Antarctica has significant environmental,scientific,historic,and intrinsic values,all of which are worth protecting into the future.This continent has a discrete number of places of scientific interest that exhibit gr...Antarctica has significant environmental,scientific,historic,and intrinsic values,all of which are worth protecting into the future.This continent has a discrete number of places of scientific interest that exhibit great potential as natural heritage sites;its geodiversity is of fundamental importance to scientific values of the continent,and the pursuit of geological and paleontological knowledge has had a strong influence on its historical values.Seymour Island was once called the‘Rosetta Stone’of Southern Hemisphere paleobiology,because this small island provides the most complete and richly fossiliferous Late Cretaceous–Paleogene sequence in Antarctica.In particular,fossil vertebrates form part of the evidence used in reconstructing the history of life on Antarctica.Paleontological heritage is considered a subset of geo-heritage that embodies both natural and historical components which has received only indirect recognition.Seymour Island is an outstanding paleontological area with high heritage value of its Late Cretaceous/Paleogene vertebrates and should be considered for geo-conservation and protection.This paper reviews vertebrate fossil occurrences and outcrops on Seymour Island and discusses some threats to these fossil sites.展开更多
The Paleocene(66–56 Ma)was a critical time interval for understanding the geological history in high palaeolatitudes after the end of Cretaceous event(recovery from mass extinction,palaeoclimate,global sea level chan...The Paleocene(66–56 Ma)was a critical time interval for understanding the geological history in high palaeolatitudes after the end of Cretaceous event(recovery from mass extinction,palaeoclimate,global sea level changes,among others).The sedimentary succession from Seymour Island(Antarctic Peninsula)provides key reference material from this important phase of the early Cenozoic.A detailed age model is proposed for the López de Bertodano Formation(LBF),Sobral Formation(SF)and Cross Valley–Wiman Formation(CVWF)based on a new magnetostratigraphic section which integrates previous dinoflagellate cyst biostratigraphy,Iridium anomaly(K-Pg boundary),U-Pb zircon dating(airfall tuff)and strontium isotope values from macrofossils.The new composite magnetostratigraphic section,which includes the Cretaceous–Paleogene boundary,has been correlated to the GPTS from C29r up to C24r.The top of the LBF is confirmed as latest Maastrichtian to earliest Danian(~65.4 Ma)in age.The overlying SF is mostly Danian in age(~65.2–~63 Ma)and CVWF is Selandian–Thatenian(~61.3–56.9 Ma).LBF,SF and CVWF are unconformity-bounded units(alloformations)that record the geological evolution of the James Ross Basin during a period of relative decreasing tectonism but coeval with volcanic activity.Unconformity based internal units have been recognized,dividing each formation into allomembers(LBF:Molluscan and Cenozoic;SF:A,B and C;CVWF:Díaz,Ara?ado,Bahía Pingüino).The new age model allows correlation of base-level changes with eustatic sea-level fluctuations.The bases of the SF and CVWF are correlated with the 65.3 and 61.5 Ma sea level lowstands.展开更多
In recent years,the taxonomy and systematics of the cartilaginous fish taxa from the Eocene La Meseta Formation of Seymour(Marambio)Island,Antarctica have been extensively discussed in a series of papers,resulting in ...In recent years,the taxonomy and systematics of the cartilaginous fish taxa from the Eocene La Meseta Formation of Seymour(Marambio)Island,Antarctica have been extensively discussed in a series of papers,resulting in a complete revision of the Antarctic Eocene ichthyofauna housed in the Vertebrate Paleontology collection of the Museo de La Plata,Argentina.This collection constitutes one of the largest and taxonomically most diverse in the world,with approximately 20000 specimens,which provides a solid database used for the analysis of qualitative and quantitative chondrichthyan taxonomic composition.The information provided herein might be useful to understand the sudden decline in chondrichthyan taxonomic diversity towards the top of La Meseta Formation as well as its potential relationship with environmental changes during the Eocene.展开更多
The Astrapotheria constitutes one of the five orders of extinct South American native ungulates,with a fossil record that also extends to the Eocene of the Antarctic Peninsula.In contrast to the abundant specimens kno...The Astrapotheria constitutes one of the five orders of extinct South American native ungulates,with a fossil record that also extends to the Eocene of the Antarctic Peninsula.In contrast to the abundant specimens known for litoptern Sparnotheriodontidae and metatherians,astrapotheres are represented by scant remains assigned to the endemic Antarctodon sobrali and indeterminate astrapotheres,restricted to levels 35C_(u0)and 35n of the Cucullaea I Allomember of the La Meseta Formation.The discovery of alower molar assignable to this species in the Eocene levels of Seymour(Marambio)Island,enables a revision of the diagnosis and the homologies of the dental characters used to describe this taxon.A reanalysis of its phylogenetic relationships reveals the nearly simultaneous presence of basal astrapotheres in the early Eocene of Itaboraí(Brazil),Patagonia,and West Antarctica.These taxa are characterized by lacking dental specializations usually associated with more abrasive diets like terminal forms of Uruguaytheriinae and Astrapotheriinae.Antarctodon appears to have thrived on the Antarctic continent during the Early Eocene Climatic Optimum within the paleoclimatic context of a hot-house world.Unlike present conditions in Antarctica where no terrestrial mammals inhabit,the early Eocene climate was characterized by warmer temperatures and a biologically diverse environment rich in primary producers,dominated by Nothofagus forests,encompassing both deciduous and evergreen forests,which supported a diverse assemblage of continental vertebrates.展开更多
The worldwide record of Cretaceous Neornithes and Neornithine-like birds is both controversial and poorly understood.However,in recent years,the Antarctic continent has yielded a substantial number of Maastrichtian av...The worldwide record of Cretaceous Neornithes and Neornithine-like birds is both controversial and poorly understood.However,in recent years,the Antarctic continent has yielded a substantial number of Maastrichtian avian specimens,contributing significantly to our understanding of the early evolution of this group.Simultaneously,the keen interest and collaborative efforts of various paleornithologists have resulted in a wealth of knowledge,which we have thoroughly reviewed,updated,and discussed in the context of recent discoveries.展开更多
In this paper,we consider Seymour’s Second Neighborhood Conjecture in3-free digraphs,and prove that for any 3-free digraph D,there exists a vertex say v,such that d^++(v)≥[λd+(v)],λ=0.6958….This slightly improves...In this paper,we consider Seymour’s Second Neighborhood Conjecture in3-free digraphs,and prove that for any 3-free digraph D,there exists a vertex say v,such that d^++(v)≥[λd+(v)],λ=0.6958….This slightly improves the known results in 3-free digraphs with large minimum out-degree.展开更多
The fossil record of birds from Antarctica is concentrated in the James Ross Basin,located in north-east of the Antarctic Peninsula.Birds are here represented by an extensive Paleogene record of penguins(Sphenisciform...The fossil record of birds from Antarctica is concentrated in the James Ross Basin,located in north-east of the Antarctic Peninsula.Birds are here represented by an extensive Paleogene record of penguins(Sphenisciformes)and Cretaceous–Paleogene record of Anseriformes,followed by other groups with a minor representation(Procellariiformes,Falconiformes,and Pelagornithidae),and others previously assigned controversially to“Ratites”,Threskiornithidae,Charadriiformes,Gruiformes,Phoenicopteriformes,and Gaviiformes.We provide a complete update of these records,commenting on the importance of some of these remains for the evolution of the major clades.展开更多
We review the evidence for predation of shelly benthic prey over 125 million years of earth history in the James Ross Basin,Antarctica(~65°S).Although poor in the Early Cretaceous lower parts of the sequence,whic...We review the evidence for predation of shelly benthic prey over 125 million years of earth history in the James Ross Basin,Antarctica(~65°S).Although poor in the Early Cretaceous lower parts of the sequence,which represent essentially deeper water facies,evidence for both potential crushers and drillers becomes more apparent in the Santonian–Campanian Santa Marta Formation,and by the Maastrichtian López de Bertodano Formation there is an extensive fossil record of drill holes attributable to naticid gastropods,and some evidence of crushing by decapods crustaceans and possibly other taxa too.This continues at a similar level of intensity across the K/Pg boundary into the Danian Sobral Formation,but is less well constrained in the latest Paleocene–Early Eocene.The most extensive record of predation occurs in the Middle Eocene section of the La Meseta Formation on Seymour Island which also records the highest levels of benthic diversity within the entire basin.This key section is providing some important new evidence to suggest that the rate of acceleration of benthic predation intensity through the Late Mesozoic–Early Cenozoic in the polar regions may be similar to that seen in lower latitude regions.Predator–prey interaction was a key factor in the evolution of polar marine faunas too.展开更多
This study was performed to support an expeditionary team of Colombian scientists seeking to promote and undertake research in various scientific fields in Antarctica.The work was part of the Colombian Antarctic Progr...This study was performed to support an expeditionary team of Colombian scientists seeking to promote and undertake research in various scientific fields in Antarctica.The work was part of the Colombian Antarctic Program,which comprises various projects intended to lead to a permanent Colombian scientific base being established in the Antarctic.The first step involved installing a Colombian-made wind turbine to produce electricity at a permanent base.The aeolian turbine was designed to provide sufficient electricity to illuminate and heat a small base.The turbine was constructed using readily accessible materials but taking the Madrid Protocol environmental regulations into consideration.The project was performed at the Argentinian Antarctic Marambio Station on Seymour Island,off the Antarctic Peninsula.An initial field study performed in 2015 was the first of three phases of the project.In the initial phase,local meteorological data were gathered to support development of a prototype turbine and to allow a design to be selected that was robust enough for the extreme environmental conditions.The wind turbine was then constructed in Colombia.The second phase involved transporting the turbine to Antarctica and installing it at the Marambio Station in 2018.Finally,the physical conditions of structural and electronic components of the turbine were carefully inspected at the beginning of 2020(after the turbine had operated continually for^2 years)to allow repairs to be made and any necessary re-engineering to be performed.展开更多
The Eocene–Oligocene Southern Ocean is thought to have played a major role in cetacean evolution.Yet,fossils from its heart—Antarctica—are rare,and come almost exclusively from the Eocene La Meseta and Submeseta fo...The Eocene–Oligocene Southern Ocean is thought to have played a major role in cetacean evolution.Yet,fossils from its heart—Antarctica—are rare,and come almost exclusively from the Eocene La Meseta and Submeseta formations of Marambio(Seymour)Island.Here,we provide a summary and update of this crucial fossil assemblage,and discuss its relevance in the broader context of cetacean evolution.To date,Eocene specimens from Antarctica include basilosaurids,a group of archaic stem cetaceans that had already fully adapted to life in water;and the archaic toothed mysticete Llanocetus,the second oldest crown cetacean on record(ca.34 Ma).This Eocene co-occurrence of stem and crown cetaceans is highly unusual,and otherwise only observed in Peru.Though related,at least some of the Antarctic species appear to be different from,and notably larger than their Peruvian counterparts,suggesting an early differentiation of the high latitude cetacean fauna.展开更多
基金Funding for this study was provided by PICT 0607-2018 and UNLP 11N812
文摘Antarctica has significant environmental,scientific,historic,and intrinsic values,all of which are worth protecting into the future.This continent has a discrete number of places of scientific interest that exhibit great potential as natural heritage sites;its geodiversity is of fundamental importance to scientific values of the continent,and the pursuit of geological and paleontological knowledge has had a strong influence on its historical values.Seymour Island was once called the‘Rosetta Stone’of Southern Hemisphere paleobiology,because this small island provides the most complete and richly fossiliferous Late Cretaceous–Paleogene sequence in Antarctica.In particular,fossil vertebrates form part of the evidence used in reconstructing the history of life on Antarctica.Paleontological heritage is considered a subset of geo-heritage that embodies both natural and historical components which has received only indirect recognition.Seymour Island is an outstanding paleontological area with high heritage value of its Late Cretaceous/Paleogene vertebrates and should be considered for geo-conservation and protection.This paper reviews vertebrate fossil occurrences and outcrops on Seymour Island and discusses some threats to these fossil sites.
基金supported by the Instituto Geológico y Minero de Espana (IGME) and Dirección General de Investigación (DGI) from Spain by the projects CTM2011-30241-C02-02 and CTM2014-60451-C2-2-Pthe Geomodels Research Institute and the Grup de Recerca de Geodinàmica i Anàlisi de Conques (Grant no. 2017SGR596, supported by AGAUR)
文摘The Paleocene(66–56 Ma)was a critical time interval for understanding the geological history in high palaeolatitudes after the end of Cretaceous event(recovery from mass extinction,palaeoclimate,global sea level changes,among others).The sedimentary succession from Seymour Island(Antarctic Peninsula)provides key reference material from this important phase of the early Cenozoic.A detailed age model is proposed for the López de Bertodano Formation(LBF),Sobral Formation(SF)and Cross Valley–Wiman Formation(CVWF)based on a new magnetostratigraphic section which integrates previous dinoflagellate cyst biostratigraphy,Iridium anomaly(K-Pg boundary),U-Pb zircon dating(airfall tuff)and strontium isotope values from macrofossils.The new composite magnetostratigraphic section,which includes the Cretaceous–Paleogene boundary,has been correlated to the GPTS from C29r up to C24r.The top of the LBF is confirmed as latest Maastrichtian to earliest Danian(~65.4 Ma)in age.The overlying SF is mostly Danian in age(~65.2–~63 Ma)and CVWF is Selandian–Thatenian(~61.3–56.9 Ma).LBF,SF and CVWF are unconformity-bounded units(alloformations)that record the geological evolution of the James Ross Basin during a period of relative decreasing tectonism but coeval with volcanic activity.Unconformity based internal units have been recognized,dividing each formation into allomembers(LBF:Molluscan and Cenozoic;SF:A,B and C;CVWF:Díaz,Ara?ado,Bahía Pingüino).The new age model allows correlation of base-level changes with eustatic sea-level fluctuations.The bases of the SF and CVWF are correlated with the 65.3 and 61.5 Ma sea level lowstands.
基金Thanks to the Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica for financial support trough PICT 2017-0607(to MR),PICT 2019-02419(to SGC).
文摘In recent years,the taxonomy and systematics of the cartilaginous fish taxa from the Eocene La Meseta Formation of Seymour(Marambio)Island,Antarctica have been extensively discussed in a series of papers,resulting in a complete revision of the Antarctic Eocene ichthyofauna housed in the Vertebrate Paleontology collection of the Museo de La Plata,Argentina.This collection constitutes one of the largest and taxonomically most diverse in the world,with approximately 20000 specimens,which provides a solid database used for the analysis of qualitative and quantitative chondrichthyan taxonomic composition.The information provided herein might be useful to understand the sudden decline in chondrichthyan taxonomic diversity towards the top of La Meseta Formation as well as its potential relationship with environmental changes during the Eocene.
基金Marcelo Reguero for the opportunities provided within the framework of the Antarctic projects PICT 0607-2018 and UNLP 11N812.
文摘The Astrapotheria constitutes one of the five orders of extinct South American native ungulates,with a fossil record that also extends to the Eocene of the Antarctic Peninsula.In contrast to the abundant specimens known for litoptern Sparnotheriodontidae and metatherians,astrapotheres are represented by scant remains assigned to the endemic Antarctodon sobrali and indeterminate astrapotheres,restricted to levels 35C_(u0)and 35n of the Cucullaea I Allomember of the La Meseta Formation.The discovery of alower molar assignable to this species in the Eocene levels of Seymour(Marambio)Island,enables a revision of the diagnosis and the homologies of the dental characters used to describe this taxon.A reanalysis of its phylogenetic relationships reveals the nearly simultaneous presence of basal astrapotheres in the early Eocene of Itaboraí(Brazil),Patagonia,and West Antarctica.These taxa are characterized by lacking dental specializations usually associated with more abrasive diets like terminal forms of Uruguaytheriinae and Astrapotheriinae.Antarctodon appears to have thrived on the Antarctic continent during the Early Eocene Climatic Optimum within the paleoclimatic context of a hot-house world.Unlike present conditions in Antarctica where no terrestrial mammals inhabit,the early Eocene climate was characterized by warmer temperatures and a biologically diverse environment rich in primary producers,dominated by Nothofagus forests,encompassing both deciduous and evergreen forests,which supported a diverse assemblage of continental vertebrates.
基金To the Universidad Nacional de La Plata PID N955,ANPCyT PICT 20170607,and CONICET PIP 0096 for partial support.
文摘The worldwide record of Cretaceous Neornithes and Neornithine-like birds is both controversial and poorly understood.However,in recent years,the Antarctic continent has yielded a substantial number of Maastrichtian avian specimens,contributing significantly to our understanding of the early evolution of this group.Simultaneously,the keen interest and collaborative efforts of various paleornithologists have resulted in a wealth of knowledge,which we have thoroughly reviewed,updated,and discussed in the context of recent discoveries.
文摘In this paper,we consider Seymour’s Second Neighborhood Conjecture in3-free digraphs,and prove that for any 3-free digraph D,there exists a vertex say v,such that d^++(v)≥[λd+(v)],λ=0.6958….This slightly improves the known results in 3-free digraphs with large minimum out-degree.
基金CAH was invited to field by the Dirección Nacional del Antártico and the Instituto Antártico ArgentinoFuerza Aérea Argentina provided logistic support,and partial help was provided by the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas and Universidad Nacional de La Plata(N838)+1 种基金CAH is particularly grateful to Oceanwide Expeditions,Vlissingen(NL)for financial support.JAC gratefully acknowledges U.S National Science Foundation Polar Programs support for field research support as well as descriptive work on Antarctic fossils(Grant nos.NSF OPP-1141820,OPP-0927341,OPP-0408308)the work of many stellar collaborators on these projects.
文摘The fossil record of birds from Antarctica is concentrated in the James Ross Basin,located in north-east of the Antarctic Peninsula.Birds are here represented by an extensive Paleogene record of penguins(Sphenisciformes)and Cretaceous–Paleogene record of Anseriformes,followed by other groups with a minor representation(Procellariiformes,Falconiformes,and Pelagornithidae),and others previously assigned controversially to“Ratites”,Threskiornithidae,Charadriiformes,Gruiformes,Phoenicopteriformes,and Gaviiformes.We provide a complete update of these records,commenting on the importance of some of these remains for the evolution of the major clades.
基金the NERC grant NE/I005803/1 and various colleagues who have been worked in the field to collect the many samples on which our studies are based
文摘We review the evidence for predation of shelly benthic prey over 125 million years of earth history in the James Ross Basin,Antarctica(~65°S).Although poor in the Early Cretaceous lower parts of the sequence,which represent essentially deeper water facies,evidence for both potential crushers and drillers becomes more apparent in the Santonian–Campanian Santa Marta Formation,and by the Maastrichtian López de Bertodano Formation there is an extensive fossil record of drill holes attributable to naticid gastropods,and some evidence of crushing by decapods crustaceans and possibly other taxa too.This continues at a similar level of intensity across the K/Pg boundary into the Danian Sobral Formation,but is less well constrained in the latest Paleocene–Early Eocene.The most extensive record of predation occurs in the Middle Eocene section of the La Meseta Formation on Seymour Island which also records the highest levels of benthic diversity within the entire basin.This key section is providing some important new evidence to suggest that the rate of acceleration of benthic predation intensity through the Late Mesozoic–Early Cenozoic in the polar regions may be similar to that seen in lower latitude regions.Predator–prey interaction was a key factor in the evolution of polar marine faunas too.
基金This work was supported financially by the Colombian Air Force(FAC)This work was undertaken in collaboration with the Comisión Colombiana del Oceano+1 种基金Argentine Air Force(FAA),Joint Antarctic CommandNational Directorate of Antarctic Affairs.
文摘This study was performed to support an expeditionary team of Colombian scientists seeking to promote and undertake research in various scientific fields in Antarctica.The work was part of the Colombian Antarctic Program,which comprises various projects intended to lead to a permanent Colombian scientific base being established in the Antarctic.The first step involved installing a Colombian-made wind turbine to produce electricity at a permanent base.The aeolian turbine was designed to provide sufficient electricity to illuminate and heat a small base.The turbine was constructed using readily accessible materials but taking the Madrid Protocol environmental regulations into consideration.The project was performed at the Argentinian Antarctic Marambio Station on Seymour Island,off the Antarctic Peninsula.An initial field study performed in 2015 was the first of three phases of the project.In the initial phase,local meteorological data were gathered to support development of a prototype turbine and to allow a design to be selected that was robust enough for the extreme environmental conditions.The wind turbine was then constructed in Colombia.The second phase involved transporting the turbine to Antarctica and installing it at the Marambio Station in 2018.Finally,the physical conditions of structural and electronic components of the turbine were carefully inspected at the beginning of 2020(after the turbine had operated continually for^2 years)to allow repairs to be made and any necessary re-engineering to be performed.
文摘The Eocene–Oligocene Southern Ocean is thought to have played a major role in cetacean evolution.Yet,fossils from its heart—Antarctica—are rare,and come almost exclusively from the Eocene La Meseta and Submeseta formations of Marambio(Seymour)Island.Here,we provide a summary and update of this crucial fossil assemblage,and discuss its relevance in the broader context of cetacean evolution.To date,Eocene specimens from Antarctica include basilosaurids,a group of archaic stem cetaceans that had already fully adapted to life in water;and the archaic toothed mysticete Llanocetus,the second oldest crown cetacean on record(ca.34 Ma).This Eocene co-occurrence of stem and crown cetaceans is highly unusual,and otherwise only observed in Peru.Though related,at least some of the Antarctic species appear to be different from,and notably larger than their Peruvian counterparts,suggesting an early differentiation of the high latitude cetacean fauna.