湖北郧西白龙洞古人类遗址初步研究

湖北省郧西县白龙洞遗址经过两次正式发掘,出土了古人类牙齿化石、石制品、骨制品等文化遗物和大量动物化石,是一处重要的古人类遗址.2007年4-5月,作者在该遗址周围进行了地质、地貌调查,并对以往发掘出土的部分动物化石和文化遗物进行了整理.同年9月,作者在白龙洞进行探察和小规模试掘,出土大量动物化石和少量石制品、骨制品等文化遗物.同时还发现可疑燃烧痕迹、动物骨骼表面痕迹以及特殊的动物化石埋藏现象等古人类活动证据.白龙洞发育于上新世沙坪组砾岩、泥晶灰岩和泥灰岩地层中,近水平状节理和裂隙为洞穴发育提供前提条件,垂直渗流为溶蚀的主要方式.白龙洞遗址属原地埋藏,动物群的组合显示中更新世早期的面貌,石英岩岩脉原料可能是导致石器工业组合显示北方石器工业面貌的原因.对遗址分布及埋藏现象的初步分析显示,白龙洞为一处多功能的古人类活动遗址.     

贵州省中部和西南部新发现的洞穴遗址调查简报

贵州以更新世洞穴遗址发育在我国古人类学和旧石器时代考古学领域占有重要地位。本文对近年来贵州中部和西南部洞穴遗址的调查发现进行报道。新发现的9处洞穴遗址均分布在珠江水系的盘江流域,文化遗物主要为石制品。黔中遗址的石制品原料主要为燧石和硅质灰岩,而黔西南石制品原料多以河流成因的石英岩砾石居多;剥片技术主要为锤击法;黔中石制品的个体较小,而黔西南石制品的个体相对较大;石器组合以刮削器占多数。区域对比显示这些遗址的年代大致在距今3万年后的更新世末期至全新世初期。本次调查丰富了更新世末期古人类在贵州的活动信息,其中惠水清水苑大洞、长顺马路大洞和安龙路边大洞具有较大的工作前景。     

蔚县盆地吉家庄旧石器遗址的形成过程

泥河湾盆地发育着我国北方第四纪典型的河湖相沉积体系,因其间富集众多早-中更新世旧石器时代遗址为学术界所关注。本文对泥河湾盆地蔚县吉家庄遗址（JJZ-B和JJZ-E地点）的遗址成因进行分析。地貌和沉积物特点表明,JJZ-B地点埋藏于湖滨相环境的湿地或沼泽环境,JJZ-E地点则属于湖滨相环境下的沙坝沉积体系。遗物的多项指标（遗物空间分布特点、石制品风化磨蚀状况、石制品技术组合与空间产状特征等）分析显示,JJZ-B地点属于近原地埋藏,形成过程中受到微弱的入湖片流改造,遗址完整性较高;JJZ-E地点的遗物连同砾石被湖滨片流搬运至遗址堆积区,后期受到了湖水的淘洗作用,显示异地埋藏的特点。研究表明,泥河湾古湖在中更新世仍保留有丰富的古人类活动信息,湖滨不同部位对遗址成因产生重要影响;该研究对正确解读古人类对吉家庄遗址不同地点的利用方式具有重要意义。     

汉中盆地洋县范坝旧石器地点出土石制品研究

洋县范坝旧石器地点位于秦岭南麓汉江上游的汉中盆地汉江左岸支流溢水河右岸第二级阶地上。为配合西安-成都高铁项目建设,2016年对该地点进行发掘,揭露面积171 m²,出土不同类型的石制品784件。范坝地点加工石制品的原料为遗址附近河流及河漫滩中的石英、石英岩、细砂岩、火成岩和燧石等砾石材料。硬锤打击法是主要的剥片方法,另外还有部分砸击法标本。石制品类型包括石锤、石核、石片、经过二次加工修理的石器、断块、碎屑及备料,石器组合中既存在尺寸较小的轻型刮削器,也有砍砸器、石球和重型刮削器等大型器物。遗址地层初步的光释光测年结果表明,汉江及其北部支流——溢水河第二级阶地上覆的堆积物形成时间为距今22~2.5万年之间,旧石器遗存的埋藏年代约为距今18~2.5万年的中更新世晚期至晚更新世阶段。     

湖北郧西黄龙洞古人类遗址2006年发掘报告

2004—2005年,在湖北省郧西县境内的黄龙洞的两次发掘中,发现了5枚人类牙齿化石、20余件石制品及大量的动物化石。初步分析显示这是一处重要的更新世晚期的人类遗址。我们在2006年对该遗址进行了第三次发掘,又发现了2枚人类牙齿化石、11件古人类打制的石制品与6件骨制工具、1500余件动物化石以及其它古人类活动证据。野外工作期间我们还对黄龙洞洞穴堆积及山体地貌的考察,在此基础上对该洞穴发育及古人类在洞穴内的生活状况进行了初步推测。本文介绍了2006年的野外工作情况。     

安徽东至华龙洞古人类遗址哺乳动物化石的初步研究

华龙洞遗址发现于2004年,先后于2006和2014～2017年进行了5次发掘,期间发现了若干古人类化石和大量哺乳动物化石;本文是对2014～2016年出土哺乳动物化石的初步研究成果。目前已鉴定出8目24科43种(含未定种)哺乳动物,其中以偶蹄类化石最丰富。化石保存状况较差,以碎骨为主,牙齿较少,完整骨骼更少;但骨骼上鲜见啮齿类啮咬痕迹。华龙洞动物群与南京汤山猿人遗址、和县猿人遗址及重庆盐井沟等动物群较为相似,尤其是与和县猿人遗址及南京猿人遗址动物群最为接近,主要表现在如下方面:1)都含古人类化石;2)都不含第三纪动物群的孑遗分子;3)都含有大熊猫-剑齿象动物群的主要成员(大熊猫、剑齿象、巨貘及猪獾等),同时也都含一定量的北方属种,但华龙洞含北方成分相对较少,只发现翁氏麝鼩、麝鼹、变异仓鼠、布氏毛足田鼠、棕熊、李氏野猪、葛氏斑鹿及大角鹿等,华龙洞的大角鹿是该属分布最靠南的地点;4)都含有剑齿象而不含晚更新世常见的亚洲象;5)都含有大量头后骨骼,与以含单个牙齿为主的其它南方洞穴迥然有别。从化石保存状况及属种组成判断,华龙洞堆积时代与和县猿人遗址最为接近,也是中更新世。由于遗址尚未完全暴露,其堆积性质尚不清楚;但从蝙蝠类化石判断,很可能与洞穴堆积有关。     

河南灵井许昌人遗址动物骨骼表面人工改造痕迹

河南灵井许昌人遗址发掘出土了距今约10—8万年前的古人类头骨化石, 与头骨化石同层发现的还有大量哺乳动物化石及石制品等文化遗物。本文是对该遗址2005—2006年出土动物化石骨骼表面人工改造痕迹的观察分析结果。灵井遗址中13%的动物骨骼表面有人工切割痕的产生, 其中切割痕位于长骨骨干部位的约占此类标本总数的98.45%; 同时,在具切割痕的长骨类化石材料中,属于食草动物上部和中部肢骨的分别为34%和41%, 属于下部肢骨的则仅为25%。此外, 灵井动物群中具敲击痕、火烧痕迹、人工使用痕迹的骨骼标本分别占全部观察例数的4.2%、1%、1.32%。总之, 通过对动物骨骼表面保留的上述人工改造痕迹的观察与统计分析, 并与埋藏学实验及其他考古遗址相关属性的对比, 表明古人类是这一遗址中大量脊椎动物肉食资源的初级获取者和利用者, 他们是导致这一动物群聚集形成的主要埋藏学因素。同时, 许昌人遗址中大量破碎动物骨骼的出现可能也与古人类敲骨取髓的取食行为有着非常紧密的联系。     

湖北郧西白龙洞古人类遗址的大额牛化石

牛亚科动物在中国第四纪古人类遗址中十分常见,但其分类和鉴定仍存在诸多问题。南方洞穴动物群经常仅有单个牙齿保存,所以南方更新世洞穴遗址中牛亚科动物化石鉴别问题更为突出。湖北郧西白龙洞古人类遗址出土的大型牛亚科动物化石,不仅有大量单个牙齿,还有残破颅骨、角心、下颌骨及头后骨骼。白龙洞的牛亚科动物角心粗短、横截面呈背腹略扁的椭圆形;额骨上的角间隆突发育且呈拱形;顶骨从颅顶退出;枕面较圆且高;角后颅骨收缩强烈使得枕骨上部变窄,颞窝明显凹进;下颌角大于90°,下颌支向后倾斜;下颌p2的结构复杂程度介于水牛Bubalus和黄牛Bos(Bos)taurus之间。依据上述特征,可将白龙洞的大型牛亚科动物化石归入大额牛Bos(Bibos)gaurus。白龙洞是我国出土大额牛化石最为丰富的古人类遗址,为区分南方洞穴出土的牛亚科动物化石提供了重要材料。     

泥河湾盆地马圈沟遗址哺乳动物破碎长骨反映的古人类行为

马圈沟遗址是东北亚地区年代最古老的旧石器时代遗址之一,出土了大量石制品及动物化石,现已发现并确认距今1.76～1.26 Ma之间的17个不同阶段的文化层,为探讨早更新世东北亚地区最早人类的扩散与生存适应方式提供了关键材料。本文以距今1.66 Ma的马圈沟遗址第3文化层2001～2003年出土的大、中型哺乳动物长骨为研究材料,开展骨骼破碎方式的分析。研究表明,这批长骨化石以残段及残片为主,通过对它们的断口形态和质地,特别是破裂断口的角度进行测量、统计以及分析,发现大多数长骨是在新鲜状况下破裂的,而古人类很可能是敲碎骨骼和取食骨髓的主体;食肉类动物也造成了一些骨骼的破裂,但应该发生在古人类的行为之后。本文是首次对中国北方早更新世遗址出土动物骨骼的破碎方式进行的系统分析,为讨论早更新世古人类与食肉类的互动关系提供了新的线索。     

丹江口库区彭家河旧石器遗址发掘简报

丹江口库区彭家河旧石器遗址位于湖北省丹江口市土台乡彭家河村三组,埋藏于汉水右岸第三级基座阶地的红色黏土层中。2006年11月—2007年1月对该遗址进行抢救性发掘,揭露面积600m2,出土石制品184件,砾石80件。石制品类型包括石器、石核、石片和断块等。石制品总体以大型居多,但也存在少量小型石片和碎屑。古人类选择阶地底部河卵石为原料进行剥片和加工石器;石器以大型为主,手镐和砍砸器是主要类型;古人类多在砾石或石核一端采用锤击法打制石器。石器面貌具有中国南方旧石器主工业的鲜明特点。发掘显示彭家河遗址为原地埋藏,地貌和地层对比显示该遗址形成于中更新世。     

西伯利亚李斯特文卡遗址的大缺齿鼹化石

李斯特文卡（Лиственка）遗址位于俄罗斯西伯利亚叶尼塞河上游右岸的2级阶地,地理坐标为55°35′22″N,85°46′24″E。该遗址出土了丰富的细石器和骨器等文化遗存,是西伯利亚地区旧石器时代晚期重要文化遗址。遗址第7层距今时代约13.59-15.00 kaBP,从该层出土的哺乳动物化石中鉴定和研究了包括有3个个体的大缺齿鼹（Mogera robusta）化石材料。该批材料的发现,表明遗址古环境并不是以前人们认为的是处于冰缘森林-苔原和干草原-苔原环境,而应该是属于大陆性季风气候区,降水量比较充足且分布有泰加林和阔叶林组成的混交林地,具有软体动物、小哺乳动物、大哺乳动物等属种多样的良好生态环境。李斯特文卡遗址大缺齿鼹标本的研究,反映古人类在西伯利亚地区严寒而漫长的冬天里可能把捕捉大缺齿鼹作为重要的食物补充,为我们深入分析亚洲古人类文化交流、古人类体质进化及适应寒冷环境的生活方式等具有重要意义,对我们研究鼹科动物起源与演化等提供了重要研究素材。     

百色盆地六林岭旧石器遗址试掘报告

本文是对2018年广西百色六林岭旧石器遗址试掘结果的报道。试掘共开7个探方（面积28 m²）和1条探沟,可见9层堆积,从两个层位共获得石制品182件（其中地层出土40件,采集142件）。虽然两个文化层石制品在埋藏和保存状况上存在明显差异,但属于同一个技术传统。石制品分为备料、石锤、石核、石片、断块和石器;石器包括砍砸器、手镐和刮削器。在第一文化层发现了与石制品伴生的玻璃陨石碎片,初步推测其年代为803 kaBP,尚不排除二次堆积的可能;第二文化层在第一文化层之下,年代要早于第一文化层,表明古人类在百色盆地持续活动了相当长的一段时间;两个文化层显示出不同的沉积环境,表明古人类在百色盆地生存环境的复杂性和多样性。     

Mass spectrometric U-series dating of Huanglong Cave in Hubei Province,central China: Evidence for early presence of modern humans in eastern Asia

Most researchers believe that anatomically modern humans (AMH) first appeared in Africa 160-190 ka ago, and would not have reached eastern Asia until ∼50 ka ago. However, the credibility of these scenarios might have been compromised by a largely inaccurate and compressed chronological framework previously established for hominin fossils found in China. Recently there has been a growing body of evidence indicating the possible presence of AMH in eastern Asia ca. 100 ka ago or even earlier. Here we report high-precision mass spectrometric U-series dating of intercalated flowstone samples from Huanglong Cave, a recently discovered Late Pleistocene hominin site in northern Hubei Province, central China. Systematic excavations there have led to the in situ discovery of seven hominin teeth and dozens of stone and bone artifacts. The U-series dates on localized thin flowstone formations bracket the hominin specimens between 81 and 101 ka, currently the most narrow time span for all AMH beyond 45 ka in China, if the assignment of the hominin teeth to modern Homo sapiens holds. Alternatively this study provides further evidence for the early presence of an AMH morphology in China, through either independent evolution of local archaic populations or their assimilation with incoming AMH. Along with recent dating results for hominin samples from Homo erectus to AMH, a new extended and continuous timeline for Chinese hominin fossils is taking shape, which warrants a reconstruction of human evolution, especially the origins of modern humans in eastern Asia.     

古人类遗址湖北郧西黄龙洞的铀系年代

湖北郧西黄龙洞为近年来发现的晚期智人遗址。本文报道该地点具明确层位意义的洞穴次生碳酸盐岩和骨化石样铀系测年的结果。含文化堆积下伏一局部钙板的年代为约100ka BP, 其中部偏上一局部钙板为约77ka BP, 表层钙板形成于27—57ka BP间。人类化石和石制品出土于文化堆积的底部, 其年代应在57—100ka BP, 并很可能在77—100ka BP间。与人牙化石同层的四枚犀牛牙化石在35—72ka BP间, 与基于次生碳酸盐岩的年代框架没有冲突。本文结果为中国现代人类的早期出现和距今40—100ka BP间有人类活动提供了有力证据。     

Biochemical comparison of Anopheles gambiae and human NADPH P450 reductases reveals different 2'-5'-ADP and FMN binding traits

NADPH-cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase (CPR) plays a central role in chemical detoxification and insecticide resistance in Anopheles gambiae, the major vector for malaria. Anopheles gambiae CPR (AgCPR) was initially expressed in Eschericia coli but failed to bind 2′, 5′-ADP Sepharose. To investigate this unusual trait, we expressed and purified a truncated histidine-tagged version for side-by-side comparisons with human CPR. Close functional similarities were found with respect to the steady state kinetics of cytochrome c reduction, with rates (k _cat) of 105 s⁻¹ and 88 s⁻¹, respectively, for mosquito and human CPR. However, the inhibitory effects of 2′,5′-ADP on activity were different; the IC₅₀ value of AgCPR for 2′, 5′ –ADP was significantly higher (6–10 fold) than human CPR (hCPR) in both phosphate and phosphate-free buffer, indicative of a decrease in affinity for 2′, 5′- ADP. This was confirmed by isothermal titration calorimetry where binding of 2′,5′-ADP to AgCPR (K _d = 410±18 nM) was ∼10 fold weaker than human CPR (K _d = 38 nM). Characterisation of the individual AgFMN binding domain revealed much weaker binding of FMN (K_d = 83±2.0 nM) than the equivalent human domain (K_d = 23±0.9 nM). Furthermore, AgCPR was an order of magnitude more sensitive than hCPR to the reductase inhibitor diphenyliodonium chloride (IC₅₀ = 28 µM±2 and 361±31 µM respectively). Taken together, these results reveal unusual biochemical differences between mosquito CPR and the human form in the binding of small molecules that may aid the development of ‘smart’ insecticides and synergists that selectively target mosquito CPR.     

Structure and activity of DmmA, a marine haloalkane dehalogenase

DmmA is a haloalkane dehalogenase (HLD) identified and characterized from the metagenomic DNA of a marine microbial consortium. Dehalogenase activity was detected with 1,3-dibromopropane as substrate, with steady-state kinetic parameters typical of HLDs (K_m = 0.24 ± 0.05 mM, k_cat = 2.4 ± 0.1 s⁻¹). The 2.2-Å crystal structure of DmmA revealed a fold and active site similar to other HLDs, but with a substantially larger active site binding pocket, suggestive of an ability to act on bulky substrates. This enhanced cavity was shown to accept a range of linear and cyclic substrates, suggesting that DmmA will contribute to the expanding industrial applications of HLDs.     

青藏高原高寒草甸物种多样性的海拔梯度分布格局及对地上生物量的影响

植物物种多样性在海拔梯度上的变化规律以及物种多样性与生产力的关系是生态学研究的热点, 至今还没有得出一般性规律。本文以青海省海南藏族自治州贵德县的拉脊山(36°21′ N, 101°27′ E, 海拔3,389-3,876 m)和果洛藏族自治州的玛沁县军牧场山体(34°22′ N, 100°30′ E, 海拔4,121-4,268 m)为研究对象, 对植物高度、盖度、地上生物量和物种多样性随海拔高度的变化进行调查和统计分析, 以探讨青藏高原高寒草甸的物种多样性和地上生物量在海拔梯度上的变化规律及两者的关系。结果表明: (1)两条山体样带上地上生物量与物种多样性随海拔的变化规律一致: 随着海拔的升高, 地上生物量线性降低; Shannon-Wiener指数、Simpson指数和物种丰富度都呈单峰曲线, 在中间海拔最大, 而Pielou指数随海拔的升高线性增加。结合目前针对青藏高原高寒草甸的研究数据, 发现物种丰富度随海拔高度的变化均呈单峰曲线, 说明随着海拔的升高物种多样性先升高后降低可能是青藏高原物种多样性分布的普遍规律。(2)地上生物量与物种多样性的关系在两条山体样带上表现一致: 地上生物量随Shannon- Wiener指数、Simpson指数和Pielou指数的升高而线性降低, 但与物种丰富度不相关。综合两条山体样带所有样方数据, 发现地上生物量与Shannon-Wiener指数、Simpson指数不相关, 而随物种丰富度的升高线性增加。结合目前在青藏高原的相关研究数据, 发现地上生物量与物种丰富度呈S型曲线(logistic model)。     

Thermal tolerance and climate warming sensitivity in tropical snails

Tropical ectotherms are predicted to be especially vulnerable to climate change because their thermal tolerance limits generally lie close to current maximum air temperatures. This prediction derives primarily from studies on insects and lizards and remains untested for other taxa with contrasting ecologies. We studied the HCT (heat coma temperatures) and ULT (upper lethal temperatures) of 40 species of tropical eulittoral snails (Littorinidae and Neritidae) inhabiting exposed rocky shores and shaded mangrove forests in Oceania, Africa, Asia and North America. We also estimated extremes in animal body temperature at each site using a simple heat budget model and historical (20 years) air temperature and solar radiation data. Phylogenetic analyses suggest that HCT and ULT exhibit limited adaptive variation across habitats (mangroves vs. rocky shores) or geographic locations despite their contrasting thermal regimes. Instead, the elevated heat tolerance of these species (HCT = 44.5 ± 1.8°C and ULT = 52.1 ± 2.2°C) seems to reflect the extreme temperature variability of intertidal systems. Sensitivity to climate warming, which was quantified as the difference between HCT or ULT and maximum body temperature, differed greatly between snails from sunny (rocky shore; Thermal Safety Margin, TSM = −14.8 ± 3.3°C and −6.2 ± 4.4°C for HCT and ULT, respectively) and shaded (mangrove) habitats (TSM = 5.1 ± 3.6°C and 12.5 ± 3.6°C). Negative TSMs in rocky shore animals suggest that mortality is likely ameliorated during extreme climatic events by behavioral thermoregulation. Given the low variability in heat tolerance across species, habitat and geographic location account for most of the variation in TSM and may adequately predict the vulnerability to climate change. These findings caution against generalizations on the impact of global warming across ectothermic taxa and highlight how the consideration of nonmodel animals, ecological transitions, and behavioral responses may alter predictions of studies that ignore these biological details.     

Effect of heat treatment around the fruit set region on growth and yield of watermelon [Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. and Nakai]

The present experiment was aimed to study the effect of imposing modulated temperature treatments 14 °C and 18 °C, around the fruiting region of watermelon plants, and to estimate the economic feasibility of the temperature treatments based on energy consumption for heating. Watermelon cultivar ‘Sambok-gul’ was selected and sown on perlite beds in a plastic house under controlled conditions at Watermelon Farm, Jeongeup-Jeonbuk, longitude 35° 31′ 47.51N, 126° 48′48.84E, altitude 37 m during the early spring season (2010–2011). The findings revealed that the temperature treatment at 18 °C caused significant increase in weight (2.0 kg plant⁻¹), fruit weight (8.3 kg plant⁻¹), soluble solid content (11.5 %), and fruit set rate (96.5 %) at harvest stage. Higher contents of Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ ions were observed in the 1st upper leaf of the fruit set node (79.3 mg L⁻¹) and the 1st lower leaf of the fruit set node (12.0 mg L⁻¹), respectively at 14 °C. The power consumption and extra costs of the temperature treatment 18 °C were suggested as affordable and in range of a farmer’s budget (41.14 USD/22 days). Hence, it was concluded that modulating temperature treatments could be utilized successfully to optimize the temperature range for enhancing the fruit yield and quality in the winter watermelon crops.