We studied the water balance, body fluid osmolality and survival of the oribatid mite, Pergalumna nervosa, when exposed to drought in field and laboratory experiments. In a replicated field experiment we artificially lowered the soil water content by putting roofs over selected plots, which reduced soil water potential to levels well below the permanent wilting percentage for plants (i.e. below -1.5 MPa). Even though a slight decrease in the abundance of P. nervosa (only found in the 0-5 cm soil layer) was recorded during the most severe drought stress (ca. -3.5 MPa), the majority of adult mites clearly survived these conditions for 3 weeks in the field without migrating to deeper soil layers. Exposing field collected adults in laboratory experiments simulating even more severe drought conditions revealed that P. nervosa can survive several weeks of gradually increasing drought stress (down to -7 MPa) with moderate water loss. The osmolality of body fluids increased as dehydration progressed, but apparently as a result of simple up-concentration of solutes and not the de novo synthesis of protective osmolytes. We compare and discuss these results in the light of what is known about other arthropods., Stine Slotsbo, Jesper G. Sørensen, Josef Stary, Martin Holmstrup., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Physical mass properties of various types of rocks were ascertained, and their relationships are discu ssed in this article. Basedon water permeability and mercury intrusion porosimetry methods, conductivity coefficient, porosity, and pore size distribution were determined. Furthermore, bulk and particle densities of rocks we re determined. All laboratory tests were carried out according to Czech versi on of the Technical specif ication CEN ISO/TS 17892-11:2004. The above-mentioned specification has the status of the Czech standard (ČSN, CEN). Permeability and porosity are in close relation, and it could be assumed that its relationship is linear, i.e., with increasing porosity, permeability increases as well. This relationship is influenced by other rock properties, such as the amount of open and closed pores with in the rock sample, size, and distribution of pores or mineral admixtures. From this point of view, it is necessary to study these physical properties of rocks as well, because this enables an overall analysis of rocks and its possible use for engineering constructions, Jan Šperl and Jiřina Trčková., and Obsahuje bibliografické odkazy
Preferential flow paths in the crust, as caused by the presence of the Luchlompolo fault in the drilled section of the Kola Superdeep Borehole (SG-3) and the dip angle of the rock structural elements (layering, schistosity, banding), are favourable for migration of deep fluids to the Earth’s surface. An investigation of the structure, anisotropy and permeability of rocks under PT-conditions in the SG-3 section, in addition to the occurrence of He-isotopes, reveals that the high-permeability zones of the exposed crustal segment are related to two important structural elements of the section: in the upper zone - to the Luchlompolo fault, in the lower one to the contact between the Proterozoic and Archaean complexes. The obtained results on the rock samples from SG-3 indicate a rough correlation between permeability and elastic anisotropy of various rock samples. Simulating increased PT-conditions, corresponding to the relevant depths of 6-8 km document the overlapping temperature and pressure effect, i.e. resulting in a sharp decrease of rock permeability., Felix F. Gorbatsevich, Serafim V. Ikorsky and Andrey V. Zharikov., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Permeability plays an important role in the field of geotechnical engineering. Under high temperature and high pressure condition, the physical-chemical and structure properties (such as decomposition, oxidation, dehydration, evaporation, phase transition etc.) of rock have obviously changing, which are significant affected the rock permeability. In order to analyze the influence of temperature and confining pressure on the permeability of rock (sandstones, siltstones and conglomerates) data for permeability was obtained from the literature. The results indicate that temperature and confining pressure have great influence on the permeability of rock, especially for sandstone. There is a threshold temperature and when the heating temperature is lower than the threshold temperature, the permeability of sandstone gradually increases with an increase in temperature. When the heating temperature is higher than 300 ºC (especially 400 ºC), the permeability rapidly increases. The permeability of sandstone decreases gradually with the confining pressure increases. This study of the relationship between rock permeability and temperature and confining pressure lays a foundation for investigations of multi-disciplinary issues regarding high temperatures and high pressures and it can be used for the study of petroleum storage and safe nuclear waste disposal., Zhenlong Ge, Qiang Sun and Wenping Li., and Obsahuje bibliografii