A micromorphological evaluation of pedogenesis on Isla Santa Cruz (Galápagos)

Thin sections of about 200 horizons or layers, representing 60 soil profiles in the coastal area and on the windward slopes of Isla Santa Cruz (Galápagos Islands) were analysed. Based on the fabric and the composition of the groundmass and the presence of pedofeatures in individual layers or horizons, clusters of similar material are made and 7 units and 3 subunits distinguished. Plotting these units on a survey map gives a good insight in the spatial distribution of soil materials, expressing different combinations of parent material and precipitation. In the coastal area and the lowest slopes, with a summer dry climate, respectively reddish and greyish and brown materials with a porphyric c/f related distribution pattern and striated b-fabrics, and often with fragmented illuvial clay coatings are observed. The coarse material contains mainly holocrystalline basalt fragments, unweathered in the coastal area, or basalt derived individual minerals. The micromass has a halloysitic-smectitic composition. On the higher slopes, with a permanent moist climate, materials have also a porphyric or fine monic c/f related distribution pattern, but the b-fabric is undifferentiated and no illuvial features are present, gibbsitic features sometimes occur and the micromass consists mainly of halloysite and gibbsite. Subunits are distinguished here according to the microstructure, and the quantity and type of coarse material. Mesocrystalline basalt, often vesicular, dominates over holocrystalline, pointing to the influence of scoria. Soils on the higher slopes are more strongly weathered than those on the drier lower slopes and the coastal area. In depressions in the higher areas, materials with a yellowish or brownish grey micromass with a striated b-fabric, and well developed limpid illuvial clay coatings and impregnative iron oxide nodules occur. The micromass has a halloysite-smectite composition. Contrary to existing hypotheses the reddish soils in the coastal area are not considered as palaeosoils (roots of tropical soils), but as modern soils developed in colluvium on the lower slopes, which was deposited on totally eroded surfaces (marine terraces?). On the slopes the distribution of units is not only determined by hypsometric zones, as suggested in literature, but is rather clustered according to types of parent material. The soils on Santa Cruz are supposed to be formed after the last interglacial period, different from the red soils of San Cristóbal which are older.<br>Se analizaron láminas delgadas de unos 200 horizontes o capas procedentes de 60 perfiles de suelos localizados en el área costera y en las laderas de barlovento de la Isla Santa Cruz (Islas Galápagos). En base a la contextura, la composición de la masa basal y la presencia de edaforasgos en las capas individuales u horizontes, se realizaron clusters de material similar y se distinguieron 7 unidades y 3 subunidades. La demarcación de estas unidades en un mapa permite obtener una buena perspectiva de la distribución espacial de los distintos materiales de suelo, que expresan diferentes combinaciones de material parental y precipitación. En la zona costera y en las laderas más bajas, con un clima con verano seco, se observan, respectivamente, materiales rojizos o grisáceos y materiales pardos con una distribución relacionada c/f tipo porfídica y contexturas birrefringentes estriadas, y frecuentemente aparecen con revestimientos de arcilla iluvial fragmentados. El material grueso contiene principalmente fragmentos de basalto holocristalino, sin meteorizar en la zona costera, o minerales individuales derivados de basalto. La micromasa tiene una composición haloisítico-esmectítica. En las laderas más elevadas, con un clima permanentemente húmedo, los materiales también tienen una distribución relacionada c/f tipo porfídica o mónica fina, pero la contextura birrefringente es indiferenciada y no aparecen rasgos iluviales, los rasgos gibsíticos aparecen alguna vez y la micromasa está formada fundamentalmente por haloysita y gibsita. En este caso las subunidades se distinguen en función de la microestructura y la cantidad y tipo de material grueso. El basalto mesocristalino, a menudo vesicular, domina sobre el holocristalino, indicando la influencia de las escorias. Los suelos sobre las laderas más elevadas están más fuertemente meteorizados que los que se encuentran en las laderas más bajas y más secas y en las zonas costeras. En las depresiones de las zonas elevadas aparecen materiales con una micromasa de amarillenta a pardo grisácea con una contextura birrefringente estriada, y revestimientos de arcilla límpida iluvial bien desarrollados y nódulos de óxidos de hierro. La micromasa está formada por haloisita y esmectita. Contrariamente a las hipótesis existentes, los suelos rojos en la zona costera no están considerados como paleosuelos (residuos de suelos tropicales) sino como suelos modernos desarrollados sobre materiales coluviales en las laderas más bajas, que fueron depositados sobre superficies totalmente erosionadas (¿terrazas marinas?). En las laderas la distribución de unidades no está solo determinada por zonas hipsométricas, tal y como sugiere la literatura, sino que está determinada sobre todo por el tipo de material original. Se supone que los suelos de Santa Cruz se han formado después del último periodo interglacial, diferentes de los suelos rojos más antiguos de San Cristóbal.<br>Lâminas delgadas de cerca de 200 horizontes ou camadas, que representam 60 perfis de solo na zona costeira e nas encostas de barlavento da Ilha de Santa Cruz (Ilhas Galápagos) foram analisadas. Com base na estrutura e composição do fundo matricial e na presença de pedocaracteres nas camadas individuais ou horizontes, podem-se estabelecer grupos de material semelhante e definir 7 unidades e 3 subunidades. Ao marcar estas unidades num mapa de levantamento, obtém-se uma boa perspectiva da distribuição espacial dos vários materiais do solo, que expressam diferentes combinações de material originário e de precipitação. Na zona costeira e encostas mais baixas, com um clima com verão seco, observam-se respectivamente materiais avermelhados ou acinzentados e materiais castanhos, com distribuição relacionada g/f porfírica e tessitura-b estriada, e muitas vezes com revestimentos de argila iluvial fragmentados. O material grosseiro contém principalmente fragmentos de basalto holocristalino, não meteorizado na zona costeira, ou minerais individuais derivados do basalto. A composição da micromassa é haloisítico-esmectítica. Nas encostas mais altas, com um clima permanentemente húmido, os materiais têm também uma distribuição relacionada g/f porfírica ou mónica fina, mas a tessitura-b é indiferenciada, não se observam pedocaracteres iluviais, pedocaracteres gibsíticos ocorrem algumas vezes e a micromassa consiste principalmente de haloisite e gibsite. Neste caso as subunidades são definidas de acordo com a microestrutura e a quantidade e tipo de material grosseiro. O basalto mesocristalino, frequentemente vesicular, é dominante relativamente ao basalto holocristalino, indicando a influência de escória. Os solos das encostas mais elevadas são mais fortemente meteorizados do que os das encostas mais baixas e mais secas e os da zona costeira. Em depressões nas áreas mais elevadas, encontram-se materiais com micromassa cinzenta amarelada ou acastanhada, tessitura-b estriada, revestimentos de argila límpida iluvial bem desenvolvidos e nódulos de óxido de ferro impregnativo. O micromassa é composta por haloisite e esmectite. Contrariamente às hipóteses existentes os solos avermelhados da zona costeira não são paleosolos (resíduos de solos tropicais), mas solos modernos desenvolvidos em material coluvial nas encostas mais baixas, que foi depositado sobre superfícies totalmente erodidas (terraços marinhos?). Nas encostas a distribuição de unidades não é apenas determinada pelas zonas hipsométricas, como sugerido na literatura, mas sobretudo determinada pelo tipo de material originário. Supõe-se que os solos em Santa Cruz se formaram após o último período interglacial, contrariamente aos solos vermelhos de San Cristóbal que são mais velhos

Soils and paleosoils of the Galapagos Islands : what we know and what we don't know, a meta-analysis

Accessible information on Galapagos soils is very limited. Much of the existing, although still scarce, information is several decades old and not easily retrieved. The aim of this paper is to present a critical synthesis. Three local soil-forming factors (parent material, climate, and vegetation) are briefly highlighted, followed by a more detailed discussion of the hypsometric soil sequence on Santa Cruz, the only island where systematic information was recorded by a Belgian geopedological mission in 1962. Five zones are distinguished from the coast toward the top of the island: a dry coastal area, containing superficial and interstitial reddish, smectite-bearing soils between basalt blocks; a transition zone of brown, also smectite-bearing soils; and three subsequent higher zones covered by deeper, brown soils with probably andosolic characteristics. Trace element analyses point to a uniform composition of the parent material and a more progressed weathering on the higher slopes. Micromorphological characteristics of the soils are discussed. Soils of Santa Fe are comparable with those of the coastal zone of Santa Cruz but show higher amounts of P and S, probably of avian origin. Deeper, reddish clayey soils cover San Cristobal and are at least partly pre-Holocene. On the younger islands, no soils seem to be present

Broken Things

Prose by Sydney Stoops

DIRECT PRODUCT PROFIT: A VIEW FROM THE SUPERMARKET INDUSTRY

Direct Product Profit (DPP) is a decision making tool that helps the food merchandiser by providing a better indication of the profitability of products on the supermarket shelves. Direct Product Profit allocates Direct Product Costs (DPC) to individual products. These DPCs are subtracted from gross margin to derive DPP. This paper reports on the use of DPP in the syrup product section of a chain of supermarkets. Implications for managerial action are also discussed.Agribusiness,

Dying without Dignity: Homeless Deaths in Los Angeles County: 2000 - 2007

This report is an investigation into 2,815 homeless deaths in Los Angeles County between January, 2000 and May, 2007, based on statistics provided by the Los Angeles County Coroner's office. When a homeless person dies they do not often get the same sense of dying with dignity as a housed person. December 21st has been commemorated as the National Homeless Persons' Memorial Day by the National Coalition for the Homeless in partnership with the National Health Care for the Homeless Council for communities around the nation to commemorate the lives of homeless people that passed away.Local advocates and service providers celebrate the lives of thousands of homeless people in hundreds of cities around the nation with candlelight vigils, a reading of names, and other acts to remember the lives of those lost while living on the streets of our nation.This report is an investigation into homeless deaths in Los Angeles County between January, 2000 and May, 2007, based on statistics from the Los Angeles County Coroner's office. It is our hope that the homeless people who make up the statistics in this report did not die in vain and that policy makers move to implement the recommendations of this report in an effort to provide the dignity they did not find while living on the streets of our community. Equally important, to implement these strategies to help prevent the untimely deaths of homeless people in the future

Investigations of the Impact of Excess Gut Volume on Spinal Angles

This compilation of research projects investigates the impact of increased gut volume on the lumbosacral disc angle and the central lumbar angle of the spine. The magnitudes of the lumbosacral disc angle can change due to age, pregnancy, sex, and, as hypothesized, gut volume. It is unknown how the central lumbar angle changes due to increased gut volume. This is important because these spinal modifications can result in pain, specifically in the lower back. The consequences of being overweight or obese rarely include the anatomical changes that result due to excess gut volume and center of mass changes. My goal was to examine this skeletal adjustment by comparing lumbosacral angle and central lumbar angle measurements from a sample of 94 adult pelves. Three-dimensional imaging software, Image J and Cloud Compare, were used to measure the pelvic landmarks for comparison with previously measured gut volumetry. The individuals were divided into categories based on their BMIs, ranging from normal to obese. Statistical analysis, including linear regression analysis, followed to determine if there are any significant changes in these spinal angles due to gut volume