New Zealand sub-Antarctic phytoliths and their potential for past vegetation reconstruction

2007 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vanessa C. Thorn
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Organic Material ◽  
Fossil Record ◽  
Ecosystem Development ◽  
Grassland Ecosystem ◽  
Vegetation Reconstruction ◽  
Geological Past ◽  
Abundance And Diversity ◽  
Study Sites ◽  
Campbell Island

AbstractPhytoliths in the modern vegetation of sub-Antarctic Campbell Island are compared with those in the soil beneath to assess the accuracy of vegetation reconstructions made from dispersed phytolith assemblages. The soil phytoliths alone suggest the source vegetation is a grassland association for all study sites, which reflects none of the herb, fern or shrub component of the overlying vegetation. It is concluded that at this locality dispersed phytoliths on their own are not reliable indicators of source vegetation and should be used with caution in this context for palaeoecological studies. However, they can provide useful botanical information where all other organic material is absent. With further research, based on the abundance and diversity of Poaceae phytoliths observed in this and other studies, dispersed phytoliths from the fossil record have the potential to contribute significantly to the understanding of grassland ecosystem development in the geological past.

A review of gall midges (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) described from Mesozoic deposits

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 001-014
Author(s):  
MATHIAS JASCHHOF
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
North America ◽  
Fossil Record ◽  
Morphological Diversity ◽  
Sensu Stricto ◽  
Junior Synonym ◽  
Gall Midges ◽  
Incertae Sedis ◽  
New Tribe

Twenty-four fossil gall midges (Cecidomyiidae) described from 1917–2020 from Mesozoic deposits, mostly ambers, are reviewed. Information from the original publications is used as the basis for reinterpretation, when such is regarded as appropriate here. As a result, the fossil record of cecidomyiids from the Mesozoic comprises representatives of the following subfamilies and tribes, all mycophagous (numbers in parentheses refer to species described): Catotrichinae (1); Micromyinae: Catochini (2), Amediini (1), Campylomyzini (1), Micromyini (2) and Aprionini (1); Winnertziinae: Heteropezini (2), Diallactiini (4) and Winnertziini (1); Porricondylinae: Dicerurini (1). Other Winnertziinae (3) and Micromyinae (5) cannot be classified to tribe because information on critical morphological structures is unavailable; they are thus considered incertae sedis. Members of the Lestremiinae sensu stricto are unrecorded from the Mesozoic, as are any Cecidomyiinae (the only subfamily containing phytophages and predators). Commonly occurring reasons for misinterpretation of amber fossils are the non-recognition of artefacts and the unfamiliarity with group-specific literature regarding prevailing taxonomic concepts and the morphological diversity found in Cecidomyiidae. These causes as well as obvious differences between neontological and paleontological taxonomic practices are discussed. Amediini trib. nov. Jaschhof, 2021 is introduced as a new tribe of the Micromyinae, to absorb the genera Amedia Jaschhof, 1997 (extant, North America, type genus), Amediella Jaschhof, 2003 (extant, New Zealand) and Eltxo Arillo & Nel, 2000 (extinct, Alava amber). A diagnosis of the new tribe is given. Krassiloviolini Fedotova & Perkovsky, 2017 is a new junior synonym of Heteropezini Schiner, 1868. Amediini Plakidas, 2017 and Zarqacecidomyius singularis Kaddumi, 2007 are nomina nuda.

scholarly journals Spider crabs of the Western Atlantic with special reference to fossil and some modern Mithracidae

PeerJ ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. e1301 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adiël A. Klompmaker ◽  
Roger W. Portell ◽  
Aaron T. Klier ◽  
Vanessa Prueter ◽  
Alyssa L. Tucker
Keyword(s):  
Fossil Record ◽  
Early Pleistocene ◽  
Caribbean Region ◽  
Deep Time ◽  
Western Atlantic ◽  
Extant Species ◽  
Length Width ◽  
The Caribbean ◽  
Abundance And Diversity ◽  
First Time

Spider crabs (Majoidea) are well-known from modern oceans and are also common in the western part of the Atlantic Ocean. When spider crabs appeared in the Western Atlantic in deep time, and when they became diverse, hinges on their fossil record. By reviewing their fossil record, we show that (1) spider crabs first appeared in the Western Atlantic in the Late Cretaceous, (2) they became common since the Miocene, and (3) most species and genera are found in the Caribbean region from the Miocene onwards. Furthermore, taxonomic work on some modern and fossil Mithracidae, a family that might have originated in the Western Atlantic, was conducted. Specifically,Maguimithraxgen. nov. is erected to accommodate the extant speciesDamithrax spinosissimus, whileDamithraxcf.pleuracanthusis recognized for the first time from the fossil record (late Pliocene–early Pleistocene, Florida, USA). Furthermore, two new species are described from the lower Miocene coral-associated limestones of Jamaica (Mithrax arawakumsp. nov. andNemausa windsoraesp. nov.). Spurred by a recent revision of the subfamily, two known species from the same deposits are refigured and transferred to new genera:Mithrax donovanitoNemausa, andMithrax unguistoDamithrax. The diverse assemblage of decapods from these coral-associated limestones underlines the importance of reefs for the abundance and diversity of decapods in deep time. Finally, we quantitatively show that these crabs possess allometric growth in that length/width ratios drop as specimens grow, a factor that is not always taken into account while describing and comparing among taxa.

New Species of Mosses from Campbell Island, New Zealand

1971 ◽  
Vol 74 (4) ◽  
pp. 464 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dale H. Vitt
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Campbell Island

Endophragmiella pinicola. [Descriptions of Fungi and Bacteria].

2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. W. Minter
Keyword(s):  
Czech Republic ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Myriophyllum Spicatum ◽  
Abies Alba ◽  
Picea Sitchensis ◽  
Taxus Cuspidata ◽  
Cedrus Deodara ◽  
Pinus Montezumae ◽  
Campbell Island

Abstract A description is provided for Endophragmiella pinicola, which colonies are found on dead decaying leaves, twigs and cones of conifers, occasionally on other substrata, very often in association with other fungi, effuse, greyish-brown. Information is included on geographical distribution (USA (Alabama, Kentucky and Tennessee), Campbell Island, India (Himachal Pradesh), New Zealand, Czech Republic, France, UK and Ireland), hosts (Abies alba, Cedrus deodara, Myriophyllum spicatum, Picea sitchensis, Picea sp., Pinus montezumae, P. nigra, P. radiata, P. sylvestris, P. thunbergii, P. torreyana, Pinus sp. and Taxus cuspidata), biology and conservation status.

Linuparus korura n. sp. (Decapoda: Palinura) from the Bortonian (Eocene) of New Zealand

1988 ◽  
Vol 62 (2) ◽  
pp. 245-250 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rodney M. Feldmann ◽  
Robert K. Bearlin
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Fossil Record ◽  
Middle Eocene ◽  
Species Comparison ◽  
Morphological Descriptors ◽  
First Occurrence ◽  
First Time ◽  
Pacific Species

Linuparus (Linuparus) korura n. sp. is described from Bortonian (middle Eocene) rocks in Otaio Gorge, South Canterbury, New Zealand. This discovery represents the first occurrence of the genus in New Zealand and the first notice of a fossil occurrence of the subgenus which is represented by three modern Indo-Pacific species. Comparison of key morphological descriptors suggests that L. korura is related to L. scyllariformis and L. trigonis. A stridulatory mechanism, similar to that seen on modern Linuparus, is described for the first time from the fossil record.

scholarly journals Origins and Assembly of Malesian Rainforests

2019 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
pp. 119-143 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert M. Kooyman ◽  
Robert J. Morley ◽  
Darren M. Crayn ◽  
Elizabeth M. Joyce ◽  
Maurizio Rossetto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Spatial Structure ◽  
Fossil Record ◽  
Functional Trait ◽  
Indian Plate ◽  
Evolutionary Origins ◽  
Australian Plate ◽  
Floristic Elements ◽  
Adaptive Radiations ◽  
Abundance And Diversity

Unraveling the origins of Malesia's once vast, hyperdiverse rainforests is a perennial challenge. Major contributions to rainforest assembly came from floristic elements carried on the Indian Plate and montane elementsfrom the Australian Plate (Sahul). The Sahul component is now understood to include substantial two-way exchanges with Sunda inclusive of lowland taxa. Evidence for the relative contributions of the great Asiatic floristic interchanges (GAFIs) with India and Sahul, respectively, to the flora of Malesia comes from contemporary lineage distributions, the fossil record, time-calibrated phylogenies, functional traits, and the spatial structure of genetic diversity. Functional-trait and biome conservatism are noted features of montane austral lineages from Sahul (e.g., diverse Podocarpaceae), whereas the abundance and diversity of lowland lineages, including Syzygium (Myrtaceae) and the Asian dipterocarps (Dipterocarpoideae), reflect a less well understood combination of dispersal, ecology, and adaptive radiations. Thus, Malesian rainforest assembly has been shaped by sharply contrasting evolutionary origins and biogeographic histories.

Second-Order Sequence Stratigraphic Controls on the Quality of the Fossil Record at an Active Margin: New Zealand Eocene to Recent Shelf Molluscs

Palaios ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 86-105 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. S. CRAMPTON ◽  
M. FOOTE ◽  
A. G. BEU ◽  
R. A. COOPER ◽  
I. MATCHAM ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Fossil Record ◽  
Second Order ◽  
Active Margin ◽  
Sequence Stratigraphic ◽  
Order Sequence

Revision of the genus Clinocera Meigen from Australia and New Zealand (Diptera : Empididae : Clinocerinae)

2000 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 347 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bradley J. Sinclair
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Phylogenetic Relationships ◽  
Key To Species ◽  
Biogeographic Patterns ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Campbell Island

The Australian and New Zealand species of Clinocera Meigen are revised. Clinocera gressitti Smith is known from Campbell Island (New Zealand) and the following seven new species are recognised from eastern Australia: C. australiana, sp. nov., C. bickeli, sp. nov., C. irrorata, sp. nov., C. monticola, sp. nov., C. queenslandica, sp. nov., C. rubriventris, sp. nov. and C. spinosa, sp. nov. All species are described and illustrated. A key to species of Clinocera from Australia and New Zealand is provided and phylogenetic relationships and biogeographic patterns are discussed.

scholarly journals A Review of Galaxias (Galaxiidae) Fossils from the Southern Hemisphere

Diversity ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 208
Author(s):  
Uwe Kaulfuss ◽  
Daphne E. Lee ◽  
Jeffrey H. Robinson ◽  
Graham P. Wallis ◽  
Werner W. Schwarzhans
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Southern Hemisphere ◽  
Fossil Record ◽  
New Caledonia ◽  
Adult Fish ◽  
Gut Content ◽  
Ontogenetic Diet Shifts ◽  
Subantarctic Islands ◽  
Diet Shifts

The Galaxiidae is a Southern Hemisphere family of freshwater fish, considered to be of Gondwanan origin based on the current distribution of species in New Zealand, Australia (including Tasmania), New Caledonia, Africa, South America, and on some associated and subantarctic islands. The fossil record of galaxiids is extremely sparse and geographically restricted. The only galaxiid fossils currently known come from several Miocene lakes in southern New Zealand. They include more than 100 articulated fishes, some remarkably preserving soft parts such as eyes and skin, skulls and jaw components, and more than 200 isolated otoliths. Common coprolites and in situ preserved gut content at one site (Foulden Maar) indicate the different diets of larvae and adult fish. These discoveries reveal a diverse Galaxias fauna, the presence of lake-locked populations, ontogenetic diet shifts, and representatives of several non-migratory Galaxias lineages associated with inland streams and lakes. There are at least six Galaxias species based on macrofossils and six separate otolith-based species from varied volcanic and regional lacustrine environments. This diversity points to southern New Zealand as a centre of biodiversity and speciation in Galaxiidae in the early to late Miocene.

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