A new bivalved arthropod from Cambrian (Stage 3) Qingjiang biota expands the palaeogeographical distribution and increases the diversity of Tuzoiidae

2021 ◽  
pp. jgs2020-229
Author(s):  
Jiaxin Ma ◽  
Weiliang Lin ◽  
Cong Liu ◽  
Ao Sun ◽  
Yu Wu ◽  
...  

The Cambrian Burgess Shale–type fossil Lagerstätten play a crutial role in revealing the origin and early evolution of arthropods. Tuzoiidae, one of the important bivalved arthropod groups, occupied a very important ecological niche in the Cambrian marine ecosystem. Here we describe a new taxon, Duplapex anima gen. et. sp. nov., in the family Tuzoiidae, on the basis of four exceptionally preserved specimens from the early Cambrian (Stage 3) Qingjiang biota of Hubei, South China. Duplapex is characterized by an ornament bivalved carapace, the ventral notch (vno) and doublure spine (dsp) of the valve, a pair of compound eyes connected by the fleshy annulated eye stalks. Despite having an unusual morphology for the group, the new taxon is recognized as a tuzoiid arthropod and indicates that these problematic euarthropods possessed a greater degree of morphological disparity than previously considered. D. anima, as well as the new reported Tuzoia. sp. from the Fandian biota, represent the oldest occurrence of Tuzoiidae, extending its stratigraphic range to Cambrian stage 3 and expanding the palaeobiographic distribution of the group to the northern border of Yangtze Platform.Thematic collection: This article is part of the Advances in the Cambrian Explosion collection available at: https://www.lyellcollection.org/cc/advances-cambrian-explosion

2014 ◽  
Vol 64 (Pt_4) ◽  
pp. 1186-1193 ◽  
Author(s):  
René Kaden ◽  
Cathrin Spröer ◽  
Daniel Beyer ◽  
Peter Krolla-Sidenstein

A Gram-stain-negative, oxidase and phosphatase-positive and catalase-negative, short rod-shaped bacterium was isolated from sediment of a drinking water reservoir in Germany. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence and phenotypic properties, the bacterium belongs to the genus Rhodoferax within the family Comamonadaceae . The new taxon differed from related species mainly with respect to its fatty acid composition, low growth temperature, lack of pigments in young cultures and ability to utilize glycerol and d-mannose but not urea. The major fatty acids were C16 : 1ω7c and/or iso-C15 : 0 2-OH, C16 : 0, and C18 : 1ω7c. The only ubiquinone detected was ubiquinone Q-8. The DNA G+C content was 60.3–61 mol%. Because of the phenotypic and genotypic differences from the most closely related taxa, the new strain represents a novel species for which the name Rhodoferax saidenbachensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is ED16T ( = CCUG 57711T = ATCC BAA-1852T = DSM 22694T). An emended description of the genus Rhodoferax is proposed. Based on the results of this study, strain T118T (Albidiferax ferrireducens) is properly placed in the genus Rhodoferax as Rhodoferax ferrireducens.


2021 ◽  
pp. jgs2020-162
Author(s):  
Fan Wei ◽  
Yang Zhao ◽  
Ailin Chen ◽  
Xianguang Hou ◽  
Peiyun Cong

Aspiculate demosponges are rarely described in geological history on account of the absence of spicules that are stable and resistant to degradation. One exception is the exquisite preservation of sponges without any mineralised skeletons discovered in Lagerstätten (e.g. the Burgess Shale). The Chengjiang Biota, an early example of a Burgess Shale-type Biota in South China (Cambrian Series 2, Stage 3), is one of the only examples of convincing aspiculate sponges until now. Here, we describe Vauxia pregracilenta sp. nov. and V. paraleioia sp. nov., as well as two poorly preserved vauxiid specimens (Vauxia sp.) in open nomenclature, from the Chengjiang Biota. V. pregracilenta has a fan-like holdfast and branches in various sizes, as well as a typical two-layered net-like skeleton, without spicules. The endosomal layer is hexagonal, while the dermal layer is sub-rectangular. V. paraleioia is characterised by a two-layered subconical skeleton, with the dermal layer ornamented with vertical surface grooves. The openings of the dermal and endosomal layers of V. paraleioia are both hexagonal but of different sizes. These newly discovered Vauxia species indicate that the aspiculate sponges were diversified in the early Cambrian period. Partial silicification of the fibres of aspiculate Vauxia are confirmed from the Chengjiang Biota.Thematic collection: This article is part of the Advances in the Cambrian Explosion collection available at: https://www.lyellcollection.org/cc/advances-cambrian-explosion


2017 ◽  
Vol 92 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-58 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuning Yang ◽  
Xingliang Zhang ◽  
Yuanlong Zhao ◽  
Yiru Qi ◽  
Linhao Cui

AbstractThe Cambrian Yanwangbian assemblage (Series 2, Stage 4) in South Shaanxi, China, is one of the Burgess Shale–type faunas as it represents the only relatively diverse Cambrian biota from the north margin of the Yangzte Platform, South China. The paleoscolecids (Cycloneuralia) illustrated herein are one of the major components of the fauna, although they appear to be much less abundant than skeletonized fossils, according to available collections. A new taxon, Shaanxiscolex xixiangensis new genus new species, is described based on the scleritome pattern: each annulus has two rows of alternating Hadimopanella-type plates positioned close to the borders, and a mosaic pattern of microplates occurs between the plates and within intersegmental furrows. The occurrence of the new taxon confirms a fairly diversified and widespread distribution of paleoscolecidan worms recognized in the early Cambrian of South China. Moreover, the ecology of paleoscolecids is reappraised based on burial position of the S. xixiangensis and gut contens of Cambrian taxa from South China, hinting that paleoscolecids (at least some taxa) were both deposit feeders and carnivores, as well as active bioturbators in the substrates of the Cambrian sea, which sheds new light on the ‘Cambrian Substrate Revolution.’


2015 ◽  
Vol 65 (Pt_1) ◽  
pp. 267-273 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leilei Li ◽  
Jessy Praet ◽  
Wim Borremans ◽  
Olga C. Nunes ◽  
Célia M. Manaia ◽  
...  

In the frame of a bumble bee gut microbiota study, acetic acid bacteria (AAB) were isolated using a combination of direct isolation methods and enrichment procedures. MALDI-TOF MS profiling of the isolates and a comparison of these profiles with profiles of established AAB species identified most isolates as Asaia astilbis or as ‘Commensalibacter intestini’, except for two isolates (R-52486 and LMG 28161T) that showed an identical profile. A nearly complete 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain LMG 28161T was determined and showed the highest pairwise similarity to Saccharibacter floricola S-877T (96.5 %), which corresponded with genus level divergence in the family Acetobacteraceae . Isolate LMG 28161T was subjected to whole-genome shotgun sequencing; a 16S–23S rRNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence as well as partial sequences of the housekeeping genes dnaK, groEL and rpoB were extracted for phylogenetic analyses. The obtained data confirmed that this isolate is best classified into a new genus in the family Acetobacteraceae . The DNA G+C content of strain LMG 28161T was 54.9 mol%. The fatty acid compositions of isolates R-52486 and LMG 28161T were similar to those of established AAB species [with C18 : 1ω7c (43.1 %) as the major component], but the amounts of fatty acids such as C19 : 0 cyclo ω8c, C14 : 0 and C14 : 0 2-OH enabled to differentiate them. The major ubiquinone was Q-10. Both isolates could also be differentiated from the known genera of AAB by means of biochemical characteristics, such as their inability to oxidize ethanol to acetic acid, negligible acid production from melibiose, and notable acid production from d-fructose, sucrose and d-mannitol. In addition, they produced 2-keto-d-gluconate, but not 5-keto-d-gluconate from d-glucose. Therefore, the name Bombella intestini gen nov., sp. nov. is proposed for this new taxon, with LMG 28161T ( = DSM 28636T = R-52487T) as the type strain of the type species.


2015 ◽  
Vol 65 (Pt_6) ◽  
pp. 1812-1818 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne Le Flèche-Matéos ◽  
Marion Levast ◽  
Fabienne Lomprez ◽  
Yolande Arnoux ◽  
Clément Andonian ◽  
...  

Parenteral nutrition bags for newborns were found contaminated by a previously undescribed member of the family Enterobacteriaceae . The six isolates studied by rrs gene (encoding 16S rRNA) sequence analysis and multi-locus sequence analysis (MLSA) formed a discrete branch close to the genera Ewingella , Rahnella , Yersinia , Hafnia and Serratia . Phenotypically, the new taxon was distinct from these five genera. The new taxon gave positive results in Voges–Proskauer, Simmons citrate and o-nitrophenyl-β-galactoside hydrolysis tests; fermented d-glucose, d-mannitol, l-rhamnose, melibiose, l-arabinose and d-xylose; hydrolysed aesculin; and did not ferment maltose, trehalose, raffinose, d-sorbitol, sucrose or cellobiose. Tests for motility, gas production, urease, gelatinase and nitrate reduction were also negative. All isolates failed to grow at 37 °C. The DNA G+C content of strain 130333T was 53 mol%. On the basis of data obtained in this study, the six isolates represent a novel species of a new genus in the family Enterobacteriaceae , named Rouxiella chamberiensis gen. nov., sp. nov. The type strain of the type species is 130333T ( = CIP 110714T = DSM 28324T).


2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 116-127
Author(s):  
Ondřej Machek ◽  
Jiří Hnilica

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine how the satisfaction with economic and non-economic goals achievement is related to the overall satisfaction with the business of the CEO-owner, and whether family involvement moderates this relationship. Design/methodology/approach Based on a survey among 323 CEO-owners of family and non-family businesses operating in the Czech Republic, the authors employ the OLS hierarchical regression analysis and test the moderating effects of family involvement on the relationship between the satisfaction with different goals attainment and the overall satisfaction with the business. Findings The main finding is that family and non-family CEO-owner’s satisfaction does not differ significantly when economic goals (profit maximisation, sales growth, increase in market share or firm value) and firm-oriented non-economic goals (satisfaction of employees, corporate reputation) are being achieved; both classes of goals increase the overall satisfaction with the firm and the family involvement does not strengthen this relationship. However, when it comes to external non-economic goals related to the society or environment, there is a significant and positive moderating effect of family involvement. Originality/value The study contributes to the family business literature. First, to date, most of the studies focused on family business goals have been qualitative, thus not allowing for generalisation of findings. Second, there is a lack of evidence on the ways in which family firms integrate their financial and non-financial goals. Third, the authors contribute to the literature on the determinants of personal satisfaction with the business for CEOs, which has been the focus on a relatively scarce number of studies.


2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (34) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hazuki Yamashita ◽  
Takayuki Wada ◽  
Yusuke Kato ◽  
Takuji Ikeda ◽  
Masayuki Imajoh

Flavobacterium psychrophilum is a Gram-negative, psychrophilic bacterium within the family Flavobacteriaceae. Here, we report the draft genome sequences of three F. psychrophilum strains isolated from skin ulcers of diseased ayu caught by tomozuri angling at three sites in the Kagami River in Japan.


Author(s):  
Mário Franco ◽  
Patricia Piceti

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to understand the family dynamics factors and gender roles influencing the functioning of copreneurial business practices, to propose a conceptual framework based on these factors/roles. Design/methodology/approach For this purpose, a qualitative approach was adopted, through the analysis of seven businesses created by copreneurial couples in an emerging economy – Brazil. Data were obtained from an open interview with each member of the selected couples who are in charge of firm management. Findings The empirical evidence obtained shows that the most important factors for successful copreneurial family businesses are professionalization, dividing the couple’s tasks and business management. Trust, communication, flexibility and common goals are other essential relational-based factors for the good functioning of this type of family business and stability in the personal relationship. Practical implications It is clear that professionalization and the separation of positions and functions are fundamental for a balance between business management and the couple’s marital life. When couples are in harmony and considering factors such as trust, communication and flexibility (relational-based factors), the firm’s life-cycle and business success become real and more effective. Originality/value From the family dynamics factors and gender roles, this study focused on one of the most important and integrated family firm relationships, copreneurial couples. As there is little research on the heterogeneity of family firms runs specifically by copreneurial couples, this study is particularly important and innovative in the context of a developing economy, such as Brazil. Based on empirical evidence, this study was proposed an integrative and holistic framework that shows the functioning of copreneurial businesses practices.


2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 2-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudia Binz Astrachan ◽  
Isabel C. Botero

Purpose Evidence suggests that some stakeholders perceive family firms as more trustworthy, responsible, and customer-oriented than public companies. To capitalize on these positive perceptions, owning families can use references about their family nature in their organizational branding and marketing efforts. However, not all family firms actively communicate their family business brand. With this in mind, the purpose of this paper is to investigate why family firms decide to promote their “family business brand” in their communication efforts toward different stakeholders. Design/methodology/approach Data for this study were collected using an in-depth interview approach from 11 Swiss and German family business owners. Interviews were transcribed and coded to identify different themes that help explain the different motives and constraints that drive their decisions to promote the “family business brand.” Findings The analyses indicate that promoting family associations in branding efforts is driven by both identity-related (i.e. pride, identification) and outcome-related (e.g. reputational advantages) motives. However, there are several constraints that may negatively affect the promotion of the family business brand in corporate communication efforts. Originality/value This paper is one of the first to explore why family businesses decide to communicate their “family business brand.” Building on the findings, the authors present a conceptual framework identifying the antecedents and possible consequences of promoting a family firm brand. This framework can help researchers and practitioners better understand how the family business nature of the brand can influence decisions about the company’s branding and marketing practices.


2017 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 231-247 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vitor Braga ◽  
Aldina Correia ◽  
Alexandra Braga ◽  
Sofia Lemos

Purpose The success of the family firms cannot be detached from the current paradigm where, within the present economic conditions, economic agents struggle to exploit the existing opportunities and need to take into account the risks associated to the international arena and the innovation processes. The internationalisation and innovation processes may trigger resistance within family business due to their relatively higher difficulty to take risks and to invest in industries outside the scope of their original core business. Innovation and internationalisation processes become relevant strategies for the family firms’ continuity and success. In line with such fact, the aim of this paper is to contribute with insights regarding the processes of innovation and internationalisation within family businesses. In particular, this paper aims to assess the propensity of such firms to apply such strategies, to identify the particular business behaviour and to assess the extent to which the particulars of family firms may constraint or lead to the implementation of innovation policies, and thus its internationalisation. Design/methodology/approach The data were collected through questionnaires within family business aiming to understand the scope and characteristics of internationalisation and innovation processes within these firms. The 154 replies from such data collection were analysed using different multivariate statistic procedures, although this paper is based on factorial and correlation analysis. Findings The analysis of the results shows that there is an association between the processes of innovation and internationalisation within family business. In addition, the results also suggest a typology of firms regarding their innovation and internationalisation strategies and motivations. Research limitations/implications The results of this paper are, to some extent, limited because they did not allow comparing the findings with data from non-family business. However, the authors’ aim was not to distinguish family firms, but rather to characterise them. Practical implications This paper expects to contribute with lessons for the management of family business and to raise awareness of the constraints faced by family business. It is important to highlight that family business performance may be affected by a lower propensity to risk-taking attitudes, by the lack of non-family management and to the necessity of separating the family and the business in the business dimensions that the family limits the business growth. Originality/value Although there is a significant amount of the literature devoted to explore family business, innovation and internationalisation studies, very few draw on the relationship between internationalisation and innovation processes within family business. This paper explores such a relationship within a particular business context – the family dynamics that strongly affect management and business development.


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