The principles of classification and a classification of mammals. Bulletin of the AMNH ; v. 85

We redescribe the only previously known species of Myrsidea from bulbuls, M. pycnonoti Eichler. Sixteen new species are described; they and their type hosts are: M. phillipsi ex Pycnonotus goiavier goiavier (Scopoli), M. gieferi ex P. goiavier suluensis Mearns, M. kulpai ex P. flavescens Blyth, M. finlaysoni ex P. finlaysoni Strickland, M. kathleenae ex P. cafer (L.), M. warwicki ex Ixos philippinus (J. R. Forster), M. mcclurei ex Microscelis amaurotis (Temminck), M. zeylanici ex P. zeylanicus (Gmelin), M. plumosi ex P. plumosus Blyth, M. eutiloti ex P. eutilotus (Jardine and Selby), M. adamsae ex P. urostictus (Salvadori), M. ochracei ex Criniger ochraceus F. Moore, M. borbonici ex Hypsipetes borbonicus (J. R. Forster), M. johnsoni ex P. atriceps (Temminck), M. palmai ex C. ochraceus, and M. claytoni ex P. eutilotus. A key is provided for the identification of these 17 species.

A new species

Summary Here, the coevolution of mycorrhizal fungi and roots is assessed in the light of evidence now available, from palaeobotanical and morphological studies and the analysis of DNA-based phylogenies. The first bryophyte-like land plants, in the early Devonian (400 million years ago), had endophytic associations resembling vesicular‐ arbuscular mycorrhizas (VAM) even before roots evolved. Mycorrhizal evolution would have progressed from endophytic hyphae towards balanced associations where partners were interdependent due to the exchange of limiting energy and nutrient resources. Most mycorrhizas are mutualistic, but in some cases the trend for increasing plant control of fungi culminates in the exploitative mycorrhizas of achlorophyllous, mycoheterotrophic plants. Ectomycorrhizal, ericoid and orchid mycorrhizas, as well as nonmycorrhizal roots, evolved during the period of rapid angiosperm radiation in the Cretaceous. It is hypothesised that roots gradually evolved from rhizomes to provide more suitable habitats for mycorrhizal fungi and provide plants with complex branching and leaves with water and nutrients. Selection pressures have caused the morphological divergence of roots with different types of mycorrizas. Root cortex thickness and exodermis suberization are greatest in obligately mycorrhizal plants, while nonmycorrhizal plants tend to have fine roots, with more roots hairs and relatively advanced chemical defences. Major coevolutionary trends and the relative success of plants with different root types are discussed.

Coevolution of roots and mycorrhizas of land plants

Geological atlas of western and central Europe

The Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary similar to 65.5 million years ago marks one of the three largest mass extinctions in the past 500 million years. The extinction event coincided with a large asteroid impact at Chicxulub, Mexico, and occurred within the time of Deccan flood basalt volcanism in India. Here, we synthesize records of the global stratigraphy across this boundary to assess the proposed causes of the mass extinction. Notably, a single ejecta-rich deposit compositionally linked to the Chicxulub impact is globally distributed at the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary. The temporal match between the ejecta layer and the onset of the extinctions and the agreement of ecological patterns in the fossil record with modeled environmental perturbations (for example, darkness and cooling) lead us to conclude that the Chicxulub impact triggered the mass extinction.

/pdf/the-chicxulub-asteroid-impact-and-mass-extinction-at-the-472rwrg1wp.pdf

The Chicxulub Asteroid Impact and Mass Extinction at the Cretaceous-Paleogene Boundary

Synchrotron X-ray imaging reveals the three-dimensional architecture of beetle borings (Dekosichnus meniscatus) in Middle–Late Jurassic araucarian conifer wood from Argentina

New vistas on animal-plant-fungal interactions in the Permian-Triassic of Gondwana

Victoria is endowed with the most continuous succession of Early Cretaceous floras of any part of Australia, these Cretaceous floras are significant for several reasons. They are useful for biostratigraphic subdivision of the mainly non-marine sequence, the fossilised plant remains contributed to the coal deposits once mined near Wonthaggi in Gippsland, and the fossils help us to understand the nature of ancient high latitude forests for which there are no modern analogues. The partially degraded plant remains probably also contributed to the oil and gas reserves now exploited in the Gippsland and Otway Basins. The fossil assemblages are also significant in shO\ving the decline of several previously widespread and abundant gymnosperm groups from the Australian biota (Bennettitales, Pentoxylales, cheirolepidacean conifers, ginkgophytes; and sphenophytes) and the first appearances of some new groups, most notably the flowering plants. This article illustrates some of the fossils recently recovered during a field trip to the Binns Road Quarry in the Otway Ranges, southwestern Victoria.

The Early Cretaceous (Barremian-Aptian) flora of the Binns Rd Quarry, Otway Ranges, Victoria

Mesozoic and Cenozoic palaeogeography, palaeoclimate and palaeoecology in the eastern Tethys

http://www.cell.com/article/S2589004222017059/pdf

Stephen McLoughlin

Papers

Synchrotron X-ray imaging reveals the three-dimensional architecture of beetle borings (Dekosichnus meniscatus) in Middle–Late Jurassic araucarian conifer wood from Argentina

New vistas on animal-plant-fungal interactions in the Permian-Triassic of Gondwana

The Early Cretaceous (Barremian-Aptian) flora of the Binns Rd Quarry, Otway Ranges, Victoria

Mesozoic and Cenozoic palaeogeography, palaeoclimate and palaeoecology in the eastern Tethys

Nurse logs: A common seedling strategy in the Permian Cathaysian flora