A new genus of lycopods from the Devonian of New York State

Drepanophycus colophyllus Grierson & Banks is transferred to llaskinsia Grierson & Banks on the basis of the morphology of its leaves and its anatomical structure. Slender, dichotomizing axes bear helically arranged leaves that are falcate, petiolate, simple, lanceolate and entire. A solid cylinder of metaxylem is surrounded by ridges of protoxylem. Pitting on tracheid walls is annular, helical, reticulate, scalariform to circular-bordered. This lycopod extends from early Givetian into early Frasnian time in the Catskill strata of eastern New York State. The effect of cleavage of fossiliferous rock on patterns observed on the exposed fossils and the bearing of recent research on the fossil history of lycopods are discussed.     

A possible case of pre-Columbian treponematosis from New York State

This paper presents evidence for what is believed to be the first reported case of pre-Columbian treponematosis in northeastern North America. The temporal position of the skeletal material, salvaged from a site in New York State, is determined on the basis of archeological evidence.     

Level-bottom brachiopod communities in the Middle Devonian of New York

Depositional environments of the Onondaga Limestone from central to southeastern New York are found to be normal, subtidal marine, due to the absence of characteristic supratidal or intertidal sedimentary features and the presence of a typical, diverse, marine level-bottom community framework. Post-mortem transport has not been extensive, as evidenced by low articulation ratios, lack of abraded valves, and complete ontogenetic gradations within species, which precludes large scale winnowing. Sedimentation rates appear to have been greatest in eastern New York where the Onondaga Limestone reaches a thickness almost three times that of the strata in central New York. Shaly beds in the central area represent periods of cessation of carbonate deposition rather than an influx of clastic material. Deposition terminated with the onset of deeper water characterized by a westerly advance of terrigenous sedimentation (the Marceilus Shale of the Hamilton Group). Nine brachiopod communities can be recognized in the Onondaga Limestone. There is a strong correlation between sediment-substrate and community type, reflecting the sedimentologic control of brachiopod community distribution. Sandy facies, cherty limestones and coral biostromes and bioherms are associated with inner-neritic deposition in Edgecliff time; argillaceous lime muds and lime sands are characteristic of mid-neritic deposition in Nedrow to Moorehouse time; and highly argillaceous lime muds are associated with outer-nerittc deposition in Seneca time.     

Policy learning and deer co-management in New York State: Insights from newspaper coverage

Resolution of urban and suburban deer problems often depends on learning and co-management. Local newspapers may reflect the learning occurring in a community. Past authors have identified 4 primary types of learning (technical, conceptual, social, and political). We studied newspaper content related to deer management for insights about the types of learning occurring in selected regions in New York State. We analyzed 263 newspaper articles published between 2000 and 2006. We found that the majority of content related to learning focused on conceptual and technical learning, but relatively little, particularly early in the evolution of deer management issues, focused on social or political learning. Our results suggest that additional attention to social learning focusing on collaborative relationships and constructive dialogue among stakeholders by both communities and newspapers could be beneficial in the resolution of deer problems. © 2012 The Wildlife Society.     

Spatio-temporal distribution of sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) off Kaikoura,New Zealand,in relation to bathymetric features

Using a shore-based station we monitored the position of sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) within the Kaikoura submarine canyon from 2010 to 2012. We tracked sperm whales using a theodolite station for a total of 290 days. We extracted the distance from the nearest coast, the depth and the bathymetric slope using ArcGIS 10.1. We estimated the seasonal spatial distribution of sperm whales using general additive models. The distribution varied significantly between seasons; individuals were found in deeper water and further offshore in the spring than in winter. This study improved our understanding of the variability of sperm whale distribution patterns off Kaikoura. We determined that the distribution was linked to the bathymetric features and we hypothesized that whales adapted their use of the submarine canyon in relation to food aggregation. We would encourage further studies to evaluate the sperm whale relationship with oceanographic variables off Kaikoura.     

The Diatoms,Productivity and Morphometry of 43 Lakes in New York State,U.S.A

Diatoms were examined in surface sediments collected from 43 lakes throughout New York State to determine the interrelationships among the abundances of various diatom taxa,' lake productivity and lake morphometry. Diatom ratios, including the A/C, C/P and five new quotients, were not well correlated with lake productivity, probably because of the diversity of the taxa which they employ. The abundance of individual genera or combinations of genera were better indicators of productivity. Cyclotella was the best single indicator of productivity being most abundant in low productivity lakes. Several fairly distinct diatom associations were identified by correlations between all possible pairs of diatom taxa. Finally, lake productivity was found to be significantly correlated with morphometry, being highest in small/shallow lakes.     

Favositidae (Tabulata) from Emsian to Middle Devonian limestones of the Tamworth Group (N.S.W., Australia)

Several different species and species groups of the familiy Favositidae from the Emsian and Middle Devonian limestones of the Tamworth Group (N.S.W., Australia) are described. The Emsian Sulcor Limestone Member yieldedFavosites sp. aff.F. basalticus (Goldfuss, 1826),Favosites sp. aff.F. salebrosus Etheridge, 1899,Favosites stellaris Chernyshev, 1937,Squameofavosites nitidus (Chapman, 1914),Sq. bryani (Jones, 1937),Pachyfavosites rariporosus Dubatolov, 1963, andP. tumulosus Yanet, 1965. The Middle Devonian Moore Creek Limestone Member yieldedFavosites ex gr.goldfussi D’Orbigny, 1850, exclusively. In the Emsian limestones occur favositids in a wide array of different facies, with most being found in stratified biostromes and in bedded nodular limestones. In the Middle Devonian most favositids are found in nodular and lumpy limestones which occur at the base and at the top of some successions      

Internal features of Ammonitellas of Tornoceratids from the Middle Devonian Cherry Valley Limestone,New York State,USA

A previous study on the ammonitellas of Agoniatites vanuxemi (Hall, 1879) from the Middle Devonian Cherry Valley Limestone of New York State, USA, showed remarkable preservation of the internal morphology. In this paper, the ammonitellas of another ammonoid, a member of the Tornoceratidae, from the Cherry Valley Limestone are studied. The tornoceratids come from a weathered friable shale layer. The ammonitellas examined are from juvenile specimens, many of which appear to be loose in the matrix. Specimens were studied in median cross section using a Scanning Electron Microscope. Shell walls and septa appear as more heavily etched grooves surrounded by large blocks of calcite. Membrane-like structures are associated with several embryonic septa in one specimen. In one specimen, a primary varix marks the end of the ammonitella. The first two septa join the shell wall of the initial chamber at its dorsalmost point. The first septum (= proseptum) is asymmetrically concave adapically and attaches to the dorsal wall of the initial chamber, which extends into the first chamber. The second septum attaches at the end of this extension. The third septum attaches to the dorsal wall of the ammonitella coil. This arrangement differs from that in Agoniatites, where all three septa join the dorsal wall of the ammonitella at a single point. This difference cannot be easily explained by the tighter coiling of the ammonitella of the tornorceratids because they are not closely related to the agoniatites. In addition, although the tornoceratid ammonitella is similar to that of the agoniatids in many ways, it is half the size.     

A new euphyllophyte Kunia venusta gen. et sp. nov. from the Middle Devonian of Yunnan,South China

Abstract Kunia venusta gen. et sp. nov. is reported from the late Middle Devonian (Givetian) Haikou Formation near Kunming City, Yunnan Province, China. This plant has three orders of naked axes that divide pseudomonopodially. The second‐ and third‐order axes occur in a helix. Fertile appendages are distantly spaced and helically inserted to the third‐order axis; they comprise equally dichotomous branches terminated by two clusters of paired and fusiform sporangia. Sterile appendages are dichotomous and distally recurved. A comparison is made with the basal euphyllophytes including the trimerophytes, cladoxylopsids, zygopterids, stauropterids, and some relevant genera of uncertain affinity. The new plant resembles them in dichotomous appendages with terminal elongated sporangia, but differs mainly in the three orders of pseudomonopodial axes bearing helical laterals. It is thus placed in the Euphyllophytina as incertae sedis. It is suggested that an evolutionary divergence in the branching pattern and appendage morphology might have occurred in the Middle Devonian euphyllophytes, that is, maintaining three dimensions versus yielding more or less planation.     

Study of submerged aquatic vascular plants in Northern Glacial Lakes (New York State,U.S.A.)

The submerged aquatic vascular vegetation was studied in the Finger Lakes and in two bays of Lake Ontario in northern New York State, U.S.A. The species composition, structure and biomass of the communities are related to the principal habitat factors such as trophic status of the lakes, bottom slope and substrate, current and stream effects, and depth. A record of the development of changes in the trophic status of the lakes and in the species composition of their submerged vascular vegetation is outlined. An attempt is made to assess the effects of catastrophic events (floods and cloudbursts in the watershed) on the lake vegetation.     

Weather patterns and asthma epidemics in New York City and New Orleans,U.S.A.

Twenty-five years of data on asthmatic attacks in New Orleans (covering approximately 170,000 asthma attacks) have been analyzed to identify asthma epidemic days, defined as days on which an unusually high number of asthmatic individuals had attacks. Similar data covering three years was obtained for New York City. A preliminary examination of detailed meteoroligical data revealed a consistent meteorological pattern preceding and associated with such asthma epidemic days which consisted of a cold front preceding an asthma epidemic by one to three days followed by a high pressure system. The significance of these meteorological findings and their relationship to other environmental agents such as natural or man-made atmospheric pollutants that are likely to be associated with asthma attacks will be discussed.Presented at the Eighth International Congress of Biometeorology, 9–14 September 1979, Shefayim, Israel.     

Planktonic rotifer community structure in Adirondack,New York,U.S.A. lakes in relation to acidity,trophic status and related water quality characteristics

The structure of the mid-summer planktonic rotifer communities of 101 Adirondack lakes ranging in pH from 4.0 to 7.3 were characterized in relation to acidity and selected water quality parameters. More than 70 rotifer species were identified from collections in 1982 and 1984. None of the species collected could be considered acidobiontic or alkalibiontic. Keratella taurocephala was the most commonly collected rotifer, occurring in 94 of the study lakes. It was abundant throughout the range of pH investigated but was particularly dominant in acidic waters, averaging > 85 % of the rotifers collected from waters of pH < 5.0.Rotifer community structure can be related to three groups of water quality parameters. Community parameters (richness and diversity) are most highly correlated with parameters indicative of acidity status. Rotifer abundance correlates with trophic state indicators, i.e. chlorophyll a and total phosphorus, over the full range of pH investigated. However, in acidic lakes, rotifer abundance is related to true color and DOC, indicators of humic influences.The rotifer communities of the Adirondacks can be classified into four broad types: 1) A diverse, productive community of the more alkaline lakes, generally with 13 species, and dominated by Conochilus unicornis, Kellicottia bostoniensis, Kellicottia longispina, and Polyarthra major; 2) Relatively diverse communities of productive, highly colored acid lakes, with 8 species, and often with very large populations (> 200 · 1^–1) dominated by K. bostoniensis and K. taurocephala; 3) Depauperate (< 4 species) communities of clear water acid lakes with generally low density populations dominated by K. taurocephala (> 90 % of rotifers in each sample); and 4) Extremely depauperate (2–3 species) acid lake communities associated with small lakes with high flushing rates dominated by C. unicornis.     

Gumuia gyzzata A New Plant from the Lower Devonian of Yunnan,China

A new genus and species, Gumuia zyzzata is found in the Posonchong Formation of the Lower Devonian (Siegenian) from Wenshan district of Yunnan, China. It has both lateral and terminal sporangia. Successive sporangia develop on alternate sides of short axes near the hases of preceding sporangia, producing a zigzag fertile organization. The author supposes that it is a sympodium Opposite sporangia are suppositionally referred to the result from condensation of the axis between alternate sporangia. The new plant is tentatively referred to a putative zosterophyll.     

Brachiopods of the suborder Delthyridina Ivanova (order Spiriferida) from the Lower and Middle Devonian of northeastern Russia

New brachiopods of the suborder Delthyridina Ivanova (order Spiriferida) from the Lower and Middle Devonian of northeastern Russia, Ivanothyris costatus sp. nov. (subfamily Delthyridinae), Eoreticularia lata sp. nov., Yania gen. nov. with the type species Y. tumida sp. nov. (subfamily Eoreticulariinae), Reticulariopsis equitans Modzalevskaya, and R. (?) borealis sp. nov. (subfamily Reticulariopsinae) are described.     

A New Lower Devonian Genus from Yunnan,with Notes on the Origgin of Leaf

A new genus and species, Eophyllophyton bellum, is described from the Posongchong Formation (Siegenian) of the Lower Devonian in Wenshan cfistrict, Yunnan, China This plant bears lateral branching laminate structures interpreted as leaves, which are believed to derive from lateral axial branching systems In addition similarly organised sporophylls are considered homologous to these leaves. In the possession of these vegetative leaves and sporophylls Eophyllophyton, is significantly more advanced than any other Siegenian taxon.     

Seasonal Changes in Lorica Sizes and the Species of Tintinnida in the New York Bight*

SYNOPSIS. Tintinnida of the New York Bight (a bend in the coastline) were identified during the 1-year period August 1973–August 1974. Recurring genera included Stenosemella and Tintinnopsis; seasonal genera were mainly the hyaline Favella, Metacylis, and Helicostomella; exotic or unusual genera included Parafavella and Ptychocylis. Large size differences in loricae were found seasonally, related apparently, to water temperature.     

Re-examination of specimens attributed to Sawdonia curstipa Wang and Hao (zosterophyll) from the Middle Devonian of Xinjiang, China

Specimens previously attributed to Sawdonia curstipa were re-examined. Some of the specimens are transferred to Serrulacaulis cf. S. furcatus based on axial morphology. Other specimens, including fertile axes with one or two rows of sporangia with curved stalks and sterile axes with cone-shaped spines covering the surface, are of uncertain assignment due to poor preservation. The nomenclature problem of Sawdonia custipa is also noted.     

Patterns of seasonal occurrence,distribution, and site fidelity of coastal bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in southern New Jersey,U.S.A.

Coastal bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) form a mosaic of resident and seasonal migratory populations along the United States Atlantic seaboard. Seasonal, poorly known migrants (identified as a separate stock) move as far north as New Jersey. During 2003–2005, 73 boat‐based photo‐identification surveys were conducted in southern New Jersey to discern seasonal occurrence, distribution, and patterns of movement and site fidelity. Neonates, young‐of‐year, and adults occurred in the study area from late May through late September, corresponding to water temperatures of 14.0–16.3°C. Of 205 individuals identified, 44% (n= 90) were sighted multiple times within or among years, including 10% (n= 20) of individuals identified in all 3 yr. Almost half (47%) of the multiple sightings were observed along a core area encompassed by the southern part of the Jacques Cousteau National Estuarine Research Reserve. In contrast to stocks studied in southern coastal areas of the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico, estuaries were used significantly less than open‐beach habitat, which is consistent with the relative prey abundance in these habitats. Research at additional sites will help confirm whether bottlenose dolphins at the northern end of their migratory range exhibit local site fidelity and habitat preferences similar to those found in this study.     

A new Middle Devonian gasterocomid crinoid from central Turkey and revision of the Gasterocomidae

A juvenile cup, disarticulated arm plates, and columnals of the crinoid Arachnocrinus sarizensis n. sp. are described from the Eastern Taurus Mountains of central Turkey. This is the first Paleozoic crinoid based on a cup and arm plates reported from Turkey. Suggested revision of the Gasterocomidae includes transfer of Arachnocrinus and Ancyrocrinus to the family and rejection of Kopficrinus from the family. The stratigraphic range of Arachnocrinus is extended upward into the Middle Devonian from the Early Devonian. The Devonian of Turkey is of special interest because it includes Laurasian and Gondwanan components on different tectonic blocks. The paleogeographic range of Arachnocrinus is extended from the North American plate onto the Anatolian block, which would have been located on the southern edge of the Paleotethys Sea in the Middle Devonian in a shelf basin off the northern coast of Gondwana at approximately 42° south latitude.