732 results
Search Results
2. Quantifying intracortical bone microstructure: A critical appraisal of 2D and 3D approaches for assessing vascular canals and osteocyte lacunae
- Author
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Neil J. Gostling, Philipp Schneider, Katherine Williams, Richard O.C. Oreffo, and Joshua Steer
- Subjects
0301 basic medicine ,Histology ,osteocyte ,bone ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,vascular canal ,X‐ray CT ,image analysis ,medicine ,Sensitivity (control systems) ,Molecular Biology ,Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics ,Bone growth ,Original Paper ,fossil ,Orientation (computer vision) ,Bone physiology ,Cell Biology ,Original Papers ,Ellipsoid ,030104 developmental biology ,medicine.anatomical_structure ,Osteocyte ,Cortical bone ,Anatomy ,Biological system ,030217 neurology & neurosurgery ,Geology ,Developmental Biology ,Test data - Abstract
Describing and quantifying vascular canal orientation and volume of osteocyte lacunae in bone is important in studies of bone growth, mechanics, health and disease. It is also an important element in analysing fossil bone in palaeohistology, key to understanding the growth, life, and death of extinct animals. Often, bone microstructure is studied using two-dimensional (2D) sections, and three-dimensional (3D) shape and orientation of structures are estimated by modelling the structures using idealised geometries based on information from their cross sections. However, these methods rely on structures meeting strict geometric assumptions. Recently, 3D methods have been proposed which could provide a more accurate and robust approach to bone histology, but these have not been tested in direct comparison with their 2D counterparts in terms of accuracy and sensitivity to deviations from model assumptions. We compared 2D and 3D methodologies for estimating key microstructural traits using a combination of experimental and idealised test datasets. We generated populations of cylinders (canals) and ellipsoids (osteocyte lacunae), varying the cross-sectional aspect ratios of cylinders and orientation of ellipsoids to test sensitivity to deviations from cylindricality and longitudinal orientation, respectively. Using published methods, based on 2D sections and 3D datasets, we estimated cylinder orientation and ellipsoid volume. We applied the same methods to six CT datasets of duck cortical bone, using the full volumes for 3D measurements and single CT slices to represent 2D sections. Using in silico test datasets that did deviate from ideal cylinders and ellipsoids resulted in inaccurate estimates of cylinder or canal orientation, and reduced accuracy in estimates of ellipsoid and lacunar volume. These results highlight the importance of using appropriate 3D imaging and quantitative methods for quantifying volume and orientation of 3D structures and offer approaches to significantly enhance our understanding of bone physiology based on accurate measures for bone microstructures.
- Published
- 2020
3. Fossil Fuel Industry Phase-Out and Just Transition: Designing Policies to Protect Workers' Living Standards.
- Author
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Pollin, Robert
- Subjects
FOSSIL fuel industries ,STANDARD of living ,UNITED States economy ,JOB hunting ,CAPABILITIES approach (Social sciences) ,FOSSIL fuels - Abstract
This paper focuses on transition policies targeted at supporting workers now employed in the fossil fuel industries and ancillary sectors within high-income economies. As a general normative principle, I argue that the overarching aim of such policies should be to protect workers against major losses in their living standards resulting through the fossil fuel industry phase-out. The impacted workers should be provided with guarantees to accomplish this, in the areas of jobs, compensation and pensions. Just transition policies should also include job search, retraining and relocation programs, but these forms of support should be recognized as supplementary. The overall set of just transition policies is fully aligned with the Energy Justice and Capabilities Approach as well as the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. Within this framework, the paper first reviews experiences with transitional policies in Germany, the UK, the EU and, more briefly, Japan and Canada. The policies either implemented or discussed in these cases do not provide the needed guarantees. The paper then presents an illustrative robust just transition program for the heavily fossil fuel-dependent U.S. state of West Virginia. This program will cost, as an annual average, about $42,000 per impacted worker, or about 0.2 percent of West Virginia's current GDP. I briefly summarize results for seven other U.S. states and for the overall U.S. economy. For the U.S. economy overall, the just transition program's costs would total to about 0.015 percent of GDP. These findings demonstrate the financial viability of robust just transition programs for high-income economies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
4. Experimental subaqueous burial of a bird carcass and compaction of plumage
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Evan T. Saitta, Charles Clapham, and Jakob Vinther
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0106 biological sciences ,010506 paleontology ,Taphonomy ,Burial ,biology ,Compaction ,Submersion (coastal management) ,Paleontology ,Fossil ,biology.organism_classification ,010603 evolutionary biology ,01 natural sciences ,Sedimentary depositional environment ,Plumage ,Feather ,visual_art ,visual_art.visual_art_medium ,Geology ,Evolution of birds ,Research Paper ,0105 earth and related environmental sciences - Abstract
‘Exceptional fossils’ of dinosaurs preserving feathers have radically changed the way we view their paleobiology and the evolution of birds. Understanding how such soft tissues preserve is imperative to accurately interpreting the morphology of fossil feathers. Experimental taphonomy has been integral to such investigations. One such experiment used a printing press to mimic compaction, done subaerially and without sediment burial, and concluded that the leaking of bodily fluid could lead to the clumping of feathers by causing barbs to stick together such that they superficially resemble simpler, less derived, filamentous structures. Here we use a novel, custom-built experimental setup to more accurately mimic subaqueous burial and compaction under low-energy, fine-grain depositional environments applicable to the taphonomic settings most plumage-preserving ‘exceptional fossils’ are found in. We find that when submerged and subsequently buried and compacted, feathers do not clump together and they maintain their original arrangement. Submersion in fluid in and of itself does not lead to clumping of barbs; this would only occur upon pulling feathers out from water into air. Furthermore, sediment encases the feathers, fixing them in place during compaction. Thus, feather clumping that leads to erroneously plesiomorphic morphological interpretations may not be a taphonomic factor of concern when examining fossil feathers. Our current methodology is amenable to further improvements that will continue to more accurately mimic subaqueous burial and compaction, allowing for various hypothesis testing. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1007/s12542-018-0411-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
- Published
- 2018
5. Three new species of entimine weevils in Early Miocene amber from the Dominican Republic (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)
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Nico M. Franz and Guanyang Zhang
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0106 biological sciences ,Concept taxonomy ,Polyphaga ,Insecta ,food.ingredient ,Arthropoda ,Range (biology) ,010607 zoology ,Puerto rican ,weevil ,010603 evolutionary biology ,01 natural sciences ,Curculionidae ,food ,Systematics ,Animalia ,Entiminae ,Dominican ambe ,Diaprepes ,lcsh:QH301-705.5 ,Invertebrata ,Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics ,Caribbean ,new species ,Evolutionary Biology ,Dominican amber ,fossil ,Ecology ,biology ,Phylogenetic tree ,Cenozoic ,Palaeontology ,Weevil ,Dominican Republic ,Hexapoda ,Miocene ,Curculionoidea ,biology.organism_classification ,Genealogy ,Coleoptera ,lcsh:Biology (General) ,Central America and the Caribbean ,Taxonomic Paper ,Americas - Abstract
Using syntactic and semantic conventions of the taxonomic concept approach (Franz et al. 2015), we describe three newly recognized fossil broad-nosed weevils (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Entiminae) preserved in Early Miocene amber (ca. 20.4-16.0 mya) from the Dominican Republic: Scelianoma compacta sp. n. sec. Franz & Zhang (2017) (henceforth abbreviated as [FZ2017]), Tropirhinus palpebratus sp. n. [FZ2017], and Diaprepes anticus sp. n. [FZ2017]. The taxonomic assignment of the amber inclusions is grounded in a preceding phylogenetic analysis by Franz (2012). As many as 88 of the 143 therein identified characters were coded for the fossils, whose traits are largely congruent with those present in extant congeners while also differing in ways that justify their new nomenclatural and taxonomic status. We present detailed images, descriptions, and phylogenetically informed diagnoses for the three new species-level entities, along with logically consistent Region Connection Calculus (RCC-5) alignments of the amended genus-level classifications for Scelianoma Franz and Girón 2009 [FZ2017], Tropirhinus Schoenherr 1823 [FZ2017], and Diaprepes Schoenherr 1823 [FZ2017] - in relation to 2-4 preceding classifications published in 1982-2012. The description of Scelianoma compacta [FZ2017] from Hispaniola is indicative of a more widespread historical range of Scelianoma [FZ2017] than reflected in the extant, southwestern Puerto Rican Scelianoma elydimorpha Franz and Girón 2009 sec. Franz and Girón (2009). The presence of Diaprepes anticus [FZ2017] in Hispaniola during the Early Miocene suggests an eastward directed process of island colonization and likely speciation of members of Diaprepes [FZ2017], given that most extant relatives occur throughout the Lesser Antilles. The herein presented data will facilitate more reliable reconstructions of historical biographic processes thought to have played a prominent role in the diversification of the West Indian and Neotropical mainland broad-nosed weevil lineages.
- Published
- 2017
6. Microbially mediated fossil concretions and their characterization by the latest methodologies: a review.
- Author
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Dhami, Navdeep K., Greenwood, Paul F., Poropat, Stephen F., Tripp, Madison, Elson, Amy, Vijay, Hridya, Brosnan, Luke, Holman, Alex I., Campbell, Matthew, Hopper, Peter, Smith, Lisa, Jian, Andrew, and Grice, Kliti
- Subjects
FOSSILS ,EDIACARAN fossils ,MINERAL properties ,EVIDENCE gaps ,INTERDISCIPLINARY research ,ORGANIC geochemistry - Abstract
The study of well-preserved organic matter (OM) within mineral concretions has provided key insights into depositional and environmental conditions in deep time. Concretions of varied compositions, including carbonate, phosphate, and iron-based minerals, have been found to host exceptionally preserved fossils. Organic geochemical characterization of concretion-encapsulated OM promises valuable new information of fossil preservation, paleoenvironments, and even direct taxonomic information to further illuminate the evolutionary dynamics of our planet and its biota. Full exploitation of this largely untapped geochemical archive, however, requires a sophisticated understanding of the prevalence, formation controls and OM sequestration properties of mineral concretions. Past research has led to the proposal of different models of concretion formation and OM preservation. Nevertheless, the formation mechanisms and controls on OM preservation in concretions remain poorly understood. Here we provide a detailed review of the main types of concretions and formation pathways with a focus on the role of microbes and their metabolic activities. In addition, we provide a comprehensive account of organic geochemical, and complimentary inorganic geochemical, morphological, microbial and paleontological, analytical methods, including recent advancements, relevant to the characterization of concretions and sequestered OM. The application and outcome of several early organic geochemical studies of concretion-impregnated OM are included to demonstrate how this underexploited geo-biological record can provide new insights into the Earth's evolutionary record. This paper also attempts to shed light on the current status of this research and major challenges that lie ahead in the further application of geo-paleo-microbial and organic geochemical research of concretions and their host fossils. Recent efforts to bridge the knowledge and communication gaps in this multidisciplinary research area are also discussed, with particular emphasis on research with significance for interpreting the molecular record in extraordinarily preserved fossils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
7. New taxa of cockroaches (Blattodea: Blattaria) from early Miocene amber of Chiapas, Mexico.
- Author
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Estrada-Álvarez, Julio C., Sormani, Carlo G., Núñez-Bazán, Reinier, Mata-González, Jorge A., and Vega, Francisco J.
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AMBER fossils ,AMBER ,MIOCENE Epoch ,COCKROACHES ,SPECIES - Abstract
Copyright of Boletín de la Sociedad Geológica Mexicana is the property of Sociedad Geologica Mexicana and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
8. A Flower Bud from the Lower Cretaceous of China.
- Author
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Chen, Li-Jun and Wang, Xin
- Subjects
NIKON digital cameras ,DIGITAL cameras ,POLLINATION by insects ,GENITALIA ,BUDS - Abstract
Simple Summary: Flowers are beautiful due to their perianth which is frequently colourful and conspicuous. The existence of the colourful perianth is closely related to insect pollination in extant angiosperms. The Early Cretaceous (1.25 million years ago) Yixian Formation in Northeastern China is famous for its great diversity of reproductive organs of early angiosperms. However, unlike typical flowers in extant angiosperms, the previously documented fossil flowers are "naked", namely, they do not have typical perianth, suggestive of a strategy different than the extant one adopted in the reproduction of early angiosperms. However, without fossil evidence, whether there is perianth and whether androecium and gynoecium are protected in early flowers are open questions. In this paper, we document the first flower bud fossil, Archaebuda lingyuanensis, from the Yixian Formation. Besides being the first recorded flower bud (which is fragile and unlikely to be fossilized) in the Early Cretaceous, the flower bud does protect its internal parts, which are vulnerable to various attacks and harm, using the perianth. In addition, perianth plays an important role in attracting insects for successful pollination of early angiosperms. This knowledge on the reproduction of early angiosperms is otherwise unavailable if only the previous fossils are taken into consideration. Background: Although various angiosperms (including their flowers) have been reported from the Yixian Formation (Lower Cretaceous) of China, which is famous worldwide for its fossils of early angiosperms, no flower bud has hitherto been seen in the Early Cretaceous. Such a lack of examples hinders our understanding of the evolution of flowers. Methods: The specimen studied in the present paper was collected from an outcrop of the Yixian Formation (the Barremian-Aptian, Lower Cretaceous) of Dawangzhangzi in Lingyuan, Liaoning, China. The specimen was photographed using a Nikon D200 digital camera, its details were observed and photographed using a Nikon SMZ1500 stereomicroscope, and some of its details were observed using a Leo 1530 VP SEM. Results: We report a fossilized flower bud, Archaebuda lingyuanensis gen. et sp. nov, from the Yixian Formation of China. The debut of Archaebuda in the Yixian Formation provides first-hand material for debate on the early evolution of angiosperm flowers and underscores the great diversity of angiosperms in the Yixian Formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
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9. Application of EPR in Studies of Archaeological Samples
- Author
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Laurent Le Pape, Catalyse Bioinorganique et Environnement (BioCE ), Laboratoire de Chimie et Biologie des Métaux (LCBM - UMR 5249), Institut de Chimie du CNRS (INC)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Grenoble Alpes [2016-2019] (UGA [2016-2019])-Institut de Recherche Interdisciplinaire de Grenoble (IRIG), Direction de Recherche Fondamentale (CEA) (DRF (CEA)), Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA)-Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA)-Direction de Recherche Fondamentale (CEA) (DRF (CEA)), Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA)-Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA)-Institut de Chimie du CNRS (INC)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Grenoble Alpes [2016-2019] (UGA [2016-2019])-Institut de Recherche Interdisciplinaire de Grenoble (IRIG), Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA)-Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA), and Graham A. Webb
- Subjects
Paper ,Ceramics ,Aging ,Materials science ,Carbonate ,[SHS.ARCHEO]Humanities and Social Sciences/Archaeology and Prehistory ,010402 general chemistry ,01 natural sciences ,Torrefaction ,law.invention ,law ,[PHYS.PHYS.PHYS-INS-DET]Physics [physics]/Physics [physics]/Instrumentation and Detectors [physics.ins-det] ,Electron paramagnetic resonance ,ESR ,010405 organic chemistry ,010401 analytical chemistry ,Fossil ,Quartz ,Archaeology ,Wood ,0104 chemical sciences ,Leather ,Pigment ,Dating ,EPR ,Tooth - Abstract
International audience; Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), also known as electron spin resonance (ESR), is more and more used in archaeology, and types of materials analyzed or purposes expand each year. Among its applications, dating is one of the most important. Many materials containing quartz or carbonates could be dated, from sediments to tephras including heated lithic artifacts and potteries, but also teeth, speleothems, shells, corals, and even mortars or plasters. The thermal history is also an important information which can be obtained by EPR to understand ancient ways of using fire for cooking or for lithic or ceramic industry. A third application is the determination of the soil or water source, which could help to understand whence original matter used for lithic or ceramic industry came or to describe climatic environment of settlements. Archaeological artifacts can also be studied, leading to the knowledge of ancient pigments and techniques used in glasses, oil paintings, or inks. Ideas of aging status or processes can be obtained for organic materials such as paper, wood, or leather. Finally, other alternative EPR experiments, such as other frequencies than X-band, EPR microscopy, and pulsed EPR, will be described. In several archaeological research domains, EPR has been, only recently, frequently used, and a lot of effort is spent to increase reliability of the results, especially in EPR dating of the earliest or oldest samples, but also in thermal history, and tendencies to try to normalize procedures for better accuracies and easier comparisons are observed.
- Published
- 2016
10. Using models to correct data: paleodiversity and the fossil record
- Author
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Bokulich, Alisa
- Published
- 2021
- Full Text
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11. A juvenile skull from the early Palaeocene of China extends the appearance of crocodyloids in Asia back by 15–20 million years.
- Author
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Boerman, Sophie A, Perrichon, Gwendal, Yang, Jian, Li, Cheng-Sen, Martin, Jeremy E, Speijer, Robert P, and Smith, Thierry
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MANDIBLE ,SKULL ,CROCODILIANS ,EOCENE Epoch ,FOSSILS ,PALEOGENE - Abstract
The earliest Crocodylia from Asia have been represented so far only by alligatoroids and planocraniids. Although definitive crocodyloids are not known until the late Eocene, it has been hypothesized that Asiatosuchus -like basal crocodyloids originated in Asia before the late Palaeocene. In this paper, we describe a new fossil crocodyloid from the lower Palaeocene of Qianshan Basin, Anhui Province, China. The skull and lower jaw fragment exhibit several characteristics typical of juvenile crocodylians. They also display a combination of features not seen in any other taxon, warranting the erection of a new species and genus, Qianshanosuchus youngi gen. & sp. nov. Its affinities are tested in phylogenetic analyses based on two recent character matrices of Eusuchia. To assess the effect of juvenile characteristics on the outcome of the phylogenetic analyses, juvenile specimens of extant crocodylian taxa are analysed in the same way, showing that the effect of their ontogenetic stage on their placement in the tree is minimal. Our analyses point to a basal crocodyloid position for Q. youngi. With these findings, the presence of Crocodyloidea in Asia is extended to the early Palaeocene, 15–20 Myr earlier than formerly thought. Furthermore, our results corroborate previous hypotheses of a Palaeocene dispersal route of Asiatosuchus -like crocodyloids from Asia into Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
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12. A new early Miocene archaic dolphin (Odontoceti, Cetacea) from New Zealand, and brain evolution of the Odontoceti.
- Author
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Tanaka, Yoshihiro, Ortega, Megan, and Fordyce, R. Ewan
- Subjects
TOOTHED whales ,CETACEA ,MIOCENE Epoch ,DOLPHINS ,SIZE of brain ,CEREBRAL sulci ,BRAIN - Abstract
The major increase in cetacean brain size happened in the middle Miocene, about 15 million years ago, and involved the modern oceanic dolphin lineage Delphinoidea. In this paper, we describe a new specimen of an archaic dolphin, aff. Prosqualodon davidis, from the Gee Greensand, near Oamaru, New Zealand. The specimen is from the early Miocene, approximately 23–19–18 Ma, and includes an incomplete cranium, endocast, teeth, and some postcranial elements. Comparison of the median sulcus among previously reported endocasts and brains of the Cetacea suggests that the cerebrum was expanded incipiently in the Odontoceti from the early Miocene in the Eurhinodelphinidae + Delphinoidea lineage. Conversely, the olfactory fossa has been reduced in Odontoceti, and completely lost in at least two clades (Delphinoidea and Platanista gangetica), because olfaction was most likely no longer an essential sense for animals spending their life in water. Reduction and loss of the olfactory fossa saved energy, which may be related to the expansion of the cerebrum and cortex in an Odontoceti lineage that led to modern oceanic dolphins. The early Miocene appears to have been a transitional period for archaic and modern-type odontocetes, which were possibly and partly separated by these differences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
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13. Devonian macroinvertebrates from the State of Tocantins: occurrence history and new findings.
- Author
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Rodrigues Ribeiro, Victor, Nascimento Sousa, Felipe, Augusto Gaia, Geovane, Augusto Carbonaro, Fábio, Marcelo Scheffler, Sandro, and Pirani Ghilardi, Renato
- Subjects
INVERTEBRATES ,BRACHIOPODA ,MOLLUSKS ,FOSSILS ,FACIES ,CNIDARIA ,AQUATIC invertebrates - Abstract
Copyright of Terr@ Plural is the property of Terr@ Plural and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
- Published
- 2021
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
14. From micropterism to hyperpterism: recognition strategy and standardized homology-driven terminology of the forewing venation patterns in planthoppers (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha)
- Author
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Sheryl A. Yap, Adam Stroiński, Hannelore Hoch, Thierry Bourgoin, Rong-Rong Wang, Adeline Soulier-Perkins, Manfred Asche, Jacek Szwedo, Institut de Systématique, Evolution, Biodiversité (ISYEB ), Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle (MNHN)-École pratique des hautes études (EPHE), Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Pierre et Marie Curie - Paris 6 (UPMC)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Chinese Academy of Sciences [Beijing] (CAS), Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Polish Academy of Sciences (PAN), University of the Philippines Los Baños (UP Los Baños), University of Gdańsk (UG), Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle (MNHN)-Université Pierre et Marie Curie - Paris 6 (UPMC)-École Pratique des Hautes Études (EPHE), Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), and Humboldt University Of Berlin
- Subjects
0106 biological sciences ,Issidae ,010607 zoology ,Zoology ,[SDV.BID.SPT]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Biodiversity/Systematics, Phylogenetics and taxonomy ,010603 evolutionary biology ,01 natural sciences ,Terminology ,Wing ,Veins ,Venation interpretation ,Planthopper ,Brachypterism ,Tegmen ,Original Paper ,Standardized terminology ,biology ,Phylogenetic tree ,[SDV.BID.EVO]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Biodiversity/Populations and Evolution [q-bio.PE] ,Fossil ,biology.organism_classification ,[SDV.BA.ZI]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Animal biology/Invertebrate Zoology ,Taxon ,Tegmina morphological patterns ,Evolutionary biology ,Morphological analysis ,Animal Science and Zoology ,[SDE.BE]Environmental Sciences/Biodiversity and Ecology ,Paraneoptera ,Developmental Biology ,[SDV.EE.IEO]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Ecology, environment/Symbiosis - Abstract
International audience; Following recent advances in the morphological interpretations of the tegmen basal cell margins in the Paraneoptera, a standardized and homology-driven groundplan terminology for tegmina types, structures and vein patterns in Hemiptera Fulgoromorpha, including fossils, is proposed. Each term is listed with a morphological definition, compared and linked to the main systems of planthopper forewing description that have been reviewed. The importance of a standardized and homology-driven terminology is stressed to enhance the quality of data in taxonomic descriptions and to strengthen phylogenetic morphological analysis results. When the interpretation of the origin of vein branches is render difficult, a three-step strategy for pattern recognition of the vein is proposed based on two principles: (1) vein forks are more informative than topology of the vein branches: a search for homologous areas, the nodal cells in particular, must first guide the recognition rather the number of branches of a vein, and (2) minimum of ad hoc evolutionary events should be invoked in the understanding of a modified vein pattern. Examples of some conflicting interpretations of venation patterns in planthoppers are discussed within different families for both extant and extinct taxa. For the first time, the concept of brachypterism is defined in a nonrelative way independently from other structures, and the new one of hyperpterism is proposed; a reporting system is proposed for each of them.
- Published
- 2015
15. Phylogeny and biogeography of the ancient spider family Filistatidae (Araneae) is consistent both with long‐distance dispersal and vicariance following continental drift.
- Author
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Magalhaes, Ivan L. F. and Ramírez, Martín J.
- Subjects
CONTINENTAL drift ,BIOGEOGRAPHY ,VICARIANCE ,SPIDERS ,PHYLOGENY ,ARID regions ,PARSIMONIOUS models - Abstract
Filistatids, the crevice weavers, are an ancient family of cribellate spiders without extant close relatives. As one of the first lineages of araneomorph spiders, they present a complicated mixture of primitive and derived characters that make them a key taxon to elucidate the phylogeny of spiders, as well as the evolution of phenotypic characters in this group. Their moderate diversity (187 species in 19 genera) is distributed mainly in arid and semi‐arid subtropical zones of all continents, except Antarctica. The objective of this paper is to generate a comprehensive phylogenetic hypothesis for this family to advance the understanding of its morphological evolution and biogeography, as well as lay the basis for a natural classification scheme. By studying the morphology using optical and electronic microscopy techniques, we produced a matrix of 302 morphological characters coded for a sample of 103 species of filistatids chosen to represent the phylogenetic diversity of the family. In addition, we included sequences of four molecular markers (COI, 16S, H3 and 28S; 3787 aligned positions) of 70 filistatid species. The analysis of the data (morphological, molecular, and combined) consistently indicates the separation of the Filistatidae into two subfamilies, Prithinae and Filistatinae, in addition to supporting several groups of genera: Filistata, Zaitunia and an undescribed genus from Madagascar; Sahastata and Kukulcania; all Prithinae except Filistatinella and Microfilistata; Antilloides and Filistatoides; a large Old World group including Pritha, Tricalamus, Afrofilistata, Labahitha, Yardiella, Wandella and putative new genera; and a South American group formed by Lihuelistata, Pikelinia and Misionella. Pholcoides is transferred to Filistatinae and Microfilistata is transferred to Prithinae, and each represents the sister group to the remaining genera of its own subfamily. Most genera are valid, although Pikelinia is paraphyletic with respect to Misionella, so we consider the two genera as synonyms and propose a few new generic combinations. Considering the new phylogenetic hypothesis, we discuss the evolution of some morphological character systems and the biogeography of the family. The ages of divergence between clades were estimated using a total‐evidence tip‐dating approach by including fossils of Filistatidae and early spider clades; this approach resulted in younger age estimates than those obtained with traditional node‐dating. Filistatidae is an ancient family that started diversifying in the Mesozoic and most genera date to the Cretaceous. Clades displaying transcontinental distributions were most likely affected by continental drift, but at least one clade shows unequivocal signs of transoceanic long‐distance dispersal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
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16. Two Late Pleistocene specimens of Asian Elephant, and other fossil Proboscidea found in Borneo.
- Author
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LIM TZE TSHEN
- Subjects
ASIATIC elephant ,PLEISTOCENE Epoch ,FOSSIL collection ,FOSSILS ,BIOLOGICAL evolution ,ELEPHANTS ,FOSSIL hominids - Abstract
A newly recognised Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) specimen re-discovered amongst the animal remains excavated by the Harrissons at West Mouth (Niah Cave) in 1958 re-opens the debate about the origin of the species in Borneo. This represents the only specimen of the species with clear stratigraphic information recovered from any controlled excavation sites in the whole island. The current study presents the first zooarchaeological evidence from Niah Cave that unequivocally confirms that Asian elephant was part of the large mammal community on Borneo during late Pleistocene times. This important find is put in a broader context of other prehistoric proboscidean remains recorded from the island, including one previously unreported post-cranial specimen from the fossil collection of Sarawak Museum. Key issues discussed in the present paper include: the geological age of the Niah specimen, geographic origins and the current distribution pattern, the validity of the available subspecific names, and the doubtful presence of the Straight-tusked elephant (Palaeoloxodon) in Borneo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
17. New data on Biphyllidae (Coleoptera: Cucujiformia: Cleroidea) from Baltic amber: more diverse assemblage than previously assumed and its climatic interpretation.
- Author
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Alekseev, Vitalii, Bukejs, Andris, and Vitali, Francesco
- Abstract
Two new extinct species of false skin beetles (Biphyllidae) are described and illustrated based on inclusions in Baltic amber:
Biphyllus lar sp. nov. andCoelodiplus uuu-impressa gen. et sp. nov. The new Eocene fossils are compared with the related extant and extinct representatives of the family. A new monotypic genus is erected for one fossil; another Eocene species is classified within the extant genusBiphyllus Dejean, 1821. The holotype ofDiplocoelus probiphyllus Vitali, 2010 (Baltic amber) is re-examined and its diagnosis is emended. The present paper brings the total number of described biphyllid species from European succinite to three. A key to all documented fossil species of the family is provided. Several aspects of insect use as paleoenvironment and climate proxies are briefly discussed. On the basis of the revealed biphyllid palaeofauna and analysis of the climatic extremes of the modern distribution of the family in the Northern Hemisphere, the lowest possible annual temperature in the area of amberiferous forests of Eocene Northern Europe is hypothesised. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]- Published
- 2023
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18. Prolucanus beipiaoensis gen. et sp. nov.: The First Fossil Species of Lucaninae (Coleoptera: Lucanidae) from the Early Cretaceous of Northeastern China.
- Author
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Qi, Zhi-Hao, Tihelka, Erik, Cai, Chen-Yang, Song, Hai-Tian, and Ai, Hong-Mu
- Subjects
FOSSILS ,FOSSIL beetles ,BEETLES ,SEXUAL dimorphism ,SPECIES - Abstract
Simple Summary: The family Lucanidae Latreille, 1804, has long been considered to be one of the most archaic groups in the superfamily Scarabaeoidea and contains more than 110 genera and about 1300 extant species. Most adult lucanids display obvious sexual dimorphism as males are often larger and possess well-developed and variable mandibles used to compete with other males. For a long period of time, researchers of stag beetles have had problems and disputes, because many views are only speculation and cannot be supported by the evidence of fossil specimens. In this paper, we describe and illustrate a new fossil species from the Early Cretaceous of northeastern China: Prolucanus beipiaoensis gen. et sp. nov. Based on this well-preserved specimen, a new genus is established, representing the first record of the fossil Lucaninae in China and the oldest reliable record of the subfamily. A new stag beetle fossil is described from the Yixian Formation in northeastern China. A new genus is established based on this well-preserved specimen. Prolucanus beipiaoensis gen. et sp. nov. is firmly placed in the extant lucanid subfamily Lucaninae based on its broad prosternal process and geniculate antennae. Our discovery represents the first fossil record of Lucaninae from the Late Mesozoic of China and the oldest reliable record belonging to the subfamily. We also summarize the fossil species of stag beetles found in China and the described fossil species of the subfamily Lucaninae found in the world. A key to all fossil genera of Lucanidae from China is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
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19. FÓSSEIS - DOCUMENTOS, PATRIMÔNIO E MEMÓRIA GEOLÓGICA.
- Author
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Barreto, Nivaldo and Lienert Lubisco, Nídia Maria
- Subjects
INFORMATION science ,FOSSILS ,POLITICIANS ,PERSPECTIVE taking ,PALEONTOLOGY ,GEOLOGY - Abstract
Copyright of Museologia e Patrimônio is the property of Museologia e Patrimonio and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
20. On the systematic position of Cretothereva (Diptera, Therevidae): criticism versus evidence.
- Author
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Cunha Ribeiro, Guilherme, Carmo, Daniel D. D., and Lamas, Carlos J.E.
- Subjects
- *
DIPTERA , *HYPOTHESIS , *CRITICISM , *FOSSILS - Abstract
An extinct genus and species of Diptera – Cretothereva antiqua – has recently been described from the Lower Cretaceous of Brazil (Crato Formation). The fossil has been assigned to the family Therevidae and, according to its authors, would represent the oldest known member of the family of the entire Therevoid clade, with important implications for the evolutionary history of the group. A recent paper written by several Diptera experts challenges the systematic position of Cretothereva antiqua, but without a detailed assessment of the evidences. The evidence for the systematic position of this important fossil is reassessed. We argue that criticism of scientific hypotheses must be based on formal discussion of evidence, not based only on conjecture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
21. Repatriamento, Incorporação e Destruição: o destino da Coleção Caster no Museu Nacional/UFRJ.
- Author
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Marcelo Scheffler, Sandro, Sequeira Fernandes, Antonio Carlos, Batista da Silva, Mariana, Videira-Santos, Roberto, and Gomes de Sousa, Letícia Brandão
- Subjects
PALEOZOIC Era ,GEOLOGICAL research ,MESOZOIC Era ,GEOLOGISTS ,FOSSILS - Abstract
Copyright of Terr@ Plural is the property of Terr@ Plural and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
- Published
- 2021
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
22. 以演化时间为新增指标构建真菌分类系统.
- Author
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赵瑞琳, 贺茂强, and 刘建魁
- Subjects
TIME perception ,FUNGI classification ,MOLECULAR clock ,PHENOTYPES ,TIME management - Abstract
Copyright of Mycosystema is the property of Mycosystema Editorial Board and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
- Published
- 2021
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
23. Multibody dynamics analysis (MDA) as a numerical modelling tool to reconstruct the function and palaeobiology of extinct organisms.
- Author
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Lautenschlager, Stephan and Lomax, Barry
- Subjects
PALEOBIOLOGY ,MORPHOLOGY ,COMPUTATIONAL fluid dynamics ,FINITE element method ,COMPUTER engineering - Abstract
Recent advances in computer technology have substantially changed the field of palaeontology in the last two decades. Palaeontologists now have a whole new arsenal of powerful digital techniques available to study fossil organisms in unprecedented detail and to test hypotheses regarding function and behaviour. Multibody dynamics analysis (MDA) is one of these techniques and although it originated as a tool used in the engineering and automotive industry, it holds great potential to address palaeontological questions as well. MDA allows the simulation of dynamic movements in complex objects consisting of multiple linked components. As such, this technique is ideally suited to model biological structures and to obtain quantifiable results that can be used to test the function of musculoskeletal systems rigorously. However, despite these advantages, MDA has seen a slow uptake by the palaeontological community. The most likely reason for this lies in the steep learning curve and complexity of the method. This paper provides an overview of the underlying principles of MDA and outlines the main steps involved in conducting analyses. A number of recent studies using MDA to reconstruct the palaeobiology of fossil organisms are presented and the potential for future studies is discussed. Similar to other computational techniques, including finite element analysis and computational fluid dynamics, the non‐invasive and exploratory power of MDA makes it ideally suited to study the form and function in vertebrates for which no modern analogues exist. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2020
- Full Text
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24. Anatomical, Ontogenetic, and Genomic Homologies Guide Reconstructions of the Teeth-to-Baleen Transition in Mysticete Whales
- Author
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Gatesy, John, Ekdale, Eric G., Deméré, Thomas A., Lanzetti, Agnese, Randall, Jason, Berta, Annalisa, El Adli, Joseph J., Springer, Mark S., and McGowen, Michael R.
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
25. Hunting the Snark: the flawed search for mythical Jurassic angiosperms.
- Author
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Bateman, Richard M
- Subjects
MOLECULAR phylogeny ,FOSSILS ,OVULES ,ANGIOSPERMS ,CARPEL ,ENDOSPERM ,PHLOEM - Abstract
Several recent palaeobotanical studies claim to have found and described pre-Cretaceous angiosperm macrofossils. With rare exceptions, these papers fail to define a flower, do not acknowledge that fossils require character-based rather than group-based classification, do not explicitly state which morphological features would unambiguously identify a fossil as angiospermous, ignore the modern conceptual framework of phylogeny reconstruction, and infer features in the fossils in question that are interpreted differently by (or even invisible to) other researchers. This unfortunate situation is compounded by the relevant fossils being highly disarticulated two-dimensional compression-impressions lacking anatomical preservation. Given current evidence, all supposed pre-Cretaceous angiosperms are assignable to other major clades among the gymnosperms sensu lato. By any workable morphological definition, flowers are not confined to, and therefore cannot delimit, the angiosperm clade. More precisely defined character states that are potentially diagnostic of angiosperms must by definition originate on the phylogenetic branch that immediately precedes the angiosperm crown group. Although the most reliable candidates for diagnostic characters (triploid endosperm reflecting double fertilization, closed carpel, bitegmic ovule, and phloem companion cells) are rarely preserved and/or difficult to detect unambiguously, similar characters have occasionally been preserved in high-quality permineralized non-angiosperm fossils. The angiosperm radiation documented by Early Cretaceous fossils involves only lineages closely similar to extant taxonomic families, lacks obvious morphological gaps, and (as agreed by both the fossil record and molecular phylogenies) was relatively rapid—all features that suggest a primary radiation. It is unlikely that ancestors of the crown group common ancestor would have fulfilled a character-based definition of (and thereby required expansion of the concept of) an angiosperm; they would instead form a new element of the non-angiosperm members of the 'anthophyte' grade, competing with Caytonia to be viewed as morphologically determined sister group for angiosperms. Conclusions drawn from molecular phylogenetics should not be allowed to routinely constrain palaeobotanical inferences; reciprocal illumination between different categories of data offers greater explanatory power than immediately resorting to Grand Syntheses. The Jurassic angiosperm—essentially a product of molecular phylogenetics—may have become the holy grail of palaeobotany but it appears equally mythical. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2020
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
26. A „Fülöp József Gyűjtemény“ a Magyar Természettudományi Múzeum Őslénytani és Földtani Tárában.
- Author
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ISTVÁN, Főzy
- Abstract
Copyright of Annales Musei historico-naturalis hungarici is the property of Hungarian Natural History Museum and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
- Published
- 2020
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
27. Die Wurzeln der Idiographischen Paläontologie: Karl Alfred von Zittels Praxis und sein Begriff des Fossils.
- Author
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Tamborini, Marco
- Abstract
Copyright of NTM Zeitschrift für Geschichte der Wissenschaften, Technik und Medizin is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
- Published
- 2015
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
28. Foveapeltis gen. nov., an unusual cleroid genus with large hypomeral cavities from mid‐Cretaceous amber (Coleoptera: Cleroidea).
- Author
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Li, Yan‐Da, Kolibáč, Jiří, Liu, Zhen‐Hua, Ślipiński, Adam, Yamamoto, Shûhei, Yu, Ya‐Li, Zhang, Wei‐Ting, and Cai, Chen‐Yang
- Subjects
AMBER fossils ,MESOZOIC Era ,BEETLES ,FOSSILS ,PARSIMONIOUS models - Abstract
Beetles have a remote evolutionary history dating back to the Carboniferous, with Mesozoic fossils playing a pivotal role in elucidating the early evolution of extant families. Despite their exceptional preservation in amber, deciphering the systematic positions of Mesozoic trogossitid‐like beetles remains challenging. Here, we describe and illustrate a new trogossitid‐like lineage from mid‐Cretaceous Kachin amber, Foveapeltis rutai Li, Kolibáč, Liu & Cai, gen. et sp. nov. Foveapeltis stands out within the Cleroidea due to the presence of a significant large cavity on each hypomeron. While the exact phylogenetic placement of Foveapeltis remains uncertain, we offer a discussion on its potential affinity based on our constrained phylogenetic analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
29. The Elasmobranch Fossil Record of the Indo-Australian Archipelago since the Miocene: A Literature Review and New Discoveries from Northern Borneo.
- Author
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Kocsis, László
- Subjects
FOSSILS ,LITERATURE reviews ,FOSSIL fishes ,MIOCENE Epoch ,CHONDRICHTHYES ,ARCHIPELAGOES - Abstract
The Indo-Australian Archipelago (IAA) today exhibits the highest marine biodiversity, which has been evolving since the early Miocene. The existence of this high palaeobiodiversity is attested to by the presence of many fossil invertebrates; however, the region's fossil fish record is sparse and understudied, which is also the case for cartilaginous fishes. Elasmobranch fossils are dominantly represented by shark and ray teeth in the geological record and can give a quick overview of the composition of the fauna. The first IAA elasmo fossils, shark teeth were described from Java (Indonesia) at the end of the 19th century, and until today, most of the publications are known from this island. In the early and middle of the 20th century, remarkable fossils were also reported from the islands of Madura (NE Java) and Sulawesi, some with detailed taxonomical descriptions. In addition, only sporadic reports on fossil occurrences exist elsewhere from the IAA, but these lack any detailed taxonomic accounts. In 2019 our research group reported a late Miocene elasmobranch fauna from Brunei (Borneo), which is now the most diverse known shallow water fossil assemblage from the entire IAA. This fauna was described from a single fossiliferous outcrop, called Ambug Hill. However, several new localities have been discovered and studied over the years, as a result the number of fossils increased, and their age range extended. Here we provide an overview of these new sites and their elasmobranch fossils, and describe remains from ten taxa among, of which eight are new to the IAA fossil record (Chiloscyllium sp., cf. Hemitriakis sp., Paragaleus sp., Carcharhinus borneensis, C. limbatus, Lamiopsis sp., Scoliodon sp., Rhinobatos sp.). The overall north Bornean elasmo assemblage is then compared with other IAA occurrences. An extended fauna list is given based on literature review and preliminary investigation of the Naturalis Biodiversity Centre collection in Leiden (The Netherlands) where most of the fossil fishes of the early explorations are stored. These assemblages are also briefly summarized, and attention is drawn to some of the unique and thus far unreported taxa (e.g., Dalatias licha). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
30. Location-Based Management of Paleontological Collections using Open Source GIS Software.
- Author
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da Silva Mano, Andre, Silva, Bruno Camilo, Mocho, Pedro, and Ortega, Francisco
- Abstract
Management of Natural History collections, particularly paleontological collections, is usually structured around specimens. However, it might not be feasible when the collections are incorporated from sources where the whole cycle of specimen collection is unknown, making it hard to determine what fossils belong to a single specimen and if these specimens belong to a single fossil-assemblage, taxon or individual. The Sociedade de História Natural from Torres Vedras (Portugal) manages such collections using a management strategy approach based on the spatial location from where the fossils were found. To achieve this, we have implemented a methodology for field collection and developed a spatial database in PostgreSQL/PostGIS to manage the entire stages of paleontological collections management. On top of the database, a second layer of web services, Web GIS (Geographical Information System) applications, and desktop GIS, all based on QGIS, are also under development to facilitate access to data stored in the database to internal and external researchers and partners, as well public institutions. This effort is made in close collaboration with in-house actors and stakeholders and has yielded promising results. The development of this system provides four advantages: (i) it played an essential role in supporting the transfer of the collection to new storage facilities; (ii) it provides overviews of the distribution of the characteristics of the collections; (iii) it enhances institutional partnerships by providing consistent and reliable data and(iv) it supports the establishment and development of research lines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
31. A New Diving Pliocene Ardenna Shearwater (Aves: Procellariidae) from New Zealand †.
- Author
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Tennyson, Alan J. D., Salvador, Rodrigo B., Tomotani, Barbara M., and Marx, Felix G.
- Subjects
PLIOCENE Epoch ,DIVING ,SHEARWATERS ,OCEAN ,CLADISTIC analysis ,BIOGEOGRAPHY - Abstract
We report a new species of shearwater, Ardenna buchananbrowni sp. nov., from the Pliocene of New Zealand. It is both the smallest and oldest known diving member of the genus, demonstrating that this now abundant form of shearwater has had a long presence in southern oceans. Ardenna buchananbrowni sp. nov. is among the few extinct shearwaters described from the Southern Hemisphere and adds to an increasingly diverse seabird assemblage in the Pliocene of the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
32. Systematics Review and Phylogeny of Cyrtophyllitinae Zeuner, 1935 sensu Gorochov, Jarzembowski & Coram, 2006 (Ensifera, Haglidae), with Description of Two New Species †.
- Author
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Gu, Jun-Jie, Yuan, Wei, Huang, Rong, Ren, Dong, and Chen, Hong-Xing
- Subjects
ORTHOPTERA ,PHYLOGENY ,SPECIES ,MORPHOLOGY - Abstract
Simple Summary: The systematics of Cyrtophyllitinae Zeuner, 1935 sensu Gorochov, Jarzembowski & Coram, 2006 was revised. A new subfamily Archaboilinae subfam. nov. and a new genus, Pararchaboilus gen. nov. were erected. Two new species, Archaboilus ornatus sp. nov. and Vitimoilus gigantus sp. nov., are described from the Middle Jurassic China. A phylogeny of Cyrtophyllitinae Zeuner, 1935 sensu Gorochov, Jarzembowski & Coram, 2006, based on wing morphology, is presented including all genera. Cyrtophillitinae is found to be paraphyletic. Except for Cyrtophyllites rogeri Oppenheim, 1888, all other species were moved from the subfamily Cyrtophyllitinae (Hagloidea, Haglidae). Consequently, a new subfamily Archaboilinae subfam. nov. was erected and accommodates most of the previous cyrtophillitine taxa, except Cyrtophyllites rogeri. The type genus Archaboilus Martynov, 1937 of the new subfamily was designated; a new genus, Pararchaboilus gen. nov., was erected with the designation of type species Pararchaboilus cretaceus comb. nov. From the Middle Jurassic deposits of China, two new species, Archaboilus ornatus sp. nov. and Vitimoilus gigantus sp. nov., are described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
33. Flower Buds Confirmed in the Early Cretaceous of China.
- Author
-
Huang, Weijia and Wang, Xin
- Subjects
POLLINATION by insects ,BUDS ,FLOWERS ,POLLINATION ,GYNOECIUM ,ANGIOSPERMS - Abstract
Simple Summary: Flowers are attractive to many people mainly due to their colourful and conspicuous perianth, which is closely related to successful insect pollination in extant angiosperms. The Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation (125 million years ago) in Northeastern China is famous for its great diversity of early angiosperms. However, unlike typical flowers in extant angiosperms, the previously documented fossil flowers are usually famous for their "nakedness", namely, they do not have typical petals (corolla), suggesting a pollination strategy for early angiosperms that is different than that of the extant angiosperms. However, without fossil evidence, whether there are petals (corolla) and whether androecium and gynoecium are protected in early flowers are rarely addressed questions. Here, we document a flower bud fossil, Archaebuda cretaceae sp. nov., from the Yixian Formation, which is the second case in the Formation. While reinforcing the truthful occurrence of fragile flower buds in the Early Cretaceous, new fossil evidence demonstrates the existence of gynoecium and possible androecium within the flower bud, suggestive of the possible bisexuality and the protection function of petals in Archaebuda, just as in extant flowers. In addition, it is very likely that conspicuous petals may have played an important role in attracting insects for successful pollination in early angiosperms. Therefore, the occurrence of petals (corolla) in Archaebuda cretaceae sheds a new light on the reproduction of early angiosperms. The Yixian Formation (Lower Cretaceous) in China is famous worldwide for its fossils of early angiosperms, but there has been only one record of flower buds (Archaebuda lingyuanensis) hitherto, in which only the surface of the flower bud was documented while no internal details were known. Such a partial knowledge of flower buds hinders our understanding of the evolution of flowers, and this knowledge lacuna needs to be filled. Our new specimen was collected from an outcrop of the Yixian Formation (Barremian–Aptian, Lower Cretaceous) near Dawangzhangzi, Lingyuan, Liaoning, China. Our observations reveal a new fossil flower bud, Archaebuda cretaceae sp. nov., from the Lower Cretaceous of China. This new record of Archaebuda in the Yixian Formation not only confirms the truthful existence of the expected gynoecium (plus possible androecium) in a flower bud but also underscores the occurrence of typical flowers in the Early Cretaceous. This new information adds first-hand data to flower sexuality, pollination, and evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
34. Enigmatic fragment possibly marks the first pterosaur record from the Lower Toarcian of Grimmen, NE Germany
- Author
-
Schade, Marco and Ansorge, Jörg
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
35. Triassic non-marine vertebrate diversity of India: status report (2020–2024)
- Author
-
Ray, Sanghamitra
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
36. The prospects for constraining productivity through time with the whole‐plant physiology of fossils.
- Author
-
Boyce, C. Kevin and Zwieniecki, Maciej A.
- Subjects
PLANT physiology ,FOSSIL plants ,PHANEROGAMS ,ATMOSPHERIC composition ,PLANT productivity - Abstract
Summary: Anatomically preserved fossils allow estimation of hydraulic parameters, potentially providing constraints on interpreting whole‐plant physiology. However, different organ systems have typically been considered in isolation – a problem given common mismatches of high and low conductance components coupled in the hydraulic path of the same plant. A recent paper addressed the issue of how to handle resistance mismatches in fossil plant hydraulics, focusing on Carboniferous medullosan seed plants and arborescent lycopsids. Among other problems, however, a fundamental error was made: the transpiration stream consists of resistances in series (where resistances are additive and the component with the largest resistance can dominate the behavior of the system), but emphasis was instead placed on the lowest resistance, effectively treating the system as resistances in parallel (where the component with the smallest resistance will dominate the behavior). Instead of possessing high assimilation capacities to match high specific stem conductances, it is argued here that individual high conductance components in these Paleozoic plants are nonetheless associated with low whole‐plant productivity, just as can be commonly seen in living plants. Resolution of how to handle these issues may have broad implications for the Earth system including geobiological feedbacks to rock weathering, atmospheric composition, and climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2019
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
37. Morphology and geometric morphometrics unveil a new genus of Cantharidae (Coleoptera, Elateroidea) from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber, with a preliminary investigation on the phylogenetic position
- Author
-
Zhao, Wei, Liu, Haoyu, Geiser, Michael, and Yang, Yuxia
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
38. Lignocellulosic Biomass Refining: A Review Promoting a Method to Produce Sustainable Hydrogen, Fuels, and Products.
- Author
-
Delmas, Guo-Hua, Banoub, Joseph H., and Delmas, Michel
- Abstract
In this review, we highlight our recent developments on the formic acid refining of lignocellulosic biomass and how it can be an innovative way to produce sustainable hydrogen and fuels. There is a worldwide high demand for green energy and green chemistry endeavors to drastically slow down climate change in accord with the COP 21. This review mainly focuses on the deconstruction of the lignocellulosic biomass, using formic acid-based mixtures, into its 3 main components and how they can be the new resources for hydrogen, fuels, and products in the 21st century. We are underlining the natural carbon capture in the form of atmospheric CO
2 concentrated into lignocellulosic biomass wastes from the forest and agricultural land sites and the subsequent low energy organic extraction of cellulose, lignin, and hemicelluloses. We illustrate in this review that our dependence on fossil fuels will be greatly reduced, and that atmospheric CO2 , sunlight and water will provide safe energy and products for future generations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
39. Importance of the Angiosperm Fossil Record for the Paleoenvironmental Reconstruction
- Author
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Castañeda-Posadas, Carlos, Hernández–Hernández, María de Jesús, Figueroa–Castro, Dulce María, Litvin, Yuri, Series Editor, Jiménez-Franco, Abigail, Series Editor, Chaplina, Tatiana, Series Editor, Guerrero-Arenas, Rosalía, editor, and Jiménez-Hidalgo, Eduardo, editor
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
40. The fossil record and the origin of ticks revisited.
- Author
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Estrada-Peña, Agustín and de la Fuente, José
- Subjects
TICKS ,PARASITIFORMES ,ORNITHODOROS ,ARGASIDAE ,HYALOMMA - Abstract
The fossil record of ticks has been classically used to discern the probable vicariance events of these arthropods, and to date the split moments of the different lineages. Although new techniques based on molecular clock methods are already available, tick fossil record still stands as a valuable source of information if correctly interpreted. Here we report about a male specimen of Ornithodoros (Alectorobius) sp. found in Dominican amber of about 25 millions years, illustrating its main morphological features. We also discuss the findings in a recent paper, which may contain unreliable interpretations on some fossil ticks. We support previous data on the presence of Argasidae in Miocene Dominican amber, and provide comments on the presence of ticks in Burmese amber. We further elaborate on the spread of ticks in the light of the record and description of a new family found in Cretaceous amber. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2018
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
41. Ancient Diseases in Vertebrates: Tumours through the Ages.
- Author
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Garcês, Andreia, Pires, Isabel, and Garcês, Sara
- Subjects
ANIMAL diseases ,TUMORS ,ARCHAEOLOGICAL human remains ,VERTEBRATES ,ETIOLOGY of diseases - Abstract
Simple Summary: Simple Summary: Our research, made possible by recent advancements, has led to more accurate diagnoses of ancient pathologies, despite the rarity of well-preserved specimens, the predominance of bone remains, and the difficulty in distinguishing neoplastic from non-neoplastic lesions in fossils. This study compiles reports of tumours in fossilised animals, highlighting that neoplasms are present in various vertebrates and drawing comparisons to modern instances of similar diseases, thereby providing unique insights into the presence of tumours in ancient animals. Paleo-oncology studies neoplastic diseases in fossilised animals, including human remains. Recent advancements have enabled more accurate diagnoses of ancient pathologies despite the inherent challenges in identifying tumours in fossils—such as the rarity of well-preserved specimens, the predominance of bone remains, and the difficulty in distinguishing neoplastic from non-neoplastic lesions. This study compiles reports of tumours in fossilised animals, highlighting that neoplasms are present in a wide range of vertebrates and drawing comparisons to modern instances of similar diseases. The findings underscore the multifactorial aetiology of tumours, which involves genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors, and suggest that tumours have been around for at least 350 million years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
42. New Euthemistid Damsel–Dragonfly from the Middle Jurassic of Northern China (Odonata, Isophlebioidea, Euthemistidae).
- Author
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Liu, Yuxuan, Shi, Chaofan, Shang, Jingan, Ren, Dong, and Yang, Qiang
- Subjects
ODONATA ,VEINS ,FAMILIES ,SPECIES ,INSECT anatomy - Abstract
A new genus and new species of the euthemistid, Kidaneuthemis ningchengensis gen. et sp. nov., is described from the Middle Jurassic of Inner Mongolia, China. It can be assigned to the Euthemistidae by the several long intercalary veins between RP1 and IR1, IR1 and RP2, as well as between RP2 and IR2 and between IR2 and RP3/4. Kidaneuthemis ningchengensis gen. et sp. nov. distinguishes from the other two genera of this family by the presence of not less than eight intercalary veins between MP and wing margin; about three rows of cells in the distal part between MA and MP; the base of IR2 is two cells distal to that of RP3/4. In addition, a revision of the family Euthemistidae has been proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
43. Euboeus mimonti Boieldieu, 1865, the oldest record of an extant species of Tenebrionidae (Coleoptera) and notes on other species identified as darkling beetles from the Late Pliocene of Willershausen (Germany).
- Author
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Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Jenkins Shaw, Josh, Gehler, Alexander, and Kaulfuss, Uwe
- Abstract
Several fossil beetles from the Late Pliocene (Piacenzian) of Willershausen (Lower Saxony, Germany) previously identified as Tenebrionidae and Staphylinidae are reviewed. One species, formerly determined as "Staphylinoidea" is identified as Euboeus mimonti Boieldieu, 1865 (Tenebrionidae: Helopini). This species is the oldest record of an extant species of darkling beetles, which occurs now in the Balkans and Anatolia. The discovery of Euboeus mimonti in the Late Pliocene of Germany indicates that the range of this species was much wider, and the climate in the Late Pliocene in the modern territory of Lower Saxony was much milder. One species formerly determined as "Alleculidae gen. sp." belongs to the subfamily Alleculinae (Tenebrionidae) and it is identified here as Pseudocistela aff. ceramboides. Two species, misidentified by a previous author as Tenebrionidae belong to Elateridae and Cerambycidae respectively. Generic and species composition, as well as the ratio of extinct and extant beetle taxa in the Willershausen Fossil Lagerstätte are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
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44. New Archexyelinae (Hymenoptera: Xyelidae) from the Triassic Madygen Formation of Kyrgyzstan.
- Author
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Denisova, Elizaveta A., Kopylov, Dmitry S., and Rasnitsyn, Alexandr P.
- Abstract
One new genus and three new species of Archexyelinae (Xyelidae) are described from the Middle–Late Triassic Madygen Formation of Kyrgyzstan, including Xyelinus scherbachov sp. nov., Triassoxyela sharovi sp. nov., and Microxyela minuta gen. et sp. nov. Xyelidae is the most ancient hymenopteran family in fossil records and the only one known from the Triassic. Triassic xyelids are known from five localities throughout the whole Pangaea. The most diverse and abundant Triassic xyelid fauna comes from Madygen, with 16 genera and 34 species in the two subfamilies Archexyelinae and Madygellinae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
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45. A carbon cycle optimization method for fossil and biomass energy utilization
- Author
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Manousiouthakis, Vasilios I. and Choi, Soo Hyoung
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- 2021
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
46. Worldwide Research on Australopiths
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Guil-Guerrero, José Luis and Manzano-Agugliaro, Francisco
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- 2024
- Full Text
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47. Inefficiency and Bias of Search Engines in Retrieving Reference Containing Scientific Names of Fossil Amphibians.
- Author
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Brown, Lauren E., Dubois, Alan, and Shepard, Donald B.
- Subjects
SEARCH engines ,INFORMATION resources ,INFORMATION retrieval ,DATA mining ,DATABASE searching ,ONLINE information services ,WEB search engines ,ELECTRONIC information resource searching ,INTERNET searching ,INFORMATION services ,WORLD Wide Web - Abstract
Retrieval efficiencies of paper-based references in journals and other serials containing 10 scientific names of fossil amphibians were determined for seven major search engines. Retrievals were compared to the number of references obtained covering the period 1895-2006 by a Comprehensive Search. The latter was primarily a traditional library-based search which involved intensive work from 2002-2007. Only a few references originally obtained by search engines were included. Retrieval efficiencies were calculated by comparison to the number obtained through the Comprehensive Search (assumed to be 100%). All percent retrievals were quite low (mean = 11.3%, range = 4.0-22.9%). For all seven search engines combined (duplicate references excluded), the percent retrieval was only 40.7%. There was also retrieval inefficiency and bias of the search engines in: sampling over time, the top five journals containing the most references, the top five most prolific authors, and non-English references. Consequently, all seven search engines were unsatisfactory for retrieval of references for our scientific research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2008
- Full Text
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48. Factors Affecting the Use and Development of Solar Energy in Iran's Agricultural Sector.
- Author
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Mohammadi, Mohsen and Yavari, Gholamreza
- Subjects
SOLAR energy ,FARMERS ,RENEWABLE energy sources ,FOSSIL fuels ,SUSTAINABILITY - Abstract
The paper seeks to identify factors led some farmers to use renewable energy in their poultry farms. The research was a practical study in terms of goal and a descriptive-correlation study in terms of methodology. The population of the study was composed of Semnan Province poultry farmers that used any type of renewable energy in their farms. Based on the farmer's viewpoints, the most important factors made farmers use renewable energy in their poultries were poultry farm revenue, bank loans with low interest rate, and technology and equipment availability. Also, according to stepwise regression, 78.4% of the variance of the dependent variable was accounted for by the variables of economic, technical, subsidies reform, and policies factors. Therefore, financial incentives such as bank loans with low interest, distribution of technical equipment requirements and supportive legislation can be effective on the development of renewable energy use among other farmers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2017
- Full Text
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49. A new remarkably preserved fossil assassin bug (Insecta, Heteroptera, Reduviidae) from the Eocene Green River Formation of Colorado.
- Author
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Swanson, Daniel R., Heads, Sam W., Taylor, Steven J., Wang, Yinan, and Labandeira, Conrad
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ASSASSIN bugs ,EOCENE Epoch ,INSECTS ,FOSSILS ,MALE reproductive organs ,HEMIPTERA - Abstract
We describe a new Eocene fossil assassin bug, Aphelicophontes danjuddi gen. et sp. nov. (Reduviidae: Harpactorinae), from the Green River Formation of Colorado. The specimens informing this description are extraordinarily preserved, particularly in the external and internal structures of the adult male genitalia. We discuss implications of the new species for the systematics and evolutionary history of the group, as well as the strength of phylogenetic signal in harpactorine genitalia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2021
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50. An Early Devonian actinostelic euphyllophyte with secondary growth from the Emsian of Gaspé (Canada) and the importance of tracheid wall thickening patterns in early euphyllophyte systematics.
- Author
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Pfeiler, Kelly C., Tomescu, Alexandru M. F., and Seyfullah, Leyla
- Subjects
TRACHEARY cells ,CLASSIFICATION ,PLANT anatomy - Abstract
Secondary growth is a tracheophyte structural feature whose earliest known occurrence dates to the late Pragian – early Emsian. Armoricaphyton, Franhueberia and an unnamed plant from eastern Canada represent the only instances of secondary growth documented to date for the Early Devonian. Here, we describe a new Early Devonian euphyllophyte exhibiting secondary growth, from the Emsian (c. 400–395 Ma) Battery Point Formation (Québec, Canada): Gmujij tetraxylopteroides gen. et sp. nov., which is characterized by a mesarch actinostele with Psilophyton‐type (P‐type) tracheid wall thickening, and which exhibits a new type of anatomical organization in Early Devonian wood‐producing euphyllophytes. Gmujij differs from coeval euphyllophytes, but lack of data on branching patterns, reproductive structures and other traditional diagnostic features precludes classification in previously recognized euphyllophyte groups. We experiment with a numerical approach to tracheid size distributions, to compare Gmujij with younger euphyllophytes exhibiting secondary growth. Comparisons indicate similarity between Gmujij and aneurophytalean progymnosperms, such as Tetraxylopteris. However, its plesiomorphic P‐type tracheids set Gmujij apart from younger actinostelic euphyllophytes, questioning the importance of tracheid thickening patterns as diagnostic characters separating major lineages. Answers to this question hinge on whether transitions between wall thickening patterns require simple or complex changes in developmental regulation, a matter that requires improved understanding of regulatory programs that determine tracheid thickening patterns. Irrespective of these, Gmujij adds a new component to the diversity of anatomically preserved plants known in the Early Devonian, an incompletely explored interval of tracheophyte anatomical diversification, contributing information that will facilitate understanding of the evolutionary origins of secondary growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2021
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
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