The Taphonomy of Plant Macrofossils
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Experimental Taphonomy Shows the Feasibility of Fossil Embryos
Experimental taphonomy shows the feasibility of fossil embryos Elizabeth C. Raff*, Jeffrey T. Villinski*, F. Rudolf Turner*, Philip C. J. Donoghue†, and Rudolf A. Raff*‡ *Department of Biology and Indiana Molecular Biology Institute, Indiana University, Myers Hall 150, 915 East Third Street, Bloomington, IN 47405; and †Department of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, Wills Memorial Building, Queens Road, Bristol BS8 1RJ, United Kingdom Communicated by James W. Valentine, University of California, Berkeley, CA, February 23, 2006 (received for review November 9, 2005) The recent discovery of apparent fossils of embryos contempora- external egg envelope within 15–36 days, but no preservation or neous with the earliest animal remains may provide vital insights mineralization of the embryos within was observed (18). into the metazoan radiation. However, although the putative fossil Anyone who works with marine embryos would consider remains are similar to modern marine animal embryos or larvae, preservation for sufficient time for mineralization via phospha- their simple geometric forms also resemble other organic and tization unlikely, given the seeming fragility of such embryos. inorganic structures. The potential for fossilization of animals at Freshly killed marine embryos in normal seawater decompose such developmental stages and the taphonomic processes that within a few hours. We carried out taphonomy experiments might affect preservation before mineralization have not been designed to uncover the impact of the mode of death and examined. Here, we report experimental taphonomy of marine postdeath environment on the preservational potential of ma- embryos and larvae similar in size and inferred cleavage mode to rine embryos and larvae. presumptive fossil embryos. -
Recent Changes in the Names of New Zealand Tree and Shrub Species
-- -- - Recent changes in the names of New Zealand tree and shrub species - Since the publication of 'Flora of New Zealand' Volume 1 (A- iii) Podocarpus dacydioides Dacrycarpus ducydioides lan 1961),covering indigenous ferns, conifers and dicots, there (iii)Podocarpus ferrugzneus Prumnopitys ferruginea have been major advances in taxonomic research and the clas- Podocarpus spicatus Prumnopitys taxijolia sification of many plant groups revised accordingly. Most of (iv1 Dacrydium cupressinum (unchanged) these changes have been summarised in the Nomina Nova (v)Dacrydium bidwillii Halocarpus bidwillii series published in the New Zealand Journal of Botany (Edgar Dacrydium bijorme Halocarpus bijormis 1971, Edgar and Connor 1978, 1983) and are included in re- Dacrydium kirkii Halocarpus kirkii cent books on New Zealand plants ie.g. Eagle 1982, Wilson (vi)Dacydium colensoi Lagarostrobos colensoi 1982). A number of these name changes affect important (vii)Dacrydium intermediurn Lepidothamnus intermedius forest plants and as several of these new names are now start- Dacrydium laxijolium Lepidotbamnus laxijolius ing to appear in the scientific literature, a list of changes af- (viii)Phyllocladus trichomanoidi~(unchanged) fecting tree and shrub taxa are given here. As a large number Phyllocladus glaucus (unchanged) of the readers of New Zealand Forestry are likely to use Poole Phyllocladus alpinus Phyllocladus aspleniijolius and Adams' "Trees and Shrubs of New Zealand" as their var. alpinus* * main reference for New Zealand forest plants, all the name changes are related to the fourth impression of this book. * It has been suggested that the Colenso name P, cunnin- it is important to realise that not all botanists necessarily ghamii (1884)should take precedence over the later (18891 ark agree with one particular name and you are not obliged to use name (P. -
Catalogue of Conifers
Archived Document Corporate Services, University of Exeter Welcome to the Index of Coniferaes Foreword The University is fortunate in possessing a valuable collection of trees on its main estate. The trees are planted in the grounds of Streatham Hall which was presented in 1922 to the then University college of the South West by the late Alderman W. H. Reed of Exeter. The Arboretum was begun by the original owner of Streatham Hall, R. Thornton West, who employed the firm of Veitches of Exeter and London to plant a very remarkable collection of trees. The collection is being added to as suitable material becomes available and the development of the Estate is being so planned as not to destroy the existing trees. The present document deals with the Conifer species in the collection and gives brief notes which may be of interest to visitors. It makes no pretence of being more than a catalogue. The University welcomes interested visitors and a plan of the relevant portion of the Estate is given to indicate the location of the specimens. From an original printed by James Townsend and Sons Ltd, Price 1/- Date unknown Page 1 of 34 www.exeter.ac.uk/corporateservices Archived Document Corporate Services, University of Exeter Table of Contents The letters P, S, etc., refer to the section of the Estate in which the trees are growing. (Bot. indicates that the specimens are in the garden of the Department of Botany.) Here's a plan of the estate. The Coniferaes are divided into five families - each of which is represented by one or more genera in the collection. -
South East 154 October 2019.Pdf
Australian Plants Society South East NSW Group Newsletter 154 October 2019 Corymbia maculata Spotted Gum and Contac ts: President, Dianne Clark, [email protected] Macrozamia communis Burrawang Secretary, Paul Hattersley [email protected] Newsletter editor, John Knight, [email protected] Group contact [email protected] Next Meeting Saturday 2nd November 2019 Plants and Vegetation of Montague Island At ERBG Staff Meeting Room 10am Paul Hattersley, APS Member and also a Volunteer Guide for Montague Island, had originally proposed to lead a tour onto the island to discuss relevant conservation issues. However, as insufficient members expressed interest in taking the boat trip, this had to be cancelled, and likewise therefore, the planned activities at Narooma. Plans for our next meeting have now changed and we will meet at ERBG staff meeting room at 10am for morning tea, followed by a presentation by Paul at 10.30am: "The plants and vegetation of Montague Island, seabird conservation, and the impacts of weeds and other human disturbance and activity". The history and heritage of Montague Island, including the light station, will also be weaved into the talk. Paul apologises to those who wanted to join the field trip on Montague Island, but with low numbers the economics of hiring the boat proved unviable. Following Paul’s presentation, we will conduct the Show and Tell session (please bring your garden plants in flower) and after lunch, open discussion, end of year notices, and a walk at gardens to see what has happened over the past 12 months. Members might consider dining at the Chefs Cap Café, recently opened in its new location by the lakeside. -
Pollination Drop in Relation to Cone Morphology in Podocarpaceae: a Novel Reproductive Mechanism Author(S): P
Pollination Drop in Relation to Cone Morphology in Podocarpaceae: A Novel Reproductive Mechanism Author(s): P. B. Tomlinson, J. E. Braggins, J. A. Rattenbury Source: American Journal of Botany, Vol. 78, No. 9 (Sep., 1991), pp. 1289-1303 Published by: Botanical Society of America Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/2444932 . Accessed: 23/08/2011 15:47 Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at . http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact [email protected]. Botanical Society of America is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to American Journal of Botany. http://www.jstor.org AmericanJournal of Botany 78(9): 1289-1303. 1991. POLLINATION DROP IN RELATION TO CONE MORPHOLOGY IN PODOCARPACEAE: A NOVEL REPRODUCTIVE MECHANISM' P. B. TOMLINSON,2'4 J. E. BRAGGINS,3 AND J. A. RATTENBURY3 2HarvardForest, Petersham, Massachusetts 01366; and 3Departmentof Botany, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand Observationof ovulatecones at thetime of pollinationin the southernconiferous family Podocarpaceaedemonstrates a distinctivemethod of pollencapture, involving an extended pollinationdrop. Ovules in all generaof the family are orthotropousand singlewithin the axil of each fertilebract. In Microstrobusand Phyllocladusovules are-erect (i.e., the micropyle directedaway from the cone axis) and are notassociated with an ovule-supportingstructure (epimatium).Pollen in thesetwo genera must land directly on thepollination drop in theway usualfor gymnosperms, as observed in Phyllocladus.In all othergenera, the ovule is inverted (i.e., the micropyleis directedtoward the cone axis) and supportedby a specializedovule- supportingstructure (epimatium). -
Taphonomy of Fossilized Resins: Determining the Biostratinomy of Amber
Viewmetadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk broughtto you by CORE providedby Revistes Catalanes amb Accés Obert ACTA GEOLOGICA HISPANICA, v. 35 (2000), nº 1-2, p. 171-182 Taphonomy of fossilized resins: determining the biostratinomy of amber G.O. POINAR, Jr.(1) and M. MASTALERZ(2) (1) Department of Entomology, Oregon State University, Corvallis,OR 97330. E-mail: [email protected] (2) Indiana Geological Survey, Indiana University, 611 North Walnut Grove, Bloomington, IN 47405-2208. E-mail: [email protected] ABSTRACT Comparing the maturity of fossilized resins with that of their enclosing bedrock can provide information on the maturity, relative age and biostratinomy of amber and copal. A method to determine this is presented here with examples of amber and copal from the Dominican Republic. Maturity of the bedrock was determined by vitrinite reflection and that of the fossilized resin by FTIR analys i s . Vitrinite oxidation values showed maturity states corresponding to lignite and sub-bituminous coal ranks. While the samples from some mines demonstrated that the maturities of the rock and fossilized resin were syngenetic, other samples indicated that recycling of the amber may have occurred. Darkening of the amber (from yel l o w to red) was correlated with increased oxi d a t i o n / w eathering. Th i s method can be a useful tool for understanding the biostratinomy of fossilized resins. Keywo rd s : Am b e r . Copal. Tap h o n o m y. Maturity. Relative age. Dominican Republi c . IN T RO D U C T I O N to the 30-45 million year dates obtained earlier by Cepek (Schlee, 1990). -
Of Time and Taphonomy: Preservation in the Ediacaran
See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: http://www.researchgate.net/publication/273127997 Of time and taphonomy: preservation in the Ediacaran CHAPTER · JANUARY 2014 READS 36 2 AUTHORS, INCLUDING: Charlotte Kenchington University of Cambridge 5 PUBLICATIONS 2 CITATIONS SEE PROFILE Available from: Charlotte Kenchington Retrieved on: 02 October 2015 ! OF TIME AND TAPHONOMY: PRESERVATION IN THE EDIACARAN CHARLOTTE G. KENCHINGTON! 1,2 AND PHILIP R. WILBY2 1Department of Earth Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EQ, UK <[email protected]! > 2British Geological Survey, Keyworth, Nottingham, NG12 5GG, UK ABSTRACT.—The late Neoproterozoic witnessed a revolution in the history of life: the transition from a microbial world to the one known today. The enigmatic organisms of the Ediacaran hold the key to understanding the early evolution of metazoans and their ecology, and thus the basis of Phanerozoic life. Crucial to interpreting the information they divulge is a thorough understanding of their taphonomy: what is preserved, how it is preserved, and also what is not preserved. Fortunately, this Period is also recognized for its abundance of soft-tissue preservation, which is viewed through a wide variety of taphonomic windows. Some of these, such as pyritization and carbonaceous compression, are also present throughout the Phanerozoic, but the abundance and variety of moldic preservation of body fossils in siliciclastic settings is unique to the Ediacaran. In rare cases, one organism is preserved in several preservational styles which, in conjunction with an increased understanding of the taphonomic processes involved in each style, allow confident interpretations of aspects of the biology and ecology of the organisms preserved. -
Trace Fossils and Extended Organisms: a Physiological Perspective
Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 192 (2003) 15^31 www.elsevier.com/locate/palaeo Trace fossils and extended organisms: a physiological perspective J. Scott Turner à Department of Environmental and Forest Biology, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA Received 7 January 2002; accepted 6 December 2002 Abstract Organism-built structures have long been useful artifacts for students of evolution and systematics, because they represent a permanent record of a set of behaviors. These structures also represent an investment of energy by an organism, and to persist in the fossil record, the energetic investment in the structure must pay off for the organisms that build it, in either improved survivorship, increased physiological efficiency or enhanced fecundity. A useful way to think about this aspect of organism-built structures is to treat them as external organs of physiology, channeling or tapping into energy sources for doing physiological work. This paper reviews briefly how burrows and nests can act as external organs of physiology at various levels of organization, and introduces the notion of organism-built structures as adaptive structures, in which feedback controls confer adaptability to organisms’ external constructions, and which promote homeostasis of the organism and its local environment. Miller’s concept of trace fossils as behavioral tokens reflects this aspect of animal-built structures, and may illuminate many unanswered questions concerning their origins and persistence in the fossil record. ß 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved. Keywords: biogenic structures; extended physiology; extended organism; boundary layer; induced £ow; natural convection; kelp; termite; £uid mechanics; soil water 1. -
Taphonomy of Early Triassic Fish Fossils of the Vega-Phroso Siltstone Member of the Sulphur Mountain Formation Near Wapiti Lake, British Columbia, Canada
Journal of Palaeogeography 2013, 2(4): 321-343 DOI: 10.3724/SP.J.1261.2013.00034 Biopalaeogeography and palaeoecology Taphonomy of Early Triassic fish fossils of the Vega-Phroso Siltstone Member of the Sulphur Mountain Formation near Wapiti Lake, British Columbia, Canada Karen Anderson, Adam D. Woods* Department of Geological Sciences, California State University, Fullerton, P. O. Box 6850, CA 92834-6850, USA Abstract The taphonomy of fishes living in lacustrine environments has been extensively studied in both the laboratory and the fossil record; the taphonomy of marine fishes, however, is poorly known. Triassic marine fishes with heavy ganoid and cosmoid scales, which provided protection from rapid taphonomic loss, offer a means to examine marine fish taphonomy in the fossil record. Four genera of Early Triassic fishes (the ray-finned actinopterygians Albertonia, Bobasatrania, Boreosomus, and the lobe-finned coelacanth (sarcopterygian), Whiteia) from the Wapiti Lake, British Columbia locality of the Lower Triassic Sulphur Mountain Formation were examined in order to gain a better understanding of the taphonomy of fish in marine en- vironments, determine ambient environmental conditions in the region during the Early Trias- sic, and ascertain the habitat and mode of life of the fish. Results indicate that environmental conditions that contributed to the preservation of the fossil fishes of the current study included deposition in deep, quiet waters, which reduced the odds of disarticulation, colder waters un- der higher pressure, which slowed decay and limited postmortem floatation, and waters that were anoxic, which discouraged predators and scavengers. In addition, the thickness of the primitive ganoid and cosmoid scales of the fossil fishes also increased their preservation po- tential. -
Exploring the Source-To-Sink Residence Time of Terrestrial Pollen Deposited Offshore Westland, New Zealand
ÔØ ÅÒÙ×Ö ÔØ Exploring the source-to-sink residence time of terrestrial pollen deposited offshore Westland, New Zealand Matthew T. Ryan, Rewi M. Newnham, Gavin B. Dunbar, Marcus J. Vandergoes, Andrew B.H. Rees, Helen Neil, S. Louise Callard, Brent V. Alloway, Helen Bostock, Quan Hua, Brian M. Anderson PII: S0034-6667(15)30011-7 DOI: doi: 10.1016/j.revpalbo.2016.03.005 Reference: PALBO 3738 To appear in: Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology Received date: 14 September 2015 Accepted date: 26 March 2016 Please cite this article as: Ryan, Matthew T., Newnham, Rewi M., Dunbar, Gavin B., Vandergoes, Marcus J., Rees, Andrew B.H., Neil, Helen, Callard, S. Louise, Alloway, Brent V., Bostock, Helen, Hua, Quan, Anderson, Brian M., Exploring the source-to-sink residence time of terrestrial pollen deposited offshore Westland, New Zealand, Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology (2016), doi: 10.1016/j.revpalbo.2016.03.005 This is a PDF file of an unedited manuscript that has been accepted for publication. As a service to our customers we are providing this early version of the manuscript. The manuscript will undergo copyediting, typesetting, and review of the resulting proof before it is published in its final form. Please note that during the production process errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain. ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT Exploring the source-to-sink residence time of terrestrial pollen deposited offshore Westland, New Zealand Matthew T. Ryan1, 2, Rewi M. Newnham1, Gavin B. Dunbar 2, Marcus J. Vandergoes 3, Andrew B.H. -
Ecology and Distribution of the Malesian Podocarps Neal J
4 Ecology and Distribution of the Malesian Podocarps Neal J. Enright and Tanguy Jaffré ABSTRACT. Podocarp species and genus richness is higher in the Malesian region than anywhere else on earth, with maximum genus richness in New Guinea and New Caledo- nia and maximum species richness in New Guinea and Borneo. Members of the Podo- carpaceae occur across the whole geographic and altitudinal range occupied by forests and shrublands in the region. There is a strong tendency for podocarp dominance of vegetation to be restricted either to high- altitude sites close to the limit of tree growth or to other sites that might restrict plant growth in terms of water relations and nutri- ent supply (e.g., skeletal soils on steep slopes and ridges, heath forests, ultramafic parent material). Although some species are widespread in lowland forests, they are generally present at very low density, raising questions concerning their regeneration ecology and competitive ability relative to co- occurring angiosperm tree species. A number of species in the region are narrowly distributed, being restricted to single islands or mountain tops, and are of conservation concern. Our current understanding of the distribution and ecology of Malesian podocarps is reviewed in this chapter, and areas for further research are identified. INTRODUCTION The Malesian region has the highest diversity of southern conifers (i.e., Podocarpaceae and Araucariaceae) in the world (Enright and Hill, 1995). It is a large and heterogeneous area, circumscribing tropical and subtropical lowland to montane forest (and some shrubland) assemblages, extending from Tonga in Neal J. Enright, School of Environmental Science, the east to India in the west and from the subtropical forests of eastern Australia Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Austra- in the south to Taiwan and Nepal in the north (Figure 4.1). -
New Zealand Plants in Australian Gardens Stuart Read
New Zealand Plants in Australian Gardens Stuart Read Abstract: (11.6.2013): Raised in a large New Zealand garden full of native trees, plant lover Stuart Read was perhaps hard-wired to notice kiwi plants in Australian gardens. Over time he's pieced together a pattern of waves of fashion in their planting and popularity, reflecting scientific and horticultural expansionism, commercial and familial networks and connections across the Tasman. Stuart will examine a range of NZ plants found in old and younger Australian gardens, try to tease out some of the means by which they got here and why they remain popular. No cabbage, This constellation of asterisks Slaps and rustles Its tough tatters In the brisk breeze; Whispers of times past And ancient histories (Barbara Mitcalfe’s poem, ‘Ti Kouka’ (cabbage tree) catches well the distinctive skyline profile of this ubiquitous New Zealand export (in Simpson, 2000, 213) Introduction / overview New Zealand gardens have been introduced to and cultivated in Australian gardens from early in their ‘discovery’, trade and exchanges between the two colonies. Australian and other explorers, botanists, nurserymen, New Zealand settlers and others searched New Zealand’s coasts and bush, bringing plants into cultivation, export and commerce from early in the settlement’s colonization. New Zealand plants have had their ‘vogue’ periods, including as: A) - Economic plants (various timbers, kauri gum for shellacs and jewellery; flax for fibre, rope, cloth; greens for scurvy; poroporo for the contraceptive ‘the pill’); B) - Exotic ornamental imports into Australian gardens and beyond to English and European conservatories (and some warmer, southern) gardens and parks; C) - Depicted or carved as subjects of botanical and other artworks, commercial commodities.