disturbance at breeding colonies by bald eagles ( Haliaeetus leucocephalus) and humans are likely limiting factors on the growth of the western population at present. Because of differences in biology and management, the western population of double-crested cormorants warrants consideration as a separate management unit from the population east of the Continental Divide. Published 2014. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reproduction and larval development of the red squat lobster Pleuroncodes monodon is strongly linked to temperature changes provoked by upwelling along the Chilean coast. Here, we propose the hypothesis that both the breeding cycle and the spatial distribution of egg-bearing females of P. monodon in Costa Rica are related to decreasing water temperatures during seasonal coastal upwelling. To describe the breeding cycle, squat lobsters were collected between February 2007 and January 2008 from the Central Pacific coast of Costa Rica. The presence of egg-bearing females in other areas of the Costa Rican coast was studied from samples collected during two latitudinal research cruises ( August 2008: rainy season; May 2009: dry season). Our results revealed that P. monodon has a marked seasonal breeding period (from November to March), which is associated with decreasing water surface temperatures registered during coastal upwelling events. All females with embryos close to hatching were found in areas surrounding the Gulf of Nicoya, when upwelling events have been reported. The near absence of egg-bearing females in zones where upwelling does not occur suggests the existence of a strong correlation between upwelling events and the breeding cycle of P. monodon. Our information should be considered when developing management measures for the sustainable use of this potential fishery resource in the Pacific coast of Central America. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper is the third contribution to the knowledge of littoral Collembola of China. Species of the genusThalassaphoruraoccurring in sandy and shingly beaches in China are reviewed. Descriptions of two new species,Thalassaphorura brevisetosasp. nov. andThalassaphorurahainanicasp. nov. are provided.Thalassaphorura duplopunctataandThalassaphoruralifouensisare recorded for the first time from China, andT.duplopunctatais re-described mainly based on Chinese specimens.Thalassaphorura brevisetosasp. nov. is characterized by having strongly reduced unguiculus and very short body chaetae.Thalassaphorura hainanicasp. nov. resemblesThalassaphorurapomorskiifrom which it differs by 2 + 2 pso on Abd. IV, absence of chaetae on Th. I sternum and four chaetae on subcoxa 1 of leg I, among other characters. http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:B8AC3DB3-DF12-47E2-ACEE-969D72C594C8 [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The Psocoptera fauna of Gorgona National Natural Park, Colombian pacific, consists of 75 species in 42 genera and 21 families. 1 730 specimens were collected in the period November 2007-June 2011. Five families, 20 genera and nine species are new records for Colombia, and two genera and ten species are new to science. The psocid fauna of the island constitutes an extension of the continental fauna. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the Patía River delta, the best-developed delta on the western margin of South America, a major water diversion started in 1972. The diversion of the Patía flow to the Sanquianga River, the latter a small stream draining internal lakes from the Pacific lowlands, shifted the active delta plain from the south to the north and changed the northern estuarine system into an active delta plain. The Sanquianga Mangrove National Park, a mangrove reserve measuring 800km2, lies in this former estuary, where major hydrologic and sedimentation changes are occurring. Overall, major environmental consequences of this discharge diversion in terms of geomorphic changes along distributary channels and ecological impacts on mangrove ecosystems are evidenced by: (1) distributary channel accretion by operating processes such as sedimentation, overbank flow, increasing width of levees, sedimentation in crevasses, interdistributary channel fill, and colonization of pioneer mangrove; (2) freshening conditions in the Sanquianga distributary channel, a hydrologic change that has shifted the upper estuarine region (salinity <1%) downstream; (3) downstream advance of freshwater vegetation, which is invading channel banks in the lower and mixing estuarine zones; (4) die-off of approximately 5200ha of mangrove near the delta apex at Bocas de Satinga, where the highest sediment accumulation rates occur; and (5) recurrent periods of mangrove defoliation due to a worm plague. Further analyses indicate strong mangrove erosion along transgressive barrier islands on the former delta plain. Here tectonic-induced subsidence, relative sea-level rise, and sediment starving conditions due to the channel diversion, are the main causes of the observed retreating conditions of mangrove communities. Our data also indicate that the Patía River has the highest sediment load (27×106 tyr−1) and basin-wide sediment yield (1500tkm−2 yr−1) on the west coast of South America. Erosion rates from the Patía catchment have been more pronounced during the decades of 1970–1980 and 1990–2000, as a result of land degradation and deforestation. The high sediment and freshwater inputs into the mangrove ecosystem create additional stress (both at ongoing background levels and, occasionally, at dramatic levels), which may periodically push local environmental parameters beyond the thresholds for mangrove survival. The future environmental state of the Sanquianga Mangrove National Reserve deserves more scientific and governmental attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The coastal lagoon of Bahía-Magdalena, located on the west coast of the Peninsula of Baja-California, is a subtropical ecosystem with an arid climate and very little freshwater input. During the 2005–2011 period the thermohaline properties varied between cold and warm half-yearly periods. They were influenced by the Transitional Water mass transported by the South California Current from February to July and by the Subtropical Surface Water from August to January. The nutrient concentrations increased (viz up to 16 μM of nitrate) from March to June, when the upwelling index was the highest. Similarly, the inter-annual variation of chlorophyll-a showed a six-monthly pattern with the highest average monthly concentrations being found in June (5 mg m−3 in situ or 8 mg m−3 based on satellite information) and the lowest in December–January. A spatial zoning was also observed in the lagoon with a shallow inner zone that is warmer and richer in chlorophyll-a than the deeper closed mouth area. In the Bahía-Magdalena lagoon a spatial-temporal division into two zones and two seasons was repeated year after year with only minor differences. During the first semester in the outer zone, years 2006 and 2007 were colder and nutrient rich while 2010 was warmer, according to the upwelling conditions in the Southern California Region. Hence, among the coastal lagoons that present a prevailing marine influence, the coastal system of Bahía-Magdalena corresponds to an unusual type of subtropical coastal lagoon where the nutrient input is mainly due to upwelling phenomena. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A cache feature salvaged from an eroding sea cliff on San Nicolas Island produced two redwood boxes containing more than 200 artifacts of Nicoleño, Native Alaskan, and Euro-American origin. Outside the boxes were four asphaltum-coated baskets, abalone shells, a sandstone dish, and a hafted stone knife. The boxes, made from split redwood planks, contained a variety of artifacts and numerous unmodified bones and teeth from marine mammals, fish, birds, and large land mammals. Nicoleño-style artifacts include 11 knives with redwood handles and stone blades, stone projectile points, steatite ornaments and effigies, a carved stone pipe, abraders and burnishing stones, bird bone whistles, bone and shell pendants, abalone shell dishes, and two unusual barbed shell fishhooks. Artifacts of Native Alaskan style include four bone toggling harpoons, two unilaterally barbed bone harpoon heads, bone harpoon fore-shafts, a ground slate blade, and an adze blade. Objects of Euro-American origin or materials include a brass button, metal harpoon blades, and ten flaked glass bifaces. The contents of the cache feature, dating to the early-to-mid nineteenth century, provide an extraordinary window on a time of European expansion and global economic development that created unique cultural interactions and social transformations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to the Peruvian agricultural ministry, the Pacific watersheds where the great cities and intense farming are located only benefit from 1% of the available freshwater in Peru. Hence a thorough knowledge of the hydrology of this region is of particular importance. In the paper, analysis of this region and of the two other main Peruvian drainages, the Titicaca and Amazonas are reported. Rainfall and runoff data collected by the Peruvian National Service of Meteorology and Hydrology (SENAMHI) and controlled under the Hydrogeodynamics of the Amazon Basin (HyBAm) project is the basis of this basin-scale study that covers the 1969–2004 period. Beyond the strong contrasting rainfall conditions that differentiate the dry coastal basins and the wet eastern lowlands, details are given about in situ runoff and per basin rainfall distribution in these regions, and about their different altitude–rainfall relationships. Rainfall and runoff variability is strong in the coastal basins at seasonal and inter-annual time scales, and related to extreme El Niño events in the Pacific Ocean. However, rainfall and runoff are more regular in the Andes and Amazonas at the inter-annual time scale. Warm sea-surface temperatures in the northern tropical Atlantic tend to produce drought in the southern Andes basins. Moreover, significant trends and change-points are observed in the runoff data of Amazonas basins where rainfall and runoff decrease, especially after the mid-1980s and during the low-stage season. Almost all the coastal basins show some change in minimum runoff during the last 35 years while no change is observed in rainfall. This means that human activity may have changed runoff in this region of Peru, but this hypothesis deserves more study. Editor Z.W. Kundzewicz; Associate editor Š. Blažková Citation Lavado C., W.S., Ronchail, J., Labat, D., Espinoza, J.C. and Guyot, J.L., 2012. Basin-scale analysis of rainfall and runoff in Peru (1969–2004): Pacific, Titicaca and Amazonas watersheds. Hydrological Sciences Journal, 57 (4), 625–642. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Abstract: This paper presents the main physical and human-induced stresses that have shaped the recent evolution of the Patía River delta, the largest and best-developed delta on the western margin of South America. During the Holocene, the Patía Delta moved southward and the northern part became an estuarine system characterized by large extensions of mangrove ecosystems. However, a major human-induced water diversion, starting in 1972, diverted the Patía flow to the Sanguianga River, and shifted the active delta plain back to its former Holocene location. This discharge diversion has led to sediment starvation of the southern delta lobe and changed the northern estuarine system into an active delta plain. In addition, coastal areas of the Patía delta subsided as a result of a devastating tsunami in 1979. Morphological changes along the delta coast are evidenced by: (1) coastal retreat along the whole delta front during the period 1986–2001; (2) coastal retreat along the abandoned delta lobe for the period 2001–2008; 56% of the southern delta shoreline is retreating and only 4% of the coast shows signs of accretion; (3) progradation of the northern delta region during the period 2001–2008; the discharge diversion of the Patía River to the Sanquianga has apparently balanced the observed trends in coastal erosion and sea-level rise (5.1mmyr−1 for the period 1984–2006, after the 1979 tsunami); (4) formation of transgressive barrier islands with exposed peat soils in the surf zone; and (5) abandonment of former active distributaries in the southern delta plain with associated inlet closure. In the northern delta lobe, major geomorphic changes include: (1) distributary channel accretion by morphological processes such as sedimentation (also in crevasses), overbank flow, increasing width of levees, inter-distributary channel fill, and colonization of pioneer mangrove; (2) freshening conditions in the Sanguianga distributary channel, a hydrologic change that has shifted the upper estuarine region (salinity<1psu) downstream; and (3) changes in vegetation succession; approximately 30% of mangrove forests in the current delta apex have been replaced by freshwater vegetation. Overall, the recent evolution of the Patía has been controlled by the interplay of (1) high basin-wide sediment load; (2) low discharge variability (Qmax/Qmin); (3) spatial switch of delta distributaries related to tectonic movements and subsidence; (4) a relative sea-level rise of 5.1mmyr−1 after the occurrence of the 1979 tsunami; (5) episodes of sea-level rise associated with the ENSO cycle; and (6) human-induced discharge diversion. The information presented here is valuable evidence for understanding the role of extreme events versus ‘normal’ conditions in creating and shaping deltas. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Archaeological excavations in deep pre-mound levels at Huaca Prieta in northern Peru have yielded new evidence of late Pleistocene cultural deposits that shed insights into the early human occupation of the Pacific coast of South America. Radiocarbon dates place this occupation between ~14,200 and 13,300calyrBP. The cultural evidence shares certain basic technological and subsistence traits, including maritime resources and simple flake tools, with previously discovered late Pleistocene sites along the Pacific coast of Peru and Chile. The results help to expand our knowledge of early maritime societies and human adaption to changing coastal environments. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Noblezada, M. M. P., and Campos, W. L. 2012. Chaetognath assemblages along the Pacific Coast and adjacent inland waters of the Philippines: relative importance of oceanographic and biological factors. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 69: 410–420.When studying plankton distribution, it is necessary to investigate the biology of the target organisms and the surrounding physical environment. Station and species groupings are only useful if they provide insight into the environmental associations of the species in the group. The study covers two geographic regions: the Pacific Coast (Bicol Shelf) and inland waters (San Bernardino Strait, Ticao Pass, Sibuyan, and Visayan Seas) of the Philippines. Comprehensive information is provided on chaetognath assemblages and distribution within the regions. The findings are integrated with oceanographic conditions and phenomena that define the characteristics of the subareas and consideration given to how these conditions affect chaetognath ecology. A comparison is also provided of the community structure of the two regions, and the possible use of chaetognaths as indicator species of water mass movement and oceanographic phenomena explored. In all, 28 284 specimens were examined, and 33 species from 17 genera were identified. Chaetognath distributions, abundance, and community structure were analysed using dissimilarity indices and multiple regression. The results show that the distribution of chaetognaths agrees well with the movement of oceanic water from the Pacific into the central part of the archipelago. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]