Dasycladalean green algae from the Upper Triassic of Mt. Rotonda (Verbicaro Unit, Calabria-Lucania Border, Southern Italy)

Summary A rich and diverse dasycladalean algae association is described from the Upper Triassic succession of Mt. Rotonda (Calabria-Lucania border, Southern Italy). This association consists of:Neoteutloporella rajkae n.sp.,Griphoporella bechst?dti n.sp.,Physoporella zamparelliae n.sp.,Spinaporella andalusica Flügel & Flügel-Kahler, 1984,S.? granadaensis Flügel & Flügel-Kahler, 1984,Chinianella? sp.,Gyroporella sp.,Griphoporella? sp. andPhysoporella aff.leptotheca. Neoteutloporella rajkae n.sp. is characterised by an undulated calcareous skeleton with short acrophore primary laterals bearing a tuft of 4–6 elongate, segmented, trichophore secondary laterals. This species allows to extend back to the Upper Triassic the stratigraphic range of the genusNeoteutloporella, previously known only from Upper Jurassic levels. Griphoporella bechst?dti n.sp. has a cylindrical calcareous skeleton and primary laterals only, consisting of a thin proximal part followed by a swollen portion that pinches out distally and finally opens outward with a cup-like swelling. Physoporella zamparelliae n.sp. is characterised by a calcareous skeleton made by partly welded thin individual sheaths enclosing the laterals. The laterals are piriferous, vertically compressed, roughly triangular both in vertical and in verticillar section. In some specimens they end with a spine-like thin apophysis. This species confirms that the typical Middle Triassic genusPhysoporella survived up into the Norian. The dasycladalean algal association of the Norian of Mt. Rotonda shows some similarities with the algal association found in the Upper Triassic of the Betic Cordillera whereas it is markedly different from the rich association occurring in the Upper Triassic of Sicily and of the Northern Calcareous Alps. This pattern is coupled with a different composition of the platform margin communities: microbial/serpulids bioconstructions in the Upper Triassic of the Calabria-Lucania border and of Alpujarridevs. Dachstein-type reefs in Sicily and the Northern Calcareous Alps. This indicates that the palaeoceanographic and palaeogeographic conditions controlled both the development of the different platform margin and of the different algal assemblages.     

New dasycladalean algae from the Middle Norian (Upper Triassic) of northern Italy (Mt. Pramaggiore, Carnic Prealps)

In the Eastern Southern Alps of northern Italy (Carnic Prealps, Friuli region), the shallow-water carbonate platform deposits of the Dolomia Principale Fm. (Norian–Rhaetian, Upper Triassic) show best-preserved platform to basin facies transition. The palaeontological study of an algal-rich level recovered from the platform margin facies (Mt. Pramaggiore) has displayed a very interesting association of Dasycladales. Two new genera (Bystrickyella and Elliottporella) and four new species (Bystrickyella ottii, Elliottporella morelloae, Palaeodasycladus lorigae and Holosporella conradii) have been described. These new data suggest that the Norian represents a period of turnover in the evolutionary history of the green algae community. This stage, placed between two extinctions, end-Ladinian and end-Norian, is here interpreted as a re-organization period of the evolutionary schemes of Dasycladales. The new lineages originated in the Norian developed further and characterized the Early Jurassic scenery. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Calcareous algae from the Triassic (Anisian reef boulders and Norian reef limestones) of Karaburun, western Turkey

Invertebrate Anisian and Norian reef boulders were found in the Gerence and Güvercinlik Formations, respectively, exposed in northeastern part of the Karaburun Peninsula, western Turkey. Halimedacean green algae and solenoporacean red algae, usually associated with other reef building organisms are described in this paper. The following taxa were determinated: halimedaceans: Egericodium hungaricum Flügel, Velledits, Senowbari-Daryan and Riedel, Aternasus irregularis n. gen., n. sp.; solenoporaceans: Solenopora cf. alcicornis Ott, Solenopora triasina Vinassa de Regny, Solenopora vachardi n. sp., Solenopora concentrica n. sp., Solenopora paraconcentrica n. sp., Tauristorea parallela Senowbari-Daryan and Link, Tauristorea discursa n. sp., and Parachaetetes cassianus (Flügel). The monospecific genus Aternasus n. gen. is the most abundant alga within the Anisian reef boulders. The solenoporaceans are represented by several taxa but the individual species are less abundant. E. hungaricum, T. parallela Senowbari-Daryan and Link, and S. triasina Vinassa de Regny are described from the Norian reef limestones embedded in Güvercinlik Formation, all other taxa from the Anisian reef boulders embedded in the Gerence Formation.     

Note on Sestrosphaera liasina (Pia, 1920) from the Lowermost Jurassic of Malga Mandrielle (type-locality, Southern Alps - Italy)

New paleontological data on Sestrosphaera liasina (Pia) based on material collected in the type-locality, Malga Mandrielle (Italian Southern Alps) are supplied. All the features of the alga are reexamined; the occurrence in the stalk region of an unusual primary lateral inner swelling is confirmed. The structure formed by the inner enlarged portion of the laterals is here indicated as inner pseudocortex. A new diagnosis of S. liasina is proposed and a lectotype is chosen from Pia's material. Finally, a paleontological reconstruction is supplied taking into account all the main biometrical values.     

The first tunicate with a calcareous exoskeleton (Upper Triassic,northern Italy)

The first tunicates with a calcareous exoskeleton are reported from Late Triassic buildup‐slope deposits of the Dolomites. Although examples of this group have been known since the early 1900s from the middle–upper Permian of eastern Asia and Sicily as Khmeria, they were erroneously attributed to rugose corals. These early representatives are small, double‐valved, conical skeletons, which evolved into multi‐plated capsules with up to 35 opercula. The latter are joined along zigzag margins, which in life could probably be opened for the atrial and branchial siphons. The construction and shape of these skeletons distinguish them from plants or other invertebrate phyla, while they share several similarities with living tunicates, specifically to sessile ascidians. Apart from a soft‐bodied genus from the lower Cambrian of China, ascidians are known only from isolated spicules, which occur sporadically from the Lower Jurassic onwards. The calcareous skeleton of these Late Triassic tunicates consists of aragonitic fibres, which form spherulitic or clinogonal microstructures. It seems that the stellate aragonitic spicules of Jurassic to Recent ascidians are a vestige of Permian–Triassic ancestors, which after the Carnian lost the ability to construct compound solid skeletons but partly still retain a soft double‐valved or multi‐operculate cellulose‐like tunic. The following taxa are described as new: Order Khmeriamorpha with the genera Khmeria Mansuy and Zardinisoma gen. nov., and the following species: Khmeria stolonifera (late Permian), Khmeria minima (Late Triassic), Zardinisoma japonicum (late Permian), Z. cassianum, Z. pyriforme, Z. polyplacophorum and Z. pauciplacophorum (all Late Triassic).     

Pinguicula lavalvae (Lentibulariaceae), a new endemic butterwort from southern Italy diagnosed with the aid of geometric morphometrics

We describe a new butterwort species, Pinguicula lavalvae, endemic to Campania, southern Italy. The new taxon falls within the subgenus Isoloba, section Cardiophyllum, and is related to P. hirtiflora. Distinctive features of the flower shape and size are investigated through classic and modern geometric morphometrics. The new species differs mostly in flower characteristics, with a white corolla lacking a net-shaped pattern of stripes in the palate-like area, smaller and less wide-open corollas, and larger calices.     

Late Triassic (Late Norian) gastropods from the Wallowa Terrane (Idaho,USA)

A diverse Late Triassic (Late Norian) gastropod fauna is described from the Mission Creek Limestone of the Wallowa terrane (Idaho, USA). Sample standardization by rarefaction analysis indicates that the fauna is even more diverse than the Late Triassic gastropod fauna from the Pucara Formation (Peru) which represents the most diverse gastropod fauna from South America. The gastropod fauna consists of 66 species; several genera are reported for the first time from North America. A high percentage of the species are highly ornamented and several have distinct siphonal canals. This suggests that the appearance of truly Mesozoic elements among the gastropods began before the Mesozoic Marine Revolution in other clades. The fauna is dominated by high-spired strongly ornamented procerithiids, a group more characteristic for the Jurassic. Comparison of the present fauna and the Iranian Nayband Formation gastropod fauna show that the procerithiids underwent a first global radiation in the Late Triassic. The high number of new species in this fauna suggests that sampling of Late Triassic gastropod faunas is still incomplete and hinders palaeobiogeographic considerations. Previous suggesions that gastropod faunas from the Wallowa and Wrangellia terranes resemble each other and are distinct from those of Alexander, Chulitna, and Farewell terranes are basically corroborated. The gastropod fauna of the Mission Creek Limestone differs considerably from that of the western and central Tethys but shares several taxa with the Late Triassic gastropod fauna of the Pucara Formation in Peru. Thus, the Hispanic corridor was probably not present in the Norian but opened only in the Early Jurassic. The subfamily Andangulariinae is introduced and placed in the Zygopleuridae. The generaSpiniomphalus, Nodoconus, Gudrunella, Blodgettella, Idahospira, andSiphonilda and the subgenusCryptaulax (Wallowax) are introduced. 27 species are erected. A lectotype is designated forCryptaulax rhabdocolpoides Haas, 1953.      

Systematics and taphonomy of an Early Kimmeridgian belemnite fauna from the Mediterranean Tethys (Monte Nerone, Central Apennines, Italy)

About three hundred belemnite rostra were collected from Lower Kimmeridgian beds of a structural high sequence cropping out at Mt. Nerone (central Apennines, Pesaro Province, Italy). The belemnite fauna is composed mainly of new species. Nine species were recognised, ascribed to five genera, which include Hibolithes semisulcatusMünster, 1830; H. pignattii nov. sp.; Acutibelu0s sp. cf. acuariformisRiegraf, 1981; Belemnopsis neronensis nov. sp., Duvalia matteuccii nov. sp., D. nicosiai nov. sp., D. pallinii nov. sp., D. raymondi nov. sp. and Rhopaloteuthis massimoi nov. sp.; moreover a single specimen is treated in open nomenclature as Belemnopseidae incertae sedis. The stratigraphic and palaeobiogeographic significance of the new fauna is discussed. The taphonomy of the belemnite-rich level is described, with reference to borings found on the belemnite rostra.La fauna a belemniti risulta composta quasi esclusivamente da specie nuove. Sono state riconosciute le seguenti specie: Hibolithes semisulcatusMünster, 1830; H. pignattii nov. sp.; Acutibelus sp. cf. acuariformisRiegraf, 1981, Belemnopsis neronensis nov. sp., Duvalia matteuccii nov. sp., D. nicosiai nov. sp., D. pallinii nov. sp., D. raymondi nov. sp. and Rhopaloteuthis massimoi nov. sp. Inoltre un esemplare è stato discusso con nomenclatura aperta come Belemnopseidae incertae sedis. Alcuni nuovi dati stratigrafici e paleobiogeografici sono stati analizzati ed integrati con i dati della letteratura. E’ stata anche esaminata la tafonomia del livello a belemniti e le perforazioni presenti sulla superficie dei rostri.     

Systematics and taphonomy of an Early Kimmeridgian belemnite fauna from the Mediterranean Tethys (Monte Nerone, Central Apennines, Italy)

About three hundred belemnite rostra were collected from lower Kimmeridgian beds of a structural high sequence cropping out at Mt. Nerone (Central Apennines, Pesaro Province, Italy). The belemnite fauna is composed mainly of new species. Nine species were recognised, ascribed to five genera, that include Hibolithes semisulcatus M?NSTER, 1830; H. pignattii nov. sp.; Acutibelus sp. cf. acuariformis RIEGRAF, 1981; Belemnopsis neronensis nov. sp., Duvalia matteuccii nov. sp., D. nicosiai nov. sp., D. pallinii nov. sp., D. raymondi nov. sp. and Rhopaloteuthis massimoi nov. sp.; moreover a single specimen is treated in open nomenclature as Belemnopseidae incertae sedis. The stratigraphic and palaeobiogeographic significance of the new fauna is discussed. The taphonomy of the belemnite-rich level is described, with reference to borings found on the belemnite rostra.     

Norian serpulid and microbial bioconstructions: Implication for the platform evolution in the Lombardy Basin (Southern Alps,Italy)

Summary The development of peculiar margin facies and abundant talus breccias within the Dolomia Principale inner platform is commonly observed in the Lombardy Basin during the Norian. The organisms building these margins are mainly serpulids, benthic microbes, subordinate porostomata and other encrusting forms; typical margin organisms, as sponges or corals, are extremely rare or absent. The build-ups form narrow rims along the borders of tectonic-controlled intraplatform basins. Regional back-stepping and progradation of the margin facies on the talus breccias produced by the erosion of the reef is commonly observed in the uppermost Dolomia Principale depositional system. Widespread occurrence of serpulids and microbial margins in middle-late Norian times is indicative of stressed environmental conditions—fluctuation of salinity and temperature on the inner platform and in the intraplatform basins—controlled by palaeogeographic setting. Physical characteristics allowed the bloom of forms able to develop in a wide range of environmental conditions, such as serpulids. In the Late Norian, major input of fine-grained clastics is recorded; close to the Norian-Rhaetian boundary, carbonate ramps were regionally restored. Locally, small serpulid and microbial bioconstructions still persist in the lowermost part of the shaly succession, even if they are less abundant with respect to the Dolomia Principale. Patch-reefs generally do not build a platform margin, but represent isolated mounds within shaly deposits. These build-ups occur on the edge of former structural highs; the communities survived the environmental change responsible for the siliciclastic input and locally managed to produce mounds during the deposition of the lower part of the upper depositional system (Riva di Solto Shale).     

Pennsylvanian (Late Carboniferous) calcareous microfossils from Cedro Peak (New Mexico,USA). Part 1: Algae and Microproblematica

At Cedro Peak (Manzanita Mountains, central New Mexico), the Pennsylvanian succession is divided into four formations: Sandia, Gray Mesa, Atrasado, and lower part of Bursum. The sampled limestones of the Gray Mesa and Atravasado formations yielded three age distinctive fossil assemblages: (a) latest Atokan/early Desmoinesian; (b) late early Desmoinesian, and (c) middle Virgilian. The calcareous algae, incertae sedis algae and cyanobacterial-foraminiferal consortia are described here. The following new taxa are named: Epimastoporaceae n. fam.; Anthracoporellopsis novamexicana n. sp.; Tubiphytidae n. fam.; and Latitubiphytes n. gen.     

Human impact during the Bronze Age on the vegetation at Lago Lucone (northern Italy)

Lake-sediment records were used to reconstruct human impact on the landscape around Lago Lucone (45°33′N, 10°29′E, 249 m a.s.l.), a former lake in the western amphitheatre system of the Lago di Garda. Presence of prehistoric human populations is attested by pile-dwelling settlements from the Early-Middle Bronze Age, with one settlement at a distance of only 100 m from the coring site. Pollen, plant-macrofossil and microscopic charcoal analyses were applied to a 250 cm sediment core with four dates providing the time control. A mixed oak forest that was important during the Early-Middle Holocene was cleared and replaced by open vegetation during the Bronze Age (∼2000–1100 b.c.) when open lands were estimated to have covered more than 60% of the total relevant pollen-source area. During a phase of high human impact, independent climatic proxies suggest warm and dry climatic conditions. Later, ca. 1100 b.c., palaeobotanical evidence indicates a sharp decrease in human pressure in the Lago Lucone area. The comparison with other sedimentary palaeocultural records shows that the period 1300–1100 b.c. was characterised by general declines of agricultural activities both south and north of the Alps. These declines have been previously attributed to a change towards wetter and colder climatic conditions in and around the Alps. However, the decline in human impact around Lago Lucone cannot be exclusively attributed to climatic variation. Therefore other forcing factors independent of climatic changes, such as cultural crises or changes in spatial organisation of the habitats, cannot be ruled out under the present state of knowledge.     

Palaeoecological and palaeoethnological analysis of botanical macrofossils found at the Neolithic site of Rivaltella ca'Romensini, northern Italy

The botanical macrofossils (charcoals, seeds and fruits) found during the archaeological excavation of the middle Neolithic site of Rivaltella Ca'Romensini near Reggio Emilia, northern Italy, have been analyzed. Among the charcoal fragments 11 different taxa have been identified, with a clear predominance of oaks. The relative frequencies of the different taxa probably do not reflect the real frequencies in the forest, but suggest that firewood had been gathered selectively. Among the seeds and fruits, four different Gramineae, a small wild apple and some hazelnut shells have been identified. These results indicate that the food economy of the Neolithic Rivaltella inhabitants was partially based on agriculture and on fruit gathering.     

The Occurrence of Bulbella abscondita (Bryozoa,Ctenostomata) in Brackish Waters of Northern Italy

The victorellid bryozoans, Tanganella muelleri and Bulbella abscondita, have been found in the delta of the River Po, Northern Italy. Our finds seem to be the first recorded of B. abscondita in waters in Italy.     

Upper Triassic (Norian) hypercalcified sponges from the Musandam Peninsula (United Arab Emirates and Oman)

Supercalcified sponges, including sphinctozoans, inozoans, chaetetids, spongiomorphids, occurring in Upper Triassic (Norian-Rhaetian) shallow-marine limestones of Musandam Mountains in United Arab Emirates (UAE), are described. The following taxa were determined: sphinctozoans: Hajarispongia osmani Senowbari-Daryan and Yancey, Nevadathalamia arabica n. sp., Nevadathalamia conica n. sp., Fanthalamia milahaensis n. sp., Iranothalamia incrustans (Boiko), Cinnabaria regularis n. sp.; inozoans: Cavsonella triassica n. sp., Molengraaffia regularis Vinassa de Regny, Peronidella? sp., Circopora cf. caucasica Moiseev, Circopora? sp.; spongiomorphids: Spongiomorpha sp.; chaetetids: Lovcenipora chaetetiformis Vinassa de Regny, Lovcenipora musandamensis n. sp., Lovcenipora sp., chaetetid sponge gen. et sp. indet. The most abundant sponge in the studied material is Nevadathalamia arabica n. sp. The described sponge association of the Arabian shelf (Musandam Mountains) shows close affinity to the sponge association known from age-equivalent terranes in the Panthalassa Ocean (Sonora Mountains in Mexico; Pilot Mountains in Nevada, USA), but is remarkably different from sponge associations in carbonates bordering the Tethys. This difference goes along with the biogeography of wallowaconchid bivalves and is most likely attributed to climatic, palaeogeographic or oceanographic factors.     

Crepidolithus cantabriensis nov. sp., a new calcareous nannofossil (Prymnesiophyceae) from the Lower Jurassic of northern Spain

A new calcareous nannofossil, Crepidolithus cantabriensis nov. sp., is described from the Lower Jurassic marls and marly limestones of the Cantabrian Range (Northern Spain). The new species is characterized by medium-sized, normal to narrowly elliptical coccoliths with open central-areas. In the light microscope, under crossed nicols and in distal view, it displays a characteristic bicyclic extinction pattern. Its inner rim edge shows maximum birefringence colours, which vary from white to yellow, whereas the faintly outer rim margin exhibits low birefringence, tending to grey, and they are separated by a dark and sigmoidal isogyre. C. cantabriensis nov. sp. seems closely related to Crepidolithus crassus on the basis of shared morphological characters. Both of them have a distal shield composed of around thirty sub-vertical, dextrally imbricating laths. The central-area width of C. cantabriensis nov. sp. is approximately half of the coccolith width, whilst it is reduced to one or two tiny lenticular slits in C. crassus. Nevertheless, the phyletic relationships between C. cantabriensis nov. sp. and Crepidolithus cavus are not clear, since they show different rim structures, and C. cavus has a delicate bar aligned along the minor axis of its central area. The first specimens of C. cantabriensis nov. sp. have been recognized within the Raricostatum AZ in the Tudanca section. This species seems to be more abundant in the Reinosa area, which occupied a more distal position with respect to the Iberian Massif during the studied time interval. It is hypothesized here that C. cantabriensis nov. sp. could have inhabited the lower-photic zone.     

滇西巍山地区上三叠统诺利阶三合洞组牙形石年代及沉积相分析*

滇西兰坪-思茅地块晚三叠世诺利期(Norian)发育一套海相碳酸盐岩沉积(三合洞组)。对巍山三合洞剖面进行了实测与采样, 分离了三合洞组碳酸盐岩中的牙形石, 经鉴定其种属为Epigondolella vialovi, Epigondolella uniformis和Epigondolella aff. triangularis, 时代为早诺利期(Lacian亚期)。通过野外剖面及室内显微薄片观察, 采用微相分析的方法对剖面三合洞组碳酸盐岩的微相类型和沉积环境进行研究, 将巍山三合洞剖面三合洞组沉积归纳为9种微相, 并根据微相特征结合野外宏观特征, 将三合洞剖面划分为3种沉积相类型, 即局限台地相、开阔台地相和台地边缘礁相。在剖面不同层位的碳酸盐岩中发现的热液矿物石榴子石及发黑的牙形石化石(CAI指数约为5), 表明该区曾遭受热液作用的影响, 可能与三合洞组沉积后大陆边缘裂谷下陷或板块拼合引起的热卤水上涌有关。     

Messinian Prolagus (Ochotonidae, Lagomorpha) of Italy

A systematic revision of Italian Messinian Prolagus findings has been performed, evidencing the presence of four different species. Comparative analyses allowed their separation in two groups corresponding to two different palaeobioprovinces characterized by distinct faunal affinities, source areas and tempos and modes of colonization. Such considerations allowed to cast a new light on the palaeobiogeography and the migration pathways of continental vertebrate faunas in the Mediterranean area during Messinian, and to give a new importance to the genus Prolagus as a palaeobiogeographical marker.     

The relationships between the concentrations of airborne pollen and allergic symptoms in Trieste (Northern Italy) in 1989

Summary Concentrations of airborne pollens recorded in Trieste in 1989 are evaluated in relation to allergic complaints in 113 patients with skin prick tests positive to one pollen species. Analysis of the result enable the two most important allergens to be confirmed as: Poaceae in 70.7% of patients and Parietaria in 18.6%. Few people had monosensitation to Compositae (Artemisia), Corylaceae and Fagaceae.Sympotoms are related to the flowering period when pollen levels climbed to daily averages of 15–20 grains/m³ but they started later than airborne peak concentrations and finished later than pollen decline. Pollen concentration recording can be a useful way to predict the clinical manifestation in sensitive patients but other factors are involved in determining symptoms like subjective mucosal reactions, polysensitization, patients living and working environment.