Cambrian trilobite fauna of the Haydenaspis parvatya level (Series 2, Stage 4): Its stratigraphic position with respect to the Oryctocephalus indicus Biozone (Miaolingian Series,Wuliuan Stage) in the Spiti Himalaya,India

Refinement of the Cambrian biozonation in the Parahio valley, Spiti region (Himalaya) leads to the demarcation of the stratigraphic distance between the Haydenaspis parvatya level (Series 2, Stage 4) and the Oryctocephalus indicus Biozone (base of the Miaolingian Series, Wuliuan Stage), which has been a subject of debate. The present work suggests that these two trilobite beds in the Kaltarbo section are separated by 183.4 m of strata. Whether either taxon ranges beyond the beds they are found in this section or others in the Parahio Valley is yet unknown.     

Additional trilobite fauna from the basal part of the Cambrian Series 3, Stage 5, Kunzam La (=Parahio) Formation,Parahio Valley,Spiti (Northwest Himalaya), India and its biostratigraphic significance

Additional Cambrian Series 3, Stage 5, trilobite fauna comprising Peronopsis sp., Eosoptychoparia cf. Spinosa Gaotanaspis cf. pingzhaiensis and Gaotanaspis cf. transversa have been recorded just immediately above the known Oryctocephalus indicus biozone (Cambrian Series 3, Stage 5) in the Parahio valley section (Spiti region). The FAD of Peronopsis and LAD of Gaotanaspis are used to establish a Peronopsis–Gaotanaspis concurrent biozone immediately above the Oryctocephalus indicus biozone. The first records of Gaotanaspis cf. pingzhaiensis and G. transversa from the Cambrian of Spiti region and the other faunal elements are correlated with the Peronopsis taijiangensis biozone of the Kaili Formation (South China). The stratigraphic thickness from the base of the O. indicus biozone to the top of the Peronopsis–Gaotanaspis concurrent biozone in the Kunzam La (=Parahio) Formation and its comparison to the Kaili Formation (South China) indicate a possible stratigraphic condensation in the basal part of the Cambrian Series 3, Stage 5 of the Parahio valley (Spiti). Sedimentological and sequence stratigraphic analysis supports this contention.     

Palynomorphs from the Cambrian Series 3, Parahio valley (Spiti), Northwest Himalaya

We present low-diversity acritarch assemblages, including Alliumella baltica, Bavlinella faveolata, Brocholaminaria nigrita, Brocholaminaria sp., Eliasum sp., Leiosphaeridia minutissima, Leiosphaeridia spp., Lophosphaeridium sp., Pterospermella solida, Satka colonialica, Siphonophycus sp., and Synsphaeridium sp., as well as filamentous algae and cryptospore-like microfossils recorded from 45 rock samples around the Oryctocephalus indicus Zone (Cambrian Series 3) in the Cambrian Kunzam La (Parahio) Formation at the Kaltarbo locality in the Parahio valley, Northwest Himalaya. One new species Synsphaeridium parahioense was established. The acritarch assemblages at the basal part of the Cambrian Series 3 in the Kunzam La (Parahio) Formation were dependent on the local marine environment. The new discovery of cryptospore-like microfossils from the Cambrian Kunzam La (Parahio) Formation supports the extensive distribution of possible cryptospores in the Cambrian stratigraphic sequences.     

Non-calcified warm-water marine macroalgae from the Ordovician strata of Spiti,Tethys Himalaya,India

The calcareous siltstones within the Ordovician section of the Takche Formation near Takche, Spiti region of Tethyan Himalaya, India, contain numerous specimens of non-calcified marine macroalgae in association with brachiopods, gastropods, tentaculitoids, and few trace fossils. The algal remains, representing five genera, are preserved as black or dark brown carbonaceous compression fossils, interpreted as warm-water marine macroalgae, namely, Inocladus sp., Callisphenus? sp., Algites sp. (siphonous algae), Fisherites sp., and Mastopora sp. (non-siphonous). Callisphenus is characterised by a radially symmetrical short pyriform thallus, with a central axis surrounded by short laterals whereas Inocladus sp. is characterised by an unsegmented simple thallus with internal parallel medullary siphons and cortical tubes. These algal remains, probably transported from a more near-shore living niche, co-occur with Cyclocrinitids, Tentaculitoids tube worms, trace fossils and brachiopods, suggesting that deposition of the studied units took place in low energy hydrodynamic conditions influenced by intermittent storm events. The study represents the first diversified macroalgal records from the Ordovician strata in the Tethyan realm of Indian subcontinent.     

Cyclocrinitids from the Lower Palaeozoic Tethyan sequence of Spiti,India

Well preserved cyclocrinitids (calcareous green algae) are reported from early Palaeozoic deposits of Spiti, Himachal Pradesh, India. Casts of the algal fossils are preserved in calcareous grey siltstone unit of the Takche Formation (Late Ordovician–Early Silurian) which appears rusty/earthy brown due to weathering. The assemblage includes Cyclocrinites favus, Cyclocrinites pyriformis, Cyclocrinites cf. welleri, Cyclocrinites sp. and Cyclocrinites globosus. Both Cyclocrinites cf. welleri and Cyclocrinites globosus are reported for the first time from the entire Tethyan Himalaya, India. The described algal flora basically denotes relatively shallow marine depositional setting and low to moderate hydrodynamic conditions.     

山东潍坊寒武系苗岭统乌溜阶馒头组上部的腕足动物

寒武系腕足动物属种多样性高、个体数量丰富、形态差异明显、地理分布广泛,具有辅助寒武系三叶虫生物地层划分和对比的潜力.华北板块寒武系苗岭统沉积和化石记录发育良好,是中国苗岭统的经典研究区之一.前人己针对华北寒武系苗岭统乌溜阶腕足动物的系统古生物学开展了一系列基础工作,但这些相关研究主要集中于辽宁地区,目前对华北其他地区苗...     

Cambrian (Series 2 to Miaolingian) platform facies from central Sonora,Mexico and the regional correlation

This study provides new insights about depositional paleoenvironments through siliciclastic microfacies, carbonate microfacies, and biofacies analysis from sedimentary formations of the lower and middle Cambrian (Stage 4–Wuliuan), exposed in central Sonora, northern Mexico. Results of the petrographic analysis of 48 samples revealed the following lithologies: quartzarenite, oncolytic rudstone, grainstone-packstone, wackestone, mudstone, and to a lesser extent sandy limestone. Two siliciclastic microfacies were identified: (A) quartzarenite with cross-bedded and horizontal stratification deposited in an intertidal and supratidal environment; and (B) massive quartzarenite with Skolithos ichnofacies deposited in subtidal and intertidal environments. Four carbonate microfacies were identified: microfacies 1 is a sandy limestone with trilobite fragments; microfacies 2 is a grainstone with intraclasts, salterellids, hyolithids, trilobites, and echinoderms plates; microfacies 3 is an oncolytic rudstone consisting of microbes and abundant echinoderms plates; and microfacies 4 is a packstone-grainstone with abundant ooids, trilobite fragments, and echinoderm plates. Two biofacies were identified: Agnostid-polymeroid biofacies with predominance of the trilobites Pentagnostus, Bathyuriscus, Oryctocephalites, and Elrathina; and Pagetia biofacies with abundant trilobites of the genera Pentagnostus, Pagetia and Elrathina. It is concluded by the sedimentation model that changes in sea level is the most important parameter in determining the siliciclastic microfacies, carbonate microfacies and biofacies; as well as the depositional environments that vary from the coastline (subtidal to supratidal) to shallow-water open circulation marine platform with low and high energy waters. The Cambrian deposits of northern Mexico are correlated with the deposits of California and Nevada (USA), as well as to the Precordillera (Argentina), where the species in common show a strong affinity.     

Morphological assessment of the Cambrian trilobites Oryctocephalus indicus (Reed 1910) from China and Oryctocephalus ‘reticulatus’ (Lermontova 1940) from Siberia

Oryctocephalus indicus is a widespread trilobite species described from the lower–middle Cambrian (provisional Cambrian Stage 5) of south China, North Korea, India, USA and possibly North Greenland. Principal component analysis (PCA) and thin‐plate splines (TPSs) based on a pooled sample of 359 specimens from four sections in the Guizhou Province, south China, demonstrated that the shape of this species is very constant, and only a small difference is detected in specimens from deeper part of the basin. Most of the variation is taphonomically controlled, and only the specimens from Sanwan Section show a modest natural difference due to a slightly different depositional environment. A comparison between the Chinese specimens and Oryctocephalus ‘reticulatus’ from the Molodo Section, Siberia, has been carried out. PCA and TPS show that O. ‘reticulatus occupies the same morphospace of O. indicus. However, the canonical variates analysis and the analysis of similarities detect small differences between the Siberian and Chinese populations, indicating a minor geographical variation caused by different environmental settings. The ontogenic variation is also described from early meraspids to holaspids. The most substantial changes take place during the first period of the early meraspid development, in which the glabella changes from a bell‐like shape to a cylindrical shape. The ocular ridge changes from poorly defined in early meraspid to well developed in late merapids. The results indicate that O. ‘reticulatus’ is a junior synonym of O. indicus, suggesting that the base O. indicus of Siberia can be correlated with the O. indicus Zone of south China.     

Biostratigraphy of the Peri-Gondwana Cambrian trilobite fauna (northern Kerman,Iran) and correlation with other countries

Polymeroid trilobite fauna from two stratigraphic sections (Godbondar and Kuhbanan) of the Kuhbanan Formation in northern Kerman (central Iran) were studied and subjected to biostratigraphic analysis. Eleven genera and species are recognised from the latest Early Cambrian and Middle Cambrian Peri-Gondwanian successions of the study sections. The recognised fauna includes Afghanocare lategenatum, Blountia blountia, Iranoleesia sp., Iranoleesia pisiformis, Kermanella kuhbananensis, Kermanella lata lata, Kermanella lata minuta, Kermanella sp., Redlichia chinensis, Redlichia noetlingi and Redlichia sp. Based on trilobite distribution, three trilobite biozones were recognised in the study sections, namely Redlichia noetlingi biozone, Kermanella kuhbananensis biozone and Iranoleesia pisiformis biozone. The age of the study sections is late Early Cambrian to late Middle Cambrian based on the recognised trilobite biozones. The recognised late Early Cambrian trilobite assemblages (especially Redlichia and Kermanella) from northern Kerman are similar to those found from some other parts of Gondwana or Peri-Gondwana terrains (north India, Pakistan, northwestern Kashmir, Tajikistan, South Australia, South China and Afghanistan) and show affinities with fauna found in some other parts of Iran (Alborz, northern Iran; Tabas, eastern Iran; southeast Karman).     

Ethnobotanical and antibacterial study of Primula plants traditionally used in the indigenous communities of Western Himalaya,Pakistan

BackgroundThe upper belt of Azad Kashmir is a hilly, mountainous, and remote area where the indigenous communities mainly believe in traditional medicines for the treatment of different ailments. This study aimed to conserve scientifically and culturally important medicinal knowledge of Primula species in Azad Kashmir, Western Himalaya, Pakistan. The additional objective was to evaluate the antibacterial activity of these plants against pathogenic bacteria.MethodsThe ethnomedicinal data of Primula species was explored by conducting structured interviews with 40 informants of the study area, especially asking about the medicinal uses of Primula species. The indigenously used Primula species were further analyzed for their antibacterial activity against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria by using disc diffusion assay supplemented with a more robust minimum inhibitory concentration assay.ResultsEthnomedicinal data revealed that indigenous communities living in upper regions of Azad Kashmir use 5 Primula species for the treatment of various disorders. The highly cited disease category was ophthalmic disorders. P. denticulata and P. macrophylla were the most cited plant species with higher use reports such as 104 and 93, respectively. One or more extracts of different parts of Primula species showed a noteworthy antibacterial activity against one or more tested bacteria.ConclusionThis study provides novel information regarding several categories of traditional uses and antibacterial activity of Primula species in Azad Kashmir, Western Himalaya. The need for novel and more effective drugs derived from natural products is more important than ever, making future studies on herbal remedies both justified and urgently required.     

Paratritemnodon indicus (Creodonta: Mammalia) from the early Middle Eocene Subathu Formation,NW Himalaya,India, and the Kalakot mammalian community structure

A complete post-incisor upper dentition and a left mandible with P/3-M/3 of the proviverrine hyaenodontid (Creodonta: Mammalia)Paratritemnodon indicus, which was hitherto known by heavily worn P/3-M/3, are described from the uppermost Subathu Formation (Middle Eocene) of the Kalakot-Metka-Mohgala area, Rajauri District, Jammu and Kashmir.P. indicus is most closely related to the North American Early Eocene proviverrine,Tritemnodon; its relationships withProdissopsalis from the Middle Eocene of Europe andPropterodon from the Middle to Late Eocene of China are also close. In the Kalakot Eocene vertebrate community of the Subathu vertebrate bioprovince,P. indicus is the only land dwelling carnivorous mammal against more than 20 species of herbivorous mammals, a majority of which are larger than it. This is viewed as an imbalance in trie community and it reflects an immaturity of the ecosystem supporting the fauna. The scarcity of carnivore remains in the Kalakot mammalian fauna is not an artifact.     

Late Paleozoic and Triassic bryozoans from the Tethys Himalaya (N India, Nepal and S Tibet)

New findings of Late Paleozoic and Triassic bryozoans from the Tethys Himalaya are reported. Fifteen species, including three undetermined, were described, while determinations at order, family or genus level were obtained on fragmentary material. The studied bryozoans were framed in a solid lithostratigraphic scheme spanning across the Tethys Himalaya for over 1500 km, from NW India (Zanskar and Spiti) through Nepal (Dolpo and Manang) to South Tibet; they are concentrated in correlatable stratigraphic intervals corresponding to the Upper Devonian-Tournaisian, Bashkirian, Sakmarian, Midian and Lower Norian. This study allowed us to integrate bryozoan occurrences reported from the literature, mostly referring to the Tournaisian, Bashkirian and Early Norian, and to refine the available biostratigraphic dates. Bryozoan-rich intervals are interpreted as associated to long-term transgressions, in turn driven by major climatic and/or tectonic events. Cosmopolitan genera which prevail in the Paleozoic, are replaced by provincial forms after the Triassic crisis.     

New Ordovician ostracodes from Himalaya and their palaeobiological and palaeogeographical implications

Silicified representatives of the ostracode orders Binodicopa, Palaeocopa and Podocopa have been recovered from the late Ordovician Pin Formation, Spiti, NW Himalaya area. Benthic binodicopes are distinctly more abundant than the palaeocope and podocope ostracodes. The binodicopes show biogeographical relations to Australia at the generic level, which supports the close palaeogeographic position of these continents. By contrast, the palaeocope and podocope taxa show close relations to Baltica and Bohemia even at the species level, which may suggest a pelagic or epipelagic mode of life since these regions are separated from each other by the broad and deep waters of Palaeotethys. New taxa are Vendona crassiplicata nov. sp., Glossomorphites himalayaensis nov. sp., Pilla pinensis nov. sp. and Pinpilla u-formis nov. gen. nov. sp.     

Biology,distribution and ecology of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Didymosphenia geminata</Emphasis> (Lyngbye) Schmidt an abundant diatom from the Indian Himalayan rivers

Three years of studies on some Indian Himalayan rivers in Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Sikkim revealed the presence of Didymosphenia geminata (Lyngbye) M. Schmidt, a large diatom, hitherto unreported from these areas. This is first report on the occurrence of this diatom in some Indian Himalayan rivers: Kishanganga in Jammu & Kashmir, Ravi in Himachal Pradesh in Western Himalaya and in Teesta river and its two tributaries, Lachen Chhu and Lachung Chhu from Sikkim in the Eastern Himalaya. D. geminata is the most abundant taxon in both suspended and benthic algal communities in these rivers. The species exhibits wide ecological amplitude, allowing it to inhabit both cold and warm waters. We also recorded the exotic brown trout, Salmo trutta fario in these Himalayan rivers. However, in Central Himalayan rivers, Alaknanda, Bhilangana, Mandakini and Dhauliganga in Uttarakhand, where this diatom was absent the trout were absent too. Our studies indicate that D. geminata may extend its distribution range to other Himalayan rivers, hitherto uninhabited by the diatom, depending on the mode of introduction of exotic trout in these rivers.     

Lack of significant associations between single nucleotide polymorphisms in LPAL2-LPA genetic region and all cancer incidence and mortality in Japanese population: The Japan public health center-based prospective study

BackgroundHigh lipoprotein (a) level is an established cardiovascular risk, but its association with non-cardiovascular diseases, especially cancer, is controversial. Serum lipoprotein (a) levels vary widely by genetic backgrounds and are largely determined by the genetic variations of apolipoprotein (a) gene, LPA. In this study, we investigate the association between SNPs in LPA region and cancer incidence and mortality in Japanese.MethodsA genetic cohort study was conducted utilizing the data from 9923 participants in the Japan Public Health Center-based Prospective Study (JPHC Study). Twenty-five SNPs in the LPAL2-LPA region were selected from the genome-wide genotyped data. Cox regression analysis adjusted for the covariates and competing risks of death from other causes, were used to estimate the relative risk (hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI)) of overall and site-specific cancer incidence and mortality, for each SNP.ResultsNo significant association was found between SNPs in the LPAL2-LPA region and cancer incidence or mortality (overall/site-specific cancer). In men, however, HRs for stomach cancer incidence of 18SNPs were estimated higher than 1.5 (e.g., 2.15 for rs13202636, model free, 95%CI: 1.28–3.62) and those for stomach cancer mortality of 2SNPs (rs9365171, rs1367211) were estimated 2.13 (recessive, 95%CI:1.04–4.37) and 1.61 (additive, 95%CI: 1.00–2.59). Additionally, the minor allele for SNP rs3798220 showed increased death risk from colorectal cancer (CRC) in men (HR: 3.29, 95% CI:1.59 – 6.81) and decreased CRC incidence risk in women (HR: 0.46, 95%CI: 0.22–0.94). Minor allele carrier of any of 4SNPs could have risk of prostate cancer incidence (e.g., rs9365171 dominant, HR: 1.71, 95%CI: 1.06–2.77).ConclusionsNone of the 25 SNPs in the LPAL2-LPA region was found to be significantly associated with cancer incidence or mortality. Considering the possible association between SNPs in LPAL2-LPA region and colorectal, prostate and stomach cancer incidence or mortality, further analysis using different cohorts is warranted.     

Potential global stratotype sections and points in China for defining Cambrian stages and series

Three stratigraphic sections in the Cambrian of China that contain complete successions across important biohorizons having chronostratigraphic value, and that may be useful for developing Cambrian stage or series boundaries, are reviewed. The Wuliu section (Guizhou, South China), contains the FAD of Oryctocephalus indicus at 58.2 m above the base of the Kaili Formation. The Wangcun North section (Hunan, South China), contains the FADs of Ptychagnostus (or Acidusus) atavus, Ptychagnostus punctuosus, and Lejopyge laevigata at 1.2 m, 56.7 m, and 111.3 m, respectively, above the base of the Huaqiao Formation. The Xiaoyangqiao section (Jilin, Northeast China), contains the FAD of Cordylodus proavus in the Fengshan Formation at 10.89 m above the zero point of the section. A fourth potential stratotype section, the Wangcun South section (Hunan, South China), which contains the P. atavus, P. punctuosus, and L. laevigata zones, is discussed briefly.     

A new eocrinoid from the Guanshan Biota (Cambrian Series 2, Stage 4), with implication of the development of different attachment modes in early Cambrian

Eocrinoids are scarce in the Guanshan Biota (Cambrian Series 2, Stage 4), Yunnan Province, southwest China. Here, we introduce a new gogiid: Kunmingeocrinus cupuliformis n. gen. n. sp. which is characterized by a short stalk and a well-developed attachment disc. Preservation may indicate a weakly biomineralized body for the new taxon. Morphological similarities between the new taxon and other eocrinoids with attachment discs from Cambrian Lagerstätten of Guizhou Province (Series 2, Stage 4 and Miaolingian, Wuliuan) might suggest a similar mode of life. The eocrinoids from the Guanshan Biota possibly utilized different attachment modes.     

Calcareous and siliceous phytoplankton stratigraphy of Neogene marine sediments in central Crete (Greece)

Fine laminated diatomaceous beds in outcrops of the Finikia unit (Estavromenos and Athanatoi sections) in the northern part of the Heraklion district in Crete, have yielded a total of 55 marine diatom and 24 silicoflagellate taxa. The diatom assemblages, characterized by species of low latitudes, belong to the upper part of the Nitzschia jouseae biozone (early-late Pliocene). The silicoflagellate associations belong to the local Dictyocha fibula ausonia and Dictyocha hellenica subzones. These subzones correspond to the subzones CN11b (Discoaster asymmetricus) and CN12a (D. tamalis) of calcareous nannofossils respectively, as well as to the Globorotalia puncticulata/G. bononiensis biozones of planktic foraminifera. The sparse silicoflagellate association from fine sandy marls of the Panassos section in the central part of the Heraklion district (Aghia Varvara unit, upper Tortonian-Messinian) is assigned to the local biozone Distephanus speculum minutus. The latter corresponds approximately to the biozone C9 (Discoaster quinqueramus) of calcareous nannofossils and to the Globorotalia conomiozea zone of planktic foraminifera. No discoidal diatoms could be found in the samples from Panassos-section. The presence of silicoflagellates but simultaneous absence of diatoms is probably due to greater opal dissolution within the fine sandy marls of the Panassos section.     

Recombinant lactoferrin (Lf) of Vechur cow, the critical breed of Bos indicus and the Lf gene variants

Vechur cow, categorized as a critically maintained breed by the FAO, is a unique breed of Bos indicus due to its extremely small size, less fodder intake, adaptability, easy domestication and traditional medicinal property of the milk. Lactoferrin (Lf) is an iron-binding glycoprotein that is found predominantly in the milk of mammals. The full coding region of Lf gene of Vechur cow was cloned, sequenced and expressed in a prokaryotic system. Antibacterial activity of the recombinant Lf showed suppression of bacterial growth. To the best of our knowledge this is the first time that the full coding region of Lf gene of B. indicus Vechur breed is sequenced, successfully expressed in a prokaryotic system and characterized. Comparative analysis of Lf gene sequence of five Vechur cows with B. taurus revealed 15 SNPs in the exon region associated with 11 amino acid substitutions. The amino acid arginine was noticed as a pronounced substitution and the tertiary structure analysis of the BLfV protein confirmed the positions of arginine in the β sheet region, random coil and helix region 1. Based on the recent reports on the nutritional therapies of arginine supplementation for wound healing and for cardiovascular diseases, the higher level of arginine in the lactoferrin protein of Vechur cow milk provides enormous scope for further therapeutic studies.     

Population genetic structure and conservation of the Azorean tree Prunus azorica (Rosaceae)

Prunus azorica is an endangered tree endemic to the Azores Archipelago, considered as a top priority species for conservation. Although propagation measures have been studied in detail, and a broad phylogeographic study on P. lusitanica was recently published, a detailed population genetics study devoted to Azorean taxon was lacking. To determine extant patterns of population genetic structure in P. azorica, we analysed eight populations from the five Azorean islands where the species presently occurs and the only extant individual from Flores Island. We also included samples of P. lusitanica subsp. hixa from the Canary Islands and Madeira, and of P. lusitanica subsp. lusitanica from mainland Portugal. Genotyping was undertaken for eight nuclear microsatellite polymorphic loci specifically isolated for P. azorica. Accessions of the different geographic regions were used to sequence ITS and trnL DNA regions. Regarding SSRs, the number of alleles ranged from 5 to 37 (mean = 12.6) per locus and from 2 to 64 per population (mean = 24). Our analysis showed a clear separation between samples from the Azores and those from other regions. Overall, São Miguel populations seemed to encompass the majority of the variability found within the archipelago. Regarding the Azorean populations only, the highest percentage of genetic variation was found within populations (92 %). Still, about 7 % of the variation was found among populations within islands. Expected heterozygosity ranged from values near 0 in the most depauperate populations up to 0.18. With a few exceptions, the level of differentiation between Azorean populations was generally low and gene flow was clearly above 1. Analysis of ITS sequences also detected differences between the Azores and the remaining regions but the trnL region did not reveal any variation. The genetic identity of P. azorica was recognised and thus should be preserved; however, the present results suggest that the Azorean taxon should be reinstated at the subspecies level.