bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Variations in salamander trackways resulting from substrate differences
Authors: Brand Leonard R. 
Published: August 2016

As part of a study of vertebrate trackways in the cross-stratified Coconino Sandstone (Permian) of northern Arizona, trackways made by living salamanders under different substrate conditions were compared. The sample of 230 trackways of the western newt,Taricha torosa,included ten combinations of the following substrate characteristics: 1) sediment: muddy or of fine sand; 2) attitude: level or sloped (25 degrees); 3) moisture content: dry, damp, wet, or submerged.Trackways in wet mud produced the most accurate representation of the number of toes per foot and the arrangement of toes. All other conditions studied yielded a reduced average number of toes per foot, and a large sample was needed before the data had the potential to indicate the true structure of the trackmaker's feet. Trackways made on sloped, submerged mud or sand, sloped, dry sand, and sloped, damp sand rarely included the full complement of toes. The positions and orientations of the toe marks were distorted if the animals were walking underwater or on sloped, damp sand. Trackways on the slopes of cross-stratified deposits make reliable identification of the trackmaking animals exceptionally difficult.
Epibiont communities: Recruitment and competition on North American Carboniferous brachiopods
Authors: Lescinsky Halard L. 
Published: August 2016

Shell-encrusting assemblages have uniquely high ecological fidelity among paleocommunities because adjacent epibionts coexisted in ecological time, and the abundances and spatial relationships of the various members are accurately preserved. This study presents a quantitative reconstruction of communities on brachiopod shells (Composita and alate spirifers) from the Carboniferous of North America. Thirty-one epibiont communities, comprised of a total of 1180 encrusted brachiopods, are analyzed in terms of epibiont abundance (e.g., percent areal cover), ecological diversity (e.g., Shannon-Wiener Index), and the role of larval recruitment and spatial competition in structuring the communities.Mississippian epibiont communities contain from seven to 14 encrusting taxa that occupy up to 25 percent of host shell surfaces. These communities are spatially dominated by trepostome bryozoans, but also include common lower Paleozoic epibionts, such as encrusting ctenostome bryozoans, hederellids, cornulitids, and edrioasteroids. Pennsylvanian epibiont communities contain between eight and 16 epizoan taxa that occupy up to 34 percent of shell surfaces. They are dominated by fistuliporoid or trepostome bryozoans and increasing proportions of erect bryozoans (e.g., fenestellids), encrusting foraminiferans, and articulate brachiopods.Carboniferous epibionts, like their modern counterparts, exist in loosely organized ecological communities that vary widely in abundance and composition in space and geological time. There is little evidence for tight controls on community structure. Much of the variation is attributed to vagaries in the magnitude and selective nature of larval recruitment. Evidence of competition between community members is rare, except where a high percentage of the shell surface is covered. In these cases, sheetlike bryozoans are usually most abundant. Solitary epibionts are surprisingly successful competitors in one-on-one encounters, but apparently lose areal cover to longer-lived colonial encrusters during ecological succession.
Bryozoa of the Murdock Mountain Formation (Wordian, Permian), Leach Mountains, northeastern Nevada
Authors: Gilmour Ernest H. , McColloch Miriam E. , Wardlaw Bruce R. 
Published: August 2016

A thin limestone tongue in the upper part of the Murdock Mountain Formation of northeastern Nevada contains abundant bryozoans of earliest Wordian age. This bryozoan fauna is close to the Kungurian-Kazanian boundary in Russia. These bryozoans are younger than those found in the Kaibab Formation of southern Nevada and slightly older than those in the Gerster Limestone of northern Nevada. This limestone tongue, herein referred to as the Stenodiscus beds, lies below the Thamnosia beds described by Wardlaw in the Murdock Mountain section of the Leach Mountains. This bryozoan-rich limestone tongue serves as a marker unit for mapping the Murdock Formation in the Leach Mountains.Nine new species of bryozoans occur in the Stenodiscus beds of the Murdock Mountain Formation: Hinganella felderi, Neoeridotrypella schilti, Stenopora parvaexozona, Stenodiscus murdockensis, Dyscritella acanthostylia, Pseudobatostomella irregularis, Streblotrypa (Streblotrypa) elongata, Morozoviella praecurriensis, and Thamniscus erraticus, Hinganella felderi, Neoeridotrypella schilti, Dyscritella acanthostylia, and Streblotrypa (Streblotrypa) elongata are very similar to species described from Russia.
The origin and early evolution of theMontastraea “annularis”species complex (Anthozoa: Scleractinia)
Authors: Budd Ann F. , Klaus James S. 
Published: August 2016

This study represents the first in a series tracing the early evolution of a dominant Caribbean reef coral, theMontastraea “annularis”species complex, using a combination of morphometric and phylogenetic approaches. It focuses on Costa Rica and Panama; additional geographic locations and reef environments will be treated in subsequent work. To distinguish species, new landmark methods are developed by comparisons with genetically characterized modern colonies from Panama. The fossil material consists of transverse thin-sections of 94 well-preserved specimens ofM. annularis-like corals collected in Plio-Pleistocene reef sequences in the Limón basin of Costa Rica and the Bocas del Toro basin of Panama. The landmarks comprise 27 spatially homologous points, which define the thickness and structure of the corallite wall and associated costosepta. Bookstein size and shape coordinates are analyzed using cluster analysis and canonical discriminant analysis, and a total of 10 morphotypes are distinguished. Cladistic analyses are performed using characters derived partially from morphometric data. A matrix consisting of 16 taxa and eight characters is analyzed using global parsimony and a sister group of two species as the outgroup. The results reveal two distinct evolutionary groups, which are distinguished by the new corallite wall characters. One group contains one modern species, and the other contains a second; the relationships of the third are poorly resolved.Despite the low number of equally parsimonious trees, high numbers of plesiomorphic taxa, long range extensions, and lack of agreement with genetic data indicate that the new characters alone are inadequate for completely interpreting evolutionary relationships, and more samples and characters are needed. Nevertheless, these preliminary results do show that three modern species of theM. “annularis”complex arose prior to accelerated extinction at the end of late Pliocene to early Pleistocene faunal turnover of Caribbean reef corals, and two may have originated younger than 4 Ma. Six or more new species may be represented in upper Pliocene to lower Pleistocene sequences in Costa Rica and Panama. Coexistence of predominantly pre- and post-turnover clades may have been responsible for the high diversity observed within the species complex in these two sequences.
A new pseudolivine gastropod genus from the lower Tertiary of North America
Authors: Squires Richard L. 
Published: August 2016

A new genus, Calorebama, is proposed for a clade of pseudolivine gastropods (family Buccinidae) that has its earliest species in the lower Paleocene (Danian) of Alabama, its next earliest species in the upper Paleocene (Thanetian) of Alabama, and its subsequent species in the Eocene of California, Oregon, and Washington. Calorebama is characterized by an inflated biconical shape, a biangulate body whorl usually with strong nodes on the shoulder, and fine to medium spiral ribbing that is coarser anterior to the medial pseudolivine groove.Previously, these pseudolivines now being placed in Calorebama were assigned to the genus Pseudoliva. Study of the literature and every available museum specimen showed Calorebama to have five species and two subspecies, all of which have biostratigraphic integrity.Calorebama unicarinata (Aldrich) is the earliest species, and it, along with C. tuberculifera (Conrad), are the only known Gulf Coast species. Calorebama dilleri dilleri (Dickerson) is the earliest representative of the genus on the West Coast of North America, and it arrived during the early Eocene (Ypresian). Probable geographic isolation of C. dilleri dilleri in central and southern California resulted in lineage splitting and the appearance of C. dilleri lineata (Gabb), which phyletically evolved into C. inornata (Dickerson). Calorebama dilleri dilleri persisted in northern California and phyletically evolved into C. dilleri kirbyi (Clark), which similarly evolved into C. volutaeformis (Gabb).Calorebama inornata and C. volutaeformis, the youngest species of the genus, became widely distributed along the West Coast of North America before becoming extinct by the end of the earliest late Eocene.
Growth of the xenomorphic crinoid column (Taxocrinus, Late Mississippian)
Authors: Wulff Julie I. , Ausich William I. 
Published: August 2016

Two alternative hypotheses for proximal column growth are tested in Taxocrinus cf. T. whitfieldi, a late Mississippian flexible crinoid. The first hypothesis states that new columnals are added at the base of the proximal column (immediately above the generating columnal), whereas the second hypothesis has columnals of the proximal column inserted beneath the aboral cup. In both hypotheses, middle column columnals are inserted beneath the generating columnal and are independent from the proximal column.External features used to determine points of columnal insertion include wedge-shaped columnals and sharp changes in columnar morphology. Sagittal sections reveal the presence of small columnals, some of which can be interpreted as the last columnals inserted prior to death. Data collected on Taxocrinus cf. T. whitfieldi confirm the first hypothesis. This hypothesis may be applicable to other crinoids with xenomorphic columns.
The tibia and tarsus in Herrerasauridae (Dinosauria, incertae sedis) and the origin and evolution of the dinosaurian tarsus
Authors: Novas Fernando E. 
Published: August 2016

The tarsus and distal end of the tibia are described in Herrerasauridae, a family that includes the oldest known dinosaurs. This tarsal configuration is compared to those of more advanced dinosaurs and to other archosaurs. Through phylogenetic analysis of the morphological characters, a picture emerges of the evolutionary changes in the ankles of early dinosaurs.The tibia of the herrerasaurids has a quadrangular distal articular surface, with a shallow ventrolateral notch. This morphology is strikingly similar to that of the lagosuchid thecodontsPseudolagosuchusandLagosuchusand represents the most primitive tibial condition known for Dinosauria.Aside from the derived states possessed by Theropoda, Sauropodomorpha, and Ornithischia, respectively, it was impossible to recognize synapomorphies in tibiotarsal anatomy shared by these groups exclusive of Herrerasauridae. The transverse broadening of the distal end of the tibia seems to have been attained independently by ornithischians, theropods, and sauropodomorphs.The tarsus of herrerasaurids is characterized by an astragalus with a small but conspicuous lateroventral depression, by a pyramidal calcaneum with a ventromedial projection that articulates into the cavity of the astragalus just mentioned, and by a posterolaterally directed calcaneal tuber. These characters are also seen inLagosuchus(a close relative of dinosaurs), in the prosauropodRiojasaurusand, insofar as the astragalus is concerned, in the primitive dinosaurWalkeria, which suggests that dinosaurs of different lineages shared the same tarsal condition.By definition, this type of articulation between the astragalus and calcaneum follows the “crocodile-reversed” tarsal condition, suggesting that the tarsus in lagosuchids and dinosaurs could be derived from the “crocodile-reversed” pattern present in Ornithosuchidae andEuparkeria. In contrast, the mesotarsal ankle of lagosuchids and dinosaurs lacks the synapomorphies of the “crocodile-normal” ankle present in Crocodylia, Rauisuchidae, Aetosauria, and other archosaurs.It is concluded that Herrerasauridae retained the primitive tibiotarsal condition for Dinosauria, from which those of the Ornithischia, Sauropodomorpha, and Theropoda were derived. Furthermore, tibiotarsal anatomy supports monophyly of Dinosauria.
Coral microatolls and a probable Middle Ordovician example
Authors: Kobluk David R. , Noor Iqbal 
Published: August 2016

A disk-shaped massive colony of Tetradium, from the Middle Ordovician Bobcaygeon Formation in southern Ontario, displays features of a coral microatoll. This is the first pre-Holocene coral microatoll yet described, indicating that some tabulate corals in level-bottom communities were growing as microatolls as do many modern colonial skeleton-secreting organisms.The microatoll therefore is not strictly a Quaternary or even Cenozoic phenomenon, but has a fossil record that may span most of the Phanerozoic. This indicates that the special conditions necessary for microatoll growth have existed outside of reef environments, and were present before the advent of scleractinian coral reefs. It may be possible to use ancient microatolls to estimate absolute water depths at low tide, thereby providing a means for estimating maximum water depths on a local and regional scale.
The Upper Givetian (Middle Devonian) Subterminus Conodont Zone in North America, Europe and North Africa
Authors: Narkiewicz Katarzyna , Bultynck Pierre 
Published: August 2016

Late Givetian and early Frasnian conodont communities with Icriodus subterminus have been revised on the basis of collections from Iowa (USA), the Boulonnais and the Ardennes (northern France and Belgium), the Radom-Lublin area and Holy Cross Mountains (Poland), and the Ma'der-Tafilalt region (southeast Morocco). As a result an Icriodus subterminus Zone with a threefold subdivision is defined. The three subzones correspond approximately to the “Lower and Upper subterminus Fauna” and the “insita Fauna” commonly used in N America for the study of shallow-water platform carbonate successions.The base of the subterminus Zone corresponds to a level within the uppermost part of the hermanni Zone; the top is characterized by the occurrence of the earliest Ancyrodella taxa, Montagne Noire Zones MN 1 and the base of MN 2 or slightly above the base of the falsiovalis Zone.The diagnosis of Icriodus subterminus is amended and two morphotypes are recognized. The stratigraphic range of the alpha morphotype is confined to an interval between the uppermost part of the hermanni Zone and the top of the MN 3 Zone; the beta morphotype may range into the MN 6 Zone.The holotype of Icriodus subterminus from the North Liberty beds in Iowa is most likely a specimen that was reworked from the Cedar Valley Limestone. Icriodus cedarensis and Icriodus tafilaltensis are described as new species, and the diagnoses of Icriodus excavatus and Icriodus expansus are amended. Between the Icriodus difficilis and Icriodus symmetricus zones, an Icriodus expansus Zone is defined.
Translation of an Inscription on three Copper Plates found near Bhandúp Village in Salsette
Authors: Wathen W. H. 
Published: August 2016

1. May that Gananáyaka, by whose worship sovereigns obtain victory and renown in every enterprise! May that destroyer of what is evil, preserve you from calamities!!2. May that Siva on whose head Jáhnaví shines, as the silver moon on the summit of the golden Meru, protect you!!1. There was a son of Jimútakétu, most renowned in the three worlds, the ever compassionate Jimúta-Váhana, who, for another's good, considered his own body as grass, and saved Sankhachúra from Garuda.
Art. IX.—History of Tennasserim
Authors: Low James 
Published: August 2016

This coast having but lately been brought under subjection to the British arms, had not as yet been travelled over by any British officer, and it remained to be proved how far the inhabitants could be confided in, either in the capacity of servants, or as guides and porters on a march.The Tavoyers have no inducement to make long journeys. The Siam frontier is to them a Rubicon,—while they can reach the towns and villages on the north and south, much easier by water than by land. There are no carriage-cattle on this coast, like the bullocks of India. A few slight carts drawn by buffalos, one only to a cart, are used for short excursions when the roads admit of their being made, or the fields are dry enough to be crossed. Their roads are, however so very bad, that perhaps five miles may be reckoned the greatest distance in a straight line in any one given direction, and from any point, to which one of these vehicles can proceed without encoutering broken-down bridges, gaps in old causeways, sloughs, and rocks.
The effects of oil palm plantations on the functional diversity of Amazonian birds
Authors: Almeida Sara M. , Silva Larissa C. , Cardoso Maíra R. , Cerqueira Pablo V. , Juen Leandro , Santos Marcos P. D. 
Published: August 2016

Abstract:Oil palm plantations are rapidly expanding in tropical areas, although the nature of the impacts on the functional roles of the different species in the ecosystem is poorly understood. The present study is the first assessment of how oil palm affects the functional diversity of birds in the Brazilian Amazon and tests the hypothesis that converting forest to oil palm decreases functional diversity of bird communities, selecting species more tolerant to environmental disturbances. We conducted point counts to survey bird communities in 16 plots in the eastern Amazon. We sampled 32 points in riparian forest, 128 in oil palm and 160 in forested habitats. To test whether the conversion of forest into oil palm plantations affects functional diversity of birds we calculated the FD (Functional Diversity) and FRic (Functional Richness) indices. To examine whether oil palm plantations select species functionally more similar than expected by chance we used a null model (SES.FD). FD was significantly higher in the forest plots in comparison with riparian forests and oil palm, and lower in oil palm when compared with riparian forests. FRic, in turn, was greater in forest plots than in oil palm and in riparian forest. These results show that the conversion of forested areas to oil palm represents a great loss of functional strategies. The SES values indicate that in forested habitats bird communities tend to be functionally clustered while in the oil palm they are functionally overdispersed. The functional traits most affected by oil palm were those associated with diet and foraging stratum. In short, oil palm plantations reduced functional diversity of birds, although the presence of riparian forests within the plantations and the fragments of forest adjacent are extremely important for the maintenance of ecosystem services.
On computing homology gradients over finite fields
Authors: GRABOWSKI ŁUKASZ , SCHICK THOMAS 
Published: August 2016

AbstractRecently the so-called Atiyah conjecture about l2-Betti numbers has been disproved. The counterexamples were found using a specific method of computing the spectral measure of a matrix over a complex group ring. We show that in many situations the same method allows to compute homology gradients, i.e. generalisations of l2-Betti numbers to fields of arbitrary characteristic. As an application we point out that (i) the homology gradient over any field of characteristic different than 2 can be an irrational number, and (ii) there exists a finite CW-complex with the property that the homology gradients of its universal cover taken over different fields have infinitely many different values.
CONCEPTIONS OF SELF-DETERMINATION IN FOURTH/TENTH-CENTURY MUSLIM THEOLOGY: AL-BĀQILLĀNĪ'S THEORY OF HUMAN ACTS IN ITS HISTORICAL CONTEXT
Authors: Thiele Jan 
Published: August 2016

AbstractMan's individual responsibility is a very central notion in Muslim theology. Rational foundations for moral responsibility presuppose, however, that man has in some way control over his actions. It was therefore of central concern to theologians to formulate theories of action that were coherent enough to account for human self-determination. This article examines al-Bāqillānī's reflections on human acts and attempts to contextualise his thought within the discussions of his time. I will briefly review the Muʿtazilites’ theory of freedom of action, against which the Ašʿarite school developed its own position. I will then outline the fundamentals of the opposing standpoint adopted by Abū al-Ḥasan al-Ašʿarī, who proposed to base human self-determination on voluntariness. Finally, I will discuss how al-Bāqillānī drew on and further developed al-Ašʿarī's ideas. Based on the extant volumes of al-Bāqillānī's Hidāyat al-mustaršidīn, I argue that he attempts to coherently organise the school's understanding of the famous theory of “acquisition” (kasb) by affirming two fundamental principles: a) that human acts are created by God and b) that there is nevertheless a real correlation between man and his “acquired” acts.
Civic veterans: the public culture of military associations in inter-war Glasgow
Authors: O'KEEFFE ELEANOR K. 
Published: August 2016

ABSTRACTThis article examines the public culture of military associations, and their veteran membership, in inter-war Glasgow. It follows their parades and beery reunions to consider the public meanings of such acts. That these claims to civic recognition were met by a congregation of civic elements allows us to view the inter-war creation of civic identity from a new and enlightening vantage point. But this culture also allows us to encompass the vitality, and distinctly urban character, of the memory of the Great War within inter-war society. Cities provided alternative channels for the veteran associational impulse to the British Legion, which has generally been seen as synonymous with the veterans’ movement in Britain. War memory, too, had a distinct urban form and character that needs to be acknowledged within wider literature. This is the story of the ‘civic veteran’ and the social and cultural contexts that made him.