Demography,genealogy and genetics. The reproductive process in the populations of two French Mountain Valleys from the seventeenth to the twentieth century

An exhaustive analysis of registers of births, deaths, and marriages is used to reconstitute genealogies, both ascending and descending, for all individuals who lived in two mountain valleys: the Valserine valley (in the French Jura), which is studied from the end of the seventeenth century to the present, and the Vallouise valley (in the French Alps) studied from the seventeenth to the nieteenth centuries. This genealogical approach makes it possible to trace the reproductive process in the populations whose members lived in the valley for several generations. The Vallouise valley forms an important demographic isolate; nearly 98 per cent of those born between 1820 and 1849 were descendants of ancestors who had lived in the valley two centuries earlier. By contrast, there has been continuous immigration into the Valserine valley, which has resulted in a constant renewal of the gene pool. Only 18 per cent of the gene pool of individuals living in this valley two centuries later was contributed by those who lived in the valley and who were born before 1750.     

Découverte de microfaunes de l'Albienmoyen et supérieur dans la vallée de Joux (Jura Vaudois,Suisse)

The discovery of Foraminifera and Ostracodesin the dark green, sandy-glauconitic marl clay in the Joux Valley (in the Vaudois Jura) suggests to date these sediments Middle and Upper Albian. The Ostracode associations are similar to those found in the Paris Basin, but different from those which characterize the subalpine region.     

Révision systématiquedu genre Sphenorhynchia Buckman, 1918 (Brachiopoda,rhynchonellidae): Implications taxonomiques, évolution,biostratigraphie

A lot of numerous rhynchonellid shells referedto the main species of genus SphenorhynchiaBuckman have been sampled in stratigraphically well-defined beds of Dogger period in the Mâconnais and in the Jura (France). Here, morphologic and anatomic characters and variability of S. plicatella, S. matisconensis, S. bugeysiaca, S. ferryi and S. dominula are studied.The main interest of this revision is to establish a complete diagnosis of the genus, not studied since its creation in 1918, with very limited knowledge of the internal structures. The settlement of this diagnosis is based on the type-species, S. plicatella, sometimes a little «unconventional form (beak, outline of the young shells, orientation of dental lamellae, delthyrial cavity), and also on the other species' characters. So, I expect that a later diagnosis will be avoided.Other advantages are observations on the taxonomic place of Sphenorhynchia in the RhynchonellidaeGray (in the TetrarhynchiinaeAger rather than in the CyclothyridinaeMakridin), on its evolution in the course of the Dogger period and the establishment of the biostratigraphy of its main species.     

Polymorphic microsatellite DNA markers in the endangered land snail,Trichia caelata (Gastropoda,Stylommatophora)

Eight novel polymorphic microsatellite loci are presented for the endangered land snail Trichia caelata, a rare species endemic to the Northwestern Jura mountains, Switzerland. The number of alleles per locus ranged from six to 17. At seven loci, the expected heterozygosity differed significantly from observed heterozygosity. No evidence for linkage disequilibrium was detected between locus pairs. We are currently using these markers to investigate the genetic population structure of T. caelata in its restricted distribution area.     

Radiocarbon dating the appearance of modern humans and timing of cultural innovations in Europe: new results and new challenges

New radiocarbon dates from the sites of Bockstein-T?rle, Geissenkl?sterle, Hohle Fels, Hohlenstein-Stadel, Sirgenstein, and Vogelherd in the Swabian Jura of southwestern Germany indicate that the Aurignacian of the region spans the period from ca. 40-30ka BP. If the situation at Vogelherd, in which skeletal remains from modern humans underlie an entire Aurignacian sequence, is viewed as representative for the region, the dates from the Swabian Jura support the hypothesis that populations of modern humans entered the region by way of the "Danube Corridor." The lithic technology from the lower Aurignacian of Geissenkl?sterle III is fully developed, and classic Aurignacian forms are well represented. During the course of the Aurignacian, numerous assemblages rich in art works, jewelry, and musical instruments are documented. By no later than 29ka BP the Gravettian was well established in the region. These dates are consistent with the "Kulturpumpe" hypothesis that important cultural innovations of the Aurignacian and Gravettian in Swabia predate similar developments in other regions of Europe. The radiocarbon dates from Geissenkl?sterle corroborate observations from other non-archaeological data sets indicating large global fluctuations in the atmospheric concentrations of radiocarbon between 30 and 50ka calendar years ago. These fluctuations lead to complications in building reliable chronologies during this period and cause the "Middle Paleolithic Dating Anomaly" and the "Coexistence Effect," which tend to exaggerate the temporal overlap between Neanderthals and modern humans.     

Effects of small‐scale grassland fragmentation and frequent mowing on population density and species diversity of orthopterans: a long‐term study

Abstract 1. Habitat fragmentation is considered one of the major threats to invertebrate diversity in semi‐natural grassland. However, the effects of habitat fragmentation through mowing on the rich insect fauna of these grasslands have not been sufficiently investigated and experiments are especially rare. 2. We studied the impact of small‐scale grassland fragmentation on orthopterans over 7 years in an experiment which allowed us to additionally investigate the effect of frequent mowing on Orthoptera communities. 3. Overall, Orthoptera density and species richness increased over time. This was likely a result of increased small‐scale habitat heterogeneity and the provision of a short‐turf habitat suitable for xerophilous species. The fragmentation affected orthopteran density and species composition but not species richness whose response lagged behind the changes in abundance. 4. Responses differed between suborders. Ensifera density was higher in fragment than in control plots. Caelifera density did not differ between fragment and control plots. The mown matrix was an unsuitable habitat for most of the species, particularly within the Ensifera. 5. Our experiment shows that even small‐scale fragmentation can affect Orthopteran communities and that the effects became more pronounced over time. As the mown matrix was unsuitable for many Ensifera species, they may go locally extinct when large areas are mown simultaneously.     

Τesting models for the beginnings of the Aurignacian and the advent of figurative art and music: the radiocarbon chronology of Geißenklösterle

The German site of Geißenklösterle is crucial to debates concerning the European Middle to Upper Palaeolithic transition and the origins of the Aurignacian in Europe. Previous dates from the site are central to an important hypothesis, the Kulturpumpe model, which posits that the Swabian Jura was an area where crucial behavioural developments took place and then spread to other parts of Europe. The previous chronology (critical to the model), is based mainly on radiocarbon dating, but remains poorly constrained due to the dating resolution and the variability of dates. The cause of these problems is disputed, but two principal explanations have been proposed: a) larger than expected variations in the production of atmospheric radiocarbon, and b) taphonomic influences in the site mixing the bones that were dated into different parts of the site. We reinvestigate the chronology using a new series of radiocarbon determinations obtained from the Mousterian, Aurignacian and Gravettian levels. The results strongly imply that the previous dates were affected by insufficient decontamination of the bone collagen prior to dating. Using an ultrafiltration protocol the chronometric picture becomes much clearer. Comparison of the results against other recently dated sites in other parts of Europe suggests the Early Aurignacian levels are earlier than other sites in the south of France and Italy, but not as early as recently dated sites which suggest a pre-Aurignacian dispersal of modern humans to Italy by ∼45000 cal BP. They are consistent with the importance of the Danube Corridor as a key route for the movement of people and ideas. The new dates fail to refute the Kulturpumpe model and suggest that Swabian Jura is a region that contributed significantly to the evolution of symbolic behaviour as indicated by early evidence for figurative art, music and mythical imagery.     

Le Crocodilien Steneosaurus (Mesosuchia,Teleosauridae) dans le Jurassique supérieur franc-comtois (Jura,France)

Two new fossil vertebrate localities have been discovered close to each other in the Upper Jurassic (Effingen beds, Upper Oxfordian) of the Southern Jura department (France). One of the localities have yielded an incomplete skeleton of the crocodilian Steneosaurus (including a well preserved skull), as well as fish remains and an abundant invertebrate fauna. The second locality has mainly yielded various fragmentary bones of Steneosaurus. This is the first discovery of well preserved crocodilian remains in the Oxfordian of the Jura.     

Une halte de chasse moustérienne en grotte dans le Jura méridional (Ain)

The Chênelaz cavern is currently the first altitude site in the Southern Jura to display a Mousterian style scene dedicated to Hunting Scenes. This occupation phase corresponds to an interstadial period of the würm period, which is correlated by a 65,000-year uranium-thorium dating. The sample comes from a piece of stalagmitic floor, including several Mousterian artifacts. The Mousterian does not seem to have any concordance with the features known in the Rhône area, but it is likely to have more similarities with the facies of Alpine Jura area.