A new species of the genus Ocadia (Testudines: Geoemydidae) from the middle Miocene of Tanegashima Island, southwestern Japan and its paleogeographic implications.

A new geoemydid turtle, Ocadia tanegashimensis (Testudines: Geoemydidae) is described on the basis of a relatively well-preserved shell from the lower middle Miocene of Tanegashima Island, Kagoshima Prefecture, southwestern Japan. This species is clearly distinguished from two congeneric species (extant O. sinensis and O.

Spatial variations of mercury in sediment of Minamata Bay, Japan.

Mercury-contaminated effluent was discharged into Minamata Bay from a chemical plant over a period of approximately 40 years until 1968. In October 1977, the Minamata Bay Pollution Prevention Project was initiated to dispose of sedimentary sludge containing mercury concentrations higher than 25 mg kg(-1). In March 1990, the project was completed.