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Boudinot BE, Richter AK, Hammel JU, Szwedo J, Bojarski B, Perrichot V. Genomic-Phenomic Reciprocal Illumination: Desyopone hereon gen. et sp. nov., an Exceptional Aneuretine-like Fossil Ant from Ethiopian Amber (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Ponerinae). INSECTS 2022; 13:796. [PMID: 36135497 PMCID: PMC9502205 DOI: 10.3390/insects13090796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Revised: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Fossils are critical for understanding the evolutionary diversification, turnover, and morphological disparification of extant lineages. While fossils cannot be sequenced, phenome-scale data may be generated using micro-computed tomography (µ-CT), thus revealing hidden structures and internal anatomy, when preserved. Here, we adduce the male caste of a new fossil ant species from Miocene Ethiopian amber that resembles members of the Aneuretinae, matching the operational definition of the subfamily. Through the use of synchrotron radiation for µ-CT, we critically test the aneuretine-identity hypothesis. Our results indicate that the new fossils do not belong to the Aneuretinae, but rather the Ponerini (Ponerinae). Informed by recent phylogenomic studies, we were able to place the fossils close to the extant genus Cryptopone based on logical character analysis, with the two uniquely sharing absence of the subpetiolar process among all ponerine genera. Consequently, we: (1) revise the male-based key to the global ant subfamilies; (2) revise the definitions of Aneuretinae, Ponerinae, Platythyreini, and Ponerini; (3) discuss the evolution of ant mandibles; and (4) describe the fossils as †Desyopone hereon gen. et sp. nov. Our study highlights the value of males for ant systematics and the tremendous potential of phenomic imaging technologies for the study of ant evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brendon E. Boudinot
- Institut für Zoologie und Evolutionsforschung, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Vor dem Neutor 1, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Adrian K. Richter
- Institut für Zoologie und Evolutionsforschung, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Vor dem Neutor 1, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Jörg U. Hammel
- Institute of Materials Physics, Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, Max-Planck-Straße 1, 21502 Geesthacht, Germany
| | - Jacek Szwedo
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Entomology and Museum of Amber Inclusions, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdańsk, 59 Wita Stwosza Street, 80-309 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Błażej Bojarski
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Entomology and Museum of Amber Inclusions, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdańsk, 59 Wita Stwosza Street, 80-309 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Vincent Perrichot
- CNRS, Géosciences Rennes, University Rennes, UMR 6118, 35000 Rennes, France
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2
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Jiang R, Caterino MS, Chen X. Discovery of the Genus Anapleus Horn, 1873 from Cretaceous Kachin Amber (Coleoptera: Histeridae). INSECTS 2022; 13:746. [PMID: 36005371 PMCID: PMC9410035 DOI: 10.3390/insects13080746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2022] [Revised: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
For the first time, an extant histerid genus Anapleus Horn, 1873 is described from a specimen found in mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber. Anapleus kachinensis sp. nov. Although the genus Anapleus has not been precisely defined by synapomorphies, the new species shares numerous features with extant species while differing in comparatively few external characteristics. Anapleus kachinensis represents the first record of an extant histerid genus from Cretaceous deposits and provides further evidence of the ancient origin of the genus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rixin Jiang
- Institute of Entomology, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
- The Provincial Special Key Laboratory for Development and Utilization of Insect Resources of Guizhou, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
- The Provincial Key Laboratory for Agricultural Pest Management of Mountainous Region, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Michael S. Caterino
- Department of Plant & Environmental Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA
| | - Xiangsheng Chen
- Institute of Entomology, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
- The Provincial Special Key Laboratory for Development and Utilization of Insect Resources of Guizhou, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
- The Provincial Key Laboratory for Agricultural Pest Management of Mountainous Region, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
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3
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Lieberman ZE, Billen J, Kamp T, Boudinot BE. The ant abdomen: the skeletomuscular and soft tissue anatomy of
Amblyopone australis
workers (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). J Morphol 2022; 283:693-770. [DOI: 10.1002/jmor.21471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2021] [Revised: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ziv Ellis Lieberman
- Department of Entomology and Nematology University of California Davis, One Shields Ave, Davis, CA, U. S. A. 95616
| | - Johan Billen
- Zoological Institute, University of Leuven, Naamsestraat 59, Box 2466, B‐3000 Leuven Belgium
| | - Thomas Kamp
- Institute for Photon Science and Synchrotron Radiation (IPS), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Hermann‐von‐Helmholtz‐Platz 1, 76344 Eggenstein‐Leopoldshafen Germany
- Laboratory for Applications of Synchrotron Radiation (LAS), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Kaiserstraße 12 Karlsruhe Germany
| | - Brendon Elias Boudinot
- Friedrich‐Schiller‐Universität Jena, Institut für Spezielle Zoologie und Evolutionsforschung, Entomologie Gruppe, Erbertstraße 1 07743 Jena Germany
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4
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Preservation and Taphonomy of Fossil Insects from the Earliest Eocene of Denmark. BIOLOGY 2022; 11:biology11030395. [PMID: 35336769 PMCID: PMC8945194 DOI: 10.3390/biology11030395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2022] [Revised: 02/23/2022] [Accepted: 02/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Insect fossils dating 55 million-years-old from the Stolleklint Clay and Fur Formation of Denmark are known to preserve both fine morphological details and color patterns. To enhance our understanding on how such fragile animals are retained in the fossil record, we examined a pair of beetle elytra, a wasp and a damselfly using sensitive analytical techniques. In our paper, we demonstrate that all three insect fossils are composed of cuticular remains (that is, traces of the exoskeleton) that, in turn, are dominated by the natural pigment eumelanin. In addition, the beetle elytra show evidence of a delicate lamellar structure comparable to multilayered reflectors that produce metallic hues in modern insects. Our results contribute to improved knowledge on the process of fossilization of insect body fossils in marine environments. Abstract Marine sediments of the lowermost Eocene Stolleklint Clay and Fur Formation of north-western Denmark have yielded abundant well-preserved insects. However, despite a long history of research, in-depth information pertaining to preservational modes and taphonomic pathways of these exceptional animal fossils remains scarce. In this paper, we use a combination of scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) to assess the ultrastructural and molecular composition of three insect fossils: a wasp (Hymenoptera), a damselfly (Odonata) and a pair of beetle elytra (Coleoptera). Our analyses show that all specimens are preserved as organic remnants that originate from the exoskeleton, with the elytra displaying a greater level of morphological fidelity than the other fossils. TEM analysis of the elytra revealed minute features, including a multilayered epicuticle comparable to those nanostructures that generate metallic colors in modern insects. Additionally, ToF-SIMS analyses provided spectral evidence for chemical residues of the pigment eumelanin as part of the cuticular remains. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first occasion where both structural colors and chemical traces of an endogenous pigment have been documented in a single fossil specimen. Overall, our results provide novel insights into the nature of insect body fossils and additionally shed light on exceptionally preserved terrestrial insect faunas found in marine paleoenvironments.
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Zhou YL, Caterino MS, Ren D, Ślipiński A. Phylogeny and evolution of Mesozoic and extant lineages of Histeridae (Coleoptera), with discovery of a new subfamily Antigracilinae from the Lower Cretaceous. Cladistics 2021; 36:521-539. [PMID: 34618954 DOI: 10.1111/cla.12418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2020] [Revised: 03/24/2020] [Accepted: 01/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
In order to place a newly discovered species Antigracilus costatus gen. sp. n. from the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation (China) and to assess previously unplaced fossil taxa, we investigated the relationships of extant and extinct lineages of Histeridae based on three data sets: (i) 69 morphological characters belonging to 48 taxa (representing all 11 subfamilies and 15 of 17 tribes of modern Histeridae); (ii) partitioned alignment of 6030 bp from downloaded nucleotide sequences (28S, CAD, COI, 18S) of 50 taxa (representing 10 subfamilies and 15 of 17 tribes of modern Histeridae); and (iii) a combined morphological and molecular dataset for 75 taxa. Phylogenetic analyses of the morphology and combined matrices recovered the new Lower Cretaceous taxon as a sister group to remaining Histeridae and it is placed in †Antigracilinae subfam. n. †Antigracilinae constitutes the earliest record of Histeridae from the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation (∼125 Myr), backdating the minimum age of the family by 25 Myr from the earliest Cenomanian (~99 Myr) to the Barremian of the Cretaceous Period. Our molecular phylogeny supports Histeridae to be divided into seven different clades, with currently recognised subfamilies Abraeinae (sensu lato), Saprininae, Chlamydopsinae, and Histerinae (sensu lato) recovered as monophyletic, while Dendrophilinae, Onthophilinae, and Tribalinae are polyphyletic taxa. The Burmese amber species †Pantostictus burmanicus Poinar & Brown is placed as a sister group to the tribe Plegaderini (Abraeinae) and was assigned as a new tribe Pantostictini trib. n. Both molecular and combined phylogenies recovered the subfamilies Trypanaeinae and Trypeticinae deeply within the subfamily Abraeinae (sensu lato), and they are downgraded into Trypanaeini stat. n. and Trypeticini stat. n.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Lingzi Zhou
- Australian National Insect Collection, CSIRO, GPO Box 1700, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
| | - Michael S Caterino
- Department of Plant & Environmental Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, 29634, USA
| | - Dong Ren
- College of Life Sciences, Capital Normal University, Xisanhuanbeilu 105, Haidian District, Beijing, 100048, China
| | - Adam Ślipiński
- Australian National Insect Collection, CSIRO, GPO Box 1700, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
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6
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Mishra M, Chakraborty I, Basu S. A study of the role of vision in the foraging behaviour of the pyrrhocorid bug Antilochus conquebertii (Insecta; Hemiptera; Pyrrhocoridae). INVERTEBRATE NEUROSCIENCE 2019; 19:2. [PMID: 30603776 DOI: 10.1007/s10158-018-0222-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2018] [Accepted: 12/20/2018] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Our study aims to describe (1) external morphology of the compound eye of Antilochus conquebertii, (2) postembryonic changes involving the eye's shape and size and (3) behaviour of the animal with respect to the organization of the compound eye. With each moult of the insect, the structural units of the compound eye increase in size as well as the number, resulting in an overall increase in eye size. The resolution of the adult eye is better than the young one. The adult possesses UV and polarization sensitivity in its eye. Parallel to the changes of the eye the behaviour of the adult animal changes, rendering it increasingly nocturnal and less active in under illuminated conditions. The current study describes the eye and its functional relationship with the behaviour of the animal at the nymphal and adult developmental stage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monalisa Mishra
- Neural Developmental Biology Lab, Department of Life Science, National Institute of Technology, Rourkela, Rourkela, Odisha, 769008, India.
| | | | - Srirupa Basu
- Neural Developmental Biology Lab, Department of Life Science, National Institute of Technology, Rourkela, Rourkela, Odisha, 769008, India
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7
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van de Kamp T, Schwermann AH, Dos Santos Rolo T, Lösel PD, Engler T, Etter W, Faragó T, Göttlicher J, Heuveline V, Kopmann A, Mähler B, Mörs T, Odar J, Rust J, Tan Jerome N, Vogelgesang M, Baumbach T, Krogmann L. Parasitoid biology preserved in mineralized fossils. Nat Commun 2018; 9:3325. [PMID: 30154438 PMCID: PMC6113268 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-05654-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2018] [Accepted: 07/16/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
About 50% of all animal species are considered parasites. The linkage of species diversity to a parasitic lifestyle is especially evident in the insect order Hymenoptera. However, fossil evidence for host–parasitoid interactions is extremely rare, rendering hypotheses on the evolution of parasitism assumptive. Here, using high-throughput synchrotron X-ray microtomography, we examine 1510 phosphatized fly pupae from the Paleogene of France and identify 55 parasitation events by four wasp species, providing morphological and ecological data. All species developed as solitary endoparasitoids inside their hosts and exhibit different morphological adaptations for exploiting the same hosts in one habitat. Our results allow systematic and ecological placement of four distinct endoparasitoids in the Paleogene and highlight the need to investigate ecological data preserved in the fossil record. Evidence for a parasitic lifestyle in extinct species tends to be indirect. Here, the authors provide direct evidence through X-ray examination of approximately 30–40 million year old fossil fly pupae, revealing 55 parasitation events by four newly described wasp species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas van de Kamp
- Laboratory for Applications of Synchrotron Radiation (LAS), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Kaiserstr. 12, 76131, Karlsruhe, Germany.
| | - Achim H Schwermann
- LWL-Museum of Natural History, Sentruper Str. 285, 48141, Münster, Germany. .,Steinmann Institute for Geology, Mineralogy and Palaeontology, University of Bonn, Nußallee 8, 53115, Bonn, Germany.
| | - Tomy Dos Santos Rolo
- Institute for Photon Science and Synchrotron Radiation (IPS), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Philipp D Lösel
- Engineering Mathematics and Computing Lab (EMCL), Interdisciplinary Center for Scientific Computing (IWR), Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 205, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Thomas Engler
- Steinmann Institute for Geology, Mineralogy and Palaeontology, University of Bonn, Nußallee 8, 53115, Bonn, Germany
| | - Walter Etter
- Department of Geosciences, Natural History Museum Basel, Augustinergasse 2, 4051, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Tomáš Faragó
- Institute for Photon Science and Synchrotron Radiation (IPS), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Jörg Göttlicher
- Institute for Photon Science and Synchrotron Radiation (IPS), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Vincent Heuveline
- Engineering Mathematics and Computing Lab (EMCL), Interdisciplinary Center for Scientific Computing (IWR), Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 205, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Andreas Kopmann
- Institute for Data Processing and Electronics (IPE), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Bastian Mähler
- Steinmann Institute for Geology, Mineralogy and Palaeontology, University of Bonn, Nußallee 8, 53115, Bonn, Germany
| | - Thomas Mörs
- Department of Palaeobiology, Swedish Museum of Natural History, Frescativägen 40, 114 18, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Janes Odar
- Institute for Photon Science and Synchrotron Radiation (IPS), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Jes Rust
- Steinmann Institute for Geology, Mineralogy and Palaeontology, University of Bonn, Nußallee 8, 53115, Bonn, Germany
| | - Nicholas Tan Jerome
- Institute for Data Processing and Electronics (IPE), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Matthias Vogelgesang
- Institute for Data Processing and Electronics (IPE), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Tilo Baumbach
- Laboratory for Applications of Synchrotron Radiation (LAS), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Kaiserstr. 12, 76131, Karlsruhe, Germany.,Institute for Photon Science and Synchrotron Radiation (IPS), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Lars Krogmann
- Department of Entomology, State Museum of Natural History Stuttgart, Rosenstein 1, 70191, Stuttgart, Germany. .,Institute of Zoology, Systematic Entomology, University of Hohenheim, 70593, Stuttgart, Germany.
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8
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Tissier J, Rage JC, Laurin M. Exceptional soft tissues preservation in a mummified frog-eating Eocene salamander. PeerJ 2017; 5:e3861. [PMID: 29018606 PMCID: PMC5629955 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.3861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2017] [Accepted: 09/07/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Fossils are almost always represented by hard tissues but we present here the exceptional case of a three-dimensionally preserved specimen that was 'mummified' (likely between 40 and 34 million years ago) in a terrestrial karstic environment. This fossil is the incomplete body of a salamander, Phosphotriton sigei, whose skeleton and external morphology are well preserved, as revealed by phase-contrast synchrotron X-ray microtomography. In addition, internal structures composed of soft tissues preserved in three dimensions are now identified: a lung, the spinal cord, a lumbosacral plexus, the digestive tract, muscles and urogenital organs that may be cloacal glands. These are among the oldest known cases of three-dimensional preservation of these organs in vertebrates and shed light on the ecology of this salamander. Indeed, the digestive tract contains remains of a frog, which represents the only known case of an extinct salamander that fed on a frog, an extremely rare type of predation in extant salamanders. These new data improve our scarce knowledge on soft tissue anatomy of early urodeles and should prove useful for future biologists and palaeontologists working on urodele evolutionary biology. We also suggest that the presence of bat guano and carcasses represented a close source of phosphorus, favouring preservation of soft tissues. Bone microanatomy indicates that P. sigei was likely amphibious or terrestrial, and was probably not neotenic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jérémy Tissier
- Cenozoic Research Group, JURASSICA Museum, Porrentruy, Switzerland.,Department of Geosciences, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Jean-Claude Rage
- Département Histoire de la Terre, UMR 7207, Centre de Recherches sur la Paléobiodiversité et les Paléoenvironnements, CNRS/MNHN/UPMC (Sorbonne Universités), Museum national d'Histoire naturelle, Paris, France
| | - Michel Laurin
- Département Histoire de la Terre, UMR 7207, Centre de Recherches sur la Paléobiodiversité et les Paléoenvironnements, CNRS/MNHN/UPMC (Sorbonne Universités), Museum national d'Histoire naturelle, Paris, France
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9
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Pepinelli M, Currie DC. The identity of giant black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) in Baltic amber: insights from large-scale photomicroscopy, micro-CT scanning and geometric morphometrics. Zool J Linn Soc 2017. [DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlx021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
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10
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Zuber M, Laaß M, Hamann E, Kretschmer S, Hauschke N, van de Kamp T, Baumbach T, Koenig T. Augmented laminography, a correlative 3D imaging method for revealing the inner structure of compressed fossils. Sci Rep 2017; 7:41413. [PMID: 28128302 PMCID: PMC5269749 DOI: 10.1038/srep41413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2016] [Accepted: 12/19/2016] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-destructive imaging techniques can be extremely useful tools for the investigation and the assessment of palaeontological objects, as mechanical preparation of rare and valuable fossils is precluded in most cases. However, palaeontologists are often faced with the problem of choosing a method among a wide range of available techniques. In this case study, we employ x-ray computed tomography (CT) and computed laminography (CL) to study the first fossil xiphosuran from the Muschelkalk (Middle Triassic) of the Netherlands. The fossil is embedded in micritic limestone, with the taxonomically important dorsal shield invisible, and only the outline of its ventral part traceable. We demonstrate the complementarity of CT and CL which offers an excellent option to visualize characteristic diagnostic features. We introduce augmented laminography to correlate complementary information of the two methods in Fourier space, allowing to combine their advantages and finally providing increased anatomical information about the fossil. This method of augmented laminography enabled us to identify the xiphosuran as a representative of the genus Limulitella.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcus Zuber
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute for Photon Science and Synchrotron Radiation (IPS) &Institute for Beam Physics and Technology (IBPT), Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany.,Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Laboratory for Applications of Synchrotron Radiation (LAS), Kaiserstr. 12, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Michael Laaß
- University of Duisburg-Essen, Department of General Zoology, Faculty of Biology, Universitätsstr. 5, 45117 Essen, Germany
| | - Elias Hamann
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute for Photon Science and Synchrotron Radiation (IPS) &Institute for Beam Physics and Technology (IBPT), Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Sophie Kretschmer
- Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Institute of Geosciences and Geography, Von-Seckendorff-Platz 3, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Norbert Hauschke
- Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Institute of Geosciences and Geography, Von-Seckendorff-Platz 3, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Thomas van de Kamp
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute for Photon Science and Synchrotron Radiation (IPS) &Institute for Beam Physics and Technology (IBPT), Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany.,Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Laboratory for Applications of Synchrotron Radiation (LAS), Kaiserstr. 12, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Tilo Baumbach
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute for Photon Science and Synchrotron Radiation (IPS) &Institute for Beam Physics and Technology (IBPT), Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany.,Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Laboratory for Applications of Synchrotron Radiation (LAS), Kaiserstr. 12, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Thomas Koenig
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute for Photon Science and Synchrotron Radiation (IPS) &Institute for Beam Physics and Technology (IBPT), Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany.,Ziehm Imaging GmbH, Donaustr. 31, 90451 Nuremberg, Germany
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11
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Osés GL, Petri S, Becker-Kerber B, Romero GR, Rizzutto MDA, Rodrigues F, Galante D, da Silva TF, Curado JF, Rangel EC, Ribeiro RP, Pacheco MLAF. Deciphering the preservation of fossil insects: a case study from the Crato Member, Early Cretaceous of Brazil. PeerJ 2016; 4:e2756. [PMID: 28028459 PMCID: PMC5180586 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.2756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2016] [Accepted: 11/04/2016] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Exceptionally well-preserved three-dimensional insects with fine details and even labile tissues are ubiquitous in the Crato Member Konservat Lagerstätte (northeastern Brazil). Here we investigate the preservational pathways which yielded such specimens. We employed high resolution techniques (EDXRF, SR-SXS, SEM, EDS, micro Raman, and PIXE) to understand their fossilisation on mineralogical and geochemical grounds. Pseudomorphs of framboidal pyrite, the dominant fossil microfabric, display size variation when comparing cuticle with inner areas or soft tissues, which we interpret as the result of the balance between ion diffusion rates and nucleation rates of pyrite through the originally decaying carcasses. Furthermore, the mineral fabrics are associated with structures that can be the remains of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). Geochemical data also point to a concentration of Fe, Zn, and Cu in the fossils in comparison to the embedding rock. Therefore, we consider that biofilms of sulphate reducing bacteria (SRB) had a central role in insect decay and mineralisation. Therefore, we shed light on exceptional preservation of fossils by pyritisation in a Cretaceous limestone lacustrine palaeoenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel Ladeira Osés
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Geoquímica e Geotectônica, Institute of Geosciences, Universidade de São Paulo , São Paulo , Brazil
| | - Setembrino Petri
- Institute of Geosciences, Universidade de São Paulo , São Paulo , Brazil
| | - Bruno Becker-Kerber
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Recursos Naturais, Universidade Federal de São Carlos , São Carlos , São Paulo , Brazil
| | | | | | - Fabio Rodrigues
- Department of Fundamental Chemistry/Institute of Chemistry, Universidade de São Paulo , São Paulo , Brazil
| | | | | | - Jessica F Curado
- Department of Physics, Centro Universitário FEI , São Bernardo do Campo , Brazil
| | | | - Rafael Parra Ribeiro
- Laboratory of Technological Plasmas, Universidade Estadual Paulista , Sorocaba , Brazil
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