Distribution of fouling bryozoans in the northern South China Sea

This paper reports the species composition and distribution of fouling bryozoans in the northern SouthChina Sea. 34 species identified belong to 23 genera, 22 families of fouling bryozoa, of which most of 24 species on thebuoys attached to concrete sinkers. The 13 species on platforms mainly included Schizoporella errata and Membranipora savartii. Depth distribution of species, larval settlement behaviour and larvae type of fouling bryozoa are discussed.

The Eocene Bryozoans of Bekrit-Timahdite Formation, Middle-Atlas, Morocco: Taxonomy, Paleoenvironments and Paleoclimates Implications

Located in the North-West of the African continent, the Moroccan Middle Atlas constitutes an intra-continental chain within the Atlas domain. It is known by several global geological events such as the Paleocene-Eocene crisis during the Paleogene, which corresponds to one of the hottest periods on earth with Paleocene-Eocene thermal maximum (PETM). A taxonomic study carried out on the carbonate deposits of the Bekrit-Timahdite Formation from three sections of the Bekrit syncline allowed the identification of 5 species of the Cheilostome and Cyclostome Bryozoans (Cellaria rigida, Cellaria sinuosa, Aimulosia lamellosa, Heteropora and Osthimosia) in bioclastic limestones, nodular limestones, marly and sandy limestones. The interest of Bryozoans as indicators of paleoenvironments and paleoclimates was assessed by examining current communities, in terms of depth evolution as richness and abundance, distribution of taxonomic categories zoarium types, and zooidal morphology. The depositional environment analysis of Bryozoans showed a shallow marine carbonate platform with low sedimentation energy where is registered a relatively warm paleoclimate.

Mesozoic and Cenozoic microbiotas from eastern Antarctic Peninsula: adaptation to a changing palaeoenvironment

A compiled selected literature on some groups of microfossils of the Mesozoic and Cenozoic of the James Ross Basin,eastern Antarctic Peninsula,is presented here,in order to show how the microbiota has been modified over time,triggered by environmental changes.The analyzed microfossils consist of palynomorphs(mostly pollen grains,spores,and dinoflagellate cysts),foraminifers and bryozoans.Dinoflagellate cysts and pollen-spores have been recorded in Jurassic to Pleistocene sedimentary outcrops.Dinoflagellate cysts proved to be good indicators for productivity and/or nutrient availability,surface water temperature and chemistry,the position of ancient shorelines and paleoceanographic trends.Pollen and spores allowed reconstruction of floral community and thus characterization of the climate that prevailed on the continent.Foraminifera,recovered from the Lower Cretaceous to the Pleistocene sedimentary rocks,provided information about the bathymetry,showing different marine settings(e.g.,coastal,inner neritic,outer neritic,upper bathyal)in different localities.The bryozoan record is restricted to the Cenozoic.Their colonial growth-forms reflect several environmental conditions such as shallow waters with a low rate of sedimentation,hard substrate and moderate or strong current action for the analyzed localities.The study of the Antarctic ecosystems based on the fossil microbiota and their response to the climate and the continental configuration changes,allowed understanding of the composition and dynamics of the polar environments,which have an important role in the Earth climate.