CHONDRITES-CLADICHNUS ICHNOCOENOSIS FROM THE DEEP-SEA DEPOSITS OF PIERFRANCESCO (CRETACEOUS; ITALY): OXYGEN- OR NUTRIENT-LIMITED?

The Italian Northern Apennines are acknowledged as the place where ichnology was born, but there is comparatively little work about their ichnological record. This study bridges this gap by describing two new ichnosites from the locality of Pierfrancesco, which preserve an abundant, low-disparity trace-fossil assemblage within the Late Cretaceous beds of the M. Cassio Flysch. Results show that lithofacies and ichnotaxa are rhythmically organized. The base of each cycle consists of Megagrapton-bearing calciclastic turbidites, which are overlain by marlstone beds with an abundant, low-disparity assemblage of trace fossils. This includes Chondrites intricatus, C. patulus, C. targionii, C. recurvus and Cladichnus fischeri. The cycle top consists of mudstones with no distinct burrows. The rhythmic pattern of Pierfrancesco reflects a deep-sea ecological succession, in which species and behaviour changed as turbidite-related disturbances altered the seafloor. This study opens the question of whether the Chondrites-Cladichnus ichnocoenosis represents low-oxygen or nutrient-poor settings

Ichnofossils, cracks or crystals? A test for biogenicity of stick-like structures from vera rubin ridge, mars

New images from Mars rover Curiosity display millimetric, elongate stick- like structures in the fluvio-lacustrine deposits of Vera Rubin Ridge, the depositional environment of which has been previously acknowledged as habitable. Morphology, size and topology of the structures are yet incompletely known and their biogenicity remains untested. Here we provide the first quantitative description of the Vera Rubin Ridge structures, showing that ichnofossils, i.e., the product of life-substrate interactions, are among their closest morphological analogues. Crystal growth and sedimentary cracking are plausible non-biological genetic processes for the structures, although crystals, desiccation and syneresis cracks do not typically present all the morphological and topological features of the Vera Rubin Ridge structures. Morphological analogy does not necessarily imply biogenicity but, given that none of the available observations falsifies the ichnofossil hypothesis, Vera Rubin Ridge and its sedimentary features are here recognized as a privileged target for astrobiological research

Silurian anoxic events at the Cellon section (Austria) through an ichnofabric eye

Silurian ichnofabrics are preliminary described from the Silurian Cellon Section of the Austrian Carnic Alps

Prehistoric stone disks from entrances and cemeteries of north-eastern Adriatic hillforts|Prazgodovinski kamniti diski z vhodov in grobi[; na gradi[;ih na severovzhodnem Jadranu

The paper presents a group of four, approximately 0.5m large, stone disks from entrances or cemeteries of two protohistoric hillforts of north-eastern Adriatic. The disks, having a sparse chronology with the exception of one dated to the Middle Bronze Age, show flat and plain surfaces or covered with sub-circular depressions. One disk shows two larger cup-marks at the centre of both faces. They are interpreted as ritual artefacts based on the association with sacred settlement locations and comparisons with similar coeval stones found mainly close to citadel entrances, burials and thresholds in the Aegean area and Anatolia

Taking Ichnology to the general public: the experience of TERRAGAZE and TERRAGAZE mobile

SUMMARy -Taking Ichnology to the general public: the experience of TERRAGAZE and TERRAGAZE mobile -Ichnology is facing a wall: scientific research is almost isolated from the general public. Surveys demonstrate the meager status of Ichnology: general public ignores the existence of the discipline and the study of traces is unfamiliar even among non-ichnologist scientists. These results are confirmed by the poor resonance of Ichnology in the media: popular-science magazines rarely communicate advances in the field, and few documentaries cover the subject. Ichnology desperately needs to escape from the elitist pages of scientific journals to reach the general public. A broad audience requires new, coherent and engaging methods: interactive media represent successful tools to communicate Ichnology. This article discusses the case study of TERRAGAZE and TERRAGAZE mobile, multimedia systems developed for geological divulgation, with a focus on the ichnological heritage. RIASSUNTO -Comunicare l'Icnologia al grande pubblico: l'esperienza di TERRAGAZE e TERRAGAZE mobile -L' Icnologia sta fronteggiando un muro: la ricerca è quasi del tutto isolata dal grande pubblico. Diversi sondaggi dimostrano infatti l'infelice stato dell'Icnologia: il pubblico ignora l'esistenza di questa disciplina, poco conosciuta anche fra gli scienziati non-icnologi. Queste affermazioni sono confermate dalla scarsa risonanza che l'Icnologia trova nei media, tanto è vero che le riviste scientifiche di divulgazione raramente riportano i progressi in questo campo; inoltre, pochi documentari trattano l'argomento. L'Icnologia necessita di un'alternativa alle riviste scientifiche specialistiche. Il grande pubblico richiede nuovi, avvincenti metodi di comunicazione: ad esempio, i media interattivi sono strumenti adatti a comunicare l'Icnologia. Questo articolo discute i casi di studio di TERRAGAZE e TERRAGAZE mobile, sistemi multimediali interattivi sviluppati per divulgare il patrimonio geologico, con particolare accento a quello icnologico. Ichnology never gained fame within popular science and education; specifically, invertebrate Ichnology is almost unknown within the general public. Even within the subject area of the Earth Sciences, Ichnology represents one of the less visible disciplines; only dinosaur footprints constitute a remarkable exception. A thick divide separates ichnological research from the general public: large audiences are isolated from Ichnology. In order to quantify this divide between academia and the public, and, consequently, to determine the degree of penetration of Ichnology, an on-line survey has been carried out. Despite the modest number of answers Why Ichnology has such a marginal role in popular science? An immediate answer: Ichnology is mainly found within scientific journals. There is almost no mention of the discipline in broader-audience press: this fact is demonstrated by figure 2, reporting how many search results are returned for "Ichnology" in scientific press. Ichnology is hardly discernable among the other disciplines of Earth Sciences, while Paleontology, Geophysics, Mineralogy are well represented. The lack of visibility of Ichnology is more evident when comparing Geology with other disciplines Scientific journalism rarely covers trace fossils: eve

Bioturbation beyond Earth: potential, methods and models of astroichnology

Traces – burrows, borings, footprints – are important evidences of biological behaviour on Earth, yet they received relatively little attention in the field of astrobiology. This study aims to discuss the application of ichnology (i.e. the study of life activity traces) to the search for past and modern life beyond Earth (i.e. herein called Astroichnology)

Caranguejos que correm, crinóides que caminham, gastrópodes que se alimentam: diversidade comportamental no Lagerstätte do Cabeço da Ladeira e suas implicações evolutivas (Jurássico Médio, Portugal)

Ichnology is a powerful tool for understanding the evolutionary paths of animal clades, through the paleobiology of behavior preserved in Lagerstätten such as the Cabeço da Ladeira (Portugal) site. Here, the peritidal carbonates of the Chão das Pias Formation (Middle Jurassic, upper Bajocian) record the development of microbial mats in a tidal flat. Episodically, the flat was expanded during periods of equinoctial spring tides that may have been responsible for the in situ killing of several members of echinoderm clades, and the fine preservation of their endoskeleton, in addition to the behavior of an arthropod-dominated endo- and epifauna. Mat-preserved shallow tiers with a moderate ichnodiversity attributed to the Cruziana ichnofacies include trackways of crabs (Laterigradus lusitanica igen. nov., isp. nov.) and shrimps ( Diplopodichnus isp.); trails of fishes (?Undichna), gastropods (Archaeonassa fossulata), isocrinid crinoids (Krinodromos bentou igen. nov., isp. nov.) and insects (Haplotichnus indianensis); and burrows of shrimps or lobsters (Thalassinoides suevicus) and other arthropods (Asterosoma ludwigae, Gyrochorte comosa), or polychaetes (Rhizocorallium commune ). This is implied already above (igen. nov., etc.) and seems not needed. The crab trackways and gastropod bulldozing trails, extending up to 12.3 m, are among the longest invertebrate cursorial traces ever found in the fossil record. The mortichnial crawling trail of a crinoid is the first evidence of locomotion for this group in the fossil record, and a rare unambiguous example of this ethology. Extensive continuous trackways attributed to amphibious crabs record, with great detail, typical gaits of underwater punting and walking sideways on dry land. The earliest evidences of sidewalking behavior may also be evidence for the development of the crab form during their rise in the Jurassic.A Icnologia é um poderoso instrumento para a compreensão das etapas evolutivas de clados de animais através da paleobiologia do comportamento inscrito em sítios paleontológicos excepcionais, como o Cabeço da Ladeira (Portugal). O Jurássico Médio (Bajociano superior) da Formação de Chão das Pias é formado por uma sequência de carbonatos peritidais que regista o desenvolvimento de tapetes microbianos numa planície de maré. Episodicamente, esta terá tido um desenvolvimento extraordinário através de marés equinociais que poderão ter sido responsáveis pela morte in situ de diversos grupos de equinodermes e pela preservação com excelente detalhe dos seus esqueletos articulados, além das formas de comportamento de uma endo- e epifauna dominada pelos artrópodes. Os níveis superficiais, com uma moderada icnodiversidade preservada pelos tapetes microbianos e atribuível à icnofácies de Cruziana, incluem trilhos de caranguejos (Laterigradus lusitanica nov. igén.) e de outros crustáceos (Diplopodichnus isp.), assim como eventualmente de peixes (?Undichna), pistas de gastrópodes (Archaeonassa fossulata), crinóides isocrinídeos (Krinodromos bentou nov. igén.) e insectos (Haplotichnus indianensis), além de galerias de lagostins ou de lagostas (Thalassinoides suevicus), e de outros artrópodes (Asterosoma ludwigae, Gyrochorte comosa) ou poliquetas (Rhizocorallium commune). Laterigradus lusitanicus e Krinodromos bentou são novos icnogéneros e icnoespécies definidos neste trabalho. Os trilhos de caranguejos e as pistas de gastrópodes são algumas das mais extensas evidências de locomoção encontradas no registo fóssil dos invertebrados até ao momento. A “marcha para a morte” de um crinóide é o primeiro registo fóssil de locomoção para este grupo, e um raro exemplo desta categoria etológica. Extensos trilhos contínuos também evidenciam com grande detalhe os estilos de locomoção “salto com vara” subaquático e “caminhada de lado” em terra emersa característicos dos caranguejos anfíbios. Os mais antigos indícios da locomoção “de lado” poderão ser também a evidência da evolução da forma de caranguejo com a diversificação dos Brachyura durante o Jurássico, um clado bem-sucedido que culminou com a colonização de habitats terrestres devido às suas exaptações motoras

Prehistoric Stone Disks from Entrances and Cemeteries of North-Eastern Adriatic Hillforts

The paper presents a group of four, approximately 0.5m large, stone disks from entrances or cemeteries of two protohistoric hillforts of north-eastern Adriatic. The disks, having a sparse chronology with the exception of one dated to the Middle Bronze Age, show flat and plain surfaces or covered with sub-circular depressions. One disk shows two larger cup-marks at the centre of both faces. They are interpreted as ritual artefacts based on the association with sacred settlement locations and comparisons with similar coeval stones found mainly close to citadel entrances, burials and thresholds in the Aegean area and Anatolia

New insights into emotion valence and loyalty intentions in relational exchanges

This research examines how emotion valence and future intentions arising from relational exchangeswithaservicefirmdependonaconsumer'slevelofgoalattainmentandlocusofcausality (firm vs. self) of relational outcomes. Drawing on the theories of goal-directed behavior and agency of causation, this study hypothesizes that levels of goal attainment and locus of causality influence the generation of positive emotions (gratitude), negative emotions (grudge and guilt), relational mediators (trust and commitment), and subsequent future intentions to remain loyal to the firm. Based on a controlled experiment with 284 subjects in a consumer-determined relationshipsetting,theresearchfindsthatemotionvalenceandfutureloyaltyintentionsarecontingent upon the fulfillment of relational objectives of individual consumers and the agency of causation for the outcome of the relational exchanges. In doing so, this study delineates the conditioning mechanism that directs how emotion valence influences behavioral intentions. The study contributes to the consumer behavior and services marketing literatures on consumption-based emotionsandhassignificantpracticeimplicationsforrelationalbehaviors

Geoconservation in the Cabeço da Ladeira Paleontological Site (Serras de Aire e Candeeiros Nature Park, Portugal): Exquisite Preservation of Animals and Their Behavioral Activities in a Middle Jurassic Carbonate Tidal Flat

The Cabeço da Ladeira paleontological site in central Portugal became known as the “Jurassic Beach”. Formerly an active quarry, the site was protected in order to preserve the large exposures of a Middle Jurassic (early? Bajocian) carbonate tidal flat with an outstanding fossil record. This multidisciplinary paleontological work involving experts from several national and international research and geoconservation institutions was carried out under the umbrella of the Institute for Nature Conservation (ICNF), since this geosite is located within the Serras de Aire e Candeeiros nature park. Cabeço da Ladeira has provided exquisitely preserved body fossils, especially echinoderms, together with the exceptional preservation of their, and other, animal’s behaviors. It is also a hotspot to understand the diversity of bivalves in the Middle Jurassic. Due to the large area of the geosite, the international relevance of the findings, and the risk of weathering and destruction of the fossils, a geoconservation plan has been developed by ICNF with the support of local authorities. After several years of being open to visitors without proper control, the Cabeço da Ladeira paleontological site is now conditioned to organized groups of researchers, schools, and tourists. Some body fossils were collected for studies and included in the national collections of the Geological Museum (Lisbon). Moreover, casts have been made to protect holotypes of trace fossils, also providing ways to replicate this fossil record in temporary exhibitions. A long-term experimental study to conserve the limestone bedding plane exposures and their fossil contents was started in order to develop the best geoconservation strategy with an aim to reduce the damage produced by the increasing tourist demand on natural sites. Cabeço da Ladeira and other geosites in protected areas are key to communicating an evolutionary approach to environmental education, and their geoconservation must be a priority to improve their long-term use as (geo)tourism attractions