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Community-based organizations (CBOs), typically small and underfunded with transient staff members, are told by funders to care for clients and verify program value. To assist CBOs with evaluations that speak to program effectiveness, many funders wish to expand the evaluation capacity of CBO staff members so that evaluation will occur as long as programs exist. In this article, the authors argue that sustainable program evaluation is unlikely when resources are devoted to training staff members to conduct evaluation in house or when money is spent for a typical external evaluation. Instead, the authors recommend a model they name "insourcing." The insourcing model, a cross between in-house and outsourced evaluation, spreads the cost burden of the external evaluation across many CBOs while keeping evaluation in the hands of those trained in the art of evaluation. Insourcing also reduces the staff burden inevitable with internal evaluation and has the greatest potential to sustain. This article compares insourcing with other evaluation types and discusses circumstances in which insourcing could be beneficial. (Contains 2 tables and 2 notes.)

This study provides a taxonomic treatment and comparison of lower Gorstian (Silurian) radiolarians recovered from two sections of the Cape Phillips Formation in the Canadian Arctic that accumulated in two different paleoenvironmental settings. Twilight Creek is more basinal, located ~100 km from the paleo-shelf margin, whereas Snowblind Creek is located within 1 km of the paleo-shelf break, on Cornwallis Island. The fauna, like other material from the Cape Phillips Formation, is extremely well preserved and was recovered from four samples at two localities, all from the Lobograptus progenitor graptolite Zone, an interval that has few published studies regarding radiolarians. A total of 28 species are recognized, of which two are new and described herein (Fusalfanus bilateralis n. sp. and Pseudospongoprunumparvispina n. sp.), belonging to the Haplotaeniatidae, Inaniguttidae, 'Sponguridae', Ceratoikiscidae, Entactiniidae, Palaeoscenidiidae, and Secuicollactidae. Based on these new data, the stratigraphic ranges of some taxa are extended. The species concepts of several closely related inaniguttid species are re-evaluated. As a result, Inanihella tarangulica Nazarov and Ormiston, 1984 is transferred to the genus Fusalfanus Furutani, 1990 based on cortical shell structure, and Inanihella duroacus, Inanihella legiuncula, and Inanihella perarmata are synonymized under Fusalfanus tarangulica sensu lato. Aciferopylorum admirandum is transferred to Fusalfanus and considered a junior synonym of Fusalfanus osobudaniensis. The comparative analysis of taxonomic richness and composition reveals that the more distal sample from Bathurst Island exhibits a slight, but statistically significant, higher alpha diversity at the species rank than the more proximal basin/platform samples from Snowblind Creek. Biodiversity indices at the genus rank produced mixed results, indicating that differences between sites are at best slight. There is also a strong taxonomic separation between the fine and coarse size radiolarian fractions recovered during the sieving of each sample. The siliceous sponge spicule assemblages from these faunas show an inverse diversity relationship to the radiolarians in that Snowblind Creek contains greater alpha diversity than Twilight Creek. This study provides the first documentation of facies-controls in Silurian radiolarian diversity and is useful in evaluating the role of taxa used in biostratigraphy. L'etude presente le traitement taxonomique et la comparaison de radiolaires du Gorstien (Silurien) inferieur recuperes de deux sections de la Formation de Cape Phillips, dans l'Arctique canadien, accumulees dans deux contextes paleoenvironnementaux differents. Twilight Creek s'apparente plus a un milieu de bassin situe a ~100 km de la bordure de la paleoplateforme, alors que Snowblind Creek est situe a moins de 1 km de la bordure de cette derniere, dans l'ile Cornwallis. La faune, comme d'autre materiau de la Formation de Cape Phillips, est extremement bien preservee et a ete recuperee de quatre echantillons provenant de deux localites, tous de la zone a graptolite Lobograptus progenitor, un intervalle caracterise par peu d'etudes publiees sur les radiolaires. Un total de 28 especes sont reconnues, dont deux nouvelles decrites dans la presente etude (Fusalfanus bilateralis n. sp. et Pseudospongoprunum parvispina n. sp.), appartenant aux Haploteniatides, Inaniguttides, <>, Ceratoikiscides, Entactiniides, Paleoscenidiides et Secuicollactides. A la lumiere de ces nouvelles donnees, les repartitions stratigraphiques de certains taxons sont elargies. Le concept d'espece pour plusieurs especes d'inaniguttides etroitement reliees est reevalue et, en consequence, Inanihella tarangulica Nazarov and Ormiston, 1984 est transfere au genre Fusalfanus Furutani, 1990 a la lumiere de la structure corticale de sa coquille, et Inanihella duroacus, Inanihella legiuncula et Inanihella perarmata sont etablis comme des synonymes de Fusalfanus tarangulica sensu lato. Aciferopylorum admirandum est transfere a Fusalfanus et considere comme etant un synonyme junior de Fusalfanus osobudaniensis. L'analyse comparative de la richesse et de la composition taxonomiques revele que l'echantillon plus distal de l'ile Bathurst presente une diversite alpha legerement, bien que significativement, plus forte au rang de l'espece que les echantillons plus proximaux de bassin/plateforme de Snowblind Creek. Les indices de biodiversite au rang du genre produisent des resultats mitiges, indiquant que les differences entre localites sont, au mieux, minimes. Il y a egalement une separation taxonomique marquee entre les fractions fines et grossieres de radiolaires produites par le criblage de chacun des echantillons. Les assemblages de spicules d'eponges siliceux de ces faunes presentent une relation de diversite inverse a celle des radiolaires, en cela que l'assemblage de Snowblind Creek contient une plus grande diversite alpha que celui de Twilight Creek. Cette etude fournit la premiere documentation d'un controle de la diversite de radiolaires siluriens par le facies et est utile pour l'evaluation du role des taxons utilises en biostratigraphie. [Traduit par la Redaction], Introduction Since their appearance in the lower Cambrian (Pouille et al. 2011), Polycystine radiolarians diversified during the entire Phanerozoic (De Wever et al. 2001); they thus have the potential to [...]

Integrated sequence stratigraphic, biostratigraphic, and chemostratigraphic analyses of three stratigraphic sections in central Nevada indicate that Late Ordovician glaciation-induced sea-level fall produced diachronous, stepwise faunal turnover in graptolites, conodonts, chitinozoans, and radiolarians, and also triggered a strong, but transient, positive [[Delta].sup.13]C excursion. This pattern is very different from that described for most mass extinction events.

A regionally extensive Early Mississippian hiatus is recognized at the transition from preflysch to flysch rocks in the Ouachita system of the southern mid-continental United States. It is recognized only in sections where detailed biostratigraphic control exists, and it is coeval with a regional unconformity in the Ouachita foreland throughout parts of Texas, New Mexico, and Oklahoma. Widespread Early Mississippian erosion and nondeposition is attributed to a reconfiguration in basin geometry caused by the onset of Ouachita orogenic activity. Crustal flexure resulting from the impending collision would have initiated erosional processes throughout the foreland, while simultaneously altering bottom-current pathways in the basin and allowing for a prolonged period of sedimentary bypass. In the Late Mississippian, increased constriction may have eventually cut off transequatorial bottom-water circulation, allowing deposition to resume on the shelf and in the basin. An important tectonic implication of this study is that Ouachita deformation started in the Late Devonian to earliest Mississippian, at least 10 m.y. before the onset of flysch deposition.

An unusually fossiliferous sedimentary sequence is exposed near Scarborough, Tobago, West Indies. It occurs within the Tobago Volcanic Group above an undifferentiated sequence of volcaniclastic breccia and lava and includes volcanogenic sedimentary rocks at the base of the Bacolet Formation. An ammonite-radiolarian assemblage has been recovered from this sedimentary interval in the Tobago Volcanic Group. Ammonites from the Spring Gardens quarry are moderately evolute and have unbranched ribs; they are probably juveniles of Mojsisoviczia, of middle Albian age. Another ammonite from a stratigraphically higher locality (i.e., volcanogenic sedimentary rocks at the base of the Bacolet Formation) is identified as Manuaniceras decsernae Young, of early late Albian age. Radiolarian assemblages from intercalations of black siliceous argillite of the Tobago Volcanic Group are characterized by abundant Archaeospongoprunum spp. and the common occurrence of Pseudodictyomitra pentacolaensis, Dictyomitra montisserei, Thanarla brouweri, and Pantanellium ventosum. Also present in lesser abundances are other members of the family Archaeodictyomitridae, Xitus, Napora durhami, and Sciadiocapsa speciosa. This assemblage correlates with the Romanus subzone of O'Dogherty (1994) and Kozurium zingulai zone of Pessagno (1977), both of which are dated as early to middle Albian. These newly reported fossils indicate an Albian age for deposition of the Tobago Volcanic Group. Earlier published [sup.40]Ar/[sup.39]Ar radiometric ages from the group are consistent with the stratigraphic age assignment of the fossils and thereby suggest that volcanism associated with the Tobago Volcanic Group began ca. 105 Ma. Possible correlative, accreted fragments of the Mesozoic oceanic-arc of the southern Caribbean include the Curacao Lava Formation, the lower part of the Washikemba Formation (Bonaire), the Tiara Formation of north-central Venezuela, and possibly the subsurface Mejillones complex of the Carupano basin. The Mesozoic rocks of Tobago consist of two distinct, oceanic-arc rock sequences. The older North Coast Schist ([is greater than or equal to] 120 Ma) exhibits polyphase deformation and lower greenschist facies metamorphism. The structurally overlying Tobago Volcanic Group is not penetratively deformed or folded; it has undergone prehnite-pumpellyite facies metamorphic conditions and has been tilted to moderate dips by various brittle faults. We interpret the hiatus that separates these oceanic-arc rock sequences as representing a significant event in the evolution of the Great Arc of the Caribbean. Consequently, we propose that the commonly postulated reversal in subductionzone polarity of the Great Arc occurred prior to deposition of the Tobago Volcanic Group (ca. 105 Ma), and that older, more highly deformed and metamorphosed oceanic-arc sequences (e.g., North Coast Schist) served as a basement for younger sequences or as wall rock for intrusive elements of younger magmatic suites of the Great Arc. Keywords: Caribbean area, Tobago, Cretaceous, ammonites, radiolarians.

Current knowledge of early Paleozoic radiolarians permits the recognition of faunal assemblages and zones that constitute a biozonation. This new zonation utilizes robust and relatively common, easily recognized morphotypes. It will facilitate rapid acquisition of previously unavailable age constraints for marine siliceous sedimentary successions in hitherto poorly understood early Paleozoic orogenic collages. Keywords: Paleozoic, radiolarian, biozonation.

Mechanisms by which hydrochemical changes occur after earthquakes are not well documented. We use the 2016–2017 central Italy seismic sequence, which caused notable hydrochemical transient variations in groundwater springs to address this topic, with special reference to effects on fractured carbonate aquifers. Hydrochemistry measured before and after the earthquakes at four springs at varying distances from the epicenters all showed immediate postmainshock peaks in trace element concentrations but little change in major elements. Most parameters returned to preearthquake values before the last events of the seismic sequence. The source of solutes, particularly trace elements, is longer residence time pore water stored in slow‐moving fractures or abandoned karstic flow paths. These fluids were expelled into the main flow paths after an increase in pore pressure, hydraulic conductivity, and shaking from coseismic aquifer stress. The weak response to the later earthquakes is explained by progressive depletion of high solute fluids as earlier shocks flushed out the stored fluids in the fractures. Spring δ13CDIC values closest to a deep magma source to the west became enriched relative to preearthquake values following the 24 August event. This enrichment indicates input from deeply sourced dissolved CO2 gas after dilation of specific fault conduits. Differences in carbon isotopic responses between springs are attributed to proximity to the deep gaseous CO2 source. Most of the transient chemical changes seen in the three fractured carbonate aquifers are attributed to local shaking and emptying of isolated pores and fractures and are not from rapid upward movement of deep fluids. Plain Language Summary: Understanding the mechanisms of chemical and fluid transport to groundwater springs after earthquakes is poorly understood. Recent earthquakes in the Apennine mountains of central Italy provide a unique example of pre and post earthquake changes to groundwater chemistry in different carbonate aquifers. Our data show that changes were temporary for about 4 months after the earthquakes and that distance from the earthquake gave different responses. We show that the cause of these temporary changes was caused by shaking of long residence time local water into the fast moving flow. Once this long residence time water was flushed from the system the chemistry returned to background concentrations. We found little evidence of precursor chemical changes and no change in arsenic, which had been reported elsewhere. We did find changes in carbon dioxide gas in some springs that indicated that where a deep source of this gas existed, that it could quickly be released to the springs. These findings have implications for water supply delivery immediately after earthquakes and show that local shaking is likely more important than fluids derived from deep sources. Key Points: Transient changes in trace elements after earthquakes in fractured carbonate aquifers are due to local ground shaking not deep fluid movementChanges in carbon isotopic ratio in some springs near a deep magma source indicate release of dissolved CO2 gas after shakingShaking out long residence time water from isolated pores and fractures into the main flow path is the reason for the transient response [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Howard K, Noble P. 2017. Hydrological perturbations drive rapid shifts in phytoplankton biodiversity and population dynamics in Butte Lake (Lassen Volcanic National Park, California). Lake Reserv Manage. 34:21-41.Extreme interannual fluctuations in precipitation affect the hydrologic balance of montane lake systems and impact phytoplankton community composition and biodiversity. The 2013 water year (WY) was the driest period on record for California and caused drought conditions that reduced the total volume of Butte Lake (Lassen Volcanic National Park) by ∼40% at the end of WY 2014. These conditions resulted in changing lake hydrology from an open system (surface outflow) in 2012 to a prolonged period of being a closed system (no surface outflow) in WYs 2013 and 2014. Hydrologic perturbations experienced by Butte Lake in WYs 2013 and 2014 resulted in degraded water quality and shifts in phytoplankton biovolume composition and diatom biodiversity. Chlorophyll a, NH4+, TP, DP, Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+ concentrations and specific conductivity (>10 µS/cm) increased in Butte Lake from WY 2012 to WY 2014, while dissolved oxygen concentrations decreased, and the hypolimnion became anoxic by August 2014. Declining water quality corresponded with increasing lake trophic status from oligo-mesotrophic in 2012 to borderline eutrophic by end of 2014, where DIN>DP (from increased concentration of NH4+). Total surface phytoplankton biovolume shifted from being diatom-dominated in August 2012 to being cyanobacteria dominated by August and September 2014. Diatom biodiversity was significantly different in August 2014 compared with August 2012, and demonstrated a trend of increasing species richness and evenness from WY 2012 to WY 2014. These observed shifts imply the need for an increased focus on water resource and aquatic ecosystem management in Lassen Volcanic National Park lakes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study addresses the effects of climate, land-use, and atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition on the Fallen Leaf Lake watershed, Lake Tahoe Basin, through diatom and geochemical analyses of sediment cores. Four diatom zones are recognized from a core taken at Fallen Leaf Lake (FLL), a site moderately impacted by human activities: (1) Pre-Little Ice Age Zone (840-1385), (2) Little Ice Age Zone (1385-1810) characterized by Stephanodiscus alpinus and Aulacoseira subarctica, (3) Transitional Zone (1810-1950) of warming and anthropogenic influence with increased Lindavia rossii- ocellata group and Discostella stelligera and decreased Pseudostaurosira brevistriata, and (4) Anthropogenic Zone (1950-2010) characterized by a rapid increase of mesotrophic diatoms of the Fragilaria tenera- nanana group, Tabellaria flocculosa strain IIIP, and Nitzschia gracilis. The Transitional Zone increases in elemental Co, Zn, and Sn that may be attributed to an increase in coal burning and smelting activities in California and Nevada. Beginning around 1910 and accelerating in the 1940s, increased building, land-use, and recreation around FLL caused an increase in terrestrial sedimentary input. Down core proxies for atmospheric N deposition in the FLL watershed are, at best, weakly expressed and appear to be overshadowed by stronger signals. Lack of support for N deposition includes the asynchrony in the appearance of the N-sensitive diatom Asterionella formosa in FLL and a lower impact site at Gilmore Lake, and an uninformative δN record. Asterionella formosa is a dominant component in the FLL water column today, but has been present in similar abundances for at least the last 1200 years. Asterionella formosa is present in the water column at Gilmore Lake and absent from the sediment, indicating a very recent appearance. The data collected show that the FLL record is sensitive to climatic cooling during the Little Ice Age and to anthropogenic activities commencing in the 1800s that increased throughout the latter half of the twentieth century; however the effects of anthropogenic N deposition in these lakes could not be substantiated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lake Lungo and Lake Ripasottile are two shallow (4-5 m) lakes located in the Rieti Basin, central Italy, that have been described previously as surface outcroppings of the groundwater table. In this work, the two lakes as well as springs and rivers that represent their potential source waters are characterized physio-chemically and isotopically, using a combination of environmental tracers. Temperature and pH were measured and water samples were analyzed for alkalinity, major ion concentration, and stable isotope (δ²H, δ18O, δ13C of dissolved inorganic carbon, and δ34S and δ18O of sulfate) composition. Chemical data were also investigated in terms of local meteorological data (air temperature, precipitation) to determine the sensitivity of lake parameters to changes in the surrounding environment. Groundwater represented by samples taken from Santa Susanna Spring was shown to be distinct with SO4 2- and Mg2+ content of 270 and 29 mg/L, respectively, and heavy sulfate isotopic composition (δ34S=15.2‰ and δ18O=10‰). Outflow from the Santa Susanna Spring enters Lake Ripasottile via a canal and both spring and lake water exhibits the same chemical distinctions and comparatively low seasonal variability. Major ion concentrations in Lake Lungo are similar to the Vicenna Riara Spring and are interpreted to represent the groundwater locally recharged within the plain. The δ13CDIC exhibit the same groupings as the other chemical parameters, providing supporting evidence of the source relationships. Lake Lungo exhibited exceptional ranges of δ13CDIC (±5‰) and δ²H, δ18O (±5 ‰ and ±7 ‰, respectively), attributed to sensitivity to seasonal changes. The hydrochemistry results, particularly major ion data, highlight how the two lakes, though geographically and morphologically similar, represent distinct hydrochemical facies. These data also show a different response in each lake to temperature and precipitation patterns in the basin that may be attributed to lake water retention time. The sensitivity of each lake to meteorological patterns can be used to understand the potential effects from long-term climate variability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We tested age effects on repetition blindness (RB), defined as the reduced probability of reporting a target word following presentation of the same word in a rapidly presented list. We also tested age effects on homophone blindness (HB), in which the first word is a homophone of the target word rather than a repeated word. Thirty young and 28 older adults viewed rapidly presented lists of words containing repeated, homophone, or unrepeated word pairs and reported all of the words immediately after each list. Older adults exhibited a greater degree of RB and HB than young adults using a conditional scoring method that provides certainty that blindness has occurred. The existence of RB and HB for both age groups, and increased blindness for older compared to young adults, supports predictions of a binding theory that has successfully accounted for a wide range of phenomena in cognitive aging. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The West Tahoe-Dollar Point fault (WTDPF) extends along the western margin of the Lake Tahoe Basin (northern Sierra Nevada, western United States) and is characterized as its most hazardous fault. Fallen Leaf Lake, Cascade Lake, and Emerald Bay are three subbasins of the Lake Tahoe Basin, located south of Lake Tahoe, and provide an opportunity to image primary earthquake deformation along the WTDPF and associated landslide deposits. Here we present results from high-resolution seismic Chirp (compressed high intensity radar pulse) surveys in Fallen Leaf Lake and Cascade Lake, multibeam bathymetry coverage of Fallen Leaf Lake, onshore Lidar (light detection and ranging) data for the southern Lake Tahoe Basin, and radiocarbon dates from piston cores in Fallen Leaf Lake and Emerald Bay. Slide deposits imaged beneath Fallen Leaf Lake appear to be synchronous with slides in Lake Tahoe, Emerald Bay, and Cascade Lake. The temporal correlation of slides between multiple basins suggests triggering by earthquakes on the WTDPF system. If this correlation is correct, we postulate a recurrence interval of ~3-4 k.y. for large earthquakes on the Fallen Leaf Lake segment of the WTDPF, and the time since the most recent event (~4.5 k.y. ago) exceeds this recurrence time. In addition, Chirp data beneath Cascade Lake image strands of the WTDPF offsetting the lake fl oor as much as ~7.5 m. The Cascade Lake data combined with onshore Lidar allow us to map the WTDPF continuously between Fallen Leaf Lake and Cascade Lake. This improved mapping of the WTDPF reveals the fault geometry and architecture south of Lake Tahoe and improves the geohazard assessment of the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geochemical data from the Cape Phillips Formation, Arctic Canada, are examined in association with three Silurian biotic crises in the graptolite community; the early Wenlockian Ireviken, mid Wenlockian Cyrtograptus lundgreni, and end Wenlockian Colonograptus ludensis extinction events. Positive δ13Corg excursions are associated with the Ireviken and C. lundgreni events, but not the Co. ludensis Event. The Ireviken and C. lundgreni excursions are recognized worldwide and are herein interpreted to be the result of carbonate weathering in response to eustatic sea-level drop. The C. lundgreni excursion is of greater magnitude in the more proximal basin margin section at Abbott River, Cornwallis Island, and is explained by the amplification of a more strongly positive δ13C signature in shallower parts of an epeiric basin during increased exposure and weathering of the carbonate shelf. Excursion C5, within the C. praedeubeli – C. deubeli Zone, is also of regional significance, as it occurs in both the Abbott River section and Twilight Creek section on Bathurst Island, and is also recognized in Estonia, Poland, and England. Excursion C6 is recognized in the Gorstian Stage, yet its regional significance remains equivocal. There is a reasonable general agreement between the shape of the δ13Corg and δ13Ccarb curves, yet the δ13Ccarb curve is largely a record of detrital carbonate derived from the shelf. The δ13Corg curve represents extraction of dissolved inorganic carbon by plankton and thus is more indicative of ambient paleoceanographic conditions. These data are valuable in that they provide a detailed secular marine δ13C curve for the Wenlockian of Arctic Canada from relatively unaltered sections of varying facies whose ages are well constrained by graptolite biostratigraphy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a study which reviewed the geologic setting of Carlin-type gold deposits in the Jerritt Canyon mining district in the northern Independence Range, Elko County in Nevada. Description of stratigraphic and structured controls of the ore bodies; Methods used; Regional geologic setting; Geology of the Jerritt Canyon mining district; Mineral deposits in the district.

The analysis of geochemical markers is a known valid tool to explore the water sources and understand the main factors affecting natural water quality, which are known issues of interest in environmental science. This study reports the application of geochemical markers to characterize and understand the recharge areas of the multi-layer urban aquifer of Como city (northern Italy). This area presents a perfect case study to test geochemical markers: The hydrogeological setting is affected by a layered karst and fractured aquifer in bedrock, a phreatic aquifer hosted in Holocene sediments and connected with a large freshwater body (Lake Como); the aquifers recharge areas and the water geochemistry are unknown; the possible effect of the tectonic setting on water flow was overlooked. In total, 37 water samples were collected including water from two stacked aquifers and surface water to characterize hydrochemical features. Moreover, six sediment samples in the recent palustrine deposits of the Como subsurface were collected from cores and analyzed to understand the main geochemistry and mineralogy of the hosting material. The chemical analyses of water allow to observe a remarkable difference between the shallow and deep aquifers of the study area, highlighting different recharge areas, as well as a different permanence time in the aquifers. The sediment geochemistry, moreover, confirms the differences in trace elements derived from sediment-water interaction in the aquifers. Finally, an anomalous concentration of As in the Como deep aquifer was observed, suggesting the need of more detailed analyses to understand the origin of this element in water. This study confirms the potentials of geochemical markers to characterize main factors affecting natural water quality, as well as a tool for the reconstruction of recharge areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Earthquakes are known to affect groundwater properties, yet the mechanisms causing chemical and physical aquifer changes are still unclear. The Apennines mountain belt in Italy presents a rich literature of case studies documenting hydrogeochemical response to seismicity, due to the high frequency of seismic events and the presence of different regional aquifers in the area. In this study, we synthesize published data from the last 30 years in the Apennine region in order to shed light on the main mechanisms causing earthquake induced water changes. The results suggest the geologic and hydrologic setting specific to a given spring play an important role in spring response, as well as the timing of the observed response. In contrast to setting, the main focal mechanisms of earthquake and the distance between epicenter and the analyzed springs seems to present a minor role in defining the response. The analysis of different response variables, moreover, indicates that an important driver of change is the degassing of CO2, especially in thermal springs, whereas a rapid increase in solute concentration due to permeability enhancement is observable in different cold and shallow springs. These findings also leave open the debate regarding whether earthquake precursors can be recognized beyond site-specific responses. Such responses can be understood more comprehensively through the establishment of a regional long-term monitoring system and continuous harmonization of data and sampling strategies, achievable in the Apennine region through the set-up of a monitoring network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blocks and tectonic slices within the Mersin Mélange (southern Turkey), which are of Northern Neotethyan origin (Izmir–Ankara–Erzincan Ocean (IAE)), were studied in detail by using radiolarian, conodont, and foraminiferal assemblages on six different stratigraphic sections with well‐preserved Permian succesions. The basal part of the Permian sequence, composed of alternating chert and mudstone with basic volcanics, is assigned to the late Asselian (Early Permian) based on radiolarians. The next basaltic interval in the sequence is dated as Kungurian. The highly alkaline basic volcanics in the sequence are extremely enriched, similar to kimberlitic/lamprophyric magmas generated at continental intraplate settings. Trace element systematics suggest that these lavas were generated in a continental margin involving a metasomatized subcontinental lithospheric mantle source (SCLM). The middle part of the Permian sequences, dated by benthic foraminifera and conodont assemblages, includes detrital limestones with chert interlayers and neptunian dykes of middle Wordian to earliest Wuchiapingian age. Higher in the sequence, detrital limestones are overlain by alternating chert and mudstone with intermittent microbrecciated beds of early Wuchiapingian to middle Changhsingian (Late Permian) age based on the radiolarians. A large negative shift at the base of the Lopingian at the upper part of section is correlated to negative shifts at the Guadalupian/Lopingian boundary associated with the end‐Guadalupian mass extinction event. All these findings indicate that a continental rift system associated with a possible mantle plume existed during the late Early to Late Permian period. This event was responsible for the rupturing of the northern Gondwanan margin related to the opening of the IAE Ocean. When the deep basinal features of the Early Permian volcano‐sedimentary sequence are considered, the proto IAE oceanic crust formed possibly before the end of the Permian. This, in turn, suggests that the opening of the IAE Ocean dates back to as early as the Permian. Blocks and tectonic slices within the Mersin Mélange (southern Turkey), which are of Northern Neotethyan origin (Izmir–Ankara–Erzincan Ocean), were studied in detail by using Radiolaria, Conodont, and Foraminiferal assemblages on six different stratigraphic sections with well‐preserved Permian succesions. The findings indicate that a continental rift system associated with a possible mantle plume existed during late Early to Late Permian period. This event was responsible for the rupturing of northern Gondwanan margin related to the opening of the Izmir–Ankara–Erzincan Ocean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]