A NEW GENERALIZED PAUCITUBERCULATAN MARSUPIAL FROM THE OLIGOCENE OF BOLIVIA AND THE ORIGIN OF 'SHREW-LIKE' OPOSSUMS

Abstract:  Insights into the origin of 'shrew-like' oposssums of South America are gained thanks to a new fossil from the Oligocene Salla Beds in Bolivia. The specimen described here consists of a partial rostrum, palate and postcanine teeth, and shows several generalized features (cranial and dental) in the context of the Paucituberculata. On this basis we recognize Evolestes hadrommatos gen. et sp. nov. In order to evaluate the affinities of the new taxon, we performed a phylogenetic analysis including representatives of the Caenolestidae, Pichipilus and allies (not regarded here as caenolestids), Palaeothentidae, and Abderitidae, with three outgroups. Evolestes is the basalmost 'caenolestoid', and provides clues to the morphological changes involved in the origin of caenolestids.     

甘肃兰州盆地中中新世泉头沟动物群的睡鼠类和沙鼠类

记述了甘肃兰州永登泉头沟发现的一种睡鼠 ,MicrodyromyswuaeQiu ,1 996和沙鼠科的二个新种 ,Mellalomysgansussp .nov .与Myocricetodonplebiussp .nov .,同时讨论了泉头沟动物群的生物年代学、动物地理学和古生态学问题。泉头沟动物群中的沙鼠类是迄今所知该科动物在我国最早的化石记录。小哺乳动物的组合表明 ,泉头沟动物群与内蒙古中中新世通古尔动物群的时代和指示的生态环境大体近似 ,但沙鼠类的出现 ,似乎指示了泉头沟动物群代表更为干旱和开阔的自然环境     

甘肃兰州盆地中中新世泉头沟动物群的食虫类、跳鼠类和兔形类

记述了甘肃兰州永登下街泉头沟发现的5种小哺乳动物化石,其中包括3个首次在这一经典地点发现的种。化石组合的分析表明,泉头沟动物群的时代与内蒙古中中新世通古尔动物群接近,并有一个与通古尔动物群相似、指示温带干旱、半干旱丛林-草原的古环境。     

鲁西地区二叠系上、下石盒子组孢粉组合及其分界

为解决鲁西地区上、下石盒子组分界问题,在相关地层共采集处理孢粉样品100多块,经系统研究建立本区上、下石盒子组两个孢粉组合,自下而上为：1)Sinulatisporites sinensis-Patellisporites meishanensis组合;2)Anticapipollis reticor pus-Macrotorispora gigantea组合。根据所建立的孢粉组合特征,经与华北各地二叠系孢粉组合广泛对比,进一步阐述各孢粉组合的地质时代,并为本区二叠系上、下石盒子组的分界提出了较为可靠的意见。该界线与区内中期华夏植物群晚期和晚期华夏植物群早期植物群界线基本一致。     

FILLING A GAP: THE FIRST OCCURRENCES OF EPIPHAXUM (CNIDARIA: HELIOPORACEA: LITHOTELESTIDAE) IN THE EOCENE, OLIGOCENE AND MIOCENE

Abstract:  A new species of the genus Epiphaxum (family Lithotelestidae) is described and illustrated in detail, and compared to other species. Epiphaxum arbuscula sp. nov. has been collected from Upper Eocene (Priabonian), Upper Oligocene (Chattian) and Lower Miocene (Upper Burdigalian) deposits of the Aquitaine Basin, south-west France. Epiphaxum is a poorly documented genus but its fossil record extends back to the Late Cretaceous; it was previously known only from the Paleocene (Danian). Epiphaxum arbuscula differs from all others species of the genus in the form of its colony. In contrast to the creeping colonies of previously known species, it has branched colonies. It is very common at one Upper Oligocene outcrop from which an assemblage with submarine cave remains has been described. A close relationship between the three extant species (two from the Caribbean Sea and one from the Indo-West Pacific region) and the Paleogene species is also noted. These constitute a group that has not undergone any important morphological changes for the last 65 million years.     

ORIGIN AND DIVERSIFICATION OF THE CALIFORNIA FLORA: RE‐EXAMINING CLASSIC HYPOTHESES WITH MOLECULAR PHYLOGENIES

The California Floristic Province exhibits one of the richest floras on the planet, with more than 5500 native plant species, approximately 40% of which are endemic. Despite its impressive diversity and the attention it has garnered from ecologists and evolutionary biologists, historical causes of species richness and endemism in California remain poorly understood. Using a phylogenetic analysis of 16 angiosperm clades, each containing California natives in addition to species found only outside California, we show that CA's current biodiversity primarily results from low extinction rates, as opposed to elevated speciation or immigration rates. Speciation rates in California were lowest among Arcto‐Tertiary lineages (i.e., those colonizing California from the north, during the Tertiary), but extinction rates were universally low across California native plants of all historical, geographic origins. In contrast to long‐accepted ideas, we find that California diversification rates were generally unaffected by the onset of the Mediterranean climate. However, the Mediterranean climate coincided with immigration of many desert species, validating one previous hypothesis regarding origins of CA's plant diversity. This study implicates topographic complexity and climatic buffering as key, long‐standing features of CA's landscape favoring plant species persistence and diversification, and highlights California as an important refuge under changing climates.     

从新的古生物学及今生物学资料看羽毛的起源与早期演化(英文)

近年来关于羽毛和羽状皮肤衍生物的研究极大促进了我们对羽毛起源与早期演化的理解。结合最新的古生物学与今生物学资料,对一些保存了皮肤衍生物的非鸟恐龙标本进行观察研究,为这个重要的进化问题提供了新见解。推测羽毛的演化在鸟类起源之前就以下列顺序完成了5个主要的形态发生事件:1)丝状和管状结构的出现;2)羽囊及羽枝脊形成;3)羽轴的发生;4)羽平面的形成;5)羽状羽小支的产生。这些演化事件形成了多种曾存在于各类非鸟初龙类中的羽毛形态,但这些形态在鸟类演化过程中可能退化或丢失了;这些演化事件也产生了一些近似现代羽毛或者与现代羽毛完全相同的羽毛形态。非鸟恐龙身上的羽毛有一些现代羽毛具有的独特特征,但也有一些现生鸟羽没有的特征。尽管一些基于发育学资料建立的有关鸟类羽毛起源和早期演化的模型推测羽毛的起源是一个全新的演化事件,与爬行动物的鳞片无关,我们认为用来定义现代鸟羽的特征应该是逐步演化产生的,而不是突然出现。因此,对于羽毛演化而言,一个兼具逐步变化与完全创新的模型较为合理。从目前的证据推断,最早的羽毛既不是用来飞行也不是用来保暖,各种其他假说皆有可能,其中包括展示或者散热假说。展开整合性的研究有望为羽毛的起源问题提供更多思路。     

AGE AND POLYPHYLETIC ORIGINS OF HYBRID AND SPONTANEOUS PARTHENOGENETIC CAMPELOMA (GASTROPODA: VIVIPARIDAE) FROM THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES

We used mtDNA sequence variation to assess the origin, age, and spatial patterns of sequence divergence of triploid hybrid and diploid spontaneous parthenogens from southeastern United States populations of the freshwater snail Campeloma. There was strong support for multiple origins of both parthenogens using likelihood-ratio tests, and we argue that parthenogens are recently derived from sexuals. Atlantic coastal populations of C. limum or C. floridense were the maternal ancestors of Gulf Coast triploid hybrids in the Florida Panhandle. Sequence divergence within monophyletic groups of both parthenogens is similar to within-population divergence found in sympatric sexuals, and monophyletic clades of hybrid and spontaneous parthenogens are geographically widespread throughout the Atlantic and Gulf Coast rivers. These patterns are consistent with higher dispersal rates and recent range expansion of parthenogens, which should reduce the effects of mutation accumulation or parasitism. Range expansion may have occurred through interdrainage transfer during Pleistocene glacial periods.     

FIRST RECORD OF A HETERODONT BIVALVE (MOLLUSCA) FROM THE EARLY TRIASSIC: PALAEOECOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPLICATIONS FOR THE 'LAZARUS PROBLEM'

Abstract:  The heterodont bivalve Sinbadiella pygmaea gen. et sp. nov. is described from the Sinbad Limestone Member (Olenekian, Smithian) of the Lower Triassic Moenkopi Formation of Utah (USA). The new taxon is tentatively assigned to the Lucinidae on the grounds of its external morphology, larval shell morphology and hinge characters. It is the only definite representative of the Superorder Heterodonta in the Olenekian, removing this major clade of bivalves from the long list of Early Triassic Lazarus taxa. Although at least locally very abundant, the new taxon has been overlooked by earlier workers, probably due to its minute size. Dwarfism is a widespread phenomenon in Early Triassic faunas, which has been attributed to ongoing reduction of primary production. If S .  pygmaea was a lucinid, a chemosymbiotic feeding mode can be inferred, which might explain why it was able to thrive in conditions that suppressed filter feeding heterodonts.     

A GIANT LUCINID BIVALVE FROM THE EOCENE OF JAMAICA – SYSTEMATICS, LIFE HABITS AND CHEMOSYMBIOSIS (MOLLUSCA: BIVALVIA: LUCINIDAE)

Abstract:  The giant bivalve Lucina megameris Dall, 1901 , from the late Eocene White Limestone Group of Jamaica and by far the largest known species of the family Lucinidae, is placed in a new genus Superlucina . Apart from its large size, with a shell height exceeding 310 mm, it is distinguished from other genera, such as Pseudomiltha and Eomiltha by external shell characters and the extremely long and narrow, anterior adductor muscle scar. Features preserved on internal moulds suggest that, in common with living Lucinidae, S. megameris was chemosymbiotic with sulphide – oxidizing bacteria housed in the gills. Palaeoenvironmental evidence suggests a habitat in oligotrophic, shallow waters, probably in seagrass beds, with an associated molluscan fauna including large cardiids that may have been photosymbiotic. Superlucina is considerably larger than any living lucinid that range in size from 3 to 150 mm with most encompassed within 5–30 mm. From the Jurassic onwards, a few other large lucinids are known from cold seep sites, with several other records from possible shallow water seagrass beds.     

A NEW SEMLIKIICHTHYS FISH (TELEOSTEI, PERCIFORMES) FROM THE UPPER MIOCENE OF CHAD: FOSSIL RECORD AND PALAEOBIOGEOGRAPHICAL IMPLICATIONS

Abstract:  Semlikiichthys is a fossil genus of perciform fish from the Neogene continental deposits of Africa. Until now, it was known in Mio-Pliocene sites of the Great Lake Region and of the River Nile by a single species, S. rhachirhinchus . Here, we describe new Semlikiichthys material recovered from Central Africa (Upper Miocene of Toros-Menalla, western Djurab, Chad), and compare it to S. rhachirhinchus , which is the only known species of the genus, and also with Lates niloticus , which is the fish in African Neogene deposits that most closely resembles it. We attribute the Chadian material to Semlikiichthys darsao sp. nov., based on ten osteological characters of the neurocranium, the maxilla, the dentary and the first vertebra. Our comparative anatomical study also enables us to provide a revised diagnosis for the genus and to reconsider the taxonomic attribution of the fossils assigned to it. Furthermore, the fossil record of Semlikiichthys supports a connection between sub-basins of the Nilo-Sudanese region during the Miocene, and a disruption between the Great Lake and the Nile Basin on the one hand and the Chadian Basin on the other before 7 Ma.     

THE ORIGIN OF WEST EUROPEAN SUBSPECIES OF HONEYBEES (APIS MELLIFERA): NEW INSIGHTS FROM MICROSATELLITE AND MITOCHONDRIAL DATA

Apis mellifera is composed of three evolutionary branches including mainly African (branch A), western and northern European (branch M), and southeastern European (branch C) populations. The existence of morphological clines extending from the equator to the Polar Circle through Morocco and Spain raised the hypothesis that the branch M originated in Africa. Mitochondrial DNA analysis revealed that branches A and M were characterized by highly diverged lineages implying very remote links between both branches. It also revealed that mtDNA haplotypes from lineages A coexisted with haplotypes M in the Iberian Peninsula and formed a south-north frequency cline, suggesting that this area could be a secondary contact zone between the two branches. By analyzing 11 populations sampled along a France-Spain/Portugal-Morocco-Guinea transect at 8 microsatellite loci and the DraI RFLP of the COI-COII mtDNA marker, we show that Iberian populations do not present any trace of “africanization” and are very similar to French populations when considering microsatellite markers. Therefore, the Iberian Peninsula is not a transition area. The higher haplotype A variability observed in Spanish and Portuguese samples compared to that found in Africa is explained by a higher mutation rate and multiple and recent introductions. Selection appears to be the best explanation to the morphological and allozymic clines and to the diffusion and maintenance of African haplotypes in Spain and Portugal.     

大鼠杏仁基底外侧核腹侧部向杏仁中央核的纤维投射──HRP逆行示踪结合免疫组织化学法研究

本实验采用ＨＲＰ逆行示踪结合免疫组织化学方法,对大鼠杏仁底基底外侧核腹侧部向中央杏仁核的纤维投射特征及其化学特性进行了研究。一侧杏仁中央核（Ｃｅ）内注射ＨＲＰ后,于双侧杏仁基底外侧核腹侧部（ＢＬＶ）观察到大量ＨＲＰ标记神经元,以对侧为主;在杏仁基底外侧核前（ＢＬＡ）、后（ＢＬＰ）部及梨状皮质内侧部（ＰＣＭ）第Ⅱ、Ⅲ层仅观察到少量ＨＲＰ标记神经元。当注射范围局限于杏仁中央核内侧部（ＣｅＭ）,ＢＬＶ的标记神经元相对多．当注射范围局限于杏仁中央核外侧部（ＣｅＬ）,ＢＬＶ的标记神经元相对少。将有ＨＲＰ标记神经元的切片分别与生长抑素（ＳＯＭ）、脑啡呔（ＥＮＫ）、Ｐ物质（ＳＰ）抗血清按ＡＢＣ法完成免疫组织化学反应,结果在ＢＬＶ、ＰＣＭ第Ⅱ、Ⅲ层观察到ＨＲＰ－ＳＯＭ免疫阳性双标记神经元,但未发现ＨＲＰ－ＳＰ、ＨＲＰ－ＥＮＫ免疫阳性双标记神经元;在ＢＬＡ和ＢＬＰ未发现ＨＲＰ－ＳＯＭ、ＨＲＰ－ＥＮＫ、ＨＲＰ－ＳＰ免疫阳性双标记神经元。本文着重讨论了ＢＬＶ与内脏功能活动的关系,认为ＢＬＶ不同于ＢＬＡ与ＢＬＰ,它参与“内脏环路”。此外,还分析了ＰＣＭ投射到Ｃｅ的神经元的功能学意义。     

BASAL CAMBRIAN MICROFOSSILS FROM THE YURTUS AND XISHANBLAQ FORMATIONS (TARIM, NORTH-WEST CHINA): SYSTEMATIC REVISION AND BIOSTRATIGRAPHIC CORRELATION OF MICRHYSTRIDIUM-LIKE ACRITARCHS

Abstract:  Micrhystridium -like acritarchs are widely distributed in basal Cambrian cherts and phosphorites in South China. This paper describes similar acritarchs from the basal Cambrian Yurtus and Xishanblaq formations in Tarim, north-west China. The taxonomy of these acritarchs is revised. The basal Cambrian acritarch assemblage in Tarim and South China is characterized by three genera: Asteridium Moczydłowska, Heliosphaeridium Moczydłowska and Comasphaeridium Staplin, Jansonius and Pocock. This assemblage is named the Asteridium - Heliosphaeridium - Comasphaeridium (AHC) acritarch assemblage. In both South China and Tarim, the AHC acritarch assemblage is associated with the tubular microfossil Megathrix longus Yin L. and the small shelly fossil Kaiyangites novilis Qian and Yin G. This assemblage also occurs in the Lower Tal Formation in the Lesser Himalaya. Correlation with small shelly fossil (SSF) assemblages indicates that the AHC assemblage is restricted to the Meishucunian Stage, and possibly to the lower Meishucunian ( Anabarites trisulcatus - Protohertzina anabarica and Siphogonuchites triangularis - Paragloborilus subglobosus SSF assemblages). The AHC assemblage is broadly similar to the Asteridium tornatum - Comasphaeridium velvetum (acritarch) Zone in the East European Platform, which is considered to be Nemakit-Daldynian (and possibly Tommotian) in age.     

西班牙加泰罗尼亚CERDANYA地区晚中新世轮藻植物LYCHNOTHAMNUS BARBATUS的分类学与古生态学意义

轮藻纲植物Lychnothamnus barbatus的化石在西班牙加泰罗尼亚地区比利牛斯山脉东部Cerdanya盆地上中新统(Turolian阶)发现。通过与现生L．barbatus的比较研究,发现两者在藏卵器大小方面存在较大差别,据此建立新亚种Lychnothamnus barbatus ssp．megalicarpus subsp．nov．,其藏卵器的各项特征均与器官属Rhabdochara(Madler)Grambast一致,证实两者为同物异名。Lychnothamnus barbatus在盆地上部湖相沉积层中的大量存在,表明湖盆演化史后期发生过营养状况由富营养化向贫营养化转变的现象。