Chien-Hsiang Lin, Siao-Man Wu, Chia-Yen Lin
et al.
Abstract Understanding the diversity of deep-sea fish fauna based on otoliths in the tropical and subtropical West Pacific has been limited, creating a significant knowledge gap regarding regional and temporal variations in deep-sea fish fauna. To address this gap, we collected a total of 122 bulk sediment samples from the Lower Pliocene Gutingkeng Formation in southwestern Taiwan to reconstruct the otolith-based fish fauna. Using planktonic foraminiferal biostratigraphy, we determined the age of the samples to be 5.6 to 3.1 Ma. A total of 8314 otoliths were assigned to 64 different taxa from 33 families, including the discovery of one new genus, Gutingichthys gen. nov., and three new species: Benthosema duanformis sp. nov., Benthosema parafibulatum sp. nov., and Gutingichthys changi sp. nov. Comparisons with other regional otolith-based assemblages highlighted the exceptional diversity of our collection, making it the most diverse fossil fish fauna reported from Taiwan to date. Otolith diversity analysis revealed very few taxa were dominant in the assemblage, particularly the mesopelagic Myctophidae, with a wide variety of minor taxa. The co-occurrence of shallow-water elements suggests episodic storm events as a potential source. The predominance of deep-sea and oceanic fishes indicated an outer-shelf to upper slope environment, resembling the modern outer-shelf and upper slope fish fauna in the region. Our findings suggest an early establishment and persistent presence of the mesopelagic fish community since the Early Pliocene. Further investigations of the Upper Miocene and Pleistocene sections of the Gutingkeng Formation would provide valuable insights into the evolution of deep-sea fish fauna in the area. ZooBank LSID: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:7A336FC7-0D9A-4D17-B212-0B51427945DD.
Caturids are among the best-known predatory ray-finned fishes of the Mesozoic. Although there is consensus about their sister-group relationship to Amiidae (Holostei, Amiiformes), their diversity, ingroup phylogenetic relationships and evolutionary history are still very poorly understood. Caturidae is currently restricted to Caturus and Amblysemius, each with two species. Among them, C. furcatus has become the wastebasket taxon for the group. Our revision of nearly 40 species based on the original descriptions, type and referred material led to significant results changing the picture of caturid diversity in the Late Jurassic. Four specific names are unavailable. Due to insufficient information in the original descriptions, lack of diagnostic features in the type material, or the complete lack of type material, 13 nominal species are nomina dubia. Two species currently considered junior synonyms represent distinct taxa. Strobilodus giganteus is removed from Caturidae. Caturus cliftoni, Thlattodus and Ditaxiiodus are tentatively referred to Strobilodus. The fossil record of Caturoidea is restricted to the Jurassic and earliest Cretaceous. The group apparently underwent significant diversification during the Late Jurassic, as indicated by the increase in the number of taxa and the dispersal of the group outside Europe, which had already begun in the Middle Jurassic.
Mature modifications, ontogeny, and dimorphism of the small-sized tetragonitid ammonoid Tetragonites minimus
were investigated in 43 specimens from the Santonian, Upper Cretaceous of the northwestern area of Hokkaido, Japan.
Four types of mature modifications were recognised in the shell diameters of 11–13 mm and 16–19 mm, and two
differently sized adults were regarded as microconchs and macroconchs respectively. The conch forms of dimorphic
pairs were similar in juvenile but differ in the later stage. The supplementary analysis showed that the remarkable
adult size differences in antidimorphs continued at least in the Turonian–Santonian. The mature size and size difference between dimorphic pairs decreased chronologically. 36 specimens (84% of examined specimens) were mature,
and immature shells were rare in the Santonian. Most of the shells were remarkably well preserved, indicating that
T. minimus assemblage fossilised quickly near their original habitat without long-distance post-mortem transport.
Hence the bias in the fossil occurrence of adult T. minimus is unlikely to be due to taphonomy such as the bias of
fossilisation potential and floatability in the bottom currents. Tetragonites minimus might have been changing their
habitats during their life cycle.
<p>A new polycentropodid caddisfly species is described from Miocene
Dominican amber. The family Polycentropodidae is therefore represented in
the Dominican amber with two species belonging to the genus <i>Cernotina</i>: <i>C. pulchra</i> Wichard, 2007,
and <i>C. fossilinova</i> sp. nov. The endemic <i>C. danieli</i> Flint & Sykora, 2004, is the only
representative of the genus occurring on Hispaniola today and is similar to the
two fossil species. On the Caribbean islands altogether six extant species
of the genus <i>Cernotina</i> are registered.</p>
Fátima Aparecida Sonoda, Priscilla Barbosa Alcantara da Silva, Laura Rodrigues Ribeiro
et al.
As áreas protegidas são reconhecidas como principal estratégia na conservação in situ da biodiversidade, sendo utilizadas como um indicador válido e mensurável do progresso na conservação da biodiversidade remanescente na esfera mundial. O objetivo deste artigo foi estruturar uma base de informações de ocorrência de mamíferos nas unidades de conservação (UC) do Pantanal e avaliar a efetividade das mesmas quanto à proteção da mastofauna presente no bioma. No levantamento de dados de mamíferos presentes nas UC de proteção integral do bioma, foram registradas 112 espécies. Somando-se os registros das UC de uso sustentável, obteve-se o total de 125 espécies. As UC de proteção integral apresentaram registro de aproximadamente 68% das espécies listadas para o bioma pantaneiro. Acrescidos dos registros das UC de uso sustentável, totalizou-se aproximadamente 76% das espécies. Quanto às espécies ameaçadas, foram contabilizadas 22 espécies presentes com pelo menos um registro na rede de UC de proteção integral do bioma. Uma abordagem voltada à construção de uma rede de UC com amplos objetivos de manejo e de conservação é a principal estratégia para garantir a sustentabilidade do bioma, ainda pouco representado no sistema nacional (4,65% de seu território protegido).
Imelda M. Hausmann, Alexander Nützel, Vanessa Julie Roden
et al.
Two marine invertebrate fossil assemblages from the Late Triassic Cassian Formation (Dolomites, northern Italy) were examined to assess their diversity and palaeoecology. Surface and bulk samples from the localities Misurina Landslide and Lago Antorno were taken and analysed separately. Both benthic assemblages are relatively similar in taxonomic composition. Gastropods form the most abundant and diverse group, followed by bivalves. Disarticulated echinoderm ossicles are also common in the bulk sample from Misurina Landslide, but they are rare at Lago Antorno. The Misurina Landslide outcrop has yielded two echinoderm Palaeozoic holdovers, the ophiocistioid Linguaserra triassica and plates of putative proterocidarids, supporting the earlier hypothesis that such basins acted as refugia. The gastropod species Coelostylina conica, Prostylifer paludinaris, and Ampezzopleura hybridopsis are characteristic elements of both assemblages. The gastropod Jurilda elongata, however, is the most abundant species at Misurina Landslide, whereas juveniles of the gastropod species Dentineritaria neritina dominate the assemblage from Lago Antorno. Newly described gastropod taxa are Angulatella bizzarinii Nützel and Hausmann gen. et sp. nov., Bandellina compacta Nützel and Hausmann sp. nov., and Ampezzogyra angulata Nützel and Hausmann sp. nov. Fifty-seven invertebrate species were found in the bulk sample from Misurina Landslide and 26 species were recovered from the bulk sample from Lago Antorno. However, sample size from Lago Antorno was much smaller than that from Misurina. Diversity indices (Shannon, Simpson, Berger-Parker) show similar moderate diversities in both assemblages. Rarefaction curves and rank-abundance distributions also point to very similar diversities and ecological structures of the fossil assemblages. Both assemblages are autochthonous or parautochthonous, stemming from basinal, soft-bottom habitats. Their taxonomic composition differs significantly from that of other faunas known from the Cassian Formation. The tropical marine Cassian palaeoecosystem was highly complex and its diversity is still far from being fully explored.
Rui Zhang, Xiaohao Wei, Vadim A. Kravchinsky
et al.
Abstract Small amplitude or short period geomagnetic anomalies known as “tiny wiggles” (TWs) are often hard to identify because of magnetic signal smoothing in the marine record of geomagnetic reversals. We report here the late Miocene record of geomagnetic reversals in the aeolian red clay sediments of Linxia Basin in China that enables us to identify two TWs. We performed magnetostratigraphy dating and used spectral analysis to distinguish orbital cycles in the records of magnetic susceptibility (MS) and sedimentary grain size (GS) and develop an orbitally tuned age model. The presence of two TWs in the study section, that correspond to C5n.2n‐3 and C5r.2r‐1, is confirmed by orbital calibration of our age model through recognition of eccentricity, obliquity and precession in MS and GS records.
Stelios Katsanevakis, Marta Coll, Simonetta Fraschetti
et al.
Like most ocean regions today, the European and contiguous seas experience cumulative impacts from local human activities and global pressures. They are largely in poor environmental condition with deteriorating trends. Despite several success stories, European policies for marine conservation fall short of being effective. Acknowledging the challenges for marine conservation, a 4-year multi-national network, MarCons, supported collaborative marine conservation efforts to bridge the gap between science, management and policy, aiming to contribute in reversing present negative trends. By consolidating a large network of more than 100 scientists from 26 countries, and conducting a series of workshops over 4 years (2016–2020), MarCons analyzed challenges, opportunities and obstacles for advancing marine conservation in the European and contiguous seas. Here, we synthesize the major issues that emerged from this analysis and make 12 key recommendations for policy makers, marine managers, and researchers. To increase the effectiveness of marine conservation planning, we recommend (1) designing coherent networks of marine protected areas (MPAs) in the framework of marine spatial planning (MSP) and applying systematic conservation planning principles, including re-evaluation of existing management zones, (2) designing MPA networks within a broader transboundary planning framework, and (3) implementing integrated land-freshwater-sea approaches. To address inadequate or poorly informed management, we recommend (4) developing and implementing adaptive management plans in all sites of the Natura 2000 European conservation network and revising the Natura 2000 framework, (5) embedding and implementing cumulative effects assessments into a risk management process and making them operational, and (6) promoting actions to reach ‘good environmental status’ in all European waters. To account for global change in conservation planning and management, we further recommend (7) developing conservation strategies to address the impacts of global change, for example identifying climate-change refugia as high priority conservation areas, and (8) incorporating biological invasions in conservation plans and prioritizing management actions to control invasive species. Finally, to improve current practices that may compromise the effectiveness of conservation actions, we recommend (9) reinforcing the collection of high-quality open-access data, (10) improving mechanisms for public participation in MPA planning and management, (11) prioritizing conservation goals in full collaboration with stakeholders, and (12) addressing gender inequality in marine sciences and conservation.
Science, General. Including nature conservation, geographical distribution
MOHSEN YAZDI-MOGHADAM, ABBAS SADEGHI, MOHAMMAD HOSSEIN ADABI
et al.
The lower Oligocene hyaline and porcellaneous larger foraminifera of a carbonate platform setting, north of Sonqor, were studied for high-resolution biostratigraphy in the context of European standard zonation (Shallow Benthic Zones). According to the geological map of Kermanshah, these beds were previously ascribed to the Miocene. The identified larger foraminifera include Nummulites fichteli Michelotti, Nummulites vascus Joly & Leymerie, Operculina complanata (Defrance), Asterigerina rotula (Kaufmann), Planorbulina bronnimanni Bignot & Decrouez, Discogypsina discus (Goës), Gypsina mastelensis Bursch, Halkyardia maxima Cimerman, Stomatorbina concentrica (Parker & Jones), Praerhapydionina delicata Henson, Penarchaias glynnjonesi (Henson), Austrotrillina aff. paucialveolata Grimsdale, and Haddonia heissigi Hagn, associated with the coralline alga Subterraniphyllum thomasii Elliott. The foraminiferal association characterises the SBZ 21 Zone (early Rupelian).
At present, there are no criteria to distinguish soft-sediment deformation structures (SSDS) formed by earthquakes from SSDS formed by the other 20 triggering mechanisms (see a companion paper in Vol. 5, No. 4 of this journal by Shanmugam, 2016). Even if one believes that earthquakes are the true triggering mechanism of SSDS in a given case, the story is still incomplete. This is because earthquakes (seismic shocks) are induced by a variety of causes: 1) global tectonics and associated faults (i.e., mid-ocean ridges, trenches, and transform faults); 2) meteorite-impact events; 3) volcanic eruptions; 4) post-glacial uplift; 5) tsunami impact; 6) cyclonic impact; 7) landslides (mass-transport deposits); 8) tidal activity; 9) sea-level rise; 10) erosion; and 11) fluid pumping. These different causes are important for developing SSDS.
Breccias are an important group of SSDS. Although there are many types of breccias classified on the basis of their origin, five types are discussed here (fault, volcanic, meteorite impact, sedimentary-depositional, sedimentary-collapse). Although different breccia types may resemble each other, distinguishing one type (e.g., meteorite breccias) from the other types (e.g., fault, volcanic, and sedimentary breccias) has important implications. 1) Meteorite breccias are characterized by shock features (e.g., planar deformation features in mineral grains, planar fractures, high-pressure polymorphs, shock melts, etc.), whereas sedimentary-depositional breccias (e.g., debrites) do not. 2) Meteorite breccias imply a confined sediment distribution in the vicinity of craters, whereas sedimentary-depositional breccias imply an unconfined sediment distribution, variable sediment transport, and variable sediment provenance. 3) Meteorite, volcanic, and fault breccias are invariably subjected to diagenesis and hydrothermal mineralization with altered reservoir quality, whereas sedimentary-depositional breccias exhibit primary (unaltered) reservoir quality. And finally, 4) sedimentary-collapse breccias are associated with economic mineralization (e.g., uranium ore), whereas sedimentary-depositional breccias are associated with petroleum reservoirs. Based on this important group of SSDS with breccias, the current practice of interpreting all SSDS as “seismites” is inappropriate. Ending this practice is necessary for enhancing conceptual clarity and for advancing this research domain.
Pattemore Gary A., Rigby John F., Playford Geoffrey
The plant megafossil genus Linguifolium Arber 1917 is chiefly known from the Middle and Upper Triassic of Gondwana. The range of Linguifolium extended beyond Gondwana by the Late Triassic, persisting there through the earliest Jurassic (Hettangian). The parent plants probably grew in a well-watered, canopied environment.
El presente trabajo presenta una reseña de la historia de la Paleontología de Vertebrados y la investigación actual sobre vertebrados fósiles en la Argentina, en el marco del 25o aniversario desde la fundación de la Asociación Paleontológica Argentina.
The Late Jurassic (Kimmeridgian) Guimarota locality near Leiria in west-central Portugal has yielded more than 800 mammalian dentaries and partial skulls representing the largest sample of Late Jurassic mammals in the world. However, despite the enormous number of specimens collected, the mammalian fauna appears somewhat depauperate. So far, only Multituberculata (several genera of Paulchoffatiidae; 28% of total number), Docodonta (Haldanodon exspectatus Kühne and Krusat; 24%), and Holotheria (48%) represented by Paurodontidae (Henkelotherium guimarotae Krebs and Drescheratherium acutum Krebs) and Dryolestidae (Dryolestes leiriensis Martin, Krebsotherium lusitanicum Martin, and Guimarotodus inflatus Martin) have been detected. "Triconodonta" and Symmetrodonta, which are well represented at other Late Jurassic localities (e.g., Morrison Formation), are missing. To recover the rare mammalian taxa of the Guimarota ecosystem, a project was initiated to study the nearly 7000 isolated mammalian teeth that had been obtained by screenwashing. With a single exception, the same taxa are represented. Among the thousands of isolated teeth, however, 25 lower and 23 upper premolars and molars of a tiny primitive Zatheria have been found, of which the lower molars closely resemble the "Porto Pinheiro molar". After sorting the isolated teeth, the mammalian fauna of the Guimarota ecosystem probably is completely recorded. Apparently, the coastal swamp in the Lusitanian graben where the lignite formed represented a stressed environment not appropriate for some mammalian groups. Endemism is unlikely, because "Triconodonta" and Symmetrodonta were present on the Iberian archipelago in Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous times, where they have been recovered from fluvio-lacustrine deposits of Porto Pinheiro (Latest Jurassic) and Galve (Early Cretaceous, Barremian).
KEY WORDS. Portugal. Guimarota. Jurassic. Mesozoic mammals.
Metriorhynchidae was the only Crocodylomorpha with a pelagic marine lifestyle. Related to this lifestyle, its peculiar body plan al- lows clearly differentiate them from others Crocodylomorpha. The fossil record of metriorhynchids from Tithonian–Berriasian levels of the Vaca Muerta Formation (Neuquén Basin, Argentina) is outstanding, in terms of quantitative and qualitative record. Its taxonomical diversity is composed by four taxa: Cricosaurus araucanensis, Cricosaurus lithographicus, Dakosaurus andiniensis, and Purranisaurus potens. This fossil record is also characterized by the tridimensional preservation of the materials and by the preservation of numerous natural endocasts of the skull cavities. Here, I made a description of the natural endocasts of the brain of Cricosaurus araucanensis together with a synthesis of the advances in the knowledge of these four taxa that were performed during the last years. The information that provides the endocasts, to- gether with the quantity of endocasts, make of the Patagonian fossil record of metriorhynchids a key to the exploration and reconstruction of soft anatomy of these crocodylomorphs, and for the understanding of the physiological changes that accompanied the structural changes of the skeleton. Understanding these changes will allow defining the key innovations that allowed to the metriorhynchids conquer the pelagic environment, unparalleled among archosaurs.