Article
Geography, Physical
Jia Jia, Niuniu Wang, Zhiyuan Wang, Sisi Wang, Michael Meadows, Leibin Wang, Yijiao Fan, Jianhui Chen
Summary: This study examines the particle size characteristics of a high-resolution last glacial loess record in Tajikistan in order to reconstruct climate dynamics in southern Central Asia. The research finds that dust activity in this region differs from that in northern Central Asia and northern China, with a decline during Heinrich events and an increase during interstadials. The study highlights the importance of considering dust emission and transportation conditions, as well as the underestimated role of reactivated paleo-dust, in determining regional dust activity.
PALAEOGEOGRAPHY PALAEOCLIMATOLOGY PALAEOECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Geography, Physical
Jingjing Li, Ligang Lv, Rong Wang, Hao Long, Xiangdong Yang
Summary: This study investigates the origin and spatial distribution of n-alkanes in Lake Lugu through analyzing plants, soils, and surface sediments. The findings reveal the presence of both autochthonous (aquatic plants) and allochthonous (terrestrial plants and soils) n-alkanes in the surface sediments. The study also discovers significant spatial heterogeneity and concentrations of n-alkanes in the northwestern part of the lake's north basin, potentially attributed to underwater topography and human-induced soil erosion.
PALAEOGEOGRAPHY PALAEOCLIMATOLOGY PALAEOECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Geography, Physical
Landon Burgener, Ethan Hyland, Brian J. Reich, Christopher Scotese
Summary: This study presents new quantitative temperature and precipitation proxy datasets for the Cretaceous Period, and utilizes a new geostatistical analysis technique to generate high resolution, quantitative global paleoclimate reconstructions. The findings provide new insights into the spatial and temporal climate patterns during the Cretaceous, and contribute to a better understanding of ancient climate, environments, and ecosystems.
PALAEOGEOGRAPHY PALAEOCLIMATOLOGY PALAEOECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Emma Reed, Diane M. Thompson, Kevin J. Anchukaitis
Summary: Due to the scarcity of climate observations in tropical oceans during most of the 20th century, paleoclimate proxies are needed for a comprehensive understanding of natural climate variability. This study compiles a coral delta O-18 record network sensitive to salinity and uses a reduced-space method to reconstruct annual tropical salinity anomalies from the 20th century. The findings reveal significant long-term trends and capture the spatial and temporal patterns associated with climate phenomena.
PALEOCEANOGRAPHY AND PALEOCLIMATOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Tammo Reichgelt, David R. Greenwood, Sebastian Steinig, John G. Conran, David K. Hutchinson, Daniel J. Lunt, Leonie J. Scriven, Jiang Zhu
Summary: Research reveals that during the early to middle Eocene, Australia was in a mid-to-high latitudinal position and had an enhanced hydrological cycle, leading to a wetter and greener continent. Temperature reconstructions indicate that southern Australia was approximately 5 degrees Celsius warmer than today, while precipitation was less uniform, with coastal areas receiving higher rainfall than inland areas. The estimates of net primary productivity suggest that southern Australia had a higher productivity compared to the present day, and the vegetation type resembled the eastern Australian subtropical forest.
PALEOCEANOGRAPHY AND PALEOCLIMATOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Geography, Physical
Aleksander Majchrzyk, Michal Jakubowicz, Blazej Berkowski, Pim Bongaerts, Mikolaj K. Zapalski
Summary: One of the keys to the success of modern and ancient reef ecosystems is photosymbiosis. Mesophotic coral reef ecosystems (MCE) can survive in the lower part of the photic zone. Recent studies have found that MCEs existed as early as the middle Palaeozoic. The Aferdou el Mrakib reef in Morocco represents one of the southernmost Givetian reefs and provides insights into the paleoecology of these communities. The MCEs in the Aferdou el Mrakib reef show taxonomic and ecological similarities with reefs in Laurussia and southern China, indicating a cosmopolitan nature of Middle Devonian mesophotic ecosystems.
PALAEOGEOGRAPHY PALAEOCLIMATOLOGY PALAEOECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Rosie R. Bishop, Lucy Kubiak-Martens, Graeme M. Warren, Mike J. Church
Summary: This paper presents new evidence for the harvesting of edible plant roots and tubers at a Mesolithic hunter-gatherer site in the Western Isles of Scotland, highlighting the importance of appropriate sampling on hunter-gatherer sites.
VEGETATION HISTORY AND ARCHAEOBOTANY
(2023)
Article
Geography, Physical
Sen Li, Paul B. Wignall, Simon W. Poulton, Makram Hedhli, Stephen E. Grasby
Summary: The transition from carbonate productivity to black shale deposition in the late Devonian period in western Laurentia is likely driven by declining seafloor oxygen levels, while the Hangenberg Crisis marks an improvement in ventilation conditions.
PALAEOGEOGRAPHY PALAEOCLIMATOLOGY PALAEOECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Geology
Sibelle Maksoud, Bruno R. C. Granier, Dany Azar
Summary: Lebanon has rich fossil insect outcrops, making significant contributions to paleoentomology and our understanding of insect evolution, due to its unique geological history and ancient environments.
CARNETS DE GEOLOGIE
(2022)
Article
Biology
Maxime Pelletier, Antti Kotiaho, Sirpa Niinimaki, Anna-Kaisa Salmi
Summary: For centuries, reindeer herding has been crucial for the survival and culture of the Sami people. This study used geometric morphometrics on modern reindeer populations' hindlimb long bones to identify domestic individuals. The findings show that these bones can provide insights into changes in locomotor behavior during reindeer domestication.
HISTORICAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biology
Taia Wyenberg-Henzler, R. Timothy Patterson, Jordan C. Mallon
Summary: The study suggests that there was good ecomorphological separation of most species at small body size within the Late Cretaceous ornithischian dinosaur assemblage of North America, but more work is needed to demonstrate the adaptive nature of these patterns. Calculation of browse profiles indicates that immature megaherbivores, especially hadrosaurids, outstripped coexisting small ornithischian species in controlling the resource base.
HISTORICAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
N. H. Witteveen, C. E. M. Hobus, A. Philip, D. R. Piperno, C. N. H. McMichael
Summary: This study assessed the variability of Amazonian palm phytolith morphotypes and identified morphological characteristics that can be used to increase the taxonomic resolution of palm identifications.
REVIEW OF PALAEOBOTANY AND PALYNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Paleontology
Ping-Li Wang, Steven T. LoDuca, Meng-Yin Wu, Yong-Gang Tang, Zhi-Xin Sun
Summary: This report describes for the first time Cambrian macroalgae from the North China Craton, which is different from the discoveries in the South China Craton. The fossils include tubular and film-like forms, possibly representing simple green algae and cyanobacteria. These findings further support the widespread distribution of Cambrian flora in low latitude settings.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
R. Sutherland, Z. Dos Santos, C. Agnini, L. Alegret, A. R. Lam, T. Westerhold, M. K. Drake, D. T. Harper, E. Dallanave, C. Newsam, M. J. Cramwinckel, G. R. Dickens, J. Collot, S. J. G. Etienne, A. Bordenave, W. R. Stratford, X. Zhou, H. Li, G. Asatryan
Summary: By analyzing the calcareous sediments in the Tasman Sea, we have determined the paleoceanographic conditions and found slight variations in the sediment mass accumulation rate (MAR) during certain periods. Additionally, we have observed that the Neogene MARs are on average higher than Quaternary values, indicating a potential increase in productivity in the future southwest Pacific.
PALEOCEANOGRAPHY AND PALEOCLIMATOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Geology
Kei Uchida
Summary: Two new genera and species of Elcanidae, Hukawnelca gracile gen. et sp. nov. and Caelielca spinocrus gen. et sp. nov., were discovered in mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber, showing unique anatomical and morphological characteristics that differentiate them from earlier Elcanid species.
CRETACEOUS RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Paleontology
Mark Williams, Reinhold Leinfelder, Anthony D. Barnosky, Martin J. Head, Francine M. G. McCarthy, Alejandro Cearreta, Stephen Himson, Rachael Holmes, Colin N. Waters, Jan Zalasiewicz, Simon Turner, Mary McGann, Elizabeth A. Hadly, M. Allison Stegner, Paul Michael Pilkington, Jerome Kaiser, Juan Carlos Berrio, Ian P. Wilkinson, Jens Zinke, Kristine L. Delong
Summary: This article examines three distinctive biostratigraphic signatures of humans associated with hunting and gathering, landscape domestication, and globalization. These signatures have significant fossil records that can be correlated inter-regionally, helping to describe the pattern of human expansion and resource appropriation. The study also shows that species translocations in the late stages of globalization can be used to build a palaeontological correlation network with decadal or sub-decadal precision, which reflects accelerating species extinction and a state shift in the biosphere in the twentieth century.
Article
Biology
Phillip C. Sternes, Jake J. Wood, Kenshu Shimada
Summary: This study reassessed a previous study on the megatooth shark and tested whether a two-dimensional approach can differentiate between ectothermic and endothermic fishes. The results show that there is no relationship between thermophysiology and body form in lamniforms when viewed in two dimensions. There is currently no scientific means to confirm the accuracy of previously published body forms of the megatooth shark.
HISTORICAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Paleontology
Russell D. C. Bicknell, Patrick M. Smith, Thomas F. Howells, John R. Foster
Summary: Records of abnormal fossil arthropods provide valuable insights into their response to trauma and developmental complications. This study focuses on trilobites, which have the most well-documented record of abnormalities. The authors describe malformed specimens from lower Paleozoic deposits, proposing that these abnormalities indicate injuries, primarily resulting from failed predation. The study also explores the potential causes of singular segment injuries, suggesting predation, self-induced damage, or intraspecific interactions during soft-shelled stages. Continued research on lower Paleozoic trilobite injuries will enhance our understanding of their role as prey and their recovery from unsuccessful attacks.
JOURNAL OF PALEONTOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Paleontology
Adele H. Pentland, Stephen F. Poropat, Matt A. White, Samantha L. Rigby, Joseph J. Bevitt, Ruairidh J. Duncan, Trish Sloan, Robert A. Elliott, Harry A. Elliott, Judy A. Elliott, David A. Elliott
Summary: Ferrodraco lentoni, a pterosaur from the Upper Cretaceous Winton Formation in northeast Australia, is the most complete Australian pterosaur described to date. Comparison with other Australian Cretaceous fossils reveals subtle differences, potentially indicating greater diversity in the Australian pterosaur fauna. A detailed description of the postcranial material of Ferrodraco provides insights into its phylogenetic position and a close relationship with Mythunga.
JOURNAL OF VERTEBRATE PALEONTOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Rachel A. Atkins, Robert S. Hill, Kathryn E. Hill, Samantha E. M. Munroe, Elizabeth H. Reed
Summary: Plant macrofossils are a valuable source for detailed vegetation reconstructions, but their preservation quality varies among taxa and plant organs and can be influenced by sediment age and fire impact. Care should be taken when reconstructing vegetation using plant macrofossils as preservation changes and floristic changes can be difficult to distinguish.
REVIEW OF PALAEOBOTANY AND PALYNOLOGY
(2022)
