New and little-known Cheilostomata (Bryozoa, Gymnolaemata) from the NE Atlantic

Based on newly designated type material, four poorly known NE Atlantic cheilostome bryozoan species are redescribed and imaged: Cellaria harmelini d’Hondt from the northern Bay of Biscay, Hippomenella mucronelliformis (Waters) from Madeira, Myriapora bugei d’Hondt from the Azores, and Characodoma strangulatum, occurring from Mauritania to southern Portugal. Moreover, Notoplites saojorgensis sp. nov. from the Azores, formerly reported as Notoplites marsupiatus (Jullien), is newly described. The genus Hippomenella Canu & Bassler is transferred from the lepraliomorph family Escharinidae Tilbrook to the umbonulomorph family Romancheinidae Jullien

Hazards and disasters in the geological and geomorphological record: a key to understanding past and future hazards and disasters

Hazards and disasters have occurred throughout Earth's History and thus the geological record is an important resource for understanding future hazards and disasters. The Earth Science Group (ESG) of the Consortium of European Taxonomic Facilities (CETAF) carried out a "Hazard and Disaster Event Survey" to identify Earth Science collections in European museums that represent hazards and disasters throughout the geological record, and recent times. The aim is to use the collections within the survey as an educational and research resource that promotes the importance of museum collections for understanding past and future hazard and disaster events. The survey pinpointed a wide variety of hazards (e.g. earthquakes, volcanism, floods, impact events, etc.), representing a vast time span in Earth's history (Proterozoic to Holocene), that are documented in the collections of the participating museums. Each hazard and disaster event has been described in terms of how they are preserved (e.g. fossil record or rock record), spatial scale, impact on life, and geological age. Here we showcase seven examples in detail which include well-known and less-known events from the survey that have contributed to our understanding of hazard and disaster processes and their impact on life. Also we present general conclusions and lessons learnt from the "Hazard and Disaster Event Survey"

Restructuring of the "Macaronesia" biogeografic unit: a marine multi-taxon biogeographical approach

The Azores, Madeira, Selvagens, Canary Islands and Cabo Verde are commonly united under the term “Macaronesia”. This study investigates the coherency and validity of Macaronesia as a biogeographic unit using six marine groups with very different dispersal abilities: coastal fishes, echinoderms, gastropod molluscs, brachyuran decapod crustaceans, polychaete annelids, and macroalgae. We found no support for the current concept of Macaronesia as a coherent marine biogeographic unit. All marine groups studied suggest the exclusion of Cabo Verde from the remaining Macaronesian archipelagos and thus, Cabo Verde should be given the status of a biogeographic subprovince within the West African Transition province. We propose to redefine the Lusitanian biogeographical province, in which we include four ecoregions: the South European Atlantic Shelf, the Saharan Upwelling, the Azores, and a new ecoregion herein named Webbnesia, which comprises the archipelagos of Madeira, Selvagens and the Canary Islandsinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Molecular and functional profiling identifies therapeutically targetable vulnerabilities in plasmablastic lymphoma

Plasmablastic lymphoma (PBL) represents a rare and aggressive lymphoma subtype frequently associated with immunosuppression. Clinically, patients with PBL are characterized by poor outcome. The current understanding of the molecular pathogenesis is limited. A hallmark of PBL represents its plasmacytic differentiation with loss of B-cell markers and, in 60% of cases, its association with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Roughly 50% of PBLs harbor a MYC translocation. Here, we provide a comprehensive integrated genomic analysis using whole exome sequencing (WES) and genome-wide copy number determination in a large cohort of 96 primary PBL samples. We identify alterations activating the RAS-RAF, JAK-STAT, and NOTCH pathways as well as frequent high-level amplifications in MCL1 and IRF4. The functional impact of these alterations is assessed using an unbiased shRNA screen in a PBL model. These analyses identify the IRF4 and JAK-STAT pathways as promising molecular targets to improve outcome of PBL patients

Origin and geochemical evolution of the Madeira-Tore Rise (eastern North Atlantic)

The Madeira-Tore Rise, located ∼700 km off the NW African coast, forms a prominent ridge in the east Atlantic. The age and origin of the rise are controversial. This study presents major and trace element, Sr, Nd, Pb, Hf isotope and 40Ar/39Ar age determinations from volcanic rocks dredged from different sites along the rise. In addition, isotopic compositions of rock samples from Great Meteor Seamount in the central Atlantic are presented. The new radiometric and paleontologically constrained ages identify two major episodes of volcanism: The first is the base of the rise (circa 80 to >95 Ma) and the second is seamounts on the rise (0.5–16 Ma). It is proposed that interaction of the Canary hot spot with the Mid-Atlantic spreading center formed the deep basement of the Madeira-Tore Rise and the J-Anomaly Ridge west of the Atlantic spreading center in the Mid-Cretaceous. Age and geochemical data and plate tectonic reconstructions suggest, however, that the recovered Late Cretaceous volcanic rocks represent late stage volcanism from the time when the Madeira-Tore Rise was still close to the Canary hot spot. Long after moving away from the influence of the Canary hot spot, the Madeira-Tore Rise was overprinted by late Cenozoic volcanism. Miocene to Pleistocene volcanism at the northern end of the rise can be best explained by decompression mantle melting beneath extensional sectors of the Azores-Gibraltar Fracture Zone (African-Eurasian plate boundary). The geochemical compositions of these volcanic rocks suggest that the magmas were variably contaminated by enriched material within or derived by melting of enriched material underplated at the base of the lithosphere, possibly originating from the Cretaceous Canary plume. Alternatively, these late Cenozoic volcanic rocks may have derived from decompression melting of enriched pyroxenitic/eclogitic material in the upper mantle. Isotopically more depleted Pliocene to Pleistocene volcanism at the southern end of the Madeira-Tore Rise may be related to the nearby Madeira hot spot

Photography-based taxonomy is inadequate, unnecessary, and potentially harmful for biological sciences

The question whether taxonomic descriptions naming new animal species without type specimen(s) deposited in collections should be accepted for publication by scientific journals and allowed by the Code has already been discussed in Zootaxa (Dubois & Nemésio 2007; Donegan 2008, 2009; Nemésio 2009a–b; Dubois 2009; Gentile & Snell 2009; Minelli 2009; Cianferoni & Bartolozzi 2016; Amorim et al. 2016). This question was again raised in a letter supported by 35 signatories published in the journal Nature (Pape et al. 2016) on 15 September 2016. On 25 September 2016, the following rebuttal (strictly limited to 300 words as per the editorial rules of Nature) was submitted to Nature, which on 18 October 2016 refused to publish it. As we think this problem is a very important one for zoological taxonomy, this text is published here exactly as submitted to Nature, followed by the list of the 493 taxonomists and collection-based researchers who signed it in the short time span from 20 September to 6 October 2016

The Crowdsourced Replication Initiative: Investigating Immigration and Social Policy Preferences. Executive Report.

In an era of mass migration, social scientists, populist parties and social movements raise concerns over the future of immigration-destination societies. What impacts does this have on policy and social solidarity? Comparative cross-national research, relying mostly on secondary data, has findings in different directions. There is a threat of selective model reporting and lack of replicability. The heterogeneity of countries obscures attempts to clearly define data-generating models. P-hacking and HARKing lurk among standard research practices in this area.This project employs crowdsourcing to address these issues. It draws on replication, deliberation, meta-analysis and harnessing the power of many minds at once. The Crowdsourced Replication Initiative carries two main goals, (a) to better investigate the linkage between immigration and social policy preferences across countries, and (b) to develop crowdsourcing as a social science method. The Executive Report provides short reviews of the area of social policy preferences and immigration, and the methods and impetus behind crowdsourcing plus a description of the entire project. Three main areas of findings will appear in three papers, that are registered as PAPs or in process

Saevitella Bobies 1956

Genus Saevitella Bobies, 1956 Saevitella Bobies, 1956: 251; Zágoršek 2010: 162. Type species: Saevitella inermis Bobies, 1956. Diagnosis (amended). Colony encrusting. Zooidal frontal shield a pseudoporous cryptocyst. Basal pore-chambers absent. Primary orifice in autozooecia suborbicular with indistinct condyles and a prominent peristome, no oral spines; orifice in maternal zooids slightly dimorphic. Ovicell subimmersed in maternal zooid, hyperstomial ooecium produced by distal zooid and fused onto distal zooecial margin of maternal zooid; calcified endooecium pseudoporous and similar to frontal zooidal shield, ectooecium membranous and continuous with frontal ectocyst, ovicell opening closed by zooidal operculum. Avicularia absent. Ancestrula unknown. Remarks. The genus Saevitella was introduced for the Miocene Paratethyan species Saevitella inermis Bobies, 1956. Although S. inermis remained the only species in the genus until now, three little-known species from the Mediterranean Pliocene should also be placed in Saevitella – Lepralia gibbosula Manzoni, 1869 from Italy, Alysidotella cipollai Buge, 1956 from Tunisia, and an undescribed species from the Carboneras basin in southern Spain (pers. observ.). However, the relationships between these species are unclear at present. Owing to very similar morphologies, it could be that L. gibbosula is a senior synonym of A. cipollai and even of S. inermis (C. Pizzaferri, pers. comm. 2010). The absence of Recent Saevitella from the Mediterranean Sea and its presence around Madeira may suggest that this archipelago acted as a refuge for Paratethyan/Mediterranean taxa during the Messinian salinity crisis and/ or the Pleistocene temperature minima (cf. Berning 2006). Orificial outline and size in maternal zooids are not markedly distinct from non-maternal ones in both S. inermis and the Madeiran Saevitella peristomata (Waters, 1899; see below), although apertures in ovicellate zooids may be slightly larger. However, the distal margin in a maternal zooecium does not form the distal rim of the primary orifice but is a distally bulging vertical wall. The ooecium, which is produced by the distal zooid, is a terminal continuation of this wall (Figs 16, 18). The operculum is, therefore, likely to rest on the proximal ooecial margin and ovicell closure is of the cleithral type (cf. Ostrovsky 2008). As there is also no calcified basal ooecial wall the brooding sac is likely to extend deeply into the distal part of the maternal zooecium, i.e. whereas the ooecium is hyperstomial, the ovicell as a whole is subimmersed. The systematic placement of the genus remains doubtful. Whereas originally assigned to the Phylactellidae Canu & Bassler, 1917 (= Smittinidae Levinsen, 1909) by Bobies (1956), Gordon (pers. comm. 2011) rightly removed the genus from this family owing to differences in ovicell formation and tentatively placed it in the Hippopodinidae Levinsen, 1909. However, there are also certain similarities, particularly concerning the structure of the zooid, orifice and ovicell, with the genus Cheilopora Levinsen, 1909 and another fossil species that has been recorded as Cheiloporina campanulata (Cipolla, 1921) from the Mediterranean Sea and eastern Atlantic (see Berning 2006: 96, figs 121, 122). Both genera are currently placed in the Cheiloporinidae Bassler, 1936, although it is unclear to which genus C. campanulata actually belongs as it differs from the type species of Cheiloporina, C. circumcincta (Neviani, 1896), in having a pseudoporous endooecium. Revision of the Hippopodinidae and Cheiloporinidae are certainly needed. Saevitella peristomata has also been placed in the genus Cosciniopsis Canu & Bassler, 1927 (e.g. Cook 1968: 182). However, although some superficial similarities exist with some of the species in that genus, e.g. with Cosciniopsis lonchaea (Busk, 1884), the type species of Cosciniopsis (C. coelatus Canu & Bassler, 1927) differs in several aspects, including ovicell formation and the presence of avicularia. Zágoršek's (2010: 161) decision to transfer C. campanulata to the cheiloporinid genus Hagiosynodos Bishop & Hayward, 1989 is not accepted here as there are distinct differences – in C. campanulata the endooecium is entirely pseudoporous, basal pore-chambers are absent, and budding is of the zooidal type (sensu Lidgard 1985), whereas in Hagiosynodos the endooecium is perforated by marginal pores only, basal pore-chambers are present, and budding is of the intrazooidal type. In fact, owing to the different budding types, it is arguable whether they should belong to the same family at all.Published as part of Berning, Björn, 2012, Taxonomic notes on some Cheilostomata (Bryozoa) from Madeira, pp. 36-54 in Zootaxa 3236 on pages 43-44, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.21102

Plesiocleidochasma Soule, Soule & Chaney 1991

Genus Plesiocleidochasma Soule, Soule & Chaney, 1991 Plesiocleidochasma Soule et al., 1991: 474; Tilbrook 2006: 290. Schedocleidochasma Soule et al., 1991: 480; Tilbrook 2006: 293; Zágoršek 2010: 166. Type species: Lepralia porcellana var. normani Livingstone, 1926. Diagnosis (amended). Colony encrusting uni- to multilaminar, multiserial. Zooecia ovoid, hexagonal or polygonal, few distal pore-chambers present; frontal shield imperforate except for a few marginal areolar pores; secondary calcification during ontogeny may be extensive, obscuring surficial primary features. Primary orifice cleithridiate, poster with smooth inner rim (not beaded) forming strong proximally directed condyles, anter rounded or bluntly arrow-shaped; oral spines usually present in young zooids only. Ovicell globose, hyperstomial, ooecium imperforate with calcified ectooecium quickly covered and disguised by hypercalcification of distal zooid(s); proximal ooecial margin variably shaped, often with lateral incisions and a central ectooecial fenestra of different shape and size, occasionally with horizontal bars merging medially to form a labellum; not closed by operculum. Avicularia adventitious, single or paired, mono- or dimorphic, generally situated close to orifice, rostrum usually acute, seldom wide and/or rounded distally, with a variably developed internal shelf that may form a triangular or trifoliate distal opesia; crossbar usually complete and with ligula. Ancestrula tatiform with well-developed proximal gymnocyst. Remarks. Schedocleidochasma Soule, Soule & Chaney, 1991 (type species Schedocleidochasma porcellaniforme Soule, Soule & Chaney, 1991) is here synonymised with Plesiocleidochasma Soule, Soule & Chaney, 1991, which was introduced earlier in the same publication. Soule et al. (1991) distinguished these genera mainly based on presumed differences in formation of the proximal ooecial margin. Whereas Plesiocleidochasma has a simple median labellum framed by lateral incisions, the labellum in Schedocleidochasma is produced by lateral horizontal bars merging in the centre, leaving a transverse, slit-like fenestra. However, in several species there are intermediate stages between these morphological ‘end-members’. For instance, in Plesiocleidochasma mediterraneum Chimenz, Gusso & Soule, 2003 there is a small median fenestra in the labellum, which would rather place it in Schedocleidochasma, but which is covered during ontogeny, and only then resembles the characteristic imperforate labellum of Plesiocleidochasma. In contrast, Lepralia porcellana Busk, 1860 (see below), originally placed in Schedocleidochasma by Soule et al. (1991), does have a central fenestra, which is, however, small and rounded rather than slit-like, while lateral bars were not observed to contribute to the formation of the fenestra. Moreover, the lateral incisions are absent or only very faintly developed in this species. It thus appears that a range of different morphologies of the proximal ooecial margin exist in this species group and that a clear dividing line between taxa cannot be drawn. As all other characters are identical or interchangeable, the separation of these genera is, in my opinion, unjustified. The generic diagnosis is therefore amended to include characters hitherto reserved for Schedocleidochasma. Information on the ancestrula, which has been figured by Pizzaferri & Berning (2007: fig. 4 A) for the first time, is also incorporated. Recent species included in the genus Plesiocleidochasma are: P. normani (Livingstone, 1926), P. cleidostomum (Smitt, 1873) n. comb., P. fallax (Canu & Bassler, 1929), P. immersum (Soule, Soule & Chaney, 1991) n. comb., P. laterale (Harmer, 1957), P. mediterraneum Chimenz Gusso & Soule, 2003, P. perspicuum (Hayward & Cook, 1983) n. comb., P. porcellaniforme Soule, Soule & Chaney, 1991 n. comb., P. porcellanum (Busk, 1860) n. comb., and P. septemspinosa Tilbrook, 2006.Published as part of Berning, Björn, 2012, Taxonomic notes on some Cheilostomata (Bryozoa) from Madeira, pp. 36-54 in Zootaxa 3236 on pages 47-48, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.21102

Schizomavella noronhai Norman 1909, n. comb.

Schizomavella noronhai (Norman, 1909) n. comb. (Figs 2–5, Table 1) Schizoporella noronhai Norman, 1909: 303, pl. 41, fig. 1. Material examined. Holotype: NHMUK 1911.10.1.1110, by monotypy, Norman collection (collected by A. C. de Noronha), Madeira, encrusting a telegraphic cable (no further information provided as regards depth and location). Description. Colony encrusting, unilaminar, multiserial. Zooids quadrangular to polygonal, broad, separated by sutures on slightly raised, thin rims. Vertical walls with about 4 round communication pores per neighbouring zooid. Frontal shield only slightly convex proximally, gently rising towards the elevated orifice distally, entirely covered by polygonal pits separated by raised ridges and irregularly perforated centrally by several distinct pseudopores plus a series of marginal areolar pores. Primary orifice semi-elliptical to broadly horseshoe-shaped, slightly longer than wide, proximal margin straight with a broadly U-shaped sinus occupying almost half of total proximal width, condyles fairly narrow and gently sloping towards edges of sinus, distolateral autozooidal margin with 8 or rarely 9 oral spines, 4 in ovicellate zooids. ZL ZW OL OW OvL OvW AL AW mean 671 550 122 105 207 230 73 44 Ovicell prominent, globular, flattened frontally, slightly broader than long, ooecium formed by distal zooid, the secondary calcification of which later marginally covers the calcified ectooecium; surface smooth, perforated by numerous suborbicular and rimmed pseudopores of approximately similar size, the proximal margin usually slightly raised, with elongated or fused pseudopores; ovicell opening transversely elongated and situated above primary orifice, not closed by the operculum. Avicularia adventitious, monomorphic, elongate-elliptical with almost parallel lateral sides, usually paired or occasionally single, most often situated between orifice and lateral walls at some distance to distal zooecial border (directed laterally or proximolaterally), commonly with one or both avicularia in a more proximolateral (directed proximolaterally) or even central position (directed proximally); rostrum elongate D-shaped, distal uncalcified area rounded triangular, distolaterally demarcated by a rim of crenellate calcification, proximal area elliptical or Dshaped; crossbar complete, without columella. Ancestrula not observed. Remarks. The great number of spines, the surface topography of the frontal shield with its large pseudopores, and the large area of exposed ectooecium, again with numerous round pseudopores, distinguishes this species from most other recently described and figured Schizomavella species from the eastern Atlantic (e.g. Harmelin & d'Hondt 1992; Hayward & Thorpe 1995; Reverter-Gil & Fernández-Pulpeiro 1995, 1997; Hayward & Ryland 1999). The sister species of S. noronhai is certainly Schizomavella neptuni (Jullien, 1883), which also has 8–10 spines and the same avicularian and frontal-shield surface structure, and which occurs from the Bay of Biscay to the Gulf of Cádiz and the western Mediterranean and possibly also in the Azores. However, S. neptuni lacks the conspicuous frontal-wall pores, and the orificial sinus is distinctly narrower (Jullien 1883: 511, pl. 14, fig. 34; Harmelin & d'Hondt 1992: 46, pl. 6, fig. C; Zabala et al. 1993: 75, figs 19–20). Schizomavella noronhai has hitherto been recorded only from Madeira.Published as part of Berning, Björn, 2012, Taxonomic notes on some Cheilostomata (Bryozoa) from Madeira, pp. 36-54 in Zootaxa 3236 on pages 38-39, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.21102