First Permian Insects Forom Uruguay

For the first time insects and crustaceans from the Mangrullo Member of the Melo Formation (Permian) of Uruguay are registered. The insects belong to the species of Ordo Hemiptera – Sub-Ordo Homoptera – Paracicadopsis mendezalzolai gen. et sp. nov. of the family Cicadopsyllidae Martinov, 1931 and from Ordo Perlaria Perlapsocus formosoi gen. et sp. nov. of the new Perlapsocidae family. Associated to these insects, crustaceans belonging to the Ordo Pygocephalomorpha were for the first time found and are study, beside fish scales, plant remains and Mesosaurideos already registered

Sedimentology, diagenesis and ichnology of Cretaceous and Palaeogene calcretes and palustrine carbonates from Uruguay

The Cretaceous (Mercedes Formation) and Paleogene (Queguay Formation) deposits cropping out inWand S Uruguay comprise two terrestrial limestone units that are very rich in trace fossils. The study of these units permits to propose a sedimentological model for palustrine limestones and calcretes in which the distribution of different types of trace fossils is considered. The study units include three main types of deposit: lacustrine limestones, palustrine limestones and calcretes. The lacustrine limestones are relatively homogeneous and contain gastropods, charophytes and ostracods, but no trace fossils. They were deposited in a relatively more perennial lacustrine environment. The palustrine limestones include four different facies: desiccated mudstones, nodular limestones, granular limestones and gravel-sheets. The desiccated mudstones indicate a lesser degree of pedogenic modification and the granular limestones a higher degree. The gravel-sheets are an indication of the reworking of previous limestones deposits during low lakewater levels. Most of the palustrine limestones (except the gravel sheets) contain the same bioclasts as the lacustrine limestones plus a variety of trace fossils such as Rebuffoichnus sciuttoi, Fictovichnus gobiensis and different ichnospecies of Celliforma. The calcretes are either massive (groundwater) or laminar. The massive calcretes are sandy limestones made up of a carbonate matrix and cements. The laminar calcretes (root mats), which contain alveolar septal structures, occur as centimetre-thick layers and can be seen in all types of deposit. They contain the same trace fossil association as the palustrine limestones; the massive calcretes are poorer in such fossils. The distribution of trace fossils in these environments is under strong facies control and provides good evidence of subaerial exposure and semi-arid climates. All the limestones are partially replaced and cemented by opal and quartz, but in all cases the primary structure is preserved. Silicification occurred under groundwater meteoric conditions. Overall, the limestones facies (calcretes, palustrine and lacustrine) and their lateral distribution likely reflect the existence of wetland environments in semiarid to sub-humid climates. These climatic conditions were interrupted by a period of increased precipitations, probably the Early Eocene Climatic Optimum

Dinâmica de nitrogênio em microbacias na Mata Atlântica e Cerrado no Nordeste brasileiro

The aim of this study was to determine concentrations of nitrogen (N) in two biomes, Atlantic Forest (AF) and Cerrado (CR), at the interface between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. This involved evaluating N in vegetation (litterfall), soil and water in small watersheds in environmental protection areas in northeastern Brazil. Soil chemical and physical analyzes were performed and mineralization and nitrification rates were determined. The forms of organic, inorganic and particulate nitrogen in water were determined by spectrophotometry. Two collections were carried out, one in the dry season (October and November 2019) and another in the rainy season (February and March 2020), in two environmental preservation areas, Estação Veracel Private Natural Heritage Reserve - (Atlantic Forest) and Chapada Diamantina National Park (Cerrado), with five small watersheds sampled in each biome. The N concentration in litterfall was similar in both biomes, with averages of 0.69%. In relation to soil and water, N concentrations were higher in AF compared to CR, with concentrations of 0.95 ± 0.40 and 0.59 ± 0.14 µg.Ng-1 of nitrate in the soils of AF and CR, respectively, and 3.53 ± 2.51 µM of nitrate in water in AF and 0.76 ± 0.78 µM in CR.The Brazilian biomes influence the biogeochemical cycles since they present a diversity of phytophysiognomies associated with the specific chemical, physical and biological characteristics of each region. The aim of this study was to verify the influence of two biomes, Atlantic Forest (AF) and Cerrado/”Campo Rupestre” (CR), on nitrogen concentrations (N) at the interface between terrestrial-aquatic ecosystems through the evaluation of N in vegetation (litterfall), soil and streamwater areas of environmental protection in northeastern Brazil. Samples were collected during the dry and rainy periods in five streams in each biome located in preservation areas. The results showed that no significant differences were observed in the production and N concentration in litterfall between the biomes. In spite of the soil and water, the N concentrations were higher in the sites located in the Atlantic Forest compared to the “Campo Rupestre”. The low moisture and low net mineralization and nitrification in “Campo Rupestre” result in lower concentrations of N in the soil. This lower concentration associated with edaphoclimatic conditions in CR was responsible for the reduction of N leaching in soil resulting in lower concentrations of N in water.O objetivo deste estudo foi determinar as concentrações de nitrogênio (N) em dois biomas, Mata Atlântica (AF) e Cerrado (CR), na interface entre os ecossistemas terrestre-aquático, avaliando o N na vegetação (serapilheira), no solo e na água em microbacias em áreas de proteção ambiental no nordeste brasileiro. Foram realizadas análises químicas e físicas do solo e determinadas as taxas de mineralização e nitrificação. Na água, foram determinadas as formas de nitrogênio orgânico, inorgânico e particulado por espectrofotometria. Foram realizadas duas coletas, uma no período seco (outubro e novembro de 2019) e outra no chuvoso (fevereiro e março de 2020) em duas áreas de preservação ambiental, na Reserva Particular de Patrimônio Natural - Estação Veracel (Mata Atlântica) e Parque Nacional Chapada Diamantina (Cerrado), sendo amostrados cinco microbacias em cada bioma. A concentração de N na serapilheira foi semelhante entre os biomas, apresentando médias de 0,69%. Em relação ao solo e a água, as concentrações de N foram maiores na AF comparados a CR, com concentrações de 0,95 ± 0,40 e 0,59 ± 0,14 µg.Ng-1 de nitrato no solo de AF e CR, respectivamente e 3,53 ± 2,51 µM de nitrato na água em AF e 0,76 ± 0,78 µM em CR

Image-Guided Surgical e-Learning in the Post-COVID-19 Pandemic Era: What Is Next?

The current unprecedented coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) crisis has accelerated and enhanced e-learning solutions. During the so-called transition phase, efforts were made to reorganize surgical services, reschedule elective surgical procedures, surgical research, academic education, and careers to optimize results. The intention to switch to e-learning medical education is not a new concern. However, the current crisis triggered an alarm to accelerate the transition. Efforts to consider e-learning as a teaching and training method for medical education have proven to be efficient. For image-guided therapies, the challenge requires more effort since surgical skills training is combined with image interpretation training, thus the challenge is to cover quality educational content with a balanced combination of blended courses (online/onsite). Several e-resources are currently available in the surgical scenario; however, further efforts to enhance the current system are required by accelerating the creation of new learning solutions to optimize complex surgical education needs in the current disrupted environment

Trace fossils from the Upper Cretaceous Capacete Formation, Sanfranciscana Basin, Central Brazil

The Upper Cretaceous Capacete Formation, from the intracratonic Sanfranciscana Basin, central Brazil, consists of epiclastic sediments with a significant aeolian contribution. This unit has been traditionally interpreted as deposited by alluvial fans distally grading to braided rivers in an arid- to semiarid climate within the central part of southwestern Gondwana. Locally, some expositions with wide lateral extension show architectural ele-ments indicative of deposition in meandering rivers, such as floodplain fines (FF) interbedded with crevasse splay (CR), lateral-accretion macroforms (LA), and channels (CH). Bioturbation within the meandering fluvial deposits is commonly associated with the floodplain element, mainly occurring in fine-grained sandstone and mudstone. The lateral-accretion elements and channel deposits are barren of trace fossils. Sandstone with climbing ripples (Sr) from the element CR show low bioturbation of meniscate trace fossils assigned to Taenidium, Beaconites, and Scoyenia ichnogenera. Simple vertical and horizontal burrows identified as Skolithos and Palaeophycus occur associated with Taenidium and Camborygma in sandstone facies (Sr, St and Sh), as well as rhizoliths, representing the Scoyenia ichnofacies. The predominance of trace fossils related to the FF and CR architectural elements attests to the colonization mostly by insects in episodic and vegetated flood plains of the meandering river system from the Capacete Formation. Thus, despite the primarily arid to semiarid conditions interpreted for the inner parts of the newly formed South American continent during the Upper Cretaceous, our new data support deposition under humid conditions in some intervals of the Capacete Formation from the Sanfranciscana Basin

A new miocene–pliocene ichnotaxon for vermetid anchoring bioerosion structures

A revision of Renichnus arcuatus Mayoral, 1987, the vermetid attachment etching trace fossil (fixichnia), is presented here with an emended diagnosis. Renichnus arcuatus should be used only for nested reniform depressions arranged in linear series or solitary ones. A new ichnotaxon, Santichnus mayorali ichnogen. et ichnosp. nov., is described to name a bioerosion structure that previous authors included under R. arcuatus. The new trace fossil comes from the Miocene–Pliocene deposits from Fuerteventura and Lanzarote, Canary Islands, and is characterized as a shallow canal, semicircular in cross-section that occurs on the surface of hard substrates. Santichnus mayorali follows a logarithmic spiral path that may depart in its outer whorl in a somewhat straight shaft that becomes recurved back toward the spiral. From an actualistic point of view, this new ichnotaxon is interpreted as the anchorage bioerosion structure of vermetid gastropods. Given the close relationship between the two ichnotaxa (Renichnus and Santichnus) that share vermetid gastropods as their tracemakers, it is proposed that they should be considered as compound trace fossils when they occur interconnected

Primer registro del nido de abeja fósil Elipsoideichnus meyeri de Argentina (Colón, provincia de Entre Ríos)

Se presenta el primer registro de la traza fósil Elipsoideichnus meyeri Roselli, 1987, de afloramientos de la cantera Prefectura Naval Argentina, Parque Nacional El Palmar, Colón (provincia de Entre Ríos), Argentina. E. meyeri consiste en un nido de abeja fósil helicoidal, hasta la fecha solo registrado en la Formación Asencio (Cuenca Norte) del suroeste de Uruguay. El nuevo espécimen fue encontrado en rocas tradicionalmente asignadas a la Formación Puerto Yeruá (Cuenca Chaco Paraná), consideradas del Cretácico Superior sobre la base del contenido paleontológico de estratos correlativos en el área, conformado por restos de dinosaurios y plantas. Sin embargo, el marco estratigráfico más confiable para la localidad de estudio debería mantener los nombres litoestratigráficos de la Cuenca Norte de Uruguay, siendo el principal argumento para la presencia de una discordancia regional entre las formaciones Guichón y Mercedes, lo que imposibilita la asignación de este nuevo registro a la Formación Puerto Yeruá. Las facies observadas y este nuevo registro en sí permitieron la asignación preliminar de los estratos portadores de E. meyeri de la Prefectura Naval Argentina a la Formación Asencio, reforzado por el registro que aquí se presenta ya que no existe evidencia tafonómica que apoye un transporte significativo horizontal o vertical del mismo. Sobre la asignación cronoestratigráfica de este registro, no existen elementos concluyentes para ubicarlo dentro del Cretácico Superior o Eoceno, siendo un hecho aún en análisis. Este registro amplía la distribución geográfica de este icnotaxón, permitiendo el desarrollo de nuevas investigaciones en el área, reabriendo interrogantes relacionados con la paleobiología y la cronoestratigrafía de abejas antiguas en esta zona del sur de América del Sur.We present the first record of the trace fossil Elipsoideichnus meyeri Roselli, 1987, from outcrops of the Prefectura Naval Argentina quarry, Parque Nacional El Palmar, Colón (Entre Ríos province), Argentina. E. meyeri consists of a singular helicoidal fossil bee nest, to date only recorded from the Asencio Formation (Norte Basin) of southwestern Uruguay. The new specimen came from rocks traditionally assigned to the Puerto Yeruá Formation (Chaco Paraná Basin), considered Upper Cretaceous in age based on paleontological content of correlative strata in the area, composed of dinosaur and plant remains. However, the most reliable stratigraphic framework for the studied locality should keep the lithostratigraphic names of the Norte Basin of Uruguay, being the main argument for the presence of a regional unconformity between Guichón and Mercedes formations, which precludes the assignment of this new record to the Puerto Yeruá Formation. Observed facies and this new record itself allowed the preliminary assignation of Prefectura Naval Argentina E. meyeri-hosting strata to the Asencio Formation, which is reinforced by the record presented here itself due to there are no taphonomic evidence supporting significant transport horizontally or vertically. About the chronostratigraphic assignment of this record, there are no concluding elements to locate it within the Upper Cretaceous or Eocene, being a matter of fact and still in flux. This record expands the geographical distribution of this ichnotaxon, allowing the development of further research in this area and, re-opening questions related to the palaeobiology and chronostratigraphy of ancient bees in this area of southern South America.Fil: Cónsole Gonella, Carlos Alfredo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Instituto Superior de Correlación Geológica. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo. Departamento de Geología. Cátedra Geología Estructural. Instituto Superior de Correlación Geológica; ArgentinaFil: Verde, Mariano. Universidad de la República; UruguayFil: de Valais, Silvina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Instituto de Investigación en Paleobiología y Geología; ArgentinaFil: Apesteguía, Sebastián. Fundación de Historia Natural Félix de Azara; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Díaz Martínez, Ignacio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Instituto de Investigación en Paleobiología y Geología; ArgentinaFil: Gallina, Pablo Ariel. Universidad Maimónides; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Gianechini, Federico Abel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Luis. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Investigaciones Biológicas de San Luis. Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Ciencias Físico Matemáticas y Naturales. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Investigaciones Biológicas de San Luis; ArgentinaFil: Citton, Paolo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Instituto de Investigación en Paleobiología y Geología; ArgentinaFil: Aceñolaza, Florencio Gilberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Instituto Superior de Correlación Geológica. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo. Departamento de Geología. Cátedra Geología Estructural. Instituto Superior de Correlación Geológica; Argentin

Areas of natural occurrence of melipona scutellaris Latreille, 1811(Hymenoptera: Apidae) in the state of Bahia, Brazil.

The bee Melipona scutellaris is considered the reared meliponine species with the largest distribution in the North and Northeast regions of Brazil, with records from the state of Rio Grande do Norte down to the state of Bahia. Considering the importance of this species in the generation of income for family agriculture and in the preservation of areas with natural vegetation, this study aimed at providing knowledge on the distribution of natural colonies of M. scutellaris in the state of Bahia. Literature information, interviews with stinglessbee beekeepers, and expeditions were conducted to confirm the natural occurrence of the species. A total of 102 municipalities showed records for M. scutellaris, whose occurrence was observed in areas ranging from sea level up to 1,200-meter height. The occurrence of this species in the state of Bahia is considered to be restricted to municipalities on the coastal area and the Chapada Diamantina with its rainforests. Geographic coordinates, elevation, climate and vegetation data were obtained, which allowed a map to be prepared for the area of occurrence in order to support conservation and management policies for the species

A Lujanian local fauna (Upper Pleistocene-Lower Holocene) from southern Uruguay: Santa Regina, Colonia department.

On the southwestern coast of Uruguay, in the Colonia and San José departments, sedimentary rocks that correspond to the Neogene and Quaternary are found. Herein we describe the fossiliferous locality of Santa Regina, located on the east coast of the department of Colonia. The stratigraphic profile shows at the base grayish-green sandy rocks belonging to the Camacho Formation (Upper Miocene). Overlying this unit, there is a tough yellowish-greenish siltstone in net contact, in which several pieces of a Notiomastodon platensis specimen were found. Towards the upper part, a thicker greenish-brownish bed is observed, ranging upwards from conglomerates to siltstones. The lower part of this bed includes disarticulated and fragmentary remains of Lestodon armatus, Glyptodon reticulatus, Pampatheriidae indet., Toxodon cf. T. platensis, Morenelaphus sp., and Lycalopex gymnocercus, and to the top large portions of carapaces of Glyptodon sp. and Panochthus sp. The aforementioned mastofaunistic assemblage corresponds to the Lujanian Mammal Age or regional Stage (Upper Pleistocene-Greenlandian). The lithostratigraphy allows us to refer the two upper levels to the Dolores Formation, a characteristic unit of the Quaternary of southern Uruguay, and not to the Raigón Formation, as indicated in some previous reports for this locality. The presence of Lestodon armatus, Glyptodon reticulatus, Notiomastodon platensis, Lycalopex gymnocercus, and the probable presence of Toxodon platensis, allow us to infer landscapes of open or semi-open areas, with a predominance of grasslands and shrubs during the genesis of the deposits.Na zona costeira do sudoeste do Uruguai, nos departamentos de Colônia e San José, afloram rochas sedimentares correspondentes aos sistemas Neógeno e Quaternário. Descrevemos aqui o sítio fossilífero de Santa Regina localizado na costa leste do Departamento de Colônia. O perfil estratigráfico está composto na base por rochas arenosas verde-acinzentadas pertencentes à Formação Camacho (Mioceno Superior). Sobreposto a esta unidade, em contato de rede, ocorre um siltito amarelo-esverdeado tenaz, no qual foram encontradas várias peças de um exemplar de Notiomastodon platensis. Em direção à parte superior observa-se um nível mais espesso verde-acastanhado, com grãos diminuindo de conglomerados para siltitos. Este nível inclui na parte basal restos desarticulados e fragmentados de Lestodon armatus, Glyptodon reticulatus, Pampatheriidae indet., Toxodon cf. T. platensis, Morenelaphus sp., e Lycalopex gymnocercus, e mais acima grandes porções de couraças de Glyptodon sp. e Panochthus sp. O conjunto mastofaunístico mencionado se corresponde com a Idade Mamífero Piso/Idade regional Lujanense (Pleistoceno Superior-Groenlandiense). A litoestratigrafia permite referir aos dois níveis superiores descritos à Formação Dolores, unidade característica do Quaternário do sul do Uruguai, e não à Formação Raigón, como fora assinalado em alguns trabalhos prévios para a localidade em questão. A presença de Lestodon armatus, Glyptodon reticulatus, Notiomastodon platensis, Lycalopex gymnocercus e a provável presença de Toxodon platensis, permitem inferir paisagens de áreas abertas ou semiabertas, com predomínio de pastagens e arbustos, durante a gênese dos depósitos