Palökologie und Biostratigraphie der Pelecypoden des Unteren Mitteldevon (Eifelium) der Eifel

During Eifelian times pelecypods were rare but steadily occurring elements among the invertebrate fauna. As can be concluded from shell shape, form, and inflation most of them lived infaunal, only few occupied the sediment surface. Their habitats were the deeper subtidal domains where silt- and marlstones predominated. Despite their conspicuous longevity they may regionally be used for stratigraphic purposes especially by considering two or more species at a time. Furthermore they aid in attaining a higher level of correlation by comprising high-energy facies into stratigraphic considerations. But since longevity favored shifting of their habitable area diachronousy with facies they are no suitable fossils for international correlation.

     

Vergleich der Funktionsmorphologie und Paläoökologie zweier Rhabdocidariden (Echinodermata: Cidaridae)

The general shape of test, spine and tubercle morphologies, and ambulacral pore characteristics ofRhabdocidaris nobilis (Münster 1826) andRhabdocidaris reginae n. sp. from the Upper Jurassic are interpreted in functional terms. Results are compared with an independent sedimentological and palaeoecological analysis of the host sediments. The morphological interpretation ofRhabdocidaris nobilis suggests a low energy, possibly partly dysaerobic, firmground setting as is evidenced by (1) the occurrence of slit-like C isopores and (2) tubercles with a broad muscle attachment area indicating strong, motile stalking spines. The morphological interpretation ofRhabdocidaris reginae suggests principally the same mode of life. However, the sedimentological and palaeoecological analysis of the host sediments suggest quite a different environment forRhabdocidaris reginae relative toRhabdocidaris nobilis. This phenomenon can be explained by the physiological characteristics of echinoids.     

Typologische Betrachtungsweise und Paläontologie

Summary The darwinistic doctrine of a continuous transformation of the animal world cannot be certified by Paleontology. On the contrary the building-plans of the animals present themselves ready made in the history of the earth. That may be shown before all at the oldest vertebrates which appear in the Silur and Devon in types fundamentally differentiated. Also the higher fishes, the amphibia, reptiles, birds and mammals present themselves ready made and are not to be derived one from another. Beyond the reach of families descendance is unknown; it can, if anyhow, be maintained in the sense of a modification within typologically determined boundaries.Beurlen's Neomorphosis must be refused. The will for might, i.e. the will for dominating the world around, does not exist as a formgiving element, and can, before all, not be responsible there where the new type is separated from the old one by not adaptive, and therefore building constructive qualities.Remonstrances showing that the tradition having gaps in paleontology should not admit the above made conclusions are refused. The things found are, on the contrary, fully sufficient, asHeribert-Nilsson also showed for the fossil floras. The typological manner of contemplating has deciding importance in paleontology, whereas that of the theory of descendance only has a secondary one.

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Résumé La doctrine darwinienne d'une transformation continue du monde animal ne peut pas être confirmée par la paléontologie. Les plans constructifs des animaux apparaissent plutôt achevés dans l'histoire de la terre. Cela se montre avant tout aux plus anciens vertébrés qui font leur apparition dans le silure et le devon par des types variés et différenciés fondamentalement. Aussi les poissons de genres plus élevés, les amphibiens, les reptiles, les oiseaux et les mammifères se présentent achevés et ne sont pas dérivés les uns des autres. En dehors du domaine de la famille la descendance est inconnue, et elle ne pourrait être maintenue que dans le sens de modification au dedans de limites prescrites typologiquement. Il faut rejeter la néomorphose deBeurlen. La volonté du pouvoir, c'est-à-dire la volonté de dominer le milieu n'existe pas comme un facteur créateur de formes et ne peut pas avant tout être responsable là où le nouveau type est séparé de l'ancien par des qualités non adaptives, donc des qualités constructives.Les objections qui veulent prouver qu'une tradition paléontologique, pleine de lacunes, n'admet pas les conclusions faites ci-dessus, sont complètement réfutées. Les découvertes suffisent plutôt complètement, commeHeribert-Nilsson l'a démontré, pour les flores fossiles. La manière typologique de contempler a une signification décisive dans la paléontologie, celle de la théorie de la descendance a seulement une signification secondaire.

     

Beiträge zur Verbreitung und Ökologie der Landisopoden des Ostbaltikums

Ohne ZusammenfassungAbkürzungen der species-namen im text and in den tabellen A. o. Armadillidium opacum - A. pi. Armadillidium pictum - A. pu. Armadillidium pulchellum - A.z. Armadillidium zenckeri - C. Cylisticus convexus - H. m. Haplophthalmus mengii - L. Ligidium hypnorum - O. Oniseus asellus - P. c. Porcellium conspersum - P. p. Porcellio pictus - P. r. Tracheoniscus rathkei - P. sc. Porcellio scaber - Ph. Philoscia muscorum sylvestris - Tr. Trichoniscus caelebs, elisabethae, elisabethae estoniensis     

Methoden zur Paläontologie und Stratigraphie der Sporae dispersae

PalZ - Wo bei der Festlegung des Umfangs von Form- und Organgenera von Sporen die naturgebundenen Verhältnisse nicht beachtet werden, gerät die stratigraphische Arbeit in Schwierigkeiten....     

Mikrofazies karbonischer Kalkgerölle aus dem Paläozoikum des Rif (Marokko): Ein Beitrag zur Paläogeographie der westmediterranen Paläotethys im Karbon

Post-lower Serpukhovian conglomerates with abundant limestone clasts are intercalated within the Carboniferous flysch succession of the Ghomarides (internal zone of the Rif, northern Morocco). They are restricted to two ghomaridic nappes (Beni Hozmar, Akaili; Fig. 1). No limestone-bearing conglomerates are known from the third nappe (Kuhdiat Tizian). 83.4% of the limestone clasts derived from shallow-shelf environments and adjoining proximal slope environments of late Viséan (V3b gamma) to early Serpukhovian (Namurian E1–E2) age. Microfacies types of the inner shelf lagoon and of restricted shelf environments dominate. They indicate a complicated mosaic facies pattern (Fig. 2). 16.6% of the limestone clasts derived from distal slope environments and deep, open marine environments. They are of unknown age except for one Upper Devonian pebble from around the transition do IIα/do IIβ. All are supposedly of late Middle Devonian and Late Devonian age. Their sedimentology as well as the age and the microfacies of the limestone clasts indicate that the conglomerates of the Ghomarides are homologous to the Marbella Formation of the Malaguides (Betic Cordillera, Southern Spain). The conglomerate of Binifaillet (Minorca, Balearic Islands) is also similar. The source area of the conglomerates was the not any more existent Betico-Rifean Block south of the Malaguide-Ghomaride flysch trough. Owing to their facies development in Devonian and Carboniferous times, the nappes of the Ghomarides and the Malaguides can be arranged in a successively more distal position towards the source: nappe of Beni Hozmar—nappe of Kuhdiat Tizian—nappe of Akaili + Malaguides (Fig. 4). Minorca, which received its flysch sediments from the north, seems to be influenced only episodically by conglomerate inputs from the south. The lithofacies development of the Carboniferous in other Paleozoic massifs of the western Mediterranean clearly demonstrates that the Paleotethys of this region was framed by shallow-water carbonate shelves between early Viséan and Moscovian times. These shelves are not preserved in situ, but gravitative carbonate sediments, conglomerates, slide blocks and gravitational nappes with in the flysch troughs confirm their existence. The flysch troughs were situated at active continental margins. They developed initially in the northern Paleotethys realm (southern border of the Southern European plate) starting with the late Viséan; in the southern Paleotethys realm (northern border of the Betico-Rif block) they started in the lowermost Viséan. The appearance of the flysch troughs records the beginning subduction of the Paleotethys towards the north beneath the Southern European plate as well as towards the south beneath the Betico-Rifean block (Fig. 6). Flysch sedimentation was predated by pelagic sedimentation since the earliest Carboniferous. During the Viséan a successive deepening of the western Mediterranean Paleotethys from north to south was recorded in the facies development of the pelagic deposits. The deepening is genetically connected with the earlier start of the subduction at the Betico-Rifean block.     

Zur Systematik und Ökologie (Lebenszyklen,Populationsdynamik) der Turbellarien-GattungParomalostomum

This paper contributes to the systematics, the ecology and the biology of sexual reproduction of psammobiontic macrostomid Turbellaria from a sandy beach on the eastern shore of the island Sylt. The anatomy of a new species,Paromalostomum proceracauda, is described. The cuticular structures of the genital apparatus ofParomalostomum fusculum Ax,P. dubium (de Beauchamp) andHaplopharynx rostratus Meixner are analyzed.P. fusculum is one of the most frequent turbellarians living in the sandy flats (Sandwatt) in front of the Litoralstation of the Biologische Anstalt Helgoland in List. This species shows obvious seasonal differences in it's vertical distribution. In summer,P. fusculum lives in the upper 4 cm of the sand while in winter, the animals move to the deeper strata of the sediment, were they are more protected from low temperatures.P. fusculum has an annual life-cycle. The period of reproduction lasts from May to July. The new generation hibernates in the state of male maturity and attains female maturity in spring. After the period of egg-shedding, large animals individuals are seldom found; it is supposed that they die after spawning. The mechanism of egg-shedding and the structure of the egg are described. The egg-shells ofP. fusculum are distinguished from those ofP. dubium by the presence of opercula.     

Fossilführung und Palökologie des lagunären Massenkalkes (Devon) im Sauerland (Rheinisches Schiefergebirge)

The Massenkalk north of Brilon (East-Sauerland) and north of Balve (West-Sauerland) is of lagoonal character and is Upper Givetian (Middle Devonian) in age. Stromatoporoids, which can be subdivided into different growth forms (spherical to tabular, encrusting, thin laminar, branching), are the main reef building organisms. The species of the branching stromatoporoidAmphipora, which are hard to distinguish, dominate. The two thin laminar speciesStromatopora cygnea Stearn 1963 andStachyodes (Keega) jonelrayi Stearn 1975 are described for the first time from Western Europe. Tabulate corals represent about 20 % of the reef-builders and permit important inferences about the restriction of environment. Rugose corals and calcareous algae are rare. Reef dwelling organisms are less important; among these brachiopods, molluscs, foraminifera, calcispheres, and ostracods are, however, widespread. - Several associations of reef-builders that depend on different water depths can be distinguished. Their composition varies according to the restriction of environment. With increasing water depth water energy increased on the carbonate platform. The analysis of the stratigraphical distribution of the species of the reef-builder fauna allows no more but vague stratigraphical classifications.     

Zur Ökologie der Polychaeten des Helgoländer Felslitorals

The ecology and distribution of the polychaetes inhabiting the rocky interidal zone of the island of Helgoland (German Bight, North Sea) were studied at five ecologically different stations.Scolelepis squamata, Microphthalmus sczelkowii andOphryotrocha gracilis were the only typical intertidal polychaetes observed. Of the 53 polychaete species documented, eight were recorded for the first time in the German Bight. Two species and one subspecies had not been described previously. The following invironmental variables were measured and, where possible, related to the occurrence of the polychaetes: pH, redox potential, O₂ diffusion rate, temperature, salinity, particle-size distribution, and amount of organic particles. In the investigation area the number of species and their frequency maxima increase horizontally from east to west. This appears to be due to the increasing diversity of microhabitats in the substratum, as well as to conditions of O₂ supply or H₂S presence. Vertically, the number of species increases with water depth. The potential effects of temperature and salinity on the distribution patterns are discussed.     

Beiträge zur Ökologie und Biologie von Blenniidae (Pisces) des Mittelmeeres

Zusammenfassung 1. An insgesamt 20 Fundstellen des südlichen und westlichen Mittelmeeres (Abb. 1) wurden ökologische und biologische Untersuchungen bis ca. 1,5 m unter die Wasserlinie vorgenommen, die besonders Schleimfische der GattungBlennius betrafen. 8 der Fundstellen wurden genauer beschrieben und in Profilen dargestellt. Insgesamt konnten 12Blennius-Arten in die Untersuchungen einbezogen werden.2. NachdemAbel (1962) Angaben über die Tiefenverbreitung und die Licht- und Wohnraumansprüche von 10Blennius-Arten gemacht hatte, wurden hier 4 weitere Arten und weitere ökologische Faktoren berücksichtigt.3. Auf Grund des Verbreitungsbildes wirdB. cristatus als thermophil,B. dalmatinus als eventuell thermophob bezeichnet, während alle übrigen Arten als eurytherm anzusprechen sind.4. In bezug auf die Lichtansprüche stellten sich 4 Arten —B. sanguinolentus, B. pavo, B. sphinx undB. dalmatinus — als photophil,B. gattorugine undB. zvonimiri aber als photophob heraus. Die übrigen Arten stellen dagegen keine Lichtansprüche.5. NurB. pavo undB. dalmatinus erwiesen sich als euryhaline Arten, die auch im Brackwasser zu finden sind.6. Typische Bewohner der Brandungszone sindB. galerita, B. trigloides undB. cristatus, währendB. sphinx, B. canevae undB. gattorugine als fakultative Besiedler dieses Bereichs anzusehen sind. Alle übrigen Arten meiden in mehr oder weniger ausgeprägtem Maße die Brandungszone, indem sie entweder in tiefere Wasserschichten oder an geschützte Stellen ausweichen. Die Tiefenverbreitung hängt daher weitgehend von dem Faktor Wasserbewegung ab und ist mindestens in ihrer oberen Grenze bei den turbidophoben Arten nicht eindeutig festlegbar.7. Die Hauptfluchtrichtung steht einerseits mit der Bevorzugung verschieden starker Turbulenzen zusammen. So fliehenB. galerita, B. trigloides, B. sphinx undB. canevae aufwärts, während die meisten übrigen Arten bei Gefahr seitwärts ausweichen. Andererseits resultiert die abwärts gerichtete Flucht vonB. gattorugine undB. zvonimiri aus der Bevorzugung lichtarmer Ökotope.8. Als morphologische Anpassungen an die durch Wasserbewegung beeinflußten Ökotope konnte die Körpergestalt — rund bis depreß bei den Bewohnern des Brandungsbereiches, kompreß bei den übrigen Arten — und die unterschiedliche Stärke der Flossenstrahlen von Pectoralia, Ventralia und Analis festgestellt werden. Keine Korrelation zum Ökotop besteht dagegen in der Ausbildung des Seitenorgansystems.9. AußerB. galerita suchen alle übrigen 11 Arten mindestens zur Laichzeit Verstecke auf.B. cristatus, B. gattorugine, B. vandervekeni, B. sanguinolentus, B. pavo undB. trigloides suchen optische (sichtgeschützte) Höhlen auf, während die übrigen Arten enge, ihrem Körperdurchmesser entsprechende haptische Höhlen bevorzugen.10. Bei einigen Arten wurden ergänzende Beobachtungen über das Balz- und Rivalenverhalten sowie über Färbung und Farbwechsel gemacht.11. Es wird angenommen, daß die Schaffung verschiedener Ökotope und Mikroklimate Voraussetzung für die Aufspaltung der GattungBlennius in eine große Zahl verschiedener Arten war.

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Contributions to the ecology and biology of blenniidae (pisces) from the mediterranean sea

Twelve species of the fish genusBlennius (Blennioidei, Perciformes) have been investigated with regard to their ecological requirements at 20 distinct localities of the western and southern Mediterranean Sea. The species examined respond differently to the environmental factors temperature, light, salinity, and wave-action.Blennius cristatus is a thermophil species, whereasB. dalmatinus may be thermophobe.B. sanguinolentus, B. pavo, B. sphinx, andB. dalmatinus prefer habitats exposed to the sunlight;B. gattorugine andB. zvonimiri inhabit shadow biotopes. One can findB. galerita, B. trigloides, andB. cristatus at the surf-stage normally, whereasB. sphinx, B. canevae, andB. gattorugine are facultative inhabitants of this biotope. The vertical distribution depends on wave-action and, in part, on light. The main escape direction is upward to the water surface by most species inhabiting the surf-stage, downward byB. gattorugine andB. zvonimiri, and laterally by the other species examined. Morphological adaptations to the habitat in the surf-stage are indicated by the round or slightly depressed form of the body, and by the strong rays of the pectoral, pelvic and anal fins. None of theBlennius species examined exhibits ecological requirements similar to those of another species. It is probable that the striking specific radiation of the genusBlennius is rendered possible by the availability of different biotopes and microclimates.