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To differentiate the source of aeolian dust between the desert sources from Pan-third pole and high mountain glaciers, therefore, we investigated the spatial variability of aeolian dust sources in the Pan-third polar region. The question of whether such changes reflect variable transport pathways from a unique source in the western China area was addressed. That is, the Sr Nd radiogenic isotope composition of modern desert samples do not support the hypothesis of a single dust provenance at higher elevation mountain glaciers by long-distance transport; regional sources also play a significant role. Based on previous studies and the data from this study, the five isotopic regions were divided, which are controlled by the geological characteristics in western China. The results suggest that mineral dust deposited into the high-mountain glaciers originated from the free ice region because of glacier melting and the physical and chemical erosion of rocks from the surrounding mountains by local wind systems. The Pb isotopic data further demonstrated that natural dust is the source of Pb for the high-mountain glaciers of Pan-third pole. These results provide an exhaustive documentation of the isotopic signature of the regional dust reaching the glacier regions. Image 1 • The sand and loess samples were collected from Pan-third pole, adding the new data. • The western Chinese deserts and Tibet Plateau exist the new potential dust sources. • The local dust have a significantly contribution for the Pan-third pole glaciers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The compositions of Sr and Pb isotopes in the soluble and insoluble dust in six samples from the Miaoergou ice core in eastern Tienshan, China, were measured. The six samples were dated from top to bottom as follows: 2000 AD, 1991 AD, 1983 AD, 1977 AD, 1962 AD and 1958 AD. The 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratios in the soluble fraction ranged from 0.709984 to 0.711031. The isotopic ratios of Pb in the soluble and insoluble dust were between 17.962–18.182 and 18.198–18.409 for 206 Pb/ 207 Pb; 15.540–15.606 and 15.560–15.581 for 208 Pb/ 207 Pb; and 37.994–38.173 and 38.179–38.384 for 208 Pb/ 204 Pb, respectively. These isotopic results for insoluble dust allowed us to document the origins of the dust in the Miaoergou Glacier in eastern Tienshan. The major sources of the natural aeolian deposits were the Taklamakan and Gobi deserts. Natural and anthropogenic Pb sources were assessed using a simple ternary model in which deserts, lead ore and coal served as the primary sources of insoluble dust. Lead ore, coal combustion, and the use of leaded gasoline in the surrounding area may represent additional anthropogenic sources of soluble dust. Thus, anthropogenic sources could be further investigated by using the dust-free soluble fractions. The Pb concentration and Pb isotopic compositions from the High Asia ice cores provided distinct evidence of the positive influences of anthropogenic factors associated with industrial development and the prevailing atmospheric circulation patterns in these regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An ice core was extracted from Miaoergou Glacier, east Tien Shan, China. Concentrations of the rare earth elements (REEs) and Sr–Nd isotopic ratios were measured in insoluble dust sampled from the core. The ratios of REEs in insoluble dust were found to have characteristics typical of aeolian deposition, similar to those of sand and loess from Taklamakan. This suggests that the Taklamakan Desert might be an important source of dust reaching the Miaoergou Glacier. Sr ( 87 Sr/ 86 Sr average 0.718014 and range 0.717025 to 0.718958) and Nd (ε Nd (0) average − 9.1 and range − 9.5 to − 8.5) isotopic compositions in insoluble dust are similar to those of desert sand from Taklamakan and Gobi, suggesting that the Gobi Desert may be another major aeolian source for Miaoergou Glacier. Our results can be compared with Sr–Nd isotopic ratios from Greenland snow and ice, further demonstrating how the dust from Asian deserts contributes a high proportion of aeolian dust in the Greenland region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the first time we investigate the basal thermal condition in the upper area of Jima Yangzong Glacier, the headstream of Yarlung Zangbo River, using ground-penetrating radar techniques. With common offset and common mid-point surveys we analyze the radar velocities in ice with respect to cold-temperate ice transition surface (0.1751 ± 0.0028 m ns) and ice-bedrock interface (0.1657 ± 0.0033 m ns), indicating a radar velocity of 0.1410 ± 0.0154 m ns for the temperate ice layer (16.6 ± 1.8 m). We estimate that the temperate ice layer has a water content of around 6 % ± 4 %, suggesting that the Jima Yangzong Glacier, previously known as continental-type, now possibly becomes polythermal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identifying the mechanism for sex determination in amphibians is challenging. Very little is known about sex determination mechanisms of Rana dybowskii, a species of importance to evolutionary and conservation biology. We screened for sex-linked molecular markers in R. dybowskii in China using target region amplification polymorphism with 2 fixed primers against the sequences of Dmrt1. We found 2 male-linked molecular markers in R. dybowskii, which were 222 bp and 261 bp long. The detection rates of 222 bp marker in males form Xinglong, Huadian, and Dandong were 93.79%, 69.64%, and 13.64%, respectively, while the rate in females from Huadian was 27.50%. Besides, the detection rates of 261 bp marker in the above 3 regions were only observed in males at the rate of 93.79%, 87.50%, and 32.73%, respectively. The inheritance patterns of sex-linked molecular markers showed that the 2 sex-linked molecular markers were heterozygous. Compared to the XY-male parent, progeny from XX-pseudo-male parent possessed lower sex reversal ratio at the same rearing temperature, and the proportion of female froglets from an XX-pseudo-male parent was more than 95% at low rearing temperature (15°C). Our findings suggest that R. dybowskii displays male heterogamety, and the 2 sex-linked molecular markers may have a guiding significance for the protection and utilization of R. dybowskii., (© 2021 The Authors. Integrative Zoology published by International Society of Zoological Sciences, Institute of Zoology/Chinese Academy of Sciences and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.)

We report the first high-resolution record of arsenic (As) observed in Greenland snow and ice for the periods 1711-1970 and 2003-2009 AD. The results show well-defined large-scale atmospheric pollution by this toxic element in the northern hemisphere, beginning as early as the 18th century. The most striking feature is an abrupt, unprecedented enrichment factor (EF) peak in the late 1890s, with an ∼30-fold increase in the mean value above the Holocene natural level. Highly enriched As was evident until the late 1910s; a sharp decline was observed after the First World War, reaching a minimum in the early 1930s during the Great Depression. A subsequent increase lasted until the mid-1950s, before decreasing again. Comparisons between the observed variations and Cu smelting data indicate that Cu smelting in Europe and North America was the likely source of early anthropogenic As in Greenland. Despite a significant reduction of ∼80% in concentration and ∼60% in EF from the 1950s to the 2000s, more than 80% of present-day As in Greenland is of anthropogenic origin, probably due to increasing As emissions from coal combustion in China. This highlights the demand for the implementation of national and international environmental regulations to further reduce As emissions.

Five new species of the spider genus Belisana Thorell, 1898 are described based on material collected in the Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden (Yunnan, China). They are: B. dian Yao Li sp. nov. (male), B. gupian Yao Li sp. nov. (male, female), B. chenjini Yao Li sp. nov. (male, female), B. xtbg Yao Li sp. nov. (male, female), and B. yangxiaodongi Yao Li sp. nov. (male, female). B. schwendingeri Huber, 2005 and B. zhengi Yao, Pham Li, 2015 are reported from China for the first time. All material studied is deposited in the Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IZCAS) in Beijing, China.