Corals

Precious corals (Coralliidae) have been a part of numerous aspects of human life and culture for several millennia. They differ from reef-building corals and primarily inhabit deep waters. Their characteristics of a slow renewal rate and high commercial value make them a frangible resource that is easily overexploited. Proposals to manage the main species with high commercial value through trade controls and listing in Appendix II were submitted to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in 2007 and 2010. Two of the main arguments for the northern Pacific precious coral CITES proposal were the more than 60% to 80% decline of Corallium secundum and C. sp. nov. in landings since 1980s and lack of proper management. Although both proposals were rejected, they have sparked debates regarding the benefits of managing coral resources through trade controls and fisheries management. In this study, several arguments related to this topic on northern Pacific precious corals are presented, in the following three dimensions: (1) a reconstructed historical landing series from official FAO data and information on the history of coral fishing have scientifically indicated that the substantial decline in landings in the late 1980s was caused by the abandonment of fishing grounds and a shift in the target species; (2) enhanced management plans, which incorporate effective monitoring, control, and surveillance (MCS) measures, have been implemented in the two main countries that fish precious coral; and (3) the influence of socioeconomic factors must be considered when assessing CITES listing applications. Recommendations for achieving sustainable coral resource conservation are also provided.

Preliminary surveys for coral disease were conducted in April 2012 at shallow water reefs of Samui Island (Bang Po Bay and Thong Krud Bay) and four adjacent islands (Katen Island, Jatamoon Island, Mud Sum Island and Hin La Lek rock patch). Results showed that a total of 6 coral diseases were found consisting of White Plague (WP), Pink Line Syndrome (PLS), Porites White Patch Syndrome (WPS), Porites Trematodiasis (PTR), White Syndrome (WS) and Pacific Yellow Band Disease (YBD). Porites lutea was the dominant species for all study sites and it contained the highest disease infection by Pink Line Syndrome (PLS) for all study areas. P. lutea in shallow water reef of Samui Island group, (Baan Bang Po Bay and Thong krud Bay), Hin La Lek, and Katen Island had higher disease prevalence (14.70 - 17.16%) than those of Mud Sum Island and Jetamun Island (6.20 - 9.40%). The most significant syndrome detected was Pink Line Syndrome, which affected 6 different coral genera. The reefs at Samui Island (Baan Bang Po Bay and Thong Krrud Bay), Hin La Lek, and Katen Island had higher prevalence of Pink Line Syndrome (12.86 - 14.24%) than those of Mud Sum Island and Jetamun Island (6.20 - 8.67%). This study provides preliminary baseline data on the impact of coral disease within the shallow water reefs of Samui Island and the adjacent islands.

Observations of deep-sea homolids are becoming more common, but good-resolution imagery of these crabs in the natural environment is still scarce. Sixteen new in situ observations of Paromola cuvieri from various locations of the Azores Archipelago (Northeast Atlantic) are described here based on video footage collected by two submersible vehicles. Crabs were found on coral gardens and deep-sea sponge aggregations, which are priority habitats of conservation importance under OSPARCOM. Diverse sessile megafauna were recorded (>59 taxa), including sponges, hydroids, corals, brachiopods, crinoids and oysters. Overall, 75% of the crabs were carrying live specimens of sessile invertebrates, mainly sponges and cold-water corals. Object selection shows to be a more complex process than previously thought, in which factors such as morphology, size and weight of objects and also palatability seem to be more important in the process of object selection than their availability.

May, A. (2021): Fossils explained 79: Rugose corals. - Geology Today, vol. 37 (1): p. 31-38; Hoboken, NJ.

Abstract: Rugose corals are an extinct group of marine animals that are frequently found in Palaeozoic shallow marine sediments. Just like their counterparts the stony corals (the Scleractinia) do today, during the Palaeozoic the ru gose corals were important constructors of reefs. Although at first glance rugose corals look very similar to the Scleractinia, they differ in important details. The rugose corals are a very special group whose relationships have been disputed for a long time. They were restricted to the Palaeozoic Era and experienced an exciting evolutionary history of victories and defeats; there were times when they built up huge reefs (and were valuable in stratigraphy), and other times when they suffered through extinction events.

This is an identification guide to the most common shallow-water coral species in Puerto Rico. It was written in Spanish. Esta es una guia para la identificacion de las especies de corales mas comunes de las aguas llanas de Puerto Rico. Esta escrito en español.

Sustainability concerns pushed by climate change have put the issue of coral on the agenda of major trade organizations such as CIBJO (the World Jewellery Confederation) where a Coral Commission has been working since 2016 to address these issues. Much of the information in this article comes from that important work.

Hans Ditlev died 13th November 2013 and left a draft containing thousands of photos and many
pages of text. He had worked on a book but poor health prevented him from finishing the pages.
Jorgen Hylleberg, in association with Tomas Cedhagen, decided to continue the work after his death.
Hans Ditlev’s lifelong work with Indo-Pacific corals should be made available to all students of
stony corals. For the present book we selected illustrations and texts for 7 families with numerous
common and rare species, viz. ACROPORIDAE: the genera Acropora (199 spp.), Anacropora
(6 spp.), Astreopora (7 spp.) Enigmopora (1 sp.) Montipora (43 spp.). ASTROCOENIIDAE:
the genus Stylocoeniella (3 spp.). EUPHYLLIDAE: the genera Catalaphyllia (1 sp.), Ctenella
(1 sp.), Euphyllia (7 spp.) Nemenzophyllia (1 sp.), Physogyra (2 spp.) Plerogyra (6 sp.).
MEANDRINDAE: the genus Gyrosmilia (1 sp.) OCULINIDAE: the genus Galaxea (7 spp.).
POCILLOPORIIDAE: the genera Madrachis (2 spp.), Palauastrea (1 sp.), Pocillopora (5 spp.),
Seriatopora (5 spp.), Stylophora (3 spp.). PORITIDAE: the genera Alveopora (5 spp.), Goniopora (22 spp.), Porites (22 spp.). In total 270 species.

Many hermatypic corals are broadcast spawners. Little is known about the dispersal potential of their planktonic larvae. Settlement can begin 2-3 days post-fertilization, but competency may last for a month or more. Hydrographic models can be use d to estimate larval dispersal, but they require information about the swimming behavior of the larvae during transport, including buoyancy and vertical swimming behavior. Coral eggs are positively buoyant when released, but embryos and larvae with time become less buoyant and acquire the ability to swim downwards. The time-course of such developmental changes is needed to couple with hydrographic data to model dispersal curves. Such data are presented here for the major Caribbean hermatype, Montastraea faveolata. Larval buoyancy was measured as ascent rate in a volumetric pipette, and measured every 6 hours for 3.25 hours post-fertilization. V ertical swimming behavior was measured as vertical distribution of the larvae within 2 L graduated cylinders, placed on an orbital shaker table, measured every 6 hours from 40 hours to 8.5 days post-fertilization. Newly fertilized eggs (non-swimming) had an ascent rate of 1.82 mm s-1, and this decreased linearly to 1.04 mm s-1 over the following 2.3 days, by which time many larvae were swimming. Over 80 % of the larvae remained within the top 4 cm of the 40 cm-tall cylinder over the first 2.5 days postfertilization. Diel vertical migration became apparent after ca. 3 daysdownwards in dark, upwards in light), and became more pronounced over time. However, even 8 days post-fertilization, less than 20 % of the larvae were at the bottom of the cylinder at the end of the dark period. These results show that while some larvae of this species can settle within a few days, most do not develop strong bottom seeking behavior until much later, and could be dispersed far from their site of o rigin.

VORWORT DER HERAUSGEBER Die Reihe "Universitätsforschungen zur prähistorischen Archäologie" soll einem in der jüngeren Vergangenheit entstandenen Bedürfnis Rechnung tragen, nämlich Examensarbeiten und andere Forschungsleistungen vornehmlich jüngerer Wissenschaftler in die Öffentlichkeit zu tragen. Die etablierten Reihen und Zeitschriften des Faches reichen längst nicht mehr aus, die vorhandenen Manuskripte aufzunehmen. Die Universitäten sind deshalb aufgerufen, Abhilfe zu schaffen. Einige von ihnen haben mit den ihnen zur Verfügung stehenden Mitteln unter zumeist tatkräftigem Handanlegen der Autoren die vorliegende Reihe begründet. Thematisch soll darin die ganze Breite des Faches vom Paläolithikum bis zur Archäologie der Neuzeit ihren Platz finden. Ursprünglich hatten sich fünf Universitätsinstitute in Deutschland zur Herausgabe der Reihe zusammengefunden, der Kreis ist inzwischen größer geworden. Er lädt alle interessierten Professoren und Dozenten ein, als Mitherausgeber tätig zu werden und Arbeiten aus ihrem Bereich der Reihe zukommen zu lassen. Für die einzelnen Bände zeichnen jeweils die Autoren und Institute ihrer Herkunft, die im Titel deutlich gekennzeichnet sind, verantwortlich. Sie erstellen Satz, Umbruch und einen Ausdruck. Bei gleicher Anordnung des Umschlages haben die verschiedenen beteiligten Universitäten jeweils eine spezifische Farbe. Finanzierung und Druck erfolgen entweder durch sie selbst oder durch den Verlag Dr. Rudolf Habelt GmbH, der in jedem Fall den Vertrieb der Bände sichert. Herausgeber sind derzeit:

“La Virgen del Coral y la compleja historia de un culto antiguo de la Sevilla barroca”, en SÁNCHEZ RAMOS, V. (ed.): María, Regina naturae. Congreso Mariano Nacional sobre Advocaciones de la Virgen vinculadas a la naturaleza Historia, arte y cultura. Actas, Centro Virgitano de Estudios Históricos, Muy Antigua Real, Venerable e Ilustre Hermandad de N. S. la Stma. Virgen de Gádor, Berja (Almería), Albolote (Granada) 2016, pp. 522-536. ISBN 978-84-608-8086-8. (En colaboración con Valeriano Sánchez Ramos).

Pese a ser una de las tres advocaciones marianas más antiguas de Sevilla, Ntra. Sra. del Coral, de Sevilla, dispone de un escaso análisis historiográfico, y los que existen se refieren a aspectos muy concretos, Nos proponemos con este trabajo realizar un apartado, a modo de introducción, que dé una visión cronológica de la historia de esta Virgen. Seguiremos con un estudio, igualmente inexistente en el panorama investigador, sobre la simbología del coral en la religiosidad católica para, acto seguido, comprender en el siguiente apartado el significado y significante que los sevillanos dieron en el largo transcurso de su historia a la invocación de la Virgen del Coral para concluir con un último apartado -a modo de conclusión- que analizará la novena del Coral (siglo XVIII) que plasma el sentir profundo que los sevillanos dieron a la imagen.

The article presents an overview of jewellery from precious coral (Corallium rubrum) in Eurasia in the early Iron Age. Particular attention is paid to the finds of coral jewellery in the burials of the Eurasian nomads. The earliest finds of coral beads in the South Urals are more likely to be explained by the contacts with Achaemenid Iran, where coral was used to make beads and pendants. The possible ways of the distribution of coral in Eurasia in the subsequent period, which probably depended on the changing political circumstances, are further considered. The chronological evolution of the forms of coral pendants and beads by the nomads is analyzed, and an argument is made for their correlation with the status of buried persons. In the last centuries BC coral begins to be used as elements of jewellery, inlays in buckles and belt plates of South Siberian and Central Asian origin, and by the first century AD – for inlaying of a wide range of gold items and jewellery found in Sarmatian burials of the North Pontic area. There are reasons to consider some of them as imports from Central Asia, others – as products of Bosporan masters. While among the Celts coral inlays were not markers of prestigious objects only, among the Eurasian nomads of the first cent. BC – first cent. AD they were incorporated exclusively into items marking the high social status of the buried.

Two sections were sampled and measured at Mdâour-El-Kbîr (Dra Valley, western Anti-Atlas) and at eastern Ouidane
Chebbi (Tafilalt, eastern Anti-Atlas). In situ elements of two partially limonitized and one carbonatic fauna were found
in both sections. We report this fauna from the upper Merzâ-Akhsaï Formation and the lower Mdâour-el-Kbîr Formation
at Mdâour-el-Kbîr for the first time. Based on these faunas, we recorded a correlation of the early Emsian (Zlíchovian)
strata in the Tafilalt and the Dra Valley regions, which are about 350 km apart. Additionally, new ammonoid finds
(Teicherticeras cf. senior, Lenzites gesinae, Weyeroceras angustus) are figured and described including the stratigraphic
context. The diagnoses of Lenzites gesinae and Weyeroceras angustus are emended. Tabulate corals (Michelinia
mdaourensis sp. nov., Petridictyum sp.) found in both the Tafilalt and Dra Valley are figured and described for the first
time. • Key words: early Emsian, Ammonoidea, Tabulata, Micheliniidae, biostratigraphy, Anti-Atlas, Morocco.

Unsustainable land uses may result in poor watershed management, increased soil erosion, poorly-planned urban development, increased runoff, and sewage pollution, creating an environmental stress gradient across coastal coral reefs. This study was aimed at: 1) Evaluating water quality within and outside the Canal Luis Peña Natural Reserve (CLPNR), Culebra Island, Puerto Rico; 2) Determining if there was any significant environmental stress gradient associated to land-based non-point source pollution; and 3) Characterizing shallow-water coral reef communities across the gradient. Strong gradient impacts associated 293 to sediment-laden and nutrient-loaded runoff pulses, in combination with non-point raw sewage pulses, and sediment bedload, impacted coastal coral reefs. Water quality showed significant spatio-temporal fluctuations (p<0.0001), largely responding to heavy rainfall and subsequent runoff pulses. Benthic community structure showed significant spatial variation along the environmental stress gradient (p=0.0002). Macroalgae, dead coral surfaces, algal turf, and low coral species richness, species diversity index (H'c), and evenness (J'c) dominated benthic assemblages across reefs frequently impacted by runoff pulses and sediment bedload. The combination of fecal coliform and enterococci concentrations were correlated with variation in benthic community structure (Rho=0.668; p=0.0020). The combined variation in salinity, dissolved oxygen and enterococci concentrations explained 75% of the observed spatial variation in benthic assemblages (R 2 =0.7461; p=0.0400). Local human stressors affected coral reefs within no-take CLPNR and risk analyses suggest it may offset its ecological benefits. There is a need to design and implement integrated coastal-watershed management strategies to address multiple land use activities, including erosion-control best management practices, watershed reforestation, and sewage pollution control.

Becker, R. T. & Aboussalam, Z. S. & Stichling, S. & May, A., & Eichholt, S. (2016): The Givetian-Frasnian Hönne Valley Reef Complex (northern Sauerland) – an outline of stratigraphy and facies development. In: Becker, R. T., Hartenfels, S., Königshof, P., & Helling, S. (eds): Middle Devonian to Lower Carboniferous stratigraphy, facies, and bioevents in the Rhenish Massif, Germany - an IGCP 596 Guidebook. - Münstersche Forschungen zur Geologie und Paläontologie, vol. 108: p. 126-140, 20 figs.; Münster.

ABSTRACT: The northern margin of the 1st order Remscheid-Altena Anticline (northern Sauerland) is characterized between Hagen in the W and Balve in the ESE by an elongated, thick Givetian reef complex, the Hagen-Balve Reef, which can be divided into partial reefs. In the roughly N-S running Hönne Valley, between Oberrödinghausen and Eisborn (see huge Asbeck quarry), it reaches its maximum thickness of almost 1000 m.
This paper gives data on localities showing:
- initial reef stadium abruptly overlying the lower Givetian Upper Honsel Formation
- first coral biostrome (Hönne forest track)
- fossiliferous platform facies with Stringocephalus banks and intercalating tuff (Emil Quarry)
- overview of thick, cyclic main reef (Asbeck)
- first reef drowning in the course of the global Frasnes Events (Beul)
- final middle Frasnian reef extinction (Beul)

When Wenzel Jamnitzer (1508-1585), famed goldsmith to three Holy Roman Emperors, and his son Abraham (1555-1600), spliced the “silver bust of a young woman with a large growth of coral,” as it was tersely described in the 1586/87 Schatzkammerinventar of the Grünes Gewölbe in Dresden, they distorted centuries of visual and literary tradition surrounding the iconic myth of Daphne and Apollo. The laurel tree, ever associated by Apollo with Daphne and subsequently adopted as a sacred emblem of victory and honor, vanished, replaced by a phenotypically unstable, hybrid substance—part animal, part stone, and part plant, possessed of apotropaic properties and associated since the Middle Ages with the Holy Blood. The article proposes to investigate the ontological implications of the coral Daphne—both for querying the liberal approach to Ovid taken by Renaissance decorative artists, who had to answer to conflicting, and sometimes incommensurate, aesthetic and technical priorities, and as a paradigmatic example of the reconfiguration and scrambling wrought by the reciprocal interplay of text and matter.

Coral reefs in Eastern Samar, Philippines were badly damaged by super typhoon Haiyan, which left many reefs in a fragmented state-with many branching corals and other coral forms scattered in loose pieces. As part of the efforts to address this problem, we tested the re-attachment of 43 species of coral fragments to sturdy natural substrates in three reef sites in Eastern Samar (Can-usod and Monbon in Lawaan, and Panaloytoyon in Quinapondan). The results revealed that 88% of re-attached coral fragments survived (45% showed positive growth, and 43% survived with partial tissue mortality). Those that showed positive growth exhibited high growth rates. We also found that fragments of some coral species are more fast-growing (e.g., Cyphastrea decadia, Echinopora pacificus, and Millepora tenella) than others (e.g., Porites lobata or Pectinia paeonia). Overall, our results suggest that if Local Government Units (LGUs) invest in the re-attachment of fragmented corals (e.g., reefs damaged by super typhoons or by various human activities such as fishing), then coral reef degradation in the Philippines would have a better chance of recovering.

In this study, a buckler crab, Cryptopodia angulata, reported for the first time from Majali, Karwar, West coast of India. This species occurs rarely in the Indian coastal waters and this is the first report from Karwar coast. External characters have been photographed and examined.

"A thick sequence of late Dinantian (Asbian±Brigantian) carbonates crop out in the Buttevant area, North Co. Cork,
Ireland. A mud-mound unit of early Asbian age (the Hazelwood Formation) is the oldest unit described in this work.  This formation is partly laterally equivalent to, and is overlain by, over 500 m of bedded platform carbonates which belong to the Ballyclogh and Liscarroll Limestone Formations. Four new lithostratigraphic units are described within
the platform carbonates: (i) the early Asbian Cecilstown Member and (ii) the late Asbian Dromdowney Member in
the Ballyclogh Limestone Formation; (iii) the Brigantian Templemary Member and (iv) the Coolbane Member in the
Liscarroll Limestone Formation.
The Cecilstown Member consists of cherty packstones and wackestones that are inferred to have been deposited below
fair-weather wavebase. This unit overlies and is laterally equivalent to the mud-mound build-up facies of the Hazelwood
Formation. The Dromdowney Member is typi®ed by cyclic-bedded kamaenid-rich limestones possessing shell bands,
capped by palaeokarst surfaces, with alveolar textures below and shales above these surfaces. The carbonates of this unit
were deposited at or just below fair-weather wavebase, the top of each cycle culminated in subaerial emergence. The
Templemary Member consists of cyclic alternations of subtidal crinoidal limestones capped by subtidal lagoonal crinoid-
poor, peloidal limestones possessing coral thickets. Intraclastic cherty packstones and wackestones characterize the
Coolbane Member, which is inferred to have been deposited below fair-weather wavebase but above storm wavebase.
The early Asbian Cecilstown Member has a relatively sparse micro- and macrofauna, typi®ed by scattered Siphono-
dendron thickets, archaediscids at angulatus stage and common Vissariotaxis. Conversely, macro- and microfauna is
abundant in the late Asbian Dromdowney Member. Typical late Asbian macrofossils include the coral Dibunophyllum
bipartitum and the brachiopod Davidsonina septosa. The base of the late Asbian (Cf6g Subzone) is recognized by the ®rst
appearance of the foraminifers Cribrostomum lecompteii, Koskinobigenerina and the alga Ungdarella. The Cf6g Subzone
can be subdivided into two biostratigraphic divisions, Cf6g1 and Cf6g2, that can be correlated throughout Ireland.
Relatively common gigantoproductid brachiopods and the coral Lonsdaleia duplicata occur in the Brigantian units. The
base of the Brigantian stage (Cf6d Subzone) is marked by an increase in the abundance of stellate archaediscids,
the presence of Saccamminopsis-rich horizons, Loeblichia paraammonoides, Howchinia bradyana and the rarity of
Koninckopora species.
Changes in facies at the Cecilstown/Dromdowney Member and the Ballyclogh/Liscarroll Formation boundaries
coincide closely with the changes in fossil assemblages that correspond to the early/late Asbian and the Asbian/Brigantian
boundaries. These facies changes are believed to re¯ect major changes in relative sea-level on the Irish platforms. The sea-
level variations that are inferred to have caused the facies changes at lithostratigraphic boundaries also brought in the new
taxa that de®ne biostratigraphic boundaries. Moreover, many of the Dinantian stage boundaries that are de®ned bio-
stratigraphically in Great Britain, Belgium and the Russian Platform also coincide with major facies boundaries caused
by regressive and transgressive episodes. The integration of detailed biostratigraphic analyses with facies studies will lead
to better stratigraphic correlations of Dinantian rocks in northwest Europe."

Scleractinian corals are a major source of biogenic calcium carbonate, yet the relationship between their skeletal microstructure and mechanical properties has been scarcely studied. In this work, the skeletons of two coral species: solitary Balanophyllia europaea and colonial Stylophora pistillata , were investigated by nanoindentation. The hardness H IT and Young&#39;s modulus E IT were determined from the analysis of several load–depth data on two perpendicular sections of the skeletons: longitudinal (parallel to the main growth axis) and transverse. Within the experimental and statistical uncertainty, the average values of the mechanical parameters are independent on the section&#39;s orientation. The hydration state of the skeletons did not affect the mechanical properties. The measured values, E IT in the 76–77 GPa range, and H IT in the 4.9–5.1 GPa range, are close to the ones expected for polycrystalline pure aragonite. Notably, a small difference in H IT is observed between...

Course name: Introduction to the Paleontology and Paleoanthropology of Spain

Saint Louis University, Madrid Campus, Faculty: Science and Engineering
Semester:  Spring 2005.

Course description: This course gives an introduction into the Paleontology and Paleoanthropology of Spain. Basic principles and methods of Paleontology and Paleoanthropology will be outlined. Especially presented will be the origins of life and human beings, evolution, and extinctions. The paleontological part will concentrate on some interesting Spanish case studies (reefs of the Devonian period, swamp forests of the Carboniferous period, shallow sea of the Jurassic period, dinosaurs from the Upper Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous, and mammals and insects of the Tertiary period). In the center of the paleoanthropological part will be the famous findings of Homo antecessor and Homo heidelbergensis in the caves of Atapuerca and their importance for our knowledge about Human evolution.

Course Calendar:
Monday, Jan. 17: 1. Introduction – What are Fossils?
Wednesday, Jan. 19: 2. The Geologic Time Scale
Monday, Jan. 24, & Wednesday, Jan. 26: 3. Evolution and Taxonomy – Biology and Paleontology in Dialogue (I)
Thursday, Jan. 27: End of DROP/ADD period
Monday, Jan. 31, & Wednesday, Feb. 2: 3. Evolution and Taxonomy – Biology and Paleontology in Dialogue (II) & 4. Biogeography and Mass Extinctions (I)
Monday, Feb. 7: 4. Biogeography and Mass Extinctions (II)
Wednesday, Feb. 9: 5. From the Origins of Life to the Silurian
Monday, Feb. 14: Review & Preparation of first mid-term exam
Monday, Feb. 14: Deadline for the submission of the title of the paper
Wednesday, Feb. 16: First mid-term exam.
Monday, Feb. 21: 6. Reefs of the Devonian Period
Wednesday, Feb. 23: 7. Swamp Forests of the Carboniferous Period (I)
Monday, Feb. 28: 7. Swamp Forests of the Carboniferous Period (II) & 8. Reptiles of the Triassic Period
Wednesday, Mar. 2: 9. Life of the Shallow Sea of the Jurassic Period (I)
Saturday, Mar. 5, to Sunday, Mar. 13: SPRING BREAK
Monday, Mar. 14: 9. Life of the Shallow Sea of the Jurassic Period (II)
Wednesday, Mar. 16: 10. Dinosaurs from the Upper Jurassic and Cretaceous (I)
Monday, Mar. 21: 10. Dinosaurs from the Upper Jurassic and Cretaceous (II)
Wednesday, Mar. 23: 11. Fossils of the Tertiary Period
Thursday, Mar. 24, to Sunday, Mar. 27: Easter
Monday, Mar. 28: Review & Preparation of second mid-term exam
Wednesday, Mar. 30: Second mid-term exam
Monday, Apr. 4: Deadline for the submission of papers and PowerPoint presentations
Monday, Apr. 4, & Wednesday, Apr. 6: 12. Outline of Human evolution.
Friday, Apr. 8: Last day to drop a class and receive a grade of "W"
Monday, Apr. 11, & Wednesday, Apr. 13: 13. The Earliest Man in Spain – the Homo from Orce. & 14. Homo antecessor and Homo heidelbergensis from the Caves of Atapuerca (Prov. Burgos) (I)
Saturday, Apr. 16: Field trip to Guadalajara
Monday, Apr. 18: 14. Homo antecessor and Homo heidelbergensis from the Caves of Atapuerca (Prov. Burgos) (II)
Wednesday, Apr. 20: 15. The Humans after Homo heidelbergensis in Spain.
Monday, Apr. 25, & Wednesday, Apr. 27: Presentation of papers

Five strains (CAIM 1831T, CAIM 1832, CAIM 1833, CAIM 1834 and CAIM 1836) were isolated
from cultured sole (Solea senegalensis) in two regions of Spain, two strains (CAIM 404 and CAIM
1294) from wild-caught spotted rose snapper (Lutjanus guttatus) in Mexico, and one strain (CAIM
1835) from corals in Brazil. The 16S rRNA gene sequences of the novel isolates showed similarity
to Vibrio ponticus (98.2–98.3 %, GenBank accession no. AJ630103) and to a lesser degree to
Vibrio furnissii (97.2–97.3 %, X76336) and to Vibrio fluvialis (96.9–97.1 %, X74703). Multilocus
sequence analysis clustered these strains closely together and clearly separated them from
phylogenetically related species of the genus Vibrio. Genomic fingerprinting by rep-PCR
clustered the novel strains according to their geographical origin. Phenotypic analyses showed a
large variation among the new strains, but many tests enabled them to be differentiated from other
species of the genus Vibrio. The mean DTm values between the strains analysed here and closely
related type strains were above 6.79 6C. The values between the novel isolates were below
2.35 6C, well outside the limit suggested for the delineation of a bacterial species. The
phenotypic and genotypic data presented here clearly place these new strains as a coherent
group within the genus Vibrio, for which we propose the name Vibrio alfacsensis sp. nov. with
CAIM 1831T (5DSM 24595T5S277T) as the type strain.

May, A. (2005a): Die Stromatoporen des Devons und Silurs von Zentral-Böhmen (Tschechische Republik) und ihre Kommensalen. - Zitteliana, B25: 117-250, 6 figs., 33 tabs., pl. 1-43; München.

Abstract: All stromatoporoid species described by POČTA (1894) from the Silurian and Devonian of Bohemia have been revised. Very extensive new collections of stromatoporoids are coming from quarries near the Bohemian village Koněprusy (ca. 30 km southwesterly of Prague). These stromatoporoids have been collected in the Koněprusy Limestone of Pragian age and the Acanthopyge Limestone of Eifelian to Lower Givetian age.  The Koněprusy Limestone contains a large reef complex. Most of the Koněprusy Limestone succession including all stromatoporoids and the reef complex belong to the kindlei conodont zone (middle Pragian). The stromatoporoids and the other reef-building organisms show a clear dependence on the facies (resp. position within the reef complex). The stromatoporoid fauna of the Koněprusy Limestone contains 15 species, but only 7 of them have been described by POČTA (1894). The new species Stromatoporella anamariae n.sp. is described. The Pragian of the Barrandian was no refuge for the stromatoporoids of the Eastern Americas Realm.  Biogeographically, all stromatoporoid faunas of Bohemia belong to the Old World Realm. Nevertheless, the stromatoporoid fauna of the Acanthopyge Limestone is much more cosmopolitic than the fauna of the Koněprusy Limestone. The stromatoporoid fauna of the Acanthopyge Limestone is composed of 19 species, all of which are known from other occurrences in Europe, Asia, or Australia – except of Actinostroma vastum POČTA, 1894 and Stromatoporella pertabulata preisleriensis n.ssp.  The stromatoporoids of the Koněprusy Limestone frequently contain commensalic ""worm""-like organisms and only rarely the new auloporoid tabulate coral Syringopora praehanshanensis n.sp. In the Acanthopyge Limestone the new species Syringopora hladili n.sp. and three other Syringopora species occur.  Possible reasons for the scarcity of stromatoporoids and reefs in the Lower Devonian may be the water temperature, the lack of branching and encrusting stromatoporoids, and the scarcity of commensalic Syringopora corals.     

Kurzfassung: Sämtliche von POČTA (1894) aus dem Silur und Devon Böhmens beschriebenen Stromatoporen wurden revidiert. Es wurden sehr umfangreiche Neuaufsammlungen von Stromatoporen im Koněprusy-Kalkstein des Pragiums und im Acanthopyge-Kalkstein des Eifeliums und Unter-Givetiums bei Koněprusy (ca. 30 km südwestlich von Prag) durchgeführt.  Der Koněprusy-Kalksteins enthält einen großen Riffkomplex aus der kindlei-Conodontenzone des mittleren Pragiums. Die Stromatoporen und die anderen Riffbildner-Gruppen im Koněprusy-Kalkstein zeigen ausgeprägte Faziesabhängigkeiten. Die Stromatoporen-Fauna des Koněprusy-Kalksteins umfasst 15 Arten, von denen nur 7 Arten von POČTA (1894) beschrieben worden waren. Als neues Taxon wird Stromatoporella anamariae n. sp. aufgestellt. Das Pragium des Barrandiums war kein Refugium für die Stromatoporen des Ostamerikanischen („EAR“-) Faunenreichs.  Alle Stromatoporen-Faunen Böhmens gehören dem Altweltlichen Faunenreich an, aber die Stromatoporen-Fauna des Acanthopyge-Kalksteins ist erheblich kosmopolitischer als die des Koněprusy-Kalksteins. Im Acanthopyge-Kalksteins treten 19 Arten, die – bis auf Actinostroma vastum POČTA, 1894 und die neu beschriebene Stromatoporella pertabulata preisleriensis n. ssp.– allesamt schon von anderen Vorkommen in Europa, Asien oder Australien bekannt waren.  Die Stromatoporen des Koněprusy-Kalksteins enthalten häufig „wurm“-artige kommensalischen Organismen und nur selten die neue auloporide tabulate Koralle Syringopora praehanshanensis n. sp. Demgegenüber treten im Acanthopyge-Kalkstein die neue Art Syringopora hladili n. sp. und drei andere Syringopora-Arten auf.  Mögliche Gründe für die Seltenheit von Stromatoporen und Riffen im Unterdevon liegen in der Wassertemperatur, dem Fehlen ästiger und inkrustierender Stromatoporen und der Seltenheit von Syringopora-Kommensalen.

After the late Frasnian extinctions, the rugose corals slowly recovered during the Lower and Middle Famennian (crepida
to marginifera conodont zones) in southern Belgium and northern France (Avesnois) (Namur–Dinant Basin). Six genera represented by seven species are recognized and described here; one species (Breviphrentis superstes) is new. The rugose coral fauna described herein includes small solitary forms belonging to the so-called Cyathaxonia fauna and is similar or very close to those previously described within the same stratigraphic interval in Australia, China and Germany. It also contains a large species belonging to the genus Breviphrentis
which was considered as extinct since the end of the Givetian (Middle Devonian) (“Lazarus taxon”). The tabulate corals from the Lower and Middle Famennian of this area, mainly represented by auloporids, are also briefly discussed. Rugosa only constituted a minor part of the fauna after the end-Frasnian crisis in the Namur–Dinant Basin contrary to the brachiopods, which were abundant and relatively diversified, and no rugose corals have been recovered from the early Lower Famennian (triangularis Zone). The first important Famennian coral radiation only took place during the Latest Famennian (Strunian).

Wave exposure can influence community structure and distribution of shallow coral reefs, by affect- ing organisms both directly and indirectly. To assess the current stony coral community condition under different degrees of wave exposure at a marine protected area of the Gulf of Cazones (SW Cuba), two expeditions were carried out in May 2010 and June 2012. Four sampling sites were sampled at reef crests (1.5 m deep), and twelve at fore-reefs, at 10, 15 and 20 m deep in four geographic locations. Live coral cover, species richness and composition, colony density, and maximum diameter were assessed using the AGRRA 2001 methodology. Multivariate and non-parametric statistics were applied to compare sites. The coral community structure within reef crests was not homogenous. The observed variability of indicators apparently was determined by great coral mortality events resulting from natural disturbances that occurred in the past (hurricanes, bleaching and diseases). Forereef coral communities displayed better condition and lower coral mortality than reef crests. Species richness and coral composition varied, while multivariate and statistical methods did not reveal site grouping with regard to wave exposure. The remaining biological condition indicators were similar among sites, except in the most exposed one, where coral cover and coral size were slightly lower. Wave exposure in the gulf of Cazones seemed not to have a significant influence on differences in condition and structure of the assessed coral communities. Rev. Biol. Trop. 64 (1): 78-93. Epub 2016 March 01.

Recent investigations of coral-associated microbial communities have revealed that
coral surfaces are replete with microorganisms that may play important roles in colony wellbeing. In
this study we show that the surfaces of a number of large polyped coral species are covered by a layer
of aggregate-like microorganisms. These microorganisms are embedded in the mucus and in the tissue
of solitary coral Fungia granulosa and in a number of faviid species. They are found on the coral
surface and in the coral tissue. They are dispersed in a patchy distribution, with the highest density
occurring in the area of the polyp mouth. Microscopic investigation revealed that the microorganisms
found on and in tissues of F. granulosa are approximately 5 to 30 μm in diameter and are made up of
unique coccoid bodies of approximately 1 μm in diameter. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM)
revealed that they contain a nucleus, mitochondria and golgi, indicating they are eukaryotic in
nature. The morphological data lead us to identify these organisms as stramenopile protists. This
premise was strengthened by molecular investigation of samples taken from the surface mucus of the
coral F. granulosa. The possible role of these protists is discussed.

During the Iron Age, red corals (Corallium rubrum) were the most frequent imported object type from the Mediterranean area into the Celtic world. The density and the distinct patterns of their distribution are perfectly suited for the study of intra-European cultural contacts and trade relations due to their long-term importation.
Despite the 130-year-old history of research on prehistoric corals, there has been hardly any extensive study. One reason for this limited interest is that corals lose their intense red colour and shiny surface structure due to poorly understood ageing processes. Hence, other light-coloured materials such as bone, ivory, chalk or shells, which were also used to decorate jewellery, are often mistaken for corals.
We propose a multi-stage approach to identify red corals and light bio-minerals with emphasis on digital microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. The instruments are portable and can therefore be used directly in the museums, allowing a very efficient work flow thanks to a high identification rate while saving time.

A diverse early endobiotic coral symbiont assemblage has been detected within heliolitid tabulate corals of Katian age from northwestern Estonia. This assemblage indicates that the earliest endobiotic coral symbiont communities were not restricted to North America. The symbiotic endobiont assemblage comprises abundant Cornulites aff. celatus and rare Conchicolites hosholmensis and Chaetosalpinx sp. The cornulitids are the earliest known symbiotic endobionts of this group. The symbiotic endobionts presumably occurred in certain hosts only and preferred Protoheliolites dubius over Propora speciosa. This record indicates that early endobiotic cornulitids were more diverse than previously thought and appeared in large numbers in the Katian. It is possible that the appearance of abundant skeletal symbiotic coral endobionts may coincide with the Global Ordovician Biodiversification Event, supporting the hypothesis of escape from increased predation.

Caribbean coral reefs provide essential ecosystem services to society, including fisheries, tourism and shoreline protection from coastal erosion. However, these reefs are also exhibiting major declining trends, leading to the evolution of novel ecosystems dominated by non-reef building taxa, with potentially altered ecological functions. In the search for effective management strategies, this study characterized coral reefs in front of a touristic beach which provides economic benefits to the surrounding coastal communities yet faces increasing anthropogenic pressures and conservation challenges. Haphazard photo-transects were used to address spatial variation patterns in the reef’s benthic community structure in eight locations. Statistically significant differences were found with increasing distance from the shoreline, reef rugosity, Diadema antillarum density, among reef locations, and as a function of recreational use. Nearshore reefs reflected higher percent macroalgal cover,...

Stony corals are forming reefs. By secreting calcium carbonate from the bottom of their polyps, these zooxanthellae corals form an exoskeleton, usually composed of aragonite crystals. The coral growth patterns vary from seasonal to centennial scale and can be characterized by measuring the growth rate, the variability of the stable isotopes of oxygen and carbon, and the elemental ratios Sr/Ca, Mg/Ca, U/Ca, Cd/Ca, Ra/Ca (among others) in its skeleton. In a global context, reefs play a key role as atmospheric carbon sinks. Faced with the evidence of a warmer ocean in the modern era, the sea surface temperature (SST) has been considered an important control factor in calcification and coral growth. Generally, calcification tends to increase with increasing SST within a narrow acceptable range for the full functioning of coral metabolism. In this work, a reanalysis of the growth rates of sampled corals cores on the brazilian coast has developed (Salvador-Ba - Bahia de Todos os Santos, Abrolhos Marine National Park-Ba and Armação dos Búzios-RJ) employing a combination of growth bands (high and low density) aided by the luminescence method, and radioisotope dating of U and Th. The differences in time lines for the two methods varied from 1 year to the case Abrolhos to 7.4 years to Búzios (in specific sections of the core). Calcification variations were analyzed in the coral skeleton and interpreted by using ratios Sr/Ca and U/Ca (both proxies of TSM), climate series of AMO and PDO, and pelagic oceanic pH. We have identified a decrease in calcification rate exoskeleton time studied in Salvador sample of 0.4 g/cm2 and an increase in Abrolhos 0.4 g/cm2 and Búzios 0.3 g/cm2 except in the 1950s to the late 1980s and 1910 to the late 1930s, respectively. A X-ray microtomography was used for the determination of coralline micro-structures, wich are the most relevant parameters to the microporosity and anisotropy. To Abrolhos and Búzios, it was identified an increase in total porosity of the exoskeleton, especially at the beginning of 1940 until the end of the 1980s and between 1890-1930 respectively. It was noted a strong association between reduced calcification pattern with increasing porosity. The cores of Siderastrea stellata species collected in Abrolhos and Búzios showed high association of the reasons Sr/Ca and U/Ca with calcification rate, featuring a similar response to other authors to the Great Barrier in Australia (DE'ATH et al., 2009) and the central region of the Red Sea (CANTIN et al., 2010). Regarding the reasons Ba/Ca, Salvador and Abrolhos showed the variables that contributed to this increase as oil production and population growth forcings (economy) and SST (ocean). At Búzios, SST (ocean), oil production, population growth and NDVI forcings (economy). After the 1990s, the impact of economic factors, in addition to oceanic variables respond more significantly the increase on the ratio Ba/Ca in all places almost simultaneously on the Brazilian coast.