Article
Plant Sciences
Jorge R. Flores, Alexander C. Bippus, Carmen Fernandez de Ullivarri, Guillermo M. Suarez, Jaakko Hyvonen, Alexandru M. F. Tomescu
Summary: Divergence times based on molecular clock analyses and total-evidence dating approaches differ for bryophytes. In this study, the first total-evidence dating analyses of thalloid liverworts were conducted, incorporating fossils. The results revealed that the radiation of thalloid liverworts occurred much earlier than previously inferred, and morphological change rate decreased significantly after the Late Cretaceous.
Article
Plant Sciences
M. Cristina Telleria, Viviana D. Barreda, Phillip E. Jardine, Luis Palazzesi
Summary: Pollen morphology of Asteraceae has been mapped onto a phylogenomic tree, revealing shifts and trends in the evolution of the family. The ancestral Asteraceae pollen grains possessed microspines and a nonlayered exine, similar to the oldest fossils discovered. The most recent common ancestor of Asteraceae had a layered sexine, except for the sister clade Barnadesieae. Pollen characters have varying levels of phylogenetic structure and can be used to identify fossil specimens and explore character evolution.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PLANT SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Raquel E. Fleskes, Douglas W. Owsley, Karin S. Bruwelheide, Kathryn G. Barca, Daniel R. Griffith, Graciela S. Cabana, Theodore G. Schurr
Summary: The colonization of North America in the 17th century brought Europeans and Africans to the Delaware region. Analysis of low-coverage genomes of individuals from the Avery's Rest archaeological site reveals the origins and familial relationships in late 17th and early 18th century North America.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yunhuan Liu, Emily Carlisle, Huaqiao Zhang, Ben Yang, Michael Steiner, Tiequan Shao, Baichuan Duan, Federica Marone, Shuhai Xiao, Philip C. J. Donoghue
Summary: The early history of deuterostomes, composed of chordates, echinoderms, and hemichordates, is still controversial due to a lack of representative fossils. The microscopic animal Saccorhytus coronarius was previously thought to be an early deuterostome, but new material and analyses have shown that it actually belongs to the total group Ecdysozoa. This expands the morphological and ecological diversity of early Cambrian ecdysozoans.
Article
Geology
Katie M. Maloney, Galen P. Halverson, James D. Schiffbauer, Shuhai Xiao, Timothy M. Gibson, Maxwell A. Lechte, Vivien M. Cumming, Alexie E. G. Millikin, Jack G. Murphy, Malcolm W. Wallace, David Selby, Marc Laflamme
Summary: The newly discovered large fossils from the early Neoproterozoic marine deposits in Canada represent multicellular eukaryotic macroalgae with a possible green algal affinity, shedding light on the origin and evolution of photosynthetic eukaryotes in marine environments.
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Yasuhiro Koguchi, Go Okada, Satoshi Ueno, Chiaki Sawai, Hidehito Nanto
Summary: Recent research has found that CaSO4 exhibits remarkable radiophotoluminescence (RPL) properties without intentional addition of impurities. ESR measurements were conducted to identify the defect species responsible for RPL and determine the luminescence's origin. The results showed the presence of various impurities, including Al2O3, Mn2+, P, and Si, in CaSO4, which may affect the radiation sensitivity. Hence, deliberate addition of specific elements is suggested to control the RPL properties.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS SCIENCE-MATERIALS IN ELECTRONICS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yoshitsugu Kobayashi, Ryuji Takasaki, Katsuhiro Kubota, Anthony R. Fiorillo
Summary: A new taxon, Yamatosaurus izanagii, is described based on a partial hadrosaurid skeleton from Japan, showing unique characters in the dentition. Phylogenetic analysis places Yamatosaurus izanagii within the Hadrosauridae, indicating the importance of shoulder and forelimb features in the early evolution of the group. Biogeographic analyses suggest a wide distribution of basal hadrosaurids in Asia, with eastern Asia potentially serving as a refugium for relict hadrosauroid taxa during the Late Cretaceous. The co-occurrence of basal and derived hadrosaurids in Japan during the Maastrichtian highlights regional differences in dinosaur distribution.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Anton F. -J. Wroblewski, Bonnie E. Gulas-Wroblewski
Summary: This study presents incontrovertible ichnofossil evidence for the utilization of brackish-water habitats by at least two mammalian species in southern Wyoming during the late Paleocene (58 Ma). It provides the first recorded Paleocene mammal trackways in the United States and only the fourth documented in the world. The findings support recent molecular phylogenetic studies regarding the origin of Cetartiodactyla near the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Rizwan Sarwar Awan, Chenglin Liu, Feng Dehao, Qibiao Zang, Yuping Wu, Sajjad Ali
Summary: This research examines the hydrocarbon nature of early Cambrian sediments in the Niutitang Formation in South China. The study finds that these older sediments contain a lower quantity of extractable organic matter due to higher maturation history. The presence of different biomarkers suggests contributions from prokaryotic and eukaryotic sources. Various parameters indicate mature to higher thermal evolution levels of these sediments, and the presence of certain compounds suggests hydrothermal action. The deposition of the Niutitang Formation occurred in an anoxic saline environment and contains mature-high mature organic matter that could potentially generate gaseous hydrocarbons.
GEOLOGICAL JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Zhiqiang Yu, Haibing Wang, Chi Zhang, Liping Dong, Magdalena H. Huyskens, Zexian Cui, Paige Cary, Yankun Di, Yuri Amelin, Gang Li, Qiuli Li, Xiao-Ping Xia, Chenglong Deng, Yuanqing Wang, Huaiyu He, Qing-Zhu Yin
Summary: Establishing the temporal sequence of the Middle-Late Jurassic Yanliao Biota is crucial for understanding vertebrate evolution, but the lack of reliable and precise age data hinders progress. In this study, the authors propose a temporal sequence for the Yanliao Biota with precise age constraints, showing that the major vertebrate-bearing strata span from 164 Ma to 157 Ma in age. Incorporating this updated temporal framework into mammaliaform phylogeny reveals new insights into mammal evolution.
EARTH AND PLANETARY SCIENCE LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
El-Hacen M. El-Hacen, Ties Mens, Tjeerd J. J. Bouma, Theunis Piersma, Suzanne A. G. Leroy, Han Olff, Francesca Sangiorgi
Summary: This study combines diatoms and geochemical analyses to identify the sources of carbon stored in intertidal seagrass beds at Banc d'Arguin. The results show that the stored carbon is predominantly autochthonous, providing important insights into coastal carbon cycling and emission offsets.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Biology
Struan Henderson, Emma M. Dunne, Sophie A. Fasey, Sam Giles
Summary: Actinopterygii makes up half of living vertebrate diversity, but research on their diversity and dynamics during the Palaeozoic era is lacking. Previous studies have only examined the macroevolutionary trends of Palaeozoic actinopterygians in a fragmented manner, often hampered by taxonomic issues and geographic biases. There is a need to address taxonomic problems, sampling biases, and the influence of geographic and taphonomic biases on the research. Redescribing poorly defined taxa and studying underrepresented regions will help improve the accuracy of occurrence data. New methods of sampling standardisation using updated occurrence databases are crucial in understanding the true biological changes in diversity. Additionally, more work on phylogenetic relationships is needed to elucidate the origins of actinopterygian biogeography and their rise to dominance in aquatic faunas.
BIOLOGICAL REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Biology
Alysha S. Taylor, Haidee Tinning, Vladimir Ovchinnikov, Jessica Edge, William Smith, Anna L. Pullinger, Ruth A. Sutton, Bede Constantinides, Dapeng Wang, Karen Forbes, Niamh Forde, Mary J. O'Connell
Summary: The origin and evolution of implantation in mammals are explained by the discovery of 13 conserved miRNA families that were established at the origin of placental mammals. These miRNAs are expressed in a species-specific manner in response to early pregnancy cues, providing insights into the molecular changes that led to the development of different implantation strategies in mammals.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Christian Kiffner, Diana M. Boyle, Kristen Denninger-Snyder, Bernard M. Kissui, Matthias Waltert, Stefan Krause
Summary: This study investigated how predation risk and primary productivity mediate the occurrence of mixed species groups in an African savanna. The results showed that predation risk and primary productivity affect the frequency of mixed species groups in species-specific ways. The composition of mixed species groups was associated with similarities in prey susceptibility. Predation risk favored the frequency of mixed species groups and pronounced dyadic associations.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yan Wu, Yong Ge, Han Hu, Thomas A. Stidham, Zhiheng Li, Alida M. Bailleul, Zhonghe Zhou
Summary: Angiosperms became dominant in Cretaceous terrestrial ecosystems when bird diversification began, but the evolutionary origins of their ecological interactions remain unclear. By studying preserved phytoliths in the skeleton of the early avialan clade Jeholornithidae, it was discovered that Jeholornis consumed leaves from the angiosperm clade, indicating early ecological connections between birds and angiosperms. The broad diet of Jeholornis, including fruits and leaves, marks a transition in bird evolution towards an arboreal herbivore niche.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
Emmanuel Gheerbrant, Arnaud Schmitt, Guillaume Billet
Summary: Based on high-resolution computed tomography, this study provides a detailed description of the petrosal and inner ear anatomy of the African stem paenungulate Ocepeia daouiensis from the Selandian of Morocco. The findings shed light on the evolutionary position and origin of Paenungulatomorpha within eutherians.
JOURNAL OF ANATOMY
(2022)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Emmanuel Gheerbrant, Fatima Khaldoune, Arnaud Schmitt, Rodolphe Tabuce
Summary: The study provides a detailed morphological description and enamel microstructure analysis of two new species, Stylolophus minor and S. major, discovered in the early Eocene Ouled Abdoun phosphate basin. The results show a close morphological affinity between the two new species, supporting their congeneric status. Additionally, a cladistic analysis reveals important evolutionary relationships within the Embrithopoda order.
JOURNAL OF MAMMALIAN EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Biology
Laszlo Kocsis, Gabor Botfalvai, Qahirah Qamarina, Hazirah Razak, Edit Kiraly, Federico Lugli, Oliver Wings, Markus Lambertz, Han Raven, Antonino Briguglio, Marton Rabi
Summary: This study reports sporadic fossil vertebrates from Brunei Darussalam (Borneo), revealing a rich fish fauna and turtle families in the area. Comparison with nearby fossiliferous beds suggests that the majority of reworked fossils derive from local Miocene beds. Rare earth element concentrations and strontium isotope ages indicate similar origins and early diagenetic conditions for the reworked remains.
HISTORICAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Paleontology
Amajida Roslim, Antonino Briguglio, Laszlo Kocsis, Sulia Goeting, Christa-Ch Hofmann
Summary: Brunei Darussalam's geology is characterized by extensive Neogene fluvio-deltaic to shallow marine siliciclastic deposits. The palynological study in this region reveals a moderate-diverse flora, with mangrove types being the most common, along with other tropical floral elements.
PALAEONTOGRAPHICA ABTEILUNG B-PALAEOPHYTOLOGIE PALAEOBOTANY-PALAEOPHYTOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Geology
Gabor Botfalvai, Zoltan Csiki-Sava, Laszlo Kocsis, Gaspar Albert, Janos Magyar, Emese R. Bodor, Daniel Tabara, Alexey Ulyanov, Laszlo Makadi
Summary: In the early 20th century, Kadic discovered a Late Cretaceous vertebrate assemblage in Valioara, Hateg Basin. The fossils were georeferenced, relocated, and re-excavated based on Kadic's map, revealing one of the oldest faunal assemblages in the Hateg Basin. The fossils include turtles, crocodyliforms, dinosaurs, and mammals.
CRETACEOUS RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Mohamed Amine Nguidi, Mustapha Mouflih, Abdelmajid Benbouziane, Laszlo Kocsis, Salem El Ouariti, Hanane El Boukhari, Mohamed Aquit, Oussama Khadiri Yazami
Summary: The BouCraa phosphate deposits in the Cretaceous-Paleogene phosphate province of North-West Africa are composed of low-crystalline carbonate fluorapatite. The phosphate grains are generally uniform and round, containing organic matter and sometimes detrital particles, with structures similar to mudclasts.
JOURNAL OF AFRICAN EARTH SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Geography, Physical
Laszlo Kocsis, Alex Ulianov, Mustapha Mouflih, Fatima Khaldoune, Emmanuel Gheerbrant
Summary: Various geochemical analyses were conducted on Paleogene terrestrial mammal remains to determine their taphonomy, stratigraphic provenance, and paleoenvironmental conditions. The results suggest that the mammal fossils were initially deposited in a marine setting before being washed into the sea. By comparing ratios with background datasets, researchers were able to characterize the stratigraphic levels bearing the fossils.
PALAEOGEOGRAPHY PALAEOCLIMATOLOGY PALAEOECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Paleontology
Sulia Goeting, Flavia Fiorini, Andrea Benedetti, Laszlo Kocsis, Amajida Roslim, Norhanizan Zaini, Antonino Briguglio
Summary: This study provides a catalogue of modern smaller benthic foraminifera from 17 sites offshore Brunei Darussalam, identifying 207 species of SBF belonging to 88 genera. The research aids in both modern and paleontological studies in the region.
PALAEONTOGRAPHICA ABTEILUNG A-PALAOZOOLOGIE-STRATIGRAPHIE
(2021)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Laszlo Kocsis, Antonino Briguglio, Anna Cipriani, Gianluca Frijia, Torsten Vennemann, Claudia Baumgartner, Amajida Roslim
Summary: Neogene marine deposits in North Borneo contain abundant fossils that provide insights into past biodiversity. Strontium isotope stratigraphy is used to obtain more precise relative dating, and most measured ages are consistent with existing chronostratigraphic framework. However, some age results challenge current stratigraphic studies and require further research and revision.
JOURNAL OF ASIAN EARTH SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Biology
Gabor Botfalvai, Laszlo Kocsis, Marton Szabo, Edit Kiraly, Krisztina Sebe
Summary: The sand pit of Pecs-Danitzpuszta is a significant mixed Neogene vertebrate locality in Hungary. Analyzing the rare earth element composition of the fossil apatite can help determine the stratigraphic origin and early depositional environments of the vertebrate remains. The study successfully differentiated fossils from different ages and provided insights into the ancient depositional conditions of reworked fossils.
HISTORICAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Peter Wilf, Xiaoyu Zou, Michael P. Donovan, Laszlo Kocsis, Antonino Briguglio, David Shaw, J. W. Ferry Slik, Joseph J. Lambiase
Summary: This article presents a paleobotanical survey conducted in Brunei Darussalam in the Malay Archipelago, which discovered rich plant fossils indicating the existence of complex coastal rainforests dominated by dipterocarps for the past 4-5 million years.
Article
Geography, Physical
Peter Szabo, Janos Kovacs, Laszlo Kocsis, Torsten Vennemann, Laura Domingo, Gabor Ujvari, Akos Halmai, Ervin Pirkhoffer, Vlad Codrea
Summary: This study examines the oxygen and carbon isotope compositions of mammalian tooth enamel from the Pliocene and Early Pleistocene in South and Central Europe to reconstruct vegetation distribution and changes in precipitation isotope composition. The results show a transition from a warmer climate to a cooler climate during this period, with vegetation distribution similar to present-day patterns.
QUATERNARY SCIENCE REVIEWS
(2022)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Safa Ferhaoui, Rabah Kechiched, Olivier Bruguier, Rosa Sinisi, Laszlo Kocsis, Giovanni Mongelli, Delphine Bosch, Ouafi Ameur-Zaimeche, Rabah Laouar
Summary: Algerian sedimentary phosphorites are relatively enriched in rare earth elements and yttrium (REY). This study investigates the variation of REY contents and other geochemical features with respect to particle size fractions. The results show that the distribution of REY is mainly controlled by the depositional environment, regardless of grain size in the rock.
JOURNAL OF GEOCHEMICAL EXPLORATION
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Lea Leuzinger, Laszlo Kocsis, Zoneibe Luz, Torsten Vennemann, Alexey Ulyanov, Marta Fernandez
Summary: In this study, stable isotope compositions of Late Cretaceous fossil fish and marine reptiles from Antarctica and Argentine Patagonia were examined. The results revealed differences in δC-13 values between bony fish and marine reptiles, which could be attributed to variations in foraging ground and biomineralization. The δO-18(PO4) values suggested that marine reptiles were thermoregulators with relatively stable and elevated body temperatures. These findings provide important insights into the ecological and climatic conditions during the Late Cretaceous period.
Article
Paleontology
Marton Szabo, Laszlo Kocsis, Emoke Toth, Peter Szabo, Tamas Nemeth, Krisztina Sebe
Summary: This article describes Middle Miocene chondrichthyan fossils collected from the Baden Formation in southern Hungary. The fossils are diverse and well-preserved, including holocephalans, selachians, and batomorphs. The presence of both deepwater and littoral forms suggests that some of the fauna was transported and redeposited from shallow coastal environments. The study also indicates an active faunal connection between the Mediterranean and the Central Paratethys during the Badenian period.
PAPERS IN PALAEONTOLOGY
(2022)