scholarly journals Geoconservation in the Cabeço da Ladeira Paleontological Site (Serras de Aire e Candeeiros Nature Park, Portugal): Exquisite Preservation of Animals and Their Behavioral Activities in a Middle Jurassic Carbonate Tidal Flat

Geosciences ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 366
Author(s):  
Susana Machado ◽  
Lia Mergulhão ◽  
Bruno Claro Pereira ◽  
Pedro Pereira ◽  
Jorge Carvalho ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tidal Flat ◽  
Middle Jurassic ◽  
Fossil Record ◽  
Bedding Plane ◽  
Large Area ◽  
Exceptional Preservation ◽  
Nature Park ◽  
Tourist Demand ◽  
Tourism Attractions

The Cabeço da Ladeira paleontological site in central Portugal became known as the “Jurassic Beach”. Formerly an active quarry, the site was protected in order to preserve the large exposures of a Middle Jurassic (early? Bajocian) carbonate tidal flat with an outstanding fossil record. This multidisciplinary paleontological work involving experts from several national and international research and geoconservation institutions was carried out under the umbrella of the Institute for Nature Conservation (ICNF), since this geosite is located within the Serras de Aire e Candeeiros nature park. Cabeço da Ladeira has provided exquisitely preserved body fossils, especially echinoderms, together with the exceptional preservation of their, and other, animal’s behaviors. It is also a hotspot to understand the diversity of bivalves in the Middle Jurassic. Due to the large area of the geosite, the international relevance of the findings, and the risk of weathering and destruction of the fossils, a geoconservation plan has been developed by ICNF with the support of local authorities. After several years of being open to visitors without proper control, the Cabeço da Ladeira paleontological site is now conditioned to organized groups of researchers, schools, and tourists. Some body fossils were collected for studies and included in the national collections of the Geological Museum (Lisbon). Moreover, casts have been made to protect holotypes of trace fossils, also providing ways to replicate this fossil record in temporary exhibitions. A long-term experimental study to conserve the limestone bedding plane exposures and their fossil contents was started in order to develop the best geoconservation strategy with an aim to reduce the damage produced by the increasing tourist demand on natural sites. Cabeço da Ladeira and other geosites in protected areas are key to communicating an evolutionary approach to environmental education, and their geoconservation must be a priority to improve their long-term use as (geo)tourism attractions.

Fossil Record of Parasitism on Marine Invertebrates with Special Emphasis on the Platyceratid-Crinoid Interaction

2002 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 195-210 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomasz K. Baumiller ◽  
Forest J. Gahn
Keyword(s):  
Fossil Record ◽  
Marine Invertebrates ◽  
Marine Diversity ◽  
Parasitic Interactions ◽  
Explicit Criteria ◽  
Lower Frequencies

The paleontological literature on marine invertebrates is rich in supposed examples of parasitism and our tabulation shows a nearly even distribution of reported cases through the post-Cambrian Phanerozoic. Slightly lower frequencies characterize the Triassic and Jurassic and higher frequencies the Cretaceous and Tertiary, and the pattern roughly mirrors Sepkoski's (1984) marine diversity curve. The total number of parasitic associations for any geologic period rarely exceeds a dozen, yet few of the reported examples provide explicit criteria distinguishing parasitism from predation, commensalism, or mutualism. We evaluated the published examples using the following criteria: (1) evidence of a long-term relationship between two organisms, (2) benefit of interaction to supposed parasite, and (3) detriment of interaction to the host We found that only in exceptional cases were these criteria fulfilled. One example that provides much information on parasitic interactions involves platyceratids and crinoids and we summarize the evidence for the parasitic interaction between these two groups of organisms.

Surface Cleaning Challenges for Organic Light Emitting Diodes

2021 ◽  
Vol 314 ◽  
pp. 3-8
Author(s):  
Noel Giebink
Keyword(s):  
Light Emitting Diodes ◽  
Surface Cleaning ◽  
Organic Light Emitting Diodes ◽  
Large Area ◽  
Light Emitting ◽  
Organic Light ◽  
Organic Optoelectronic Devices ◽  
Soft Thin Film ◽  
Organic Optoelectronic

Organic optoelectronic devices such as light-emitting diodes and solar cells present unique challenges for surface cleaning and preparation because of their large area and the ‘soft’, thin film nature of the materials involved. This paper gives an introduction to this class of semiconductor devices and covers a recent example of how surface cleaning impacts the long-term reliability of organic light-emitting diodes being commercialized for solid-state lighting.

scholarly journals Tracking interspecies transmission and long-term evolution of an ancient retrovirus using the genomes of modern mammals

eLife ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
William E Diehl ◽  
Nirali Patel ◽  
Kate Halm ◽  
Welkin E Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Fossil Record ◽  
Viral Infections ◽  
Endogenous Retroviruses ◽  
Interspecies Transmission ◽  
Viral Spread ◽  
Protein Functions ◽  
History Of ◽  
Mammalian Genomes ◽  
Retroviral Infections

Mammalian genomes typically contain hundreds of thousands of endogenous retroviruses (ERVs), derived from ancient retroviral infections. Using this molecular 'fossil' record, we reconstructed the natural history of a specific retrovirus lineage (ERV-Fc) that disseminated widely between ~33 and ~15 million years ago, corresponding to the Oligocene and early Miocene epochs. Intercontinental viral spread, numerous instances of interspecies transmission and emergence in hosts representing at least 11 mammalian orders, and a significant role for recombination in diversification of this viral lineage were also revealed. By reconstructing the canonical retroviral genes, we identified patterns of adaptation consistent with selection to maintain essential viral protein functions. Our results demonstrate the unique potential of the ERV fossil record for studying the processes of viral spread and emergence as they play out across macro-evolutionary timescales, such that looking back in time may prove insightful for predicting the long-term consequences of newly emerging viral infections.

scholarly journals Flora and vegetation of dry grasslands of Northeastern Ukraine, and problems of diversity conservation

Hacquetia ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 49-62 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vladimir Ronkin ◽  
Galina Savchenko
Keyword(s):  
Grazing Intensity ◽  
Chernozem Soils ◽  
Key Factor ◽  
Nature Park ◽  
Regional Landscape ◽  
Long Term Monitoring ◽  
Steppe Grassland ◽  
Grassland Biodiversity ◽  
Term Monitoring

Abstract The aim of this study was to describe the flora and vegetation of the grasslands of Northeastern Ukraine and to analyse how the steppe vegetation responds to grazing or its abandonment. We studied two gully systems in the east of the Kharkiv Region: the Regional Landscape Park “The Velykyi Burluk-Steppe” (steppe grasslands on chernozem soils; 10 sites) and the National Nature Park “Dvorichanskyi” (steppe grasslands on chalky outcrops; 5 sites). Long-term monitoring data exist for both these sites starting in 1991, shortly after grazing intensity reduced. We recorded the major grassland plant communities (reflecting their successional status) as well as their dominant species. Tree and scrub encroachment increased after management ceased. We conclude that (i) heterogeneous grazing (including ungrazed patches) in space and time is necessary in order to preserve grassland biodiversity in our study system; (ii) erosion of chalky outcrops (natural erosion as well as driven by cattle grazing) is a key factor promoting the richness of cretaceous species in steppe grassland.

scholarly journals A review of the fossil record of non-baenid turtles of the clade Paracryptodira

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Walter G. Joyce ◽  
Jérémy Anquetin
Keyword(s):  
North America ◽  
Middle Jurassic ◽  
Fossil Record ◽  
Late Jurassic ◽  
Feeding Strategies ◽  
Aquatic Environments ◽  
Taxonomic Review ◽  
Nomina Invalida ◽  
Nomina Dubia

The fossil record of non-baenid paracryptodires ranges from the Late Jurassic (Kimmeridgian) tothe Paleocene of North America and Europe only. Earlier remains may be present as early as the Middle Jurassic (Bathonian). Only a single dispersal event is documented between the two continents following their breakup during the Cretaceous in the form of the appearance of the Compsemys lineage in the Paleocene of France. Non-baenid paracryptodires were restricted to freshwater aquatic environments, but display adaptations to diverse feeding strategies consistent with generalist, gape-and-suction, and hypercarnivorous feeding. Current phylogenies recognize two species rich subclades within Paracryptodira, Baenidae and Pleurosternidae, which jointly form the clade Baenoidea. A taxonomic review of non-baenid paracryptodires concludes that of 34 named taxa, 11 are nomina valida, 15 nomina invalida, and 8 nomina dubia.

scholarly journals Adding fossil occupancy trajectories to the assessment of modern extinction risk

2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 20150813 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wolfgang Kiessling ◽  
Ádám T. Kocsis
Keyword(s):  
Fossil Record ◽  
Extinction Risk ◽  
Strong Predictor ◽  
Marine Species ◽  
Species Traits ◽  
Latent Extinction ◽  
Extant Species ◽  
Temporal Trajectory

Besides helping to identify species traits that are commonly linked to extinction risk, the fossil record may also be directly relevant for assessing the extinction risk of extant species. Standing geographical distribution or occupancy is a strong predictor of both recent and past extinction risk, but the role of changes in occupancy is less widely assessed. Here we demonstrate, based on the Cenozoic fossil record of marine species, that both occupancy and its temporal trajectory are significant determinants of risk. Based on extinct species we develop a model on the additive and interacting effects of occupancy and its temporal changes on extinction risk. We use this model to predict extinction risk of extant species. The predictions suggest a moderate risk for marine species on average. However, some species seem to be on a long-term decline and potentially at a latent extinction risk, which is not considered in current risk assessments.

Cultural Tourism and Economic Development

2019 ◽  
pp. 13-44
Keyword(s):  
Economic Development ◽  
Development Strategy ◽  
Focal Point ◽  
Cultural Tourism ◽  
Travel And Tourism ◽  
Long Run ◽  
Tourism Attractions ◽  
Key Aspects

There are many links between cultural tourism and economic development. Governments from entire nations down to cities and counties have made tourism a focal point in their economic development efforts. This chapter discusses 18 types of cultural tourism attractions ranging from architecture to gastronomy to sex. Each of the types of cultural tourism are assessed in terms of the level of interaction between a tourist and an attraction. Travel and tourism's contribution to gross domestic product (GDP) has outpaced overall GDP in 62% of the 185 countries studied by the World Travel and Tourism Council in 2017. Tourism's contribution to GDP exceeds 10% for several countries with Iceland topping the list at 20.1%. Sustainability is a key to the success of any long-term development strategy, and this is certainly the case with cultural tourism. The tradeoff communities face is maximizing short term returns versus managing development (tourism) to maintain the quality of the resource for the long run. Over-tourism results when an attraction or a community experiences numbers of tourists beyond the carrying capacity of the attraction. While the marketplace is better suited for managing much of tourism and its impacts, government is uniquely suited to manage some key aspects of tourism. Government is better able than business to manage for the long term. Additionally, governments can weigh costs and benefits to different groups (e.g., residents versus tourists). Two case studies are presented to highlight these issues.

Paleolimnology in Deep Time: The Evolution of Lacustrine Ecosystems

2003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew S. Cohen
Keyword(s):  
Fossil Record ◽  
World Ocean ◽  
Biological Evolution ◽  
Body Distribution ◽  
Freshwater Organisms ◽  
History Of ◽  
Living Organisms ◽  
Lake Basins ◽  
Lake Beds

Most lakes are geologically ephemeral; even the longest-lived individual lakes persist only for tens of millions of years. However there is a continuity to lake systems that transcends the geologically short history of individual lake basins. This continuity comes from the long-term biological evolution of life in freshwater, and fittingly, forms the final subject of this treatment of paleolimnology. Like the oceans, lakes have provided habitats for living organisms for most of the earth’s history. Yet the patterns of aquatic ecosystem evolution in rivers and lakes have differed dramatically from those of the oceans. In large part this can be traced to the fundamentally ephemeral nature of most continental aquatic habitats and the ‘‘disconnectedness’’ in both time and space that exists between individual lakes and rivers compared with the world ocean. This pattern of temporal and spatial patchiness in water body distribution on the continents has shaped the evolution of lacustrine species and communities. Some understanding of this history can be gleaned from the study of modern ecology and molecular genetics of living freshwater organisms. But to understand long-term trends in lacustrine biodiversity and their relationship to the history of the lacustrine environment we must turn to the pre- Quaternary fossil record. Understanding this history, the timing and tempo of major species diversification and extinction events, and the evolution of key ecological innovations is critical for correctly interpreting ancient lake deposits. The fossil record of pre-Quaternary lakes is more difficult to interpret than that of more recent lake basins. Robust phylogenies are largely unavailable for clades of ancient lacustrine fossils, hindering our ability to test hypotheses of evolutionary ecology, although that situation hopefully will improve in coming years. Many major clades of fossil lacustrine organisms are extinct, and ecologies must be inferred from their depositional context. Even for organisms that have close-living relatives, our certainty in making inferences about habitat and relationship with other species weakens as we go back in time. Also the record we have to work with deteriorates with age, the result of (a) a declining volume of lake beds available for study with increasing age, (b) difficulties associated with processing lithified lake beds for their fossil content, and (c) an increasing likelihood of destruction by diagenesis with increasing age.

Implications for the study of fossil Asteroidea (Echinodermata) of new genera and species from the Eocene of Florida

2009 ◽  
Vol 83 (4) ◽  
pp. 562-574 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel B. Blake ◽  
Roger W. Portell
Keyword(s):  
Family History ◽  
New Taxa ◽  
Middle Jurassic ◽  
Fossil Record ◽  
New Genera ◽  
Crown Group ◽  
Marine Communities ◽  
The Family ◽  
Ocala Limestone

Oyenaster oblidus, Ocalaster timucum, and Ocalaster seloyi are new genera and species of the family Goniasteridae (Asteroidea) described from the Eocene Ocala Limestone of Florida. Although the fossil record of asteroids is sketchy, goniasterids appear to have been important contributors to marine communities since at least the Middle Jurassic. Similarities between living goniasterids and their fossil precursors indicate that plesiomorphy and convergence have been important in family history, and as a result, taxonomic interpretation is challenging. Even partial fossil goniasterids are rare, forcing systematists to rely heavily on isolated marginal ossicles, although some authors have expressed the need for caution. Building around three new taxa, we suggest that broader approaches can aid systematic interpretation of all crown-group asteroids. We also suggest that the inevitably idiosyncratic interpretations of marginal-based systematics can be partially tested using blind evaluations.

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